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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Tell me, Samara. If I took you now, would you hate me? Regret me? Or would you crave me as ruthlessly as I crave you?"
This book has a lot of my favorite elements:
-witches
-vampires
-enemies to...well, still enemies at this point
-single horse
-single bed
-blood exchange to save a life
-MMC needs to keep FMC warm
And I will note that I wrote this text to my friends: "There's slow burn and there's whatever this is. 81% read, and barely a relationship beginning to develop between the main characters."
Overall, the world-building is great and I want to know more about the characters. I want to see them grow (whether separately or together). AND the FMC seems a bit irrationally stubborn to me and the MMC, while taken with the FMC, doesn't appear to have much reason to be. I received an advance reader's copy (ARC) of this book and am leaving an honest review voluntarily.
I'm excited to read more of Vasilia Drake's work and looking forward to the next book in this series!
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
I’m not usually a vampire girlie but I found this story to be engaging, funny, and easy to read. I loved how trust grew between Samara and Raphael, ultimately leading to a deeper connection beyond what the rest of the vampire kingdom perceived. I thought the magic system was super interesting and unique and really added to the world-building components the author laid out in this first installment of this series. I’m a sucker for a morally grey & possessive MMC so I was a big fan of Raphael’s “touch her and die” attitude toward anyone who came near Sam as their relationship grew. Not a fan of when the spice gets interrupted 😂 but I understand why things were laid out the way they were in this first book. I saw one of the twists coming but was VERY surprised by some of the other surprise elements, including that cliffhanger ending! I absolutely cannot wait for book 2 🤩
Infinitely grateful to Vasilisa Drake for entrusting me with an advanced copy of this wonderful story in exchange for an honest review 🖤
Infinitely grateful to Vasilisa Drake for entrusting me with an advanced copy of this wonderful story in exchange for an honest review 🖤
fast-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:
Complicated
I received this as an ARC/ ALC and this is my voluntary/honest review. This book was really, really good! I binged it only stopping to sleep and do the atrocious thing work! The world build was great, not overly complicated, and was interspersed throughout the story, instead of being info-dumpy or like your being told. The characters were well thought out and not one dimensional. I would definitely recommend giving this one a read and can't wait to read the sequel
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-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:
Complicated
Such an addictive and fast-paced romantasy. A super unique magic system, FMC with a tortured past, and a fantastic morally grey MMC. The banter is great, I loved her dry humor and watching how Samara grows into herself. Some of the best uses of fantasy tropes, and some great side characters to keep you going. You won't want to put it down.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
adventurous
emotional
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:
Complicated
I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader and once I picked up this book I could not stop reading. It was addicting from the first chapter. Sam and Raphael are amazing characters and the banter was chefs kiss. Raphael is one of the best MMC's that I have read in a while (he reminds me so much of Lorcan). And Sam is truly one tough cookie. I loved the world building and magic system. If you loved the adventure in Empire of Storms (especially the way Elide and Lorcan would banter and travel together) you would love this book. I can't wait for the second book! [I voluntarily left this review!]
adventurous
challenging
funny
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:
Yes
A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake
"I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review."
"I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review."
I devoured this book in one sitting—it was that good! From beginning to end, it had me completely hooked. The banter between the FMC and MMC was top-tier and had me grinning more than once. It’s a solid slow burn with no spice, but the tension and emotional build-up more than made up for it. The pacing was great, and the ending was so satisfying—I’m already counting down the days until the next book in the series drops!