A review by emma1023
A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. WOW! My emotions were all over the place with this book. It really felt like two different stories between the first 50% and then the second half of the book. Even with the book being nearly 500 pages, it felt like some parts moved too quickly. I would have really enjoyed seeing more of their story fleshed out (pun intended), like in the prison and when they’re traveling. The pacing felt a little all over the place with weeks passing in one sentence, and then a whole day getting multiple chapters. I almost would have liked the first half to be book one and the second half to be book two. We have these intense emotions from Raphael, but they come on so fast it’s hard to find an emotional basis for them as a reader. Otherwise, Samara makes me want to pull my hair out, and I really hope she comes to her senses in the second book and doesn’t actually go through with her plan. I definitely didn’t see part of that twist at the end coming though! I wish book 2 was out already!!