Bite

by R Byrd, Rachel Ross (Illustrator)

In the remote reaches of Valmere, Sorina’s life has been a cycle of toil and silence, a wretched existence on a failing farm. But when a chance encounter with a strange traveler named Marcus disrupts the bleak rhythm of her days, everything changes. Marcus is no ordinary wanderer—he carries secrets as dark as the forests that border her home, and his interest in Sorina is far from benign.

Ousted from his territory and weakened by a long journey, Marcus sees in Sorina an unlikely curiosity—an orphaned girl with a stubborn will to survive. Against his better instincts, he spares her, and a dangerous alliance is formed. As they travel northward through shadowy forests and crumbling towns, the two find themselves drawn into a slow, uneasy bond—one built on wariness, hunger, and a sense of fractured trust.

Sorina learns to navigate the mysteries of her new companion, aware that the protection he offers comes with risks she cannot yet understand. The farther they journey, the more she glimpses the truth of Marcus’s nature, and the more she questions what place she holds at his side. For Marcus, Sorina becomes both a test of restraint and a reminder of the humanity he left behind—an unsteady balance between protector and predator.

But Marcus’s true home lies far beyond the forests, in the ancient halls of Kövarna—a place where his kind reigns and mortals like Sorina rarely survive unscathed. As they draw closer to the borders of his old world, the dangers grow, and Sorina must decide if she can trust the shadow that walks beside her—or if the real danger awaits beyond Marcus’s ever-watchful eyes.

Bite is a tale of gothic allure and slow-burning tension, where the line between captor and companion blurs with each passing day. It’s a story of survival, of the fragile bond between a girl with nothing left to lose and a vampire who holds her fate in his hands. And it’s a journey that asks what it means to seek comfort in the arms of a monster, when the shadows of his world threaten to swallow them both.

401 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2025

Reviews

[evie ⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must start by saying that this book is dark and if you love complex characters with a thin line of doubt if they’re good or bad, you should read Bite.

When I read this kind of tropes, I always think about the atmosphere of the book and I think this was impeccable delivered. Marcus and Sorina’s story is full of deep emotions and while the story was built, the feeling of everything becoming more messier and the intricacies about the relationship between these characters becomes more eerie and profound, which I think it was beautifully described because the narrative was spectacular in this book.

The dynamics of Marcus and Sorina since the start is very captivating in a crazy way and if you love good dark books, you should read Bite.

Thank you for the arc.

[Jason Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

As someone who is obsessed with vampires, Bite was a fantastic read. The connection between Sorina and Marcus and their character growth as they traveled together was beautifully written. I love the fact she was not turned and instead is facing this new life as a mortal. It leaves major potential for the next part in the series (and seeing how it ended I'm very excited to see where it goes!). Definitely a 5 star read.

[Adrianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is based on the advanced reader copy I was given.

This book is intended for mature readers age over 18 plus.
It contains violence, and death on page.
It also has open door content. That is not very descriptive nor explicit.
As it was originally described..
Which I don’t appreciate descriptions not matching the actual material.

Initially I was drawn into this book. It was captivating, and had an interesting storyline.
Unfortunately I found the story continued to be drawn out.
Extending it while creating twists, and turns.

Just when you think that there is a solid connection, and a bonding.

Another twist occurs, then another, and another.

I was disappointed to discover this is a cliffhanger.

I was also not impressed with the shift in writing style.
Which included the constant use of: and, but, or; & because to begin sentences.

The majority of them were unnecessary or redundant.
I also caught myself getting frustrated by how constantly it occurred the further into the book I was.


If you don’t mind long drawn out, cliffhangers.
This might be something you could consider reading.

I personally prefer interconnected standalone stories, and occasionally make an exception. For me this will not be one of those times.
I will not be continuing this series.

I received my advanced reader copy of this book for free.
I am also choosing to voluntarily leave my honest albeit critical review.

[Vikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story itself? Not bad at all. In fact, Bite delivers some excellent world-building and a dark, gothic atmosphere that feels like it’s been carved out of shadow and sorrow. R. Byrd definitely knows how to set a mood.

Marcus and Sorina’s journey is a slow, emotional unraveling — full of tension, wariness, and complicated attachment. Their dynamic is all about survival, restraint, and that thin, dangerous line between captor and companion. I loved how deeply emotional some of their moments felt, especially as their bond began to shift and evolve.

That said… this book is definitely a slow burn. It felt a bit elongated at times — like we were circling around something that never fully landed — and then we hit a damn cliffhanger just as things were really starting to get intense.

But even with the slow pacing, I found myself invested in both characters and their journey. There’s a quiet power in the way Sorina grows, and Marcus… well, he’s exactly the kind of restrained, haunted vampire I can’t help but want to read more of.

So yes — I’ll definitely be picking up the next book. Because I need to know what happens next… and I’m not ready to let this world go just yet.

[Reader_for_LifeTLG · Rating 4 out of 5]

She will survive. - Subjected to a life of despair by her selfish family, Sorina is almost thrilled when they are no more. This stranger, a vampire, saved her from drudgery, so it almost makes sense that they travel together. Marcus is on a journey to reclaim his home, stolen by one he thought a friend. As they travel through the cold, dreary wilderness, the MCs will form a bond that his enemies will try to use to break him. He doesn't know why he feels protective of the little human, but he will destroy any who try to hurt her. A good look into the fantastical world of vampires and the deadly games they play, the story starts off slow but builds steadily in a crescendo that will spark a blaze as the series continues. The players have been assembled, are on their marks. Let the games begin.

R. Byrd appears to be a new author, this the first of, I hope, many valiant efforts. Detailed to the point I could smell the sea air and feel the cold, teeming with imagination, and humming with tension and betrayal. I look forward to more in this series and others.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kaylyn Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bite is an impressive debut that delivers everything I love about dark romance—moody atmosphere, intense emotions, and characters who feel both dangerous and deeply human. From the very first pages, I was hooked by Sorina and Marcus' magnetic dynamic. Their connection is layered, messy, and beautifully written, drawing you deeper into a world where nothing is black and white.

Bryd does a phenomenal job creating a tone that seeps into every interaction, building tension and intrigue with each chapter. The emotional complexity of the characters makes the story feel alive, and the pacing so far has kept me fully engaged. I can already tell this will be one of those stories that sticks with me long after the last page.

If you’re a fan of dark romance with morally gray leads and an immersive, eerie vibe—Bite is a must-read.

I received this book via Booksprout and am happy I did!

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bite is a dark ever evolving, twisty, turny morally gray story. Wee bit of open door spice. More getting to know the characters this go round. Good stuff. Let’s see what book 2 brings us …

*** Recommended ***

HEA/Cliffhanger:
* Cliffy
Series:
* Book 1
MMC:
* Marcus
FMC:
* Sarena
Tropes:
* Gothic Romance
* Dark Fantasy
* Forbidden Love
* Enemies to Lovers
* MF
Triggers:
* 18+
* On Page Sex
* Violence
* Death
* Blood
* Gore
* Profanity
Burn Speed:
* Slow
Spice Level:
* 🌶️🌶️🌶️.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Born in the Eternal series, a dark fantasy romance with excellent world-building that makes it easy to imagine the setting and draws you deep into the story. The characters are interesting and complex. The book is written from the perspective of several characters, but mostly from the perspective of Sorina and Marcus. The plot is intriguing, so I didn't want to put the book down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rose Argent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryd weaves a tale of darkness, morally gray characters and dark beast together in her book, Bite. This dark romance embraces the gothic feel as the reader views the events from different lens. It is easy to fall into Sorina and Marcus' story as they progress on their journey. If you care for the dark romances, you should give this book a try.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a strong opening chapter to the Bite series, it had that vampire romance elements that I was hoping for and enjoyed from this type of book. It was a unique concept and worked with the world that was going on. The characters had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. R. Byrd wrote this well and left me wanting more in this trilogy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Artemis Cienfuegos · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times I got lost in the story and what it was trying to build. The magical world was described in depth, and I really felt like there were times where I thought I understood things and then things would change. I think it’s a worthwhile read, but not something I would read again.

[Alba Dorado · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been amazed by this read: These characters are complex and through my reading experience, I've felt the dark but captivating vibes in the book. It has been worthy to meet Marcus and Sorina - morally gray? characters.