Court of Vampires

The Shifter Prophecy #1

by Megan Linski

Vampires and werewolves shouldn't fall in love.

I am Lysandra, and I was born to bring an end to the shifter line.

As the heir to Dracula’s throne and the descendant of Princess Anastasia, I live in a castle of witches and human blood servants. Since birth, I've been prophesied as the one who will eliminate our greatest enemies... werewolves.

Alongside my destiny, I'm engaged to a dark vampire prince. The marriage will bring two noble covens together to rule. My path has been chosen for me, but unexpectedly, everything changes.

I discover a dying wolf in need of my help. I take him into my care and quickly fall in love, unable to explain the magical connection between us.

If we’re discovered, we’ll be put to death. The only way for us to be together is to bring peace between the pack and the coven.

But how can I stop the war when my worst enemy is my fated mate?

The first book in a magical paranormal romance saga, Court of Vampires is a young adult royalty romance featuring fated mates, forbidden romance, exciting battles and mystifying witchery. A pack of wolves and a coven of vampires wage war in this four-part series that will leave readers thirsting for another addition to Lysandra and Lisar's love story.

A previous Kindle Scout winner published by Kindle Press (Amazon Publishing).

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Vampires, Romance, Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Paranormal Romance

244 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2017

About the author

Megan Linski lives in Michigan. She is the author of more than fifty fantasy and paranormal novels which feature themes of friendship, community, and healthy romantic relationships. She has over fifteen years of experience writing books alongside working as a journalist and editor. She graduated from the University of Iowa, where she studied Creative Writing.

Her passions include ice skating and horseback riding. In her free time she enjoys dancing in the snow and drinking fancy coffee while at her natural habitat, the mall.

Megan advocates for the rights of the disabled, and is an activist for mental health awareness.

Megan co-writes the Hidden Legends Universe with Alicia Rades. She also writes under the pen name of Natalie Erin for the Creatures of the Lands series, co-authored by Krisen Lison.

Awards Megan has won include;

Best Fantasy Book of the Year 2019 by Once Upon a Book

Best Co-Authored Book of the Year 2022 by Once Upon a Book

Author of the Year 2022 by Once Upon a Book

Keynote Speaker at Once Upon a Book 2023

Best Book Friends (Ava and Kallie) 2023 by Once Upon a Book

Featured in the FOX Teen Choice Awards Gift Baskets

Two-time Reader's Favorite Five Star Read (Bronze Medal Finalist)

Winner of Amazon's Kindle Scout Competition

Reviews

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to Kindle Scout.)

“I am Grand Duchess Lysandra Romanova-Dracula. Princess of Vampires.”

This was a YA story about a vampire who fell in love with a werewolf.

Lysandra was a character who took risks, and at times I really wondered why she did. Taking a wolf into her bedroom to try and heal it seemed like a ridiculous plan, especially when the punishment if caught would be death!

The storyline in this was about Lysandra trying to heal an injured werewolf, and somehow falling in love along the way. I did find the storyline a bit annoying in places though, especially when the wolf wouldn’t leave once he’d recovered! Talk about putting Lysandra in even more danger! I also found the romance to crop up quite suddenly, and I expected a little more really.

The ending to this didn’t really tie anything up, and we were just left hanging and waiting for the next instalment.



6.25 out of 10

[Tay_is_reading_again · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this one free for stuff your earbuds day. I thought it was a standalone but this is the first in a series of 4 books. Overall, I liked the world building and historical accuracy of Vlad the Impaler. However, the romance felt sudden and we also never really discovered by Dragomere sucks so bad.

[Yellagirlgc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grand Duchess of the vampires and the Prince of wolves...

I really enjoyed reading Court of Vampires. Lysandra being a vampire and Lisar a wolf meant nothing to the two of them. Unfortunately wolves and vampires are mortal enemies. Lyssa (Lysandra) had a mind of her own even though her actions meant death. Lisar often brought a smile to my face with his silliness. I could relate to dealing with dysfunctional families, love and wanting to live your own life. At the end of the book I wasn't happy because I don't have the second book to dive right into.
I received this copy from Kindle Scout and these are my own thoughts and feelings included in this review.

[Lexy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this book was good

[Mandy Sickle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a Court of Vampires from Kindle Scout.

Lysandra has just spent the last four years in Russian training to be a werewolf slayer. A prophecy has predicted that she would bring the end to the werewolves but she's not sure if that's what she really wants anymore. She dreams of ruling the castle in Russian that is rightfully hers even though they can't return.

When the werewolves attack the castle the fighting breaks out between the two powerful races. While headed to her room as she's been ordered she finds an injured wolf but instead of killing as she's expected she brings him back to her room to nurse him back to health. When the witch of the castle and her best friend find out what she's hiding in her room she strikes a deal but it could change everything. With her growing connection to the wolf will she be able to let him go?

I like Lysandra she may have been raised to be a killer but she doesn't want to do it. I really wanted to dislike Tomlien but he proves that he isn't a bad guy just in a bad situation. I didn't like Lisar at first but the more we got to know him the more he grew on me. I like that he saw Lysandra as more than just a killer. These two remind me a little of Romeo and Juliette as both families are at war.

I've had this one on my kindle for a few month but haven't had a chance to read it just yet. I love the cover it what captured my attention first a girl in a dress and a wolf which fits the story perfectly. I liked the concept unique twist of the vampires giving us basically two different kinds of vampires. I wasn't sure about the wolves as they are also a little different than I am used to but it works well. The concept is interesting it's a forbidden romance which reminds me a little of Romeo & Juliet but with vampires and werewolves. This is my first book by the author but I enjoyed her writing style it flows along smoothly. I can't wait for the next one to be released I have to know how it's going to play out.

[Lillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book on a Stuff Your Earbuds day, and I was very excited to read this. It took me a while to actually get my ass in gear and read it. However, the wait was so worth it. This gave me the vibes as The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent, and the first book of ACOTAR but better and if the fae were vampires. I loved Listar's and Lysandra's relationship and THE. WORLD. BUILDING. OMG the world building was so good. And Bryn was amazing. I loved the characters. I loved Linski's writing style, and the ending had me HOOKED. I literally started the second book after finishing this one. Sorry Aeris, I know I said that I would read The Phantom of the Opera next. I got too invested in this series though. If you are looking for a fast-paced, fun, adventure filled read, then DEFINITELY READ THIS. I can't wait to read more of this series.

[ElCee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced, serviceable, take it or leave it. The author could have fleshed out the world building and characters a bit more. We don’t really know much about her relationship with her grandfather - wish there was more detail here, and also with her father who’s a maniac. She tells us he’s a bad dude but why? I find it implausible that someone can scale a castle to bring a meal without guards seeing them. Weird.

[Nora Røssland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this one! I was a little sceptical in the beginning, cause vampire/werewolf stories tend to be a bit cliche, but this one was a lot of fun 🥰 I wish the FMC was more set on taking down the regime, and idk like start a revolution? Instead she was more focused on being with her love / her mate. It’s valid, tho, but I love books about crushing the government - so hope the rest of the series is about that💅🏻

[Zukiswa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐
Court of Vampires had a slow start, but once it found its momentum around 80% in—it really took off. The buildup may test your patience, but the payoff is worth it if you stick with it. With its intriguing world and promising twists, it’s a solid read that leaves you curious about what comes next.

[Wildborne Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook. 3.5 stars. Forbidden romance between vampire and wolf shifter. Is it a little cheesy? Yes. Do I wish there was more character development? Yes. But overall, as a sucker for forbidden romance, I enjoyed this book.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/14/2022)! 🎁

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

not for me.

[Valarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3.5]

[Michelle Beer · Rating 1 out of 5]

http://midnightreadingsreviews.blogsp...

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Court of Vampires (The Shifter Prophecy #1) by Megan Linski is a great paranormal, fantasy book! If you like vamps, weres, shifters, magic, and romance thrown in, this is the book for you. It has it all plus action, adventure, and intrigue. What more does a fantasy reader need? Great read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

'If souls can connect, I swear that Lisar’s and mine are melded together, moving as one in a place beyond space and time.'
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! I LOVE IT SOO MUCH!! the characters, world building, writing style, shocking moments, action, just everything!!
Princess Lysandra Romanova Dracula is the grand duchess of Russia. Descend from Anastasia and vampire Vladimir
The prophecy states: she is the chosen one who will be the extinction of the Shifters/ wolves. Vampire and wolves are in war for ages. Her father Csar Dragomir is the emperor and has Lysandra leave her home for training in RMoskow. In the airport on her way back home she is attacked by a vampire who was a guard testing her. Her grandfather Sergei (war general, trains her) who is very dear to her takes her home, for Dragomir wants to use her as a pawn in his war or else she will be banished! but they are ambushed by vampires/ cursed ones!!
At home she reunites with her father, friend Lidia and Vanessa the House witch (from the prophecy)
Dragomir tests her by having her killing a child wolf or else she will be killed!! As she swings the sword her father stops her satisfied with her, he has an other wolf branded for he needs information of the location of the Den!! Lysandra saves the wolf Kipcha, he is Lisar's best friend!!
After an attack Lysandra takes a wolf to safety and treats his wounds!! The wolf Lisar is arrogant, stubborn and they don't get along at all! Lysandra makes a deal: you can stay her to recover if you promise to not attack the Vampires. He agrees and their chemistry grows!! His sister Brynn (after threats) agrees to help,
They develop a friendship and they are soo adorable together, he even calls her Lyssy!!
But she is betrothed to Tomlien (political arrangement) he cares for her but she doesn't love him back!
Lidia finds out about Lisar but won't tell as for vanessa she will keep silent in exchange for his blood for potions.
Lyssy and Lisar's feelings grow, they have deep talks and they both hope wolves and vampires can live in harmony for they aren't that different!! She tells him about her mother who was killed by the wolves in order to protect lysandra!! But she was a shel of woman for Dragomir has sucked the life out of her... feelings blossem and she paints him in wolf and human form!!! So romantic And he confesses he has BONDED WITH HER!! SHE IS HIS MATE!!! They have fallen in love and it is beautiful!!
But after Lyssy tells tomlien she won't marry him, her father demands the wedding to take place in 2 days or else she will be killed!! But as they are going to run away tomlien finds out about them and a huge fight takes place!! Suddenly Lyssy is kidnapped by a chosen one Ivar (he has approached her earlier to a bargain: protecting in exchange for destroying Dragomir). He demands again for her cooperation, she refuses to have the Cursed ones on the throne. Big fight, but Lisar SAVED HER and killed him!! But Lisar has agreed to be a prisoner for Tomlien and the guards help!! Emotional scene!! They are taken to the judgment room where Dragomir is going to have them both executed!! But to save her life Lisar confesses HE IS THE PRINCE OF THE SHIFTERS AND SON OF THE ALPHA!! he trades his life for Lyssy's!!! But his the wolves will go extinct!! So the prophecy will be fulfilled!! Vanessa betrayed them by telling Dragomir about them and she has used Lisar's blood for a curse: THE WOLVES WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO SHIFT!!! and Lidia was her Apprentice!! TRAITORS!! she has always been jealous of her and loves Tomlien!! Tomlien is forced to kill Lysandra but he can't so Dragomir himself will do it but is stopped by sergei!!! Huge fight!! Guards have split: Dragomir and the war general
Then the wolfs have arrived!! Everthing is dark and Lisar is taken away with the wolves!!!
Lyssy is stopped by Lidia who destroyed the portraits!! but she manages to break free and jump out of her balcony away from the emperor on her way to find her mate!!!! I LOVE THEM

[Jennifer Showalter - · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 3.8 Stars REVIEW: I was incredibly pumped to see how the cornucopia of ideas would coalesce into a delicious novel. Combining vampires, werewolves, witches and european history? Yes, please.The ideas were solid, but the delivery needs work.

The mechanics of the relationships was odd and inorganic. First, the humans are suppose to be "less than" but Lysandra's servant goes to school with her. Lidia does not act like a servant, but a petulant step sister.

She's hung out reading magazines, going to school, and interacted with other Royalty. And I mean she acted like she could end up being one of them. She certainly never was seen being the lowly servant she was suppose to be.

Second, the flow of the relationships was confusing. Her fiance acts all Doe eyed at her despite being apart for four years. Her relationship with Lisar started out organically, but Megan fast forwarded the relationship and ended up with a weird situation.

If they were so comfortable with each other, how did it end up so uncertain and disjointed? That leads me to my last issues with the book, dialogue.

The dialogue and reactions were the most distracting for me. Lisar and Lysandra had a good dialogue going, then when things start to heat up, it becomes inorganically awkward. Some of the conversations became prepubescent. I can't give away too much, but I will say that Lysandra would act like the 18 year old she was and then more like a 12 year old. What then upset me was they jumped to very mature situations, which made the whole scene a jumbled mess.

The servant and royal interactions were in complete opposition to the mythology initially set up. Lidia is suppose to be a lowly human and yest she rolls her eyes at Lysandra saying "Now you want to hang out. Perfect." She goes to say, "I can't believe you manipulated Valentina into this." I understand that they were friends, but Lidia takes major liberties and risks with her flippant behavior towards the Princess. I felt confused the whole book.

Her grandfather was the cleanest, most edited and structured character. He was well defined and showed some depth. There really wasn't any character development. The characters never changed their core or made any gains.

That said, I love the Romeo and Juliet theme applied to books. Which is ironic because I don't like Romeo and Juliet themselves, but the idea of lovers torn apart by opposing sides. I was hoping for more meat on the mythology and the relationship development of the two main protagonists.

I had moments where I felt some connection to the characters. There was some tension felt in scenes, especially towards the end. The story had great bones, an intriguing back story and mythology. It unfortunately needed more fine tuning on the dialogue and maturation of characters.

[Cary Morton · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one missed the mark entirely.

Despite a promising setup—vampire royalty, forbidden love, and a prophecy-driven conflict—the execution felt shallow and frustrating. Court of Vampires leans hard into familiar tropes (fated mates, enemies-to-lovers, royal intrigue), but fails to build emotional weight or narrative tension around them. The result is a story that feels rushed, predictable, and emotionally hollow.

Lysandra, the protagonist, is positioned as a powerful heir to Dracula’s throne, destined to destroy the werewolf line. But her internal arc is almost nonexistent. She witnesses wolves kill her mother, yet expresses no real hatred or trauma—just vague indifference. That emotional disconnect undermines the entire forbidden romance premise. Her relationship with Lisar, the werewolf love interest, is instant and unconvincing. There’s no real buildup, no meaningful conflict, and no chemistry beyond the “fated mate” label.

The writing itself is serviceable but lacks polish. Dialogue is often stilted, and the prose leans melodramatic without offering depth. The pacing is uneven—major emotional shifts happen in a few lines, while other scenes drag with exposition. The worldbuilding is thin despite its ambitious scope. Castles, covens, witches, and blood servants are introduced, but none of it feels immersive or coherent. It’s more aesthetic than substance.

The biggest issue is predictability. Every plot turn is telegraphed early, and character roles fall into place without surprise or nuance. Even the central conflict—vampires vs. werewolves—feels like background noise rather than a meaningful source of tension. The stakes are supposedly life-or-death, but the story never earns that urgency.

Other negatives: flat character dynamics, lack of emotional realism, and a romance that feels more like a plot device than a relationship. There’s potential in the concept, but it’s buried under rushed storytelling and underdeveloped characters.

Overall, Court of Vampires reads like a rough draft of a more compelling idea. It’s trope-heavy without emotional payoff, and I won’t be continuing the series. Best suited for readers who enjoy fast, surface-level paranormal romance and don’t mind skipping over character depth or narrative cohesion. If you’re looking for emotional nuance, immersive worldbuilding, or a romance that actually earns its stakes, this one isn’t it.

[Lulu [at] Reckless Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at RoadsideReader

I feel as though I keep trying for vampire books and I keep getting disappointed. Maybe I should take a break? Court of Vampires by Megan Linski seemed like it would be a fun vampire/werewolf YA story. Maybe just a cheesy angsty romance. That is legitimately what I went into it expecting. And yet, I still found myself looking forward to being done with this book rather than how the story would unfold.

Though I doubt anyone will go into Court of Vampires expecting something groundbreaking, I did expect something solidly entertaining? I found that I couldn’t really enjoy it as I thought I would for a few simple reasons. Predictability. It was all just so painfully obvious from the start how everything would happen and what role each character would play. No deviations there. Okay, we can deal with that. However, there wasn’t any of the angst truly there to propel interest. Forbidden love but it doesn’t seem that big of a deal? Main character Lysandra did not portray a single bit of internal turmoil over falling in love with her sworn enemy, even stating to Lisar she doesn’t hate wolves even though she witnessed them murder her mother. She plainly states she’s indifferent and I just, I understand the metaphor of hey you shouldn’t hate a group of people because of the actions of a select few. But this is fantasy and these are werewolves and you saw a pack of wolves kill your mother and then suddenly there’s absolutely no emotion there? No anger to work through? Linski really missed out by having her protagonist skip entirely through the internal struggle between the love for her mother/people and the love for someone whose family may have been responsible for their demise.

With a book as formulaic as Court of Vampires by Megan Linski, you can expect a predictable story. That said, it’s an easy book to breeze through, if a bit boring. If you’re looking for a good book palette cleanser to pull yourself out of a story hangover, this would be a good choice.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this title.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review also posted at: http://underthebookcover.blogspot.com...

4.5/5

Thank you to Megan Linski and Amazon Kindle Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

When I heard that Megan Linski had a new book that was up for voting for possible publication with Kindle Press from Amazon, I immediately voted for it and continued to vote for it daily until the voting period ended. It's not a secret that I'm a huge fan of Megan Linski's books, and no, it's not just because we share the same name- that just happens to be a happy coincidence! With every book that I read by her, I just fall more and more in love with her writing and her ability to weave together amazing stories, and Court of Vampires is no different.

Lysandra Romanova-Dracula is the Princess of Vampires, heir to the throne of Vlad Dracula, and last living descendant of Princess Anastasia. When she was born, a witch told a prophecy that spoke of Lysandra being the one to end the war between vampires and werewolves forever, and she was sent away at 14 years old to train in order to kill her enemy. After returning to her home four years later, the wolves launch an attack on the castle and Lysandra discovers a lone injured wolf outside of her window. Going against everything she knows, she saves the wolf and eventually falls in love. Falling in love with her enemy is forbidden, and she knows if she's discovered, they'll both be put to death. With the prophecy looming over her, and her true love being the one she's supposed to put an end to, will she follow her heart or her destiny?

Once again, Megan Linski has written a fast-paced, addictive story that throws you in the middle of a familiar fictional war and makes you root for forbidden love. With the tagline of "Vampires and werewolves shouldn't fall in love," I knew I was in for a treat. I've never been a huge fan of werewolves in stories (the only werewolves in books that I loved were the ones in Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series) but this story may have changed my mind. The way that the vampires and werewolves were written was so well-done and different from what I've read. Lysandra doesn't consume human blood, only animal blood, and her "kind" are not immortal but do live to be quite old. The immortal vampires, called The Cursed Ones, consume exclusively human blood and are enemies of Lysandra and her coven. Werewolves, while in their wolf form, can talk like humans, and that's something I've never encountered before. It may be because I tend to avoid stories with werewolves in them, but it's so unique and something I actually ended up liking about the wolves. There were just so many elements of this book that added up to make a really fantastic paranormal story that instantly hooked me, and I ended up reading this book in its entirety in just one sitting (just for reference, it took me about three hours)!

When it comes to writing characters, Megan Linski does it like no other. She managed to make me like a werewolf, something only one other author has done in my long history of reading! Lysandra is strong, brave, loyal, and very funny. She's the one that is supposed to bring an end to the war, to the shifter line, but she doesn't feel that killing wolves is the right thing to do. She was determined to be the exact opposite of her father, who is cruel and ruthless, and she wanted to end the war through non-violent means. Lisar was also a fantastic character. I never thought I'd be able to enjoy a werewolf in a book, but Lisar was so funny and so un-werewolf-like that I just couldn't help but like him. It was so entertaining to imagine Lisar as a werewolf jumping, dancing, and posing for paintings! What I enjoyed about Lysandra and Lisar was that their love wasn't insta-love. It's a trend that shows up far too often, but this love was more of a slow build, and that made it much more enjoyable to read about. It started as Lysandra just saving Lisar and not knowing why, but the more time that they spent together and the more they learned about each other, the more their feelings developed. Both of these characters worked so well together and really took the story to another level.

The side characters, such as Lysandra's father, grandfather, best friend/maid, and her fiance, were very well-written and definitely had personalities that could stand on their own. The father and grandfather were complete opposites and I think it worked out really well for Lysandra to have a supportive grandfather despite her father being incredibly cold and cruel. Having an adult figure to turn to when she needed one seemed to really help Lysandra keep her head above water while she's dealing with keeping a wolf hidden in her room and her father potentially throwing her out of the coven if he didn't approve of how she had grown in her training. Lidia was a character that I was somewhat on the fence about, and while I was not surprised with how things ended up with her, I was disappointed about how she chose to handle things. Finally, Tomlien was Lysandra's fiance and he started off as a seemingly good guy, I ended up severely disliking him and his actions that took place from somewhat early on up until the very end. He was just not a good person, in my opinion, and it really made me happy to see Lysandra standing up to him and not letting him push her around. Despite my dislike of most of the side characters, I enjoyed how they were written and how easily I could differentiate between them all.

The writing and world building was so immersive and easy to dive straight into. It's always a pleasure to read a book by Megan Linski because I know that it will be filled with beautiful descriptions and a world that you can get lost in. The story of a war between vampires and werewolves is nothing new, but Court of Vampires puts you in the unique position of being in the middle of a romance between the two, with one of them being the Princess of Vampires. Most of this book takes place inside Lysandra's home, but there's always something going on and you never get bored of staying in one location. Between the Princess of Vampires hiding a werewolf in her room, a csar that wants to use his daughter to destroy the shifters for good, a creepy and possessive fiance, and a blossoming romance between the two species, this book is filled with action and will keep you interested from the first page to the last. The writing is incredibly vivid, the plot is very fast paced, and the ending is sure to leave you wanting the sequel immediately!

Court of Vampires brings a different take on a familiar story and makes it unlike any other out there. There's plenty of action, a forbidden romance, strong characters, creepy villains, detailed writing, and a breathtaking ending. If you're looking for a refreshing new paranormal story, then Court of Vampires is the book for you! Be sure to pick it up when it releases on 31 January 2017!

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Received for free via the Kindle Scout program*

After coming straight off the back of a different vampire story, I wasn’t too sure how I’d take this. It’s taken me more than a year to get around to reading it, too, what with other commitments. But, having read it, I’m wondering what took me so long!

There’s some typical “American Teen” action in here, in the attitudes of the young characters, the jealousy, the boisterousness. Lisar reads like that jock you see in US TV shows, all cocky and self-assured, despite the fact that he’s stuck in the lair of his enemy. This bothered me a little at first (I’m English, with all my English sensibilities – US TV dramas annoy me no end!), but the characterisation is actually really well done! Another thing that annoyed me was using the word “coven” for the vampire group, as that word has turned into a bit of a cliché these days. But, ignore the little niggles, and you have a great story here that, hopefully, will turn out to be a great series.

Another little niggle was that Lysandra seemed to black out towards the end for no reason; Lisar had to wake her up, in the middle of nothing. It felt a little like the author ran out of ideas at that moment, as there was no explanation of the outcome of the fight, or why she blacked out. And the ending wasn’t so enjoyable, either. Add to that, Lysandra’s training, yet she manages to be so weak and such a typical teen at times – too much crying for someone with layers of combat training! It doesn’t mean that tough people shouldn’t cry, but she should at least be able to show a lot more strength in those situations than she did.

Anyway, overall I enjoyed this book and I definitely want to read more!

Final rating: ★★★★☆ – Really liked

[Jozie | Cozy Romantasy Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.25☆

I received the audiobook for Court of Vampires during a Stuff Your Earbuds event. I haven’t read or listened to many shifter romances, but this one caught my attention with some incredible tropes, including enemies to lovers and forced proximity.

Lysandra is a vampire and grand duchess, a descendant of both Dracula and Princess Anastasia. As well as being the heir to Dracula's throne, she is also the prophesied chosen one who will destroy the shifters. Lysandra returns home from Russia, where she has been training to become a wolf slayer. When Lysandra stumbles upon an injured wolf, she doesn't have the heart to kill him. Instead, she hides the wolf away in her room while he heals.

Candace Joice was the narrator in Court of Vampires, and I think she did an excellent job narrating Lysandra.

I was entertained throughout the entire story, but there is nothing that really stands out to me. Lysandra was an okay character. She did what she believed to be right in the beginning, and towards the end, she finally spoke up for herself. I almost forgot that she was in training to become a wolf slayer because she seemed to be powerless since she wouldn't defend herself. Lisar's character was likable but predictable.

If you enjoy reading or listening to young adult, paranormal romances featuring fated and forbidden love, I think you will enjoy Court of Vampires.

arranged marriage • contemporary fantasy • enemies to lovers • fated love• forbidden romance • forced proximity • love triangle • magic • paranormal romance • prophecy • romantsy • shapeshifter • supernatural • urban fantasy • werewolf • vampire

[Paige Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

*I listened to this book on Spotify*

The different accents were confusing to me. If they’re all primarily from and living in Romania, why do some have Romanian accents, some American-English accents, and others English accents?

This is the second book I have read by this author, and I can see a trend that she likes to write romantasy where she attempts to write a strong female lead whose whole story is inevitably centered on an egotistical man.

This author’s books also read at an elementary level while the content is clearly for young adults, and I do not know whether that is due to the author’s inability to write at a more complex level or her intent to draw younger readers in.

I was a little turned off by the fact that Lysandra was romantically interested in Lisar while he was in wolf form, before ever knowing what he looked like as a human, and it felt like it was on the precipice of beastiality.

[Nikkiya Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5/5 This is a spoiler-free review based on the audiobook version.

The positive thing about this book is that it has a fabulous ending that makes me want to read the next book. I am also encouraged by the overall rating of the next book, which is much higher than this one.

I will keep it short with what I didn't like. The characters are underdeveloped, especially the FMC. She has been immersed in special training on killing shifter wolves, yet can not do it. Why? She has bad a$$ combat skills and plays a damsel in distress too often. Why? When she is in fear for her life several times, she has time to binge watch a Netflix show without a care in the world. What?

I would recommend this YA shifter/vampire, forbidden love, fated mates, and magical book to any teenager looking to get into paranormal romance. There is no smut, and it is fade to black. I am only talking about the 1st book in the series, I have not read the others yet.

[Heather Button · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't begin to remember how I came across this Chirp audiobook. They have a freebie Friday where they regularly send out free audiobooks each week and you can choose which ones you'd like to download. Perhaps there?

Lysandra, heir to Dracula's throne, is prophesized to be the one vampire to bring an end to the shifter line. She's also engaged to a vampire prince, a strategic match made by her father to ensure power remains in the line. But, when Lysandra finds a wolf dying outside her room, she feels an unexpected draw to him and brings him in to nurse back to help. Suddenly, she's aiding her worst enemy. And what's more, she's completely in love with him and can't explain why. Their love is doomed if peace can't be brought between their kinds.

This was not remotely as bad as I was expecting. I know that sounds terrible, but if you see most of the books I read from Chirp, you'll get it. I was actually engaged and it was only like 3 hours or so. A win!

⭐⭐⭐

[Avelynia Kersh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️s
0-🌶️(Closed door)
I was very surprised by this book! I pretty much went in blind and this book had some many twist and turns. There was always something happening and right when I thought I knew the direction of where things were headed something else happened.

⚠️‼️Spoilers‼️⚠️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Lysandra is not like her blood thirsty, war hungry father and ends up saving a dying werewolf that ends up being her mate. They spend so much time together as he heals since he has no strength to shift back to his human form. They become good friends and then turn lovers. There a bit of a cheating trope because she is engaged and is still going on dates with her betrothed and then going back to her werewolf boo hiding in her room🤦🏻‍♀️ so much happens that I won’t write down just because this book was exciting and those details shouldn’t spoil the book

[Alexandria Woods · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF - Too Unbelievable

The book description sounded great but the writing didn't live up to my expectations. The dialogue was not believable and particularly once it came to when Lysandra saves the wolf Lisar. Enemies for however long, Lisar's sister trusts Lysandra enough to go into a castle full of vampires alone to see if her brother is okay, only to find him in her bed and unable to leave because his injuries made him so weak, he can't walk. We're talking supernaturals so I'm surprised that healing is that slow. I just couldn't finish the book after that scene, especially given the way the story unfolds from the beginning.

[BookExpression · Rating 4 out of 5]

Court of Vampires was a very interesting book to read! Almost had a twisted Twilight feel to it, but I liked it. The way Megan Linski connected the Dracula Blood Line and the Romanov Blood Line was brilliant. I especially loved how Lisar interacted with Lysandra while he was healing. It was entertaining how their love was blossoming and how they clicked. Forbidden love, prophecies, and rebellion! Megan Linski did an amazing job putting Court of Vampires together.. Almost felt a tad rushed but they had limited time! Court of Vampires had my heart racing and I'm interested to see how Lisar and Lysandra turn things around in the second book!

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this on audio while in college to pass some time, this was a fantastic start to a series. I enjoyed this book thoroughly it was fast paced, actions packed and had just the right amount of romance! The descriptions and scenes in this book were super easy to follow along with which was fantastic as I was listening to it. The characters were absolutely fantastic especially our badass female mc! This book had a brilliant setting and you can tell it was thought out very well! There are plenty of twists in this book to keep you entertained! I immediately started listening to book two can’t wait for what’s next! 🫡😊🤭

[Emilia Dashfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thoughts…
The Serpent and the Wings of Night meets Underworld in this amazing clash of vampires, wolves, and prophecies.

Good thoughts…
I was instantly drawn into this world and the character’s predicament.
Really well written and very emotionally invoking.
I love how the characters have hilarious traits of their kind.
For a YA this has fantastic tension and romance with the appropriate level of on-page intimacy.

Not good thoughts…
None. Absolutely none.

Random thoughts…
Makes me miss having a dog.

Final thoughts...
Such a great story of forbidden love and wake-up`calls.