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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
I loved this. I know I'm bias because of sapphic vampires, but what can I say? Something about it just feels nostalgic. I thought Rebecca and Aliz's relationship was so cute! I understand why some readers have had an issue with all the organizations and the plot points surrounding them, since many different groups can become confusing for a lot of people. While I wouldn't call this dark academia, it does have a dark academia setting. The yearning and holding back adds so much tension to many scenes, and I found myself going "just do it!" many times. I can't forget to mention the vampire lore. Having vampires with weakness in accordance with their culture is an interesting take, which is enjoy. I wouldn't have liked to have had the secondary characters fleshed out more, but I like what we've seen so far.
I do wish we got more information on some of the questions we still have, but the framework is set up to have them answered. If there wasn't going to be a second book, we would have a LOT of unanswered questions. I'm excited to get answers to them!
I do wish we got more information on some of the questions we still have, but the framework is set up to have them answered. If there wasn't going to be a second book, we would have a LOT of unanswered questions. I'm excited to get answers to them!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
fell to my knees and screamed at the sky.
the book started feeling a bit on a YA-ish side but TRUST it gets better the more you read it.
the vampire lore was stereotypical with the garlic, silver, mirrors etc. but I loved how those things can't affect a vampire from a different mythology, (also the detail on what happens if they don't feed was pretty interesting and hope it'll be used more in the future just putting it out there)
i don't know if I'm picky with it but the romance felt a bit rushed, the tension and yearning was worth it anyways so IM NOT COMPLAINING, I WOULD'VE BEEN ALL OVER ALIZ ON DAY 3
and then the whole vessel and callisto thing was insane for me honestly everything and everyone was connected and it all lead to the astra family too which was messing with my head but it was one of the best parts for me tbh
and then the ending, it was a wholesome get-together and it could work perfectly fine as a standalone but I'll tune in the sequel anyway even if this book isn't out yet!
thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for this eARC!
the book started feeling a bit on a YA-ish side but TRUST it gets better the more you read it.
the vampire lore was stereotypical with the garlic, silver, mirrors etc. but I loved how those things can't affect a vampire from a different mythology, (also the detail on what happens if they don't feed was pretty interesting and hope it'll be used more in the future just putting it out there)
i don't know if I'm picky with it but the romance felt a bit rushed, the tension and yearning was worth it anyways so IM NOT COMPLAINING, I WOULD'VE BEEN ALL OVER ALIZ ON DAY 3
and then the ending, it was a wholesome get-together and it could work perfectly fine as a standalone but I'll tune in the sequel anyway even if this book isn't out yet!
thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for this eARC!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Grief
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Vomit
emotional
mysterious
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
*ARC – Release Date 15/01/2026*
After an elite vampire academy in Scotland decides to allow human students, Rebecca Charity is sent there to secure the illusive Book of Blood and Roses. The only issue, apart from the fact that she is a vampire hunter? Aliz Astra. Beautiful and a vampire – everything Rebecca wants and hates in the same package.
This book was fabulous. The interplay between the main characters was both witty and tense, and at times it felt like you could cut the tension with a knife. We get to see both Rebecca – as Cassie – and Aliz develop so much throughout the book, and I loved how much they changed.
The setting is deliciously dark, with gothic buildings and ancient tunnels. I was invested in Rebecca from the very beginning, and I adored how she was presented. Aliz took longer for to warm too, but in the end, I loved her too.
Hidden societies, elite class divisions, vampire politics, as well as the budding sapphic love story all combine to make this book a pleasure to read. I loved the use of vampire lore to explain vampire strengths and weaknesses, and I loved the imagery used to describe the campus. Many of the supporting characters all had stories of their own to tell, and I enjoyed learning more about them too.
I am looking forward to book two – even though book one hasn’t been released yet!
This book was fabulous. The interplay between the main characters was both witty and tense, and at times it felt like you could cut the tension with a knife. We get to see both Rebecca – as Cassie – and Aliz develop so much throughout the book, and I loved how much they changed.
The setting is deliciously dark, with gothic buildings and ancient tunnels. I was invested in Rebecca from the very beginning, and I adored how she was presented. Aliz took longer for to warm too, but in the end, I loved her too.
Hidden societies, elite class divisions, vampire politics, as well as the budding sapphic love story all combine to make this book a pleasure to read. I loved the use of vampire lore to explain vampire strengths and weaknesses, and I loved the imagery used to describe the campus. Many of the supporting characters all had stories of their own to tell, and I enjoyed learning more about them too.
I am looking forward to book two – even though book one hasn’t been released yet!
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I received an eARC of this book by NetGalley
After both her parents were killed by vampires, Rebecca became a vampire hunter to seek revenge. And her biggest mission yet is to infiltrate a vampire university that accepts humans into their program for the first time ever. But things don’t go as planned and Rebecca ends up being tied to a vampire student who just happens to be the most attractive person she has ever seen…
I have conflicting feelings about this book.
I feel like I am not the target audience. Maybe I am not a vampire book girly, maybe I just struggled with the truly forced proximity and emotional abuse for both sides that came with that. It just wasnt for me…
BUT I fully recognize that this book was well written. The plotline was enjoyable, there were twists every now and then that kept things interesting. The love story was form 0 to 100 in what feels like 5 pages (which some people like) and the cast of characters both human and vampire was both interesting and diverse enough to not get them confused.
There will be a book 2 which means that not all storylines are resolved. But I would say resolved enough to be able to move on and not wake up every night until boom 2 finally comes out.
After both her parents were killed by vampires, Rebecca became a vampire hunter to seek revenge. And her biggest mission yet is to infiltrate a vampire university that accepts humans into their program for the first time ever. But things don’t go as planned and Rebecca ends up being tied to a vampire student who just happens to be the most attractive person she has ever seen…
I have conflicting feelings about this book.
I feel like I am not the target audience. Maybe I am not a vampire book girly, maybe I just struggled with the truly forced proximity and emotional abuse for both sides that came with that. It just wasnt for me…
BUT I fully recognize that this book was well written. The plotline was enjoyable, there were twists every now and then that kept things interesting. The love story was form 0 to 100 in what feels like 5 pages (which some people like) and the cast of characters both human and vampire was both interesting and diverse enough to not get them confused.
There will be a book 2 which means that not all storylines are resolved. But I would say resolved enough to be able to move on and not wake up every night until boom 2 finally comes out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Grief, Murder
adventurous
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i spent this entire book giggling and kicking my feet twirling my hair… aliz and cassie/rebecca you will always be famous 😭😭!!
the romance between a vampire and a vampire hunter who’s out for revenge is sooo scrumptious. there was realistic pacing in how they fell for each other in my opinion, and the circumstance of their relationship was handled very well! it was obvious how much they grew to care for each other, and even in the beginning of their relationship i was getting so giddy over little things like aliz reaching books for cassie hehehe 💖💖
i also think the explanations of the world in this book were done very well and everything was memorable enough that i didn’t have to go back to find information i was finding trouble recalling. the rules for vampires are super interesting and it was a great read!! i found the plot twists and ending to be very satisfying and well done !
all in all, i can’t wait to read book 2 !! 💖
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! <3
the romance between a vampire and a vampire hunter who’s out for revenge is sooo scrumptious. there was realistic pacing in how they fell for each other in my opinion, and the circumstance of their relationship was handled very well! it was obvious how much they grew to care for each other, and even in the beginning of their relationship i was getting so giddy over little things like aliz reaching books for cassie hehehe 💖💖
i also think the explanations of the world in this book were done very well and everything was memorable enough that i didn’t have to go back to find information i was finding trouble recalling. the rules for vampires are super interesting and it was a great read!! i found the plot twists and ending to be very satisfying and well done !
all in all, i can’t wait to read book 2 !! 💖
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! <3
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have just finished ARC reading this book and I am a little disappointed. The yearning, will they won't they romance, was magnificent. I was completely and utterly obsessed with the romance and school life and I really wish that had been the main focus of the plot. Instead the plot was based around vampire hunters vs the vampire council vs the vassals but they were all working together and against each other. It was unfortunately incredibly messy and it didn't flow all that well. There were a lot of moments that just happened to get the plot to a certain point. Now I did read an uncorrected copy so this could well change by release, but due to the storylines or character developments that were purely there to move the plot to where the author wanted it and not to actually add any substance or depth, it felt like a rushed and messy read.
If this book was just about a human vampire romance at a school for vampires it could have been really good. But it just got too complicated for the authors writing style and the readers experience has suffered because of it.
If this book was just about a human vampire romance at a school for vampires it could have been really good. But it just got too complicated for the authors writing style and the readers experience has suffered because of it.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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
dark
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
Thank you to Del Ray and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy for review!
I’m kinda mixed about this one. On one hand, the vampire lore and world building was so unique and fun, and I’m really excited there’ll be a book 2 to dive deeper into the unanswered mysteries.
But also, I found this kinda dry? I liked the characters, and the pacing was fine, but I feel like it was easy to see a lot of twists coming. I also thought Aliz and Rebecca’s romance happened out of nowhere? I did like it by the end though and again I can’t wait to read more about them.
A solid read. Perfect for fans of THE COVEN or THE VAMPIRE ACADEMY series.
I’m kinda mixed about this one. On one hand, the vampire lore and world building was so unique and fun, and I’m really excited there’ll be a book 2 to dive deeper into the unanswered mysteries.
But also, I found this kinda dry? I liked the characters, and the pacing was fine, but I feel like it was easy to see a lot of twists coming. I also thought Aliz and Rebecca’s romance happened out of nowhere? I did like it by the end though and again I can’t wait to read more about them.
A solid read. Perfect for fans of THE COVEN or THE VAMPIRE ACADEMY series.