A review by kavuyi
Black Rose by Karina Halle

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Tropes: 

Dark fantasy romance 

Dark retelling 

Strangers to lovers (for him) 

Reincarnation

Gothic vibes 

Vampire x vampire witch reborn 

Dual POV

Spice!!!!

Hidden identity 

Found family 

The cliffhanger that is part one all book one has brought me here to book 2. 

I felt the pain of the MMC and the heartbreak of sorts of the FMC in book one. The epilogue of book one had me screaming in shock that this never ends until it is gotten right. 

In book 2 we look at the fourth reincarnation and this time is different but she is the same. Book 2 is slightly different and I won’t lie, I am upset with the MMC because looking at book one where he was a good person or part of him was good but underlying he was just bad and the bad just came out in full force in this book. There was a point I was like if he died, I wouldn’t mind. He was that bad. 

Around the love story is the aspect of what book one needed to accomplish. Killing the bad guys or getting revenge on what Dahlia faced. I loved how in as much as she came back to find and love Valtu, the plot was expanded and in all this, the love the FMC had for him was impressive. I was ready to throw hands. The 70% marker was a fresh of breath that I needed. I actually shed some tears. Full circle moment I cried. I love the main characters. Their love, story, passion, and everything in between was just amazingly written. I’m in love.

The ending was beautiful. It was perfect. It all worked out in terms of found family. It was just amazing just to read it. Karina did an amazing job with these books.