I never wanted to be a vampire. But here I am, freshly turned and on the run from the monster who made me.
MistHallow Academy is supposed to be my sanctuary, a place where I can learn to control my powers. Instead, it's become a battleground of desire and danger.
Three guys have caught my eye. They're each intoxicating in their own way, and I'm drawn to them all.
Caine: the Ice Demon with his arctic touch and fiery passion. Thorne: the Dark Fae nobility who sees right through my defenses. the Dragon shifter saviour who makes my undead heart race.
But there's no time for romance when students start turning up dead, drained of blood. The accusations fly, and all eyes turn to the new vampire on campus. To clear my name and protect the home, the sanctuary I desperately need, I'll have to embrace the very nature I've been fighting against, while I can feel my sire's presence growing stronger. He's coming for me, and I'm running out of time.
Welcome to my descent into the shadows where the nights are dark, the stakes are high, and the hunger runs deep.
This is a dark paranormal romance book 1 out of 3 in a brand new reverse harem romance by USA Today Bestselling Author, Eve Newton. Set in England and written in British English, you will come across TWs so please see inside for details.
Eve is a USA Today Bestselling Author with a specialty for steamy romance with strong female leads.
She lives in the UK, with her husband and five kids, so finding the time to write is short, but definitely sweet. Eve has a number of series, both completed and on the go and hopes to release some new and exciting projects, both paranormal and contemporary in the future, so stay tuned!
One of my biggest issues with this author is her inability to write deep, complex characters and plots. Her books are like Lay's potato chips to me, while they are food the chips don't really satisfy the hunger you may have.
Everything is very surface level and there's a fair bit of telling and not showing.
The FMC is supposed to be in her 20's, but people around her are talking to her like she's 12.
One of the most criminal offenses, once the FMC reaches the academy, the plot happens less than a week. Too rushed with not enough oomph in the action sequences that did transpire. Plus there's sooooo much dialogue.
The nicknames used in this book: little flower, princess (how original), snowdrop, baby girl (another original one), little vampire girl, and dear girl.
well, that felt like the literary equivalent to snack food. enjoyable enough, addicting at the time, but no real substance or value.
this reminded me deeply of how I used to write stories when I was in middle school. which isn't inherently a negative thing, but..... I question still writing like that as an adult, and getting something published at that quality. I haven't run into a mary sue this obvious since my fanfiction days. something about the book still scratched that deep itch I have and kept me going, somehow without getting horribly annoyed (idk how either but I'm not gonna question it), but ultimately my patience was thin by the end of it and I found myself eye-rolling after.... nearly everything.
idk. FMC has HARDCORE mary-sue-syndrome and I can't expect this book or the rest of this series to be anything more than what it is, which is essentially a bag of shitty quality store-brand potato chips you can't seem to stop eating. knowing that, I'm not sure I want to bother with the rest of the series. I'm curious about how it all ends up but..... not that curious.
Eve has outdone herself with this masterpiece. From the first chapter I was hooked. We get to see so much of what happens from the very start. The world building and character development was on point with this one. I absolutely loved this that I read twice.
Violet- her trauma was on page and the way it was described had me in tears. I know that I couldn't have been as strong as her if this was me. Her character as so many depths that it mesmerizing to say the least. The way she kept fighting even when it was easier to give up was so amazing to watch. I really love her character.
Flint- hott dang, he is definitely a snow dragon daddy and I am here for it. The way he stepped up immediately and didn't even get any answers before he did the right thing was truly inspiring. The way he is with Violet makes me so jealous and so swoony that it makes me crave more of him. He's perfect.
Cain- I can not express how much I love him. For one, he's an Ice Demon and carries a cane!? Could you imagine all the steamy possibilities we could use that came for?! The way he is possessive, caring and level headed is truly amazing. There is a scene in head masters office that was so dang hott I had to fan myself. When a MMC shows off his magical strength and shows just how much is loves his other half is so hott. Love him!!
Thorne- I love how his character is slower than the rest. He's mysterious and super smart about his Dark Fae ways that we get to see a deeper dive into their ways than we did with Prince Zephyr, in Crimson Shadows. I love how Eve shows is the connection between characters. I need more of this and I just know that he will be a great shadow daddy when we get more from his character. Love him.
Liam- we see different character traits with this one. I am not sure how I feel about him. I can tell he wants to be friends with Violet but doesn't want to get on Cains bad side. He also hinted something the cafeteria that I haven't gotten out of my head yet. You will have to read this to find out.
Nathaniel- don't like him one freaking bit. I want him to suffer the most gruesome way possible.
Glazier- Love him and his belief in his son Flint.
If you haven't read this yet, you need to. It is absolutely worth a read. I HIGHLY recommend this and anything Eve Newton has written. You will not be disappointed.
Blood & Thorns is set in MistHallow Academy the same World that the Immortal Descent series is based in too. That series is definitely worth reading because it's a flaming great read.
This book focuses on newly turned Vampire - Violet. She's completely out of her element in this new Supernatural World but she seems to have attracted 3 guys - Flint, Caine and Thorne who only seems to want to help her thrive at MistHallow. I really liked the dynamic that they had together and how protective the guys were towards Violet.
It was a flaming brilliant start to this trilogy and that cliff-hanger ending was knockout. I can't wait for book 2.
This book was somehow on fast forward and had nothing happen at the same time.
We rush through relationships and at one point she even says I love you to one of the guys and we just miss any sort of real connection between any of the characters. I'm assuming it's a fated mates situation as it was hinted at a few times but we don't get clarification on that. We do even really get to see any of the characters personalities come through at all and it becomes very surface level. I wanted to just skip several chapters at the end because I wanted to see the end but not take the effort to read it
What is this plot and how do so many people give it 3+ stars. It is a jumbled mess. We have the ever present threat of her sire bond, a mean girl with that basic petty banter, and apparently all the older adults know a super big secret she doesn't know. Even if flints dad acted like he had no idea how to help her or acted like he knew anything at all in his previous conversations with flint. It was too little of too much. We don't get information but we get a large number of stressors which is not a good balance.
Then let's talk main character. She is maybe the most chaotic thing about this book. Her emotions and feelings surrounding her life are like whiplash. We have a strong willed woman one minute and a blubbering mess the next.
Our FMC Violet, a newly turned vampire (Baby Vamp). turned by and abusive creepy old vamp (Nathaniel). I genuinely find this dynamic interesting to read about. The pull of a sire/progeny bond. The feeling of Stockholm syndrome is intriguing. Our Love Interests. (I love me a reverse harem): Flint: "Our Savior" an Ice Dragon Shifter- He's a sweet guy Thorne: Dark Fae Lord: Feels like the intellectual type. Caine: Ice demon: protective confident and arrogant at times. Carries a cane and it's kinda the vibe.
The book deals with Violet's transformation, her acceptance of what she is and doing her best to get away from Nathaniel and his thrall. It's a long hard journey. And she is more than she seems. I like that the guys relationships with their parents seem mostly positive. I like that Vi seems to gain confidence relatively quickly as I have trouble with the "Poor me save me" trope.
My only issue is that this author tends to harp on points I don't need to be told over and over that Vi has gone through trauma and doesn't need more. It gets tiring. I felt like it was almost whining about how impatient Vi was about the ritual they find; but that could be a plot point later so I let it slide.
My first book by this author and I was not impressed. This was not good. At all. The plot, writing, insta lust. I was interested in the beginning but everything just went downhill. They all confess their love after a couple days and the love confession was so anticlimactic. It was said in passing and no one paused or said anything else about it. There is no real depth to the character or story. Everything is surface level. They're all trying to figure out how sire bonds work with vampires and the headmaster or anyone else doesn't think to talk to a vampire? To let a vampire guide her and help her newly turned self? They just let a dragon, demon, and fae protect her? She doesn't even meet a vampire. What sense does this make?
I was excited to read this and the other connected series. I don't even know If I want to try it now.
Do you like action? Do you like vampires? What about a snow dragon ? Maybe even some dark prince? Okay last question…. What about Fae?
If you answered yes to any of those above then what are you waiting for? Go ahead and click that button because this book is action packed and words to describe it just can’t do it justice. Right to action you go when you open this book. And you will become addicted by chapter 2. I can not wait to see what’s to come from Eve in this series.
Violet is so strong and very accepting to her new supernatural life. I hated what the sire bond did to her but she's so amazing. And her mates were the freaking best! Loved those guys. 💜
Good 1) Cover is gorgeous 2) Writing was competent. 3) Storytelling was mainly smooth and engaging. 4) The beginning did a beautiful job of bringing to life the horror of the female lead's situation. 5) Female lead was a good mix of vulnerability and backbone. (Her verbal slap-down on the 'mean girl' was epic!) 6) Snowdrop was a cute nickname.
Neutral 1) This is not a stand-alone story; it is the FIRST THIRD of a single complete story.
Bad 1) World-building needed more work. 2) The main plot was just kinda thrown in at the end without any foundation or build-up (should have been at least hinted at by the half-way mark). 3) Female lead was 36 DD on top and a size 8 (us) on bottom and, despite the fact that those babies would stick out significantly on that frame and weight up to three pounds, it was not shown to effect her at any time including while she was running, engaged in physical combat or having sex. (I can only assume the author has never met anyone with double Ds on a smaller frame.) 4) Male leads were interchangeable outlines with the same voice. 5) They didn't even have unique physical characterizations highlighting their races. 6) Relationship-building was non-existent. The male leads met the female lead and were immediately all-in (I am assuming it was the double Ds). 7) Smut lacked romance, passion or erotica.
Do not work for me. YMMV. 1) Having two lead characters whose species are traditionally associated with heat/fire both be cold/ice was weird. And confusing at times. The ice dragon I might have been able to get on board with if he wasn't still associated with warmth/fire as well. But the ice demon? For that to work for me, his physical description needed to be of an ice demon instead of just a nordic human.
It was okay. Not terrible but nothing new or unique either.
Why choose/ paranormal/ shifter/ found family/ touch her and die/ OW/OM drama/ cliffhanger
Trigger warning: death of a loved one/ murder/ death/ bloodlust/ kidnapping/ starvation/ manipulation/ threatened SA
I wanted to like this one but I felt that the plot was all over the place. I’ve read books by this author before that I’ve enjoyed, however, this one just wasn’t as good.
Unfortunately there were a few typos and on page 351 of the book, the word “time” was present on six different occasions. I don’t even know why I noticed it and I’m sure no one else cares but it irritated me and took me out of the story for a bit.
The spice was alright. The OW drama was annoying. The storyline itself takes place within like, a month MAYBE. From the time the FMC meets the MMCs until the end of the book, I think they’d known each other for about a week. I’m all for instalove but the pacing seemed rushed and the characters declarations of love didn’t feel genuine. Also the whole “the FMC is not who we think she is” plot point was confusing. I’m sure it will be explained in the subsequent books but I don’t care enough to read them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I'm trying really hard to like this series. I'm not convinced yet. Violet is a character that is all over the place emotionally. She's super weak. Then, she shows some strength. Then, she's back to weak. I honestly don't know what to think about her, but I'm not liking her too much as of the end of this book. We add insta-love to the strikes against this book. It is immediate and the "fated mate" trope us the excuse. While I don't mind there being a quick start to a RH, all the guys liking her at once was a little much for me.
Let's talk about the Nathaniel thing. I'm honestly a little confused about it. I can understand that he created her. What I don't get is all this power he has. Whether he's an old vampire or not, vampires only have certain magical capabilities. Yet, somehow, Nathaniel can break through wards nobody else can? He can control her from her dreams? I don't know, but I'm having a hard time believing it.
I realize that this is the first book and the setting and plot are just being introduced. I'm giving this book a 3 because of that. I'm hoping it improves as the plot moves forward.
After watching the murder of her parents and being hunted through the streets, Violet was turned and bonded against her will by a sadistic vampire. Malnourished and traumatic, Violet puts her trust in a stranger and runs. When she's dropped off at MistHallow, she quickly finds three men who are willing to risk everything to protect her. Flint, a Snow Dragon shifter who helped Violet escape. Caine, an Ice Demon Prince, and Thorne a Dark Fae who can reach Violet no matter how deep she slips into her head.
I love this story. Violet fighting against her nonconsensual bond and her protective men watching over her was too good. Her trauma was always in the room with them, but the guys did really well at navigating it. Props to Caine, my fav., for allowing Violet to make decisions for herself instead of making them for her in the name of "protecting her".
Eve did a great job with this story. I'm excited for Book 2 and to read more about Violet and her three softies who will absolutely wreck your soul if you mess with their woman.
Turn your brain off for this one. It’s only fair to approach it like the author did.
Inconsistencies upon inconsistencies. Her autonomy has been taken away, discussed, and deliberated as something in need of protecting, yet one of the guys determined to be her ‘protector’ says he’s going to do so until he’s deep inside her (how sweet), then does just that with his tongue in her mouth, without her consent, just minutes after the deliberation.
He then says it’s past time people know she’s his. She’s been there for a couple hours, tops.
Her fangs drop down, which she says is instinctive in response to a threat, but she’s not supposed to know that they do that yet or why. She then runs to her room, crying, but she hasn’t been shown to a room yet. Where the hell ya goin?
She couldn’t care less that her parents were murdered before her very eyes. The conversations are either cryptic or childish. The instalove is ridiculous. But her acceptance of their insanity makes her right at home, us along with her, in this nuthouse of a novel.
Well written rh, pnr, Academy, lost heritage, with multiple paranormal characters. Our 21 year old heroine is stolen by an ancient vampire who has just murdered her parents. He turns her into a vampire and begins trying to program her as his virtual slave. After three desperate weeks of psychological abuse, she is rescued by a visiting dragon shifter who takes her to the Academy. This story is full of colorful characters including three who fall in instant love with her. They all fight to break her vampire sire bond and keep him away from her. It's a little over the top, but generally quite entertaining.
I love coming back to characters and places from other series and I was excited to be back at MistHallow University! When Violet escapes a traumatizing situation that she thought she was hopeless to get away from she is taken to a whole new world at MistHallow. Not knowing anything of the supernatural world, Violet gets a crash course! Flint, Caine and Thorne are instantly taken with Violet and Eve weaves a paranormal tale that has danger, kidnapping, touch her and d!e vibes from the men, that keep you entertained from start to finish! I love immersing myself in the worlds that Eve creates!
Eve has outdone herself! This book is amazing and I cannot wait to see where this series goes! I love Violet and how strong she is despite everything she has gone through. I love the guys who have immediately vowed her to protect her and believe her no matter what even without the full story. There’s no bullying from the guys so even better. I loved the paranormal aspect to it all too, the guys are unique and not just the same type of creatures you always see in books. Definitely a must read!
*I CAN'T GIVE HALF STARS HERE, SO IT'S A 4,5 STAR*
When I started this book I had absolutely no idea where it was about but I absolutely loved it! I finished this and still don't know with who Violet is gonna end up with! The ending? Omg, give me book two right now! Cliffhanger alert! So glad book two and three are already out, so I don't need to wait, because I wouldn't survive that. Already in love with this trilogy. I saw Eve Newton write a lot of Fantasy books, so I'm going to try them all!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is a fast paced Romantasy series with more twists and turns than a maze (and there is actually a maze).
You follow Violet and her mates Flint, Caine and Thorne on their journey to save the supernatural world. Despite everything that they face, they overcome their obstacles and show that as long as they’re together anything is possible. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy it’s filled with enough humour, excitement, love and heartache to have you eagerly anticipating the next book.
Wat heb ik net uitgelezen, waarom die einde... Ik zit nog met zo veel vragen in mijn hoofd na dit einde van dit boek.... Waarom is het zo goed geëindigd ? Wat ik vindt van dit boek is absoluut meer dan 5 star waardige. Er komt enorm spanning, wat gevuld worden met kracht, liefdes en heel grote vriendschap. Ik dacht het meer smut in zit maar dat eigenlijk niet zo, daarom vindt ik het zo goed. Ik wou ook zo drie knappe jongens rond mij hebben om me te beschermen tegen deze wereld. WOW, zo puur en kracht. En ik ga onmiddellijk boek 2 lezen....
Wow just when I think I have things figured out Eve Newton throws another twist in. Violet is the FMC and she's a vampire who goes to school at MistHallow. She has attracted the attention of Thorne the dark Fae, Flint the snow dragon, and Caine the ice demon. All three men are willing to do whatever it takes to protect Violet. Violet is learning about being a new vampire and is finding her self confidence. This book is a must read, page turner that I couldn't put down. If you like paranormal books then you will love this book. I'm sitting on pins and needles waiting for book 2.
Fantastic book!! Right away I got sucked in. Seriously so much happened right in the first couple pages. So much action!!! Violet who is the main character gets turned into a vampire and wow the storyline just gets better and better the more I read. . Also get to meet her guys. Flint , Thorne and Caine. All of them I’m obsessing over currently. First book of the series and I want more!! Absolutely recommend reading.
Eve's knocked it out of the park, again. This is book one of the series, and it sizzles. Violet loses her parents and is bonded to an ancient vampire against her will. She manages to escapes his clutches with the help of Flint and his dad. She is enrolled at MistHallow Academy for her protection. She meets 2 others that want to make her theirs; Caine and Thorn. This book is dark, and hot. It checks all the boxes, and that cliffy!
Violet was made against her will and trapped with her tormentor of a sire. Flint comes to her rescue and gets her to MistHallow University. (Yes, that MistHallow for those of you that are as obsessed with Eve's books as I am!) This is where she meets her two other men, Caine and Thorne. You will root for Violet and her men throughout her journey of finding herself in her new life.
I couldn't wait for this book to release. Violet watched her psrents being murdered and then is changed and bonded against her will by a vampire. A stranger helps her run. He takes her to Misthallow. There she meets four students that want to protect her at all cost. Caine, Flint, and Thorne protect and help Violet through her traumas. Her master is closing in on her. Can violet and her guys save her from him?