"The Forsaken Vampire" by Penelope Barsetti offers a thrilling dive into a world of intrigue, danger, and forbidden desire. As a newcomer to the series, I found myself quickly captivated by the intricate plot and dynamic characters, despite the challenge of navigating multiple points of view in the audiobook format. Barsetti's writing shines with vivid imagery and palpable tension, drawing readers into a whirlwind romance fraught with moral dilemmas and high stakes. While the multiple POVs in the audiobook occasionally made the narrative hard to follow as someone with no previous knowledge of the series, the strength of the storytelling and the sizzling chemistry between the protagonists more than made up for it. Overall, "The Forsaken Vampire" is a compelling read that will leave readers eager to delve deeper into the series.

This was the first book I have read by this author. I am writing this as a reviewer who has not read this author's previous works, so please take what I say with a grain of salt. Personally, I couldn't get into this book. Its plot seems promising, but the way the characters talk to one another was off putting. I think if the dialogue had been edited a little more, with better, refined words that fit the royal/aristocratic world it would have elevated the piece. That was the only reason I stopped reading after chapter three. The storyline is promising, and interesting. I do hope that this book succeeds and finds its target audience. I wish the author the very best in her writing journey!

This is the first book in the series that I've read. The writing felt like a teenager was finally able to put pen to paper and tell their sexual fantasies. The "love" story of Harlow is ridiculous. She's a spoiled brat who does who and what she wants. The king can by hung for all I care. The moment he opened his mouth to tell his sister in law it was her fault her husband cheated on her I was done. Maybe the book should come with an a-hole trigger warning. The dialog is so modern that it felt wrong.

Can i have book 5 TODAY pleaseeeee! The first half of this book is ALL spice!
I've decided I'm in love with all of the brothers now... ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Publisher's summary
My task is simple: kidnap Princess Rolfe. But the second I lay eyes on her I realize she’s anything but simple.
Rancor, Leader of the Teeth, has commanded I fetch her in exchange for the Golden Serpent venom. But my plan is immediately derailed when I feel it.
When I feel how much she wants me… I’ve had many lovers in my lifetime, but her passion puts them all to shame. One night turns into two…and then three…and then it becomes clear all my nights will be reserved for this woman.
But I gave Rancor my word—and I have to keep it.
She’s too ferocious to take by force so I drug her before I steal her from Delacroix. I escort her all the way to the Teeth and leave her there until Rancor tells me his plans.
“We’ll play with her for a bit…and then we’ll eat her. And once her father comes for her, we’ll eat him too.”
With my obligation fulfilled, I’m free to go. But can I leave such a beautiful woman to a horrible fate?

Thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ALC of The Forsaken Vampire!

The Forsaken Vampire
By: Penelope Barsetti
Narrated by: Ramona Master, Michael Ferraiuolo
Series: Dirty Blood, Book 4
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Release date: 04-23-24

I am so invested in this series! I cannot wait until the next installment. The writing moves so seamlessly between multiple POVs and multiple different groups of people/monsters. It was spicy and fun - I mean, there are dragons! The start of Aurelius and Harlow’s story was a total win and the narration was on point.

I binged the entire series over the weekend, and while they are catchy there is no character development, and the women in the stories go crawling back to the man that wronged them or lied to them. Overall the story was good and easy to follow and the narrator was okay. The book is heavy on the spice

🔹multiple POV

Overall, The Forsaken Vampire by Penelope Barsetti is an interesting story. I didn’t realize it was the fourth book in the series. You don’t really get into the plot/ description of the book until about 40-50% of the way in, I liked the narrators, but so many POVs (5-6?) got a little confusing (maybe that’s just my neurospicy brain).

The title and cover image seem a little confusing for this book. Don’t really find out that our male MC is a vampire until late in the book, but it seems the main plot given the title and description. There are dragons but they’re not a main feature of the book either.

Overall, it was spicy, tension, and good banter. A little more backstory or world building may have helped in this book, but I’m not going to discount it because I haven’t read the first three.

Right off the bat the dialogue took me out. It made the characters unbelievable and the setting confusing.

Second, I find that so many POVs don't work for me. I usually can't invest in the plot or character relationships if they're constantly bouncing around.

Last, it ended so abruptly I thought my audio file was corrupt.

I liked the idea of this book but it's not for me. I received this audiobook as an ARC and am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.

Though this is the fourth book in the series, we have started following around a different lot of MC’s for this part of the story. I was excited to see what this brother had been up to while the others were fighting a war far away.

I enjoyed the two MC’s and their banter. There was plenty of heat and I liked the dynamic between the royal family and their attitude towards their children. There wasn’t as much fighting action in this one as the last few, but I have a feeling that’s coming. Guess I’ll just have to wait for book number five now…

Thanks to #NetGallery and publisher for a copy of this book.

Genre: Romance/fantasy
Format: Audio
POV: Multiple
Tropes: strangers to lovers to enemies, dragons, FMC who can kick your ass
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 /5
Age suggestion: 18+

I enjoyed the audiobook of The Forsaken Vampire quite a bit. I was pulled into the world and characters immediately. My favorite part of this book was the main characters, Harlow and Aurelius. Harlow is a strong, self-sufficient, fierce warrior who knows what she wants in life, as well as, what and who, she doesn't want. I loved her confidence and self-awareness. Aurelius is an intriguing stranger and the two have amazing chemistry together. I was rooting for them right away, despite the deception that begins their relationship.

I was surprised at first by the number of POV characters since most fantasy and paranormal romances I’ve read are told from two POVs, not five. It was fun to hear the other voices, but I found myself waiting for more of Harlow and Aurelius since I was most invested in their story. Overall, the balance of action, intrigue, and relationship-building was solid, but I still wanted more focus on the two main characters.

The Forsaken Vampire is Book 4 in the Dirty Blood series and can be enjoyed without reading the prior books first. But it is not a standalone in that Harlow and Aurelius’s story continues in Book 5 and 6. The narrators, Ramona Master and Michael Ferraiuolo, did a good job of voicing several characters and making them distinct. I recommend this audiobook for fans of paranormal and romantasy novels, but even more so for pure fantasy lovers since The Forsaken Vampire reads like fantasy most of all.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 1/2

Don’t read if you don’t want spoilers but I loved this book and will continue the series
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Spoilers coming now:
it started off very smutty. We follow the story of princess harlow who is the daughter of hutley. She is indepentent and a strong female lead character which i loved so much. Aurelius is basically sent to kidnap her and take her to the teeth. He falls for her and she falls for him and they’re into each other physically right away. I think 40% of this book was smut lol but the story was still written great

(what I had a hard time liking) Ian’s wife was being blamed for having depression and shutting herself for the loss of her child. She didn’t want intimacy with her husband for months and he cheated on her. His brother(Huntley) blames her basically for Ian’s cheating basically saying that she had no right to blame him and shut him off. Like what!??? So messed up. I almost dnf this book at this point.


All in all it was a great book and a quick read. I recommend continuing the series ❤️

The 4th book in Penelope Barsetti's Dirty Blood series follows Aurelias, one of Kingsnake's brother while he is in the city of Delacroix on his mission for Rancor, Leader of the Teeth. In order to get the cure for Kingsnake's people Aurelias needs to kidnap King Rolfe's daughter Harlow. Needless to say like the other 3 books in this series there isn't a lack of steamy sexy romance in this book. If you are like to read Katee Robert, Emily McIntire, Mia Sheridan, Penelope Douglas, Lora Leigh then this series is one for you. I like to thank both NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for letting me listen to an avanced copy of this book.

If you like spicy and you like bad boy vampires, this is for you! This was such a hot read, I loved it! I am going to get more by the author

I didn't realise this was book 4 so had gone in blindly, it took a little while to get up to speed but it was managble which i appreciated. This was an easy one to keep up with, but fantasy books are typically much longer and a lot more action happens. I wasn't that impressed with the side plot as it didn't add to the story. I'd of loved to have seen this expanded significantly and providing more plot.

I cannot honestly tell you what I enjoyed more: the strong female characters, the men that love them, the kidnapping, the change of heart and last but certainly not the least the snarky comebacks that proves you can find love when you least expect it. I devoured this audiobook once it hit my device and I will be waiting not so patiently to see exactly where Penelope Barsetti takes us next. All I know is that once again the listeners will fall and fall hard.

The Forsaken Vampire by Penelope Barsetti and narrated by Ramona Master and Michael Ferraiuolo is an intriguing introduction to this author at book 4 in the series. I was conflicted in choosing this audiobook as I am not one for vampire fiction outside of Anne Rice, but, dragons and paranormal fantasy won out here

The narration is epic, a fantastic performance by Ramona Master and Michael Ferraiuolo. They have an electric dynamic well suited to this storyline

The Forsaken Vampire is an enjoyable listen as a standalone but I really want to explore the worldbuilding and character development that went on in the prior three books, to fill out the saga. This is absolutely personal preference as I must reiterate that it can be listened to/ read as a standalone, but I think this is a series that deserves to be read or listened to in full

Thank you very much to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, the author Penelope Barsetti and the narrators Ramona Master and Michael Ferraiuolo for this dynamic ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

♡ Audiobook Review ♡
♤ Release April.23 ♤
I am enjoying this series.
There are 4 different POV's, which could be a little confusing. I wish there were 4 different narrators so you could tell who is talking. So, if you're listening to the audiobook without the physical or eBook, you wouldn't get confused. It could be a little difficult telling who is talking. But overall, the storyline and plot are going to be good. This book is building the story up for what's to come.

The way i squeal when I see this available to request. The narration is always so amazing. The story is silly and sexy and fun too!
Is this literature you can discuss with your friends? No. Is it the best time ever? YES.