Blood Trial (Supernatural Battle: Vampire Towers, #1) by Kelly St. Clare

Blood Trial (Supernatural Battle: Vampire Towers, #1) Reviews

• 
  Ronda

  So I discovered early on that the Shifter books I've just finished were out after these books, but reading them in the wrong order has not made the slightest bit of difference - I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
  
  I can see where the shifter book got the ideas from but then again they are all in the same world so it does make sense - this book is the vampire editions. I loved the world building, I like how this was kind of integrated into the storyline with little effort. The characters are amazing and like the shifter books the plots, characters and history dealt me an abundance of emotions...
  
  I can't wait to start the next book - bring it on!!!!
• 
  Rhiannon Chillingworth

  I. LOVED. THIS. SO. MUCH.
  
  It was absolutely awesome and I can't believe I have to wait 5 weeks for the next one. I am seriously sad right now.
  
  Basi is an heiress to a fortune, but on the run. Sick of the game playing and the rut her life has become she decides to turn her back on her privileged and wealthy world and try her luck living like a regular person. She is pretty hopeless and naieve at the start, but she has good intentions and her heart is in the right place. She knows she has no clue how regular people live and she wants to know to understand, to have the satisfaction of knowing she has earned something through her own work and not because of the privilege she was born into.
  
  I will say, as other reviews have, the first 25% is a little slow. Basi is trying to start her new life and this gets established in the first 25%, as well as the fact that Basi is completely hopeless, bless her, despite having a heart of gold.
  
  Desperate for work, she applies for a job at a fancy real estate firm and, despite the strange feeling she gets from the workers, and the fact that they never seem to hire, they take her on.
  
  After making a mistake not of her fault, she makes a discovery about her new coworkers, and Kyros, her terrifying and alluring boss, that means her lift is altered forever.
  
  Seriously guys, this book is awesome. I cannot remember the last time I read a vampire book I enjoyed this much.
  
  Basi really unveils as a character as the book progresses, and she has a core fierceness and goodness that just makes you root for her. Her life is completely turned upside down, but she doesn't give up.
  
  And Kyros. Well, what cna I say about him apart from the fact that he's now in my top 5 favourite fictional vampires ever list, and that's a pretty major statement. I loved that, despite still being gorgeous, he was monstrous at times, an apex predator who was barely in control of his baser instincts. He was dangerous.
  
  His and Basi's relationship had everything I love in this type of book. Reluctant attraction, sort of enemies to sort of something else, a bond that develops over time, but is always one step forward, two step back, but in the lost delicious of ways. The teasing and the tension is STRONG in this book, but in the best of ways.
  
  The world holding was also original and somwthjng I've never seen before, which is a tela feat!
  
  Seriously, I am so sad this is over and I cannot recommend this highly enough. One of my favourite books of the year!
• 
  Lien

  “I won’t say anything,” I managed, the lingering adrenaline shaking my voice. Everyone but Angelica laughed quietly.
  “Why do they always say that?” Business Shoes asked.
  My head snapped up. I glowered at the sandy blond. “Because I want to live, you fucking dumbass.”

  
  I can definitely see why many enjoyed this book but unfortunately, I'm not one of them.
  Don't let this deter you from reading this book though, the ratings are insane and mine is an unpopular opinion.
  
  A few things (ATTENTION, SPOILERS POSSIBLE!):
  
  What I liked
  + The plot was interesting because it's different from anything else I’ve ever read.
  + The book had some fun banter and entertaining moments.
  + Basi's and Kyros' chemistry. At first.
  
  What I didn't like
  – It takes 30% until the plot really begins and this book has nearly 500 pages so...
  – I have some very mixed feelings about the heroine. She had spunk and was kickass in a way that had nothing to do with literally kicking ass but gosh she had that naivité that didn't sit well with me sometimes...
  And I'm sorry but what was up with her hair? The fact that it was brought up so many times and at the most random of times only made me see her as vain. Did it have some special meaning other than seducing the H? I don't think so.
  – What kind of romance is this when she's not even interested in him? Because was she really? To me, she seemed more indifferent than attracted. The physical pull only happened when they were in very close proximity (yes, due to the thrall) but what about otherwise? The only indication was when she checked him out, but these few meager instances weren't enough for me. Most of the time he was more like a big nuisance to her than a real love interest. Or, you know, maybe I just didn't get it. 🤷‍♀‍ It was fun at first but her aversion to him turned me off so much over the course of the book that in the end, I didn't feel any chemistry between them anymore. It didn't help that there was ALWAYS an audience (of siblings) around them whenever they made out and that she repeatedly sought out another interested male.
  Yeah, I'm not sure I'm rooting for this couple. They were just too dysfunctional for me.
  – I bet the majority of readers will find it very entertaining but I thought that many situations were a bit over-the-top, and got pretty lame and repetitive after a while (i.e. her nakedness, his siblings setting them up all the time,...).
• 
  Hetal

  me going in: I'm so tired of the same old urban fantasy gig.
  
  Bad Ass girl with tragic past and family is an FBI agent or supernatural bounty Hunter and meets rougish supernatural who turns her into lusty lucy
  
  Blood Trials is...NONE OF THAT!!! HOORAY!!! No more, I won't have it! I don't care how many sassy best friends they work with.
  
  I was positive what this book was going to bE about your typical vampires. I was equally hesitant (bc the UF genre has not been particularly great for me lately), and equally excited (because I pretty much live EVERYTHING the author, Kelly St. Clare writes. )
  
  Boy was I not dissapointed. I am literally left YEARNING to know what will happen to all the characters here; not just the main character. Everyone is in such a vastly different headspace at the end of book 1 that it's hard to predict what will happen next exactly, aside from the glaring issues Basi and Kyros must explore as a direct effect of the end events in book 1.
  
  Kelly brings the heat. she plays with sexual tension like a cat with a string and I look at Amazon everyday just to see if by some magic the second book is out WAYYY before the release date.
• 
  Patron Saint Fitzwilliam

  I loved this book! Fabulous chemistry between Basi and Kyros. Basi and Tommy were a much needed breath of fresh air—for once a female friendship that wasn’t toxic or competitive. The book had me snorting-laughing at times, heart pounding, excited, sad...it was a lovely book.
  
  I wish it were better paced—the beginning dragged until about 23%, at which point things exploded. While Basi’s plight adjusting to the real world was nice to read about, it went on just a bit too long. I also feel like the ending was a bit too hastily-written in order to set us up for the second book. I understand why it has to happen but...ok. Things just went from bad to worse for her. The entire game-framing still feels a little confusing for me as a plot point. I might have to go back and reread when it was introduced. It just didn’t feel very important when it should have, as it’s the main driver for everything in the book. Still, the focus of most chapters was Basi and Kyros...and they had chemistry for days, so I can’t say i am disappointed!
  
  
• 
  Niki {Just lost her husband & going on semihiatus}

  Okay Listen....
  
  I really liked the story. I enjoyed the different take on the vampire lore. I liked Basi; she's naive, quirky, sassy, and loyal. I loved Kyros who was protective and loyal to all those he had care of.
  
  With that being said don't make me read 475 pages without someone putting a P in a V, mmkay?
  
  
  
  Especially when you got them so wound up they are trying to f*ck through cage bars in a middle of a fight!!
  
  I was a smidge aggravated because Basi didn't seem to have any problem having a one night stand with Rhys who she didn't really know and all her excuses fell flat: she was scared of Kyros...uh but not too scared to back talk and disrespect him constantly and run to him when he's having tantrums to calm him down. Then she wants to talk about him keeping secrets when she kept her own right along with him. Sheesh she was such a hypocrite!
  
  
  
  Okay sorry about my slow burn rant....I guess I got all worked up with no relief just like Basi and Kyros
  
  
  
  Alright I'm okay now it's out of my system. Anywhoo, of course I'm off to read the next one with that cliffhanger, gotta see what shakes out now that both their secrets are coming to light.
• 
  Soph

  Holy shit I really didn’t think I was going to LOVE THAT .. the first 25-30% was boring and a bit of a slog but once you got the ball rolling the book SUCKS YOU IN!!!! I am keen AS to read the next one.
  
  
  So Basilia was a urban heiress with a conscious who ditches her families money to live out in the real world with her best friend tommy. When basi Accidently ends up being employed by vampires the drama unfolds. However this is NOT a typical MC. Basi honest the god stands up for herself she sets boundaries and freaking sticks to them , she shoves the love interests face in his own ego and power and calls him on his shit over and over. I was utterly and completely sold on this MC. She has guts and heart and smarts and a god dam self will and conscience.
  
  I don’t hate the Love interest at all Kyros... he is written as a vampire- completely unaware that he causes trauma and is scary and breaks trust ... he has to then own up to that shit. There is a magical
  Bond and some “body betraying me business” but it’s quickly set straight by basi.
  
  
  This was a brilliant read- honestly .... I can’t wait for book 2!
• 
  ★Me Myshelf and I★

  This is just exactly what I needed right now.
  
  Funny. Vampires. Sexual tension. A really likeable and original FMC
  
  The only weird part was the world/city it’s based in and the vampire games that took place there. It was hard to buy into that idea.
  
  But everything else
  
  5 stars.
  
  Really enjoyable and I can’t wait for the next.
• 
  Emma

  Totally loved it in a brain candy way! Basi should have been quite an annoying character but somehow wasn’t. Same with Kyros. His brothers were funny too. I really liked the concept of the game being played between vampire clans. I went into this book with low expectations and was very pleasantly surprised. Will definitely be continuing the series.
• 
  Amara

  Interesting and different take on vamp mythos
  
  I enjoyed this book and the characters a lot after the first 20% or so. I look forward to reading the whole series. Gonna start the next book today.
• 
  Christa

  The only thing scarier than a mindless beast was a cultured one.
  
  In this riches to rags story, Basilla (goes by Basi) walked away from her family obligations and inheritance to slum it on the streets.
  
  She’s living with her best friend Tommy and takes an entry job working at Live Right Realty. She’s soon entangled into a whole new world where monsters are real.
  
  I love the humor in this book. Basi had the potential to be really unrelatable due to her privileged upbringing. But her humor and naivety make her charming instead of grating. I loved the back and forth between her and Kyros. There’s a lot of tension there, I can’t wait to see where book two takes them.
  
  This is a great start to an urban fantasy series. It was fascinating how the vampires are playing literal games with mortals. It took me a while to figure out what was going on, but I was hooked quickly enough.
  
  And that’s what I hated about games. They weren’t real, and yet real people got hurt when others played them.
  
  Recommended if you’re in the mood for a new adult urban fantasy with vampires. Free on kindle unlimited.
  
  I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
• 
  Che is Currently not Reading

  Ding Ding Ding!
  
  This book was so good.
  
  I need the next book asap
• 
  Clarabel

  Quelle surprise ! D'abord pour de l'urban fantasy, l'univers autour des vampires est original et présenté dans les règles de l'art. Puis pour de la romance, c'est du slow-burn teinté d'électricité. Mais surtout, c'est drôle ! L'héroïne se moque et multiplie les sarcasmes. C'est franchement inattendu mais le cocktail est savoureux. J'adore ! ❤️
  
  
  Après avoir adoré la série des
  Accords corrompus, j'avais envie de découvrir d'autres romans de Kelly St. Clare. Le hasard m'a conduite vers cette saga avec des vampires (et oui, sans surprise, j'ai beaucoup aimé).
  
  AVIS COMPLET sur le blog :
  https://vu.fr/yHds
  
  Je recommande fortement cette saga. Comme je conseille furieusement de découvrir la Tatuma Olina et le roi Jovan des
  Accords corrompus ♥
  Kelly St. Clare est mon idole. Merci pour ces heures de lecture qui m'ont fait rire et glousser comme un dindonneau.
• 
  Tracy D.

  4.5 stars.
  
  Basi is an heiress that's running from her fortune in favor of making a life of her own, on her own merit. Her naivete is painful, but her heart is BIG. That was her saving grace for me. Fortunately, she has a best friend that's able to help her navigate the basics of starting out on her own. What Basi never counted on was leaving the petty games that rich people play and stumbling into a game of Life and Death. A game played by vampires.
  
  An interesting take on creatures of the night. Intense, heart pounding, and addictive story telling with a deliciously dominant hero to boot. Can't wait for Vampire Debt!
  
  Received an ARC copy from the author. This does not influence my reviews.
• 
  Melliane

  4.5/5
  
  
  Mon avis en Français
  
  
  My English review
  
  J’avais beaucoup entendu parler de l’auteure, mais je n’avais pas encore eu l’occasion de lire un de ses romans. Alors quand j’ai vu la traduction de celui-ci en français, je n’ai pas résisté et je me suis lancée avec plaisir. Et je dois dire que je suis ravie ! C’était une très belle découverte. Le plus ? C’est une trilogie !
  
  L’auteure nous présente Basilia, une jeune femme qui a décidé de quitter sa cage dorée et de découvrir le monde. Mais le monde n’est pas aussi gentil et doux que ce qu’elle pensait et elle va devoir très vite trouver un moyen de gagner de l’argent. Le boulot qu’elle trouve enfin dans une agence immobilière semble parfait et pourtant, elle ne s’attendait pas à ce que sa vie soit bouleversée à ce point. Elle va découvrir un tout nouveau monde, où les vampires coexistent avec les humains. Mais elle va aussi découvrir Kyros, un vampire très puissant qui l’énerve autant qu’il l’attire.
  
  C’était vraiment un super roman. J’ai passé un très bon moment avec cette histoire ! L’auteure propose une nouvelle interprétation du vampire et j’ai trouvé ça très sympa d’avoir quelque chose de ce genre, c’est différent. Basilia est une jeune femme qui est désireuse de découvrir ce que c’est que de vivre au milieu des autres, sans être une grande héritière, mais elle ne s’attend pas à ce que ça soit aussi difficile. Elle est avide de liberté et refuse de se laisser contraindre par qui que ce soit, et encore moins par Kyros.
  
  J’ai hâte de lire le second tome et je ne sais pas si j’attendrai la traduction du tome 2 ou si je le lirai en anglais, tellement je suis curieuse.
• 
  Jeanny

  The book was an absolute bore filled with the minutia of a rich girl struggling to live as the poor do for a little over 30%. If I wasn’t warned prior to reading the book I wouldn’t have soldiered on. Thankfully, I was prepared. After that the book picked up slowly & eventually kept up a steady pace. I enjoy the characters & story arc. I look forward to Vampire Debt in Jan 2020. I cautiously recommend the series to UF & maybe even Dystopian readers willing to endure an excessively slow start. 3.5 stars
• 
  Natalie ~ The Biblioholic

  I feel like I was reading a different book from the one that garnered all of those four and five-star reviews I've seen. I don't get it. Maybe it's because it was told from the heroine's pov. Maybe it's because the heroine was suffering from poor little rich girl syndrome while knowing and acknowledging and obviously not caring that she was suffering from poor little rich girl syndrome. I really don't know.
  
  The writing itself, without the baggage of the heroine, was fine.
• 
  Noe

  2.5 stars
  
  (Note: I have now finished all three books and have to amend this review slightly. Although Basilia starts of immature, she grows into a great character throughout the books and I did enjoy reading them! Give this one a chance because you will like the other 2 more!)
  
  I am having a hard time rating this book because the beginning was so bad, but the middle and end were good. So like any good college discussion post, here are my 2 pros and 2 cons.
  
  Pros:
  
  1) Premise is super cool and unique.
  Basil has found her self in a bit of trouble. In rebellion, she has decided to leave her riches behind and try living like "peasants" as she calls them. She gets involved with vampires, that aren't your typical take on vampires and they go by a different name. These vampires are live-action playing monopoly with the city in a grand game that will decide a very permanent fate (death) if one of the royal vampire families loses. The city itself is set up like a game board, with certain sections deigned a color and with varying levels of worth. They even have a designated time-allowance per turn and roll the dice at midnight. I thought this high stakes game plot was interesting and not something I have read before.
  
  2) Picks up in the last 2/3 of the book so if you get past the first 1/3 you will probably enjoy the story.
  Let's, be honest. If you read my progress on this book, then you'll see that I entertained DNFing this book. (see Con #1). However, it seems like the author just needed some time to get her footing and afterwards, the book was great! These latter 2/3rds were intriguing since we get our blinders ripped off and see the true mechanisms working within the city. Romance is a slow burn too so I appreciate that because it makes a lot of sense with this book. So far they are still enemies so I will continue reading on. There's still a lot to unravel and I am interested in seeing what happens next. In the latter part of the book, I do actually begin to like Basil a little more. There's a good number of supporting characters who help add depth to the story.
  
  Cons:
  
  1) Odds are you will hate Basil in the beginning.
  Did I say hate? I meant strangle the life out of her ignorant, privileged, snobby, disingenuous ass. Let me just list some quotes so you get an idea of how Basil is someone that I would like to throw off a cliff.
  
  When I was with her friends, she'd say YSIS– your snob is showing... When amongst my rich friends, I'd say YPIS– your peasant is showing.
  
  Normal people walked barefoot all the time. Right? Sure, maybe their feet weren't bleeding. But it was all about the spirit of being poor.
  
  The stress of figuring out peasant life was getting to me...
  
  Among these annoying traits and her constantly calling people poor and peasants, Basil also makes sociocultural and political commentary that just reeks of performative allyship and ignorance. She frequently mentions how corrupt the system is and how the rich are essentially enslaving the poor, but based on how immature she is, this sentiment does not make sense coming from her. It felt like she read about this one time in a book and then decided that she was an expert in the subject without ever talking to someone who is actually experiencing it. She does mature a bit more later in the book.
  
  2) World-building is lacking
  The author really had a good opportunity to capitalize on the world-building, but just didn't. She describes the city as almost a separate entity closed off from other locations. We don't know where it is. Is this in the US? Is this supposed to be urban fantasy with the setting kinda being modern day? Can these people just leave the city? It makes it seem that not everywhere is a monopoly game board, but what does the rest of the country think of this? Can other people enter this city if they weren't born here? There are other supernatural beings, so what are their cities like? Why don't they ever try to stage a coup? There are just so many questions about the setting that it's a bit frustrating.
• 
  Jacqueline's Reads

  4.25 A great Star stars
  
  I was looking for a new pnr series to get into and I’m really glad I kept on going back to Blood Trial. The book is a little slow at first, there’s a lot of character building and it really worked for the book after reading everything.
  
  The book is LONG so if you get the audio or you have a reading budget, you really get your money’s worth out of this one. I do believe some scenes could go faster, but it really made the relationship between Kyros and Basi organic.
  
  This is a vampire book, even though you are reading 20% in and you are questioning if it is… but it is. So just hang in there.
  
  Basi is the rich girl trying to find herself. We aren’t sure why she doesn’t want to be rich anymore, but she’s on her own and trying to make it.
  
  I wasn’t keen on Basi at first. I found her personality a little force and a little too in your face for a character I was just recently introduced to. Once I got to know her a little more, I started to like her. You really just need to warm up to the book.
  
  I really loved Kyros. He has the alpha-man personality I love reading in books and I think he really sold it for me for the book.
  
  I liked the world building in this book. It’s about two clans fighting for the right to win. Everyone are cheese pieces and it was just different from other books.
  
  Did the cover match the book? No. BUT that is okay, it’s not always about the cover.
  
• 
  Arena♡

  'Blood Trial' is the first book in the 'Vampire Towers' series by Kelly St. Clare.
  
  Basilia Le Spyre is is the heiress to the Le Spyre fortune, but she is determined to forge her own path, so she leaves and with the help of her best friend Tommy and secures a job and an apartment. I'm not gonna say much to give away the plot only the things I liked and those I didn't. So.
  
  I liked it...the writing was brilliant and there weren't ant flaws buuuttt....
  
  I think there was too much of drama with the whole 'thrall' thing. The attraction between both the MC's was obvious, but Basi was resisting it and going around with boys too much. I mean she obviously likes him but she refuses to act on their mutual attraction, even though they can't be in person together, thrall or no thrall, because 'things' always end up happening. Not to mention the siblings. Ughhh. Kyros' siblings pop up anywhere and everywhere just like that, I mean poor me *blinks* aaanndddd they're THERE.
  
  I would give it a better rating as this book was different than the usual urban fantasies but there was too much of drama and the author wasn't able to portray the slow burn very well.
  
  Anyways, this was my opinion, I'd give this book around 3.5 stars and I may or may not continue ahead, we'll see.
  
  Enjoy! x
  
  
• 
  Katelyn Anderson

  HOT. FUCKING. DAMN.
  The sexual tension is real.
  
  I'll be honest. I was a bit iffy with this book in the beginning, since it's a lot different from Kelly's usual stuff, and I struggled to connect with the main character...
  
  But as the story progressed, I got HOOKED. So. Damn. HOOKED. I ship this ship so damn hard. And the twists. And the EVERYTHING. MY HEART HURTS AND MY EYES BURNED A LOT READING THIS.
  
  Can't wait for the next books!!!!!!!!!
• 
  ✶Rachelle✶

  3 stars
  
  
  
  
  
  But I'm intrigued enough to move on to the next book so....
  
  
• 
  ♛Vanessa♛ Fangirl Faction

  Last year I started St. Clare's Supernatural Battle: Werewolf Dens series and completely fell in love. Some of the characters from her Vampire Towers series make an appearance in the Werewolf Dens series so I knew that I had to read that one next. In all honesty, I hadn't realized that the Vampire Towers and Werewolf Dens series were set in the same world or I may have read Vampire Towers first. Nonetheless, I knew before starting the Vampire Towers series that I was in for a real treat because her Werewolf Dens series blew me away!
  
  If there is something to be said of Kelly St. Clare's books, it is that her writing is phenomenal! She is truly a master storyteller with top-notch writing skills. The superb quality of her writing caught my notice straight away. Her writing style has an incomparable, first-rate caliber that makes the reader fall effortlessly into her stories. Her writing style is polished and easy to read. The world-building is very encompassing and it is so easy to see yourself through the characters' eyes. I loved the author's take on vampires. I think that it is very creative and I liked all of the world-building that the author used to create her mythos. The plot of the story was well planned out and executed perfectly. There was great foreshadowing and suspense. I was so enthralled that I could hardly pull myself away from the story.
  
  I love the way that St. Clare is able to endear the reader to the characters with such ease. And not just the main character, but the entire ensemble of characters feel significant to the reader. I instantly liked Basi's character. I adored her personality and I really enjoyed her character growth in the story. She has a very enchanting personality that you can't help but gravitate towards. Basi faces many struggles in the book and I very much enjoyed her journey. I didn't connect with Kyros's character as much, but I did start to really like him a lot towards the end. His character development was very slow and steady. The reader gradually gets to know him throughout the story. It was easy to see his protective instincts and his propensity for kindness even if he had to make tough decisions to protect those around him. I am eager to see even more of his personality unfold in the next book. I really enjoyed the close friendship that Basi had with her best friend Tommy. I also loved the bond that Basi formed with Laurel and the other indebted vampires. The other vampire royals, Kyros's siblings, were kind of hard to tell apart at first but I did enjoy their parts of the story. They added a lot of depth to the story and I love the possibilities that their presence creates in the story. Each of Kyros's brothers felt very distinctive and I am eager to get to know them better in the next book. I didn't feel as connected to Kyros's sister but I am sure that there will be more of them in the next book.
  
  At first, the romance in the story had a bit of an instalust vibe to it which I typically steer clear of. I could get on board with it in this book though because the reason behind that was tied into some of the supernatural elements of the story. Since the instalust was justified by the paranormal elements it was easier to digest. Prior to the instalust taking hold, Basi and Kyros did have encounters with one another and those were deliciously spiked with sexual tension in the sweetest enemies-to-lovers vibe. I enjoyed their banter and defiant attitude towards each other. Their chemistry was clear from the start. Kyros had a possessive streak about him that was pretty sexy at times. And again, some of that played into the supernatural circumstances of the story but not all of it was tied to that. Some of it was just Kyros's personality, his tendency, and predilection for being protective of those around him. I think that their tension around each other eases a bit as they start to get to know each other. They are still keeping a lot of secrets from each other though so I don't know how well that bodes for their relationship going forward. They definitely have some things to work out in the next book but they certainly have a foundation for a relationship and the chemistry to back it up.
  
  Overall, this book has a unique take on vampires with an exciting plot and compelling characters. If paranormal books are your jam and you have a passion for expert storytelling then this series should be your next stop on your TBR. St. Clare tells a spellbinding story that you can't help but latch on to and devour entirely. I am so hooked on her writing and I can't wait for more!
  
  
  
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• 
  Megan Hunt

  A new world for Kelly St. Clare, one I without a doubt recommend for any vampire/paranormal fans. For the first few chapters I was on the fence, I wasn't sure if it was the book for me. But seen as I've read all of Kelly St. Clare's other books I kept going, I'm so bloody glad I kept reading. This series is going to be extremely epic. About chapter 5 in I was hooked I read right till the end and boom the mother of all cliffhangers.
  Basi is strong and sassy, Kyros is alpha male and sexy. They honestly steam those pages up.
  Eager for the next book to see what happens next for Basi and Kyros and the whole empire.
• 
  Umaiya ❄️Ramblings of a Scattered Mind❄️

  
  Series review at the end of Book 3
• 
  Ira

  3.5 stars.
  
  Interesting story with unusual characters!
• 
  Andrea

  I def didn't know I was in the mood for a vampire romance, but this book was a fun surprise!
  
  
  
  However, this isn't the normal vampire mythos. In this book the "vampires" are actually a race of strong near death predators with extraordinary powers who sometimes rely on blood to sustain them called Vissimo's.
  
  They aren't affected by sunlight, nor do they lurk in the shadows- but instead they are titans of industry placed strategically around the city.
  
  
  
  This is how our h-Basil first enters this strange world. After running away from her family and fortune she finds herself working for a prestigious reality company where everyone has piercingly bright eyes and extremely good looks. But landing the job of her dreams might ends up being a real nightmare.
  
  
  
  
  
  spoiler review:
  
  So, just want to say this first- I really enjoyed Basil as a character.
  She was a wonderful dichotomy of clueless and savvy, caring and bitchy, weak and strong as hell- she might be lost in where she wants to take her life, but she knows who she is and doesn't take shit from anyone.
  
  
  
  I mean, at one point in the book, after the first thrall, I made the note - i mean jesus, this girl has a spine made of fucking steel
  
  I was also glad when she was talking with Angelica that she stood up for herself and didn't taking shit from her (after her obvious ploy to get her and Kyros together)- I hate when main characters crumble at the first sign of an apology. If someone messed up big time you're not obligated to accept their apology.
  
  Also, I'm so glad we finally got a h who knows she's attracted to the main H, but doesn't fall all over him despite him being bad for her. (not counting the thralls) I mean the ole "my body betrayed me" kind of thing. Basil knows she can't trust Kyros, and although she likes him at certain points- she's knows that being with him will only make things more complicated, and she can control herself.
  
  Also...Kyros...I'm def a tad suspicious of him. I know he's lied to her about the affects of the blood exchanges, but my question is does he really know who she is?
  
  
  
  I mean I literally thought before the sencond thrall happened-that she needed to get her grandmother to disown her because the vamps would take everything from her if they could. They were the ones talking about how they couldn't get an in with the elites- so I'm wondering if Kyros or his family started pushing them together because one she was mated to him- basically she can't escape- so whats hers will become his. If not its all pretty convenient.
  
  
  
  Hope to find out in the next one.
• 
  Lola

  I received a free copy of this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it
  
  I DNF'd this one at 50%. Something about it just wasn't gripping me. I almost feel like I read a different book than anyone else as I seem to be in the minority here. I had a hard time caring about Basi and while I felt for her, I wasn't as invested in the story. I didn't care for the romance set-up, but that's probably because I am not a fan of enemies to lovers romances usually, so I knew that going in that it would take some some time to warm up to that. And the thrall scenes just made me uncomfortable. And the love interest could be very possessive and rude at times.
  
  I kept reading hoping for it to get better and there was this interesting monopoly twist that I liked. But even after that nothing really happened to grab my attention. The first 30% felt very slow to me, it was partly necessary, but it didn't get excited about the book as it felt like events were progressing very slowly. I would've liked to see a bit of how Basi's life was like before she decided to run away and forge her own path. I did like that about her how she wanted to decide her own life and find her own path, but at the same time wondered if she couldn't better make that chance while not struggling to survive. She goes through a lot of difficult stuff in this book and I just wanted to see her be a bit more happy as so much get thrown at her in this book.
  
  All in all this is an unique twist on the vampire genre, but it just wasn't quite for me.
• 
  🅙𝔲𝔩𝔷

  Besides the annoying back and forth. I enjoyed this