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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Enemies to lovers
Touch her and die
Slow Burn
Only true negative is FMC’s internal monologue was a bit incessant and repetitive.
Books I think you'd like based on this one
✨Blood Slaves
✨The Secret World of Maggie Grey
✨The First Family
✨Restore Me
Whenever you're in the mood for a relatively refreshing vampire story I would recommend.
3.5⭐️
I loved this book! The magic system and world building was unique and intriguing. I loved all the characters and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
This book was amazing!
I read as an ARC reader and I’m really sad it’s over!
There was tension, roller coaster emotions, plot, character development. Everything was there and I’m in love!
I read as an ARC reader and I’m really sad it’s over!
There was tension, roller coaster emotions, plot, character development. Everything was there and I’m in love!
adventurous
challenging
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
This book grabbed you on page one and left you on the edge of your seat by the end. I loved this book! Samara was so cut off from the world for so long she didn’t know the first thing about living and had rightfully become extremely guarded over the years. Raphael did whatever it took to achieve his goal. As the two of them spent more time together they started building a bond but it was very fragile. Samara was determined to stick to what she knew and was not trying to come up off of those beliefs. Raphael started off just trying to do what he needed to do but but you could tell he quickly started to develop feelings for her and truly wanted to give her a better life. As soon as Samara finally starts to acknowledge the life she could live.. things go left! The plot kept you wrapped up and by the end you will be dying to see what happens next! I can’t wait to see how the rest of their story plays out!!
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review. Thank you for this opportunity Vasilisa! 💜💜
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review
What do you do when you're serving time for a crime you didn't commit? Obviously, you team up with the one creature who could quite literally be the death of you! A Bargain So Bloody is absolutely the type of delicious romantasy that has you shamelessly rooting for the morally grey vampire from page one. Raphael is everything we love in a book boyfriend—dangerous, powerful, and completely devoted to our heroine's safety, even when she's her own worst enemy. Though miscommunication and trust issues fuel much of the tension (as they do in the best slow burns!), watching Raphael prove his devotion time and again had me clutching my kindle and sighing dreamily.
Vasilisa Drake has crafted a story brimming with twists that'll keep you frantically turning pages well past your bedtime. The "touch her and die" trope is executed beautifully, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between witch-hating vampire and magic-void human is chef's kiss perfection. By the time I reached that cliffhanger ending, I was already scrolling through Vasilisa's social media, desperately hunting for any crumb of information about book two. This series opener is a must-read for anyone who loves their romance with a side of magical mayhem and morally questionable love interests who fall first and fall hard!
What do you do when you're serving time for a crime you didn't commit? Obviously, you team up with the one creature who could quite literally be the death of you! A Bargain So Bloody is absolutely the type of delicious romantasy that has you shamelessly rooting for the morally grey vampire from page one. Raphael is everything we love in a book boyfriend—dangerous, powerful, and completely devoted to our heroine's safety, even when she's her own worst enemy. Though miscommunication and trust issues fuel much of the tension (as they do in the best slow burns!), watching Raphael prove his devotion time and again had me clutching my kindle and sighing dreamily.
Vasilisa Drake has crafted a story brimming with twists that'll keep you frantically turning pages well past your bedtime. The "touch her and die" trope is executed beautifully, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between witch-hating vampire and magic-void human is chef's kiss perfection. By the time I reached that cliffhanger ending, I was already scrolling through Vasilisa's social media, desperately hunting for any crumb of information about book two. This series opener is a must-read for anyone who loves their romance with a side of magical mayhem and morally questionable love interests who fall first and fall hard!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was so good!! It grabbed me from the very first page and didn’t let go. The narrator did such a great job with it too!
The book starts out with our FMC Samara trapped in a witch prison. She finds out that her fifteen year sentence is not in fact almost up and teams up with another prisoner, Raphael, who also happens to be a vampire to escape. They strike a deal and he promises to protect her. I loved the magic system, the characters, the plot, all of it. And that epilogue!!! I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.
For fans of:
Slow burn romance
Dark fantasy
Vampire/human trope
Magic
Enemies to allies to lovers
He falls first
Touch her and die
This was so good!! It grabbed me from the very first page and didn’t let go. The narrator did such a great job with it too!
The book starts out with our FMC Samara trapped in a witch prison. She finds out that her fifteen year sentence is not in fact almost up and teams up with another prisoner, Raphael, who also happens to be a vampire to escape. They strike a deal and he promises to protect her. I loved the magic system, the characters, the plot, all of it. And that epilogue!!! I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.
For fans of:
Slow burn romance
Dark fantasy
Vampire/human trope
Magic
Enemies to allies to lovers
He falls first
Touch her and die
emotional
mysterious
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! Thank you so much Vasilisa for the ARC and ALC!
This was such a an interesting read. The magic system is so different and I'm dying for more. The world building made sense. I love discovering the vampire world through Samara.
Samara is a great character. She's been forced to live in a survival atmosphere, making her strong. Even if she doesn't know how strong she truly is.
Raphael was every bit the dark mysterious vampire. Doesn't hurt he's completely whipped for his lady. Don't get it twisted though, he will unalive anyone who looks at her funny. Yet he wants to change things for her.
The ending has me craving more. So much has happened and I need book two ASAP.
I totally recommend this book! Available June 30!
This was such a an interesting read. The magic system is so different and I'm dying for more. The world building made sense. I love discovering the vampire world through Samara.
Samara is a great character. She's been forced to live in a survival atmosphere, making her strong. Even if she doesn't know how strong she truly is.
Raphael was every bit the dark mysterious vampire. Doesn't hurt he's completely whipped for his lady. Don't get it twisted though, he will unalive anyone who looks at her funny. Yet he wants to change things for her.
The ending has me craving more. So much has happened and I need book two ASAP.
I totally recommend this book! Available June 30!
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
*ARC – Release Date 30/06/2025*
This book was wonderful! We follow Samara and her daring escape from prison, where she was serving a 15-year term for a crime she didn’t commit. When she realises that it is likely she will never leave the prison – at least not any time soon - she engineers a way to escape involving a fellow prisoner – a blood thirsty vampire, Raphael.
The dynamic between Samara and Raphael is intense and powerful, you are left wanting to see what happens next after every interaction they have. The side characters are equally likeable, and they all interact with one another perfectly in a way that showcases each character's development.
The world building is great; it is dark, fascinating and very immersive. Raphael is a truly morally grey character, and I would argue that Samara can be considered morally grey too given some of her choices! This book is a very slow burn romance – kind of – and has the wonderful ‘touch her and die’ trope which I enjoyed very much.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, with many questions left unanswered. I am anxious to read the second story and hopefully resolve some of those questions! I will also be buying a physical copy of this book once it releases.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake was absolutely addicting! I was hooked from chapter one and couldn’t stop listening.
If you’re a fan of brooding vampires, slow-burn tension, and enemies-to-lovers romance, this one needs to be on your TBR. Samara, a "void" (a witch without powers), makes a dangerous bargain with Rafael, a powerful vampire she’s been raised to despise. But the more they clash, the more undeniable their chemistry becomes.
Rafael is fiercely protective, and I adored the subtle, thoughtful ways he shows his growing feelings for Sam—even when she tries to resist them. The emotional buildup is so satisfying, and the ending? It left me desperate for more!
I received an audio ARC and loved the narration—it pulled me even deeper into this dark, romantic world.
Highly recommend for fans of paranormal romance with bite.
(ARC review)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sam is a no one-a Void forgotten in a prison hell that she can only one day dream of leaving. He is her sworn enemy.
Little does she know he will end up being the one way out of her own personal nightmare.
I loved every second of this audio book. From the narrators voice to the story that unfolded an a turn of events that I didn’t quite predict. This book has me craving more after leaving me with more questions after some really good answers. Cannot wait to sink my teeth into more of this series as it unfolds.
-enemies to allies
-one horse
-touch her and die
-vampires and witches
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in advance to enjoy. I herby give this review as a fair and honest opinion of my own volition.