I devoured this in less than 24 hours and stayed up late in the night to finish. A vampire romance with a broody, but sweet MMC and a vicious FMC? Give me more! Sam, our FMC, is a prisoner with a hinted at secret identity. Raphael is the vampire who just might get her out....if she agrees to release the one species she hates the most. Will she do it for her freedom? Or will she forsake all of her beliefs and get him out. You will have to read to find out! I thoroughly enjoyed this spicy vampire romantasy! Highly recommended!

I absolutely loved this book. From the first page, it had me completely hooked. Every part of the story felt intentional and important. There were no slow chapters or pointless scenes. Everything built toward something and kept me engaged the whole way through.

The characters were so well written. I connected with all of them and genuinely enjoyed every interaction. Their personalities were strong and distinct, and the relationships felt natural and meaningful. The banter was fun and the emotional moments hit exactly right.

There is little to no spice in this book, just a bit of flirtation and tension that added to the story without taking anything away. It made the connections between characters feel more sincere and believable.

I am already counting the days until the next book. This one delivered everything I was hoping for and more.

Big thanks to Victory Editing and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️'s rounded up.

First, I need to mention that this narration was so good! The way she told the story was beautiful.
I liked this book. It was pretty unique in terms of magic. The vampires and witches were portrayed somewhat differently in this book compared to others I've read.

Raphael was a monster, truly the villain, but the way he treated Samara... absolute adoration. "Touch her and die" vibes. He definitely fell first and fell hard.
The whole book Samara is lost and confused, and for good reason. She has been imprisoned most of her life. She just wants acceptance, to be good enough. While she is trying to figure out who she is, she is questioning everything she has ever known. Are the vampires evil? Can they change? Is she any better than they are?
The irony of the ending is not lost on me. She felt all these warring opinions about the vampires. Now, she is faced with decisions she never thought she would have to make.

The only thing I disliked about this was that Samara had a lot of internal monolog with herself, asking herself the same questions. It became a little repetitive. Overall, this story was good. I would happily pick up book two!

Okay, friends—today I’ve got not only a book review/recommendation (spoiler: it’s really, really good!) but also a new auto-buy author to add to your list. ✨

Finding new-to-me authors to totally fangirl over is one of my greatest joys in life—and bingeing everything they’ve ever written? Instant serotonin.

I’ve read nearly all of Vasilisa Drake’s books and genuinely LOVED every one… but this book? It just hit different. I was hooked. Couldn’t put it down if I tried.

The angst? Immaculate.
The pacing? Fast and addictive.
The characters? Lovable, mysterious, frustrating—in all the best ways.

I need everyone to read this one when it comes out. It’s that good. 🔥

I’m not officially part of @vasilisadrakebooks street team (a true tragedy, honestly 😮‍💨), but I did get lucky enough to snag an early audio ARC—and now I’ll be singing this author’s praises forever. Street team or not, I’m fully on board. ❤️🖤🩸

I received this book as my very first arc audiobook and I DEVOURED it

🖤 vampires x witches x humans
🖤 card-based magic system
🖤 slow burn
🖤 touch her and die
🖤 dark vibes
🖤 super twist at the end

This one had me hooked from the first sentence. I really enjoyed the magic system, side characters and the overall pace of the story. The audiobook was beautiful and I cannot wait to get my hands on book two!!

I listened to this as an arc audiobook via NetGalley and this review is honest and freely given.

Really enjoyed the tone of this book - I thought it perfectly matched the placement of the book and atmosphere. I often find that in romantic fantasies the tone (especially from the FMC) feels too contemporary and this did a perfect job in keeping the placement and still being easy to read.
The narrator matches this perfectly. Her male voice was hard at first but quickly felt more natural.

At the start of the book - it felt like we were just being throne all the typical tropes ( one horse, one room and the inn, touch her and die, mine etc.) but at about the halfway point the book felt a lot more unique and evenly paced. I thought the romance was feeling a bit forced at the start and once we got to the kingdom it felt way more natural and we started to feel that tension again.

SUCH a fun and easy read. The world and magic system was interesting, but not difficult to understand. I loooved slowly getting more and more information about the world and MCs’ backstories as the story progressed— without an initial info-dump I was allowed to have the fun of trying to predict and untwist the plot. It was seriously a lot of fun, and it made me think about how wonderful this book would be for book clubs and buddy reads.

While some of the plot was (with effort) predictable, it wasn’t without twists. What I was able to guess didn’t necessarily happen or turn out exactly as I had predicted— so it was fun to get enough clues to draw some vaguely correct conclusions, while still being surprised and kept on my toes.

The MCs had great chemistry, fun banter, and really intriguing backstories. They have me so excited for book two— I need to delve deeper into their pasts!

The audiobook narration was a great production. Cecily Foster gave an emotive performance that definitely elevated my listening experience.

While this doesn’t reinvent the wheel, I found it offered a really refreshing taste of a very trope-heavy genre.

While the plot was rather predictable, Drake has a genuinely addictive writing style with such flow and individual voice/prose that I didn’t much mind that fact. The surrounding cast is made largely of common archetypes but with enough individuality that made this book feel fleshed out, lived in and multi-dimensional. You have the witty assistant who takes no sh*t, the stoic mentor, the evil librarian (okay maybe that’s less an archetype but it was fun.)

I’ll also mention that I loved the FMC, where she could have easily fallen into the classic “I’m a badass” precisely until the MMC turns up and she in fact turns out to have all the backbone of a roasted marshmallow, Sam was really really enjoyable to follow. A strong, kind of violent, morale-driven character that reads (well listens) as just as intelligent as she claims to be. Her motives from first chapter to final always rang true and genuine, and the core of her character is something anyone reader would enjoy.

The MMC was hot, I have no shame in admitting it. One of my major problems with books centred on a character that changes midway through (SPOILER: [an obvious one but still a spoiler] he turns out to be the vampire king) is that after the reveal it feels like they change character completely. In the context of this book it only cemented what we already knew of the character, made motive and temperament more clear. He’s loyal, violent (hush I have a type) and rips people to shreds when they hurt his woman. Oh and he was hot.

What more does a woman need from her romantasy?

I’ll be blunt I pictured old Draco Malfoy for much of this for Raphael which might not have been the aim but it worked for me.

I don’t know where the trend for magic being based in decks of cards came from the last couple of years, this was another example of this and I really enjoyed the magic system. It was kind of basic, a little barebones but enough set rules that you could understand how and where things work.

Where this fell short of five stars for me was some of the theming, which I’ll admit is very personal. I really enjoyed when it seemed that Drake was going to explore themes of consent with the very obvious brothel allegories and power dynamics. I didn’t much enjoy that Sam tended to ignore and/or belittle the willingness of individuals to consent, I found this could be interpreted as demonising/dehumanising real life sex workers. Then I massively enjoyed that it was the MMC who called her out on this rhetoric.

Only for this meaty theme to be thrown aside to drive the storyline forward, by killing the individual. This could have been a genuine and very interesting exploration of that theme, instead it fell short by taking the easy way out for me.

However, I didn’t find this ruined the book nor the ending and I will absolutely be picking up the next book in this series.

A Bargain So Bloody delivers an emotional fantasy journey with a touch of romance, weaving characters whose emotions are vivid and deeply felt. The novel shines in its portrayal of personal growth, morally grey possessiveness and emotional depth, making its characters easy to connect with.

While the plot unfolds at a measured pace, it lingers where a sharper infusion of action could have elevated the tension and the storyline. Those craving fast-paced excitement might find themselves yearning for more urgency.

That said, the audiobook adaptation does an excellent job of breathing life into the story, with narrators perfectly suited to their roles, adding richness to the listening experience.

Although it doesn’t redefine the genre, it remains an atmospheric and accessible read. Perfect for when you want something immersive without demanding too much from the reader.

Thank you for this ALC via netgalley.

Thank you Netgalley, and Vasilisa Drake for e arc and audiobook!

I listened and read along to this book and it was fantastic! I loved the fmc and mmc! The narrator did a great job and I listened to this in a day.

The fmc is a prisoner who escapes with a vampire and the story only gets better from there. The chemistry is full of tension the entire book and while there is no spice, the tension between the two is present. This story has all the fun romantasy tropes, one horse, over protective murdery mmc and lots of secrets and betrayal. There is definitely a lot of miscommunication and prejudice from the mfc but it's not done poorly. It's very believable as to why the mfc has the mistrust. The ending made me feral to want the next book immediately and I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next for their story!

This was an adventure from start to finish!

We get witches, vampires, unique magic system where magic can be bought via enchanted cards, prison breaks, treasure hunts, court politics, murder mystery, betrayal AND a slow burn romance with a morally dark grey MMC who gives Mr Darcy vibes 😍

The emotional journey and thought processes that Samara goes through are so well written that you really feel like you are there with her and are part of her struggle.

I would have liked to have read more about the side characters but hopefully they will be developed more in the next book.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give us book 2 ASAP 🙏

Review: A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake
I just finished A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake, and wow, what a ride! I had the chance to listen to the audiobook while reading, and it elevated the entire experience. This is one of those rare books that truly sticks to its lovers-to-enemies arc, and stays there, which I found refreshing and bold. Who said vampire books were out of style? This one proves they’re very much alive (or undead?).
The author crafted such an intricate, tension-filled story that I was constantly on edge, wondering what twist was coming next. I absolutely adored it. The world building is immersive, the mystery keeps you hooked, and the pacing never drags.
The audiobook narrator, Cecily Foster, brought this story to life. Although it’s not told in dual POV, I didn’t mind at all. Everything is seen through our FMC, Samara’s, eyes, and Foster did an incredible job giving depth and personality to all the characters, especially Raphael. Her voice work was dynamic, and she nailed Raphael’s tone and presence perfectly.
The story begins with Samara, imprisoned since the age of 8, living in a grim cell where catching rats is part of her survival. She’s endured years of trauma and is just trying to stay invisible. One night, she’s told to tend to a new, badly beaten prisoner, and walks straight into the cell of a vampire. Raphael promises to take her with him if she helps him escape, and against all odds, she does.
Now, while Samara had every reason to fear Raphael, especially after her childhood experiences, I found her constant distrust a little frustrating. He consistently tried to make her feel safe, but she clung to her trauma so tightly it became a bit much for me. Especially considering the world that locked up a child and never blinked an eye. It made me question her loyalty to that homeland more than her fear of vampires.
As for Raphael? Swoon. I’m a sucker for vampires and he had me completely charmed. If he offered to turn me, I wouldn’t even hesitate.
This book has it all, adventure, magic, dark romance, vampires, witches, and even a hint of trolls. If you're craving your next addicting romantasy, this is it. Fair warning: it ends on a massive cliffhanger that had my jaw on the floor! But you won’t have to wait long, A Bargain So Bloody releases June 30th!

Holy cliffhanger!! To say I can't wait for this series is an understatement. I fully anticipated a different ending but this book has a great twist! The character building draws you in and I. True romantic fashion has you routing for the villian!

Vasilisa Drake’s A Bargain So Bloody is an emotionally-charged, slow-burning, and gorgeously gritty dark romantasy that grabbed me by the throat from the very first page—and refused to let go.

Samara, our resilient heroine, has survived over a decade in a magic-suppressed prison, where trust is dangerous and hope is a distant memory. But when a terrifyingly powerful new inmate—a vampire named Raphael—is thrown into her world, everything changes. A reluctant alliance turns into a blood-bound bargain: her healing powers in exchange for a shot at freedom. What begins in chains quickly becomes a journey across a dangerous, curse-ridden land—and a connection built on mutual defiance, slow-earned trust, and undeniable chemistry.

Let me just say this: morally gray vampire with a secret identity + a traumatized but unbreakable heroine = tension that could slice steel. Raphael might be a monster, but the way he softens for Samara? Whew. The “Touch her and die” energy is strong with this one. And when he calls her Little Viper? I MELTED.

The romance is a true slow burn—no insta-love here. It’s laced with vulnerability, witty banter, and the kind of emotionally fraught moments that feel deeply earned. And don’t even get me started on the found family vibes. When Samara, who has known nothing but isolation, slowly becomes part of a ragtag crew who would bleed for her? My heart burst.

The magic system is one of the most original I’ve read in a while. The card-based magic adds depth and strategy to the worldbuilding and made me wish I could collect some magic cards of my own.

The prose is hauntingly lyrical, the world immersive and full of secrets, and the dialogue crackles with tension and wit. Every line serves a purpose—whether to deepen a relationship, inject humor, or twist the knife just a little deeper.

❤️ Favorite Tropes & Themes
• Enemies to lovers
• Forced proximity
• One bed
• Bargain with a monster
• Power imbalance
• Secret identities
• Found family
• “I’ll burn the world for you” energy
• Betrayal, blood, and that prison break

Final Thoughts:
A Bargain So Bloody is a dark, romantic fairytale soaked in blood, loyalty, and longing. It’s a story of survival and second chances, of monsters who crave redemption, and of a girl who learns that trust doesn’t make her weak—it makes her unstoppable. That epilogue has me feral. I need book two yesterday.

If you’re into tortured vampires, gritty magic, and romance that simmers before it sears—this book was written for you.

Read it. Obsess over it. Scream about it with your friends.

Ok, YES! Go read this book!

To be honest, I hadn’t heard of the author before and assumed I was in for your average vampire-fantasy with a predictable romantic sub-plot. BUT, this book was the high I’ve been chasing since I started reading romantasy! By a couple of chapters in, the story and characters fully had my attention, and it just continued getting better and better from there! The story is charged with emotion, the romance is a delicious slow burn and the audiobook narration perfectly set the scene. Cannot wait for book 2!

Special thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the ARC audiobook of A Bargain so Bloody.

Audiobook ARC is coming in hot, and yes, yes, yes! Read this if you're a fantasy lover. If you're in your vamp era. I loved the world, I loved our main characters. I loved how easy the story was. This was so far up my alley I don't even know what to say about it. What I do know is I CANNOT wait for round two. Shoot it into my veins Vasilisa!!!!

I flew through this journey. Please hold, I'm off to see if Vasilisa has a back catalog for me to raid.

Dark, deadly, and utterly addictive! A Bargain So Bloody is a fierce fantasy filled with sharp edges, brutal bargains, and magnetic tension. Vasilisa Drake’s writing grips you from the first chapter with a morally gray heroine who isn’t afraid to fight dirty, and the slow-burn intensity with the powerful fae male had me holding my breath. The narration brings every moment to life—danger, desire, and defiance all wrapped into one blood-soaked bargain I couldn’t stop listening to

The twists and turns in this book were crazy and we still don’t know everything. I can’t wait for book 2. If you love a broody vampire with touch her and die/ he falls first vibes then this book is for you! The book has enemies to almost lovers and miscommunication tropes and it makes the story much more intriguing instead of simply frustrating like some books.
The narrator did a great job with this story and played all of the characters very well.