Cover Image: Vampire Hearts

Vampire Hearts

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Member Reviews

Fantastically written. Dark, twisted and full of heart. I really enjoyed reading this and cannot wait to see if there are any more form this author.

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After being raised in the human world Alexander discovers he is in fact a vampire, and is sent to Bathory Academy. There he meets the beautiful Scarlett Bathory, and insta love you know the rest.

I'm was actually really surprised by this book, where its not particularly original in concept, it does have a steady pace and beautiful writing. It kept my attention throughout and I even end up really enjoying it.

Would definitely recommend to anyone that prefers the younger side of YA, supernatural academy series, and vampires generally.

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sometimes I enjoy the whole boarding school/supernatural romance theme, but in this book it did not get mixed well.

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I went into this book completely blind as I forgot what it was about (lol) but I couldnt put it down. Was such a great storyline and the authors style of writing was descriptive and perfect!

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This is a fun quick read for those interested in vampire books. There is a nice blending of new and old vampire mythos, and the characters are pretty well developed. The main issue I had with the book, and why it is not rated higher, is that the plot takes a bit to go anywhere. I hope that when the second book comes around it picks up the pace. However, the characters are definitely entertaining, and Alex's backstory is interesting, but I wish more of his background was explored-however, if this is further developed in other books, then I can see why more wasn't revealed in this one. Overall, an entertaining read that keeps readers interested.

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I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I am not sure how I feel about Alexander. We don't really get a lot of his background story. All we really know is that he is a vampire that was raised in the human world and he almost killed a girl. His grandfather takes him to the academy so he can embraces his life and his nature. He is trying to settle into his new supernatural life. I enjoy the book and would read more by this author.

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Vampire Hearts by Katie M John is definitely a must read. If you enjoy vampire novels then this is the book for you.

Description: Alexander Augustine's secret has been revealed. He is a newly emerged vampire and almost killed a human girl. Now there's no choice but to run, and there's only one place to go. Bathory Academy, home to the next generation of some of the world's most notorious vampire families, is a college like no other. As Alexander begins to slowly accept his supernatural life, he is drawn towards the beautiful, but potentially deadly, Scarlett Bathory, soon discovering their history is as tightly knotted as their present. With revolution, bloodlust, and desire for vampire world domination in the air, Alexander starts to fear he’s nothing but a pawn in a very dangerous game. WILL THEY BE EACH OTHER'S SAVIOUR OR DOWNFALL? Enter the world of Bathory Academy and find yourself enchanted by the spell of the vampire. The Bathory Academy series by internationally bestselling and award-winning Young Adult author, Katie M. John, promises you a darkling romantic adventure that lovers of Twilight, Vampire Academy, Vampire Girl, and A Shade of Vampire will fall in love with.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. I give this a 5 Star

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I tried out this book not sure what to think but I don't think it's for me. I struggle to get through any academy type books lately I just don't find them as attention grabbing as they first were. I also didn't connect with the MC Alexander. While this one just wasn't for me I always think if the blurb sparks an in you but you arnt sure give the first chapter or two a shot.

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I LOVE the premise of this book! Vampires and the highlands of Scotland?? Sold! I did enjoy the story but I was a little disappointed in the writing style. At times, the book felt a bit “amateurish”. I loved the school scenes and all the characters. I would definitely say it’s still worth the read!

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I received this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was happy to see another Vampire book. I don't think we get enough of them. I loved this. The main character was fun. The world setting was great. I just sit back and took my time reading it because It was just a fun read. It was not heavy at all which made it a fast read. I highly recommend this.

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Supernatural delight! Anyone who enjoyed the Vampire Academy series should check this one out! It is a decent first book and a quick read. I hope the author develops the characters a bit more in the next book.

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I received an ARC from NetGalley of this book and i am so disappointed that I took so long to read it! I literally just finished it! All i can is WHERE IS BOOK TWO and when is BOOK THREE? I want to go to this school. I love the entire book. I love the characters. I love the order of vampire royalty and old blood (pun intended). I will be buying these books and adding them to my sacred collection

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DNFed at 17%.

Sorry, but the writing is just too bad for me to continue with this book. Long run on sentences without commas, misplaced apostrophes, and the use of ‘ancestor’ to mean ‘descendant’ meant that the writing was too obtrusive for me to get into the story.

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I really liked the sound of this book and it seemed to tick all of the boxes, but unfortunately it didn’t live up to my expectations. I’ve read lots of books in this genre over the years, some have been so good I couldn’t put them down and had to read every book in the series, to ones that I just couldn’t finish. This book is a middle of the road Vampire story, and sadly I’m not plan on reading anymore in this series. The concept of the story is good but it just lacks something.


This book is set up in the highlands of Scotland in an old castle called Bathory. Where vampires, vampees and other supernaturals go to learn everything a vampire or supernatural needs to know.

Alexander Augustine didn’t know he was a vampire until one night when an accident happened at a party where he nearly killed a human. His grandfather calls in a favour to Madam De’arth who oversees the Bathory Academy. Thrusting Alexander in to a world he knows nothing about, and didn’t even know existed.

This is where he meets Scarlet Bathory another vampire, who comes from a very old prestigious and powerful family. There is some kind of connection between Alexander and Scarlet, they both feel it but Scarlet is already in a relationship.

Alexander has only been at Bathory Academy a few days, when there is an attempt on Scarlet’s life. Some suspect Alexander is behind this attempt, but when there is a second attempt they start to look elsewhere. There is another known group who are trying to kill off all of the vampires. All of this is happening just as the vampire court has started to have it’s own troubles, with in fighting for and against the old ways to change.

Sadly I can only give this book 3 stars, as I said earlier in my review it’s a middle of the road book. Maybe its just a bit too slow paced for me?

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This book drew me in and held me delightfully-captive from beginning to end. The characters were realistic, likable and identifiable. And, every settings was described in such a way as to make me feel like I was an actual bystander in that scene. Once I started reading this story, I knew this was a book I wasn’t going to be able to put down! This was paranormal at its vampiest!

#VampireHearts #NetGalley

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I think 3-3.5 stars for me. The premise and the uniqueness of the backstory really made the book for me. I am loving how really rich the world building is here, pulling together some of the oldies with a whole lot of newbie made for a really great read. The very clever and subtle name drops made me feel like I belonged. I had no trouble sinking right into the world and scenes and honestly there was enough going on that I remained invested from cover to cover; however all that being said it really did take us a while to really get anywhere and by the end of the book I really don't feel like we made a lot of progress plot wise. If we really break it down there was a back and forth of scenes that instead of keeping up moving forward kept us kind of stagnant throughout the first book. This is interwoven with backstory and some reveals here and there as well as introduction to new characters so I never really felt bored but I can definitely see where the repetition of certain actions could loose some readers.

Alex, our MC, has just found out he is a born vampire (inter generational - meaning his parents were not vampires but the gene passed to him from his grandfather.) Rushed off to Bathory Academy school for supernatural, Alex is thrust into a hierarchical Vampire system that doesn't quite sit well with his millennial upbringing nor his hero complex. He also is having a hard time with self acceptance, refusing to feed. Scarlet our FMC is the darling of Bathory Academy, also with some "revolutionary" views herself. Scarlet comes with her own drama and has conflict with how she was raised and her belief system herself. Alex and Scarlet have a somewhat instant connection which slowly reveals itself to perhaps being more than just fate. As Scarlet becomes a target from a religious group hell bent on destroying all vampires especially those from her line, and the Supernatural community becomes embroiled in more and more turmoil as the fascist system they have been living under for centuries reaches closer to a breaking point, the students at Bathory Academy as well as Alex and Scarlet must come to realize their parts in the future of supernaturals as well as deal with this mysterious connection.

I think we are store for a healthy amount of problems as the students aren't in possession of all the information like the teachers/adults. The withholding of information always causes issues and drags a story out longer than necessary so I'll have to keep that in mind for when the next book comes out. All in all though I thought this was an interesting and entertaining read and am looking forward to book 2 hoping we really get somewhere there.

*I requested and received an ARC of this via NetGalley and the Publisher BooksGoSocial in exchange for an honest review. This review is also available at https://allthatmess.com/2019/05/02/book-stop-arc-review-vampire-hearts-by-katie-m-john/*

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“There was no such thing as leniency or mercy, and imprisoning a vampire was a hard task. It was simple, follow the code of The Court or die.”
-Katie M. John, Vampire Hearts: Book One of Bathory Academy

1.5🌟/5

I received this e-book from Netgalley.

Alexander Augustine is a monarch (new to the vampire world and the ways of the Old Court), who begins his new life at “Bathory Academy”, where he encounters Scarlett Bathory, other monarchs, vampeers and otherkins. Throughout the book, we realise what could have led Alexander to come to the academy in the first place and what his purpose in the future could be.

There were some typos and grammar mistakes, however this was not the main problem. The book had a lack of action and mystery, I felt the story was dragged more than it should have been, as most scenes were repeated and unfortunately it felt more of a draft than a published book.

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Alexander went through the door of Bathory Academy. His grandfather had brought him here. He really had nowhere else to go after what happened with the young girl. He was determined to take ownership of his life. To embrace and accept who he really was even after being brought up in the human world he is a vampire. Then he heard someone beautifully playing the piano and singing like a siren. Even though he knew he should take a seat to await his appointment with the headmistress, he moved until he came to the door of the room he knew help the siren. She looked like some long forgotten Grecian goddess. Than his name was called and he followed the woman. She sat behind her desk and instructed him to sit. She welcomed him and said her name was Josephine De’Arth and she was the Head of the Academy. Bathory Academy was a monsterous turrented castle and in a very remote area. Then she said he would be given a tour of the Academy after they were done talking. Madam De’Arth apologized for going on as she wasn’t used to students with such a poor understanding of their unique status. They didn’t have much experience with inter generationals. Alexander already felt like an outsider who had stumbled into some strange dream. Knowing he was about to walk further in the dream,or what he might find, was making him nervous. Madam De’Arth said he would soon see, it was difficult to comprehend until he knew how this world really works. Alexander was starting to think maybe the decision to come to Bathony’s was a mistake. As much as he didn’t belong at home. He couldn’t see himself belonging here. Alexander knew getting blood was a necessary part of his species make-up, and without it bad things happened. Terrible things happened. He forced the memories aside. He promised himself this was a new start. Madam De’Arth knew his secret, and had promised to protect him and keep him safe. The rest of the academy was made up of approximately a hundred students- besides the vampires- vampeers - those who identify as vampires, or otherkin- those who identify themselves with other supernatural beings. They are sons and daughters of the night, they all have extraordinary creative, technological,scientific or sporting talents: empaths, artists, poets, alchemists, athletes, creatives- those who are beyond the boundaries and limitations of being human. Twelve months ago he would have laughed away this as talk of a man man . but not after what happened to Lydia. Alexander asked if he would be taught what he needed to know. He wasn’t sure he was ready for that kind of education. Bathory Academy is a safe place for him to explore his true nature said madam De’Arth. Alexander was eighteen now, at fourteen his transformation had started. Three fourths of his timetable would be a core curriculum. For vampires there was some additional classes added. Alexander met the beautiful musician she was to give him his tour. Her name was Scarlet. Alexander suddenly believed in love at first sight. Scarlet was seventeen nearly eighteen and had been a student at barthony Academy for almost two years. Bua the Academy had been her home as long as Scarlet could remember. She had grown up in the castle but in a different wing than the other students. Scarlet was dating Byron. She had tried to convince herself dating him was wrong but there was something about Byron that sang to her darker side. Scarlet still had Alexander on the outskirts of her mind but told Byron she was hungry and that is why she seem detached. He had true blue blood that was very expensive form actual aristocrats and wasn’t that nasty stuff from the blood bank down in the infirmary. Scarlet would not take swans which went against the natural order of things she begged Byron to give up his swans but he refused. Barthony Academy has been home to some of the most notorious vampire families in the world. Alexander decided deep down Scarlet liked him.
I liked this book. I would have liked to know more of Alexander’s past when he was brought up with humans and when he started to transform. I liked the pace and plot a lot. I liked the action and mystery involved but would have liked just a little more. My biggest complaint was this ended in a cliffhanger and I hate those. I didn’t want to put this down but was very annoyed when this ended in that cliffhanger. It had caught my attention right away but once again the ending …. I also didn’t really care for the instalove. I usually don’t. I felt like Alexanders feelings of not belonging fit this book perfectly. I liked the characters but had mixed feelings about this book.

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This was a tough one for me. I hate giving 1 star rating but there's just no way around it for Vampire Hearts. There were enough grammer issues and typos to pull me away from the story itself. The premise was great and the book sounded interesting from the blurb but it was just poorly executed. And lastly, I just couldn't bring myself to care about these characters. After trying to get through this book, I DNF at 46%

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Vampire Hearts was a good story. It does end on a cliff hanger though. I will be looking for the rest of the books in this series.

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