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.