I was hooked from the start and immediately knew I was going to love this. The narrator was fantastic and gave clear distinction between characters.

I loved the unique magic system, such as using enchanted cards like currency for non-magical persons to cast.

My favorite character is the MMC Raphael who is absolute perfection and you cannot convince me otherwise. He is powerful but also patient, kind, protective and supportive of the FMC Samara. The touch her and die trope was on point and I am here for it.

I do love how Samara found courage and strength after escaping from the prison where she spent the majority of her life with the help of Raphael. However, her waffling between protecting herself or protecting others and her deep hatred for the Vampires who saved her and are protecting her made her insufferable at times.

Part of the ending was not a surprise as the clues were woven in throughout the story but the cliffhanger will have you craving the next book.

3.5 rounded to a 4
I found this audiobook difficult to get into. I was not super intrigued by either MC at the beginning and forced myself to listen to the first half mainly because I had obtained an audio ARC. However, about midway through the book, it became a lot more exciting and I listened because I was eager to hear what came next. 3.5 for the slow beginning rounded to a 4 for the interesting ending. Thank you to Netgalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

📖
🎧🎧🎧🎧/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5
📆 Pub Date Jun 30 2025
♥️ Deal with a vampire
♥️ He falls first and hard
♥️ She learns her strength through hatred
THE WAY THIS BOOK ENDED. The plot was fast-paced with a slow-burn romance that constantly kept me guessing! Cecily Foster's narration, with her somber tone, perfectly captured the mood of this dark romance. While I had some ideas of where this book would go, I was still pleasantly surprised. He yearns for her from the start, but she is untrusting of him. Will he be able to break through her defenses? Is she ever going to trust him and reciprocate his feelings? There is so much to look forward to in the next book, and I'm excited to see where it goes.

Breathtakingly intense! Great world building, well described fascinating characters & amazing narration.

Every girl deserves a Raphael in her life.


Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ALC.

Thanks NetGalley for the advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a gothic dark fantasy following Samara a void (human) destined to live out her days in prison. Starving, cold and scared Samara wants to escape but at what cost.

Voice actor was incredible, smooth transition and clear distinction between characters which made it easy to follow and entertaining. I really enjoyed the character development for Samara, we see her at her absolute worst at the start of the book and then by the end she’s starting to become empowered and gain confidence. Lots of mystery still around Raphael which is how I like my MMCs. Lots of twist and turns which had me on the edge of my seat, and towards the end.. I was yelling out in frustration (don’t do it Samara!) gahhhhh !

- Vampires, void (humans) and witches
- Enemies to lovers
- Unique magic system
- Touch her and die
- Slow burn
- Morally grey MMC

I’m excited for the book 2.. which I’ll be begging Vasilisa Drake for an arc haha!

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
This book was honestly such a fun surprise!

The narrator did an amazing job—so good that I found myself listening while working (which I never do because I usually miss key things). But I didn’t even care. I’d just rewind when needed because I had to know what happened next.

There were a few lines of witty banter that literally made me laugh out loud. I loved that Rafael fell first—he’s totally the “touch her and d!e” type, and you just know he’d burn everything down if anything happened to Sam.

Sam’s been through a lot, so it makes sense she’s cautious. She’s been told all her life that vampires are the enemy, so trusting Rafael isn’t exactly easy. But things just keep happening (and trying to k!ll her), and when everything finally clicks into place with that plot twist? Yep. It all makes sense.

This was only my second vampire romance, but I’m definitely in now!

This is a slooooow sloooooow burn romance (maybe). I would’ve liked a bit more romance. Overall, I liked this book. I had a hard time connecting with Samara, but I’m interested to see how she evolves in the next book. I think it may have been a little too YA for me. The plot could’ve been a little stronger. Don’t get me wrong, I did still enjoy it! The magic system was very interesting with the use of cards, and I liked the world building involving both vampires and witches! The narration was great! I plan to continue the series when the next book comes out. Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and Vasilisa Drake for allowing me to listen to an advanced copy of this book!

4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ only dropped .5 because I started to hate Samara! Omg!!! Talk about a cliffhanger and I NEEEEDDDD answers!!!! Why did I do this to myself! I was soooo completely engrossed and obsessed with this book from the very beginning!!! My heart broke for the life that Samara had been living, I wanted to reach in and pick her up and hug her. We meet Raphael and he immediately turns into the alpha male to protect her and help her escape the prison. I love how he just does what he wants and has no remorse for keeping her safe through their journey. Samara has a lot of hatred for the vampires and it takes her a long time to even accept help where she desperately needs it.
I don’t want to give any spoilers, and I feel like there’s a lot that happens that needs to be experienced! I can say that I spent most of this book trying figure out why Samara was in prison and who she really is….like is said, CLIFFHANGER!!!! And I need more. I listened to this book and Cecily Foster is a huge talent! I am really loving her voice, she does the male voices so well and I she narrates the next book, which I hope is not too far in the future!
Not really any spice in this one, 🫑

Thank you NetGalley for the arc audiobook!!!!

If you were imprisoned would you make a deal with a vampire?

Samara has been trapped in servitude for 12 years with 3 remaining. Raphael is a recently captured vampire that she had to tend to his wounds.

Then Samara finds out she isn't getting out in 3 years. So she does the unthinkable and helps the vampire escape under the condition Raphael takes her with him.

This is a captivating story, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see where they took me. What would they do next? Would they get caught by the king before they could escape?

Thank you NetGalley, Vasilisa Drake, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for allowing me to review this book!

Loved the narration—absolutely stunning. The world felt fresh, especially the magic and twist on vampires and witches.

Raphael is brutal, but his obsession with Samara was intense. She’s unraveling years of captivity and trying to make sense of what’s right or wrong.

The ending brought everything full circle. Some of her inner thoughts dragged a bit, but I’m hooked and ready for book two.

First off, thanks to Victory Editing and NetGalley for an ALC of this book. The narration of this story was absolutely beautiful the narrator did an excellent job!!

I have been craving a good vampire romantasy and this was just what I needed! Some of my favorite tropes were in this story such as; a journey, “touch her and die” vibes, he falls first, and I always love a royal court. I was invested in the romance and the plot line which is always what I’m searching for in a book and it definitely kept me hooked. The ending definitely had me wanting to see what will happen next with these characters.

**Review will be posted to my Instagram on release day 😊

Audiobook
Narration: excellent
Wow ! from the first page to the last. I was enthralled from the first look into the red eyes.That had to be it because I couldn’t quit this book for real life things like work and meals, I had my headphones on doing everything. I may have to listen again.
Witches, vampires and voids (non magical people) make up this well developed world. It starts out with a meek void girl in a prison. She’s abused, nearly starved and yet she has hope till a vampire becomes a prisoner. She has past trauma involving vampires and immediately gets anxious.The hatred she feels for them is deep. Her tormentor see’s this and forces her to care for the beaten vampire. A pack is formed between them, and the adventure begins. Cliffhanger ending, a real :O ending !
Dark twisted vampiric tale with magical witches, social stigmas,
I have so many questions for the next book.

Vasilisa Drake’s A Bargain So Bloody is a spellbinding dark fantasy audiobook that delivers a delicious blend of gothic atmosphere, forbidden romance, and ruthless political intrigue. With richly woven lore and a protagonist who must navigate a world where every choice has deadly consequences, this is a must-listen for fans of morally gray characters, courtly scheming, and slow-burning tension.

The story centers on a cunning heroine forced into a dangerous alliance—one that may cost her more than she bargained for. Blood magic, ancient bargains, and deadly secrets swirl around her as she fights not only for survival but for control in a realm where power is taken, not given. Drake’s writing is immersive and lush, steeped in myth and darkness, while the pacing balances action, suspense, and character development with finesse.

What elevates the audiobook even further is the narration—a performance that’s both evocative and emotionally resonant. The narrator (or narrators, if multiple are used) brings the characters to life with distinct voices, capturing the intensity of the world and the inner turmoil of its characters. The emotional weight hits harder in audio, especially during moments of betrayal, sacrifice, or quiet vulnerability.

There are moments where the world-building can feel dense or slow for listeners unfamiliar with the genre, and a few side characters fade into the background. However, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise standout performance.

A Bargain So Bloody is perfect for listeners who enjoy the dark romanticism of Sarah J. Maas, the grit of Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House, or the dangerous court politics of The Cruel Prince. It’s seductive, tense, and beautifully wicked—a haunting fantasy that lingers long after the final chapter.

Thank you so much to Victory Editing and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️ rounded up. I ate this book UP. Samara is wrongfully accused of a crime and has served 12 years in prison. When she learns that she is not going to be released after 15 years, she plots to escape with the newest prisoner that came to Greymere. And he also just so happens to be a vampire.

This was so much fun. I’ve read a lot of fantasy books and I’ve never seen it done quite like this. The magic system was so interesting with the cards, which I’ve only seen in one other book. Some things were typical fantasy stuff, like a human finds themselves thrown into a group of supernatural beings. But I’ve never read a book that took that plot and did it with vampires. It was a nice refresh from all the fantasy books focusing on high fae.

Raphael… RAPHAEL!!!! That man, sorry that male… GOD DAMN. He is the definition of touch her and die. He would burn the world down to protect her. The things this man did to protect her and to make sure no one hurt her. The monastery… that was actually insane. But why was I smirking after he just massacred a ton of people???? He fell so damn hard for her. You could see it in everything that he did for her. This man made her breakfast (or tried) after not having made breakfast for over 600 years. And this was before he really got to know her. He bought her a belt that she had been eyeing at the market and gifted it to her. Him hiring all different types of musicians because she once said she liked music. I also loved the take on “mates”. I know they were never called mates, but in fantasy books, that’s how they have two characters be able to read each other’s emotions and talk to one another without other people hearing. She was tied to him because he made her his. I thought it was so cool how him drinking her blood made it possible for him to hear her thoughts and be connected to her like that.

From the moment they started talking about Raphael going to hunt this “abomination” I just knew it was her. I knew it. AND SHE WAS THE NECROMANCER. It was woven into the story so nicely. There were signs all along, like vampires randomly listening to her orders, Raphael not being able to thrall her, and vampires along the way randomly taking orders from her. This plot is going to be so interesting in the next book. I can’t believe I have to wait for the next book, especially when this one hasn’t even come out yet. I just know the next book is going to be so good. And with her now being a vampire!!! HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK! I love that she’s on this revengeful path. And that cliff hanger was so good!!! Raphael being in a coma, and Samara being caged again. I’m so excited!

“I was the necromancer Raphael had been hunting for centuries. And I was going to tear his kingdom apart, one fanged monster at a time.”

Samara did seem to repeat herself a lot, but I chose to overlook it because honestly, if I was a human stuck in a kingdom of vampires, I think I’d be repeating my thoughts to myself too.

One last thing I heavily appreciated from this book was how the author didn’t just throw in random spice chapters. I feel like authors can get carried away in fantasy books and make characters hook up far too soon or out of the blue. I love that this was a slow burn. I was screaming when they kissed. It didn’t even need spicy scenes to be good. I was living for all the little touches and all the moments of eye contact.

I have just finished this in one sitting and had one of my best immersive reading experiences ever. I could not put this down. The vampire aspect is what drew me in and it was a masterpiece. The story was so gripping from the very first chapter.

The ending has me so excited for the next book I was not expecting that at all and I’m so here for Samara and her journey in the next book.

A big thank you to NetGalley for this ARC I loved every minute of it.

Okay, I devoured this book! A Bargain So Bloody was everything you would want in this genre. Danger, drama, and a vampire love interest who is 100% bad for you in all the right ways! The heroine was feisty without being annoying (a rare combo), and the slow burn tension was an actual slow burn. There’s political scheming, deadly secrets, and with a little spice.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

This book is a sweet paranormal romantasy in the first of the series. I have never read this author before - this book does not break the mold in this genre and is predictable but an enjoyable read for those who enjoy "touch her and die" types.
The narrator is easy to follow, does a range of voices so it's easy to keep up.
As a start to a new series this book quickly sweeps you to another world that is believable as it is magical. I look forward to what else the author comes out with in regards to this series, but hope for a stronger plot as the series continues.

Looking for your next turtle-in-last-place sloooow romantasty, this is it! There are some dark themes, but the plot and details did not make cringe (desensitized much?). The Pokémon style magic card system is so cool and unique. The world building was nicely flushed out and easy to understand, and as an often distracted reader, I appreciate this in book.

The romance is like reluctant allies to friends to mayyybe? Like I said, the burn be SLOW, but sweet. Even though you only get Samara’s POV, you feel that Rafael is down bad bad bad for his void (non-magical person). I mean, he hasn’t cooked in 600 years but makes Samara a meal when she’s ill?! Pssh, no wonder my standards are high. All that said, their chemistry was not overpowering, and I really wanted more heart pumping moment. Eitherway, I’m excited to see how it develops in the next book.

Thank you Victory Editing Net Galley co-op for the opportunity to read this one!

“Tell me, Samara. If I took you now, would you hate me? Regret me? Or would you crave me as ruthlessly as I crave you?”

“I was going to tear his kingdom apart one fanged monster at a time.”

This book gripped me from the start. Dark, gritty, and achingly slow burn delivers a brutal yet seductive tale of survival, vengeance, and dangerously entangled fates.

Samara has been wrongly imprisoned for 12 years, surviving day by day inside the infamous Greymere—a place no one leaves. Dirty, raw, and feral from years of isolation, she’s resigned to finishing her 15-year sentence… until a new prisoner arrives. He’s a vampire. And despite everything, she makes a desperate bargain with the very thing she hates.

The world-building is rich and moody: kings, witches, vampires, humans, and a dark magic system involving arcane cards. Vasilisa Drake’s writing is deliciously atmospheric and emotionally charged. This is the slowest of slow burns, but oh, when it burns—it scorches.

And that ending? I had to rewind it and listen twice. It completely floored me. Well played, Drake. I need book two now!!

The audiobook narration was excellent—emotive, immersive, and perfectly matched to the tone of the story.

I devoured this and can't wait for more!!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this new dark fantasy from Vasilisa Drake. With gothic undertones and a touch her and die morally grey MMC, this book is perfect for dark romantasy lovers.

The narration was perfect, told with passion and feeling, Cecily Foster really brought every character to life.

I really enjoyed the first part of this book. The pacing was fast and effective to move the story and relationships forward. However, the middle of the story seemed to slow and didn't hold my attention as much until slowly gaining momentum again towards the end.

I can't wait for the next instalment in this series, that ending?! Wow

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me access to the advanced audio version of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.