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Bloodstained

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Ivan Vorlok was once a powerful prince. But betrayal broke his world and took the only thing that made him human. His wife.

Now, for centuries, he lived in the shadows, a monster of myth and whispered superstition. Blood was his only solace, violence his only language.

Eternity was his curse.

In rage and despair, Ivan gave himself to the darkness, trading his soul for immortality and becoming something monstrous in the hopes one day his one true love would return to him.

He was now a monster who killed in her memory just to ease the undying pain her absence left.

And then there was Clara. An identical reincarnation of his wife, Mircalla. She bore a new name, a new life without the memories of them he held, but her soul was the same. He’s found her again, and this time, he wouldn’t let her go.

Clara feared him. Yet beneath the terror was something else—an echo of what they once were to each other. He was her captor, but soon, she’d remember who they truly were to each other.

Their story was one of obsession and betrayal, but underneath all of it was a love so relentless it defied death itself.

A dark gothic, and romantic reimagining where Dracula meets Nosferatu.

Their story was one of obsession and betrayal, but underneath all of it was a love so relentless it defied death itself.


*A dark gothic, and romantic reimagining where Dracula meets Nosferatu.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 27, 2025

130 people are currently reading
346 people want to read

About the author

Jenika Snow

437 books8,812 followers
Jenika Snow is a USA Today Bestselling Author, and has been a published writer since 2009.

She can be found at:

www.jenikasnow.com
FB: www.facebook.com/jenikasnow
Twitter: twitter.com/jenikasnow
Email: Jenika_Snow@yahoo.com

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
Profile Image for Jen ♥.
1,753 reviews967 followers
October 28, 2025
"Our story was never meant to last forever. I had always known that.

But for as long as she lived, I would make her years the happiest she’d ever known.

Because she was mine. And when it stopped, I would follow.

This wasn’t a romantic tragedy. It wasn’t a curse.

It was a romance that followed the natural flow of life. It was our love story. "



Mircalla (past life) was reincarnated as Clara. She doesn’t remember anything from before, but somehow she felt this pull to go to this specific town, so that's exactly what she did. 

Ivan waited for his wife to return for five whole centuries (more than I think)! 🥹 The moment he saw her, he just knew she was the love of his life. And this time, he's going to do whatever it takes to keep her around and remind her of the life they once had.

Ahhhh, this novella really got to me—definitely made me tear up more than some of the standalone books I've read this year. It was both heartbreaking and sweet at the same time. I really enjoy those timeless love stories where the MCs held on to their love, even if it's been centuries. They're just so captivating! This was sooo good. 🥹



Profile Image for Dul.
428 reviews254 followers
November 10, 2025
Nunca pensé que jenika podría escribir esto 😨

—Te seguiré. —Mi voz era de hierro. — Cuando tu corazón se detenga, el mío también. Soy lo suficientemente fuerte como para partir piedra con mis manos, para oír un latido a través de un kilómetro y medio de bosque, para oler la sangre bajo la tierra. Pero incluso mi fuerza tiene límites. Cuando te vayas, te seguiré. Arderé hasta que no quede nada más que cenizas, o me cortaré la garganta con la hoja hasta el hueso. No por debilidad, sino por devoción. Te he esperado vidas enteras, Clara. No soportaré otra sin ti.
Profile Image for magui.
25 reviews2 followers
November 19, 2025
las frases/diálogos se repiten mucho y nunca termina pasando nada wow que digamos. la portada? divina
Profile Image for Ana .
227 reviews36 followers
November 5, 2025
"In my broken, evil heart, I only wanted one thing. My true love to return."

omg I loved this book!!
Profile Image for Kate V.
1,840 reviews365 followers
October 28, 2025
Dracula meets Nosferatu retelling. Sweet, smutty and short.

“There it is,” he whispered. “The truth you try to hide.” He smirked. I hated how handsome he was.

“You can lie with your lips, but your body will always betray you.”


Honestly not the ending I really wanted because it didn’t feel super HEA even though it technically was.
Profile Image for Brandi.
344 reviews8 followers
October 23, 2025
This book is hands down one of my favorite vampire romances! If you've seen the movie Dracula Untold (one of my favs) then this book is that but continuing after the ending. It's actually so so good! It has the perfect vibes for this month as well.

Clara and Ivan have a passionate love that transcends time. Ivan would literally tear heaven and hell apart to be with his wife. The way that we learn and see their past life together, what happened, how Ivan became a vampire, Clara remembering her past self, and them reuniting is genius and unique. I really enjoyed the chapters where it was their memories.

I loved the full-circle moment we got later with her ex. It really connected everything well. I wasn't sure what was going to happen after she got her memories of her past life and accepted Ivan; was she going to turn into a vampire now, was he going to be "cured", would they have kids, etc. and I loved that there were answers for all of that and not in the typical way I've seen many times in other books. The ending was happy but also different from what I thought would happen. I loved it and will be getting the gorgeous paperback for my shelf!
Profile Image for Athanasia ♥︎ .
390 reviews28 followers
November 11, 2025
NOW THAT WAS WHAT I NEEDED AFTER DRACULA!!!!!!🖤🖤🖤

This is definitely one of my favorite books by Jenika. The yearning was everything I was looking for. I just hoped it was longer, to be honest, but only because I did not want to stop reading. The language use was everything I needed from a gothic romance; Beautiful and dark!

Tags:
Paranormal MMC🧛‍♂️🧞‍♂️ 🧜‍♂️
Suspence and fantasy🔪 🗡 ⚔️
Different times and time jumps🧭 ⏱ ⏲
Dark romance🥵🔞✨
Forbidden love 💙 💜 🖤
Possessive MMC💞 💓 💗
Blood sharing💉 🩸🪒
Murder👀🩸🔪
Violence 👀☠️😬
Monster Smut👺👾🤤
Novella📖📙 📚
HEA🌠 🎇 🎆
Grieff❤️‍🔥💔
Profile Image for S. Morgenstern.
590 reviews1 follower
Read
December 12, 2025
“Ódiame por ello. Ódiame por necesitarte para respirar. Por recordar lo que se sentía tenerte entre mis brazos en otra vida, y perderte por una traición. Ódiame por los siglos que he pasado buscándote.”
Profile Image for Tatianna.
298 reviews95 followers
Want to read
October 4, 2025
THIS cover with THAT blurb? Immediate add to tbr.
Profile Image for Gabrielle Espinoza.
605 reviews55 followers
November 11, 2025
Yo creo que los vampiros y yo, no somos tan amiguitos 😳 eso sí, si me hizo acordar en muchas escenas a Nosferatu!
Profile Image for JenniiTheBookAddict.
202 reviews11 followers
October 25, 2025
Jenika delivers yet another short, captivating and spicy, slow burn novel that’s going to be ready to read right on time for this Halloween.

What to expect?
-Vampire
-Yearning
-Forced Proximity
-“My Beloved”
Profile Image for Anja.
14 reviews
October 29, 2025
the only good thing about this book is the cover.
Profile Image for guapito.reynolds04.
240 reviews2 followers
December 12, 2025
Reseña — Bloodstained de Jenika Snow

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5 estrellitas porque me gustó muchooooo

Bloodstained es ese tipo de historia oscura, gótica y obsesiva que te agarra desde la primera página y no te suelta. Tiene esa vibra de “Drácula meets Nosferatu” pero con el sello de Jenika Snow: intenso, sangriento, romántico y con una atmósfera tan pesada que literalmente sientes el dolor de los personajes.

Ivan fue mi parte favorita del libro. Este hombre, o bueno, este ser, ya no existe como humano. Lo que queda es un monstruo nacido del dolor, la violencia y la traición. Fue príncipe. Fue amado. Fue feliz alguna vez. Y después se lo arrancaron todo cuando perdió a su esposa, Mircalla. Ese detalle es lo que más me gustó: toda su ferocidad nace del amor, del dolor de haber perdido a la única persona que le daba humanidad. Se dejó consumir por la oscuridad, se volvió inmortal y pasó siglos matando en nombre de ese amor que lo quebró.

O sea… el nivel de tragedia es hermoso.

La aparición de Clara es el punto central de la historia. Es la idéntica reencarnación de Mircalla, pero con un nuevo nombre, nueva vida y cero recuerdos. Y esa parte me encantó porque se siente como un choque entre destino y terror: ella no sabe quién es él, no recuerda nada… pero su alma sí. Clara tiene miedo, duda, retrocede… pero también siente esa conexión inexplicable que la jala hacia él. Y lo que más me gustó es que no es una protagonista pasiva: se nota que tiene fuerza interna aun cuando no entiende su papel en todo este reencuentro tan oscuro.

El libro gira en torno a esa línea tan delgada entre amor eterno y obsesión enfermiza. Ivan quiere recuperarla cueste lo que cueste, incluso si para Clara esto empieza siendo un secuestro, un terror desconocido o una prisión emocional. Y ese tono me encantó. Es dark romance, pero del verdadero: sangre, sombras, deseo, violencia emocional, destino trágico. Todo encapsulado en ese estilo gótico que te hace sentir que estás leyendo una historia maldita, antigua y hermosa.

Lo que más me gustó: la atmósfera: oscura, decadente, como un castillo lleno de murmullos, el romance obsesivo que no intenta ser “sanito”, esto es amor que duele, el concepto de la reencarnación y el alma que reconoce antes que la mente, los paralelos entre Ivan y Clara/Mircalla: pasado y presente chocando y que es corto pero muy intenso; cada página se siente importante.

En resumen, Bloodstained es trágico, apasionado, violento, romántico y delicioso en ese estilo gótico que sabe mezclar terror con amor eterno.
Es una historia de almas que se encuentran a través de siglos de muerte y dolor, una historia donde el amor no salva pero sí consume. Y por eso mismo, me encantó. Cinco estrellitas bien sangrientas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
538 reviews9 followers
November 2, 2025
The story follows Clara, an artist who travels to a remote Romanian village to work at an art gallery. Almost immediately, she feels a strange connection to the land and begins to experience vivid, sensual dreams of a man calling to her. That man is Ivan Tepes, an immortal vampire prince cursed by the loss of his wife, Mircalla — the woman Clara turns out to be the reincarnation of.

The early chapters build tension through the isolation of the Romanian countryside and the supernatural pull between Clara and Ivan. Her human boyfriend, Laszlo, serves as a foil — controlling, jealous, and aggressively mortal. His presence only highlights the inevitable: Clara doesn’t belong to the modern world anymore.

When Ivan finally reveals himself (after a series of eerie sightings, dreams, and that first bite), the novel shifts from gothic mystery to sensual captivity. He kidnaps Clara — or “takes her home,” in his words — to his ancient castle. It’s part Beauty and the Beast, part Dracula, and part reincarnation tragedy. Ivan is written as both predator and penitent, torn between the monster he’s become and the lover he’s lost.

There’s an extended flashback to his origin: betrayed by a trusted friend, losing Mircalla to poison, and surrendering his soul for immortality. The chapters from Ivan’s perspective are some of the strongest — lyrical, brooding, and soaked in centuries of grief. His yearning for Clara isn’t just lust; it’s cosmic obsession.

By the end, Clara starts to remember who she was. The story teases her awakening as Mircalla, setting up either her surrender to Ivan’s darkness or the reclamation of her own. The final scenes are equal parts sensual and terrifying — a fitting end for a book that’s about how love can both save and damn.

As a Romanian, I especially enjoyed this story because I know how the legend of Vlad Țepeș has traveled around the world. Even though it’s just a legend, I love seeing the stories and myths that continue to be created around it. There’s something deeply satisfying about reading a gothic romance that draws so much inspiration from the folklore of my own culture.
Profile Image for Elsa Reyna.
446 reviews7 followers
October 23, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ivan Tepes was damned. The love of his life was stolen from him, leaving behind only a shell of a man—an immortal consumed by bloodlust and grief. But when he sees Clara, something inside him stirs for the first time in centuries. He’s certain she is Mircalla, the reincarnation of the woman who once held his heart, and he will stop at nothing to bring her back to him.

From the moment Ivan and Clara meet, the story unfolds like an ache that never fully heals—an old soul’s romance, woven with longing, destiny, and the cruel passage of time. Yes, Ivan is a vampire and our dark, tortured love interest, but at its core, this is not just a vampire tale. It’s a story about two souls bound by love, separated by power, and tested by fate.

Clara’s struggle is deeply human—torn between disbelief and the undeniable pull she feels toward Ivan. She insists she isn’t his lost Mircalla, yet through haunting visions of the past, the truth begins to bloom like a painful memory she can no longer deny. What makes Ivan so captivating is his restraint—he never forces her to see what he believes; instead, he waits, patient and reverent, knowing she will come to realize what he already knows: they are one, always have been, and always will be.

When they finally surrender to their connection, it’s both beautiful and devastating—the kind of moment that leaves you breathless, clutching the book just to feel something real. There is one scene that may catch some readers off guard (you’ll know it when you reach it), but even that serves to deepen the raw, haunting nature of this timeless story.

In the end, this isn’t just a vampire romance—it’s a tale of eternal love, loss, and redemption. The writing is rich, emotional, and hauntingly beautiful. It lingers long after the last page, reminding you that some loves are written in blood, bound by fate, and endless as time itself.
Profile Image for Chelsey | igniting_the_page.
93 reviews12 followers
October 27, 2025
"Right now, in this room, I was no one to her. But to me... to me she was everything."

A cursed man, his beloved and a love story that transcends time.

Ivan Tepes, a once fierce and powerful warrior has cursed himself to a monstrous eternity after losing his beloved Mircalla.
Centuries later, we meet Clara, whom seems to have an inexplicable pull to Romania, and decides to make a big change and take a job opportunity and move there.
Upon her arrival, Ivan knows exactly who she is- his reincarnated love Mircalla... although Clara has no idea.
Ivan is not the same man from his time when he lost Mircalla, and he is not going to lose this opportunity he's spent lonely centuries waiting for, having his beloved wife return to him. He will make Clara remember, whether she want's to or not.

Bloodstained was such a fantastic romance, with the perfect gothic vibes for this time of year. This ticked all my boxes for what I had been needing with a vampire romance. The 'reincarnated love' idea in a vampire romance is one of my favorites that I don't think is done enough and have always wanted to see more of.

I mean, come on... who would pine better than a cursed immortal vampire (and if he was cursed because he had lost his one true love... even better! Get you a man like that.)

Another thing I really enjoyed is the flashbacks of the time in which Ivan and Mircalla were together. You can see exactly why their love transcended time.

Bloodstained was such a fun read, perfect to scratch my 'vampire romance' itch during spooky season.

Big thanks to the author for the ARC copy!!
Profile Image for Lia Lovelace.
163 reviews1 follower
December 10, 2025
3.75⭐️ a nice (light) reimagining of nosferatu🩸
im not usually a fan of the idea of reincarnation tropes, yet this was a good tiptoe into it, i didnt mind! 🕰️
some scenes felt kinda vampire diaries coded too so if ur a fan , go for it >:)

i absolutely live for the stories when the MCs love and chemistry is quite profound and passionate - almost intensely - which doesnt come as often and is privy to certain love stories. i was happy to of felt some of those feelings in this shorter story so that was a lovely plus ☺️💘

i noticed as i read, i wanted the language to be more early english / romanian driven — the dialogue was more modernised that i had thought/hoped it would be. of course have your time era adjustments, but for someone who is 500yrs+ , i would have loved to see old habits - sonically and perhaps habitually continue throughout history.
i would have loved a bit more intensity regarding Laszlo, and maybe some threats towards Clara to really get Ivan to unleash his creature’s angry depths. though, in hindsight i think this story focuses more around soulmates/finding ur other heart half many moons later, rather than the destructive side of nosferatu . which is still cute, i just love protec n attac scenes 😅🤭

the grandmother’s acknowledgment scene was short yet very sweet. that was a nice touch too.


Profile Image for Olivia Rose.
476 reviews10 followers
December 5, 2025
I haven’t read a vampire/gothic romance in a minute & of course when I saw Jenika Snow put one out I ran to put it on my kindle! This is a reimagining where Dracula meets Nosferatu & you will absolutely love it! Ivan Tepes became the monster in the shadows after deep betrayal which lead to the death of his one true love Mircallq. Now centuries later he was met with a new woman named Clara she may have had a different name along with a different life but her sole was the Mircallq & soon she would realize that she belonged to the monster who called her his wife. I loved the whole storyline & the way Clara really found herself along with the memories of the past, the way Ivan fed off of her was very intimate along with hot because he literally worshipped her down to her core. Ivan really cared for her & that alone was so sweet that he was willing to bring her family into the castle or do anything to make her happy as long as he was by her side. The light would always be a struggle that they would face in their relationship but their love was more powerful. Overall such a good read & so many emotions were felt throughout!
Profile Image for Jan.
2,082 reviews13 followers
October 22, 2025
Ivan Tepes was damned. The love of his life is gone, taken from him. He has become nothing more than a bloodthirsty immortal. But when he sees Clara, he believes she is the reincarnation of his wife Mircalla. He will stop at nothing to bring her back to him. Clara feels the pull with Ivan but she isn’t his wife. This is more an old soul’s romance. Granted we have a vampire in the story as our dark love interest but it is the tale of two loves torn apart due to power and greed. Clara keeps saying that she isn’t his long-gone wife but through past visions things are made clear. Ivan never pushed Clara. He knows she will gradually see that they are one, and he is right. When these two finally come together it is touching and heartbreaking. There is a part that is a bit icky. When you read it, you will understand. The story is a timeless love.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Koby Rizza.
28 reviews2 followers
November 6, 2025
A gothic Nosferatu reincarnation love story... I absolutely loved this short story - it sucked me in from the very beginning and I couldn't put the book down until I was finished.

For a quick read, it certainly packed a punch and gave such a detailed world with plenty of history and drama, it felt like a full-sized novel!

Ivan, you sexy, terrifying, lovestruck monster.... the way he willingly waited lifetimes to reunite with his love translated in the way Jenika had him patient, confident and willing to yearn for his lost love for as long as it took, making the ultimate sacrifice and deal just to be with her again.

Once Clara realised her history, the spice was a spicin'! I've gotta say the period scene wasn't a fav of mine (IYKYK) but hey, I guess a vampire's gonna go what a vampire does best!

Adored the way the story ended and I'll think about Ivan & Clara for a while to come I think... (but let's be honest, mostly Ivan)

Profile Image for saray.books.
356 reviews4 followers
November 28, 2025
Ivan era un príncipe pero la traición le arrebató lo que más quería: su mujer. Vive convertido en un monstruo inmortal con sed de sangre. Y luego está Clara, la reencarnación de su mujer, con distinto nombre y con la misma alma, pero sin recuerdos.

Él era su captor pero pronto ella acaba recordando el amor tan profundo que sentían. Además tiene MUCHO spicy y eso que solo son 166 páginas.

Es una reinterpretacion de drácula junto a nosferatu.

💛 —Te seguiré. —Mi voz era de hierro. - Cuando tu corazón se detenga, el mío también. Soy lo suficientemente fuerte como para partir piedra con mis manos, para oír un latido a través de un kilómetro y medio de bosque, para oler la sangre bajo la tierra. Pero incluso mi fuerza tiene límites. Cuando te vayas, te seguiré. Arderé hasta que no quede nada más que cenizas, o me cortaré la garganta con la hoja hasta el hueso. No por debilidad, sino por devoción. Te he esperado vidas enteras, Clara. No soportaré otra sin ti.
Profile Image for Hailey.
238 reviews2 followers
October 27, 2025
Bloodstained is a dark, emotional, and haunting love story that mixes the past and present in a beautiful way.

Ivan is the kind of hero who loves hard and loses harder—possessive, protective, and completely devoted. Jenika Snow did an amazing job mixing together two timelines so you can truly feel the pain, passion, and destiny between Ivan and Clara.

“My beautiful girl, Draga mea… my beloved.”

I loved how the story wasn’t just about vampires, but about eternal love that refuses to die. The memories from their past life added so much depth, and when everything came full circle, it felt both heartbreaking and satisfying.

“I’d let the devil claim my soul, and happily given him everything I was.”

It reminded me of the Prince of Persia movie—the way “some lives are linked across time, connected by an ancient calling that echoes through the ages.” Soulmates, always finding their way back to each other.

“You never stopped believing… Every year, decade, and century… you looked into crowds hoping to see my face.”

Rating: 4/5
Spice: 2.5/5
_______________________________

Thank you to Jenika Snow for the opportunity to read and honestly review this ARC!
Profile Image for Andrea.
390 reviews
December 14, 2025
2,5 ⭐️

todavía no estoy segura con mi calificación porque pudo haber sido una historia divina pero hubo varios elementos que me hicieron demasiado ruido (aunque en el fondo los dejé pasar porque ya iba con una idea de que el libro podía ser cuestionable), la trama es interesante pero no está muy bien desarrollada o al menos me imaginé otra cosa, los personajes estuvieron bien, hubo mucha tensión (fuera de lugar a veces y en exceso) y a veces me molestaba, no sentí conexión real con los personajes ni vibras oscuras, hubo escenas grotescas que me dieron cringe, el final es triste (lo admito) porque de todas formas Clara es mortal e Ivan es inmortal y ya te puedes hacer una idea de que su amor acaba en muerte, en fin concluyo que no es una mala historia solo que no fue para mí.
4 reviews
October 27, 2025
The Cover!, the Art OMG 😍😍

I knew i had to have this book, so i signed up to be an ARC for Jenika Snow and this book lived up to my expectations

What to expect😍
Vampires
Forced Proximity
My Beloved😝
Yearning
And spice🌶️

Such a good short read to get me through a tough day and i LOVE a good halloween inspired book so this was great i really enjoyed it, i loved the way the characters were described in this book with such detail and precision and how much i fell in LOVE with the mmc Ivan🙌🙌 Overall such a good book, definitely recommend you give it a read

Sadie- ARC reader❤️
Profile Image for • Dan reads books •.
298 reviews3 followers
October 29, 2025
Dark, crude and emotional with a touch of gothic!

This one has to be one of my fav books of Jenika so far, I really enjoyed how the story develops, how their love story had an ending date… sounds hard but it would be easy if after all the suffering they get to live happily ever after but there is a beauty in the cruel reality that time always wins… it means that every moment now on is magical.

I loved Ivan character, he’s the true image of when you are capable of do anything for the sake of love. His and Clara love story is heartbreaking but beautiful nonetheless.
Profile Image for Kellyythoralabatalla.
1,009 reviews39 followers
November 29, 2025
3.8 ⭐

estoy impresionada por la escritura aquí. he leído bastantes (creo yo) libros de JS y he visto atisbos de esa pluma pero creo que aquí salió más. cómo lo dice en la portada, es una reimaginación de Nosferatu y tiene todos los elementos. lo único que no me gustó es que después de todo el tiempo esperando, él no la pudo convertir y morirán. aunque bueno, él dijo que también la seguiría. estoy leyendo los libros de diferentes temporadas en desorden porque no me alcanzaron en las fechas oportunas.
Profile Image for kindlequeenandcoffee.
702 reviews75 followers
October 26, 2025
A dark and spooky mood, filled with deep feelings and a mix of love and longing. Ivan is haunted by his past, while Clara is scared of the monster she doesn’t really know yet. Their connection pulls you in and keeps you reading to see what happens next.

It’s an intense and emotional romance with a gothic feel — great for anyone who enjoys love stories with a Dracula & Nosferatu reimagining 🖤💋
Profile Image for Ashley Carr, LSoR.
4,992 reviews62 followers
October 29, 2025
Ivan was haunted by his dark past. His love was stolen from him, and what he was left with was only a shell of a man. When he sees Clara is stirred something he had long forgotten. From their first meeting, Clara struggles with the pull she feels towards Ivan. She is scared of the “monster” she doesn’t understand. In the end, it is about eternal love.
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