I have been craving a really good urban fantasy. This was so fun and that ending deserves a chefs kiss. My only complaint is I need the next book now! Thank you to Netgalley, Lat Night Daydreams LLC, and Vasilia Drake for the ARC and ALC. I did enjoy the narrator Cicily Foster and will definitely be watching for Book 2 in Kingdom of Dark Magic series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🫑
🎧 ALC received from @victoryeditingngc and @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
As this was the audio version, I want to touch on that experience first:

I had to bump the speed to 1.5x, which is a tad higher than my usual, but that’s the beauty of audiobooks—you can match the pacing to your brain speed. The narration by Cecily Foster (@cecilysexily) was excellent. The main character, Samara, is quiet, calm, but resilient with lots of internal monologue, and the narration really brought that out.

This book is a very slow burn—so slow that I’m not even sure I’d call it full romantasy yet. There are twists and tension that kept me intrigued, and although I saw the cliffhanger ending coming, it still landed well.
What really surprised me is the emotional tone. Despite being dark in theme, it also had this strange sense of healing and calm woven through it. Can a book be both? Apparently yes—this one is. It’s a unique feeling I wasn’t expecting.

I really enjoyed the worldbuilding and magic system in this world. In Part 1, we learn about:
Witches
Voids (those born without magic)
Vampires
Magic cards: Used by both magic and non-magic users, they carry types of power like healing, strength, transformative...
It was refreshing to see it explained in a way that felt organic—not a big info dump, just cleverly introduced as needed.

Part 2 shifts the vibe, we start to see that Raphael, the vampire, never really intended to let Samara go. His energy becomes more possessive—touch her and die vibes. The romantasy element is more noticeable here, though it’s very much a push-and-pull dynamic that leaves you questioning everyone’s motives.

I liked however how Samara stayed true to herself. She’s calm, steady, and strong—and both the writing and narration captured that beautifully.

This one’s not spicy—more of a bell pepper 🫑 level. There’s tension, yes, but not much in the way of actual on-page spice (yet, maybe).

This is Book 1 in a series, and the story is not complete. The ending delivers a dramatic epilogue that leaves plenty of unanswered questions for the next installment. If you like slow-burn, dark fantasy with deep lore and emotional undertones—this could be your vibe.

Samara breaks out of a prison she shouldn't be in, because she is not guilty of the crime of which she is accused. She leaves an environment of torment and abuse with the help of a vampire she is terrified of, but also sympathizes with because of their shared abuse at the hands of wicked guards.
Raphael is the worst kind of a vampire with a thirst for blood, the mortal enemy of witches, the same breed that killed her mother.
Throughout the story, Samara has an internal struggle with her own magical powers, even considering giving them up a new life. Her internal dialogue questioning herself and the evil ways of the vampire she has chosen to free kept me intrigued to find out what she will decide.
A Bargain So Bloody is a slow burn romantasy that will keep you interested, because the characters are likeable and develop a partnership you want to see get deeper!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
I am looking forward to part 2 of this great story!

☆4 stars☆
✩₊˚.⋆Pros⋆⁺₊✧
❀Engrossing Vampire World with Political Intrigue
The setting is dark, atmospheric, and rich with tension. perfect for people who love court politics and supernatural stakes.
❀Unique Card-Based Magic System
The card magic is creative, well-integrated, and adds a unique identity to the plot playing what felt like a vital role. The magic system is similar to One Dark Window.
❀Morally Ambiguous Characters
It is hard to guess exactly were their loyalties lay and where they drawl their lines. Not morally grey.
❀High Tension and Addictive Plot
The pacing is fast and the story remains gripping throughout, especially in the second half which is absolutely unputdownable.
❀Incredible Audiobook Performance
Cecily Foster’s narration is a standout, emotionally rich, immersive, and perfectly suited to the tone of the story. Her portrayal enhances the experience.
✩₊˚.⋆Cons⋆⁺₊✧
❀Occasionally Rushed Pacing
Some emotional shifts and character decisions happen too quickly, making parts of the story feel slightly underdeveloped.
❀Some Emotional Moments Feel Underexplored
Key scenes would have benefited from more time to breathe, allowing the emotional weight to fully land.

✦A Bargain So Bloody is an engrossing and captivating exploration of a vampire world filled with politics and slow-burning romantic tension. Vasilisa Drake stitches together an atmospheric fantasy steeped in sharp edges and layering complex emotions with morally ambiguous characters that have you scrutinizing everyone’s motives, including the heroine's.
✦Samara's character shines as a strong yet vulnerable protagonist who has been scarred by her past but is determined to thrive in a world that would rather see her fall apart. The main male character has a history and is an interesting device to drive the plot.
✦The worldbuilding is immersive and imaginative, especially the magic system revolving around cards, which felt both unique and seamlessly incorporated into the narrative. The pacing is at a brisk pace, sometimes overly so. A handful of emotional shifts and some character decisions felt slightly rushed, and at times, I craved more time to fully appreciate some pivotal moments. Regardless of the fast pace, the tension remains taut.
✦The main character moves a little too fast emotionally to trust the MMC, and it could have been written with more hate, but it is pretty well written either way. The story is also pretty linear and easy to follow along, but it lacks some depth in a more complex story; other than that, it is very solid. The book did have me on my toes the whole time, and around the last half, I was going crazy, and when it was over, I could not believe it.
✦What really enhanced my experience was the audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by Cecily Foster, and her performance is incredible. She puts emotional nuances to every single scene, whether it is Samara’s emotional chaos or Raphael’s stoic control; she captures both sides with equal power. It is easy to become completely immersed in the performance, thanks to her pacing, tone, and delivery. It's one of those unique

˚ʚTropesɞ˚
♡Morally Gray Love Interest
♡Unique Magic System
♡Vampire Court Politics
♡Slow Burn Romance
♡Bargain/Deal
♡Vampires and Witches

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁Thank you so much to Late Night Daydreams LLC, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op,
and Vasilisa Drake for the incredible opportunity to listen to and review this book in audio format. I had an amazing time. I'm so grateful to have been an early listener and reviewer of this Audiobook!. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

(Instagram)
A Bargain So Bloody is an engrossing and captivating exploration of a vampire world filled with politics and slow-burning romantic tension. Vasilisa Drake stitches together an atmospheric fantasy steeped in sharp edges and layering complex emotions with morally ambiguous characters that have you scrutinizing everyone’s motives, including the heroine's. Samara's character shines as a strong yet vulnerable protagonist who has been scarred by her past but is determined to thrive in a world that would rather see her fall apart. The main male character has a history and is an interesting device to drive the plot. The worldbuilding is immersive and imaginative, especially the magic system revolving around cards, which felt both unique and seamlessly incorporated into the narrative. The pacing is at a brisk pace, sometimes overly so. A handful of emotional shifts and some character decisions felt slightly rushed, and at times, I craved more time to fully appreciate some pivotal moments. Regardless of the fast pace, the tension remains taut. The main character moves a little too fast emotionally to trust the MMC, and it could have been written with more hate, but it is pretty well written either way. The story is also pretty linear and easy to follow along, but it lacks some depth in a more complex story; other than that, it is very solid. The book did have me on my toes the whole time, and around the last half, I was going crazy, and when it was over, I could not believe it. What really enhanced my experience was the audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by Cecily Foster, and her performance is incredible. She puts emotional nuances to every single scene, whether it is Samara’s emotional chaos or Raphael’s stoic control; she captures both sides with equal power. It is easy to become completely immersed in the performance, thanks to her pacing, tone, and delivery. It's one of those unique

This book felt like it flew by, and I can already tell this epilogue is going to stick with me for a while.

A Bargain So Bloody is a vampire & witch Romantasy full of tension, betrayal, and secrets.

The writing caught my interest early on as the world building is incredibly rich and the characters refreshingly in-depth. At times, it still followed some of the standard Romantasy patterns, but there was plenty of uniqueness to keep me invested. One of the aspects I really loved was the use of hyper-classic vampire traits. I feel like you never see some of these used anymore, and their inclusion was a very welcome surprise.

The characters were what made this story, though. Even through morally grey situations and trials, they stayed true to themselves, which is what gave way to the gut-wrenching end.

Due to Samara’s past, she is very innocent, and at times, her internal monologue felt a bit monotonous. But overall, I did appreciate her desire to always uncover the truth, while a lot of other Romantasy FMCs would have just buried themselves in their own ignorance. And in direct opposition to Samara’s innocence is Raphael, a true morally grey MMC. His dedication to Samara’s happiness and safety knows no bounds. Together, these two MCs are just a masterclass in tension.

So, if you are in the mood for a slow-burn romance, with an in-depth magic system, one horse, one tent, AND one bed, then I would highly recommend picking up A Bargain So Bloody. I am personally already patiently waiting for book two!

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for this audiobook ARC and the opportunity to give my candid feedback.

First let me start by saying I absolutely loved the main characters and I thought the narration was amazing. Both characters were easy to love. I loved how Raphael was dark, mysterious, but had a softer side when it came to Samara. He ruled a kingdom, but when it came to Samara all bets were off. I liked Samara because she started off being a girl scared of her own shadow. Once she met Raphael she started to come into her own and find her place as well as her own voice. I thought this book was very original and not something I have read before which I loved. The reason I did not give 5 stars is because it took me a little over 40 percent to get into the story. I’m very glad I stuck with it because the ending was great. I did not expect the ending at all. It does leave you with a cliff hanger and I can’t wait to get into book 2.

Wow I just finished listening to the audio for A Bargain So Bloody and it was so addictive! I literally didn’t want to stop listening. The narration was excellent!

The plot centres around the FMC, Samara or Sam for short. She’s a magicless witch known as a void. She’s been sentenced to serve in an awful prison where she barely survives and is traumatised by a bully called Nelson. One day a new prisoner arrives and is badly tortured. Nelson makes Samara go and tend to this prisoner’s wounds and upon entering his cell, she realises he’s a vampire. He tries to thrall her to help him escape but she is somehow immune to his vampiric powers. But this vampire, Raphael, offers Samara a bargain. If she helps him escape he will break her out too and she desperately wants to escape Nelson.

So she does what any self preserving girl with no other option would do, she helps the dangerous, stunningly beautiful and alluring vampire escape. So begins an adventure to seek information and a magical grimoire.

Vasilisa then used my two favourite microtropes, only one horse and only one tent to seriously build the slow burn tension and my ears were glued to the audio lapping up every moment where Sam was trying to fight how Raphael was making her feel.

Raphael is a touch her and ☠️, “she’s mine”, platinum blonde vampire who let me sink back into my Edward from Twilight crush era 😍🥵 This man can do no wrong!

Vasilisa has such an enthralling writing style that was perfectly narrated by Cecily Foster, that I couldn’t help but be totally sucked into the world. The depth she gets in her characters, highlighted by the way she explores Samara’s past trauma and what motivates Sam to find her inner strength is so captivating. The plot and the world building and the sizzling sloooow burn had me hooked. Such a fun read and the cliff 😩😭 that was killer. I need book 2 now!

You’ll love this book if you enjoy:
🖤 Slow burn dark romantasy
🖤 Vampire x human Witch romance
🖤 Secret identities
🖤 Enemies to reluctant allies to almost lovers
🖤 Found family
🖤 Touch her and ☠️
🖤 Only one horse / only one bed “for warmth”

A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake and narrated by Cecily Foster is the first book in the Kingdom of Dark Magic series and I loved it, this audiobook was so good I ended up listening to it whilst I was shopping, and window shopping. My mind was miles away in the cold Castle Greymere, even though! I am so glad I never saw any Vampires whilst out shopping!!! and I am glad it was warm out! 😂

Samara is now twenty years old, she is finally coming to her end of her sentence in prison, but she has no idea why is is there!! Sadly she has been stuck in there since she was a young child and only eight years old. She was sentenced for a crime she did not commit. Samara is bullied by all the guards and is tormented by the screams of the other prisoners within the prison throughout the day and especially throughout the night!.
Samara needs to be strong to leave this prison and survive, she must deal with the most dangerous prisoner of them all!

But, as days go by to her freedom she learns that her freedom that has been promised is the cruelest lie she would ever be told!!!! No one leaves Greymere alive. and now and she is faced with a resign herself to dying in the cold walls of Castle Greymere, or do the unthinkable and escape. So to break out of the prison? She will have to use one of the undead.

Now, Raphael is the worst kind of a vampire with a massive thirst for blood, the mortal enemy of witches, the same breed that killed her mother. And most importantly, he’s unspeakably powerful, his supernatural strength tamed only by the enchanted cuffs forced on him.

He’s her only chance at a life outside the prison walls.

The deal is Samara unlocks his shackles, and he'll help her escape. But although Raphael agreed to help her leave Greymere, he never promised to let her go…

WoW this audiobook is so good and the narrator Cecily Foster was superb.

I was lucky to receive the audiobook and book and I recommend them both.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Audio ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for my ARC.

I LOVED this! The story was so much fun and enjoyable (dark and traumatic as well) the narration was really fun, I really liked the voices. They did a really good job bringing these characters to life. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
Highly recommend

Daddy Raphael, oh my gosh. The twists and turns and b l o o d shed! I loved it. I think I am turning morally grey. Sam has so many questions unanswered still and I love that because then we have things to look forward to learning about her in the next books which I will DEVOUR!!! I cannot get enough of this and her self restraint in the slow burn. YES PLEASE.

I did listen to the audiobook and it was CHEF'S KISS!

I loved it in short! This book was twisty and made you fall in love with both main characters Samara and Rafael! Samara being torn between what she grew up knowing and is now experiencing and a vampire with secrets make just the perfect pair!
Cecily foster was a fantastic narrator. She brought the characters to life with feeling and spoke how I would have imagined the characters brought to life!

I love a good vampire book and this one did not disappoint.i was invested in the story, the characters had strong development and the magic system was unique. Cliffhanger for sure and I cannot wait for the next book!

I really enjoyed this!

Samara is such an interesting FMC, imprisoned at age eight after her mother is accused of treason we meet her twelve years into her fifteen year sentence. Except its not just another three years of catching rats to eat and serving in the prison, it's a lifetime sentence and she's not doing that.

Raphael our MMC is less interesting than Sam and his identity twist was obvious as soon as Vampire Kings were announced as a thing. He's protective but condescending and I'm not sure if I liked him but I did like Samara.

The twist at the end while a little predictable - hints all the way back in chapter one or two when he couldn't mind control her - was satisfying.

I did think that it would be revealed that Sam was the bastard child of the king but I was wrong.

Looking forward to the next book! I can't wait to find out what her mother did to get them both classed as traitors and how the events in the last two chapters will spiral out into the sequel!

A Bargain so Bloody
Vasilisa Drake

Y’all! This was quite honestly a 12 star book! Literally my favorite book I’ve read this year! I couldn’t get enough of it. I was captivated by it and literally obsessed with it. I’ve told everyone about this book, it is a must read for anyone who loves fantasy or romantasy!

Vampires and witches
Card based magic
Forced proximity
Slowest of burns
Insane plot twists
Enemies to lovers

I immediately ran to Drake’s Instagram page to see if her arc team was open… It wasn’t, so I went to her website and signed up for her newsletter… anything to get my foot in the door because I need book 2, immediately! Vasilisa Drake , I’m begging… Not even gonna lie you have a new super fan. I am available, ready and willing if you need an ARC reader of book 2.

I don’t read much fantasy because honestly, I get confused. Not with Drake’s writing. I was eating it up, it was so easy for me to follow.

The FMC Samara has some major growth during the story. She turns from meek and quiet to pretty much a bad ass. The MMC is a vampire named Rafael. He is imprisoned in the same place as Samara and they make a deal for her to help him break out of prison.. that’s all I’m telling you, any more and I’ll spoil something.

I’m not going into details, but there are some major plot twists that you will not see coming. The epilogue will make you say WTF… And then have you also running to Drake’s Instagram to try to sign up for anything and everything you can get your hands on.

This is my favorite book so far this year. I’m obsessed!

I did do the audiobook, the narrator knocked it out of the park. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between which character is speaking whenever there’s only one person narrating, not with this one. Cicely Foster did an incredible job narrating this one. I highly recommend the audio version. I loved it enough to say it’s my favorite audiobook of the year!

This was a really engrossing story, and a lot of fun to read as an audiobook. It's a very slow burn romantasy that you can tell is setting the scene for a longer series. I generally prefer a leeeetle less slow of a burn but I can tell the author is building to something. The magic system and political intrigue is interesting, but not overly complicated, and the characters kept me interested. I felt very invested in Sam's inner turmoil over trusting Raphael, and the ending absolutely left me wanting to read the next book.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This audiobook had me questioning my life choices—and by that, I mean why I started listening at 10pm on a Tuesday when I had to be emotionally stable the next morning. Spoiler: I was not.

We open with our heroine wrongfully imprisoned (classic Tuesday), only for a vampire with the energy of a gothic CEO and a flair for dramatic entrances to swoop in like, “I’m your only chance.” Honestly, sir, calm down. But also… never leave.

He gives her a job, which is suspiciously just “stand near me while I smoulder and make vague threats.” And you know what? I respect that.

Her mum? Tragically murdered by a vampire. Her taste in men? Still… vampires. Girl, I get it. Raphael is giving unhinged romantic threats and “don’t touch her unless you want your organs relocated” vibes, and I ate it up like the morally ambiguous garbage human I am.

The betrayal? Devastating. The twist? Rude. The narrator? A gift from the audiobook gods. Her voice delivered rage, heartbreak, and “I will not cry but I am crying” energy perfectly. She didn’t just read it she performed it like she’d been personally wronged by every vampire in the plot.

First-person POV? My beloved. Let me be the messy protagonist with trust issues and bad taste in undead men.

Would I listen again? Mentally, I already am. Physically, I’ve moved on to annotating the trauma in my brain. But if you love vampires, vengeance, slow burn chaos, and narrator who sound like they know exactly when to pause for your dramatic gasp go hit play

Oh wow.....this book 🔥 I was lucky enough to have an ALC of this book, and I was so intrigued by the synopsis.
We follow our FMC Samara, a void (human), who starts off in prison for a crime she did not commit. It's here she meets our MMC, Raphael, a vampire captured and placed in the prison.
Samara has to make a choice, make a deal with a vampire, or live out her life in prison. The romance is the slooooooowest of burns! It is FIRE though! Raphael is the.....so much as offend Samara and go bye-bye type 🤣🥰
The world itself has vampires, humans (voids), witches, seers, and deities. There is also a magic system based around Tarot Cards, found family, court politics, intrigue, and traitors.
The vampire law is pretty true to traditional laws for vamps. For those who like some forced proximity, one bed, one horse tropes included in their romantasy its in here and done really well. It doesn't come across as tropes added to appeal to readers with no reason. Each is there as part of the plot and is 🔥.
I found myself wanting more and constantly wanting to get further into the book to see what happens next 🤣. I hadn't heard much about the book, as I did not want it spoiled, short of people's love for it, and it was hidden identity with shocking twists. I did see them coming, but it didn't bother me. I've found very few books that can surprise me these days as I read so many, lol. This is the first book in a new series, and the slow burn, the no spice was a little frustrating. Not enough to change my rating as I fell in love with Raphael 🤣. I can't wait for the next books, AND I know the spice will be worth the wait, I hope it's not too long of a wait, as this couple is 🔥! Warning, this does end on a cliffhanger.
The audio book was narrated by Cecily Foster, who I think is a new name to me, but the narration was brilliant!! I highly recommend the audio version.
Thank you netgalley for the ALC! I'm going to be recommending this to everyone I know 🥰

This book tore into me with sharp teeth and soft lies. Vasilia Drake knows how to write tension that feels like it’s going to snap at any second.

The main character starts off locked in a cell for a crime she didn’t commit. Then in walks a vampire with power, presence, and her only chance at freedom. He quickly ends up giving off that “you’re mine and I’ll burn the world to keep you breathing” energy.

He makes her feel safe. He puts her in charge of an important task, but it feels less like a job and more like an excuse to keep her close. I think he knew more than he let on. He always did. And maybe that’s what hurts the most when the betrayal hits.

Her mother was murdered by a vampire. Her hate runs deep. Her attraction to him runs deeper. She’s torn between wanting him and wanting revenge on all vampires as a whole. The supporting character were well written and add so many layers to this story.

And then she does what broken people do. The fallout is brutal. What’s revealed in those final moments is game changing..

The narrator delivers every moment with precision. Her voice carried the FMC’s guarded rage and quiet unraveling like she was living it. Every line had weight.

For readers who love morally gray characters, dangerous bargains, and a romance built on ashes and consequences, this is it. Dark. Sharp. Addictive. That final scene sets the stage for war, but my heart hurts for Raphael. Hooked line and sinker, impatiently awaiting book two.

Special thanks to @Netgalley and @VictoryEditing for the privilege to review this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

WHAT A RIDE this book was! I absolutely loved the tension and intensely slow burn of this novel. The world building was so fun and magic system kept me interested the entire time. The fan service of common tropes were like fun little surprises while listening and I was blown away by the twist at the end. I really am so grateful for my ARC audio copy I was able to enjoy thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley,l that I ended up purchasing my own copy to reread in a handheld format and annotate later.

Regarding the audiobook copy, I felt the narrator fit the story well and it was like I was being told a tale around a campfire the entire time. The feminine voice was perfect for our main character’s POV. I typically don’t enjoy a first-person POV in stories but the narrator had an enjoyable tone and pace so I could enjoy the ride! The book flowed easily with her pacing of the read and I really appreciated her banter as the MC and her retorts when speaking as the ML! Kept it fun and entertaining. I doubt I will listen to this audiobook again (solely because I prefer handheld reading more) but I am thankful this was my intro to this amazing book.

4/5 stars from me because although it wasn’t a perfect book (if anything slightly too long but still enjoyable) it was still a VERY entertaining read. Highly recommend! And a belated congratulations on Vasilisa’s publication day! GO GRAB IT!

And a big thank you again to Vasilisa Drake, her publishing company, and NetGalley for the ARC! 🩷

5 stars from me! I absolutely LOVED this book.

From the very first chapter, A Bargain So Bloody had me hooked. Vasilisa Drake delivers a dark, seductive romantasy that blends danger and desire in all the best ways. The worldbuilding was immersive without being overwhelming—just the right amount to draw you in without bogging you down. Gotta love high stakes and great chemistry.

Samara is imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit and forced into the grunt work of a magicless prison. When she’s assigned to tend to a shackled vampire’s wounds, things take a turn—and yes, a bargain is struck.

Some things I loved:
- The tension, oh the tension! I swear, if I were in Sam’s shoes, this would not have been a slow burn. I was practically begging her to cave.
-Touch her and die... need I say more! (This is one of my favorite tropes!)
- The magic system is unique and cleverly integrated into the plot.
- Samara is a total badass and survivor, and Raphael is the epitome of a morally grey, broody vampire with just enough vulnerability to make you swoon.
- The pacing was spot-on. I never felt like it dragged, and the story kept me engaged from start to finish.
- Even though the audiobook had solo narration, Cecily Foster did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. Her performance added so much depth to the story.

Ahh I cannot wait for the next book!!!!