Belle Morte

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I didn't have very high expectations going in, thinking that it would just be another basic vampire book (no shame in admitting that I consider these a guilty pleasure), but I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. The writing was great- detailed but not annoyingly so. All parts were engaging (no skip reading was needed on my part). The pace of events was natural, and I liked the characters- they were realistic and sensible. I would definitely recommend to any vampire book fans, but don't go in expecting explicit scenes. This book does have romance, but more of a slow burn and relationship building (which I very much liked).

*****5 stars!

"If you fall apart, I will help put you back together."

First I would like to thank Wattpad Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an arc of this book. I am honored to be given a chance to read it and give an honest review.

Belle Morte is one of the five vampire houses, places where vampires reside as celebrities and willing humans are paid to be their living donors. Humans are eager to offer themselves up for a taste of luxury and the promise of fortune, many idolizing the vampires that have become a huge part of the human world. This is a story of a donor who did not come to Belle Morte for the luxury, fame and fortune. She came to find her sister who walked into Belle Morte five months ago and never walked back out, Renie soon realizes the secrets revolving around this odd world are much bigger than she ever anticipated but she will stop at nothing to uncover the truth of her sister.

There is one person in Belle Morte who might have the answers Renie seeks; the last thing she expected was the undeniable pull she feels towards him: Edmond Dantes--a vampire and someone she considers her mortal enemy. The harder she tries to resist him the further she falls under his spell, terrified and entranced by him. In one instant her life is irrevocably changed.

I had read this book when it first appeared on Wattpad, I was so entranced by the fascinating world and intriguing characters Bella Higgin created and I was quick to fall under the spell of Belle Morte. I remember reading this story late into the night and waiting for chapter updates with bated breath, it was a story that stuck with me over the years and never quite strayed too far from my mind. Reading it again in its entirety years later has left me feeling the same as I had before. The moment I started this book I couldn't quite put it down, I was left with no choice but to consume chapter after chapter late into the night as I had done years earlier.

This book is so unique to all the other vampire stories I've read; I absolutely loved how the world was painted for the readers. A world where vampires no longer hide and proudly show their faces to the world only for humans to fall prey to the beauty and the sheer mystery that is their lives. Then there are the human donors who are all very eager to sign themselves away to the vampire houses, gladly giving up their blood to these mysterious and deadly creatures without an ounce of fear, desperate to see them up close and to live a life as similar as they could get to them. It is a very compelling and interesting world the author has created.

I also loved the slow burn romance between Renie and Edmond; it was all so wonderfully paced out. As you read on you can feel the tension slowly building, it's one of the many pulls that hooks you into the book. I also really enjoyed the richness of Edmond's history and it is something I felt we only scratched the surface of and I look forward to uncovering more in later books, along with various other characters in this story. Another thing that I really enjoyed in this book was the depth of Edmond's emotions, I felt it was very well explained how lonely and hard it was for him to be ever constant and never fading, which allowed the readers to better understand him.

This is a book that will easily be one of my favorites and one I would highly recommend! I've always been very fond of vampire romances and I feel this was a perfect mixture of everything. I am so looking forward to continuing this series, I can't wait to see where the characters find themselves next!

4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The premise of this book hooked me from the very beginning! Imagine a mysterious mansion (called Belle Morte) filled with centuries-old vampires, where human donors can sign up to live in riches and glamour with them. The donors live like royalty, but are required to let vampires feed off them at anytime. The story is about Renie, who signs up to be a donor, not because she’s like the other starstruck, vampire-loving donors, but because her sister went into the house months before and wasn’t heard from again. The mystery and characters are reminiscent of twilight meets royalty. Although the story line is slightly predictable, I loved the unique vampire personalities and the friends Renie makes inside the house. I love that Renie is strong and outspoken, and not the damsel in distress. There’s no doubt I would live in the Belle Morte house, it sounds like a dream (minus a select few vampires)! If you’re looking for a fun vampire read, look no further!

@littleknownreads

4.5⭐️

Holy. Moly. I’m gonna be dead honest, I did not have high expectations for this, one because I’ve had a hard time getting into ya and fantasy recently and two this was a wattpad published book, but wow I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I have been dying for a good vampire fix for quite some time and this was SUCH an enjoyable read. It mixed my favourite parts of twilight and vampire academy into a new, unique and modern take on the vampire trope.

While there wasn’t any spice, there was just enough angst and tension that kept me engaged. The characters were amazing, I loved the setting and the plot pacing was so good. This book doesn’t come out until APRIL and I’m already dying to read this second book. This is why I never read uncompleted series.

*thank you NetGalley and Wattpad books for the eARC*

Initial Thoughts
This was a total cover apply for me on NetGalley. That cover is gorgeous. And, it doesn't hurt that it's a vampire book and I am always complaining that I don't read enough of those.

Despite being an April 2022 release, I decided to read it in October 2021 (right in time for Halloween).

Some Things I Liked
World building. I really enjoyed the setting of this book. I thought the vampires in these houses was a cool concept and I liked that the rest of the world we know is relatively unchanged.
Reference to The Count of Monte Cristo. That book is literally my favorite classic. I loved the way the reference was woven into the story.
All the vampire tropes. This book is riddled with tropes that we'd all seen before in vampire stories but I still enjoyed them nonetheless.

Some Things I Wasn't Crazy About
The pacing of the story wasn't great. Renie has a mission, she spends a large chunk of the story investigating the disappearance of her sister and when she does make some traction, the rest of the story zooms into high gear. I think the beginning was too slow and the end was too fast.
The title. I love the title. HOWEVER, I wanted the translation to be "beautiful death" not "beautiful dead". This might be a me thing, but "beautiful dead" sounds clunky in comparison.

Series Value
I would love to read a sequel to this book. I think there's a lot of potential for more here and the ending definitely sets the reader up for subsequent books.

Final Thoughts
This book was a perfect pre-Halloween read and is perfect for fans of all the YA vampire tropes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Renie is accepted as a blood donor to the prestigious vampire house of Belle Morte. As she arrives and meets her masters, she is assessing each one. “Where is my sister, June, and which one of you is involved?” she thinks to herself. Renie is not a “vladdict” like the rest of the donors; she’s come to find out what really happened to her sister, who has been MIA for months after entering Belle Morte as a donor herself. But as she delves deeper into the secrets of the house and it’s inhabitants, Renie finds herself falling for the one vampire she should be staying away from.

I *devoured* this book in just a few days. The idea of the story was fresh and new; it’s definitely not one I’ve seen done before. With a cast of likable characters and a dash of suspense, I recommend adding this fun read to your TBR list!

I loved the cover...but fell in love with the book! I had no expectations when I began reading Belle Morte and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book.

The story begins when Renie (Irene) enters a Vampire House to search for her missing sister, but what she discovers is anything but what she expected. Along the way, she makes friends in the House and builds a relationship with the dashing Edmond, who can't stay away.

I can't wait to see where this series goes and will be patiently awaiting this book to release next year along with others in the series.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I want to thank the author, Bella Higgin, the publisher, and Netgalley.

I really enjoyed Belle Morte this one grabbed me from the start and I was hooked. Belle Morte is one 1 of 5 vampire houses where humans apply to be their blood donors. It's been five months since Renie has heard from her sister June. Renie arrives at Belle Morte looking for answers about her missing sister, But, the one thing she didn't expect to find was Edmond the sexy vampire she's drawn to. This book had me screaming "I WANT MORE" at the end. I'm not sure if there's going to be a sequel but I sure hope so. I need more Renie and Edmond!!!!

The new world that is created in Belle Morte is one that vampire lovers everywhere will want to experience! But you don't have to be a "Vladdict" to appreciate this book. It's great, bloody, twisty fun!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book.

In this story, Vampires are the hottest celebrities in the world and people apply to be blood donors for them. Renie, our main girl, applies for one of the vampire houses in hopes of finding out what happened to her sister who cut off all contact a few weeks prior. Along the way we meet Edmond, a vampire who can’t seem to stay away, and the few human friends Renie makes. Together they all try to figure out the secrets this house holds and the future of vampires cohabitating with humans.

I enjoyed the angst and tension that transpired between the two main characters, and I am interested to see how that relationship evolves based on the ending of this book. While there was some suspense building up towards the ending, I have to say the twist was a little predictable. Perhaps it’s just the way the author set it up, but it didn’t come off as much of a surprise to me.

While it definitely isn’t one of my favorite vampire stories, I think it’s a fun and unique take on the vampire trope. I also think the author did a great job setting readers up for the sequel with the cliffhanger ending. I’ll be interested to see where this story goes.

I really, really enjoyed this one.

In "Belle Morte," vampires have made their presence known to the world, and they are idolized in much the same way as celebrities. They become household names; paparazzi stalk them, people gossip about them, and many are fascinated by them and would do anything to be near them.

There are many houses in which vampires reside, of which humans are able to apply to become living donors at. Some see it as an honor, some wish to be near the vampires that they so admire, and some just want the fame and fortune that being a donor brings. None of those things are true of our protagonist: she applies to become a donor at house Belle Morte to find out what's become of her sister after she goes missing while serving as a donor there.

I found this one to be a really refreshing and interesting take on vampires, the characters were likeable and I could feel the chemistry between them, and the pacing felt good to me.

Color me surprised that the Wattpad of my youth has churned out a pretty great ya vampire novel, so thanks Wattpad Books and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read Belle Morte, cause ya girl is fricking floored!

Things I liked:
*vampires, duh
*world building—very well done!
*character development—I was kind of annoyed with Renie in the first half of the book because her character is very one track minded and kind of an asshole, but once she started opening up I really liked her

Things I didn’t like:
*background character development—there’s so many great characters like Jason and Roux whose storylines could have been flashed about a bit more, they were seriously great characters and I would have loved to see/know more about them
*pacing—Belle Morte starts a bit slow and Renie’s investigation into her sister is a little drawn out, and when things finally pick up the book ends too quickly

Overall Belle Morte sucks (😉) you in from the start, and is definitely a good read for anyone who loves ya fantasy & vampire novels!

Thank to Netgalley and Wattpads books for allowing me to read and review this book.

Like the author, my love for vampire books begun with Dracula. I was happy to discover a new book about vampires. The title was what attracted me first. It is interesting and intriguing.

Vampires have revealed themselves to humans. They are divided into houses and they have created the donor system. People who volunteer to give blood in exchange for money and accommodation. An aspect that I found very interesting and original.

I love to have two POV: the donor who wants to find his sister and the vampire. I like how the relation change, but I would have liked less yo-yo scenes between them and more rapprochement. Other than that, how not fall in love with Edmond Dantes.

My favorite scenes were in the library. They were well written. At the end, I didn't see the twist coming. I thought it would end worst.

I really liked this book. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I love vampire stories and this one had such a unique plot. Vampire stories are everywhere, especially YA vampire stories, and I'm always curious as to how an author is going to make it different.

Bella Higgin kept the originality of the vampire but added some new variations to spice it up. I also liked the love interest and the backstory of Edmond was interesting. He kind of reminded me of Angel from Buffy.

The only thing I would change is the pacing. Some things felt rushed to me, like the romance, and the ending also seemed rushed. I wouldn't have minded if the author had gone on a few more pages just so everything didn't seem so quick.

Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Belle Morte is translated to "Beautiful Death". It is one of five vampire houses around the world. In this book, instead of vampires feeding on humans until they die or without their consent, these houses were created as a way of allowing vampires to exist in a light that didn't depict them as dangerous. Humans applied to be donors at these houses. They get to live in luxury in exchange for providing vampires the opportunity to feed on them whenever they so choose. Reni does not understand the appeal or the obsession Vladdicts have. All Reni cares about is finding out what happened to her sister, June, after she signed up to be a donor and stopped sending home letters over a month ago.

Similar to what feels like almost every other vampire book, Reni is instantly drawn to a particular vampire who she feels a deep pull towards. Similarly, Edmond feels the same pull. One of the rules in the houses is that there can be no relationships between donors and vampires, but the two of them can't seem to stay away from each other no matter how hard they try. Reni seeks Edmond's help in finding out what happened to her sister. Edmond knows that happened to June, but is sworn to secrecy from telling her. This puts a strain on any potential relationship they may have because Reni knows he is lying and she cannot understand why.

I did think the premise of the story was interesting. I loved her roommate Roux and their friend Jason. He was the comedic relief several times and I loved his role as a friend who swoops in to save the day for whatever reason. We didn't really learn a lot about any of the other vampires except the lady of the house, Ysanne. I wished there had been more background on some of the other vampires or that they played a bigger role in the overall storyline. It felt like we were barely introduced to Etienne and Ludovic and I would have loved to learn more of their story.

For the most part, I think vampire books will always hold some allure. I didn't think this book was anything out of this world. I liked the premise and I look forward to finding out what happens next in the series. If you are typically a fan of vampire books, or you're looking to try one out, this is a book worth reading.

Gorgeous cover. Beautiful title. A guilty pleasure read! This is a slightly steamy (but not explicit) vampire romance novel that contains a fierce and brave main character, and a wonderful, close knit friendship between three new friends. I absolutely loved Roux and Jason. They were a great supporting cast for Renie.

Belle Morte is a quick read. It made me laugh at times. There were definitely a few gory/violent parts. It is important to note that this is obviously book one of a series.

Thank you Net Galley and Wattpad books for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

#NetGalley #BelleMorte

Belle Morte by Bella Higgin was an addicting read, and I read it in one sitting! The plot, while addicting, felt a bit fast paced, with plot events jumping to the next event very quickly. However, I enjoyed the characters, with Renie being incredibly relatable, and Roux being the best friend anyone would want. And of course, the vampires. I usually am not a fan of how people write vampires, but the House system was pretty genius. I enjoyed how this felt like fantasy but also was set in the modern world. The world inside the house was well fleshed out, and I honestly wished to see more of it. Overall this book was really good!

Book about vampires: *exists*
Me: *seductively raises eyebrow*
Wow wow wow wow! The plot is so damn intriguing, ngl left me quite speechless. I went into it blindly and with zero expectations but damn, it really did blew my mind. I really really liked the word building and the pace. It didn’t have any spice in it, although, the angst and chemistry is enough to not leave me complaining here. I adored the main character Renie, she’s a strong willed lady and stand and fights for what she believes in. Now, I’m dying to see how the relationship evolves between Edmond and Renie based on the ending. Couldn’t wait enough to read it.
So, in a nutshell, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Vampire stories in YA can be pretty hit or miss so I tried not to have any high expectations heading into this one and was pleasantly surprised. This story excelled in plot development and pacing and fell a little short in character development for me. I wanted a little more from the character work, but the overall story kept me hooked enough that I'd recommend including this in classroom libraries if students are really into vampire stories.

This is now one of my favorite vampire books! The plot was perfectly crafted and I loved the idea of celebrity vampires that humans want to be sources for! The pacing was fast which I love - I could not put it down because I had to figure out what was going to happen and if the main character would solve the mystery of her sister's whereabouts after she disappears after becoming a source. The romance was hot! I loved all the characters and cannot wait to see what happens next!

I cannot express how pleasantly surprised I am with this book. The title and cover caught my attention, but the premise did not inspire confidence. I wasn’t sure just how bad it’d be, but it wasn’t anything I could have expected.

I am now in love with this book and with everything this series could be. The writing itself was so well done. Somehow, there’s just the right amount of detail, and everything flows so nicely. I was deeply invested in the story and it’s characters within the first few chapters. Speaking of the characters, they felt so real and authentic. The story matched the characters and the characters matched the story. Everything fit together wonderfully, especially the chemistry. A problem a lot of books can have is the lack of chemistry between characters, whether romantic or platonic, but it was not an issue here. It was all so believable and chemistry filled. Even the tension was handled so well!

This is the kind of vampire story we’ve been missing for ages, and I cannot be happier I took this leap. It’s fun and engaging and entangling and everything you could want in a story like this.

Belle Morte is a is a wonderful and incredibly rich fantasy novel, so well built and fast paced that I wasn't able to put it down till I reached the end. I was absolutely captivated by the atmosphere, and the characters.

This novel submerges the reader in a landscape so imaginative and detailed that the information of the world building/plot never feels forced, and is never difficult to understand or picture in one's mind. I had an enjoyable time reading this and it held my attention the entire way through that I finished it within the day! I enjoyed every page and thought that the plot/story was very unique. Would recommend to anyone!

Belle Morte by Bella Higgin is a refreshing take of the vampire narrative. In Belle Morte, vampires are viewed as celebrities and humans volunteer to be their blood donors. Renie, our main character, doesn’t see glamour and appeal of the vampires but becomes a donor to find out what happened to her sister in one of the vampire houses. What she encounters is more than she could have ever imagined.

Belle Morte really is a fun read. I enjoyed the interactions between characters, beautiful descriptions of the environment, and who doesn’t love a bunch of sexy vampires. For me, some of the plot and twists were pretty predictable, but it didn’t take away from my reading experience. All in all, I would totally continue to read this series.

Thank you NetGalley for sending this arc for an honest review!

Honestly I’m on a roll idk why but lately evrey book I’ve been reading has consisted of some shape of a vampire. Quite odd but at least it’s not like twilight. Haha no far from it. It’s probably why I enjoyed it so much. And enemies to lovers? Truly captivating. It was so intresting to see how the story went on and these vampires jobs were very different than a typical vampire. I would have to say this story reminded me a lot of “king of battle and blood” seeing as to how the MCs both have the same motives.

This is a great YA book. I really enjoyed the story, and the even though there are a lot of vampire romances, this one was definitely different. I did see the end before halfway, but I'm an older adult so.... It was a quick read for me, and I enjoyed the characters a lot. I do hope for more, because I want to know more about them.

(I will be reviewing on my goodreads,and tiktok roundup)

Belle Morte was just about what you would expect from a Wattpad vampire story. An interesting plot line, fast paced and easy to get sucked (no pun intended) into. I really enjoyed the plot of vampires becoming acknowledged in the mortal world as celebrities of sort. The only real issue I had with the book was with the romance. I would have loved to see more of a slow burn romance rather than an insta-love. I liked both of the main characters and enjoyed their interactions together. The heroine was ruthless and willing to stop at nothing to get what she wanted out of Belle Morte. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of either Twilight or Vampire Academy - if you’re looking to get a quick vampire fix with some forbidden romance then Belle Morte is definitely a book you should check out!

“Je vous veux comme aucune autre ”

“I want you like no other”

What a wonderful read! First, the concept is fantastic. I mean, vampires are always hiding so why not change it up. Second, the donors have such a great sense of humor. My favorite part will always be the drunk fashion show. That is hilarious. I think the ending was surprising. It flows really well between the two characters. All in all a great read.

Okay … you had me at “vampires …”
The premise of this new series intrigued me and I really enjoyed the development of the characters.
That said, this book feels “chunky” and awkward at times it struggles to transition to the next part of the story.
I still found this book hard to put down and I can’t wait where the author takes the characters next. The ending left me dangling and anxious for more.

I really wanted to like this book more, but the lead character was so frustrating and the insta-love seemed rushed and without a lot of foundation. Renie is so angry for so much of the story and her anger comes so impulsively. It definitely moves the plot forward but there are only so many times I can listen to her angrily complaining without rolling my eyes. I know that she is really conflicted but the number of times she was having positive feelings and then ruined it with anger was frustrating and repetitive. Renie realizes at one point that she is selfish and I agree. I do really like Roux and Jason. Despite the negatives, I am interested to know what happens next. I would like to know more about the world the vampires inhabit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for letting me review this book!
3.5 stars
I am not big fan of vampires stories but the summary of this book really had me intrigued and it did not fail. I would say has a bit of slow-burn and plus the forbidden-love trope which was executed well. I liked how the author vividly described the setting in each chapter but it felt a bit redundant overtime still, it replaced by dual point of views which I very much liked.

Beautiful vampires that live seemingly glamorous, lives in public where they are adored and vetted donors line up to give them blood while sharing in the luxe lifestyle. A delicate balance must be maintained so history doesn’t repeat itself and the adoring public doesn’t turn into a vengeful mob.

Here’s some of what you will get… Dual point of view (Renie and Edward). Gorgeous but fierce vampires. A missing sister mystery. A strong-willed, determined, and evolving female protagonist. A sinister predictable-ish plot twist. A predictable insta-ish love/romance. Great friendships. LGBTQIA+ representation.

Even with some predictable vampire tropes, I really enjoyed this book. The main female character Renie can get annoying and has some growing up to do, but this is only the start of the series. I think she’ll get there. Her love interest Edward is your standard knight in shining armor somewhat angsty vampire.

What really makes this story are the “side characters”. Renie’s friends Roux and Jason are awesome. Vampires Ludovic, Gideon, and incredible head of the house Ysanne are such interesting characters, and I’m excited to see where their plot lines go.

I’m eager to see what happens next in this series!

For fans of comics and graphic novels, this gave me some Wicked and the Divine vibes which I loved.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad for this ARC.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

First, let me start with I just LOVE me some vampire books. All kinds. The original Dracula, the sparkly Twilight, the vicious Strain trilogy, although, was not such a fan of the book Interview with a Vampire (loved the movie!). Right away when I saw vampire I was SO EXCITED! And this novel did NOT disappoint.

Heads up though, this is NOT a standalone. I thought it was and as I got closer to the end things were not getting entirely wrapped up and the ending certainly left me with a lot of questions, not it a bad way. I would totally be happy to have a sequel. However, I feel like if this story is stretched out more than two books it will likely lose my interest.

This novel is set in sort of modern time where vampires have come out of hiding and are known to exist. In various areas of the world the vampire covens have set up fancy shmansy houses where people can volunteer as blood donors for a few months and get greatly rewarded after their time. This is to prevent vampires from being all murdery and gives them a place in society. Because of this deal that vampires have worked out, they have essentially become celebrities and have fans and the tabloids always looking for a good story. However, Renie does not care at all. She is uninterested in vampires as a whole and only came to Belle Morte to find out what happened to her sister June, a donor, when her letters stopped a few months back. Renie is thrown into a world she did not expect at all..... vampire stories, lavish balls, a good mystery and some ridiculous and delicious vampire love story makes this novel a fun read. I am excited for the next one!!!

Vampires as rock stars and teen idols. In Belle Morte by Bella Higgin, vampires have come out to the public and now live in five communities or "houses" throughout the world. Each of the five is exclusive and humans can be paid as living donors, which is considered a great honor. At least for some. For Renie, the newest donor at Belle Morte, this was never the way she saw her life going. In fact, she is at Belle Morte for one reason only, her sister. It was her sister who was the original donor, that is until she disappeared and no one at Belle Morte is talking. What follows is a hunt for the truth, a predictable love story, and the introduction of a few believable characters. A book worth picking up but this reader is undecided over whether the sequel will be worth the effort.

House of Vampires, Blood lust & forbidden love - if this your pull I recommend you to read this book.

The book overall is a huge hit or miss, but one thing is for sure: people have very strong opinions!

Why this could possibly be a hit:
🌹The tangent of forbidden love where you hate your enemy but still feel an irresistible pull
🌹The overall plot of the story is very gripping
🌹The chemistry between the characters is appealing
🌹The book ends on a cliffhanger and keeps you wanting for more
🌹 It's been ages since I last read a good Vampire Clan built up

Why this could be a miss:
🥀 The character development of Edmond
🥀 The use of French abruptly, disturbs the flow a little
🥀 It looses the spice a little here n there in few chapters & you have to push through them.

I honestly enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Obviously there is a reason this is getting published but as it came from wattpad my expectations were a little lower. However I've been in this vampire mood lately and because of that I really enjoyed it. I thought the points of views of the main character and love interest were interesting and although I was able to figure out the ~mystery~ pretty early on in the book it didn't necessarily ruin the book when it was revealed later on. I also really liked how the love interest actually talks about his background more, it gave him more depth which I feel is important for these types of main characters. Also enjoyed the slightly older characters, like they're more college age which is nice because i relate more to that now, although it did read more like a typical younger YA paranormal.

The cover of this book was what drawn me in. I dont typically read vampire stories anymore but something about the synopsis of this book drawn me in with a sister disappearing and a modern setting of willing blood donors. I was pleasantly surprised by the fast pacing, the easy writing and the tempting romance. Whilst the plot was predictable, the storyline was still very entertaining. I loved the modern setting of this book and vampires are no longer in hiding but are considered celebrities. There are those who idolise them and those who dont - our main character Renie being on the later end. I liked there was friendship, sisterhood and politics in this book as well. Whilst there was a bit of a information dump in some areas, it did not slow the pacing down.
I hope we see more of the political side of the vampire society in future books!
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good vampire story and this did not disappoint. I loved the premise of vampires as celebrities and humans applying to live a lavish life as blood donors. This is where our main character, Renie, enters the story as a blood donor to the vampire house Belle Morte.

Renie absolutely hates vampires. She thinks people are stupid for volunteering to have their blood sucked. She thinks it’s insane to trust vampires and view them as anything but lethal predators. However, all this goes out window over Renie’s sister June.

June is the opposite of Renie. She’s fascinated by vampires and wanted to hang out with vampires as a donor. June becomes a donor at Belle Morte and writes home about her experiences….Until she doesn’t write anymore.

Renie is sure something bad has happened and this is why she applies to be a blood donor. As Renie joins Belle Morte, she tries to unravel the mystery and locate her sister. Along the way, she befriends fellow donors and begins to question her prejudices against vampires as she gets to know Edmond and the others in the house.


This book is a dual POV and it focuses on Renie and a vampire named Edmond. It’s a good read and the second half of the book makes it hard to put down. The ending definitely sets this up for a sequel and I will be reading it!!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for an eARC of this book!

Actual rating: 3.5

Most of the text I read in the book was okay, it was good to read through but it felt like something was missing. I think the sequel to this book, if there is one, would flesh it out. The main character wasn't as static as i thought it would be. If you like vampires and romance, this book is definitely for you- this brings the vampire aspect out nicely.

Thank you Netgally for the ARC!

Thank you first to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy of the book in return for my honest review. I don't understand all the 3 star and four star reviews. I absolutely blocked this book. I of course, like any book about vampires, but this one caught me right from the start. Just enough romance, mystery and intrigue. I loved all of the characters, the plot, and the setting. I can find nothing bad to say about this book. I did not find it a slow read and was on the edge of my seat at some points. I look forward to the sequel. Five start for sure.

A forbidden romance between a human and a vampire? Yes, please! I love that vampire stories are coming back, especially if they are all going to be this well done.

When vampires revealed themselves to the world, they became celebrities and the center of every gossip magazine and talk show. Now, they live in houses where they follow carefully constructed rules to protect both themselves and the humans. Some vampire-obsessed humans volunteer to be living donors in exchange for the money and fame that living in a vampire house brings.

Renie doesn't even like vampires. But her sister walked into Belle Morte, a vampire house, as a donor, and then disappeared. Renie's determined to find out what happened to her, so she volunteers as a donor herself. She intends to dislike all the vampires, but then Etienne befriends her and she can't seem to stay away from the handsome Edmond. Belle Morte is filled with secrets, and Renie and her sister are at the center of them.

Renie is the feisty heroine that Bella (of Twilight) never was. Despite her growing feelings for a vampire, she remains very much in control of her own destiny. Edmond's feelings for Renie are mixed with admiration and respect. Their longing pulls you in, and their romance sparkles, especially in the ballroom scenes. This is very much a love story, both the story of Renie and Edmond and the sisterly love that drove Renie to Belle Morte.

I enjoyed the world of Belle Morte. This is a light, quick read, complete with gorgeous dresses, fancy parties and secret plots with a dash of celebrity gossip. The last page had a shocking twist, setting it up nicely for a series.

Thank you to Wattpad Books for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was a little worried after reading the first chapter that I would hate Renie, but this book was a very pleasant surprise. Yes, she acted as I assumed she would, but she was also quick to realise her faults and when she was wrong. The book didn’t hold any surprises for me, but it was a fun read; zippy enough to fly right through and filled with fun friends and beautiful clothing. Definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Renie wants to find her sister. She cannot believe that her sister would just cut off all contact, so Renie applies to become a donor at the Belle Morte house. At first, Renie feels out of place because she is not a "Vladdict" like some of the other donors, and frankly, she really could care less about vampires. When Renie starts to ask questions and explore the house, she discovers her sister June has been turned and is now a rabid vampire. Renie works hard to try to help June with the help of a few of the other vampires in the house. As Renie continues to try to help June, she finds herself being drawn closer to Edmond, a handsome and intriguing vampire, who also seems to be drawn to her. Relationships between vampires and humans is not allowed, but neither Renie nor Edmond can stop the way they feel for each other. This ends with a cliffhanger, so I hope there will be another book to finish this one. It was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Wattpad and Netgalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be published on April 5th, 2022!

Oh. My. Gosh.
Have you ever read a book that sucks you in so much that when it ends you wish there was more for you to read then you sit there staring at the wall dissociating as you try to wrap your head around what happened? That’s how reading Belle Morte was for me. Now vampire books aren’t everyone’s cup of tea but I can’t ever resist one so this book was right up my alley. If you love forbidden romance, a badass heroine, and hot mysterious vampires that are harboring secrets in their lavish mansion? Then this book just might be the book for you.

This book sucked me in and I felt like I was a pre-teen again on a vampire story binge. I couldn’t put this book down once I picked it up. I’ve never read Higgins a work before but I’m going to keep an eye out for her works now. Her writing was smooth and descriptive and painted such an elegant look into the world of Belle Morte. This story was fast-paced and filled with twists and turns befit with a strong, sarcastic, and sweet heroine. I absolutely LOVED Reine’s dynamic with the rest of the characters and I felt like all the side characters’ personalities and development weren’t forgotten as the story unfolded. I appreciated that the side characters pushed Reine's growth and that connecting with the rest of her group was an important factor in her story. While I wished for a little more of a slow-burn romance in this book, I still felt like it didn’t develop too fast. I’m just a big fan of painfully long slow burns. But this book wasn’t just about romance, I appreciated the themes of morality and grief throughout the story and the question that hung in the air, what lengths would you go to for the ones you love?

While there is a little bit of spice thrown into this book the spice-o-meter is quite low. Though, I was still quite happy with the little bit of spice we did get. Also, I am unsure if this book is standalone or if Higgins planned on this book being the start of a series. The ending of this book has quite a cliffhanger that left me wanting more but I worry about series sometimes so I also am quite content with just pondering over the unanswered questions I have. All that to say, though I know vampire stories might not be everyone's cup of tea, I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

It was cheesy, it had vampire, and it was perfect. I went into this unsure if I would love it and afraid it would be too focused on “oh romance and vampires”, but it gave me much more than that! I love that no matter what happened, Renie still stuck to the idea her sister was somewhere. I find often books end up forgetting big parts of the plot like that, and then scramble to shove explanations in at the end. But in Belle Morte, even if the donors were up to something else, Renie still had it in her mind to help her sister and whatever happened to her! Bonus stars for the vampires too. Giving them actual personality other than just mysterious and sexy. I will definitely be recommending this to others and I’m excited for the next in the series! Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for a chance to read this ARC! #Netgalley #Bellemorte

Belle Morte was an intriguing book to start with. The idea that Vampires are celebrities made sense to me. People are obsessed with vampires so going in I felt like that it would be a good story.

I loved the main character, Renie. Her love for her sister is something I always enjoy in books but I don’t love that we have a hundreds year old vampire as her Insta-love interest. It’s just something that’s been done before.

It did like that the vampires could be down right scary at times. I think that’s how they should be in the eyes of a human. They felt very other worldly. But for me the pacing of this book felt off, it took me a long time to get into and I’m just really not a fan of Insta-love. It’s not real and it doesn’t happen in real life all that often, if ever.

I gave it 3 stars for being interesting enough for me to finish. I wanted to know what happened to her sister but i wish the romance pulled me in a bit more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for proving me with this ARC for my honest review!

“Belle Morte” by Bella Higgin is an addictive and faced-paced tale that brings back the lore and fascination with vampires. This young adult fantasy novel will captivate readers with its original plotline, fiery romance, and its delectable secrets.

Ever since vampires came out of hiding, the world has been obsessed with them. Many hope to become blood donors in one of the five houses where vampires reside. Only a few humans are lucky enough to be chosen. When Renie’s sister is chosen and abruptly stops responding to any letters, Renie takes it upon herself to become a donor at the same house to find out what truly happened. Despite her determination, vampires have had years to perfect patience and whatever happened to Renie’s sister is a secret they’re not willing to reveal.

It’s hard to find young adult vampire stories that aren’t full of cliches or super mushy in the romance department. Higgin’s portrayal of vampires and their existence in human society felt realistic. The author is clearly a fan of the genre and spent time finding a way of presenting these creatures in a unique light that will pique the interest of readers. Higgin did an excellent job in this regard, as it was easy to become enthralled in the luxurious lifestyle of the vampires and their grizzly pasts that come to light. In “Belle Morte,” vampires are more than the bloodthirsty creatures that history has presented them as. Even in death, they’ve retained some of their humanity.

“Belle Morte” by Bella Higgin is a story fans of vampires should most definitely look forward to on its expected publication date of April 5th, 2022.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad Books for providing me with a free e-arc of this novel and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.

This was a great first book for a series and it’s awesome to see at Wattpad book becoming official! The plot was a little predictable but the development of it and the character development was good. Can’t wait for the next book! Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review!

4/5 stars

I was really surprised with this book since I was not expecting a lot bit the story and characters were well developed. I absolutely loved the world the author created for this story and the romance between the main characters.
Totally give it a shot if you see it. It won't disappoint.


Thanks NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange of a honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad Books for sending over an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Belle Morte is a fast paced, quick read that feels like a younger, modern version of True Blood!

Vampire fantasy reads are my guilty pleasure, and this one doesn't disappoint.
A beautiful cover. Great world building. Interesting, nuanced characters.

Renie is on a mission to find her sister, and it's a storyline we can all get behind and offers all the familiar YA fantasy tropes that make this genre so interesting.

My only critique is the pacing as it felt fast in some parts and slow in others with a bit too much fluff.

Otherwise, great cliffhanger and I know this is a series people will devour as soon as they get their hands on it.

A stellar addition to the world of fantasy young adult romance. The glittering vampire courts and intense drama will keep you glued to the pages. A wonderful read for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Another YA book with vampires—why not? This one drew me in right away and kept my interest throughout. Interesting premise with the vampires living in houses and humans applying for the privilege to be donors. Renie’s sister had become one and now is missing so Renie becomes a donor too in hope of finding her. As she begins to discover what has happened to her sister, Renie also must reevaluate some of what she believed about vampires, especially as she grows closer to Edmund, a vampire in the house. While I enjoyed watching the way that relationship developed, I did get frustrated with Renie’s stubborn insistence on pushing against boundaries that should have made sense to her as the story progressed. At one point, the vampire in charge of Belle Morte accuses her of being too immature to understand why things were the way they were, and I frankly agreed. In spite of that, I enjoyed the story and will definitely be back for book 2 after a cliffhanger ending to this one.

First, I want to thank NetGalley and Wattpad Books for sending over an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Now, on the book and what I thought.

The description drew me in. A girl, who doesn't like vampires, becomes a donor for vampires to find out about what happened to her older sister, who had always been a donor. Something about vampires will always crave to read more, but the interesting idea of this mystery made me want to read as well.

I really like Renie, the main character. She's strong and a fighter. She doesn't just accept things told to her. She needs to see things for herself. And Edmond? Oh my! 😍 Swoon. Also, Roux is just a badass. I really think people will love these characters and love them as much as I did.

Bella really does a great job of building up this interesting and unique world where vampires and humans co-exist. I do wish there was a bit more building and a little less slowness of conversation that wasn't very useful to the story. Some parts of the book are really slow and you really want to skip over it to move the story along. I also felt like the problem in the book was predictable. But it's still a fun, fast read that I HAVE to continue reading about.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say about this book? I literally could NOT put this down. From the moment I started reading it to the time I put it down (early morning hours). Initially, I chose this book because of the amazingly beautiful cover, and the fact it was about vampires was just a plus. Normally you don't see Wattpad books written this well. And this book did not disappoint.

About the Book:
Vampires have come out! They are bigger than celebrities and they hire humans as donors to feed on. Renie has not heard from her sister June after some time of entering and so she herself enters this amazing world that she distrusted to become one so she could see what happened with her sister. Only to find she is not there and she does not believe the reasons on where she is at.

Overall the plot was good, albeit a bit slow for the first half of the book. The characters were great although I do think the main character fell a bit fast for a species she supposedly hated/distrusted. I absolutely loved this book though, and I am very excited I got to read it first before it came out but now I already looking for the next book in this series!! I love the fact that she put vampires in the modern world and how people would react if they did in fact come out to be real. I did figure out pretty early on what happened to her, and who did it. But if you like vampires and romance and enjoy a quick enjoyable read this is a book for you!

I loved the first half of this book. It was interesting and sucked me in. But once we figure out the mystery the book kind of dropped off. Nothing exciting happened until the last 2 chapters. And then it’s exciting and the book cuts off. I’m hoping there is a second in the series.

I fell in love with Renie the main character she was spunky and brutally honest and had no fears. I’d like to read more about her story. Edmund was great, I loved hearing his past stories and would even read a book based on his history.

I really enjoyed this one. 🤞🏻 For a second book

Belle Morte is a unique and captivating YA fantasy book surrounding the themes of vampires and mysteries. I was thoroughly entertained while reading, constantly in anticipation of what would come next, and trying to figure out the mystery along the way.

Although I enjoyed reading, some plot twists were predictable to me, as there weren't many other things that could've happened, and that being said, there wasn't much of an element of surprise. Also, the romance started off really quickly, considering both Edmond and Renie seemed infatuated with each other since they first met. Their relationship did redeem itself a bit later on, as it was developed more slowly and the characters were given more depth. I became engrossed in their romance from then on.

Overall, this book was definitely a fun read. I absolutely loved Renie's friendships, they were all very well developed and given a lot of focus. Based on the ending, I’m hoping there will be a sequel, and I'm equally excited for that as I was for Belle Morte. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a vampire romance, amazing friendship dynamics, and an enthralling mystery filled with secrets, lies, and plot twists.

This book surprised me, when I first got the ARC I wasn't expecting great things from it because I'm not exactly the biggest vampire fan (I was one of the kids that watched the first Twilight and hated it) but I was curious about this one because look at that cover! And I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by how good this story is, granted it still had its issues hence the 3 stars, but overall it was a very good, fun read that I flew through.

Belle Morte tells the story of Renie who, after her sister goes to a vampire house to be a donor then all news of her stop at once, decides to apply to Belle Morte as well looking for her sister. Except when she gets there what she finds isn't what she was expecting.

I have to say my favorite thing about this book has to be the world it's set in. I mean a world where vampires no longer hide in the shadows and are treated like A-list celebrities? Sign me up!
At first the idea of donors, aka humans who willingly go to be vampires' dinner, seemed very odd to me, but the more I read the more it made sense, yeah people would be into that shit.

The writing was also a strong point for this book, I really liked how straightforward it was and it made me breeze through it (in what little free time I had).

However, in my opinion the weakest link in this book were the characters, I just couldn't relate nor like them. I didn't hate them, I just didn't care and if I'm being honest I'd rather hating characters than being indifferent.
I tried so hard to relate to Renie and like her, after all she was going through so much shit that would drive me insane if I were in her place, but I just couldn't. The fact that she's the dumbest human to ever walk the earth didn't help as well.
Edmond was meh to me, I didn't expect him to be an instant new favorite, but holy shit that man is so bland you could replace him with a loaf of bread and nothing would change.
I did kinda like the friends, both Renie's and Edmond's, but we didn't get nearly enough time with them for this to matter.

The romance was blah, I didn't really feel any connection between the characters, especially since most of their interactions had a lot of telling instead of showing. Hell Jason and Gabriel had more chemistry in that one interaction than Renie and Edmond did in the entire book.

Overall however, this was a very fun read and I really enjoyed going through it and dipping my toes into vampire books, I might even pick up more books about vampires that are not Twilight at some point this year.

3.5/5 rounded to 4I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I'm not sure if I'm happy with myself over that or not. I never got into the vampire craze (sorry Twilight) which came out at the tail end of high school-early college for me but I did like the spin that author Bella Higgin put on her book Belle Morte. 

18yo Reine lives in a society where vampires are real and have presented themselves to humankind. They live in large estates/mega-mansions spread throughout like colonies or factions but called "Houses". Humans apply to be blood donors and join the vampires in their mansions to be living blood donors. In return, the humans live in luxury and receive a handsome settlement when their contract is finished. Renie is a new donor but is really there searching for her older sister, June, who was a previous donor but then disappeared. 

Pros

I liked the "worldbuilding" of this novel. If vampires were to exist and did oust themselves to society as superheroes (Ysanne saving people from a multi-car pileup) I wholeheartedly could see them banned together in large mansions for protection against humans. I also see them being hailed as celebrities because, let's face it, society already goes gaga over beautiful people who are famous for having money so adding in a little blood donorship is not too farfetched. I also like that there are explanations for things instead of chalking them up to the invisible veil of "magic". The vampire Houses have rules and laws that they live by in order to live alongside humans and not cause people to fear them. This was probably my favorite part of the book and I hope the vampire system is flushed out more in the next books. 

Realistic conversations that showed healthy relationships between friends and romantic interests. This was refreshing to read characters working through feelings with realistic conversations and not using toxic or unhealthy communication (especially loved Roux calling out Renie's hypocritical judgment of the vampire society/lifestyle). I really liked that the MCs were held accountable for their actions, it sounds ridiculous but I hate when the rules are always bent for the MCs (within reason because obviously a huge chunk of this is 'bending the rules' for Renie but that was kind of the point of bringing her to Belle Morte in the first place).

Cons

Lack of character building, especially surrounding the MC Renie. I liked her. I think she was a much better heroine than a lot because she did know when to stop being "extra" but I still felt that she was lacking in depth. She talked a lot about her poor upbringing and honestly, it grew tiring after a while when every conversation had a paragraph about how she grew up poor and didn't have that particular thing, etc. I also could not stand that she had insta-friends, insta-trusting everyone (i.e.: instantly feeling comfortable in trusting Jamima- the lady of Nox house?) with the other donors and with the vampires. If you're searching for your missing sister and you suspect vampires to have hurt her, you wouldn't become instant friends with all of them unless your name is Reine. 

A lot of the plot points felt like they "suddenly" happened. They suddenly have a ball to attend that night. They suddenly have an entire different House coming to visit for important vampire business but didn't make any announcements (beyond a calendar in a drawer?) or show any kind of extra preparations? I spend at least a week stressing about having my parents stop by my house so you're telling me Ysanne didn't care to prepare the donors (especially Renie) about an entire different vampire house coming to stay while they're hoarding a rabid vampire in secret? Jamima wasn't going to question why they couldn't go in the West Wing where visiting vampires usually stayed? Okay, I guess. I had additional issues with the plot in the second half of the book. It felt forced - as if there were more than should have happened earlier to make a sudden attack on the vampire House possible. It took me far too long to realize there was a third group of vampires actually doing the attacking in the final scene. It felt forced and rushed and would have done with more action/hints/awkwardness or unusual circumstances etc leading up to the climax. 

I really liked this book and I'm still thinking about it a few days later because I think there is so much potential in worldbuilding and I'm excited to see where the author decides to take the next book. Overall, I would liken this to Throne of Glass which I also felt was an immature first novel but has so much potential to be great. I liked the ideas within it, almost all of the characters other than the MC, and really think there is a lot of room to grow with this world and add depth and maturity to the writing and storytelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

“There is no greater loneliness than immortality.”

Vampires are regarded as the royals of celebrity culture. When Renie’s sister June severs all contact after signing up to be a donor for the infamous Belle Morte house of vampires; Renie has no other choice than to follow in her footsteps in an attempt to discover what happened to her.

With the lead male character being called Edmond, I was very worried when I started this that it would a vomit induced recap of Twilight, thankfully Renje is no Bella. It was a entertaining book that I read in one sitting, because I had to know if my theories were correct. They were, but the story still has enough points to keep your rabid curiosity guessing throughout.

Whilst I found the romance believable, Edmond was likeable but a little too bland for my tastes. His memories seemed more interesting than his present day self.

Apart from that the characters are great, especially the friends Renie makes along the way. The vampire politics involving the council and the leaders of each house is really intriguing and something we will hopefully learn more about as the series progresses.

All in all it’s a fun vampire novel and hopefully the start of something great.

This was so good!! I can't believe this book doesn't release until April because I so want the sequel already.

In a world where vampires are given celebrity statuses, Belle Morte follows the story of eighteen-year-old Renie who follows her path to Belle Morte, a house of vampires, as a blood donor with an ulterior motive to find out what happened to her sister who went missing five months ago. There she meets the alluring vampire Edmond Dantes (*cough* *cough* sounds familiar?) and everything heats up.

This was such a brilliant journey and the writing was so thrilling and sensual. I fell in love from the first page itself and couldn't help but keep reading. The history of the vampires was so richly written, the world-building was brilliant and the romance was just *chef's kiss*. Like seriously, Edmond Dantes is not at all like cliché vampire guys. The amount of respect I have for him is immense.

I am so sad I finished reading this in one go even though I wanted to savour it for days because of how beautiful this book was. The friendships were so real, felt practical and all the characters had me wishing to be a part of their lives. Such an adventure!

The ending has me so on edge. I really hope the sequel is released because I can't get enough of Edmond and Renie.

Verict: Must Read!!

Belle Morte (Bella Higgens) is a new release in the recently reviving vampiric subgenre of paranormal YA fiction. Originally published online at Wattpad to success, it was recently revised and is now being published by Wattpad’s publishing branch. Belle Morte takes place in a world where vampires are celebrities, and reside in revered Houses, such as Belle Morte, where humans can apply to enter. Successful applicants are taken into the House to be donors, who are pampered in the lap of luxury while being required to offer their blood up to any vampire who wants it. The story follows Renie, a new donor who hates vampires and has only applied to investigate her sister, who has gone missing while inside Belle Morte. Renie’s quest is complicated by the connection pulling her toward Edmond, the handsome vampire who knows more than he’s telling about Renie’s missing sister.

Author Higgins has a very casual style of writing that is very straightforward. This makes her writing very accessible and easy to let yourself fall into, but it does mean that her writing has a lot of telling. Whether the reader finds that to be a fault or a virtue is entirely up to personal preference.

Higgins does some interesting things with the way vampires fit into the fabric of this world. (In Higgins’ world, while vampires have been around for centuries if not millennia, they have only been public about their existence for the last few years.) Specifically something that stands out to me is Higgins’ reversal of a problematic pattern in vampiric fiction: the temptation to include vampires that were on the side of the South in the American Civil War. (No, I don’t know why so many major vampire books do it, but Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, and Interview with a Vampire all fall into this trap.) Higgins reverses this. While the story is set in England and the vampiric characters are primarily European, Higgins does mention vampires that were slaves in their human lives. It’s a small detail, but given the genre’s problematic tendency to do the opposite, I appreciated it.

Overall, if you don’t like the vampiric romance subgenre, Belle Morte probably won’t be to your taste. But if you enjoy these kinds of books, then Belle Morte will be a fun read for you.

P.S.
I do feel obliged to mention that the formatting of my digital ARC copy was…horrendous, there’s no way around it. The first letter of the first word of each chapter was on a completely different line than the rest (not larger or stylized) just separate, but a worse offender was that constantly paragraph breaks were missing, which sometimes made it confusing to tell who was talking when dialogue from two different characters was in the same paragraph. I’m operating on the assumption that this was a technical error (either exclusive to my device, or perhaps the book hasn’t gone through formatting yet, or the wrong type of file was sent to my kindle) and that the finished copy will be properly formatted, so I didn’t factor it into my rating.

Another case of being lured by the cover, and staying for the characters!!! This book was so good!!

What I liked about the book:
1. As reality shows are kinda my guilty pleasure (don't you judge me!), I really liked the idea of a vampire celebrity house that would bring regular people in to be donors. That is a super interesting concept, and I loved how it wasn't a large part of the plot where they had to mind how they were in front of cameras a lot. I feel that could have gotten convoluted really fast, and we were spared from that.

2. Short, dual POV chapters!!! This is my crack!!!

3. I love that there are mystery components, swoony moments, action-packed scenes, and unadulterated happiness even in the lowest of times. This book is definitely one hell of a paranormal rollercoaster. Those last couple chapters were something else!!!

4. The characters:

Renie - I honestly did not think I would like Renie as much as I did. This girl is stubborn as sh*t and I'm here for it! Especially at the end of the book in some of the final scenes, she really just drives right into the chaos, but then still has realistic thoughts about why she's even doing it. I very much relate to this as a stubborn person who acts before she thinks a lot.

Edmond - Hot vampire dude who speaks French, loves to read, and is willing to throw down and be punished to save his girl? Ummmmm yes please! I don't know what it is, but the idea of a good looking man calling me terms of endearment in a foreign language does something otherworldly to me.

Ysanne - I did not want to like you, but I'm definitely falling for you, you alpha-female. I love the complexity of your character and how you are willing to open up to Renie because you are smart enough to see her value.

Etienne - All I'm going to say is I called it.

Jason - You are hilarious! Definitely the comedic relief in this book. I love that you are pining hard for Gideon, and I really think he is feeling you too. Hopefully we see more come of this in the second book!

Roux - Roux, Roux, Roux, you beautiful little badass. You are bestie goals and literally an angel!!! Daphne and Velma don't need no Fred!!!

Ludovic - I love how you know things can't happen, but you're such a good friend that you don't care about the rules. You seem like a total badass, and you BETTER end up with Roux in the second book!

5. THAT COVER IS GORGEOUS!

Why it didn't get 5 stars:
1. I felt the way the story was told was a little odd. It was dual POV, but Renie's sections were in first person, while Edmond's were in third person. I love the dual POV, I just wish they were both in first person. The consistency nerd in me was inwardly cringing every time it shifted.

2. A bit predictable, but I'm not reading vampire romance because it's groundbreaking...

Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad for the opportunity to read this ARC. The honest opinions above are being given voluntarily.

4 belle stars! Check it out April 5th!

Despite only giving this 3 stars, I actually quite enjoyed this! When I got this ARC and saw that it was originally a Wattpad novel, I expected this to read like fanfiction, and I wasn't disappointed in that area.
I breezed through this, but there was honestly nothing groundbreaking and I saw most of the plot twists coming from a mile away. Even that ending wasn't a big shocker to me.
I liked the whole Vampire celebrities residing in a gated house hiring blood donors concept, but I didn't love the execution nor the (surprise, surprise) insta-love.
Renie and Edmond were an okay pair, despite Renie being TSTL sometimes and Edmond having multiple personality disorder, so my favorite character had to be Roux!

However, with the way this ended in a semi-cliffhanger, I am quite curious if there will be a sequel, because I feel like the story has potential!

This book was such an interesting take on vampire fiction- I've been loving anything with vampires in it lately (they're making a comeback!) and this was no exception! I found the story progressed almost a little too quickly at times (I wanted a bit more backstory and development for some things) but hopefully that comes in the next book. This kept me on my toes and I really enjoyed the ending! Can't wait for more!

The premise of this book is what initially had me interested. The twist on vampires not being a secret to the world, but actually being celebrities was different and unique. Without spoiling anything, I enjoyed the book overall. The characters were interesting enough to keep me reading. 3.5/5 stars for me. The world building wasn’t as in depth as I would’ve loved but it was definitely a fun read!

4/5 for Belle Morte by Bella Higgin

I have read this book while it was on Wattpad. I am still surprised at how good it is! The story was well structured and developed. No part felt too rushed. My favorite part was the romance though. As the first book in a series, I enjoyed the romance wasn't rushed. The predicted couple really get to know each other, instead of just getting thrown in. This development is refreshing in a book, because many books just skip the getting-to-know each other phase.

i loved it! I was truly intrigued by the synopsis & hurriedly started reading as soon as I was granted an eCopy🤎 I have not read any sci fi books atm but Belle Morte was soooo good! As a young girl, I grown up loving Twilight so I decided to give this one a try because it has vampires in it👀 and I loved it! Thanks again for the arc✨

Belle Morte will go down as one of my favorite reads of the year. Not only was the storyline unique and intriguing but the writing was beautiful. There's few words to convey the way I feel about this book but I will start by saying BUY THIS BOOK and Please, please give us more by this author. Thank you for allowing us a peek into this world.

I can never say no to another YA vampire book. Call me weak.

I loved the vampire network this story has. The different houses and council. I’m excited to explore that more in the series.

Renie was a strong character. She didn’t bow down and fought for what she wanted. She was tenacious and a smart mouth. I loved it.

Somethings were a bit predictable but I still enjoyed the story nevertheless.

Content warnings: violence

In fair warning, Belle Morte definitely reads like a debut (in terms of pacing, characterization, writing style, the love triangle, the twists and the scenes very reminiscent of other popular books), but it was still a really easy to read and fun fantasy romance. The premise reminded me of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, which I love, and the plot was quite enjoyable and easy to follow. The romance, although not the enemies to lovers it was advertised to be, was pretty cute (the guys falls first/guy loves her more trope is always really cute, regardless of execution). I've been getting back into fantasy after reading a ton of contemporary romances recently, and this was a really good transition book. I'd recommend it to anyone just getting into or getting back into fantasy. If the author continues the story with more books, I'm not sure if I'll pick them up, but I'm glad I read this when I did. It's not perfect, but pretty damn fun.

Did somebody say, 'vampires?' Sign me up!
This book was one of those guilty pleasures. This book has the familiar feel of your favorite vampire books while having its own spin. I really enjoyed the different POVs, and the cliffhanger ending didn't bother me. Though the pacing was not as even as I would have preferred, and the formatted file was a hot mess that made it difficult to read at times... the latter, I'm sure will be fixed before publication. I still enjoyed the story and the nostalgia it brought back from when I read Twilight for the first time when it was just another book among others in the corner of a bookstore.

Recommended to anyone who loves vampires and just wants a nice comfort read.

Vampires are the new celebrities since they outed themselves. Living in different Houses over the world, they no longer hunt humans for blood. Donor programs are the new normal and Renie has just been accepted into one. Belle Morte is where she is headed to be a donor for any and all vampires for the foreseeable future. What she hasn’t told anybody is that she’s only going there to find out what happened to her sister June.
I loved the mix of vampires into the modern social media world. The story is well written and flows easily. An intriguing plot that makes you want to keep turning the pages.
The chemistry between all the characters and their interconnecting relationships are very believable. I enjoyed the push and pull between Renie and Edmond, it makes me very interested in reading what happens in the next book. Will they find a way to each other? Will it all work out? Can’t wait to see what happens ahead.

*arc provided by NetGalley & wattpad books*
3.5 ✨
i thought this book was so fun, and so creative. the overall plot of the book was a familiar story but a completely new & entertaining spin on it. i highly recommend this book for readers who love anything vampire. the romance seemed surface level, and I wish there was more to it. it got annoying at times the back and forth of “we can’t be together but I’m falling for you” the plot twist and storyline was predictable but not necessarily in a bad way! this book sucked me in and left me satisfied (pun intended ;)) and I’m excited to see what else bella higgin has in store for edmond and renie and all of their friends :)

This book is honestly one of the best books I’ve read this year! I’m not usually a fan of vampire based Dorris but this book turned it around! The book displays a wonderful take on vampires as celebrities in our modern world with humans volunteering to be donors. The friendships and mysteries in the book keep you reading on and wondering what is going to happen next. I highly recommend this book and believe it is a must-read!!

This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our list for order this year and will recommend it to students.

Good story. I enjoyed it from first to last page. Renie, main character is so... Full of life and mixed emotions. Nice read for vampire books fans for sure.

Oof I am a SUCKER for vampire books and Belle Morte did not disappoint! At first, I was nervous that this would be a bit too similar to Twilight at its core, but honestly once I started reading I was like Edward and Bella who??? Lol which basically means that no, this is not a Twilight re-write. I found it unique and refreshing - I personally may have gone with a different name than Edmond simply due to the massive popularity of Edward but meh like I said, I wasn't thinking about Twilight at all while reading.

SO! We have vampires out in the open, and since their reveal 10 years ago, they have risen to the height of fame and become celebrities. They live around the word in various "vampire houses", each with a different name. This book is based on a UK vampire house called Belle Morte. Humans apply to these houses to become donors, and get paid very well for the honor.

Renie was a headstrong, spirited girl with fire in her heart and a stubborn streak a mile long. She was loyal and determined and was more of an "act before you think" type of person which is always great in a book lol! Edmond was broody and sexy and stoic until he was vulnerable... yum. Everything I want in a male lead. He would do anything to protect Renie and it was swoon-worthy watching his devotion to her grow.

I loved all the side characters - Roux and Jason were hilarious and amazing, I ended up liking Ysanne more and more the more I read, and I'm thinking we are going to see more Ludovic and Etienne in book 2 which is exciting for two very different reasons lol!

Overall, I think this was a really great debut! You need to go in expecting a YA vampire novel, otherwise you will be disappointed. You really do need to think along the lines of Twilight, not Dracula. (I'm not saying this is like Twilight, but that's the sort of vamp novel you need to go in expecting). I went in with basic idea of what to expect and I ended up being really happy with what I read! I think the more this author develops her writing skills, the better her books are going to be and I'm really excited to watch her progress!

I like how the book doesn't shy away from mature themes. The story is also refreshing, I haven't read a story about modern settings, and a willing donor for vampires. And for once, the girl who caught the vampire's eyes is actually spunky and independent, and she shows it. The 2 mystery of the book was also nicely written, I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure it out until the very end. And the cliffhanger ending! I read this book in one sitting and wow, I want book 2 NOW!

I will always love a vampire book. If it's between werewolves or vampires my choice will always and forever be vampires. This is a new take on a vampire story, which is something I was very grateful for because so many storylines are becoming nauseating, and by that, I'm referencing Tracy Wolff's Crave series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc! I have lots of thoughts I love renie she is a perfect main character full of stubborn and spit fire like attitude. This story starts with renie becoming a donor at belle morte to find out what happened to her sister June. At first renie is hating the vampires and her stay at belle morte until she meets Edmund a sexy green god like vampire renie cant stay away from. I feel like a lot of this book could have been skipper and we should have got more of battle scene and renie with June. I am excited to read the next book because that ending just had me like whAt!!!

Set in the modern world, vampires are celebrities and the talk of gossip magazines after revealing themselves years before. Humans have the opportunity to become blood donors and in return get fame, money, and to meet the vampires that will drink their blood. Irene “renie” Mayfield is only doing this to find her sister June, who signed up to be a blood donor but has stopped sending letters. There was great, easy to understand world-building, characters who jumped off the page and were relatable, and gorgeous vampires. This book got me back into reading fantasy!

Thank you to Netgalley, Wattpad books and Bella higgin for an ARC of this book.
This book is set to release on April 5, 2022.
First off, WHAT A GORGEOUS COVER. I had a vague recollection of reading this book on Wattpad and the more i read, the more i remembered what happens. But this book had me in its grips and i LOVED this.
i loved that we get a Dual POV AND FORBIDDEN LOVE TROPE!!!
I enjoyed the friendship between Roux, Jason and Renie so much and the sisterly love for June that makes Renie come searching for her sister.
Also Edmond? hi, my new book boyfriend who loves to read Read and talks French (he makes me want to get back to learning french). in other words i cant wait for a sequel of this.
#BelleMorte #NetGalley

3.5 ⭐️ I really enjoyed this one! Who doesn’t love a good vampire book? The plot was super intriguing, I’ve never read anything like this before! The tension between our 2 characters is phenomenal, I need more! I loved the construction of immortality in with modern day living, and the idea of vampires being out and proud about what they are, and the Houses with blood donors was a cool concept!

I’m looking forward to the next book!

Thank you to Net Galley and Wattpad Books for the eARC to read and review!

All reviews posted March 12, 2022

WOW, this book surprised me in a really good way. I didn’t have high expectations because vampire books can be a hit for miss for me, but I had a fun time reading this. I defiantly think there were issues with plot pacing, but overall still really enjoyable. The characters were great to read about, and I found myself invested not just in the main characters but in the side characters as well. And the vibes and atmosphere in this book are what pulled me in the most and caught my attention from the start.

While I liked the plot and was invested in it, I had some pacing issues throughout. Especially in the beginning, I think we could have lived longer in each moment and gotten used to the new world and surroundings more. I felt that I was being thrust from plot point to plot point for the first half of the book, without much time to get a feel for anything going on. Other than that, though, I found myself constantly wanting to know more, and by the second half, I had a hard time putting the book down. I defiantly predicted the ending, but I did play out in a way I wasn’t expecting.

The characters were such a joy to read about. I loved that all the characters, even the side, and background ones, had depth. They were all interesting to read about, and I felt each added something to the story. I hope that the author explores each character more in the coming books. I found myself rooting for the romance pretty early on in the book, which is not like me at all. I just thought everything was so cute, and nothing felt forced or unnatural.

The setting and the world that the author created was absolutely stunning. Like I found myself wanting to live and experience this magical mansion in person. I wish I could see images in my head because everything about this book felt elegant and timeless.

I really enjoyed this book! I didn’t realize it was a modern vampire story until I started reading and wasn’t sure how I would like it..but it was great! I loved Renie and her determination to find out what happened to her sister..even the most powerful vampires couldn’t stop her! This book was fast paced, and I couldn’t put it down! After that ending I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

This book is such a tasty little morsel. I actually read this when it came out on Wattpad, and ate it up just as much as I am right now. I mean, the last update for the Wattpad story was in 2019, and I think I read it even before that. Whenever I started reading the Wattpad series, I vividly remember wishing I could just hold it in my hands - and now, on April 5th, I'll be able to.

When I first started seeing posts about this book, I knew it sounded familiar, but couldn't place it. Then I saw Bella Higgin's name, and I audibly screamed. I've never requested something on Netgalley so fast. So thank you Netgalley and Wattpad Books for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for a review.

Reading this felt like nostalgia personified. However, I had forgotten a lot of events so in some ways it was like I was reading it for the first time. Bella's writing is so perfect for this genre, and I had such a good time reading this. It was like returning home. The plot twists, the shocking ending, and the forbidden romance is everything I want in a vampire book. And while I've fallen away from that subgenre, Bella Higgin has brought me right back.

If you're a fan of vampires, of secrets, and of a donor program that outlaws relationships between donor and vampire (so of course no one listens), this is the book for you. I can't wait to hold the hardcover - and I am so proud of this book and of Bella.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I was intrigued by the premise but I wasn't expecting so much tension and surprises!

Renie was a great main character. She was so strong and proactive but she was still human and relateable with her grief and anger. She was so easy to like and I fully supported her and was rooting for her from the get go.

Edmond was an amazing male lead! He was sexy, mysterious, and the right level of protective that made me want to swoon.

The character development was great. I sometimes got a little confused with the vampires of the house as they were just background characters and I forgot their names easily. There were a few that stuck out because of their larger roles, but the others were totally forgettable.

The pacing of the book was great. It was tense enough that I found it so hard to put down, I was literally cooking and reading at the same time.

I'm already eagerly anticipating a sequel as I feel like this story is just starting with everything that happened at the end of the book. There's so much more to this world that we've not seen yet.

Overall, if you're a fan of vampires and strong female leads, this is a book for you.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

My favorite books fall under YA Fantasy Romance and I will pretty much like anything that falls under that category. This book was just okay to me but still enjoyable enough to finish.

Thank you to Wattpad Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Vampires are real and considered A-list celebrities in modern society. There are five vampire houses in Britain where the vampires live and humans are paid to be living blood donors. Renie is one such donor but she has an ulterior motive for coming to Belle Morte, one of the vampire houses. June came to Belle Morte to be a donor but abruptly ceased correspondence with her family. Renie has come to see what happened to her. Amongst the beauty of the vampires, their home, and the highly fashionable clothes the donors have been given, all is not as it seems. Relations between donors and vampires is forbidden but despite everything, Renie is attracted to Edmond and the feeling is mutual. But Renie is trying to solve the mystery of what happened to June and she’s not getting any answers from the vampires. Not one to give up easily, Renie pushes for answers but where they lead is very dangerous.
Disclaimer – I have not read nor seen Twilight but am familiar with the general plot. That being said, I did enjoy this book right up until the last chapter which ended so abruptly I had to reread it to see if I missed something. Maybe setting up for a sequel? I don’t know but there didn’t seem to be a final resolution. I would still recommend this YA fantasy for those who enjoy this genre. My rating is 3.5 stars but rounded to 4 because there are no half stars.
#BelleMorte #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the Digital Review Copy of this title.

Irene "Renie" Mayfield enters Belle Morte, a highly regarded vampire house, under false pretenses. She thinks she is going to be a human donor for the luxurious vampires that live there, but she just wants to find out what happened to her sister, June. Renie quickly finds out that not all vampires are what she expected, but some very much are. She's determined to uncover the secrets of Belle Morte, even if it costs her the donor position, or worse...her life.

Wow, just wow. I loved everything about this book. Higgin has a way of writing that transports you into her atmosphere. He descriptions remain concise, while still managing to be vivid. She has a way with words that perfectly captures the deepest of human emotions: sadness, anger, love, and fear.

Though Bella Higgin has amassed thousands of fans through her wattpad stories, this is her debut novel.

**This is a vampire novel, so be advised of content warnings for blood and gore. Also, be aware of some sexual harassment and assault.

Let me begin by saying, I liked the premise of the story... BUT it is a little rough around the edges. It reads like a wattpad novel would and has potential to be much more. There were a lot of mistakes as well so the line editing is rough and needs a better looking at. I loved the adventure and the whole future vampire vibe. Very Blade. But it needs a little help. All things considered, it wasn't a disappointment!

⭐⭐⭐⭐Plot: For me this was a fun, fast read. This story wasn’t anything dramatically new for this genre, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless. The premise laid out in the first chapters hooked me into the mystery of it all. The pacing of the story’s events and revelations kept me turning the pages, even if it was generally predictable. I liked seeing the story happen from the two points-of-view and would love to see even more from Edmond’s perspective in the future. Although, I do wish his parts were in first person as well, the shifting into third is awkward. The ending sets up really well for the next book in the series and I will definitely be anxiously awaiting to see how the cliffhanger plays out.

⭐⭐⭐⭐Characters: Were they cliché, yes. Did it make me excited about them any less because of it, definitely not. I found Renie’s rebellious, outcast nature to be super relatable. And how could I not love the stereotypical bad boy with a good heart? Edmond is alluring and seductive. The romance between them is sweet and spicy. Even the side characters, Renie’s friends, are endearing in their own ways. I liked the characters enough to want to see more of their development.

⭐⭐World-building: One thing about this story that I found unique and very interesting to read about was Edmond’s backstory. I haven’t read many vampire stories that delved as deeply into the historical aspects of the vampire’s life experiences. The retelling of his life over the hundreds of years was captivating to me as much as it was to Renie and I would love to hear more about it. I enjoyed the lore built around the vampires, as well as learning the political and societal aspects and rules needed for them to fit in. Although I understand the story itself only takes place in one location, I would’ve like more than just the three or four rooms it seemed stuck in. It lacked an atmosphere to draw me in.

Overall I think this book is an exciting, light read. It’s exactly as I expected it to be and didn’t disappoint. If you are looking for something new and profound, this isn’t it. But if the vampire sub-genre and all its typical tropes are your guilty pleasure, than this is one you will enjoy as much as I did.

A clever and bright new take on the vampire craze.
Firstly, a BIG thank you to NetGalley, Wattpad Books publishing, & Bella Higgin for this eARC copy! I greatly appreciate this opportunity and your trust to review books before release.

Without aging myself, I can say I have been reading and enjoying fantasy novels long enough to have been part of the vampire craze. I talking, I read Rice's, "Interview with the Vampire" and Stokers, "Dracula" as an introduction to the vampire world. Although, I read "Interview..." some 20+ years after its original publishing and "Dracula" some 100+ years after its original publishing so don't think me THAT old. BUT I can honestly say I've a thorough understanding and appreciation of vampires in novels before they got all sparkly and romantic.

That said, the vampires in this novel ARE OUT and celebrated (mostly)! At large, humans know they exist and line-up to be donors for the prestige and perks. I can also honestly say I enjoyed this honest approach Higgin's takes in her debut. Considering the author also began as a Stoker fan, I expected nothing less than what she provided. Are her vampires in this novel a bit droll?...Yes. They are a broody bunch. They have rules and prefer to segregate themselves away into houses for safety (both for theirs and their "donors", and for the humans at large). As such, there wasn't much to work with in the way of landscape and scenery. That also said, Higgin's does a fantastic job of providing images and description that more than makes up for an entire book written from the limited landscape of a dark vampire mansion. There is a decadence to fashion, manners, and living that I have come to know and expect as key elements to vampire fiction to which Higgin's delivers. So, I didn't feel that this took away from the overall story at all.
There wasn't one character that I found to be overly annoying. Although, there were plenty of times that I grumbled at the main character Renie. She was at times so confrontational and overly trite. BUT, i may have found myself acting of a fashion in her position if my only sister mysteriously vanished after having entered a vampire house, only to find that something worse than death happened to her.
There is also an element of romance that most YA readers will LOVE. Edmond is the quintessential vampire love interest with a rough history that makes him slow to acknowledge and reveal his affections while also being unable to stop himself as he's drawn to Renie. All while she struggles with her loathing of vampires and what they have done to her sister and the donor process as a whole. I did find her loathing of them a bit overly done and overly mentioned.
I had my suspicions from the start as to the vampire responsible for what happened to June, but until the reveal at the end there was times I thought maybe not...or rather hoped not. Still, I like the set-up for the next book, which I will definitely read when it comes out.
If you, or anyone you know, it a fan of vampire fiction, then I highly recommend this novel as a purchase. I have a feeling this may rekindle a bit of that vampire craze from years ago.
Go forth & enjoy!

I haven’t read a vampire novel in a long time, but Belle Morte ticked all the boxes! This story has dual POVs, which is always a win for me. I think this story incorporated these perspectives well because it aided in character development and built the angst on both sides. I liked that the romance wasn’t overly spicy; it worked, considering the characters still have a lot to learn about one another. Bella Higgin painted a beautiful picture of what Belle Morte would be like. It was almost like I could see it myself. Although I do not know French, I liked the little snippets included in the story. It further stresses that Renie and Edmond are from completely different worlds, and it’s endearing to see someone who could appear to be very stoic show a soft side.

I will admit, I found Renie to be a little annoying and reckless! I understand she wanted to find out what happened to her sister, but she went in guns blazing! She grew on me towards the end of the story, but I would love to hear more about Edmond and his background. The history of vampires and how they fit into society before they were public was compelling. This book built a great intro to this world, and it would be interesting to get some POVs from the other characters as well!

I liked the touch of mystery, even if I found it predictable. Overall, the ending definitely left me wanting more, and I’m looking forward to the next installment of this series!

Thank you to Net Galley and Wattpad Books for the ARC!

If your looking for a easy read look no further. If you enjoy vampires and forbidden love give this a try. Do be aware it is a wattapad book so it feels like one. Not necessarily a bad thing but keep it in mind.

I enjoy sassy FMC and gorgeous MMC. Love vampires and the idea of them existing in modern times while solving a mystery. Very interested in the second book when it comes out. Can’t wait to see what happens with Renie and Edmond!

Man, THIS BOOK y'all. I was in the mood for a good and new vampire book, and Bella Higgin has absolutely delivered. Belle Morte, simply put, was dark, glittering and entrancing. Renie Mayfield comes to the Vampire House Belle Morte as a donor to find out what happened to her sister, June. What she stumbles upon is a world of glitz and glamour, filled with secrets worse than anything she could have imagined. What's worse is her budding attraction to handsome vampire Edmond, who has secrets of his own. I adored the Gossip-Girl meets Twilight vibes that his one had in spades. The world-building where vampires are basically celebrities', live in "houses" and humans volunteer themselves as blood donors was super unique and unlike anything I've seen before. Everything about Belle Morte is extravagant and you can't help but just be intrigued by both the setting and the story itself. I really loved the romance between Edmond and Renie and how it develops. I can't help but draw a lot of Twilight comparisons. I loved Twilight as a teen but as an adult Edward Cullen creeps me out. BUT Edmond is alike the anti-Edward, everything I wanted the former to be and more. And he's just really swoony and the tension with he and Renie was straight fire. I found myself unable to look away as the book progressed and went to unexpected and some expected places, but overall I really was floored by the time I finished it! Belle Morte is a story of extravagance, power and family, and is a debut you don't want to miss if you enjoy a fresh vampire novel like me!

Quick Summary: Wow! Again, I say wow!!!

My Review: Belle Morte was everything! Although it took a minute for the story to get into a steady flow, once it did pick up the pace, its rhythm was swift and strong. This story had great characters, it had exciting drama, and it had insane suspense.

As the story continued to reveal the underlying issues at hand, I found myself wondering a number of things, such as: Who committed the crime against Renie's sibling and why? Why were relations between vampires and donors forbidden? Was there more than one vampire who wanted a deeper human connection? Was the rabid being controlled somehow? Who staged the battle and infiltration? Was there a strategic plan to eliminate certain houses? Was there a new order coming for key players? Why was there such a difference in how Renie and her sister responded to that which shall not be named? (I don't want to ruin things for others, so I'll keep that which shall not be named vague. However, I will add a "Duh duh duh!") What was the deal with Gideon? Why was it that Melissa and her boyfriend were so pushy with Renie after shutting her down initially? Why did Edmond and Renie have such intense chemistry? So many questions!

By the time I got to the end of this story, I confess that I was elated by the revelations made by Edmond and Renie, I suddenly had a keen interest in Ludovic and Roux, I wanted to better understand Belle Morte's leader, I wanted to see inside the other houses and into the minds of the other vampires who visited Belle Morte, especially that dark vamp who assaluted Renie, and I pondered why the author left me hanging with an "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE END OF THE STORY!" (Way to keep me wanting more. High five on that, by the way.)

A Special Note: Often it can be rather challenging to establish a new series or to build new worlds. It can also be difficult to create characters who are loved by the masses just as much as by the writer herself. I believe that this author did a really good job with her set up. While many questions were answered in the story, many remained. That is a good thing that can draw readers in and influence them, causing them to want to invest themselves into the story. This story has room to grow. I can see its potential. Allowing it to continue its evolution...there should be no doubt.

My Final Say: At this point, I can unwaveringly say that I am well and truly hooked and cannot wait to find out more about this incredible world and its amazing beings.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: YA (* There is potential for it to jump into NA and A.)
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Interest in being a Beta reader: YES!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me access to this e-ARC. A Goodreads posting has been made.

I’m not sure why this book has so many bad reviews at the moment, because I thought this was actually quite fun to read.

I think the most important thing to understand is how difficult it is for a writer to present to the readers something original when writing about vampires, as we have read all kinds of vampire stories by now, in all the sauces and recipes possible. I guess other readers like me are still burned after Empire of the Vampire, and thinking of that godforsaken empire, with silversaints and tattoos, so from my perspective, it takes guts for an indie writer to say “Hey, I wrote about, yet again, vampires”. Hence, this story gets my full support.

Belle Morte has an unusual setting as it takes place in modern age England. Now, I’m not an expert, I don’t know if the idea at the base of Belle Morte that humans volunteer as blood donors is completely new. I quite enjoyed the vampires turned celebrities thing, and it took me back to those nights spent binge-watching True Blood.

I get that the story is not fully linear, the plot gets messier and messier, the “murder mystery” (yes, you have sexy vampires and a potential murderer to find) is easily put aside and the focus is all on the impossible and forbidden romance between a vampire and a donor. However, this story is a manifesto of why we keep going back to vampire stories, why they are such fascinating fantasy creatures who never get boring.

The writing is not perfect, but it was very easy to read and I still enjoyed the side characters and bite descriptions. The ending was extremely rushed and lacked build-up, and I wasn’t aware there was going to be a sequel, which was a bit disappointing. I still enjoyed the luxurious lifestyle of the donors and these gorgeous vampires trying to find their space in modern human society.

This is definitely a story I wouldn’t mind continuing to read and I would definitely recommend keeping an eye on this writer.

i am a vampire/paranormal reader fan so when i saw this book & its synopsis it intrigued me and i wanted to read this book. i like the new take on vampires that this book is about. vampires are no longer hiding, they are living among humans, created a sonar systems & they are celebrities. Renie has been chosen to be a donor to celebrity vampires in exchange to learn about their lifestyle & fame afterwards. however Renie could care less about vampires or fame she’s there to find out what happen to her sister June who was previously chosen as a donor prior and has gone missing and she is determined to find out what happen. And there she meets a handsome vampire Edmond… The book describes the vampire rules & system as to what they need to abide to in order to live a long side humans. I felt that there could have been more romance building & romantic scenes as i love vampire paranormal books that have romance in there. the book is written as two point of view. the book ends in. semi cliffhanger so if you hate cliffhangers beware. i received this arc book & i’m posting my voluntary review.

this is one of my fastest reads of this year, i just couldn't put the book down! would totally recommend to anyone who loves vampire stories. 4/5 stars

This book ends in a cliffhanger. So just be aware of that. I thought it was a standalone and when nothing was wrapped up and I only had 5% left, the PANIC started.

Other than that, this book was SO good!! It was moody, romantic, and just such a great atmospheric read.

I loved just about everything in this book! I just wish it was longer because I didn’t want it to end!

Thank you to NetGalley and WattPad Books for the e-ARC do this book to prepare for this interview. This book is EVERYTHING!! I am officially a Vladdict for LIFE! The vampire houses and their status as celebrities is incredibly original. The way the donor’s are treated and the lives they lead while employed is such an interesting take on vampire culture. With the added mystery of Renie looking for her missing sister that was a previous donor at the vampire house, Belle Morte, this book is a major winner. The gothic aesthetic of Bella Morte, combined with the incredible fashion, and the parties makes for one incredible world to find yourself sucked into. The vampires
Of the house are of course beautiful,
But also multi-faceted in their actions.
Overall, this book was absolutely
incredible and anyone and everyone that
Enjoys vampire fiction has got to read
This book and I can’t wait to see how
many Vladdicts appear into the world.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!


I love love love this book!! I don't typically like modern vampire stories, but this immediately pulled me in! I found the premise to have a blend of the familiar we seek out with these books, and some fresh content and it was perfect! I found Renie to be a little more realistic than perhaps the average vampire book protagonist with her feisty spirit, her stubbornness, her growth in attitudes and I adore her heart so much! The care for her family is strong and I love reading about her growing attachment to the people around her.

Which brings me to another point I loved about this book - how real the relationships between everyone! The romantic, the friendships! Of course, I wanted to read this book for the romance, but I am also a sucker for deep friendships and this book doesn't fail with that! I grew to care for and love all the people in this book and my heart was thrown around every which way by the end.

The imagery is beautiful and sensuous and I seriously want to live in this house.

And of course the tension and chemistry between our main leads constantly gave me goosebumps, I loved the build up from Renie's percieved rivalry to friendship to romantic. It moved at a natural pace and I ate every part of it up.

Belle Morte is a great YA fantasy that hooked me in immediately. The premise of vampires coming into the public eye and having houses where they can live and be protected was a new and ingenious idea. After Renee suspects foul play when her sister stops communicating she springs into action. It’s there she meets Edmond who could help or hurt her. The relationships between all the friends that develops is realistic and helps to make Renie open up even when she is so distraught over what may have happened to her sister. There is a good amount of steaminess without being to overt which i appreciated.


The story was easy to read the characters were developed quickly as that always happens when debuting a new book in a series. I believe that this series will end up being a favorite to many as the themes and characters are so lovable. It’s nice getting a better point of view from the vampires side of life. I do wish though that Renie at times had been a little more mature, especially when dealing with someone like Edmond. There were more than a few times that I just wanted her character to really listen and not be so reactive to others. The supporting characters were fun and helped to keep the story going and increasing the world that we had delved into. All in all i would recommend this to anyone with a love for vampires, fantasy, and love stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I fully enjoyed reading this book. At first, I expected a much faster burn between the characters but loved how slow it dragged out and helped propel the story when the action lulled. "Belle Morte" was a fantastic read with a refreshing take on the vampire/human relationship and all of the obstacles that come with it. For fans of "Twilight" and "House of Anubis," this is a great book that mixes the vampire love fantasy with an air of mystery and intrigue.

Belle Morte by Bella Higgin
4/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

•••Spoiler free review below•••

Belle Morte is the vampire book of your dreams. Seriously!! I promise!!!!

In a world where vampires are celebrities and humans are always clamoring for a chance to be their blood donors, Renie Mayfield couldn’t care less about them. When her sister, June, enters the popular UK based vampire house — Belle Morte — and doesn’t leave, Renie takes it upon herself to find out what happened.

At Belle Morte, Renie meets the gorgeous vampire, Edmond, and struggles with the fact she is undoubtedly attracted to someone who she should consider her enemy. This paranormal romance has everything. Mystery? Check. Sexy vampires? Check. A modern twist on the classic vampire plot? Check, check, check!

Belle Morte will be out April 5th and if it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
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Special thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for sharing an arc with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

This book was beyond riveting. The character's and their character development were extremely well written as well. The plot was throughly done.

Thank you to Wattpad Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Belle Morte by Bella Higgin is a wonderful, original YA fantasy novel that reminded me of Twilight meets Hype House. The story revolves around Renie, whose sister disappeared in a "vampire house" a few months ago. In her world, vampires live as celebrities, and humans want to become their blood donors. Renie goes undercover to find out what happened to her sister and meets the stunning Edmond, a high-ranking vampire in Belle Morte. What secrets will she find out?
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Here is a lovely excerpt from Chapter 1, which is from Renie's point of view:

"My first glimpse of Belle Morte came as the limousine crested the hill of a sloping road. The vampire mansion was at the far end of the city of Winchester, where historic timber-framed buildings gave way to the green sprawl of the South Downs National Park.
The gated wall winging the mansion was mostly blocked from view by a crowd of paparazzi. They clamored for a glimpse of the creatures that had become the world's most dazzling celebrities - alongside any people associated with them. As of two weeks ago, I had become one of those people, when my application to become a blood donor had been accepted."

Overall, Belle Morte is an amazing and well-written YA fantasy that will have you clamoring for more! One highlight of this book is the original premise. I had never read a book before where the vampires are treated as celebrities. I found this very interesting, and I wanted to learn more about this world. Another highlight of this book is the main character, Renie. I was very sympathetic to her plight and loved how she fought to find out what happened to her sister. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in April!

I want to go to Belle Morte! It has an interesting premiss: volunteer blood donors and vampires living together in a large mansion/estate. What could go wrong?

Renie doesn’t like vampires but needs to find her missing sister, June. She is thwarted by everyone in her investigation. She makes some great friends and gets friendly with the hot grumpy sunshine-like vampire. Enemies to lovers (well, she doesn’t like him and vamps vs humans… You get the idea) and slow burn. Love them!!

When she finds her sister, it is like reading a whodunnit book. I could not put this book down! I had to know what was going to happen. While I guessed the ending kind of, there were still surprises. Great read and I can’t wait for the next book.

I received a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

4.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Why is it we are so attracted to that which can kill us? What is it about vampires that seduces us into their grasp, willing them to bite us?

I can’t answer that, but what I can tell you is that Bella Higgin has succeeded in creating a tantalising and totally gripping vampire story. Even without the mystery, I would love to wander through the rooms of Belle Morte, wondering who I would donate blood to first. The mystery element of Renie searching for her missing sister, completely engaged the reader and provided the story with more depth.

I literally could not look away from the page!

This book had everything!

Super HOT vampires - Check
Opulent gothic manor - Check
LGBT themes - Check
WOC - Check

Sign me up to become a donor because Bella Higgin has officially turned me into a Vladdict!

Having read a lot of vampire books I was pleasantly surprised with this one.

Now that vampires have shown themselves to the world they are treated like celebrities. Belle Morte is one of the houses where they live along with human donors who live a life of luxury while there.

Most of the donors are vladdicts but not Renie she's going into the house to find out what's happened to her sister June. She didn't anticipate that she would also make friends while there too.

The characters are all well written there's a nice mix of personalities and the book is descriptive but not overly so. I found it a quick but enjoyable read.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series and it would be good to find out more about the lives of the other key vampires in this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad Books for the ARC.

ARC requested and provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review

3.75 Stars

Duel Perspectives ✔️
Vampire/Forbidden Romance ✔️
Love Language (French) ✔️
Mystery Component ✔️

Belle Morte is the name of a house of Vampires - where donors volunteer to give their blood and remain until the vampire releases them. After Renie's sister June stops writing letters from one of the Vampire houses, she goes out to find answers herself.

Renie our 18-year-old protagonist. She's willing to do anything to find answers to what happened to June, is definitely stubborn, and acts before she thinks. June has always loved vampires, but Renie is not of the same mind. Never thinking she would ever feel different about vampires.

Edmond our French-speaking handsome Vampire. He's lived long enough to know to keep people at arm's length and to build walls around his heart. When Renie moves in, things change. He wants to protect her, wants her, but it's forbidden for vampires and humans to have a relationship.

The romance between a Mortal and a Vampire is my catnip! Would have loved some added **Spice**, but overall I enjoyed their relationship. I do feel it was a little too "insta-love" at the beginning, but their relationship grew and I look forward to seeing where this all goes. It was written for the YA audience

Overall, I enjoyed Belle Morte. I loved that it was written in dual perspectives, but I wish Edmonds' POV was in 1st person instead of 3rd person. I really loved all the supporting characters! I recommend this if you enjoy YA romance, vampires, and fantasy.

I’m not going to lie, I absolutely ate this book up! I’m very easy to please when it comes to reading. If someone puts vampires and love in the book I’m sold. It was a very quick read and I really enjoyed reading it. It was a fun and interesting take on what would happen if vampires were really around now! I did find that Renie had a bit of the “I’m not like other girls” energy but I still enjoyed reading about her and Edmond nonetheless.

Thanks Netgalley and to the publisher for an arc. All thoughts are my own.

When I saw this description, I was so excited. I love vampires and this whole idea of a donor/vampire house was intriguing. I enjoyed the first half of the book, which is why I am rating this 3 stars. The main character was a bit annoying at first, but I came around to her. Halfway through the book everything kind of shifts, and I was extremely bored. Nothing was happening, and the story wasn't progressing. Then all of a sudden in the last 8% crazy things happened and it felt very rushed.

I enjoyed this for what it was, but I will not be continuing the series. The writing tense threw me off with switching from first person to third person. I was expecting this to be more NA or adult romance, and it was very YA. There's talks of sex, but nothing more than kissing happens. That was a bit of a let down.

Received a e arc copy via the publisher.

Going to start off with I am beyond thrilled and proud of publishers and authors going through netgalley and finding these gems. There are so many voices shouting into the abyss of whatever platform and readers are finding them and finally publishers are listening and seeing them as well.
Sometimes people don’t have the confidence to put a manuscript into the hands of another and see if that hard work is worth it. So they write for themselves, put it on wattpad and it blossoms before their eyes and they have followers who chant on the internet over these stories and more and more see them. It’s amazing!

But to the review.
I didn’t quite love this one? Didn’t hate it either it just sorta stay this stagnant flow within where I was engaged and reading it, but it never did a wallop in my face.
Belle morte is this celebrity vampire sorta lestat from Anne rice vibe. There’s a mystery throughout the story and I felt that was the only thing clinging to me to see to the end. Had we not had the closed wing, or mysteriously where’s my sister aspect I’m not even sure I’d have finished. The romance of there was a romance was this long drawn out tension of never ending and one thing I don’t like is insta love but jeez give me something. There’s room to grow in the authors writing style and development debut and all that jazz, so I’m hoping moving into a sequel we the reader can go wow there’s that growth and maturity I needed from the previous, I want to see the characters actually be “adult” vs there adult young selves that is giving this sorta annoying feeling of I’m reading something far below the age group it’s projected at.

When you say vampires, I sprint to get in line to read it. You know I can’t resist a vampire book.

Scattered around the world are vampire houses, where vampires coexist alongside their donors. That’s right, vampires no longer need to hunt since they’ve come out of the coffin ten years ago. And why would they when they’ve become larger than life celebrities who have attracted a cult like following from people calling themselves Vladdicts.

Side note: I would TOTALLY be a Vladdict. Sign me up to be a donor! 🩸

Renie’s sister, June, entered Belle Morte five months ago, and never came back out. Now Renie has signed up to be a donor with the intent of finding out what happened to her sister.

What she doesn’t expect to find is Edmond and she can’t deny her immediate attraction to him. Unlike her sister, Renie doesn’t like vampires and the thought of allowing them to feed off of her is repulsive.

This book was like a little snack that you can just sink your teeth into. I really enjoyed the romance between Renie and Edmond. I would even say it’s a mild enemies to lovers romance.

I loved the details of the mansion; the balls, gowns and glamour. I found myself absorbed with the entire story and characters. And I really wanted to find out what happened to June.

If you’re looking for something quick to read or are a fan of Twilight, I’d say give this one a go. I really enjoyed it!

There’s only one way out
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Ooo this was fun! I love vampires! Vampires are celebrities now and they live in manor houses with their paid living donors. Being a donor is a coveted position.

Renie has applied to be a donor to find out what happened to her sister who was living there and stopped writing letters.

A very handsome vampire Edmond starts to get close to her as she's been asking questions. Things seem suspicious and they won't tell her what happened or she thinks they are lying.

This was fun! It feels like an academy type book they are all living there, 30 donors for 22 vampires. They have a set time to be there and if they become addicted they have to leave.

The chemistry between Renie and Edmond is intense. But there are so many obstacles in their way and rules against it.

This had great pacing and kept me intrigued. I wanted to figure out the mystery and if she could solve the problem that happened.

Thank you wattpadbooks for the gifted copy and the box.

This book was a charming YA vampire fantasy romance. It brought me back a decade or two and brings nostalgia while also bringing something new to the vampire story.

This book was a bit slow, but other than that, a delightful read.

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.***