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A review by laurensmithlals
A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.0
A Bargain So Bloody is like if your favourite cozy mystery went on a goth vacation, met a vampire prince at a dive bar, and came home with blood on its boots and a suspicious new tattoo. Vasilisa Drake serves up murder, mayhem, and magical mischief with a side of snark—and honestly, I was here for it.
Our protagonist? Equal parts clever, chaotic, and cursed (probably). The plot? A twisty, fang-filled whodunnit that feels like Agatha Christie met a dark fairy tale and they decided to co-parent a haunted sword. The worldbuilding is rich, the dialogue crackles like enchanted pop rocks, and the villain? Oh, honey. Chef’s kiss of dread.
So why the 4 stars? Well, sometimes the pacing was more "wandering around a cursed castle in the dark" than "racing through the climax on a flaming broomstick." A few side characters felt like magical red herrings rather than fully fleshed-out beings. And okay, maybe the ending left me going, "Wait—THAT’S the bargain?!"
Still, I laughed. I gasped. I may have yelled "NOOOO" at one point (and scared my dog). If you like your fantasy with blood, bargains, and a generous helping of bite, this one’s worth the read—even if it occasionally stumbles in its boots.
Our protagonist? Equal parts clever, chaotic, and cursed (probably). The plot? A twisty, fang-filled whodunnit that feels like Agatha Christie met a dark fairy tale and they decided to co-parent a haunted sword. The worldbuilding is rich, the dialogue crackles like enchanted pop rocks, and the villain? Oh, honey. Chef’s kiss of dread.
So why the 4 stars? Well, sometimes the pacing was more "wandering around a cursed castle in the dark" than "racing through the climax on a flaming broomstick." A few side characters felt like magical red herrings rather than fully fleshed-out beings. And okay, maybe the ending left me going, "Wait—THAT’S the bargain?!"
Still, I laughed. I gasped. I may have yelled "NOOOO" at one point (and scared my dog). If you like your fantasy with blood, bargains, and a generous helping of bite, this one’s worth the read—even if it occasionally stumbles in its boots.