This was exactly what I was looking for!! What an amazing story. I really enjoyed the narration on this one!!

This book was so good. The audio was amazing. The plot was perfect. The love romance was great. You can sense her coming around and then still go behind his back right up till the last page. It was intense highly recommend cannot wait for the second book.

Vampires and Witches oh my.
Samara has been held prisoner in greymere since she was a young child after her mother was brutally unalived by a vampire.
She was their slave and was tasked to apply salve to the new prisoner who turned out to be a vampire.
Before leaving he makes her an offer she cannot refuse.
Her payment for helping her escape sets them on a destination of something thought to be a myth. The chemistry is instant but Rapheal is keeping secrets. Samara is as well only she doesn’t know what it is herself. This book ends on a cliffhanger and there is maybe one chili pepper for spice but I look for that to change in book 2.
Enemies to …..
He falls first
Vampires/witches
Forced proximity

What the actual fuck just happened! How do you end a book on this cliffhanger!!! I am hooked, I want the next one, I want them all!!!! Very few times, I've had this feeling when finishing a book, and @vasilisadrakebooks gave me all the feels. We have slowburn romance, forced proximity, vampires, and witched and magical cards. The unrelenting tension and buildup were intoxicating, and the storyline was fantastic! @cecilysexily had the perfect fantasy drawl, and overall, it all just worked well. Fantasy girls, this is your time to shine. This book has it all - run to the shops - it was released on 30 June 2025!!

Thank you to @netgalley and @victoryeditingngc for my Advanced Copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book hooked me so fast. An over protective vampire, a trapped girl and lots of secrets made this such a fun book. Cecily Foster did an amazing job brining this story to life.

Slow burn, dark fantasy, secrets, touch her and die.

Raphael isnt just morally grey, he will kill anyone and anything that gets in his way without hesitation. Including anything that tries to hurt the human he used to escape from the magic prison he ended up in. But why was he there? So many secrets.

Samara is finally free, for the first time in her adult life, no one to take her in, no one to help. She is a Void in a world of vampires and witches trying to find her place. No one who knew her is alive or remembers, except wait? Her dad is alive? And she knew the prince? What actually happened to have her sent away?? So many more secrets.

I throughly enjoyed this book. The pacing, the style, the characters all drew me in from the beginning. A unique magic system where witches can create power cards to sell and trade and vampires rule their own lands. While I found the ending "plot twist" very predictable, I was still so excited to watch it all play out. This story left me with so many questions, but in the most satisfying way and I will be anxiously waiting for book 2!

Thank you to netgalley, Vasilisa Drake, and Victory editing for this ALC!

Let’s this be your next vampire romantasy obsession. I listened to this in one day! It’s that good. Not only was the story a 10/10… the audio book make it even that much better.

The magic system was unique, the world building was rich but also easy to follow, the banter and tension was perfection, and the vibes were on point.

The ending…..I need the next book asap!

Thank you so much for the ALC!

Review for A Bargain So Bloody, by Vasilisa Drake.

I love vampire romance books and this book hit every expectation! I need the next book now!

Samara as a child was sentenced to prison for a crime she didn’t commit. After finding out the possibility of release once her sentence was served was at the discretion of a noble who disliked her she decided to take matters into her own hands. A new prisoner was just brought in, a dangerous and powerful vampire. She had previously refused to make a bargain with him but now has changed her mind. With a bargain set to get her safely out of the prison she unshackles the vampire and he proceeds to kill every guard and she finally escapes.
Fantastic pace, enough yearning and action to keep you interested!
Forbidden romance, SLOW BURN, he falls first, forced proximity, 1 bed, 1 horse, touch her and 💀or have your hands ripped off!
A big thank you to the author, Audio Arc, Victory Editing & Netgalley for the audiobook ARC. Loved this so much!

I listened to the arc as an audiobook and I was intrigued from the very beginning. The narrator was good and easy to listen to but I felt like the story just went one. There wasn’t too much overly shocking or anything that grasped my attention to want to keep up with it. Once the characters are established and they get past some of their first hurdles and complications, it plateaus for a quite a bit in my opinion. There’s a very, very slow burn relationship - if you’re looking for passion between characters, this may not scratch your itch. Overall, it was a good listen and it lends to a sequel (which seems like it may be more adventurous than book 1). It was a good, enjoyable and easy listen.

The narration is fantastic! The characters are brought to life in this audiobook and you will definitely not regretting giving it a listen.

I loved watching Samara transform from " My Little Dove" to "My Little Viper" and become a strong, fearsome FMC.
Being imprisoned since childhood for a crime she didn't commit, her only chance to escape comes at the hands of the monster from her nightmares - a morally grey vampire that you will love. Raphael is everything you want in an MMC. He is dark, twisted and completely devoted to his Little Dove.
The slow burn is beautifully crafted and will keep you turning the pages.
Great plot with twists that you won't see coming.
My only regret is that I have to wait for the second book in the series.

This was a captivating dark fantasy story in a world of witches, vampires, and magic. It features hidden identities, court intrigue and royalty, epic questing, only one horse, secrets and betrayal, forbidden love.

The romance was an incredible slow burn, with this drawn-out delicate dance between uncertainty and longing, and
her knowing that she should be afraid of him, but instead he is incredibly attracted to him. It's almost enemies to lovers, but there's a stop at reluctant allies along the way.

Our MMC is a powerful vampire with so-deadly-he's-sexy vibes. He's protective and possessive, and very literal with the 'touch her and die'. He falls first and falls hard and would do anything for her, even though he can be a nightmare to everyone else.

Our FMC is both tough and vulnerable, she's pushed her way through extreme tragedy and trauma with great determination, and isn't ready to give up or let people walk all over her. We see her journey in trying to figure out the right paths to take, who she should trust, and what to make of her life.

What I really loved about this book is how it kept me guessing, both with the story itself, but also with my feelings about the characters and what they're doing. I also enjoyed the unique cardbased magical system, and immersive world building.

This one isn't necessarily super spicy, but it has this strong steamy undercurrent which keeps you so on edge, waiting for it to boil over and explode. The moments where this does happen are just incredible and made all the better by the slow burn.

This met my 5 Koala (5 star) rating for being enjoyable and entertaining in a deliciously dark way. I desperately need the second book so I can see what happens with their relationship and with the events that unfolded in the cliff hanger ending!

Loved this. I've been very into tge supernatural side of things lately and this did just that. I was fortunate enough to receive an audio copy and an e copy. I immersive read this and absolutely did not regret it. Highly recommend.

BK-17
1🌶️
POV: 1st Person
Samara: 20
Rafael: 600
🎧: 3/5 Single Narration

ALC from Net Galley
Thank you to Net Galley for this listen!
Here is my honest review
Narration: I give this a 3/5. It was ok. I wish there was more feeling and emotion behind it. It felt flat for me.

This book has some good bones! It just felt like the there weren’t high enough stakes. I was wanting more. Bargain should be bargains. I also struggled with the passing of time. But it was alright. It has the vampires on point (with shifting) and the gore that goes with it that I enjoyed. The majgic is stored in cards for non-magic people, which I thought was a cool concept.

Raphael was yummy!
Samara had a lot of internal monologing that felt redundent and repeditive.
Debatable on if I will pick up book 2.
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Spicy Chapters: no spicy chapters, but there is a lot of reference to sex.

In A Bargain So Bloody, Vasilisa Drake delivers a darkly compelling tale about survival, forbidden alliances, and the thin line between power and vulnerability.

Tropes you’ll love:
• ✨ Forced proximity
• 🗝️ Escape from prison
• 🧬 Hidden identity/power
• 💀 Morally grey hero
• 🔥 Slow burn
• 🖤 Monster romance vibes
• 👑 Vampire king x human heroine

Samara has spent years trapped in a magical prison, sentenced for a crime she didn’t commit. When she learns the promised freedom at the end of her term is nothing more than a lie, her only way out is to make a bargain with the most dangerous prisoner in Castle Greymere. Raphael, a powerful vampire with a tortured past and a deadly reputation. He’s everything she’s been taught to fear, especially as one of the same kind that murdered her mother.

But beneath his bloodthirsty exterior, Raphael is bound by more than just the enchanted cuffs on his wrists. As their deal pushes them closer together, unlocking both his chains and each other’s defenses. Samara is forced to confront the brutal truths of the vampire world, and her own unexpected connection to it.

The slow burn tension between Samara and Raphael is magnetic. One of the highlights for me was watching Samara wrestle with her internal battle, torn between her deeply ingrained hatred of vampires and her undeniable pull toward their enigmatic king. She’s tough, raw, and real. And Raphael? He may be morally grey and monster-adjacent, but the way Vasilisa wrote him made his care for Samara pulse off the page. His promises (or lack thereof)🩸are a masterclass in emotional torment.

And let’s just say: there are hints dropped along the way that gave me a glimmer of what was coming, but even knowing that, the reveal still hit in such a satisfying way.

This is book one in what promises to be an intense and emotionally rich romantasy series. If you like your heroines strong but vulnerable, your heroes powerful but aching to protect, and your romances laced with danger, this one’s for you.

The narrator did a fantastic job, her voice, emotion, and pacing brought the story to life in such a powerful way. I thoroughly enjoyed her performance from start to finish.

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT – Favorite Quotes from A Bargain So Bloody
These moments wrecked me in the best way. 🫶🏽😭

He snorted. “I’ve worked too hard to keep you alive to let some snow destroy you, dove.”

Raphael lunged after the vampire, baring his teeth like a wild animal. He lifted the vampire with a single hand. “Mine,” he snarled.

Raphael said the last words I expected to hear from a king. “Let me serve you.” I didn’t have the heart to admit I’d already eaten half my weight in chocolate, so I dutifully put one of the truffles in my mouth.

“Samara…” His thumb stroked the side of my face. “If you tell me you want something with a clear head, anything in my power, it’s yours. But not tonight. Not when you would wake up hating me more than you already do.”

Check the bottom right corner.—R

“Samara, if you tell me you want something, I will do what I can to please you. Why do you struggle to believe that?”

“Samara, there is nowhere in this world I would not go if you wished me to.”

“I do not pity you,” Raphael repeated. “Little viper, I find you irresistible.”

*3.5 Stars*

A Bargain So Bloody is a dark, emotionally charged romantasy that sinks its fangs in from page one. Set in a magical prison, the story follows Samara, a wrongly imprisoned witch, and Raphael, a dangerous vampire bound in enchanted cuffs. An alliance is formed between them out of desperation, and it evolves into a slow-burn romance laced with morally grey choices.

The card-based magic system is very cleverly done, and the "touch her and die" trope that many people love in romantasy is present in the book. Usually, I find that in most romantasy there's a lack of emotional depth in the relationships, but I'm glad that isn’t the case with A Bargain So Bloody. The pacing can be hit or miss at times, with slower sections, but there is a gradual build-up toward the ending. If you're into the romantasy genre, specifically with tortured vampires and strong heroines, then this one may just be for you.

In this start of The Kingdom of Dark Magic our fmc Samara has been trapped in a prison since childhood. When she encounters a vampire (our mmc Raphael), she agrees to a bargain with him and they escape together. What started out as an allegiance to free themselves quickly turns into something more as they not only use each other to reach their own (sometimes very secret) goals, but also start to develop feelings for each other. But things are not what they seem to be and Samara will need to decide where her true alliances lie.

This book was amazing! From the first minute I was hooked, following Samara and Raphael on their unique and unpredictable journey. Let me try and explain why this book hit home for me:

The plot was nothing I have ever read. Not even close. It felt so untold. The decisions that drove the story forward were understandable yet had consequences that felt unique. Some of the locations and power dynamics were so captivatingly other, I wish it were a movie so I could actually see it.

The world felt huge. We have a witch kingdom, several vampire kingdoms and so much more. They all have different power dynamics, magic systems and prejudices about the other kingdoms. The author showed us that through conversations we got to listen in to and bit by bit the understanding of a world started to piece itself together. So well done!

The fmc and mmc had a wonderful dynamic. The fmc, who seems to suffer from some form of PTSD due to what she went through as a child, had a strong will and was truly on a journey of growth and learning to advocate for herself. It was so enticing to listen to her thoughts and see her grow. And even things that felt frustrating at times (like how she refused to admit any sort of feelings for the mmc) made sense with her background, history and trauma. So well written!
The mmc fell first, fell hard and put her above everyone else. And we get to see and learn that through the eyes of our fmc. He is kind to her, more than just a bit overprotective and yet respects her wishes and decisions. Such a good guy!
But be warned: This romantasy is such a slooooow burn. It is mainly due to the mmc being such a respectful guy who doesn't ever manipulate our fmc or uses her vulnerable moments to get what he wants. All he wants is for her to be happy. And so he waits... and waits... and waits...

The ending of this book.,. Ugh, that was rough. And it gets even rougher when I think about how long I will have to wait for book 2. But it was a worthy ending! Not happy-clappy, not desperately cliff-hanger. It made sense and it changes EVERYTHING.

To sum my many thoughts up; I LOVED THIS BOOK!
It is the BEST vampire book I have read to this day. I am so very grateful I came across it and can't wait for book 2. Go ahead and read it as well - we can be miserabel and wait together ;)

I will be posting reviews on Goodreads, Storygraph and Instagram. The first two will be uploaded right away,
The Instagram Review has been uploaded upon release of the bo0ok (30th June 2025)

BUCKLE UP! I couldn’t not put this down! I need the next book because what was that ending?? We love a vengeful FMC! Lots of trauma, lots of vampire prejudice, romance and magic! Samara has been wrongly imprisoned for 12 years. Since she was eight! This immediately kicked off with her escaping with our ruthless vampire Raphael. I can’t say this is an enemies to lovers because enemies indeed but the romance and tension builds but I’m not quite sold on it… yet. Anyways, she’s super starved and weak from literally hunting rats for dinner (if she’s lucky!!) and so she has to stay with Raphael on their escape journey so she isn’t killed by the guards hunting her or any of the orcs that lay in the forest.

Thus begins our witty sass backs between enemies, close proximity, and a one room trope. The world building was great! The scenery had ambiance and the differences between her realm and Raphael’s vampire realm was well intertwined. He falls first although he won’t admit it, and tbh I’m not convinced with his reasoning for them having to travel together to begin with, but I love his touch her and die vibes so I’ll let it slide. She’s high ranking by birth but was imprisoned as a literal child for 12 years and now has to take on the world as an adult and she does it quite seamlessly I might add. This part felt inconsistent because there’s no way she wasn’t struggling to relearn both her surroundings and interacting with normal people who weren’t guards that abused her. Yeah she has Raphael with her but he’s very much the slaughter first and don’t apologize later type so I wouldn’t say he’s a good example of re-entering society.

Quite a few different mini plots that happened on this journey which made any slow parts non existent. The magic cards were such a fun concept! Also, very much enjoyed the scenes where Raphael trains Samara and she slowly starts building her strength both physically but also in her character growth. The whole getting only one question in your lifetime to ask for ANYTHING, I can’t remember if they were oracles or seers, was such a unique plot line. And the way Samara gives up her ONE lifetime question for Raphael’s hunt of a not so mythical prophetic book, you can’t tell me she doesn’t love him. This prophecy is this beginning to a whole other set of plot and character introductions that really amp up the pace. I don’t want to give away too much because there’s a lot to unpack here, but again, great read! Can’t wait for the second one.

This is an interesting new romantasy series that is a slow start but definitely couldn't put it down at the end. A must read if you live witches & vampires. Loved this world of magic and those who are born without the ability of it called voids who are more 2nd class citizens. For those who can't work a certain magic they sell them in cards and carry them around in deck like holders. Definitely loved the world building and can't wait for the next book to see what happens next as I am needing answers to questions I'm left with after finally getting one answered I've had thru the last half of the book. Who or what is Samara? Well with that answered right at the end... like last line almost. What is going to happen now & who else knows? I need to know.

Wow.

Vasilisa Drake's A Bargain So Bloody is an absolutely captivating dark fantasy novel that immediately pulls you into its richly crafted world. The audiobook version is further enhanced by a truly fantastic narrator who brings remarkable depth to the characters.

The story wastes no time, plunging us into the desperate plight of Samara, our protagonist, as she endures unjust imprisonment in a witch prison. Her daring escape, forged through an unlikely alliance with Raphael, a vampire prisoner, sets the stage for a compelling bargain: his protection in exchange for her assistance.

I was thoroughly engrossed by every facet of this book, from its unique magic system to its compelling characters and expertly woven plot. The dark aesthetic, a fascinating blend of vampires, witches, and voids, is incredibly well-executed. While the "spice" is minimal, it doesn't feel lacking. The slow-burn romance between Samara and Raphael is deeply engaging, making their evolving journey a true highlight. Although clever foreshadowing allowed me to anticipate the twist ending, its execution was still surprising and satisfyingly unique.

The painful epilogue left me with an intense longing for the next installment. As the first book in the series, A Bargain So Bloody masterfully leaves plenty of unanswered questions, particularly concerning Raphael's true intentions, Samara's mysterious past, and her future path. My only minor criticism was Samara's occasional aggravating behavior, though this ultimately served to advance the plot effectively.

Overall, A Bargain So Bloody is an impressive debut that will leave dark fantasy fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter.

I received this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Vasilisa Drake, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted across multiple socials. Will post on Amazon once it is released.

4.25 stars! I listened to this as an ARC and OH MY GOSH I really liked it! The ending had me like 🤯. I was hooked from the beginning! The MMC was 👏🏽. I mean it had everything I love!

*Found family
*Redemption arc
*Enemies to lovers
*Magic
*Vampires
*Slow burn
*He falls hard and first
*Touch her and die vibes

My biggest complaint which is just my opinion, was the pet names. I really dislike pet names. He called her Dove and Viper and I wasn’t in love with that. And of course the FMC is completely helpless and fragile, but other than that, I can’t wait for book 2!

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to listen to this book in an ALC version, Vasilisa i appreciate the effort and creativity that goes into writing a book. This is a darkish fantasy romance, with a pretty easy world to follow as is not very complicated.

The story at first starts in a prison with the FMC, Samara, a human, void, who is convicted for a crime she never committed. The MMC, Raphael is a vampire, that gets caught and while in there strikes a bargain with the FMC.

Samara has a interesting character arc, growing from “dove” to “little viper” in the eyes of Raphael. She gets a backbone somewhat, however her being so indecisive specifically towards the end was a little bit too much.

Rafael, of this MMC, this vampire is so delicious, very “touch her and d!e” I loved that he was very protective from the beginning, funny and witty. Yes he is a villain that all you will want to do is fall in love with him.

I wish I could give 5 stars, I believe that this story needed just a bit more attention in the editing phase. A bit more yearning, and less indecisiveness, a few less repetition in the first part.

Audiobook: performed by Cecily Forster, she did an amazing job bring it his characters to life and their emotions.