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Calla Falling
Vampire hunter Calla has spent her life fighting bloodsuckers, just like all the women in her family before her, and she’s enjoyed every second. But when vampires come out of the coffin, the hunter’s Council orders her to play nice. It’s an order she’d rather not take, but the Council is all she’s ever known.
Though she misses the feeling of a stake in her hand, Calla is willing to accept her new way of life, until she’s blackmailed by the ancient and annoying beautiful vampire, Isolde. Urged by the Council to comply, Calla must pretend to date Isolde in a scheme to endear vampires to the human public. \
Calla promises herself she will do everything she can to undermine Isolde, but the longer she spends with her the harder she finds it. When she learns of a threat to all vampires, she must decide if she will help the woman she swore to hate but never could, or deny her heart and follow her training.
The trope-y goodness inside:
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Fake dating
Beauty and the Beast retelling
Though she misses the feeling of a stake in her hand, Calla is willing to accept her new way of life, until she’s blackmailed by the ancient and annoying beautiful vampire, Isolde. Urged by the Council to comply, Calla must pretend to date Isolde in a scheme to endear vampires to the human public. \
Calla promises herself she will do everything she can to undermine Isolde, but the longer she spends with her the harder she finds it. When she learns of a threat to all vampires, she must decide if she will help the woman she swore to hate but never could, or deny her heart and follow her training.
The trope-y goodness inside:
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Fake dating
Beauty and the Beast retelling
232 pages, Paperback
Published January 20, 2023
77 people are currently reading
746 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
did-not-finish
February 25, 2023DNF 45 % IN. On KU. So try it for yourself.
I just found it frustrating and went around and around in circles too much with the push/pull bullshit, and one MC being far too antagonistic while being incredibly ignorant, too.
Just when you thought you were getting somewhere, some weird flirty antagonistic argument would happen, and they would run away from eachother, start another fight, drop some 'truth' between them, but then rinse and repeat the distrust and accusations.
It felt too juvenile and had no real depth to the characters and their motivations.
I just found it frustrating and went around and around in circles too much with the push/pull bullshit, and one MC being far too antagonistic while being incredibly ignorant, too.
Just when you thought you were getting somewhere, some weird flirty antagonistic argument would happen, and they would run away from eachother, start another fight, drop some 'truth' between them, but then rinse and repeat the distrust and accusations.
It felt too juvenile and had no real depth to the characters and their motivations.
January 31, 2023
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Very entertaining and fast-paced read. I enjoyed the sass and banter between Calla and Isolde and how their relationship progressed beyond the initial prejudice. There was an interesting mystery that keeps the reader questioning and wondering almost until the very end.
It also didn't have the typical, predictable ending one might expect from a story like this which was another pleasant surprise.
Very entertaining and fast-paced read. I enjoyed the sass and banter between Calla and Isolde and how their relationship progressed beyond the initial prejudice. There was an interesting mystery that keeps the reader questioning and wondering almost until the very end.
It also didn't have the typical, predictable ending one might expect from a story like this which was another pleasant surprise.
November 21, 2023
i've read a better wattpad story than this shit
February 6, 2023
I was given an ARC of Calla Falling in exchange for an honest review.
Star Rating: 3.5
First Impression: I was definitely eating the book up, and despite my...appreciation of hot smut within 20% (don't judge me), I like a good slow burn--which this definitely is. Even though this is the case, I didn't really feel their relationship/chemistry at all, but then at around 50% things begin to happen a little out of nowhere since it was out of character...? The story heavily focuses on the world of vampires and the Counsel, rather than the build-up of Calla and Isolde's romantic relationship, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Yes, they become close from being in close proximity and are enemies, but the chemistry wasn't there for me. This possibly has to do with a lot of the focus being on the world and little details of them interacting to further their connection. BUT I will say that when their connection did happen, it was believable and...I ate it up!
Characters: Isolde is my favorite, while Calla really got on my nerves. Everything is so black and white with her, despite learning of the corruption of her upbringing/the Counsel. She is incredibly stubborn even in regard to her relationship to Isolde, who in my opinion, puts more of an effort for their relationship (both romantic and friendship). Calla is stuck in her ways for quite some time, which grows odd since Isolde is the only person she has, so why would someone continuously want to sever this? Oh, because Isolde is a vampire...the vampire that is the only being that has her back at a time she needed it the most and always comes to her rescue. Yet...vampires should not be her main concern, given the events with her mother.
Last Points: Towards the end, I flew through it pretty quickly and really enjoyed seeing everything conclude with a happy ending, but I am still confused as to how Isolde became a human and Calla didn't die. This still wasn't made clear, other than the suspicion of magic, and is still a mystery at the end, which...I found odd. This is kind of a major twist at the end that could have made or broken the plot and created a tragedy (Isolde remaining a vampire and/or Calla dying) and it wasn't addressed/concluded, but rather left in the air.
Sidenote: I really have no idea what Calla looks like. At 60% we are told that she has big blue eyes, but other than that, we don't know what she looks like. Isolde, on the other hand, is well described.
Star Rating: 3.5
First Impression: I was definitely eating the book up, and despite my...appreciation of hot smut within 20% (don't judge me), I like a good slow burn--which this definitely is. Even though this is the case, I didn't really feel their relationship/chemistry at all, but then at around 50% things begin to happen a little out of nowhere since it was out of character...? The story heavily focuses on the world of vampires and the Counsel, rather than the build-up of Calla and Isolde's romantic relationship, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Yes, they become close from being in close proximity and are enemies, but the chemistry wasn't there for me. This possibly has to do with a lot of the focus being on the world and little details of them interacting to further their connection. BUT I will say that when their connection did happen, it was believable and...I ate it up!
Characters: Isolde is my favorite, while Calla really got on my nerves. Everything is so black and white with her, despite learning of the corruption of her upbringing/the Counsel. She is incredibly stubborn even in regard to her relationship to Isolde, who in my opinion, puts more of an effort for their relationship (both romantic and friendship). Calla is stuck in her ways for quite some time, which grows odd since Isolde is the only person she has, so why would someone continuously want to sever this? Oh, because Isolde is a vampire...the vampire that is the only being that has her back at a time she needed it the most and always comes to her rescue. Yet...vampires should not be her main concern, given the events with her mother.
Last Points: Towards the end, I flew through it pretty quickly and really enjoyed seeing everything conclude with a happy ending, but I am still confused as to how Isolde became a human and Calla didn't die. This still wasn't made clear, other than the suspicion of magic, and is still a mystery at the end, which...I found odd. This is kind of a major twist at the end that could have made or broken the plot and created a tragedy (Isolde remaining a vampire and/or Calla dying) and it wasn't addressed/concluded, but rather left in the air.
Sidenote: I really have no idea what Calla looks like. At 60% we are told that she has big blue eyes, but other than that, we don't know what she looks like. Isolde, on the other hand, is well described.
March 24, 2024
DNF at approx 60%
I wish to kindly thank the author for an ARC!
There's some great aspects about this book. The sapphic tension between the feisty protagonist Calla and the mysterious vampire socialite named Isolde are hands down, the best aspects about this book. I quite liked Isolde and felt frustrated we couldn't spend much time learning about the mysteries of her strange mansion. I was insanely intrigued about the sandclock with a folklore about a curse that will befall all of vampirekind once it becomes empty. What will happen to them? I sadly can't read my copy of the book because of a problem with my old cellphone (I pretty much lost my copy of the book and can't find it anywhere, hence the real reason why I had to DNF it. I would have probably skim read to the end just to find out what happens to satiate my curiosity if I had a new copy).
Now, books with blatant sexual tensions between a now unemployed vampire hunter and the vampires that have recently forged an alliance with mankind is a tried and true good plot ploy. The problem is that very few books do the vampire hunter/hunted romance 100% well.
Sadly, Calla Falling suffers from a problem I frequently see in vampire hunter paranormal romance: they end up betrayed by their organization for illogical reasons. Calla is their best hunter and was even ordered by them to become Isolde's hostage because her (also vampire hunter) mother illegally murdered several politically well-connected vampires recently.
The story could have been developed in dozens of different ways that could both make sense regarding the hunter society betrayal plot ploy and be... well... less grating. Calla hates vampires... a tad bit too much. And for no apparent reason. Her parents were never killed by them, and the greatest story tension is from the truce vampire society formed with mankind. The real tension of the story should be that the hunter society is now deemed to be, well... irrelevant in a changing world. They can either find a way to work with the good vampires that never kill innocents or end up imprisoned by human courts of law for murder. And the book sadly never delves into this juicy conflict.
In a way, while I love the idea for sapphic tension (and the book has some nice spicy chapters that are well done), it felt to me like the sapphic love story is just a distraction from the very confusing hunter society disbandment conflict.
It didn't help Calla is so angry yet so easily brainwashed by the hunter society that she doesn't realize she was a peon the whole time. If the book had been written solely from Isolde's POV, I would have enjoyed it a whole lot more. I liked her chapters a lot and it would have made it easier to see the full vampiredom/hunter society conflict instead of having a story where the vampire hunter spends her day being angry she lives in a vampire mansion without being able to talk to her even more hot-headed vampire hunter mom.
I wish to kindly thank the author for an ARC!
There's some great aspects about this book. The sapphic tension between the feisty protagonist Calla and the mysterious vampire socialite named Isolde are hands down, the best aspects about this book. I quite liked Isolde and felt frustrated we couldn't spend much time learning about the mysteries of her strange mansion. I was insanely intrigued about the sandclock with a folklore about a curse that will befall all of vampirekind once it becomes empty. What will happen to them? I sadly can't read my copy of the book because of a problem with my old cellphone (I pretty much lost my copy of the book and can't find it anywhere, hence the real reason why I had to DNF it. I would have probably skim read to the end just to find out what happens to satiate my curiosity if I had a new copy).
Now, books with blatant sexual tensions between a now unemployed vampire hunter and the vampires that have recently forged an alliance with mankind is a tried and true good plot ploy. The problem is that very few books do the vampire hunter/hunted romance 100% well.
Sadly, Calla Falling suffers from a problem I frequently see in vampire hunter paranormal romance: they end up betrayed by their organization for illogical reasons. Calla is their best hunter and was even ordered by them to become Isolde's hostage because her (also vampire hunter) mother illegally murdered several politically well-connected vampires recently.
The story could have been developed in dozens of different ways that could both make sense regarding the hunter society betrayal plot ploy and be... well... less grating. Calla hates vampires... a tad bit too much. And for no apparent reason. Her parents were never killed by them, and the greatest story tension is from the truce vampire society formed with mankind. The real tension of the story should be that the hunter society is now deemed to be, well... irrelevant in a changing world. They can either find a way to work with the good vampires that never kill innocents or end up imprisoned by human courts of law for murder. And the book sadly never delves into this juicy conflict.
In a way, while I love the idea for sapphic tension (and the book has some nice spicy chapters that are well done), it felt to me like the sapphic love story is just a distraction from the very confusing hunter society disbandment conflict.
It didn't help Calla is so angry yet so easily brainwashed by the hunter society that she doesn't realize she was a peon the whole time. If the book had been written solely from Isolde's POV, I would have enjoyed it a whole lot more. I liked her chapters a lot and it would have made it easier to see the full vampiredom/hunter society conflict instead of having a story where the vampire hunter spends her day being angry she lives in a vampire mansion without being able to talk to her even more hot-headed vampire hunter mom.
February 3, 2023
I was given an ARC for this in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 to 3 stars.
I love the love interest like i am obsessed i would let her rearrange my guts and bend me in half. Do i think she could have been even worse,, yeah probably but gods i love her.
I thought the world building in this was really really interesting and there were several plot twists and events that had me completely rooting for this book.
In addition, i appreciated that this book was really easy to read through. A lot of times i struggle with fantasy and world building and getting into all of it. With this I had few issues and could get right into the story.
However, overall, this was a slight let down for me, maybe because I had high expectations going in because this sounded right up my alley.
While I did enjoy the idea of the story, there was a lot of struggle with pacing, things and especially relationships going from 0 to 100 to 0 again and straight up back to 100, almost got whiplash.
Some of the plot twists that I thought were REALLY good ideas, struggled with execution, almost being thrown at the reader and not building up to them or going into more detail.
Also a lot of the characters fell flat, both the main character because she only really saw in black and white and did not have a lot of grays, but also a lot of side characters.
With a lot of them i saw real potential that never really got dug into. It felt a bit lackluster how they were treated like plot devices rather than independent characters.
2.5 to 3 stars.
I love the love interest like i am obsessed i would let her rearrange my guts and bend me in half. Do i think she could have been even worse,, yeah probably but gods i love her.
I thought the world building in this was really really interesting and there were several plot twists and events that had me completely rooting for this book.
In addition, i appreciated that this book was really easy to read through. A lot of times i struggle with fantasy and world building and getting into all of it. With this I had few issues and could get right into the story.
However, overall, this was a slight let down for me, maybe because I had high expectations going in because this sounded right up my alley.
While I did enjoy the idea of the story, there was a lot of struggle with pacing, things and especially relationships going from 0 to 100 to 0 again and straight up back to 100, almost got whiplash.
Some of the plot twists that I thought were REALLY good ideas, struggled with execution, almost being thrown at the reader and not building up to them or going into more detail.
Also a lot of the characters fell flat, both the main character because she only really saw in black and white and did not have a lot of grays, but also a lot of side characters.
With a lot of them i saw real potential that never really got dug into. It felt a bit lackluster how they were treated like plot devices rather than independent characters.
February 4, 2023
Okay so someone please explain to me how you can go from the beginning of a chapter truly hating someone to having feelings for that person even if you are only three chapters in!!!
Okay so a little bit background, Calla was a vampire hunter. But when the vampires came out to the people Calla needed to stop hunting them. Then she is forced to move in with one and she is already saying it will be hard, but not in the way you think! In a romantic way! Is it just me or is this like really fast? This girl is just so freaking confusing because a bit later she is all in hating her.
I am not a big fan of Calla, she is frustrating. Figure it out girl, because you clearly don't know what you want in your life!
Okay so later in the book the story got a little bit better but sometimes I had this feeling like I totally missed something. They were like fighting with each other and I didn't understand for what! Alors sometimes they change very quickly from subject, like really quickly. One moment they are having a very serious conversation the next they drop something like 'oh I brought soup with me' like uh wtf just happend?
This book had so much potential but it was just all too confusing. The love story wasn't well developed, there was literally no hating between each other only the mention she hated vampires but she never acted truly like it.
Okay so a little bit background, Calla was a vampire hunter. But when the vampires came out to the people Calla needed to stop hunting them. Then she is forced to move in with one and she is already saying it will be hard, but not in the way you think! In a romantic way! Is it just me or is this like really fast? This girl is just so freaking confusing because a bit later she is all in hating her.
I am not a big fan of Calla, she is frustrating. Figure it out girl, because you clearly don't know what you want in your life!
Okay so later in the book the story got a little bit better but sometimes I had this feeling like I totally missed something. They were like fighting with each other and I didn't understand for what! Alors sometimes they change very quickly from subject, like really quickly. One moment they are having a very serious conversation the next they drop something like 'oh I brought soup with me' like uh wtf just happend?
This book had so much potential but it was just all too confusing. The love story wasn't well developed, there was literally no hating between each other only the mention she hated vampires but she never acted truly like it.
January 23, 2023
I received an ARC from the author but all thoughts are my own. Generally this type of story doesn't much appeal to me- Beauty and the Beast always squicked me out because of the consent issues, but this story is so much more than that even if it takes a minute to see it and I was right to trust the author.
Calla, a legacy vampire hunter, is called into the council as her mother has killed a high ranking vampire. In a world where vampires have recently announced themselves to the world and public sympathy is rising for them, she's presented with an impossible choice- make a deal with the devil to save her mother, or watch her world burn around her.
It's not as simple as it sounds, both women are prisoners even though Calla is the one stuck pretending to be a vampire's lover to protect those she loves. The truth is revealed slowly, and Calla starts to realize that the truths she held sacred aren't as simple as she once thought.
If you're looking for a sapphic romance with a side of enemies to lovers and a dash of fake dating to boot, I'd definitely recommend this. It's a fast and engrossing read and honestly, I really want to know what happens next- somehow I wasn't expecting the ending and that's left me wildly curious.
Calla, a legacy vampire hunter, is called into the council as her mother has killed a high ranking vampire. In a world where vampires have recently announced themselves to the world and public sympathy is rising for them, she's presented with an impossible choice- make a deal with the devil to save her mother, or watch her world burn around her.
It's not as simple as it sounds, both women are prisoners even though Calla is the one stuck pretending to be a vampire's lover to protect those she loves. The truth is revealed slowly, and Calla starts to realize that the truths she held sacred aren't as simple as she once thought.
If you're looking for a sapphic romance with a side of enemies to lovers and a dash of fake dating to boot, I'd definitely recommend this. It's a fast and engrossing read and honestly, I really want to know what happens next- somehow I wasn't expecting the ending and that's left me wildly curious.
February 4, 2023
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
To start this off I really liked the idea of this book (I’m nothing if not Beauty and the Beast trash) and certain aspects, I just wanted more from everything. I felt like the story could have been much stronger with more development, more interactions between characters, just more in general.
Also more showing not telling…like Calla being one of the best hunters, it was mentioned numerous times but we only saw her fight with Isolde (who’s the love interest and it felt more like flirty banter time) and then she fought again later on but was in a weakened state and when we begin in the story she hasn’t really fought in awhile because of this peace between vampires and humans. I would have liked to see more of her being a badass hunter and living up to that.
On the plus side I did enjoy Calla and Isolde’s interactions. I could feel the chemistry between them, I just wanted more scenes between Calla being forced to be around her to them actually falling for each other. But the flirty banter was great.
To start this off I really liked the idea of this book (I’m nothing if not Beauty and the Beast trash) and certain aspects, I just wanted more from everything. I felt like the story could have been much stronger with more development, more interactions between characters, just more in general.
Also more showing not telling…like Calla being one of the best hunters, it was mentioned numerous times but we only saw her fight with Isolde (who’s the love interest and it felt more like flirty banter time) and then she fought again later on but was in a weakened state and when we begin in the story she hasn’t really fought in awhile because of this peace between vampires and humans. I would have liked to see more of her being a badass hunter and living up to that.
On the plus side I did enjoy Calla and Isolde’s interactions. I could feel the chemistry between them, I just wanted more scenes between Calla being forced to be around her to them actually falling for each other. But the flirty banter was great.
February 18, 2023
I really enjoyed this adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. Hunters/Vampires? Sapphic? Enemies to lovers? I was sold.
I love the characters and the unique take on the fairytale. It felt fresh and fun. I love the banter and the passion between Calla and Isolde. They want to rip off each other's heads one moment and cloths the next.
I enjoyed how the vampire coming out was portrayed and the dynamics of the hunters and vampires being brought out of the shadows and all of the complications that arose.
I would have liked to see a bit more development between Calla and Isolde. Everything felt so rushed and I would have liked to see their relationship and feelings develop a bit more naturally. I also felt some of the scenes and dialogue didn't flow as well as they could have. The hot and cold between Calla and Isolde could be jaring.
Overall this was a fun, sweet, and entertaining read with a perfect amount of spice and romance, with a good bit of action as well.
I love the characters and the unique take on the fairytale. It felt fresh and fun. I love the banter and the passion between Calla and Isolde. They want to rip off each other's heads one moment and cloths the next.
I enjoyed how the vampire coming out was portrayed and the dynamics of the hunters and vampires being brought out of the shadows and all of the complications that arose.
I would have liked to see a bit more development between Calla and Isolde. Everything felt so rushed and I would have liked to see their relationship and feelings develop a bit more naturally. I also felt some of the scenes and dialogue didn't flow as well as they could have. The hot and cold between Calla and Isolde could be jaring.
Overall this was a fun, sweet, and entertaining read with a perfect amount of spice and romance, with a good bit of action as well.
March 23, 2023
An Ehh Novel
Somewhere along the line authors have come up with this trope of writing villains and then bending over backwards to redeem them.
The MC Calla is fine. She’s not particularly well wrought and her development is predictable.
That said, Isolde, her love interest starts off by basically kidnapping her, spends most of the story threatening and coercing her, and then explains that she wasn’t evil all along, she’s just misunderstood.
The story is alright. The antagonists really aren’t explained well. The protagonists are… also not explained well. The world building needs a lot of help, and the plot seems forced.
6.5 out of 10, could be better, could also be worse.
Somewhere along the line authors have come up with this trope of writing villains and then bending over backwards to redeem them.
The MC Calla is fine. She’s not particularly well wrought and her development is predictable.
That said, Isolde, her love interest starts off by basically kidnapping her, spends most of the story threatening and coercing her, and then explains that she wasn’t evil all along, she’s just misunderstood.
The story is alright. The antagonists really aren’t explained well. The protagonists are… also not explained well. The world building needs a lot of help, and the plot seems forced.
6.5 out of 10, could be better, could also be worse.
May 14, 2023
“I can’t take you from the sun.”
“You’ll be giving me the stars.”
Oh, my little sapphic biters. If you are in the mood for some vamping, this be where you should land! A hunter and an ancient vampire, throw in some magic and witches and you have a plot that time will stand still for. I liked the dynamic. Both women heroines in their own minds whilst readers roll their eyes just waiting for that first bite. Definitely enjoyed this writer and will read more books by her.
“You’ll be giving me the stars.”
Oh, my little sapphic biters. If you are in the mood for some vamping, this be where you should land! A hunter and an ancient vampire, throw in some magic and witches and you have a plot that time will stand still for. I liked the dynamic. Both women heroines in their own minds whilst readers roll their eyes just waiting for that first bite. Definitely enjoyed this writer and will read more books by her.
September 20, 2024
3,2/5
I must admit I was expecting it to be a rubbish book, but it was quite quick and interesting to read, a bit vague the ending, too rushed to feel like a good ending. But, I liked the couple, these women could flow with each other, that's not so easy when it comes to writing relationships, I also liked the moments of both women where the sexual tension was missing, they were just moments with more sentimental weight than sexual, it definitely wasn't all like the typical crappy Sapphic relationship books that are usually published (I don't want to admit that I kinda liked those battles they both had).
(me gustaría escribir mas, pero tampoco quiero cagarla escribiendo algo que se pueda malinterpretar, solo diré que el final me sigue pareciendo malo, pero si logre terminarlo es porque obtuvo los puntos suficientes para que mi mente volátil no abandonara esta lectura)
I must admit I was expecting it to be a rubbish book, but it was quite quick and interesting to read, a bit vague the ending, too rushed to feel like a good ending. But, I liked the couple, these women could flow with each other, that's not so easy when it comes to writing relationships, I also liked the moments of both women where the sexual tension was missing, they were just moments with more sentimental weight than sexual, it definitely wasn't all like the typical crappy Sapphic relationship books that are usually published (I don't want to admit that I kinda liked those battles they both had).
(me gustaría escribir mas, pero tampoco quiero cagarla escribiendo algo que se pueda malinterpretar, solo diré que el final me sigue pareciendo malo, pero si logre terminarlo es porque obtuvo los puntos suficientes para que mi mente volátil no abandonara esta lectura)
November 17, 2023
This book is very quick, and overall a pretty fun read. It definitely has its issues, and the world building was severely lacking. Does feel a bit incomplete at times, and would have loved a deeper dive into the characters. However, if you go into it just expecting an entertaining, sexy, quick read, it hit the mark. It’s a beauty and the beast retelling only with vampire hunters and vampires, and it’s strongest point is the ability to retell the classic in a way that’s still refreshing and a stand-alone. For sure an easy and fun read!
did-not-finish
June 13, 2023DNF @ 10%
This is just personal opinion but I don't like how much Calla hates vampires simply because she's been told her whole life that they're evil. In fact when her mother is caught killing a gentle and not dangerous vampire after the peace treaty goes into effect, Calla isn't upset at her mom's actions, she's just upset that her mom got caught. It's giving off lots of prejudiced vibes that I don't really want to read my way through.
This is just personal opinion but I don't like how much Calla hates vampires simply because she's been told her whole life that they're evil. In fact when her mother is caught killing a gentle and not dangerous vampire after the peace treaty goes into effect, Calla isn't upset at her mom's actions, she's just upset that her mom got caught. It's giving off lots of prejudiced vibes that I don't really want to read my way through.
November 2, 2024
I enjoyed this, it’s like Buffy meets Trueblood meets Beauty and the beast.
The plot and characters were shallow and the book had lots of errors, a lot of the writing and dialogue is very stiff as well and overall it has a very YA or fanfiction feel to it, despite being fairly spicy. Still, it was fun and easy to read and get into, I recommend if you aren’t too picky and just want a gothical, sapphic romance.
The plot and characters were shallow and the book had lots of errors, a lot of the writing and dialogue is very stiff as well and overall it has a very YA or fanfiction feel to it, despite being fairly spicy. Still, it was fun and easy to read and get into, I recommend if you aren’t too picky and just want a gothical, sapphic romance.
April 8, 2025
3.5 stars
An entertaining and hilarious paranormal romance. I quite liked Isolde and Calla slowly grew on me; their banter was superb, I couldn't wait for them to be in the same scene together. The plot was ok until the last quarter, when things got too convoluted and some things were never properly explained. But if you're interested in a light, funny vampire romance then this book might be worth a try.
An entertaining and hilarious paranormal romance. I quite liked Isolde and Calla slowly grew on me; their banter was superb, I couldn't wait for them to be in the same scene together. The plot was ok until the last quarter, when things got too convoluted and some things were never properly explained. But if you're interested in a light, funny vampire romance then this book might be worth a try.
February 14, 2023
Sapphic enemies to lovers, forced Proximity, fake dating, Beauty and the Beast retelling. This was a fast read. I enjoyed it but I wish there was more to it. I would have liked more back story on Isolde and the curse. Their fighting and bickering was hilarious. They are both stubborn and like to get under each other's skin. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a quick sapphic romance.
February 14, 2023
I was given an eARC for an honest review and I've decided to publish it the latest time possible so it wouldn't affect the release too much because I feel bad, I really wanted to like it.
I will start with the positive : Isolde. I really like her and wish we could have seen more. I actually even wished it was written through her POV or at least a dual POV.
But the downfall is Calla herself :
I had trouble to keep reading the book because of her and her "kinda-brainwashed" view of the world. Calla is a vampire hunter, she has done this all her life. Why? Because she comes from a family and organisation of hunters and they are taught vampires are monsters and to hunt them is a natural solution. That's it. And if it sounded justified for me whe I read the summary, it comes off to me as a shallow reason through the first chapters, I'm especially uncomfortable of her way to talk about them : at the beginning of the stiry, Vampires just outed themselves to the human world, no longer wishing to hide among them and wanting to live in peace with humans and she is not okay with that as she can no longer legally nor officially hunt them down.
I struggle to understand her hatred for vampires as she only justifies it as "im a hunter and vampires should all be dead".
She speaks of vampires as monster, lesser than beings, that they should have stayed hidden, "in their place", they don't deserve to roam free on the streets as if they are equal to humans.
It sounded so... strange to me to read this. This hatred she has for vampires, it's because she is taught to hate them, to not try to understand nor know vampires or their way of living.
Also Calla's mother has been "arrested" because she tresspassed in an innocent vampire's house and killed him without blinking nor reasons. Later we know he was a kind hearted vampire and I start to feel some discomfort because I can't help but to draw some parallels on the way Calla, her mother and the Counsil think & act towards a group of minority without it being justified by any other reasons as "vampire = bloodsucker monsters, and hunter are the good/superior people".
So I am left with a secret police/mercenary entering an innocent vampire home and mercilessly killing him and Calla feel like he deserved to die so her mother shouldn't be held prisonners.
We don't have memories or flashback of vampires actually hurting Calla or people she hold dear, we don't know if there is anything tangible to her hatred of vampire apart from the fact that she was raised to be a hunter, therefore vampires are not deserving of compassion. We are not shown once from the start why this hate is justified, the pain vampires have caused, instead from the very start that vampires are just like normal people : Some are bad, some are good. Calla keeps repeating her role is to protect but when she speaks about what she does to protect, she only speaks in term of murdering vampires who are humanised very early in the story so it leaves a sour taste on my mouth (because it rings a bell with our gloomy social climate/news). Plus the fact, she never explicitly regret doing her old job, just that she moves on from it while Isolde do holds regrets about it...
Maybe it is because it is a slow burn / ennemy-to-lovers so it explains why Calla took so much time to questions how what she was taught is not the right way (more than 60% of the book) but this mentality was dragged for way too long for me, I really struggled to emphatize with Calla.
I didn't want to be in her head and heard her try to justify her hatred for Isolde.
Either Isolde should have been shown as a real morally grey character (emphasizing why vampires are just as flawed as hunters, giving a sort of balance that is neither in favor of one or the other) or there should have been a personal reason why Calla & Isolde hate each others.
Calla admits it herself : she is uncultured, she trained all her life as a hunter, so she doesn't know how to hold a job, doesn't have an education or a hobby and doesn't even know a lot about vampires, just how to kill them.
But since we only have her POV, this lack of interest on other thing except her whole identity of being a hunter (that in itself is problematic), leaves very few things on the plate to savor and enjoy.
Isolde saved this book for me, she is really interesting in a lot of ways and I'm left hungry to know more about her.
The plot was very slow at first but okay : it kept me enough entertained to keep going
The ending however, without spoiling, kind of disappointed me about what Calla became. I personally would of wished she ended up the other way but this canon ending is okay too.
So I am giving 2 stars for the plot and for our national treasure Isolde but I am heartbroken to not give it no more because all this endless questionning of Calla felt like a waste of time and took too much space, eating screen-time (or paragraph-time?) off the romance, whome I wish was more developped along with Isolde's character.
I know this is supposed to be an ennemies-to-lovers and maybe slow burn (?) but I don't feel like it was aproched the right way.
I wish I loved it because it had the potential. I will try later to read another book of the author, as I personally feel this book and me just didn't match.
I will start with the positive : Isolde. I really like her and wish we could have seen more. I actually even wished it was written through her POV or at least a dual POV.
But the downfall is Calla herself :
I had trouble to keep reading the book because of her and her "kinda-brainwashed" view of the world. Calla is a vampire hunter, she has done this all her life. Why? Because she comes from a family and organisation of hunters and they are taught vampires are monsters and to hunt them is a natural solution. That's it. And if it sounded justified for me whe I read the summary, it comes off to me as a shallow reason through the first chapters, I'm especially uncomfortable of her way to talk about them : at the beginning of the stiry, Vampires just outed themselves to the human world, no longer wishing to hide among them and wanting to live in peace with humans and she is not okay with that as she can no longer legally nor officially hunt them down.
I struggle to understand her hatred for vampires as she only justifies it as "im a hunter and vampires should all be dead".
She speaks of vampires as monster, lesser than beings, that they should have stayed hidden, "in their place", they don't deserve to roam free on the streets as if they are equal to humans.
It sounded so... strange to me to read this. This hatred she has for vampires, it's because she is taught to hate them, to not try to understand nor know vampires or their way of living.
Also Calla's mother has been "arrested" because she tresspassed in an innocent vampire's house and killed him without blinking nor reasons. Later we know he was a kind hearted vampire and I start to feel some discomfort because I can't help but to draw some parallels on the way Calla, her mother and the Counsil think & act towards a group of minority without it being justified by any other reasons as "vampire = bloodsucker monsters, and hunter are the good/superior people".
So I am left with a secret police/mercenary entering an innocent vampire home and mercilessly killing him and Calla feel like he deserved to die so her mother shouldn't be held prisonners.
We don't have memories or flashback of vampires actually hurting Calla or people she hold dear, we don't know if there is anything tangible to her hatred of vampire apart from the fact that she was raised to be a hunter, therefore vampires are not deserving of compassion. We are not shown once from the start why this hate is justified, the pain vampires have caused, instead from the very start that vampires are just like normal people : Some are bad, some are good. Calla keeps repeating her role is to protect but when she speaks about what she does to protect, she only speaks in term of murdering vampires who are humanised very early in the story so it leaves a sour taste on my mouth (because it rings a bell with our gloomy social climate/news). Plus the fact, she never explicitly regret doing her old job, just that she moves on from it while Isolde do holds regrets about it...
Maybe it is because it is a slow burn / ennemy-to-lovers so it explains why Calla took so much time to questions how what she was taught is not the right way (more than 60% of the book) but this mentality was dragged for way too long for me, I really struggled to emphatize with Calla.
I didn't want to be in her head and heard her try to justify her hatred for Isolde.
Either Isolde should have been shown as a real morally grey character (emphasizing why vampires are just as flawed as hunters, giving a sort of balance that is neither in favor of one or the other) or there should have been a personal reason why Calla & Isolde hate each others.
Calla admits it herself : she is uncultured, she trained all her life as a hunter, so she doesn't know how to hold a job, doesn't have an education or a hobby and doesn't even know a lot about vampires, just how to kill them.
But since we only have her POV, this lack of interest on other thing except her whole identity of being a hunter (that in itself is problematic), leaves very few things on the plate to savor and enjoy.
Isolde saved this book for me, she is really interesting in a lot of ways and I'm left hungry to know more about her.
The plot was very slow at first but okay : it kept me enough entertained to keep going
The ending however, without spoiling, kind of disappointed me about what Calla became. I personally would of wished she ended up the other way but this canon ending is okay too.
So I am giving 2 stars for the plot and for our national treasure Isolde but I am heartbroken to not give it no more because all this endless questionning of Calla felt like a waste of time and took too much space, eating screen-time (or paragraph-time?) off the romance, whome I wish was more developped along with Isolde's character.
I know this is supposed to be an ennemies-to-lovers and maybe slow burn (?) but I don't feel like it was aproched the right way.
I wish I loved it because it had the potential. I will try later to read another book of the author, as I personally feel this book and me just didn't match.
February 16, 2023
Cute read 3.5
I thought it started out strong and interesting but I felt the second half went down hill. I think it needed a longer middle for them to fall in love and for it to feel more real. It felt like they were together for only a few days. And it could have used more world building with the counsel and the hunters. But I still liked the set up and the idea.
I thought it started out strong and interesting but I felt the second half went down hill. I think it needed a longer middle for them to fall in love and for it to feel more real. It felt like they were together for only a few days. And it could have used more world building with the counsel and the hunters. But I still liked the set up and the idea.
February 23, 2023
Late night
I stayed up reading because I couldn't put my phone down. I loved Calla, I liked Isolde but she always seemed a little distant. Biyu seemed more approachable. The story had a little beauty and the beast moments. Fun read, good story. I never felt confused by the storyline.
I stayed up reading because I couldn't put my phone down. I loved Calla, I liked Isolde but she always seemed a little distant. Biyu seemed more approachable. The story had a little beauty and the beast moments. Fun read, good story. I never felt confused by the storyline.
March 13, 2023
Read in One Sitting
I wasn’t the most excited for this book because of the cover but I’m always looking for good sapphic books, and this one was very good. I like the writing style, though the story itself was rushed in certain places. The main character’s strong personality kept me hooked.
I wasn’t the most excited for this book because of the cover but I’m always looking for good sapphic books, and this one was very good. I like the writing style, though the story itself was rushed in certain places. The main character’s strong personality kept me hooked.
March 2, 2023
great read
Fighting for acceptance in a world
where hate, love, ignorance, magic, hunters, witches and vampires. You can try to paint it in whatever colors you want. We all just want to be treated equally and live without fear.
Fighting for acceptance in a world
where hate, love, ignorance, magic, hunters, witches and vampires. You can try to paint it in whatever colors you want. We all just want to be treated equally and live without fear.
April 23, 2023
So hear me out...
I have read many books and stories. Particularly enemies to lovers. But this twist? This ending and progression? Absolutely divine. It's a short read. But I love the characters and the development! Great read. Really. I love it.
I have read many books and stories. Particularly enemies to lovers. But this twist? This ending and progression? Absolutely divine. It's a short read. But I love the characters and the development! Great read. Really. I love it.
February 23, 2023
Something new...
A slow burn with little steam but good storyline. It could have used more spice between the MC's and less hunter stupidity self talk.
A slow burn with little steam but good storyline. It could have used more spice between the MC's and less hunter stupidity self talk.
April 14, 2023
Not the biggest fan of the ending
I understand the ending and so get why they'd choose it but it still felt a bit underwhelming to me. Still the rest of the story was good.
I understand the ending and so get why they'd choose it but it still felt a bit underwhelming to me. Still the rest of the story was good.
July 25, 2023
Read in 1 day. Super easy read and had me addicted. I wish it would have slowed down and taken the time for more character development.
November 14, 2023
I found myself wanting to see Cella with Beatrix more than Cella with Isolde.
3.5/5
3.5/5
January 1, 2024
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