ALC review
This book was a pleasant surprise, I really didn't expect to like it so much but I fell in love with it! The narration was really impeccable, and the book rightfully belongs to the dark fantasy category. It hooked me from the first moment with the description of the protagonist's life in prison and the first part of the book flew by . In the second part I loved Raphael so much and I felt Samara's division and hesitation.I didn't consider the ending subversive as the author was preparing us for it but it made me beg and long for the next book!!!😭😭😭I think the book is trying to convey many messages about society, about who is good and bad, what is right and wrong, religion and the lengths we go to for acceptance and the opportunity to simply belong somewhere. I feel like Samara hasn't understood yet that what she's looking for is right in front of her and I can't wait for the moment when she will understand!! As for the magic system, it was very interesting and something different from the usual, it seemed like the author's inspiration came from another very famous dialogue with similar magic system based on cards but she made it her own with the details!



Thank you netgalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I loved this book, it was right up my alley for a fantasy book with a great mix of fantasy and romance. I was hooked straight away, this was a slow burn romance but the characters had a good connection from the start and loved the twist at the end

I love a good dark vampire romance!

Samara is a void. A human born magic-less in a kingdom of witches. At a young age she is sentenced to servitude in a prison where she is neglected and starved. She has the rare encounter with a vampire who proves to be both her salvation in her grim world but also her damnation. In attempts to find a place to start her life over she forges an alliance with the vampire and from there you will need to read the book for yourself!

I really enjoyed the audiobook edition of this story. It was ways to listen to and the pacing was well done. The intonations, and voice changes kept the story engaging and entertaining.

I really loved the dynamic between Samara and Raphael he definitely has the he falls first and hard trope going for him and with his over protectiveness is taken to the next level being a possessive vampire. Samara is really stuck with her moral compass in this book. She has these deep feelings for Raphael but also such an ingrained hate for vampires that she really just gets in the way of herself.

I really enjoyed this listen and if you love vampire romance read then I think you will too!

Thank you, Netgalley and Victory Editing for the ALC of A Bargain so Bloody!

I loved this audio just as much as I loved reading the book itself!! 😍

The audiobook Narration makes the book come alive even more!

Definitely recommend the Audio

5 Stars – Dark, Addictive, and Utterly Unputdownable

A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake is everything I want in a romantasy: dark stakes, slow-burn tension, and a morally grey hero I couldn’t get enough of. I listened to the audiobook and was completely immersed—the narration brought the characters and atmosphere to life in the best way possible. And that ending? Absolutely jaw-dropping.

Samara’s journey is both heartbreaking and empowering. Framed for a crime she didn’t commit, she’s locked in the brutal magical prison of Castle Greymere. But instead of breaking, she finds her strength and dares the impossible: escape.

Enter Raphael—a dangerous, ancient vampire and the last creature she ever thought she'd trust. Their uneasy alliance crackles with tension, and the slow-burn romance that follows had me completely hooked. Raphael is the perfect morally grey hero: terrifying, magnetic, and completely obsessed (in the best way).

Drake’s worldbuilding is rich, the writing vivid, and the emotional stakes are high. The pacing is tight, the romance sizzles, and that final twist left me desperate for the next book.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down. What a way to start a series.
It gives dark gothic vamp vibes and yet it gives protector captor vibes too. The world building was done really really good, the slow burn romance was well executed, and I liked the character development that the FMC goes through with MMCs guidance and training. The ending was a plot twist that I should have seen coming, but I'm really looking forward to the next book.
I loved the narration, the narrators did an amazing job. highly recommend it.

Firstly, thanks so much to Victory Editing and Netgalley for sending me the audio ARC of A Bargain So Bloody. This is the first audio arc I have listened to and I enjoyed the experience thoroughly. Cecily Foster did such an amazing job of bringing this story to life and I thought the audio production in general was excellent.
A Bargain So Bloody is a dark romantasy novel featuring vampires, a unique magic system and slow burn enemies to lovers. The book starts of in the grimmest way possible with the main female character Samara, undertaking some pretty grisly tasks whilst locked up in prison. It is here she meets a vampire, and her life is forever changed.
I enjoyed this story. It is similar other romantasy novels but at the same time incredibly unique. I love the way Samara starts off absolutely detesting vampires. I think vampires are so often romanticised in books. Not so in this book. Samara makes her disgust known from that start and it made the story that much more interesting.
The book also includes a unique magic system. There is excellent world building too. The author has so clearly spent a lot of time on this story and it shows. I loved all the little details sprinkled throughout, like the different gods or references to vampire war. There are also little hints dropped here and there about locations outside the main story. I thought it was all quite cleverly done.
I did think there would be a little more spice in this book. But honestly, I think it was better without it. I feel romantasy can get so often bogged down in smutty scenes which was definitely not the case with this book.
The plot itself didn’t flow all that well for me. There were some really nail-biting scenes. But there were also so, so many filler scenes in between. I did find there were a lot of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and I thought the ending was absolutely brilliant. I think fans of books like The Serpent and the Wings of Night, From Blood and Ash and Quicksilver are sure so love A Bargain so Bloody.

I was hooked right away—this book pulls you in fast with its premise and pacing. It’s entertaining, easy to devour, and I was genuinely intrigued through much of it.

That said, the ending left me a little conflicted. I expected more in terms of character growth, especially from the FMC. While the ending did make sense in the context of her arc (or lack thereof), it felt like a missed opportunity for deeper emotional payoff.

Some of the plot beats were predictable, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the ride. I was especially fond of the male main character—he was definitely a highlight for me.

I devoured this in one day.
I listened to this as an audiobook and the voice actor was so good!
I love a good vampire book and this did not disappoint. Boy he the world and the magic system was really cool.
I think it was fairly obvious that Rafael was a tad obsessed with Sam but I would have loved to listen to Rafael’s pov. Let’s hope we get it in the second book. The ending was so good and I’m really looking forward to the next book!

This one was a dark and gritty slow burn romantasy with witches, vampires and humans in the mix. It had a unique take on magic, and provided an interesting view of vampire society. I loved the sexual tension between Samara and Raphael, and the developing friendship between Samara and Thea. The narrator of the audio version did an excellent job. I was gobsmacked by the ending, even though I suspected something like that was coming. It just ended so abruptly, I thought my audio player malfunctioned. I look forward to reading/listening to the next one, because I definitely need to know what happens next!

My Initial Thoughts
I was interested in this one just by the blurb and the cover! I was not disappointed. I was pulled into the world of Samara straight away, and had nothing but intrigue and wonder over how she became in the predicament she was in. I loved the way the MMC Raphael was introduced to and the pull of the story line just had me hooked and I didn’t want to take my headphone off!
Plot
I LOVED LOVED the plot line of this. The start to what I can imagine will be an epic romantasy series! This has got to be the first 6 star read of the year! I was in deep, the vampires, witches and then the voids. The setting was always mysterious and I loved how vampire culture was slowly dripped in! There wasn’t a part of this that I didn’t like! The plot ran effortlessly and never dulled, keeping me enticed throughout, losing track of time, thinking I could make a good Samara right. The ending had me gasping, shouting, and then oh my goodness! That cliffhanger – Mind blown. When is book 2 ? I need it like yesterday!
Characters
The characters of this book are so unique to their own!
Samara is a void – magic less human – and she bargains with the vampire to gain freedom, she is strong at heart after all she survived Graymere, but she’s also right to be extra curious and unlearning something that is so deeply embedded to her soul, takes a lot of trust and help from the morally gray MMC Raphael – Think Witcher vibes, he is a touch her and be unalived, she’s mine kind of vampire and he definitely falls first.
Recommend
YES to everyone, its simply amazing!
Narrating
How was this whole book narrated by 1 person? Cecily does an impeccable job and really brings the soul to the story in the way she narrators.
Overall Wrap up
I absolutely fell in love with this book! There was not a thing I didn’t love about it. It’s also the first ever audiobook I’ve finished that I thought straight after I need a physical trophy of this one! Patience isn’t my strong key and now to wait for book 2. If you’re a lover of Romantasy when this is published you need to read it. It deserves so much hype.
Stars & Spice – 5 stars, 1 chilli but its more a bell pepper.

Book Information – A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake.

Narrators – Narrated by Cecily Foster.

Genre – Romantasy.

Length of audiobook – 11 hours and 56 minutes.

Tropes –
Morally gray MMC
Touch her and be unalived.
He falls first.
Slow burn.
Vampires, witches and voids.
Available on Kindle Unlimited – This will not be available on kindle unlimited.

Available Formats – Available on kindle, audiobook and hardcover – coming to paperback next year.

Publishing Information – Due to be published on 30th June by Late Night Daydreams LLC.

Format in Which I Read – Audiobook.

Where my copy come From – Netgallery.

POVs – Told from Samara’s POV.

Single/Dual/Multiple Timelines – Told on a single timeline.

1st or 3rd Person – Told in 1st person.

HEA, HFN or Cliff hanger – Ends on a cliffhanger.

Series or Standalone – The start of the romantasy series Kingdom Of Dark Magic.

Trigger Warnings – Please check content warnings before reading if necessary and please always remember that your mental health matters.

This has a very cool vibe. I mean.. what’s not to love about a world full of vampires and witches but I didn't love it the way i wanted to. This was very fast paced but nothing memorable happened, and the tension never really built up.

Also Samara had been stuck in a prison for several years yet she came across super naive for someone who grew up in that environment. She trusted people way too fast. The instant attraction of the main characters also annoyed me a bit too. There were some parts of the story that felt a bit repetitive as well.

This one wasn’t right for me but I think that it could be for someone else. The narrator for this book was great and I’ll be on the lookout for more of their work.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the audio of this book.

Devoured this in a day and enjoyed every second of it. Did not see that ending coming, and now I need the second book! It was a great read and fast-paced enough to keep me listening with each chapter. There was a chapter or two when I was thinking it was a little slow, but the author kept it interesting enough to make me continue on.

There were times when the FMC, in my opinion, seemed a little too weak for my taste, but the ending kind of threw into perspective as to why.

4.5 stars rounding up!

A Bargain So Bloody delivers an engaging start to what promises to be an exciting new romantasy series. When Samara is sentenced to a magical prison for a crime she didn't commit, she believes she's serving a 15-year sentence—until she discovers the devastating truth that she'll never be released. Desperate for freedom, she strikes a dangerous bargain with a vampire: help him escape, and he'll get her out safely in return.

This book will appeal to romantasy readers who enjoy morally grey characters and slow-burn relationship development, though the romance takes a backseat to the compelling plot and character growth. Drake has crafted a unique world with fascinating magic systems that kept me completely absorbed—I genuinely couldn't stop listening.

The audiobook narration by Cecily Foster was exceptional and really enhanced the listening experience. Foster brought distinct voices to each character and maintained perfect pacing throughout the emotional highs and lows.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, there were a few situations that felt unrealistic even within the fantasy framework. However, these minor issues didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.

The world-building is fresh and inventive, setting up intriguing possibilities for future installments. I'm genuinely excited to see where Drake takes this story next and how the characters continue to evolve.

Perfect for readers who enjoy: Slow-burn romance, morally complex characters, unique fantasy worlds, and strong character development.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Instant Favorite!
I was pulled in from the beginning and couldn’t get enough. The plot twist at the end? Brilliant! I am so excited for book 2! I loved everything about this book and would absolutely recommend!

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

3.25*

After discovering that her sentence won’t be honored, Sam—a void with no powers—teams up with a vampire to escape the prison she’s been trapped in for the last twelve years. The unlikely pair travel together, but things take a turn when Raphael asks for Sam’s help in retrieving a powerful grimoire. Their journey eventually takes them to the vampire kingdom, where nothing is quite what it seems.

I really enjoyed the premise. The plot was engaging, and I found the magic system original—magic sourced from cards rather than people. It didn’t exactly keep me on the edge of my seat, but I was invested enough to finish the whole book in a day.

That said, the “highest-security prison” escape felt a little too easy—borderline child’s play, really—which made me question the book initially, but I’m glad I stuck it out.

I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator was fantastic. It was a single narrator performance, but she handled the male voices (especially Raphael) really well.

That said, I did find the pacing a bit uneven. Some parts flew by, while others dragged on at a snail’s pace. Raphael, however, was a standout. As is often the case with MMCs, I adored him—he was absolute perfection.

My biggest struggle was with Sam. As the story went on, she became more and more frustrating. Her internal monologue was repetitive, and her stubborn refusal to question the beliefs drilled into her since childhood was infuriating—especially when the truth was right in front of her. Despite Raphael’s constant kindness, she continued to make some truly questionable choices.

Still, that cliffhanger ending? Spot. On. I’m definitely coming back for the next book—I need to know what happens next.

I received an audiobook ARC from NetGalley and Victory Editing and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
It was an excellent fantasy about a vampire and human who escapes prison with the vampire - a race she hates and detests.
It was a different take on vampire fantasy and I really enjoyed it unable to put it down at all
I loved Samara's character, she was strong-willed and fiercely independent.
And Raphael ... he was cruel and all the things a vampire should be but yet melted for her.
The ending was brilliant and I cannot wait to read the second book

Samara has been in jail for 12 years, ever since she was a young girl. She barely gets any food, spends her days and nights being on alert for danger in the prison and trying to just survive the rest of her sentence. But when she finds out her freedom might not be an option, she agrees to help a vampire, Raphael, escape as long as he takes her with him.

All Samara has ever known is how vile vampires are, but all she wants to do is survive. They have to trek through the wilderness inorder to escape, but nothing in the woods can be worse than a vampire. So when all of her options outside of the prison are no longer there, she takes Raphael’s offer to go back to the vampire kingdom until she can figure out a plan. He hasn’t killed her yet, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t hiding secrets.

This book was everything. It was a dark slow burn with tough her and die vibes. The magic system gave me Rachel Gillig vibes, but was still super unique and made me want to tell all of my friends to read it. One horse… say less. My only question is how long do I have to wait for book two…

-Enemies to allies
-Vampires
-Unique magic system
-One horse
-Touch her and die
-Slow burn

The touch her and lose your hand vibes are on point. This book is a great read if you love vampires, original magic systems and an FMC who finds her strength. Vasilisa does a great job of developing the characters throughout the book and making the story really enjoyable 👏👏

I like to switch genres in between books to keep it interesting, this came up on NG and it sounded like something I would enjoy.

I really, really enjoyed this one. It also helped that the audiobook version was really well done. We get three different POV’s throughout the book and three narrators. They did a fantastic job of portraying each character and their quirks differences.

The story itself has a nice pace, and it never gets boring and always keep you going, because you want to find out more.

We also get some light romance, but nothing that takes over or away from the main story, it was very well intertwined into the overall arc of the book.

Overall, really enjoyed this one and looking forward to more books by her.

if you like mysteries and thrillers, give this one a try you won’t regret it

I give it 4 ★