This book gave me so many good, nostalgic feelings! As a Twilight and Vampire Diaries fan I felt like this story took me back to those worlds which I was loving. There is something about a human x vampire relationship that always pulls me in immediately, and I thought that Avery captured the arrogance of Michael and the naivety of Paislee so well! Paislee was giving me major Bella vibes and Michael was giving Damien vibes. I had a really fun time with this book and read it in just a couple of days! I struggled a bit with Paislee, she felt very helpless most of the time which can be frustrating, but it did serve its purpose in showing Michael as the hero of the story. I also wish that we had a little bit more world building, as I feel that this was mostly focused on the romance and relationship development, and I was missing more of that Fantasy world building that I love within my Romantasy books. All in all, Cardinal Code gave me warm & fuzzy nostalgic feelings and I can't wait to see what else Avery Sterling does! Thanks to both Avery and Net Galley for the eArc, I'm so thankful.

Thank You to NetGalley & The publisher for allowing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I very quickly devoured this book! This was EVERYTHING all of us teen Twilight girlies wanted out of a more adult vampire novel. I went in with the expectation of liking it, not being COMPLETELY INTHRALLED by it! You're telling me I have to wait a year or 2 for the next book??

Was it a little cliche? Yes. Was it a little cringy at times? Yes. Did I kinda love it for that though? Also yes. I completely relived my Twilight fantasy through this novel which a lot of the time doesn't work for me as a reader -- however, this book was still very much its own unique plot & character lineup. I do think it suffers the most from pacing issues, and I do have one larger gripe that kept nagging at me.

Let's talk about Consent in this novel -- ***SPOILER AHEADDDDD***

Consent is basically non-existent in this novel, which is a weird choice on the author's part. There is a time and place for consent in books like this, always, and Paislee almost never gets a say in what is happening to her inside her intimate relationship - nearly 0% of the time. How many times in the same paragraph can he "grab her wrist" or "stop her from leaving", and how many times does she threaten to leave or try to leave because he's done something shitty or hypocritical, and she immediately changes her mind and comes right back to him? Paislee is too smart for that shit. She isn't acting like someone that has been betrayed before. As someone that HAS been betrayed in a previous relationship, I'll tell you right now that is NOT AT ALL how I'd react to perceived lies/betrayal.

Anyway. My main issue here is every time Paislee says "fuck this", she's stopped physically, pulled back, and usually immediately kissed or physically touched to "calm her down" or keep her there. Bro put a TRACKER on her phone without her permission too. I don't care if you're a 1,000 year old vampire and I'm everyone's #1 target -- this is relationship breaking 101. Don't be a possessive, controlling creep. What is up with that? But also, consent or no, Paislee caves to him every time he does this shit and she was also cool with the tracker so. Who am I to judge what they have going on if she acts okay with it, I guess?

***END SPOILERRRRRRR***

Overall I was extremely invested in this novel & basically finished it within 2 days once I sat down to start it. I didn't want to put it down and now I will be starved by the time book 2 comes out! 4.5 stars from me, rounded up!

Thank you Netgalley :)

I really enjoyed this book, It was a fun read and finished this the same day.

I was hooked from the first chapter and loved the romance between the characters. The romance to plot was perfect.

This book was not what I was expecting in the extreme.
It was well written in the plot well thought out. But I very clearly am not the type of person who would enjoy this book.
There is assumed cheating, and non-consental acts take place between mains (FMC is “drugged” with venom)

The MMC quite literally disgusted me, and I only made it through this book on share force of will.

However, if you are into things both illegal and morally evil, he might be into it…

Thank you to Netgalley and Avery Sterling for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was hooked, this book exceeded all my expectations for all the wrong reasons.
Season 1 Stefan gets to keep the girl, Damon remains evil and hell bent on revenge, all under the governance of Twilight's order. That's it. That's the plot.

Well until you get to the epilogue but that's for next time.

I'd firstly like to thank Avery Sterling and Netgally for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Cardinal Code is a romantasy that I consumed in less than 24 hours.

The Cardinal Code follows college student Paislee who is struggling to pay her medical and student debt. Her fate entwines with Michael who is in the process of taking over his father's business. Michael and his family have a secret; they are a genetically superior species who age slowly, have advanced healing abilities, and rely on the blood of humans to survive. They also despise the term humans use to describe them; vampire.

The chemistry between the MMC and FMC is impeccable, although the MMC is a bit of a walking red flag at times. Think twilight, except the vampires aren't mopey but are super wealthy and influential a-holes who will only watch you sleep if you consent first.

This was enjoyable enough for me to want to read the sequel!

So I really wanted to like this book and for the most part it wasn’t bad. My main struggle was the number of problems and the character development. I feel like overall this story just needed fleshed out more. Everything happened quite quickly without much time. Likewise I felt like every other chapter there was a new problem. Basically if this book was a 3 book series with the amount of problems going on I think it would have been amazing. Throwing everything into one book just made it seem confusing and disjointed. I found myself often saying “what now?” a lot. I would maybe consider reading the next book but overall although the idea was amazing I think the execution needs some help. Thank you for allowing me to read this though!

The Cardinal Code by Avery Sterling was a great vampire book. I really believe there was a different take on vampire and humans. I like the concept that they could still eat and there was more of an order being a vampire.

Michael and Paislee's relationship was perfection! They had an instant attraction but I liked how Paislee didn't fall at his feet. There were some twist and turns in the book that kept you on your toes while reading. But boy was I mad to learn it kind of ends in a cliffhanger! I can't wait for the next book to come out!

Thank you ##netgalley for allowing me to leave an honest review!

Dark, seductive, and surprisingly deep.

The Cardinal Code delivers a gripping blend of paranormal intrigue and forbidden romance. The world-building is immersive—vampires hiding in plain sight, bound by ancient laws and contracts, adds a fresh twist to a well-worn trope. Michael is the perfect brooding anti-hero, while Paislee brings heart and determination to balance the darker elements of the story.

Their chemistry crackles from the moment they meet, and the slow burn tension kept me turning the pages. I appreciated the exploration of consent and power dynamics—it added layers to the romance and made the stakes feel real.

That said, some pacing issues and occasional predictability kept it from being a full 5 stars. Still, it’s a strong start to what could be a very compelling series. If you love your romance with danger, secrets, and a bite of the supernatural, The Cardinal Code is well worth sinking your teeth into.

I was hooked pretty quickly into this vampire romance and actually finished it in one day. Paislee was sassy and all in on a situationship that was clearly terrible from the start and I felt that. Michael was rich and controlling (shocker) and honestly I did not like him until about 75% in because he was a tool. My heart broke for Paislee on multiple occasions especially when Michael would keep telling her to let things go vs sticking for her. He seemed to come around but we’ll see as the next book comes out, which since this ends on a cliffhanger I’ll be anxiously waiting for. The only thing this from being a 5 star for me was I felt like there was a bit of a lack of character description. Like I didn’t have a great picture of any of the characters and that’s difficult for me when I’m reading. Also some of the dialogue was a bit B movie cheesy at points but overall the story was so good it was easy to overlook. Definitely invested and looking forward to next one to see where Paislee and Michael’s story will lead.

From the very first page, The Cardinal Code completely hooked me and sucked me right into this deliciously addictive world! I’m a total sucker (pun intended) for vampire stories, especially after just finishing On Wings of Blood, but Avery Sterling brings something fresh and so emotionally real to the genre that I wasn’t expecting! The MMC is broody perfection, and FMC? I adore her! Their chemistry is chef’s kiss, and watching her go from clueless human to someone tangled in vampire danger (and desire!) was such a wild, intense ride. I devoured this book in one sitting. The vampires were written in such a likable and human way—I was rooting for them the whole time.

Cardinal code is a fantasy romance novel about vampires, loyalty and romance. Ivampires rule the world and are very powerful. I have never heard of this author before but I would definitely read more from her.

From the very first page, I was utterly captivated, drawn into a world that hummed with a familiar yet fresh supernatural energy. If you, like me, found yourself lost in the atmospheric romance and underlying mystery of the "Twilight" saga, then prepare to be swept away once more. "The Cardinal Code" delivers that same addictive blend of compelling characters, a touch of the forbidden, and an undeniable emotional pull.
Sterling masterfully crafts a narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat. The pacing is impeccable, revealing just enough to keep the intrigue simmering without ever feeling rushed. The central relationship, fraught with unspoken desires and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, resonated deeply. There's a palpable tension in their interactions, a magnetic force that made me root for them against all odds. The "Twilight vibes" are definitely present – that sense of a unique and powerful connection blooming in an extraordinary circumstance – but Sterling carves out her own distinct and compelling story within this beloved trope.
Beyond the captivating romance, the underlying mythology and world-building are intriguing. Sterling hints at a larger, more complex world just beneath the surface, leaving me eager to uncover its secrets in future installments.

The Cardinal Code is a dark, romantic dive into vampire politics, bloodlines, and betrayal. Think The Vampire Diaries level brotherly tension meets the ominous authority of Twilight’s Volturi, layered with just enough supernatural intrigue to keep you hooked.

Paislee, the heroine, is rebuilding her life after personal tragedy when she lands a job at a mysterious nightclub in New York. That’s where she meets Michael Chamberlain—a quiet, intense club owner with secrets that go far beyond the surface. Their chemistry is immediate, but the deeper Paislee falls into Michael’s world, the more dangerous things become.

The slow-burn romance, layered worldbuilding, and brewing rebellion add tension and depth, though the pacing in some parts leans more simmer than sizzle. The sibling rivalry between Michael and his stepbrother Esben is the real driving force, filled with history, resentment, and escalating stakes.

While the story delivers a solid paranormal romance with dark undertones, it didn’t quite hit with the intensity or originality I was hoping for. That said, it’s a strong series starter that sets up bigger conflicts to come—and fans of vampire romance with power plays and morally gray characters will still find plenty to enjoy.

Oh boy! This was fun, but a little predictable. It was nothing inherently new, but I still found it to be enjoyable. If you like vampires, this is awesome. The rules for them are slightly different than usual ones at least.

I must say I absolutely loved this book! It's kind of a Fifty Shades with vampires type of read. The chemistry between the FMC and MMC was perfect, and while I wouldn't consider it a "slow burn" I was invested in their success immediately. This was a very quick read for me, because I couldn't put it down. There were some twists and turns that I didn't see coming, which made for a very engaging read. The plot was interesting, and it gave a few new ideas on vampiric lore that I really liked, especially the biology aspect that the book dives into. I was excited to see that there will be more to this series! The sex scenes weren't obnoxious, and actually added to the story, instead of just being gratuitous smut. I love how some hard topics were approached in a graceful way. The underlying themes of partners making mistakes (albeit big ones), but still being able to work things out added a refreshing perspective. I do wish a little more detail had been given, especially on the characters and the setting. I think that would add a lot more depth to the book, and draw readers in even more. Overall I would love to read more of Avery Sterling's work, and I can't wait to see what else she writes!