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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
# Blood, Memory, and Trust: A Layered Fantasy Audiobook Experience
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘝𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘉𝘚𝘉 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮! 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘦 30, 2025.
In the past, I was wary of listening to fantasy audiobooks—I worried I wouldn’t be able to picture the story as vividly as I can when reading. Fantasy is a genre I typically *read* a lot of, so this was stepping out of my comfort zone.
That said, the beginning of this book *completely* hooked me. I was pulled right into the story. I don’t usually listen to audiobooks in public, but I couldn’t help myself—I needed to know what happened next (and I actually listened to the book twice in a row!).
I really appreciated how the author included Samara’s experience with her first period. It made sense that, after spending years underfed in prison, her body wouldn’t have been able to menstruate. Once she arrived in the vampire land and began receiving proper nutrition, her body finally responded. I also liked how Raphael explained her undernourishment to the healer—those small, thoughtful details added depth and realism to both the worldbuilding and her character arc. Her deep-seated hatred of vampires, rooted in the traumatic memory of witnessing her mother’s brutal death at their hands, added further emotional complexity. I especially enjoyed the use of flashbacks and how they were woven seamlessly into the present timeline, enriching both her backstory and current motivations.
The relationship between Samara and Raphael was a highlight for me. Samara despises vampires, and Raphael, of course, is one. Even as she started to develop feelings for him, she held on to her hatred for his kind. I liked that complexity. His protectiveness helped her feel safer than she had in years, which created a very layered, believable emotional journey.
That said, there were a few parts of the story that didn’t quite connect for me. For one, it felt a bit unrealistic that the Samara could translate an ancient language so well after working in a prison for 12 years. It also seemed odd that her mother’s views still had such a strong impact on her, considering she entered the prison at age eight. Lastly, her social awareness developed a little too quickly. Growing up isolated with minimal interaction wouldn’t usually result in such strong social skills—but here, it felt like she adjusted a bit too easily. This leaned heavily into the "chosen one" trope, which didn’t fully work for me.
Still, I loved the pacing. The audiobook format made it feel a bit faster, but I truly enjoyed every moment. And the ending *shocked* me—I did not see the necromancer reveal coming! I genuinely was simply vibing with the book.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘝𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘉𝘚𝘉 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮! 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘦 30, 2025.
In the past, I was wary of listening to fantasy audiobooks—I worried I wouldn’t be able to picture the story as vividly as I can when reading. Fantasy is a genre I typically *read* a lot of, so this was stepping out of my comfort zone.
That said, the beginning of this book *completely* hooked me. I was pulled right into the story. I don’t usually listen to audiobooks in public, but I couldn’t help myself—I needed to know what happened next (and I actually listened to the book twice in a row!).
I really appreciated how the author included Samara’s experience with her first period. It made sense that, after spending years underfed in prison, her body wouldn’t have been able to menstruate. Once she arrived in the vampire land and began receiving proper nutrition, her body finally responded. I also liked how Raphael explained her undernourishment to the healer—those small, thoughtful details added depth and realism to both the worldbuilding and her character arc. Her deep-seated hatred of vampires, rooted in the traumatic memory of witnessing her mother’s brutal death at their hands, added further emotional complexity. I especially enjoyed the use of flashbacks and how they were woven seamlessly into the present timeline, enriching both her backstory and current motivations.
The relationship between Samara and Raphael was a highlight for me. Samara despises vampires, and Raphael, of course, is one. Even as she started to develop feelings for him, she held on to her hatred for his kind. I liked that complexity. His protectiveness helped her feel safer than she had in years, which created a very layered, believable emotional journey.
That said, there were a few parts of the story that didn’t quite connect for me. For one, it felt a bit unrealistic that the Samara could translate an ancient language so well after working in a prison for 12 years. It also seemed odd that her mother’s views still had such a strong impact on her, considering she entered the prison at age eight. Lastly, her social awareness developed a little too quickly. Growing up isolated with minimal interaction wouldn’t usually result in such strong social skills—but here, it felt like she adjusted a bit too easily. This leaned heavily into the "chosen one" trope, which didn’t fully work for me.
Still, I loved the pacing. The audiobook format made it feel a bit faster, but I truly enjoyed every moment. And the ending *shocked* me—I did not see the necromancer reveal coming! I genuinely was simply vibing with the book.
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
✨ ARC ✨
A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake is an addictive slow-burn vampire fantasy romance that I genuinely enjoyed. The story unfolds on the magical continent of Eurobis, and while we've only glimpsed a small corner of this world in the first book, it feels like the beginning of something much bigger. The groundwork has been laid for a vast and expanding world, and I’m excited to see how it evolves in the sequels.
With an intriguing magic system, so far we've mostly been introduced to voids (magicless humans), witches and vampires. Some witches use traditional spellwork, but they also create and use spell cards – magical items with specific functions that can be bought or traded, adding an unusual magical element that reminded me of the unique card-based magic in One Dark Window. Voids, despite being looked down on due to their lack of innate magic, can use spell cards, which furthers the interesting power dynamic. The vampires’ lore and abilities also seem to have some idiosyncrasies that have me curious to discover more.
Even though the series promises to get darker and spicier later on, this first book leaned pretty YA in tone. And listen – I struggle with YA sometimes because the heroines tend to be emotionally immature. Samara definitely had her frustrating moments, but I have to give credit where it’s due: her behavior does track given her messed-up upbringing. She’s not going to be emotionally wise or confident yet, and that felt realistic. Still, fingers crossed we see some serious character development ahead.
I really enjoyed the tension between Samara and Raphael – as long as I ignored that Raphael’s intense, immediate infatuation with her felt a bit hard to buy. That said, I have a feeling there’s more mystery to his obsession than we’ve yet been told. I suspect she was what he was looking for when he intentionally got himself captured and imprisoned in Greymere… All the same, even if she is what he was searching for, that still doesn’t explain what made him instantly so smitten and devoted. Maybe that will be revealed in the subsequent books?
I tend to be a suspicious reader – and this might be the ACOTAR girly in me talking – but I couldn’t help wondering if Raphael might be a Tamlin-type situation: a love interest who seems like the one, only to get swapped out for someone more compatible later on. Despite their chemistry, with their clashing ideologies and complicated dynamic, I wouldn’t be shocked if there’s a twist in the romance arc. And honestly? I’m not sure how I’d feel about that... Because on the other hand, Raphael genuinely seems to support Samara’s growth and would absolutely burn the world for her… If that’s sincere – and not just obsessive – then maybe this isn’t a bait-and-switch at all. Maybe it’s a dual character arc where we get to watch both Samara and Raphael evolve into the people they need to become, together.
Overall, I had a great time reading this book. I was genuinely annoyed every time life made me put it down. The setup is strong, the vibes are excellent, and I’m totally invested in where this story goes next. This series has so much potential, and I can’t wait to read more. Bring on book two!
If you enjoy expanding fantasy worlds with hints of deep lore, a slow-burn romance with tension and longing, a morally gray touch-her-and-💀 MMC, this is right up your alley—especially if you don’t mind a bit of YA flavor early on with the promise of more darkness and spice later.
✨My sincerest gratitude to Vasilisa Drake for the ARC. I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.✨
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
I really enjoyed this book! Samara is a human trapped in a magical prison. She gets tasked with caring for a vampire, Raphael. He is everything she has been taught to hate and fear, except he's her only chance at escaping the terrible life she has at Greymere. The two decide to strike a bargain and escape, but nothing is ever really that simple is it?
I was lucky enough to receive an ALC (advanced listener copy) and even though its a single narrator, she absolutely nails it. Audiobooks can be challenging in the fantasy genre, but I did not find that the case with this one. This novel has really nice pacing throughout and the plot continues to gain more depth as you progress.
I really liked both main characters. Samara's past shapes her so much throughout the book and I found that Drake did a beautiful job tying her childhood experiences together with her present situation. Raphael reminds me a lot of Eric Northman from True Blood - a vicious and rigid character who bends his traditional personality due to his infatuation. They are both so different, but drawn to each other.
This is the first book in a series and as such it leaves readers wanting the next book immediately. I cannot wait to see where the author takes their story.
Thank you for this ALC. I am voluntarily leaving this review with my thoughts.
I was lucky enough to receive an ALC (advanced listener copy) and even though its a single narrator, she absolutely nails it. Audiobooks can be challenging in the fantasy genre, but I did not find that the case with this one. This novel has really nice pacing throughout and the plot continues to gain more depth as you progress.
I really liked both main characters. Samara's past shapes her so much throughout the book and I found that Drake did a beautiful job tying her childhood experiences together with her present situation. Raphael reminds me a lot of Eric Northman from True Blood - a vicious and rigid character who bends his traditional personality due to his infatuation. They are both so different, but drawn to each other.
This is the first book in a series and as such it leaves readers wanting the next book immediately. I cannot wait to see where the author takes their story.
Thank you for this ALC. I am voluntarily leaving this review with my thoughts.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Wow. This is a vampire book unlike any other that I have ever read or listened to. The characters are well thought out. The plot is excellent. The narrator does a fabulous job with all the characters. I have had a difficult time recently with fantasy novels even though I've read them my entire life. Many of them recently just don't draw me in like they used to. This one drew me into the story from the very first chapter.
Thank you, Vasilisa, for the ALC.
Thank you, Vasilisa, for the ALC.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I went in pretty blind on this and sometimes that’s the best way. A Bargain So Bloody is a dark slow burn romantasy – the first book in the Kingdom Of Dark Magic series. It starts with Samara, a void, who's been serving a prison sentence since she was a little kid. After realizing there was no way she was getting out of there, she makes a deal with another prisoner, Raphael, who’s also a vampire. This book follows their journey of escape and beyond. Since Samara has been in prison for over 10 years, there’s a great deal about the world that she doesn’t really know and relies on Raphael to guide her. The magic system is cool and one I’ve never seen before (closest is The Shephard King duology but this one is still different).
It’s hard to go into more detail without giving some key plot points away without flagging for spoilers but I will say that even though a few plot points were obvious for someone that reads a lot of romantasy, I definitely enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to the next book, especially given the way it ended. While I expected the ending, I didn’t expect Samara’s reaction and it sets up book 2 so well.
I still have so many questions that I’m hoping we’ll delve into more with book 2. I have a feeling where some of this is going to go but I ate these two up and I’ll be continuing the series. I would love to have book 2 introduce Raphael’s POV.
I am so glad I listened to the audiobook as the narrator, Cecily Foster, did a great job on this single narration/POV audiobook.
It’s hard to go into more detail without giving some key plot points away without flagging for spoilers but I will say that even though a few plot points were obvious for someone that reads a lot of romantasy, I definitely enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to the next book, especially given the way it ended. While I expected the ending, I didn’t expect Samara’s reaction and it sets up book 2 so well.
I still have so many questions that I’m hoping we’ll delve into more with book 2. I have a feeling where some of this is going to go but I ate these two up and I’ll be continuing the series. I would love to have book 2 introduce Raphael’s POV.
I am so glad I listened to the audiobook as the narrator, Cecily Foster, did a great job on this single narration/POV audiobook.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
Thank you to Vasilisa Drake for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC book. This is my honest review. I absolutely loved this book! This is a slow burn romance where Samara, our FMC, who is serving out a prison sentence and meets a vampire, Raphael and they escape. There are witches and a unique magic system where magic is imposed into cards. Samara has so much character development and the writing was amazing with how it progressed. Raphael is probably one of the first vampires that I instantly fell in love with and how he saw Samara. I can’t wait for the next book!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If you love slow burn, touch her and die (literally!), yearning vampire romance vibes, this is the book for you! I can't wait for everyone to experience this story! the FMC 's journey is one of transformation and strength. The MMC is both swoon worthy and terrifying. The side character who befriends the FMC is someone I'd want looking out for me. One warning, however: the ending is a cliffhanger and will leave you wanting book 2 NOW!
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absolutely loved reading this book. Vampires, witches, and a magic card system. We have Samara, a witch, who is imprisoned for 15 years thinking she’s going to be liberated soon. We have Raphael, a vampire, who makes a bargain with Samara to keep her safe if she agrees to free him. She agrees and off they go. The storyline is so good and well written. The slow burn and tension leave me wanting more from these two. I was rooting for the vampire the entire time because he’s everything you could ever want and more. The plot twist at the end confirmed my suspicions, but still had me shrieking. I’m so excited for book 2 and I hope we get the necessary answers. Enemies to lovers? ✅ Touch her and die?✅ Slow burn? ✅ Vampires and Witches?✅