A review by beckyyreadss
A Duel with the Vampire Lord by Elise Kova

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I wanted to carry on with this series because I enjoyed the second book in this series. This book was a lot bigger than the rest, but I loved the tension between Floriane and Ruvan.  

This book is based on Floraine and her position as the forge maiden of Hunter’s Hamlet is one of reverence, for it is her skill that arms and protects the vampire hunters. She knows her place and is a faithful servant to the Master Hunter and her community until the night of the blood moon. Until her brother is dying at the hands of the Vampire Lord Ruvan. She is wanting to defend her home at all costs, Floriane fights the vampire lord, ready to give her life if it means taking his. But Ruvan doesn’t want to take her life, he wants her. She is kidnapped and brought to the vampire castle, Floriane is now blood sworn to the vampire lord. She is bound in mind and body to her worst enemy. But Ruvan isn’t the fiend she thought he was. She learns the truth of the vampires: They are not mindless monsters, but a proud people, twisted and tortured by an ancient curse. Ruvan believes that Floriane might be the key to ending his people’s suffering. All Floriane wants is to defend her home. Loyalties are to be tested and lines between truth and lie, hate and passion, are blurred. When her dagger is at his chest, will she be able to take the heart of the man who has claimed her? 

I was a little nervous going into this book considering that the book was quite big compared the other two. However, this book was beautiful written. I love both of the main characters and the love story between them. The chemistry. I was all for it. I love the side characters and it didn’t feel like they were there just for the story to be moved along, they were all actually built and had their own weaknesses and strengths. I loved the cursed storyline and how it was the hunter that figured out the curse, not the vampires that have been trying to centuries.  

I liked that this book was longer, however, I would have liked it to be longer after Floraine became a vampire queen and the tension between Lavenzia and Drew. Did Floraine reunite with her mother? I still have questions, that I would like to be answered. There were some chapters that I thought were a bit slow-paced and a bit of repeated information at times.  

I am thoroughly enjoying this series and I cannot wait to see what the next retelling will be.  
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