🩸🖤 Book Review: Punished by the Vampire King by Darcy Fayton
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)

WHAT. A. RIDE. I truly had no idea where this story was headed, but I was strapped in and loving the chaos from start to finish. It’s dark. It’s brutal. It's deliciously twisted. And somehow, it still managed to surprise me.

Let’s talk Henrikk. He’s the kind of villain you desperately want to hate, but then he does something that makes you pause—and suddenly you’re rooting for this emotionally constipated vampire to just get it together. Asher, meanwhile, is spiraling in his own trauma storm, and their relationship? Toxic AF. And yet... I couldn’t stop hoping they’d figure it out. Or at least have one honest conversation without everything going up in flames. (Spoiler: still waiting on that convo.)

This book doesn’t give you a neat little redemption arc—it gives you pain, power plays, and the kind of emotional wreckage that makes you yell at your Kindle. The twist? Unique. The ending? Somehow both soul-crushing and satisfying. I’m already begging for another book centered on these two disaster men.

It’s definitely more character-driven than plot-heavy, and while the world-building isn’t super deep, it still sets the stage well enough. You get dropped into the action and just have to hang on—and honestly, I didn’t mind. I was way too invested in these morally gray messes.

⚠️ Heads-up: this one is dark. Check the trigger warnings before diving in. But if you love angsty, brutal stories about broken characters clinging to each other like lifelines (badly)… this is 100% for you.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! All thoughts are my own. 🖤

This was terrible and made no sense at all. I tried to stay with it to see what was going on and it was a trippy wild ride. I did not finish this and I don't know who I would even recommend this to?

Love the dark fantasy that is presented in this book. Gives an excellent gothic feel and moves the story along quickly without feeling like we are being rushed to get to the spicy parts. Thought it was very enjoyable but would have loved to see more character development to really make me feel connected to the plot.

DNF.
I need to dig deeper when I see a cover I like, because this has themes I am not interested in reading (Dark, etc)

Dark, brutal, and unapologetically intense, Punished by the Vampire King is not for the faint of heart—but it’s a gripping enemies-to-lovers story for seasoned dark fantasy readers. Asher’s descent into pain and passion is raw and unflinching, and the dynamic with the Vampire King is complex, twisted, and unforgettable. Fayton’s writing walks a razor-thin line between horror and desire, crafting a world where survival and submission intertwine.

A deeply triggering but compelling read for those who appreciate dark romance at its most extreme—handled with clear intent and sharp prose.

🩸💔 Punished by the Vampire King 💔🩸
🔥 MM Vampire Romance | Dark | Spicy | Toxic | Addictive AF 🔥

"How do I taste, general?"
…Oh, you’re not ready for what this villain-origin love story is serving 😮‍💨

Listen. I knew this book was going to be dark. I knew it was going to be twisted. But what I did not know was that I’d be simultaneously yelling “RUN, ASHER” while also whispering “yes, please, more…” 👀

King Henrikk? A cold, calculated tyrant with punishment kink levels that broke the damn scale.
General Asher? The loyal (and secretly pining) warrior who takes the fall for a crime he didn’t commit and ends up at the mercy of the King he can’t stop craving.

What follows? Public humiliation. Power games. Toxic AF cat-and-mouse tension.

And somewhere in the middle of all that pain… a brutal, messy, deliciously broken love story that claws its way to the surface like a vampire starved of blood. 🩸

💔 The angst? Real.
🩸 The spice? UNHINGED (we're talking public punishment, begging, enemies to please just talk to each other)
👑 The setting? Castles, masquerades, magic, betrayal, and one King who absolutely needs therapy and a cuddle.
📉 Emotional stability? Gone.

Favorite moments?
🪢 “This is what you deserve, your Majesty.” (and I FELT that.)
🪢 “I’ve died a thousand times waiting for you to notice me.” (screaming. crying. throwing things.)
🪢 “Buckle up and try not to make too much noise.” (Sir… the way I CHOKED.)

Is the beginning rough? Yes.
Is their relationship healthy? LOL absolutely not.
Did I eat it up like the unhinged little gremlin I am? You bet.

This isn’t your typical romance. It’s dark. It's triggering. It’s tragic and tense and tangled. But it’s also so emotionally addictive, I couldn’t stop turning pages. Even when I didn’t know where it was going, I wanted to be lost in the chaos.

📚 P.S. If you’ve read Darcy Fayton’s other books, you’ll get even more out of this twisted world—but this one does stand alone. (Just maybe keep a glass of wine and a stress ball nearby.)

✨ Read if you love:
— Enemies to lovers with unresolved everything
— A King who punishes first, processes emotions... never
— Deliciously dark dom/sub vibes
— Redemption arcs with bite (literally)
— Broken men in castles doing awful things while falling in love ✨

Final verdict?
Henrikk may be the villain—but this story? Unapologetically captivating.🖤🩸

⭐⭐⭐

Uhm this was a wild and steamy ride. I have to say that im not into queer spicy books, I was a bit to fast with clicking on Netgalley whoops. It was really fast paced and can be read as a standalone that takes place in the same universe as some other books of Darcy Fayton. This was an M/M spicy romance.

I was not the right audience for this book, but if you enjoy queer steamy books you might enjoy this one! I have to say that I enjoyed the writing style of Darcy once again but I liked other books from her more.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for giving me a chance to read Punished by the Vampire King by Darcy Fayton in exchange for my honest review. 

My first time reading one of Darcy Fayton's works left me wanting to revisit the world of intrigue and smut and see more of her other characters. Henrikk & Asher's story starts off as full on toxic hardcore trigger warning smut, and I loved that. Seeing their chemistry evolve, their history coming up through their interactions with hot steamy spice on the forefront of it all, was amazing. Seeing both of them struggle to make heads or tails about what the other is feeling was emotional and the fact that their power struggle was showcased through their smutty scenes scratched a specific spot I love to see as a reader personally.  

I loved two things in this story :One, was the fact that *minor spoiler* they switch dynamics, and both top at some point in the story. I couldn't see Henrik bottoming and when it happened I was flabbergasted. Two, this was the first story I have ever read that helped me understand what a "happy for now" ending is. The fact that we had a "grey ending" made this book all the more enjoyable to me. 
I think that if you're looking for a dark fantasy MM romance with vampires, intrigue that also keeps you guessing were the characters are gonna end up in the end this is a book for you.
 
This review will be cross-posted on my IG (@niasendlessbookshelves) as well as in my personal goodreads and of course in IkarianCorner, the blog I write on (under the Nia Unhinged category)  as of February 8th 2025 (for links, check my profile).

This was so interesting, and I did very much enjoy reading it. It took a little bit to get into to, but after a little bit I was hooked. Thank you for the arc.

Strap in for an emotional and dramatic journey that will have you questioning everything as it explores King Henrikk and General Asher's toxic romance, unyielding bond and turbulent love.
With lots of sexual tension, confused emotions, deranged cat and mouse games, and creative punishments.

This unpredictable journey brings tragedy, mystery, sacrifice, dark truths, empathy, and even a little redemption.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)

Vampires, betrayal, royal intrigue, and… um, creative punishments. Darcy Fayton’s Punished by the Vampire King serves up a dark, spicy MM romance that’s part villain origin story, part power struggle, and fully dramatic. It’s fast-paced, emotional, and definitely not for the faint of heart—or anyone who blushes easily.

General Asher, falsely accused of treachery, is subjected to a humiliating punishment by Vampire King Henrikk. And if that premise doesn’t grab your attention, nothing will. The story kicks off with tension (of all kinds) and dives headfirst into a toxic, yet oddly compelling relationship dynamic. Asher’s years of suppressed affection for Henrikk threaten to bubble over, while Henrikk himself wrestles with confusing emotions that he’d rather ignore (or punish into submission).

The book is dark, no question about it. The initial dynamic between Asher and Henrikk leans heavily into toxicity, and the early punishment scenes are not for the squeamish. But if you’re here for high drama, intense emotions, and a love story that teeters on the edge of destruction before clawing its way back, this might be your cup of blood.

The world-building is intriguing, with the royal court and castle setting providing a lush, gothic backdrop for all the angst. However, the fast pace left some moments feeling underdeveloped, and the power struggle between the characters, while addictive at times, occasionally felt repetitive. Still, the simmering tension and emotional payoff kept me turning the pages.

Thank you to Darcy Fayton, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for this ARC. If you’re in the mood for a steamy vampire romance with sharp teeth (literally and figuratively), Punished by the Vampire King might be just what you need.

Queer dark fantasy romance with vampires? I really enjoyed this story! Trigger warning for sexual assault and other types abuse,

This book is bit of a slow burn, it has one twist after another and it really embodies the essence of dark romance. What i appreciate about this book is the fact that it does not hold back. The themes and scenes in this book are by no means softcore romance. The kind of relationship is shrouded in abusive undertones. Granted later in the book you do see a potential glimmer of hope of a more stable connection possibly being made. The author stuck to her genre which i can appreciate often time books are marketed as one thing but are completely opposite. for what it said it would be it delivered on that. If youre a fan of proper gay dark romance with fantasy tones and world building, this is a book you should pick up.

I don’t know what I was expecting but this was WILD.
My first read from this author and I will absolutely be reading the other duets, as it revolves around the same world and characters are mentioned between these. A standalone MM fantasy vampire… romance? This was DARK. Both emotional and traumatizing and I would read it again.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Check your TWs. The author note at the beginning states the reader probably wouldn’t like Henrikk, and they were absolutely correct, but by the end… I get it. Henrikk the vampire king and his highly respected guard, Asher who has betrayed his king and old friend, have a very twisted connection but can they come back from the trauma inflicted between them? This started out at full speed with no warm up, literally (and publicly might I add) and I was immediately hooked. This was unhinged and more than chaotic at times. Initially thought this was a spicy book with little to no plot, but the plot here took so many turns it gave me slight whiplash (cue the dragon portion -not a spoiler). The synopsis of this could not have prepared for me the read I just completed, but in the best way possible. If you like vampires, dark and aggressive spice, this one’s for you. Let me emphasize there’s a lot of spice lol.

My first experience with a bully romance and I didn't hate it! Where she lost me was towards the end. There were lots of twists I wasn't expecting, however, I didn't like where it went. I did love both main characters! The first 2/3rds of the book were a 4 star for me just that last bit that got me.

This book was compulsively readable. I flew thru the book until about 60% in and then it seemed to become a different book entirely. That said I don't love romantasy, and it seemed to jump a bit to far in the fantasy direction at that point in the book. I also didn't love the CNC as it felt more NC than CNC. I know people will like this but it wasn't for me.

I already knew the author world and things are indeed dark with a lot of degradation, I know some people may not feel comfortable and I do know some scenes can be intense but I did like it, It's a guilty pleasure to me.
I enjoy their perspective of relationship

Punished by the Vampire King by Darcy Fayton is a deliciously dark and spicy MM romance that will leave you blushing and laughing in equal measure. Set in a royal castle, the story follows General Asher, who finds himself on the receiving end of some rather… unconventional punishment from Vampire King Henrikk after being branded a traitor.

The chemistry between Asher and Henrikk is electric, with plenty of steamy moments that will make you fan yourself. Fayton masterfully balances the intense, emotional rollercoaster with witty banter and humorous situations that keep the story light-hearted despite its darker themes.

If you’re in the mood for a tantalizing tale of betrayal, redemption, and sizzling romance, Punished by the Vampire King is a must-read. Just be prepared for a wild ride that will leave you craving more!

3 ⭐️
5🌶️
“Last chance, pet. I will not ask you again. Will you be good for me?”

I went into Punished by the Vampire King knowing Henrikk briefly from the Kira/Nathaniel story (Collared by the Vampire Prince), so let’s just say my expectations were low—and yep, I still don’t like him and don't want to like him.

Henrikk isn’t the kind of villain you root for; at least in the order I read Darcy Fayton's stories, which made it hard to back his romance. The spice and power dynamics delivered, but if short stories or truly unredeemable characters aren’t your thing, consider yourself warned.

Tropes:

⭐️Villain MMC
⭐️Vampires
⭐️MM
⭐️Dubcon/Noncon
⭐️Royalty
⭐️BD$M


Thank you to NetGalley and Darcy Fayton for allowing me to have an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review⭐️

Emotional and dramatic this was a turbulent M/M spicy romance, a great lgbtq+ vampire fiction, well written and I found the pages flying by, I'd say it definitely eers on the darker side as it had a lot of SA and enemies to lovers, I enjoyed this more than some of the others in the series