Audience: Adult
Plot: 4.5 out of 5
Characters: 4.5 out of 5
Spice: 1 out of 5 (kissing)

Keywords: Dark Romantasy, Vampires, Witches, Bargains, Found Family, Enemies to Lovers, Betrayal, Unique Magic, Slow Burn

Tea Pairing: Chocolate Hazelnut Dessert Tea by Plum Deluxe

Favorite Quotes:
“Would you crave me as ruthlessly as I crave you?”
“If you want something, and it’s in my power to give it, I will give it.”

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. Thank you! All opinions are my own.

Samara “Sam” has been trapped in the magical prison of Greymere for a crime she didn’t commit. Serving out a fifteen year sentence, she keeps her head down and counts down the days until she can be free. But she learns that freedom is a lie, and that she will never be free, unless she takes matters into her own hands. Luckily, the newest prisoner might be able to help her. The only problem is that he’s a vampire, and the mortal enemy of witches. Can she trust Raphael enough to get to safety? Or will she strike a bargain that will end up being the one for her soul?

This is a very, very slow burn with lots of tension. I loved the interactions between Samara and Raphael. He was totally obsessed with her, and just the way he would encourage her, and say things like, “I’ll always respect your wishes,” made me fall for him.

It also had a very unique magic system using enchanted cards. The user speaks the spell on the card, and it activates the magic for a temporary time. What I like about this magic system is that anyone, even non-magic users, can use the cards.

Overall, this novel surprised me greatly. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but one thing was for sure – I couldn’t put it down! Plus, the audiobook narration was very entertaining! The narrator, Cecily Foster, did an amazing job in her performance in regard to the different characters. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a good enemies to lovers, and a super slow burn.

This has left me dying for the sequel! Absolutely wonderful! Love the characters and love the plot! Well-worth the read.

A Bargain so Bloody is a fantasy vampire slow burn romance. The FMC is named Samara who is being imprisoned for a crime in which we do not know. She is sentenced to 15 years, with only 3 remaining. She is tortured, starved and abused daily. Her only hope of being released in a few years is shattered when a guard reveals he has to intention of ever letting her leave.
Raphael our MMC is a recently captured vampire prisoner. One night Samara is told to attend the vampires wounds from being beaten. Raphael convinces her to a bargain for both of their freedoms.
This story is full of secrets, dark elements and unknown intentions. I liked watching the FMC learn and become a stronger character. The MMC was overly protective from the beginning with a touch her and die vibe (literally). I enjoyed this book overall and gave it 3.75 in rating. The ending was a twist that makes you excited for the next book. Thank you to Netgalley Victory Editing for the opportunity to read this. book.

First of all, thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Said this, A Bargain So Bloody totally surprised me in the best way. I picked it up expecting a quick dark fantasy read, but I ended up way more invested than I thought I’d be. The premise hooked me right away—Samara stuck in this awful magical prison, surrounded by cruelty and lies, and her only chance at escape being a literal bloodthirsty vampire? Yes, please. That tension between needing someone you absolutely shouldn’t trust made for such an intense dynamic.

I really liked how layered both Samara and Raphael were. She’s tough but vulnerable, and he’s dangerous but not one-dimensional. Their uneasy alliance had just the right amount of tension, mistrust, and slow-burning connection to keep me turning pages. Plus, the setting of Greymere is so atmospheric—it’s cold, terrifying, and just oozing with dread.

I’m giving this four stars mainly because while I was hooked, I did feel like some pacing parts dragged just a bit, and I wanted a little more clarity around certain magical elements. But honestly, it didn’t take away much from my enjoyment. If you’re into gritty fantasy with reluctant partnerships, morally gray characters, and high-stakes escape plans, this is one to check out. I’m really curious to see where the story goes next!

This book was so consumable. I read it in hours. Honestly, a slow burn with tension and a fun time. Easy to read but full of world building and angst.

I dont know how many books in the series this will be but i forgo at least three. - because the second book is going to be a BANGER….lots of questions raised- lots of intrigue. This was a great time. I need more to read it because i need to debrief!!

Truly, the only reason I got through this was because I couldn’t accept the white hair & red eyes so I pictured him as Damon from Vampire Diaries & it made the book 1 thousand times better.

A tiny bit predictable & if you know me, I’m always trying to figure out the ending before it happens so do with that what you may. Will I be rushing to read book 2? Probably not, if I’m bored & don’t have anything better - okay hand it over.

Oh & heavy on fantasy - definitely not a ROMANTasy cause there was basically two steamy kisses & second base groping that made me feel like I was reading YA.

The only advice I have on this is... READ THIS BOOK NOW!

Wow. I loved this book. The writing was incredible, the characters were done so well, I truly cared for our FMC and MMC. I had no real thought about where it was going till about the 90% mark and I did guess correctly but it didn't take away from it as the execution was done beautifully!

I am foaming at the bit for the next one! I cannot wait to see where this goes next.

This was a great read! The characters are likeable, and their personalities felt realistic. I am a huge book theory girl, so the minute I start reading, the wheels are turning to predict outcomes. I was able to predict a couple of outcomes relatively easily, and I have further predictions that have yet to be confirmed regarding the Void's circumstances around magic.

I enjoyed the push and pull between our MC's- but Samara definitely has me kicking my feet with some of the choices she makes out of plain and simple fear.

I am so excited for book 2! Things start to really ramp up in the last half of the book, and the last chapter was intense build up for what's to come.

This was very easily a 4/5 star read for me based on my opinion of the characters, their dynamics, the world, and the plot. The world building was all detailed enough not to feel like there were holes to jump over, but not so complex that its difficult to understand and get into the swing of, and the plot moves at a nice and steady pace with minimal glossing over, and unrealistic timelines. A+ !

🇬🇧 Review of A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake

A Bargain So Bloody is a dark, fast-paced romantasy that doesn’t shy away from difficult themes. With an adaptive heroine, a morally grey world, and an inventive magic system, it delivers a story that is utterly unapologetic in how it deals with trauma, morality, and power, and that’s both its strength and its occasional weakness.

At the center of it all is Samara, who is not your usual romantasy heroine. She is deeply traumatized, filled with rage and pain, and she doesn’t “heal” just because someone loves her. There’s no neat recovery arc here, no magical forgiveness. Instead, her journey is filled with hate, vengeance, confusion, and fleeting moments of tenderness that never feel like they cancel out what she’s been through. Her emotional chaos is palpable and real. I appreciated that Drake let her remain angry, even broken at times. It’s honest and rare.

The magic system built around enchanted cards is one of the most original I’ve seen in a while. These magical cards hold power, and a sense of unpredictability that gives the story its own rhythm. It’s refreshing to see a fantasy book move away from elemental magic and use something with both strategy and mystery. I genuinely loved this system. It was inventive, symbolic, and added richness to the world-building.

Then there’s the vampire lore, which manages to feel fresh in a genre saturated with bloodsuckers. Instead of leaning into gothic tropes or predator/lover clichés, Drake built a structured, established vampire society with rules, order, and a veneer of civility. However, their treatment of humans is practical but ethically uncomfortable. It’s clear that humans are resources, and while they’re not necessarily tortured, the cold efficiency with which they’re used raises unsettling questions. It adds a delicious moral greyness that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The same moral tension exists in the witch kingdom, especially in how it treats voids (humans without magical abilities). While at first it seems like the witches are a contrast to the vampires, their own prejudices and hierarchical system reveal that power corrupts, regardless of who wields it. Both societies are flawed, and the book doesn’t pretend otherwise. That complexity is one of its strongest elements.

👍 What I particularly liked:
• The magic card system was brilliant: symbolic, strategic, and completely fresh. It gave the story a unique flavour.
• A new perspective on vampires, leaning into societal structure and utilitarian horror instead of simply sensual tropes.
• The story refuses to sugar-coat pain or simplify trauma. It’s messy, and that’s the point.
• Both societies are flawed and morally complex, with no obvious “good” side.

👎 What didn’t work for me:
• The pacing is breakneck. So much happens in so few pages that it becomes overwhelming rather than suspenseful. It took time to adjust.
• I couldn’t connect with Raphael. His unwavering loyalty to Samara lacked explanation or depth. His motivations remain unclear, which made the romantic subplot feel emotionally thin.

❤️‍🔥 Spice Level: 1/5 🌶, but leaning towards 🫑

Final Verdict: 4.25/5 ⭐️
A Bargain So Bloody is a gritty, emotionally intense, and morally rich story.
If you enjoy romantasy that leans into darkness, moral ambiguity, and powerful storytelling devices, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Dark, addictive, and full of slow-burn tension. This book had me hooked with its morally grey vampire MMC, magical cuffs, and gritty prison break setting. Samara and Raphael’s dynamic gave forced proximity a sharp edge, and the banter and angst were deliciously done.

The atmosphere was rich, the magic system creative, and that ending? Jaw-dropping.

🧛‍♂️ Recommend to: Fans of tortured vampires, “he falls first” dynamics, and romantasy with bite.
💬 Tropes: Enemies to lovers, magical cuffs, prison break, touch-her-and-die, morally grey love interest.

Holy shit, how is no one talking about this? This was such a well-paced, entertaining read with pretty much every element you could want in a vampire romantasy.

The magic system was so interesting. The use of cards to utilize magic was brilliant - reminds me of the Providence Cards for the Shepherds King duology.

Raphael - Mr. "As long as you're in my care, you're mine". Yeah, everything he said had me so smiling. Mr. "I wish to know all of your thoughts" - I would fall to my knees. I need his POV so bad - I signed up for the authors newsletter to get three chapters of it.

Samara - my baby. She has been through so much and not even all of it is explicitly stated in this book. Her internal struggle with what she's been taught vs what she is experiencing felt very real. She goes back and forth through most of the book and while some people may find this repetitive; I found it to be a really honest depiction of how deeply ingrained beliefs, especially when they have been instilled at a young age. She does not instantly drop everything just because the MMC is hot & kind of nice to her. The hesitation makes her so feel so human.

Even with a great story idea, it was the execution that really impressed me. Dialogue feels natural, tension is built up beautifully & the structure is so well done. Every single moment builds up towards that ending. I'm going to be thinking about what happens next until the sequel.

I genuinely cannot wait to read the second book. I have this as an e-book but I am immediately going to buy the paperback. And once that comes in I'm doing a re-read.

Really enjoyed this book! Love a good vampire story. Sam has spent the last 12 years in prison trapping rats for her and the prisoners to eat. With 3 years left on her sentence a new prisoner is brought in. A handsome vampire named Raphael. One evening Sam makes a deal with Raphael for him to help her escape and that she would bring him with her. Together they escape the prison and head to the city of Answers. I really enjoyed the magic system and am really looking forward to book 2.

I went into this book not having read anything from Drake but after reading the description it seemed to be right up my alley. Individualized magic system, prison break, and a broody "he falls first" vampire?? Sign me up! The book certainly delivered on their enemies to lovers theme and despite it being such an intensely slow burn there were some big, big moments of delicious tension.

However, there were so many things I found just less than fun for me. Although it's not marked as such I almost want to say this book really leans very YA purely based on how the level of naivety our FMC Samara possesses remains sky high throughout most of the book. Yes, she went into a prison when she was 9 but making her not know about some even basic female anatomy made her seem like some sheltered porcelain doll and not the fiery passionate badass I'm hoping she turns out to be. Secondly, the fact that we still don't know what landed Samara in prison is just a huge frustration. Samara's inner monologue was a constant companion that I found myself looking to be cut shorter. Our MMC Raphael we saw not enough of. He seemed to just pop up when convenient just to provide our FMC with ore emotional confusion.

I think this book is a really great choice for readers who are looking for a more YA leaning slow burn vampire x human forced proximity vibe. The world building was vivid and easy to follow while the secondary characters also definitely added to some of the flourish in this book. Dark, broody, and morally great vampy MMC is a definite bonus. For me this is really a 3-3.5, but I can definitely see it being a new favorite for others so I'd still recommend it to most!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been craving a really good urban fantasy. This was so fun and that ending deserves a chefs kiss. My only complaint is I need the next book now! Thank you to Netgalley, Lat Night Daydreams LLC, and Vasilia Drake for the ARC and ALC. I will definitely be watching for Book 2 in Kingdom of Dark Magic series.

Samara breaks out of a prison she shouldn't be in, because she is not guilty of the crime of which she is accused. She leaves an environment of torment and abuse with the help of a vampire she is terrified of, but also sympathizes with because of their shared abuse at the hands of wicked guards.
Raphael is the worst kind of a vampire with a thirst for blood, the mortal enemy of witches, the same breed that killed her mother.
Throughout the story, Samara has an internal struggle with her own magical powers, even considering giving them up a new life. Her internal dialogue questioning herself and the evil ways of the vampire she has chosen to free kept me intrigued to find out what she will decide.
A Bargain So Bloody is a slow burn romantasy that will keep you interested, because the characters are likeable and develop a partnership you want to see get deeper!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
I am looking forward to part 2 of this great story!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – 4 Stars
ARC provided by NetGalley

I was very intrigued from the beginning and was completely hooked on this book. It was a fast paced easy read with interesting characters and good premise to the story.
The MMC was morally grey in all the right ways and when I came to Samara it dove right into “touch her and die” At first, I was thrown off by how juvenile the FMC felt, but realizing she spent most of her life imprisoned really put that into perspective. She had zero exposure to the outside world, so her naivety made sense and felt more intentional as the story progressed. The romance was a very slow burn, but packed with tension as the main characters fight the pull between them.

There were a few moments early on where I worried it might veer into cheesy territory, but the darker tones gradually crept in and grounded the story. Overall, I enjoyed it more than I expected and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the series goes next!

A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake and narrated by Cecily Foster is the first book in the Kingdom of Dark Magic series and I loved it, this audiobook was so good I ended up listening to it whilst I was shopping, and window shopping. My mind was miles away in the cold Castle Greymere, even though! I am so glad I never saw any Vampires whilst out shopping!!! and I am glad it was warm out! 😂

Samara is now twenty years old, she is finally coming to her end of her sentence in prison, but she has no idea why is is there!! Sadly she has been stuck in there since she was a young child and only eight years old. She was sentenced for a crime she did not commit. Samara is bullied by all the guards and is tormented by the screams of the other prisoners within the prison throughout the day and especially throughout the night!.
Samara needs to be strong to leave this prison and survive, she must deal with the most dangerous prisoner of them all!

But, as days go by to her freedom she learns that her freedom that has been promised is the cruelest lie she would ever be told!!!! No one leaves Greymere alive. and now and she is faced with a resign herself to dying in the cold walls of Castle Greymere, or do the unthinkable and escape. So to break out of the prison? She will have to use one of the undead.

Now, Raphael is the worst kind of a vampire with a massive thirst for blood, the mortal enemy of witches, the same breed that killed her mother. And most importantly, he’s unspeakably powerful, his supernatural strength tamed only by the enchanted cuffs forced on him.

He’s her only chance at a life outside the prison walls.

The deal is Samara unlocks his shackles, and he'll help her escape. But although Raphael agreed to help her leave Greymere, he never promised to let her go…

WoW this audiobook is so good and the narrator Cecily Foster was superb.

I was lucky to receive the audiobook and book and I recommend them both.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Audio ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for my ARC.

This book has everything a romantasy needs! A feisty FMC, an MMC who wants to be better, and of course a secret mission that the FMC needs to figure out. This book was a great read, it kept me interested the whole time, I enjoyed all the different characters, and the ending has me drooling for the next book!

A Bargain So Bloody is a dark, compelling blend of vampire romance, arcane intrigue, and gritty emotional growth. If you're drawn to:

Smoldering, slow-building chemistry with complex characters,
A magic system that feels tactile and strategic,
A heroine who fights just as hard with her mind as her heart,
And plenty of moral grayness—then this is a rich, satisfying read.
It’s not light; it’s pain and power wrapped in romance—and if you’re ready for that, it’ll pull you into its world—and refuse to let go.

I really enjoyed this!

Samara is such an interesting FMC, imprisoned at age eight after her mother is accused of treason we meet her twelve years into her fifteen year sentence. Except its not just another three years of catching rats to eat and serving in the prison, it's a lifetime sentence and she's not doing that.

Raphael our MMC is less interesting than Sam and his identity twist was obvious as soon as Vampire Kings were announced as a thing. He's protective but condescending and I'm not sure if I liked him but I did like Samara.

The twist at the end while a little predictable - hints all the way back in chapter one or two when he couldn't mind control her - was satisfying.

I did think that it would be revealed that Sam was the bastard child of the king but I was wrong.

Looking forward to the next book! I can't wait to find out what her mother did to get them both classed as traitors and how the events in the last two chapters will spiral out into the sequel!