This book was so good! This is my first YA novel of this year and I'm surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did. The angst and the relationship between X and his little gem was so endearing even in a world full of vampires and vampire hunters! Some of the battle scenes was confusing to me a bit and hard to follow but a quick re-read and I was tracking again. The author did a fantastic job with the vampire world and I like her little spin on it like how they can eat regular human food as well. They can't survive off it but they can still enjoy it. It really honed in for me as a reader that yes they have changed into this blood sucking creature but there still a little humanity left in them. This book is perfect for parents looking for clean YA fantasy. It had just enough angsty romance to keep me interested but definitely no spice or smut at all making it appropriate for the younger audience it's geared towards. The title of the book makes sense once you get to the end and everything comes to a finale.

Yes yes yes! This hit everything. Vampires, tension, banter, oh my! Fast paced high stakes with a new twist on vampires was amazing.

Thank you Entangled for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Great for fans of the walking dead! Good banter between characters in a dystopian setting overrun with vampires.

This was such a great book! This is a darker, dystopian Vampire fantasy that had me hooked on each page. I could not put it down. I am so glad I read this. I am not usually one for vampire stories but this was amazing.

Ruby and her twin sister Ripley trained their whole lives to be vampire slayers and to fight the threat that hovers over them. But, when Ripley is turned into a vampire, Ruby must now make a choice to break the rules or risk losing her sister forever.

The story was filled with suspense and packed with emotion. Of course Ruby has to make the deal with the most feared and powerful vampire of all. But, the unthinkable happens and a connection is formed between them and it is everything. The banter, the twists, the suspense, I loved it all.

I definitely recommend reading this book and I hope there is more to come because I definitely need more of these characters and this world.

Thank you to Entangled Teen/Entangled Publishing for entrusting me with a copy!

Standalone YA romantasy
Dystopian world with vampire, enemies to reluctant allies to lovers, different take on vampires - vampires that can control themselves and some that can't, vampires vs humans, the vampires have abilities, betrayal, family over everything, betrayal, banter, nickname, manipulation, fun references of the world before everything fell apart

Ruby and her sister are one mission away from being official vampire slayers. But when the mission goes sour, the worst happens and her sister is turned instead of killed. Now the rest of the human compound seeks to capture her, and though the man who raised them assures her he wants her to keep her save until there is a cure, Ruby finds out other wise. Now she will have to bring herself to seek out the most notorious vampire, X… for help to keep her sister safe. Can she trust him? Soon she is breaking all the rules as she comes to learn that maybe the vampires aren't only monsters.

I really enjoyed this book! I was invested from the beginning and could not put it down! This book had a somewhat unique take on vampires that felt more like zombies than typical vampires with the set up. Ruby had such a journey with learning that her enemy is not as evil as they seemed and accepting her sister's happiness! There were definitely some heartbreaking moments but there is hope at the end for a chance at peace!

I was down with bronchitis when it released last week, but the moment I could I binged through this and I am IN LOVE.

The Ground That Devours Us felt like I was in the 2000s in peak dystopian as well as peak vampire times. Kallan Harris has a way with words that had me feeling every emotion on the spectrum as if I was Ruby.

I really hope this is not just a standalone. While there is closure, I could see where there’s an opening for more and I am fully (delusional and yet still) hopeful.

Vampires ended the world—and Ruby is not okay with it. Trained as a Slayer alongside her twin sister Ripley, she’s spent her life preparing to fight back. But everything changes when the most feared vampire of all, X, turns Ripley instead of killing her. Suddenly, Ruby is faced with an impossible choice: defy everything she’s been taught, make a dangerous deal with a monster, and risk it all for the slim chance to save her sister.

This dystopian vampire fantasy is an intense, action-packed thrill ride from beginning to end. Set in a gritty, post-apocalyptic Charlotte where humanity is barely surviving, the story pulses with high stakes, emotional weight, and moments of unexpected beauty. Ruby’s fierce loyalty and determination, especially in the face of impossible odds, were incredibly compelling—and the bond between the sisters is the beating heart of the story.

And X? He’s the ultimate morally gray antihero. Brooding, dangerous, and maddeningly complex, his enemies-to-lovers tension with Ruby had me completely hooked.

Beyond the bloodshed and chaos, this book delivers sharp romantic banter, plot twists that keep you guessing, and just the right amount of tenderness. The characters feel raw and real, and the pacing never lets up. If you’re into dystopian fantasy packed with heart, grit, and forbidden yearning, this one’s a must-read.

I wanted to give this far more stars than it gets, but not because it's a bad book.

The idea of an apocalyptic future with Vampires is hardly new but this author comes to it with a fresh take. Part the Walking Dead, part Last of Us with essences of Buffy thrown in, it's a wonderful mix of your favourite paranormal dystopian tropes.

Ruby is two things- a twin and a slayer, and she knows which one is more important to her. Outside her compound, the only haven of safety for humans, are the bloodwalkers and the vampires. One groups is a bumbling shell of humanity living on scraps with no intelligence or motivation other than hunger, the other a dangerous, violent group of strong, super-powered creatures with a bloodlust that tears apart families and destroys towns.
Ruby wants to become a slayer to protect Ripley- her twin and fulfil the promise she made to her mother. But when her final exam goes horrifically awry, it is left to Ruby to decide whether it is humans or vampires who have the bigger lust for violence and who are really the monsters?

Ruby was a bit of a "not like other girls." eschewing feminine frills for combat boots and guns, independent to the point of absurdity and full of snappy one-liners. She does suffer from PTSD and is in the middle of an incredibly toxic parental relationship which goes some way to explaining her faults. But her character genuinely grows during the course of the book and it makes for a great character arch when you see her start to let other people in. Although she started off brash and irritating, I really ended up liking her and rooting for her.
Her sister, Ripley, is far more well-rounded and nuanced from the get-go and her journey, while no less rough was easier because she had never succumbed to the training given.
X was a brilliant antagonist and it was so nice to see ACTUAL enemies to lovers- not just dislike and lust. His character growth was excellent and I'd highly recommend him as a book boyfriend.
The plot was amazing, the description of fight scenes and action was crafted brilliantly, Several times I was left on the edge of my seat by the cliff-hanger.

Two things do stand out to me- the world building was good but could have been better. The compound and social hierarchy as well as aspects of daily life could have been explained in more detail to give more of a picture of how humans were surviving in this world where they couldn't leave the walls.
Casea was far more developed and it was just a shame that we didn't get to compare it to the human's home.

Secondly, and far more annoyingly were the pop culture references.
The virus/ reanimation/vampirism (we are never told why it happens) began in 2038. According to Ruby she is in elementary school which is between 5-11. She is now 18 and has been training for around a decade according to her. So it's been around 10 years- it must be 2048.
No one born in 2030 is going to be singing Taylor Swift songs, referencing Lion King or being a devoted fan of 80s music, a style 50 years before they were even born.
I can allow her knowing who Buffy the Vampire slayer is since I could imagine them using her series as training? But the rest just grated.
There is no quicker way to date a book than by littering it with pop=-culture references. That is why this only gets a 4 instead of 5 stars.

This was such a good read. There is never a dull moment. In a dystopian era world where vampires and an unintelligent zombie version called a Bloodwalker have wiped up much of humanity, compounds host human survivors who are trying to stay alive and kill as many blood suckers as possible. Ruby is faced with a challenging situation that changes everything in her world, including everything she was trained to believe. I love that this book showcases the dark side of humanity when it comes to revenge. If we take a closer look, we can change and grow from the past we have lived. The banter between Ruby and X is fantastic.

A dystopian vampire love story. This book had everything you could ask for. Plot, romance, world building, conflict, compromise, strong character building and a beautiful cover. I definitely recommend this book. It is classified as young adult, but i loved it as a mature adult. Can’t wait to read more.

**Rating: 3.5/5**

I really enjoyed the humanity brought to the vampires in this story—it challenged a lot of the typical assumptions and added depth to the world. I also appreciated how multi-faceted X was as a character. The slow-burn enemies-to-lovers arc was well done, and the banter between the characters kept things engaging and fun.

That said, I found myself wanting more development when it came to the friendships. The story had a strong character-driven focus, which I loved, but I think it could have benefited from a bit more plot progression. Honestly, I think this book would have been even stronger as a duology—giving the story and relationships more space to grow would’ve added real depth.

For a debut, the author did a great job creating characters you really come to care about. Overall, it’s a solid first novel with a lot of heart and potential, and I’m excited to see what the author does next.

Not your typical vampire book and that's one of the things that I really liked about it. There are plenty of books out there where the vampires struggle with their humanity but I like how the author deals with it in this it in this one. I think the twist of a scratch from a vampire instead of a bite being what can turn or kill you is unique to the story.
I like the progression of X and Ruby's relationship and I like how the author does a good a job at kind of showing that it's not so black and white to see if someone is good or bad.

“Welcome back to the land of the living, little gem.”

5⭐️

- dystopian survival
- vampire apocalypse
- found family
- monster vs slayer
- sibling loyalty

omg. ruby. x. ripley. all of it. obsessed.

In the year 2038, Ruby and her twin sister, Ripley, are training to be vampire slayers and simply just want to survive. At least that’s the plan up until one night when Ripley ends up being turned into a vampire, too…by one of the most powerful and sought-after vampires, X. Then, Ruby’s sole purpose changes to finding a way to turn her sister back to a human, and find X. but then she ends up making a deal with him and everything seems to change. He’s not as scary or horrible as her mentor seemed to make him out to be, and neither are the other vampires. Ruby soon has to decide where her heart truly lies, and try to uncover what’s been going on right in front of her all along.

I can’t read enough vampire books lately!
This was a fun YA dystopian vampire read.
The banter between Ruby and X was funny and the character growth was great. The high stakes kept me turning the page. Thank you Entangled and NetGalley for the e-arc!

I really liked this book for teens! It has alot of action and finding out who she is and wants to be. Things are not always what they seem in this story!

I just finished reading "The Ground That Devours Us" and I'm obsessed! It's like Warm Bodies but with vampires, and I loved every minute of it.The story is so engaging and the world-building is really cool. The vampires in this book are different from the usual ones, which made it feel fresh and exciting. I liked how the author created this whole new mythology around them.I read the whole book in one sitting, basically devoured it. I found the plot to be nostalgic of the stories I used to read and was oooooh so rooting for the characters. I’m kinda hoping there will be more because just like with warm bodies I totally wanna see what’s next

Right off the bat, I got Walking Dead vibes—specifically Alexandria—but with vampires instead of zombies, and I was instantly hooked! This was such a fresh, unique take on vampirism and vampire slayers. The world felt dangerous and intense, but also full of heart. The balance of tension, banter, and raw emotion was spot on.

One of my favorite aspects was the sister relationship between Ruby and Ripley. They’re both fiercely protective of each other in their own ways, and the love they share is evident throughout the entire story. It gave the book so much depth.

And then there’s X—the vampire who completely changes everything for Ruby. I loved their relationship from the start, and watching it grow made the story even more compelling.

I hadn’t read a vampire book since the Sookie Stackhouse series, but after this one, I’m officially back on the vampire train!

It’s been a LONG time since I’ve read a vampire novel (last was Twilight) but this was GOOD. omg was this good. X was such a sweetheart to Ruby and Ruby’s growth when it came to the vampires and Ripley… yes.

Thank you so much Entangled. As always, muchly appreciated.

In a world where humans are prey and vampires rule, Ruby, vampire slayer hopeful, goes on the last mission to get her to full Slayer rank. Then everything goes wrong. In order to save her twin, she makes a deal with X, the handsome vampire leader. This is when the world starts unraveling.

The Ground That Devours us is set in a thrilling alternate world where humans struggle to survive being killed by vamps. Think Zombieland but with smart Vampires. I can say that very few stories have had me on a choke hold emotionally as this one has. Ruby’s love for her sister makes her do unspeakable things, and yet, the charismatic X calls to her. There are some interesting plot twists, but others are a tad too convenient while wrapping up the story. Overall it was a fun read.

I love the twist on the vampire world, the bond between two sisters, and everything about this book. Its a very fast paced high stakes book when you're never sure what is about to happen. The banter is hilarious and the characters are so different i love this book!