Bloodscourge

"Not because he was afraid of courting someone he fancied, but because he wanted to flirt with the exciting spark. He wanted to see what kind of danger the spark might put him in. That was what he found dangerous and exhilarating."

Reading this book was like an emotional rollercoaster! There were some parts which mad me giddy with happiness, some parts made me smile with amusement, and some parts which made me sad and tearful. The first half of the book was my favorite, where Elisabeta's and Dracula's flirty banter was very entertaining!
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Elisabeta Trelles lived with her twin brother, Miles all her nineteen years of life and was fiercely loyal to him, although he was unpleasant with her and subjected her to beatings and misery. They lived their lives as thieves and pirates, hurting innocents to survive. Until one day, they got to know about a treasured petrified dragon egg, which was safe-kept by a vampire warrior, Dracula in a vampire city. Miles forced her to embark on a journey to seduce the vampire to get the egg.

Dracula was an interesting character, with skills of a leader and known for his tough-love training skills. When he met Elisabeta, sparks flew but he tried to avoid those feelings she developed within him.
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I expected Elisabeta to change her goals after making new vampire friends and falling in love with Dracula, but her loyalty to kin was more powerful than her love for her mate. Reading about Elisabeta's deceive and Madeleine and Alucard's death was so heart-breaking. The last chapter made up for the previous few chapters and gave the story the much needed HEA!

I love vampire stories.
Elisabetta is a human girl sent by her brother to steal dragon eggs. By doing this she hopes to finally break free from a life of crime and violence.
Dracula is a vampire from Ichor Knell who under his tough exterior, worries about his friends. His home city is run by a corrupt ruler and church.
Neither were looking for love but can’t deny the growing attraction.
If uou like books with rich world building and characters who bring to life a story of love, betrayal, lies, friendship and second chances, then you will enjoy Bloodscourge.

This is a story of Dracula, but this tale has not been told… until now. The only family Elisabeta has ever known is her brother. Together they steal, con, and even kill to make enough money to survive. Her brother conceives a wicked plan to steal a vast treasure and convinces Elisabeta to enact his plan. All she has to do is masquerade as a vampire, infiltrate Ichor Knell, seduce the captain of the guard, and make off with the treasure. Seems simple, right? There’s only one problem… Elisabeta is human and falls in love with Dracula, the captain of the guard. Elisabeta’s secret, once revealed, could be deadly for them both. Will her love bond with Dracula for all eternity or has she sealed their doomed fate?

Bloodscourge is, simply put, an exceptional book every paranormal reader needs to devour. I know what you’re thinking, just another vampire story. Hold onto your hats, dear readers, for Bloodscourge is more than a vampire tale. In Sydney Winward’s Bloodborn series, authenticity reigns and she’s a masterful storyteller. Bloodscourge is an incredible read for many reasons but in my opinion, what makes this story stand out is Elisabeta. She’s such a strong heroine but has a vulnerability I wasn’t expecting. She’s an independent woman who is deadly with a sword. She spars with Dracula on several occasions yet is an innocent when it comes to matters of the heart. The plot moves at a solid with a full cast of characters. The romance between Elisabeta and Dracula is slow-burning which plays nicely with the action scenes. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I became a part of the story and even dreamed about it a few times. If you love paranormal romance and looking for an original take on a gothic legend, pick up Bloodscourge. While this is a prequel to Bloodborn, it can be read as a standalone. Sydney Winward is fast becoming one of my favorite paranormal authors. Highly recommend!

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.

My Rating: 5+ stars