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The Ground That Devours Us
The world ended ten years ago.
Vampires showed up, took over, and turned the whole planet into their personal all-you-can-drink buffet. The president? Bloodsucker. The government? Bloodsuckers. My social life? Absolutely nonexistent.
But hey, at least I had one thing going for me—slayer training. My twin sister, Ripley, and I were about to go pro, officially joining the ranks of the last people on earth who actually do something about the whole “undead overlords” situation.
And then X had to show up. The vampire boogeyman. The worst of the worst. And instead of killing Ripley, like any decent monster would, he turned her. Now she’s technically a vamp, but something tells me my sister is still in there. Which means I can’t slay her.
What can I do? Break every rule. Lie to my friends. Strike a deal with the most dangerous vampire on the planet: X will protect Ripley from everyone else who wants her dead—like, really dead—until I can snag the cure for vampirism. The catch? Risking my own head to help him free his good-for-nothing BFF from the very slayers who taught me everything.
If I want Ripley back, I’m going to have to play nice with the thing that ruined my life. And the worst part?
I think he’s enjoying this.
Vampires showed up, took over, and turned the whole planet into their personal all-you-can-drink buffet. The president? Bloodsucker. The government? Bloodsuckers. My social life? Absolutely nonexistent.
But hey, at least I had one thing going for me—slayer training. My twin sister, Ripley, and I were about to go pro, officially joining the ranks of the last people on earth who actually do something about the whole “undead overlords” situation.
And then X had to show up. The vampire boogeyman. The worst of the worst. And instead of killing Ripley, like any decent monster would, he turned her. Now she’s technically a vamp, but something tells me my sister is still in there. Which means I can’t slay her.
What can I do? Break every rule. Lie to my friends. Strike a deal with the most dangerous vampire on the planet: X will protect Ripley from everyone else who wants her dead—like, really dead—until I can snag the cure for vampirism. The catch? Risking my own head to help him free his good-for-nothing BFF from the very slayers who taught me everything.
If I want Ripley back, I’m going to have to play nice with the thing that ruined my life. And the worst part?
I think he’s enjoying this.
400 pages, Paperback
Published June 3, 2025
30 people are currently reading
6086 people want to read
About the author
Kalla Harris
1 book53 followersA full-time daydreamer, Kalla Harris has wanted to be an author since she was eight years old, although she's now traded her composition notebooks for a computer.
When she's not writing high-stakes young adult books with lots of kissing, you can find her curled up with a good story, perfecting her mac and cheese recipe, or rewatching The Vampire Diaries (Hi, Damon!). Kalla resides in the Upstate of South Carolina with her husband.
She's most active on Instagram at @kallanharris.
When she's not writing high-stakes young adult books with lots of kissing, you can find her curled up with a good story, perfecting her mac and cheese recipe, or rewatching The Vampire Diaries (Hi, Damon!). Kalla resides in the Upstate of South Carolina with her husband.
She's most active on Instagram at @kallanharris.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
June 17, 2025
This was great and so much fun! I love all the banter! Great characters and storytelling! I really hope this is a series because I need to find out where everyone goes from here! I’m sad to finish it.
August 26, 2025
Earnest and cliche'd. Such a shame - I was looking forward to something original.
June 10, 2025
I loved this dark, dystopian vampire world! The twist on vampirism felt fresh, and the story had just the right mix of danger, banter, and romantic tension to keep me hooked. The bond between the sisters was everything—loyal, fierce, and full of heart, even in a world gone to hell. For such a brutal setting, there’s so much emotion woven in. It was a fast-paced, high-stakes read that had me fully invested. An absolute good time from start to finish Huge thanks to Entangled Publishing for the gifted book.
May 27, 2025
I enjoyed reading this dark dystopian fantasy featuring a vampire hunter, Ruby, trying to save her sister, Ripley, in a post-apocalyptic wasteland called the Open and striking a deal with a notorious vampire, X, to ensure her sister's safety. There was plenty of action, suspense, and some enemies to lovers romance thrown into the storyline. Our characters were not without flaws, but learning their backstories, you start to empathize with their plight. In a world filled with despair and nightmares, hope is a necessity in order to survive and have a future worth living for.
June 8, 2025
4.75🌟
"I know this is wrong , that he’s wrong, but I’m famished, starving , and I can still taste him in my mouth." (Ch 16)
“Resilience is survival,” he’d whisper, stroking my hair. “You will learn this, or the world will chew you up and spit you back out.” (Ch 4)
The world was overrun by vampires. Ruby and her twin, Ripley, were found and saved by Barnett, the leader of the Hunt, when they were children. They had lost their parents, and Barnett had lost his wife and daughters.
Barnett trained them to be soldiers, but Ruby was the one who had the most potential. She had worked so hard to become a Slayer, but on the day she led a unit, she lost her sister to the notorious and elusive X.
".... I can’t save her. Not anymore. That promise is broken. I run and run and run, leaving her behind. In the Open, there’s no mercy." (Ch 3)
Her sister was dead, but not dead dead. There was a slim hope for a cure. Now all she had to do was wait for it and find a way to get her sister back... no matter the method or the cost. Even to go so far as to strike a deal with the devil. She had to save Ripley before she died again. Though X proves to be quite the enigma, inspiring loyalty from his fellow vamps, and something else -- that she dare not contemplate, dare not give a second thought to -- within her.
“Tell me then, if you’re so sure. Tell me who I am.” His nose touches mine. Without hesitation, he says, “A pain in my ass. A thorn in my side. I hate all humans, but you might be the most annoying one I’ve ever met.” (Ch 11)
Captivating Teen/YA dystopian post-apocalypic vampire and slayer fantasy! Great character development. They are believable and consistent. Plus, I'm a sucker for a good turn of phrases, and this book is riddled with them. And hooray for morally grey and forbidden attractions!
eARC courtesy of Entangled Publishing/Entangled Teen
"I know this is wrong , that he’s wrong, but I’m famished, starving , and I can still taste him in my mouth." (Ch 16)
“Resilience is survival,” he’d whisper, stroking my hair. “You will learn this, or the world will chew you up and spit you back out.” (Ch 4)
The world was overrun by vampires. Ruby and her twin, Ripley, were found and saved by Barnett, the leader of the Hunt, when they were children. They had lost their parents, and Barnett had lost his wife and daughters.
Barnett trained them to be soldiers, but Ruby was the one who had the most potential. She had worked so hard to become a Slayer, but on the day she led a unit, she lost her sister to the notorious and elusive X.
".... I can’t save her. Not anymore. That promise is broken. I run and run and run, leaving her behind. In the Open, there’s no mercy." (Ch 3)
Her sister was dead, but not dead dead. There was a slim hope for a cure. Now all she had to do was wait for it and find a way to get her sister back... no matter the method or the cost. Even to go so far as to strike a deal with the devil. She had to save Ripley before she died again. Though X proves to be quite the enigma, inspiring loyalty from his fellow vamps, and something else -- that she dare not contemplate, dare not give a second thought to -- within her.
“Tell me then, if you’re so sure. Tell me who I am.” His nose touches mine. Without hesitation, he says, “A pain in my ass. A thorn in my side. I hate all humans, but you might be the most annoying one I’ve ever met.” (Ch 11)
Captivating Teen/YA dystopian post-apocalypic vampire and slayer fantasy! Great character development. They are believable and consistent. Plus, I'm a sucker for a good turn of phrases, and this book is riddled with them. And hooray for morally grey and forbidden attractions!
eARC courtesy of Entangled Publishing/Entangled Teen
June 9, 2025
Vampires ended the world—and Ruby’s not here for it. Trained as a Slayer alongside her twin sister Ripley, she’s spent her life preparing to fight back. But when the most feared vampire of them all, X, turns Ripley instead of killing her, Ruby is faced with an impossible choice: break the rules, make a deal with a monster, and risk everything for a chance to bring her sister back.
This dystopian vampire fantasy was a wild, action-packed ride from start to finish. Set in a post-apocalyptic version of Charlotte, it’s a world where humanity is barely hanging on, and survival depends on strength, sacrifice, and hope. The story is gritty, suspenseful, and layered with emotional tension. I loved Ruby’s fierce determination and the powerful bond between the sisters. And X? Oh, he’s the perfect morally gray enigma—with the kind of enemies-to-lovers tension that had me hooked.
The romantic banter, the twists, and the moments of unexpected tenderness gave this book depth beyond the blood and chaos. The characters felt raw and real, and the story was beautifully paced. If you’re a fan of dystopian fantasy with heart, grit, and a good dose of forbidden longing, you’re going to devour this one.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for the ARC!
This dystopian vampire fantasy was a wild, action-packed ride from start to finish. Set in a post-apocalyptic version of Charlotte, it’s a world where humanity is barely hanging on, and survival depends on strength, sacrifice, and hope. The story is gritty, suspenseful, and layered with emotional tension. I loved Ruby’s fierce determination and the powerful bond between the sisters. And X? Oh, he’s the perfect morally gray enigma—with the kind of enemies-to-lovers tension that had me hooked.
The romantic banter, the twists, and the moments of unexpected tenderness gave this book depth beyond the blood and chaos. The characters felt raw and real, and the story was beautifully paced. If you’re a fan of dystopian fantasy with heart, grit, and a good dose of forbidden longing, you’re going to devour this one.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for the ARC!
July 28, 2025
***4.5/5 Stars***
The Ground That Devours Us was the type of book that will completely consume you and was impossible to put down. With a gritty and rugged world, characters that will own you, and a storyline that was dark and hypnotic, this easily sailed onto my favorites list!
Here's more reasons why I loved this story…
*X, oh I wanted to hate him. He was ruthless and lethal. And while he took from Ruby, he also protected her. He was all the shades of grey.
*Ruby was fierce, clever, and I was rooting for her every step of the way!
*The banter, hostility, and hate vibes were everything! It's a slow burn that played out beautifully.
*While this is a book about vampires and humans, it felt unique and new. With a dystopian backdrop, and fantasy elements woven in, I was captivated by the world that they lived in and everything we learned about the vampires.
*At times I was terrified for who I could truly trust and my stomach twisted with unease.
*The stakes grew higher as the story unfolded and I loved the twists and turns!
I cried, laughed, and fell in love. Kalla Harris made a fan for life and I can't wait to see what she writes next!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
Blog * Instagram * Facebook * Bloglovin * Feedly
The Ground That Devours Us was the type of book that will completely consume you and was impossible to put down. With a gritty and rugged world, characters that will own you, and a storyline that was dark and hypnotic, this easily sailed onto my favorites list!
Ripley looks up at me, heartbroken. She wants me to accept her, but I don’t know if I can love these new parts of her. Maybe that makes me a monster, too.
Here's more reasons why I loved this story…
“If you haven’t figured it out yet, I do wild things when it comes to you.”
His words sear me to the core. This is dangerous, this confession.
*X, oh I wanted to hate him. He was ruthless and lethal. And while he took from Ruby, he also protected her. He was all the shades of grey.
*Ruby was fierce, clever, and I was rooting for her every step of the way!
*The banter, hostility, and hate vibes were everything! It's a slow burn that played out beautifully.
*While this is a book about vampires and humans, it felt unique and new. With a dystopian backdrop, and fantasy elements woven in, I was captivated by the world that they lived in and everything we learned about the vampires.
*At times I was terrified for who I could truly trust and my stomach twisted with unease.
*The stakes grew higher as the story unfolded and I loved the twists and turns!
“What are you most afraid of?”
His answer is quick, breathless. “You. A thousand times, you.”
I cried, laughed, and fell in love. Kalla Harris made a fan for life and I can't wait to see what she writes next!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
Blog * Instagram * Facebook * Bloglovin * Feedly
August 1, 2025
This is an ARC review. I want to thank Kalla Harris and Entangled Publishing for allowing me the chance to read this book ahead of release day! This book easily rose on my one day binge worthy books! One book I would gladly absolutely read again and again!
Ruby & Rip are the sisters I wish I had! They are fiercely loyal and protective of each other. You see this time and time again throughout the book. Ruby shows just how brave she is countless times of as a human fighting against vampires with special abilities she still fights for her mission to save her sister. Who comes to find out has found she has fully found herself in the best way possible!
X showed to be the leader any and everyone vampire or not should follow. His drive to help those he loves and follows him are an estimate to a true leader. Unlike Barnett, Ruby and Rip’s “father”/commander of their compound, who is an absolute terror and overall horrible person. I have very strong negative feelings about him as a whole. I cannot express how much I dislike him and all who worked on floor seven! They can all eat dirt.
Ruby and X clearly team up and have their own ups and downs of trust with each other which causes tension. There’s ever growing sexual tension between the two and I couldn’t have been more happy when they finally decided neither one of them cared if one was a vampire or not. They both were able to grow so much of just seeing the other side in a different light.
It couldn’t have ended any better and what I had hoped for all along. I won’t spoil it but I will say I hope that their community shines as bright as the bioluminescent mushrooms.
Ruby & Rip are the sisters I wish I had! They are fiercely loyal and protective of each other. You see this time and time again throughout the book. Ruby shows just how brave she is countless times of as a human fighting against vampires with special abilities she still fights for her mission to save her sister. Who comes to find out has found she has fully found herself in the best way possible!
X showed to be the leader any and everyone vampire or not should follow. His drive to help those he loves and follows him are an estimate to a true leader. Unlike Barnett, Ruby and Rip’s “father”/commander of their compound, who is an absolute terror and overall horrible person. I have very strong negative feelings about him as a whole. I cannot express how much I dislike him and all who worked on floor seven! They can all eat dirt.
Ruby and X clearly team up and have their own ups and downs of trust with each other which causes tension. There’s ever growing sexual tension between the two and I couldn’t have been more happy when they finally decided neither one of them cared if one was a vampire or not. They both were able to grow so much of just seeing the other side in a different light.
It couldn’t have ended any better and what I had hoped for all along. I won’t spoil it but I will say I hope that their community shines as bright as the bioluminescent mushrooms.
July 29, 2025
‘The world ended ten years ago.
Vampires showed up, took over, and turned the whole planet into their personal all-you-can-drink buffet. The president? Bloodsucker. The government? Bloodsuckers. My social life? Absolutely nonexistent.’
This was a group read courtesy of Entangled Insiders where we were supposed to read 11 chapters a day, starting yesterday and stay a uniformed course…..
But I accidentally read the whole thing. Yesterday. The first day...🥴
I didn’t expect to become so consumed, especially since YA isn’t a genre I would typically shun the world for.
But this book was genuinely such an unexpected delight with a refreshing and unique take on the vampire/enemies to lovers trope.
Well-developed characters, both MC’s and secondary’s who will have you raging one minute, laughing the next & hopeful & smiling soon after that. So yeah, absolutely all the feels. (Bonus: X was gloriously hunky & delectable. Meowwwww..)
Honestly, I just had the best damn time reading this book! It was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time! A thoroughly enjoyable read!
Huge thanks to Entangled Publishing, LLC for this opportunity! I am so grateful and I had so much fun!
Vampires showed up, took over, and turned the whole planet into their personal all-you-can-drink buffet. The president? Bloodsucker. The government? Bloodsuckers. My social life? Absolutely nonexistent.’
This was a group read courtesy of Entangled Insiders where we were supposed to read 11 chapters a day, starting yesterday and stay a uniformed course…..
But I accidentally read the whole thing. Yesterday. The first day...🥴
I didn’t expect to become so consumed, especially since YA isn’t a genre I would typically shun the world for.
But this book was genuinely such an unexpected delight with a refreshing and unique take on the vampire/enemies to lovers trope.
Well-developed characters, both MC’s and secondary’s who will have you raging one minute, laughing the next & hopeful & smiling soon after that. So yeah, absolutely all the feels. (Bonus: X was gloriously hunky & delectable. Meowwwww..)
Honestly, I just had the best damn time reading this book! It was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time! A thoroughly enjoyable read!
Huge thanks to Entangled Publishing, LLC for this opportunity! I am so grateful and I had so much fun!
May 16, 2025
The Ground that Devours Us is a dystopian vampire story that couldn’t have been more fun to read. Set in Charlotte a few decades from today, half the humans are now powerful vampires or mindless bloodsuckers, and the others are just hoping to survive. Ruby and her sister Ripley are training to become vampire slayers, and if they are lucky they’ll end the most menacing vamp of all, X.
I was swept right up into this story which was full of action, twists, and romantic banter (he calls her Little Gem! 🥰). Loved the bond between the sisters. There was a surprising amount of humanity and kindness for a book with so much killing. I would love to read more of this story!
Many thanks to Entangled Publishing for the ARC.
I was swept right up into this story which was full of action, twists, and romantic banter (he calls her Little Gem! 🥰). Loved the bond between the sisters. There was a surprising amount of humanity and kindness for a book with so much killing. I would love to read more of this story!
Many thanks to Entangled Publishing for the ARC.
July 26, 2025
What a romp this was! Post-apocalyptic vampire swoony romance at its best. I loved how propulsive every moment was - I couldn't put it down! If you like TRUE enemies-to-lovers and the dramatic twists and turns of shows like The Vampire Diaries and Buffy, you'll love this book.
June 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
2.5 stars rounded up.
First thing I’ll say about this book is it is very very heavily teen/early YA worded. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. I just don’t think I’m a the full audience for this book. Some titles don’t seem so teen-y or super YA but this one felt very much so.
The second which I believe plays hand in hand with that is the timeline. The timeline seemed jumbled at times and a bit unclear. I still don’t understand how one turns into a vampire or into a blood walker. Maybe I glossed over that part but I don’t think it was really flushed out. The settings would change very quickly from chapter to chapter without much lead in. In my opinion, the book needs more polishing.
I did like how Rip was able to find herself and Ruby had to learn how to accept it. I wish there was more interactions between a lot of the characters as it felt the relationships formed overnight at times.
I think again my lower rating comes from this being a very teen driven novel and I’m not that target audience.
2.5 stars rounded up.
First thing I’ll say about this book is it is very very heavily teen/early YA worded. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. I just don’t think I’m a the full audience for this book. Some titles don’t seem so teen-y or super YA but this one felt very much so.
The second which I believe plays hand in hand with that is the timeline. The timeline seemed jumbled at times and a bit unclear. I still don’t understand how one turns into a vampire or into a blood walker. Maybe I glossed over that part but I don’t think it was really flushed out. The settings would change very quickly from chapter to chapter without much lead in. In my opinion, the book needs more polishing.
I did like how Rip was able to find herself and Ruby had to learn how to accept it. I wish there was more interactions between a lot of the characters as it felt the relationships formed overnight at times.
I think again my lower rating comes from this being a very teen driven novel and I’m not that target audience.
August 4, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
This book was delightful! I wasn't sure whether to expect something comical or dark going in, because it can really go either way for a vampire romance, but this one did both in equal measure. Ruby and her twin sister Ripley are living in one of the last human compounds in a world filled with vampires, and the only thing they know is that the vampires must be taken out so the humans can survive. When Ripley becomes the very thing they've been fighting against for their whole lives, Ruby decides to join forces with the enemy to save her.
X, number one on the most-wanted vampires list, was so swoony. Think Stefan Salvatore, constantly fighting his instincts to kill and trying to save the humanity in all of the vampires. He was protective, strong, and smart, but he also wasn't afraid to ask for help when he needed it or take it when offered. So basically he was kind of perfect. Ruby was outspoken and rash, but also incredibly brave. She was constantly fighting against the brainwashing that she had endured for years under the hands of her trainers, and was always willing to risk herself to save the people she loved. They made a pretty formidable team when it came to making the world a better place again.
The twists at the end caught me so off guard! I didn't see any of them coming. The action was nonstop and the real villains were revealed at just the right time. It didn't end on a massive cliffhanger thankfully, but I still can't wait for book 2 in the future to see what happens next.
The audiobook was really well done. Cris Dukehart carried the narration solo as Ruby and did a great job.
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! I got it to participate in the Entangled Insiders readalong, and I'm so glad I did.
This book was delightful! I wasn't sure whether to expect something comical or dark going in, because it can really go either way for a vampire romance, but this one did both in equal measure. Ruby and her twin sister Ripley are living in one of the last human compounds in a world filled with vampires, and the only thing they know is that the vampires must be taken out so the humans can survive. When Ripley becomes the very thing they've been fighting against for their whole lives, Ruby decides to join forces with the enemy to save her.
X, number one on the most-wanted vampires list, was so swoony. Think Stefan Salvatore, constantly fighting his instincts to kill and trying to save the humanity in all of the vampires. He was protective, strong, and smart, but he also wasn't afraid to ask for help when he needed it or take it when offered. So basically he was kind of perfect. Ruby was outspoken and rash, but also incredibly brave. She was constantly fighting against the brainwashing that she had endured for years under the hands of her trainers, and was always willing to risk herself to save the people she loved. They made a pretty formidable team when it came to making the world a better place again.
The twists at the end caught me so off guard! I didn't see any of them coming. The action was nonstop and the real villains were revealed at just the right time. It didn't end on a massive cliffhanger thankfully, but I still can't wait for book 2 in the future to see what happens next.
The audiobook was really well done. Cris Dukehart carried the narration solo as Ruby and did a great job.
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! I got it to participate in the Entangled Insiders readalong, and I'm so glad I did.
August 2, 2025
This was such an enjoyable YA, dystopian, vampire read! Lots of action and great banter between the FMC and MMC.
Ruby has seen how vampires have ruined humankind. Now, trained as a slayer, she’s ready to help the commune and fight against vampires. But when her sister, Ripley, is turned into a vampire, Ruby does what she can to save her while realizing that maybe there’s more humanity in the vampires than she thought.
This story kept my interest right from the start with its action and fast pace. There’s a little gore but nothing too intense since it’s YA. One of the best parts is definitely X since he’s such a complex character. I found Ruby to be slightly annoying at times but it could possibly be because I’m not the target audience.
I’d highly recommend this to anyone looking for something with Buffy, Vampire Diaries, and Last of Us vibes.
Thank you to Entangled for the gifted copy!
Ruby has seen how vampires have ruined humankind. Now, trained as a slayer, she’s ready to help the commune and fight against vampires. But when her sister, Ripley, is turned into a vampire, Ruby does what she can to save her while realizing that maybe there’s more humanity in the vampires than she thought.
This story kept my interest right from the start with its action and fast pace. There’s a little gore but nothing too intense since it’s YA. One of the best parts is definitely X since he’s such a complex character. I found Ruby to be slightly annoying at times but it could possibly be because I’m not the target audience.
I’d highly recommend this to anyone looking for something with Buffy, Vampire Diaries, and Last of Us vibes.
Thank you to Entangled for the gifted copy!
August 1, 2025
The ground that devours us was Earth shattering good!!! The plot was addictive and a different type of vampire story. I loved it!! The HEA was worth the fighting and the violence. The romance between Ruby and X was adorable, I just loved the witty banter and all the comebacks from each of them! It made this not only interesting, action packed but funny in its own way.
Read
June 6, 2025I loved the words the author shares with the readers at the beginning, but sadly I didn't click with the story or characters
December 30, 2025
Interesting concept, but things are a bit chaotic.
3.5 Stars
3.5 Stars
July 8, 2025
Super intriguing apocalyptic cross vampire rom com. Ruby and Ripley are twins and have been raised up to be a slayer (vampire unaliver) when faced with their final test prior to being able to graduate things don’t go to plan and Ruby must make a choice that can greatly alter the life she’s always lived.
August 16, 2025
This book is a dystopian YA novel where vampires have taken over the world. This book gave me all the vibes from Buffy and TVD and I was here for it. The banter was on point and the atmosphere felt unique for this genre. I loved the relationship between Ruby and Ripley their loyalty and love for each other is the heart of this story. Look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Teen for this ARC all opinions are my own.
Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Teen for this ARC all opinions are my own.
June 21, 2025
Thanks to Entangled for the eARC. I received this arc after release which is why my review is after release.
This is a very difficult book for me to rate but ultimately I decided to go with a 2 rather than a 3 because I don’t think I would ever willingly recommend this one to anyone. There were too many questions and issues for my taste.
First, let’s get this out of the way… I am too critical of a reader for this book. If you want to shut your brain off for a bit and only take in exactly what this book tells you, then maybe you’ll enjoy it. But I question things. I ask “why?” and “how?” It’s the way I read. So if the author does not give me enough information for me to infer things…. I don’t like the book. 😅 and I’ve read and watched WAY too many dystopians for this book to be worth it for me personally.
This book was a mediocre version of The Last of Us. It takes place 10 years after a vampire / Bloodwalker “virus”? Takes over the world so people turn into either Bloodwalkers (essentially zombies with no cognitive function) or vampires - creatures that need human blood to survive but still have some humanity. We’re never really told how it’s determined whether you get turned into a Bloodwalker or vampire…. Just that “a will to live” helps the process - whatever that means. 😅
One big qualm I had was that it felt like… there’s no continuity of what objects and cool things from the past people had. It seemed like there was a class difference in the Vaile but this was touched upon within five sentences and never mentioned again. Ruby is the adopted daughter of the leader so we never get to see how the “poor” lives. It’s kind of sad in a way, that it’s mentioned but never used. Why not just have a city of mutual respect where everyone gets food and water and cleanliness? 🤷♀️ If you’re not using the rich/poor dynamic, why have it? Ruby has a black lacy underwire bra for goodness sake. ☠️ Why any girl would willingly wear that while slaying monsters is beyond me.
I could go on about specific issues I had but it all boils down to what I said - I am too critical to enjoy this. I needed more answers. 🤷♀️ There is something near the end that affects only SOME humans and it’s never even explained. 🤪 like what.
There were very small parts of the book that I liked: tiny scenes or lines. But overall, the choices made in the plot overwhelmed those good points for me. And Ruby was too much like Ellie from TLOU for my taste: brash, snarky at dumb times, and she didn’t think before acting. I didn’t like her at all.
So if you haven’t read many dystopians and you won’t ask the “why?” questions, go ahead and read this one. But if you’re a critical reader like I am, steer clear.
This is a very difficult book for me to rate but ultimately I decided to go with a 2 rather than a 3 because I don’t think I would ever willingly recommend this one to anyone. There were too many questions and issues for my taste.
First, let’s get this out of the way… I am too critical of a reader for this book. If you want to shut your brain off for a bit and only take in exactly what this book tells you, then maybe you’ll enjoy it. But I question things. I ask “why?” and “how?” It’s the way I read. So if the author does not give me enough information for me to infer things…. I don’t like the book. 😅 and I’ve read and watched WAY too many dystopians for this book to be worth it for me personally.
This book was a mediocre version of The Last of Us. It takes place 10 years after a vampire / Bloodwalker “virus”? Takes over the world so people turn into either Bloodwalkers (essentially zombies with no cognitive function) or vampires - creatures that need human blood to survive but still have some humanity. We’re never really told how it’s determined whether you get turned into a Bloodwalker or vampire…. Just that “a will to live” helps the process - whatever that means. 😅
One big qualm I had was that it felt like… there’s no continuity of what objects and cool things from the past people had. It seemed like there was a class difference in the Vaile but this was touched upon within five sentences and never mentioned again. Ruby is the adopted daughter of the leader so we never get to see how the “poor” lives. It’s kind of sad in a way, that it’s mentioned but never used. Why not just have a city of mutual respect where everyone gets food and water and cleanliness? 🤷♀️ If you’re not using the rich/poor dynamic, why have it? Ruby has a black lacy underwire bra for goodness sake. ☠️ Why any girl would willingly wear that while slaying monsters is beyond me.
I could go on about specific issues I had but it all boils down to what I said - I am too critical to enjoy this. I needed more answers. 🤷♀️ There is something near the end that affects only SOME humans and it’s never even explained. 🤪 like what.
There were very small parts of the book that I liked: tiny scenes or lines. But overall, the choices made in the plot overwhelmed those good points for me. And Ruby was too much like Ellie from TLOU for my taste: brash, snarky at dumb times, and she didn’t think before acting. I didn’t like her at all.
So if you haven’t read many dystopians and you won’t ask the “why?” questions, go ahead and read this one. But if you’re a critical reader like I am, steer clear.
June 10, 2025
I love it when I say I don’t read a certain genre, or type of character, only to read a blurb for a book and HAVE to read it. I keep saying I don’t like dystopian books. Ha. I think they’re my catnip. I was inexplicably drawn to Kalla Harris’s The Ground that Devours Us.
In 2038, the world as everyone knew it was destroyed. Vampires took over, and people either died, became vampires, or worse, became bloodwalkers. In Charlotte, North Carolina, eight-year-old twins Ruby and Ripley Clemmons became orphans after their mother was attacked and killed. While out scavenging, the girls are saved by Barnett, founder of Vaille, the secured human compound, and commander of Hunt, its security force. Barnett lost his wife and daughters to a vampire attack, and he sees the girls as his kids. As his pseudo-daughters, he expects them to hate and be vampire slayers like him and has had them in training for years.
Now eighteen, Ruby has one more supply run mission before she’s officially able to graduate and become a slayer. The mission is simple: Take her sister, her best friend, Ginger, and a group of new recruits to the aquarium, grab some lingering supplies, and make it back to home base. But things go horribly wrong. The group encounters two of Vaille’s most wanted vampires, X and Marjorie, resulting in Ripley becoming a vampire and Marjorie being captured. Barnett deems Ruby a failure and demands that she bring Ripley back to Vaille. With her sister being a wanted vampire, Ruby strikes a deal with X. He will protect Ripley until Barnett perfects the vampire cure he’s been working on, and Ruby will help X get Marjorie out of confinement. With two sworn enemies, trust is a fragile thing.
The Ground that Devours Us kept me glued to the pages. At some point, I realized my stomach was hurting because of Kalla’s ability to make me feel so empathic toward Ruby and her emotions, feelings, wants, and desires. Make no mistake, this was a good story. But also a sad story. There is definitely a lot of blood, gore, and violence. There's betrayal and walk through fire loyalty. There's found family and friendship. I'm going to say there's a little redemption. Some characters experienced personal growth, which I loved. There’s romance, but not a lot of it. I loved the banter and scenes with Ruby and X. A negative for me was not truly understanding how vampires and bloodwalkers came to be. The book distinguishes vampires as being unalive, but still retaining their humanity, while bloodwalkers have a thirst for blood and nothing more. I have no idea how one becomes unalive, a vampire, or a bloodwalker after a vampire attack.
I don’t know if The Ground That Devours Us is supposed to be part of a series or just a single book. The ending is solid and provides some closure, but I can see where this could be just the beginning.
~ Favorite Quotes ~
“Everything’s going to be fine.”
“Never stop believing there are other journeys to be had.”
“The world will try to make sense of you and never will, so stop asking them to. Instead, make sense of yourself.”
“Manipulation isn’t love.”
“Not everything has to stay broken forever.”
“We can choose to make a better future.”
“Being alive doesn’t equate to living.”
“You don’t have to need something to enjoy it.”
“You can’t love someone when you don’t know how to love yourself.”
“We can’t change the past, but we can change the future.”
“Friendships are like seasons.”
“Trust is something that is built. Earned.”
“Hope, more than anything, is the greatest power of all.”
**Received a copy of the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it. Also personally purchased a paperback copy.**
In 2038, the world as everyone knew it was destroyed. Vampires took over, and people either died, became vampires, or worse, became bloodwalkers. In Charlotte, North Carolina, eight-year-old twins Ruby and Ripley Clemmons became orphans after their mother was attacked and killed. While out scavenging, the girls are saved by Barnett, founder of Vaille, the secured human compound, and commander of Hunt, its security force. Barnett lost his wife and daughters to a vampire attack, and he sees the girls as his kids. As his pseudo-daughters, he expects them to hate and be vampire slayers like him and has had them in training for years.
Now eighteen, Ruby has one more supply run mission before she’s officially able to graduate and become a slayer. The mission is simple: Take her sister, her best friend, Ginger, and a group of new recruits to the aquarium, grab some lingering supplies, and make it back to home base. But things go horribly wrong. The group encounters two of Vaille’s most wanted vampires, X and Marjorie, resulting in Ripley becoming a vampire and Marjorie being captured. Barnett deems Ruby a failure and demands that she bring Ripley back to Vaille. With her sister being a wanted vampire, Ruby strikes a deal with X. He will protect Ripley until Barnett perfects the vampire cure he’s been working on, and Ruby will help X get Marjorie out of confinement. With two sworn enemies, trust is a fragile thing.
The Ground that Devours Us kept me glued to the pages. At some point, I realized my stomach was hurting because of Kalla’s ability to make me feel so empathic toward Ruby and her emotions, feelings, wants, and desires. Make no mistake, this was a good story. But also a sad story. There is definitely a lot of blood, gore, and violence. There's betrayal and walk through fire loyalty. There's found family and friendship. I'm going to say there's a little redemption. Some characters experienced personal growth, which I loved. There’s romance, but not a lot of it. I loved the banter and scenes with Ruby and X. A negative for me was not truly understanding how vampires and bloodwalkers came to be. The book distinguishes vampires as being unalive, but still retaining their humanity, while bloodwalkers have a thirst for blood and nothing more. I have no idea how one becomes unalive, a vampire, or a bloodwalker after a vampire attack.
I don’t know if The Ground That Devours Us is supposed to be part of a series or just a single book. The ending is solid and provides some closure, but I can see where this could be just the beginning.
~ Favorite Quotes ~
“Everything’s going to be fine.”
“Never stop believing there are other journeys to be had.”
“The world will try to make sense of you and never will, so stop asking them to. Instead, make sense of yourself.”
“Manipulation isn’t love.”
“Not everything has to stay broken forever.”
“We can choose to make a better future.”
“Being alive doesn’t equate to living.”
“You don’t have to need something to enjoy it.”
“You can’t love someone when you don’t know how to love yourself.”
“We can’t change the past, but we can change the future.”
“Friendships are like seasons.”
“Trust is something that is built. Earned.”
“Hope, more than anything, is the greatest power of all.”
**Received a copy of the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it. Also personally purchased a paperback copy.**
July 31, 2025
The Ground that Devours Us by Kalla Harris
4.7⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (rounded up to a 5)
Spice: 0.4/5
Cursing: little
Format/Source: ebook ARC from NetGalley, EntangledTeen
Genres/Tropes: fantasy, dystopian, vampires, enemies to lovers
Settings: Charlotte, NC
Audience: YA
Characters: Ruby, Ripley, X, Ginger, Sigmund, Barnett, Marjorie, Scar Eye, Monroe
Quotes: "Manipulation isn't love." - Ripley
👍 short chapters, vampires and slayers, nickname "little gem," twist, storyline, dystopian vampire story, world building, characters invoke strong feelings, twins, fast-paced
👎 can't think of anything
Description:
The world ended ten years ago.
Vampires showed up, took over, and turned the whole planet into their personal all-you-can-drink buffet.
At least I had one thing going for me—slayer training. My twin sister, Ripley, and I were about to go pro to do something about the whole “undead overlords” situation.
And then X had to show up. The vampire boogeyman. And instead of killing Ripley, he turned her. Now she’s technically a vamp, but something tells me my sister is still in there.
What can I do? Strike a deal with the most dangerous vampire on the planet: X will protect Ripley from everyone else who wants her dead—like, really dead—until I can snag the cure for vampirism. The catch? Risking my own head to help him free his BFF from the very slayers who taught me everything.
My opinion:
Kalla pens a fun dystopian vampire novel that is fast-paced with an unexpected twist. It gave me Buffy vibes with a hint of TWD. The world building was new and interesting, but also not overwhelming. The short chapters made for an effortless read. The characters were written so well that I had very strong feelings towards them. Twins have always been a favorite of mine, and Ruby and Rip don't disappoint. I always love reading a book with characters who love to read, and the MMC did so in this book! The nickname "Little Gem" was so appropriate. I truly appreciated that there was very little cursing to pollute the storyline. I was thoroughly entertained by this novel and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys vampire stories.
#bookstagram #arcreader #booklovers #netgalley #vampirebooks #booktok #kallaharris
***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
4.7⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (rounded up to a 5)
Spice: 0.4/5
Cursing: little
Format/Source: ebook ARC from NetGalley, EntangledTeen
Genres/Tropes: fantasy, dystopian, vampires, enemies to lovers
Settings: Charlotte, NC
Audience: YA
Characters: Ruby, Ripley, X, Ginger, Sigmund, Barnett, Marjorie, Scar Eye, Monroe
Quotes: "Manipulation isn't love." - Ripley
👍 short chapters, vampires and slayers, nickname "little gem," twist, storyline, dystopian vampire story, world building, characters invoke strong feelings, twins, fast-paced
👎 can't think of anything
Description:
The world ended ten years ago.
Vampires showed up, took over, and turned the whole planet into their personal all-you-can-drink buffet.
At least I had one thing going for me—slayer training. My twin sister, Ripley, and I were about to go pro to do something about the whole “undead overlords” situation.
And then X had to show up. The vampire boogeyman. And instead of killing Ripley, he turned her. Now she’s technically a vamp, but something tells me my sister is still in there.
What can I do? Strike a deal with the most dangerous vampire on the planet: X will protect Ripley from everyone else who wants her dead—like, really dead—until I can snag the cure for vampirism. The catch? Risking my own head to help him free his BFF from the very slayers who taught me everything.
My opinion:
Kalla pens a fun dystopian vampire novel that is fast-paced with an unexpected twist. It gave me Buffy vibes with a hint of TWD. The world building was new and interesting, but also not overwhelming. The short chapters made for an effortless read. The characters were written so well that I had very strong feelings towards them. Twins have always been a favorite of mine, and Ruby and Rip don't disappoint. I always love reading a book with characters who love to read, and the MMC did so in this book! The nickname "Little Gem" was so appropriate. I truly appreciated that there was very little cursing to pollute the storyline. I was thoroughly entertained by this novel and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys vampire stories.
#bookstagram #arcreader #booklovers #netgalley #vampirebooks #booktok #kallaharris
***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
May 31, 2025
An addicting YA dystopian set in a post apocalyptic world with vampires that had me hooked from the start! While the romance is a slow burn, the banter between Ruby and X totally made it worth it. Ruby’s a strong, fierce main character, and her twin sister Ripley are training to be a vampire slayer. The world-building is really well done. I got a clear sense of how everything’s changed and the constant struggles that come with surviving in it. Ruby is snarky and deadly. She’s the kind of character who’ll stake a vampire with sass. Add X into the mix and it’s both hilarious and surprisingly sweet. I found myself looking forward to every scene they had together.
Ruby has to work with X to keep Ripley safe from other slayers. But can a human and a vampire really team up, especially with so much on the line? Time’s running out, lives are at stake, and it’s survival of the fittest.
The narrator, Cris Dukehart does an amazing job portraying Ruby, X, Ripley and many of the other characters. The tones and inflections used are spot on. Cris breathed life into the characters. From the sassy to high stakes moments, Cris used perfect tone and timing. Loved it!
This is perfect for lovers of YA dystopian, vampires, slayers, reluctant allies, slow burn romance, witty banter, and bloodsucker with a heart.
Huge thanks to @kayepublicity + @entangledteen + @entangled_publishing + @netgalley + @tantoraudio for the gifted copy!
Ruby has to work with X to keep Ripley safe from other slayers. But can a human and a vampire really team up, especially with so much on the line? Time’s running out, lives are at stake, and it’s survival of the fittest.
The narrator, Cris Dukehart does an amazing job portraying Ruby, X, Ripley and many of the other characters. The tones and inflections used are spot on. Cris breathed life into the characters. From the sassy to high stakes moments, Cris used perfect tone and timing. Loved it!
This is perfect for lovers of YA dystopian, vampires, slayers, reluctant allies, slow burn romance, witty banter, and bloodsucker with a heart.
Huge thanks to @kayepublicity + @entangledteen + @entangled_publishing + @netgalley + @tantoraudio for the gifted copy!
June 9, 2025
I almost didn't grab this book because it's Young Adult, and I'm so glad I changed my mind!
The only thing YA about The Ground That Devours Us is the age of the characters. They have a wicked sense of humor reminiscent of the 90s but are otherwise mature and level-headed.
It has a similar feel as Feed by Mira Grant, one of my all-time zombie books but with vampires and a TRUE enemies-to-lovers romantic subplot.
Ruby is our heroine, and she's seen a lot in her short 18 years on this earth: the vampire apocalypse, her mom becoming undead, and countless dead bodies (some she killed herself). Then she runs into X, the Big Bad himself. Undead psychopath. Leader of the group of vamps who can think rather than exist to drink blood alone, and creature responsible for the (un)death of Ruby's twin sister.
Oh yeah. And he's the MMC.
The Ground That Devours Us became my entire personality when I was reading it. I created an unhinged set of stories on Instagram tracking my progress and raced to B&N to grab a physical copy.
Fans of dark dystopian novels with a ton of humor and heart NEED to read this!
Thank you, Entangled Teen, for the chance to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The only thing YA about The Ground That Devours Us is the age of the characters. They have a wicked sense of humor reminiscent of the 90s but are otherwise mature and level-headed.
It has a similar feel as Feed by Mira Grant, one of my all-time zombie books but with vampires and a TRUE enemies-to-lovers romantic subplot.
Ruby is our heroine, and she's seen a lot in her short 18 years on this earth: the vampire apocalypse, her mom becoming undead, and countless dead bodies (some she killed herself). Then she runs into X, the Big Bad himself. Undead psychopath. Leader of the group of vamps who can think rather than exist to drink blood alone, and creature responsible for the (un)death of Ruby's twin sister.
Oh yeah. And he's the MMC.
The Ground That Devours Us became my entire personality when I was reading it. I created an unhinged set of stories on Instagram tracking my progress and raced to B&N to grab a physical copy.
Fans of dark dystopian novels with a ton of humor and heart NEED to read this!
Thank you, Entangled Teen, for the chance to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 4, 2025
The world ended 10yrs ago. Vampires took over in all forms. Twin sisters are taken in by a compund leader, and raised to be slayers. Yet, have all the stories been true? is death and killing the only options? When Ruby's sister (ripley) gets turned to a vamp, and unlikely partnership is formed. Ruby wants protection for her sister while finding a cure. Does she loathe "X"? absolutely. Is this against ever slayer code? of course! Yet there isnt anything she wouldn't do for her sister.
""tell me then, if you're so sure. Tell me who I am" his nose touches mine. without hesitation, he says "a pain in my ass. a thron in my side. I hate all humans, but you might be the most annoying one I've ever met".
This YA dystopian post- apocalyptic fantasy will have you hooked from the first chapter. it is steady paced, with believable characters and growth. if forbidden attraction and morally grey is a fave trope, you will eat this up! At first it really wanted to hate X. yet, I ended up loving him, and resonating alot with Ruby herself on how she felt responsible for perfecting her family. I read this in a readalong/buddy read...i couldn't put it down and ended up reading ahead. This book touches on loyalties, family, friendships, love, and how sometimes how to balance them all isn't so cut and dry. amazing read, highly recommend!!
""tell me then, if you're so sure. Tell me who I am" his nose touches mine. without hesitation, he says "a pain in my ass. a thron in my side. I hate all humans, but you might be the most annoying one I've ever met".
This YA dystopian post- apocalyptic fantasy will have you hooked from the first chapter. it is steady paced, with believable characters and growth. if forbidden attraction and morally grey is a fave trope, you will eat this up! At first it really wanted to hate X. yet, I ended up loving him, and resonating alot with Ruby herself on how she felt responsible for perfecting her family. I read this in a readalong/buddy read...i couldn't put it down and ended up reading ahead. This book touches on loyalties, family, friendships, love, and how sometimes how to balance them all isn't so cut and dry. amazing read, highly recommend!!
July 5, 2025
This book was so good! This is my first YA novel of this year and I'm surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did. The angst and the relationship between X and his little gem was so endearing even in a world full of vampires and vampire hunters! Some of the battle scenes were confusing to me a bit and hard to follow but a quick re-read and I was tracking again. The author did a fantastic job with the vampire world and I like her little spin on it like how they can eat regular human food as well. They can't survive off it but they can still enjoy it. It really honed in for me as a reader what she was trying to portray about the vampires in her book: that yes they have changed into this blood sucking creature but there still a little humanity left in them. This book is perfect for parents looking for clean YA fantasy. It had just enough angsty romance to keep me interested but definitely no spice or smut at all making it appropriate for the younger audience it's geared towards. The title of the book makes sense once you get to the end and everything comes to a finale.
June 29, 2025
This was such a good read. There is never a dull moment. In a dystopian era world where vampires and an unintelligent zombie version called a Bloodwalker have wiped up much of humanity, compounds host human survivors who are trying to stay alive and kill as many blood suckers as possible. Ruby is faced with a challenging situation that changes everything in her world, including everything she was trained to believe. I love that this book showcases the dark side of humanity when it comes to revenge. If we take a closer look, we can change and grow from the past we have lived. The banter between Ruby and X is fantastic.
Thank you to Entangled Teen for the ARC.
Thank you to Entangled Teen for the ARC.
May 25, 2025
I really enjoyed The Ground That Devours Us, which features a compelling cast of characters and fun plot. Years ago, humans began rising from the dead as Bloodsuckers and vampires. The uninfected humans were forced to make safe compounds, and this is where we begin with protagonist Ruby. She's training to be a vampire slayer, but she's forced to team up with X, the most infamous vampire, in order to save her sister Ripley after Ripley is turned into a vampire. I loved the dynamics between the characters, especially the one between Ruby and X, and how Ruby evolved throughout the story. Overall, this was a strong debut, and I recommend it to anyone who likes morally grey characters, a fast-paced plot, and original takes on vampires.
Thank you to Entangled Teen for the ARC!
Thank you to Entangled Teen for the ARC!
April 30, 2025
A fun return to dystopian romance! The Ground That Devours Us brings action, banter, and a touch of slow-burn romance that’s easy to get into. The pacing keeps things moving, and the characters have just enough bite to keep you hooked. Definitely one to add to your TBR!
August 27, 2025
This was such a great book. Who doesn't love a great vampire human book. This is also a dystopian book where there are humans, vampires and walkers. The romance is so good, the found family makes you love it even more. The twists that are in this book have you on the edge of your seat.
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