Reviews - A Bargain So Bloody

You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

375 reviews for:

A Bargain So Bloody

Vasilisa Drake

4.08 AVERAGE

abunchofrosesanddandelions's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

theshelfarchive's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

I devoured this book—it was fast-paced, addictive, and a whole lot of fun. The mix of magic, danger, and slow-burn tension made it hard to put down, and I was hooked from the very first chapter. While some twists were easy to spot, the journey there was so entertaining that I didn’t mind. By the end, I was equal parts satisfied and desperate for the next instalment.

—

🙌 What I Liked
The magic system was one of the highlights.

I loved the concept of magic being imbued into cards, which could then be purchased and used by voids (those without magic of their own).

It gave the world a practical layer of accessibility and made magic feel like a resource, with value and consequences, rather than just an innate gift.

The characters were another standout.

The FMC was very relatable—naive at first, having spent most of her life in prison, yet determined not to let her lack of experience hold her back. Watching her grow stronger, trust herself, and step into her own was incredibly satisfying. I also appreciated the hints scattered throughout the story about her identity as both the necromancer the MMC was searching for and the King’s daughter. Yes, it was fairly obvious, but it still worked well in the narrative.

The MMC was equally compelling

and while I guessed he was an important figure amongst the vampires, I never guessed he was a King—that was a fun surprise.

Charming, dangerous, and protective, he complemented the FMC perfectly. I especially liked that he allowed her space

to train, translate the grimoire, and discover the world for the first time on her own terms.

The tension in their dynamic and the delicious slow burn kept me glued to the page.

I definitely caught the possibility of a fated mates angle being teased, though the book never outright confirmed it.

World-building wise, the prison setting created a grim, claustrophobic starting point, before expanding into a broader world full of layered politics and threats. The writing style was clear and immersive without ever being weighed down by too much detail—it struck a great balance, letting me race through the story while still feeling grounded in the world.

❌ What Didn’t Hit
The story did lean on a few predictable reveals,

particularly around the FMC’s identity.

I could see them coming a mile off, but they didn’t lessen my enjoyment. If anything, it made me curious about how the fallout of these revelations will play out in future books.

👀 Do I Recommend It?
Absolutely. This was a gripping, addictive read with an exciting magic system, memorable characters, and a slow-burn romance that left me aching for more. The ending floored me, and I’ll be counting down the days until I can get my hands on the sequel.

Content Warnings

spider888's review

4.0

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Slllooooowwww burn (or maybe like flickering flame?) and I love it and I need the next book where Samara will fuck everyone up. I would die for Rafael so honestly not on the same page as Samara rn

anooni's review against another edition

4.25

I really wanted to give this a five but the ending ruined it. The vibes were there until they weren’t.

kkelly04's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I thought going into this book I would love it. I love Vampire books like a lot of people I started my love of vampires with the Twilight series. There was something missing for me with this book, I cannot put my finger on it, just something did not gel for me. I will read book 2 when it releases as I really want to give this series a fair shot. 🌟🌟🌟.75

ccs94's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Torn on this rating because i was LOCKED in. But the storyline and Sam's reasoning towards the end really started to go off the rails a bit. I get it, doing it for the plot, but still some plot holes/logic gaps I can’t ignore. Will most likely read book 2 if i remember when it comes out, but not tracking the release.