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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am so glad I listened to this in audiobook form, the narrator is top notch. I listened all through work, through lunches, and my commute home for 2 two days, I was LOCKED IN. I'm so glad I picked this book, I really enjoyed it!
I love a good vampire romance, and the other trope this book has that I can't say because of spoilers. The characters are both interesting and believable, they don't trade the idiot ball back and forth or act needlessly petulant. Both of them can be stubborn at times, and while Rafael is worse about it, it's consistent with his character. Their burn is slow and believable as well, although they are attracted to each other very early, there's no insta-lust or insta-love which I feel was appropriate for the vibes of this darker fantasy romance.
The magic system? I absolutely adore it! It's so interesting to have magic available to everyone at all times, just for the right price. People who can afford it can buy enchanted cards and use them, meaning that people can be carrying around a whole deck of cards that give them access to minor magic.
I don't know how much more I can say without getting into spoilers but I adored this book and I need the next one YESTERDAY. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for facilitating me with a review copy of this book at no cost and with no obligation. I reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.
I love a good vampire romance, and the other trope this book has that I can't say because of spoilers. The characters are both interesting and believable, they don't trade the idiot ball back and forth or act needlessly petulant. Both of them can be stubborn at times, and while Rafael is worse about it, it's consistent with his character. Their burn is slow and believable as well, although they are attracted to each other very early, there's no insta-lust or insta-love which I feel was appropriate for the vibes of this darker fantasy romance.
The magic system? I absolutely adore it! It's so interesting to have magic available to everyone at all times, just for the right price. People who can afford it can buy enchanted cards and use them, meaning that people can be carrying around a whole deck of cards that give them access to minor magic.
I don't know how much more I can say without getting into spoilers but I adored this book and I need the next one YESTERDAY. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for facilitating me with a review copy of this book at no cost and with no obligation. I reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review. This book was such a fun read! I can't wait for book two. There's so much going on in the world and with the characters and there's a level of mystery happening. The tension between the main characters is fantastic.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loooved this book! Sam is a quite naïve FMC but she KNOWS this about herself, so she takes every opportunity to learn and adapt, and she trusts her instincts. She might be naïve , but she is definitely not weak!
Then we have Raphael, our white-haired (truly) morally grey vampire! His banter with Sam? Phenomenal! He is so sassy , in a quiet broody way - I was instantly charmed.
Even though the world building and magic system are quite unique, the story is very easy to follow and the lore is easy to learn! I didn’t feel lost or grasping at straws, everything clicked into place quite nicely.
The found family in this book was phenomenal as well - I was obsessed with Thea as soon as we met her😍
The plot is very fast paced, so much happens but it all feels very organic! The ending definitely took a turn I wasn’t expecting , so I can’t wait to see how the rest of the series will unfold!
I would recommend for fans of The Serpents and Wings of Night 🩸
I did not expect how much I was going to need book 2 ASAP 😆 This feels like a book ACOTAR fans would love, but I personally enjoyed it so much more than ACOTAR. There are so many romantasy tropes that it flips and changes in really interesting ways. I loved how this average person and a powerful vampire ended up traveling together. There was great tension and stakes in all the right places 😅 Samara reacted to vampires and their ways a lot like I would expect a real person would react.
I would definitely recommend this book if you're tired of standard romantasy books that seem to end the same way. Hold on because this is a great book!
I would definitely recommend this book if you're tired of standard romantasy books that seem to end the same way. Hold on because this is a great book!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WARNING: spoilers!
Addicted from the first page, I devoured this book in 24 hours. It marks my return to vampire romance. The struggles our FMC faces are dark yet refreshing against the backdrop of classics. This is a dark romantic fantasy where power plays a major role as does magic. Unique magic system in a world of kingdoms unexplored. I felt for Samara and her innocence more than once while our MMC, though a literal terror, was uncharacteristicly soft. Not cinnamon roll soft, but more of a golden retriever with a switch for vengeance in her name. I loved it and would recommend this book to anyone looking for a delicious cliffhanger and romance that is pained, slow, and hungry.
🕊️🩸🐍
I was gifted an eARC, but these are my honest thoughts.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Thank you to NetGalley and the author Vasilisa Drake for the ALC copy of A Bargain So Bloody! 🖤🩸
🩸 Tropes:
• Vampire x witch tension
• Forced alliance
• Magical prison break
• Enemies to reluctant allies to lovers
• Grumpy x fierce
• Deal with a monster
My Thoughts:
My goodness, I LOVED this audiobook! 🎧💀 I love when I stumble on an indie author and the book just wrecks me in the best way—A Bargain So Bloody absolutely did that.
I was hooked from the first chapter. The tension, the worldbuilding, the vibe?? Immaculate. The vampire-witch dynamic was everything I wanted, and the magic system felt fresh and powerful without being confusing.
I did not want to stop listening for a second, and I need book 2 immediately. There will be one, right?! 😬🧐
If you’re into dark fantasy with high stakes, bloody bargains, and dangerously hot undead men, this one needs to be at the top of your list.
🩸 Tropes:
• Vampire x witch tension
• Forced alliance
• Magical prison break
• Enemies to reluctant allies to lovers
• Grumpy x fierce
• Deal with a monster
My Thoughts:
My goodness, I LOVED this audiobook! 🎧💀 I love when I stumble on an indie author and the book just wrecks me in the best way—A Bargain So Bloody absolutely did that.
I was hooked from the first chapter. The tension, the worldbuilding, the vibe?? Immaculate. The vampire-witch dynamic was everything I wanted, and the magic system felt fresh and powerful without being confusing.
I did not want to stop listening for a second, and I need book 2 immediately. There will be one, right?! 😬🧐
If you’re into dark fantasy with high stakes, bloody bargains, and dangerously hot undead men, this one needs to be at the top of your list.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
“no one deserves to be forgotten. if it’s any reassurance, samara, i intend to live a very long life. and i will not forget you for any of it.”
i really loved the writing style, humor, pacing, and underlying mystery threaded within this plot! this is definitely a slowww burn, but the tension and banter throughout is SO good! the amount of times i reread ch 25 & 26 is honestly embarrassing 🤭 i predicted a few of the twists and reveals, but the main twist in the epilogue caught me completely off guard! i need the next book as soon as possible, respectively 😅 there’s still so much more to learn about both of them. i can’t wait to see how these two come back from this ending.. and i’m excited to see samara step into her power in the next book 🖤
🖤 thank you so much to vasilisa for the arc & alc!
• vampires, witches, humans
• dark fantasy romance
• unlikely alliances
• forced proximity
• possessive mmc who can’t lie
• card magic & political intrigue
i really loved the writing style, humor, pacing, and underlying mystery threaded within this plot! this is definitely a slowww burn, but the tension and banter throughout is SO good! the amount of times i reread ch 25 & 26 is honestly embarrassing 🤭 i predicted a few of the twists and reveals, but the main twist in the epilogue caught me completely off guard! i need the next book as soon as possible, respectively 😅 there’s still so much more to learn about both of them. i can’t wait to see how these two come back from this ending.. and i’m excited to see samara step into her power in the next book 🖤
🖤 thank you so much to vasilisa for the arc & alc!
• vampires, witches, humans
• dark fantasy romance
• unlikely alliances
• forced proximity
• possessive mmc who can’t lie
• card magic & political intrigue
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I got a ARC of this book and it was a whirlwind. There’s still so much I’m curious about and would like to know more on and I’m craving a second book! It was the perfect mix of “touch her and die” and slow burn feelings.