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Blood Vows #1
A Vow of Shadow and Blood
An enemies-to-lovers romantic fantasy perfect for fans of Penn Cole, Sable Sorensen, and Rebecca Yarros.
In the Kingdom of Kalyn, humans are good for two things. Hunting and owning.
Adina Barron was bred to serve the ruling-class vampires. Owned from birth by Blackwood House, her only desire has been to keep herself and her sister safe. But Adina harbors a dark secret. She possesses the power to turn her blood into a deadly poison that kills vampires. An ability she swore never to use until she learned that her sister was dying. After discovering that vampire venom can extend life, Adina has spent the last year risking exposure and execution to hunt and kill the creatures she was born to obey.
But desperation leads to foolish mistakes, and when she accidentally reveals her power to a mysterious stranger, she is forced to make a difficult choice. Use her ability to assassinate the Crown Prince or watch her sister die.
The decision is easy, and it’s not long before Adina manages to use her wits and cunning to embed herself into the prince’s life. But making the kill is not as simple as she anticipates, especially when fate seems hell-bent on drawing the pair together. And when whispers of a war start to arise, Adina realizes that there may be bigger issues than just saving her sister.
But time is closing in, and soon she will be forced to make a choice. Her sister? Her kingdom? Or her heart? Because one thing is clear, she cannot save them all.
This is book one in Charlene’s slowburn, romantic fantasy series, Blood Vows.
In the Kingdom of Kalyn, humans are good for two things. Hunting and owning.
Adina Barron was bred to serve the ruling-class vampires. Owned from birth by Blackwood House, her only desire has been to keep herself and her sister safe. But Adina harbors a dark secret. She possesses the power to turn her blood into a deadly poison that kills vampires. An ability she swore never to use until she learned that her sister was dying. After discovering that vampire venom can extend life, Adina has spent the last year risking exposure and execution to hunt and kill the creatures she was born to obey.
But desperation leads to foolish mistakes, and when she accidentally reveals her power to a mysterious stranger, she is forced to make a difficult choice. Use her ability to assassinate the Crown Prince or watch her sister die.
The decision is easy, and it’s not long before Adina manages to use her wits and cunning to embed herself into the prince’s life. But making the kill is not as simple as she anticipates, especially when fate seems hell-bent on drawing the pair together. And when whispers of a war start to arise, Adina realizes that there may be bigger issues than just saving her sister.
But time is closing in, and soon she will be forced to make a choice. Her sister? Her kingdom? Or her heart? Because one thing is clear, she cannot save them all.
This is book one in Charlene’s slowburn, romantic fantasy series, Blood Vows.
510 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2025
151 people are currently reading
3820 people want to read
About the author
Charlene Antrobus
2 books176 followersCharlene Antrobus was born and raised in the UK where, the mostly, cold and rainy weather likely had much do with her believing that vampires might just be real! Reading has always been one of Charlene’s favourite things to do especially when she and her nan used to swap books to see who could read them the fastest! A memory she treasures dearly now that her nan has dementia.
After attending theatre school for four years, teaching performing arts for five and spending most of her life crafting pieces of poetry and writing songs it was no surprise that she would one day discover a love of writing stories. After dipping her toes in the world of self-publishing in 2012, under a pen name, Charlene realised that she actually loved everything about this industry but needed to take the time to develop her craft and research what it actually took to become an author. So, she unpublished her novels and started a new journey.
Fast forward to 2025, after Charlene fell in love with books like Red Queen, Legendborn, Fourth Wing and ACOTAR, she now obsessively creates romantic fantasy worlds where women that look like her go on epic journeys, fight battles and get the guy.
Charlene’s debut fantasy novel, A VOW OF SHADOW AND BLOOD is set to release on September 15th 2025 and will be available through Amazon KU. You can pre-save on Goodreads, Fable and Storygraph TODAY!
After attending theatre school for four years, teaching performing arts for five and spending most of her life crafting pieces of poetry and writing songs it was no surprise that she would one day discover a love of writing stories. After dipping her toes in the world of self-publishing in 2012, under a pen name, Charlene realised that she actually loved everything about this industry but needed to take the time to develop her craft and research what it actually took to become an author. So, she unpublished her novels and started a new journey.
Fast forward to 2025, after Charlene fell in love with books like Red Queen, Legendborn, Fourth Wing and ACOTAR, she now obsessively creates romantic fantasy worlds where women that look like her go on epic journeys, fight battles and get the guy.
Charlene’s debut fantasy novel, A VOW OF SHADOW AND BLOOD is set to release on September 15th 2025 and will be available through Amazon KU. You can pre-save on Goodreads, Fable and Storygraph TODAY!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 479 reviews
November 17, 2025
Thank you so much Charlene Antrobus for making me one of your ARC readers and ripping my heart & soul out in the process while I watched it happen in slow motion 😭🖤💀 that deserves an indisputable 6⭐️ of agony from me ✨!
FIRST THINGS FIRST :
Those plot twists & that cliffhanger ending weren’t criminal like I thought they would be 😮💨
No you see, luckily for me they were fucking DIABOLICAL.
Cold, cruel, heartbreaking & soul shattering misery.
Plain & simple. What more could I have asked for?
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
It seems I’ve finally cried myself out and am ready to spill my tsunami of a review onto all of you..
(You can find a quick rating overview & list of tropes at the very bottom if you don’t feel like reading a full review.)
NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED, let’s move on to the actual review :
This is one of the very first ARCs I ever requested back at the beginning of the year, and therefor was one of my most anticipated ones!! 👹
If you’ve read any of my reviews before, you know the drill 🤣 I’m the equivalent of Dory in Nemo when it comes to remembering a books’ premise , and this time was no exception!
And because I love nothing more than going into a new story blind, I chose not to refresh my memory. I AM SO FREAKING GLAD I didn’t because this book slapped me so hard across the face I think my head is still spinning a week after finishing it !!!! 😳🤯
Again if you’ve read any of my previous previous, you also know I don’t shy away from pointing out any issues in my honest ARC critiques (though it always comes from a place of love & desire to offer constructive criticism for the future).
✨I simply have NOTHING negative to say about this book. Every word, action, information had its purpose and made sense✨ (also please check your trigger warnings!!!)
I’m a BIG fan of vampires!! I grew up watching Buffy & Angel, and later on became OBSESSED with Vampire Diaries & The Originals 👹
However I must admit I never realized how few vampire stories I’ve read!! So maybe I’m not the best person to judge this book in the scope of the genre, but FUCKING HELL WAS IT GOOD 🔥🔥🔥!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I tell you I was under it’s spell within the first chapter I’m not exaggerating🫠!
I.DEVOURED.EVERY.FUCKING.WORD like the blood in my veins would dry out if I didn’t 😮💨
THE CHARACTERS :
❤️🔥 Memorable >
Every single character (main or side) in this book is so well fleshed out, the range of personalities making them feel so real & complete (including the ones that only make brief appearances). Both the character and relationship developments flow seamlessly, and I felt connected to all of them instantly.
I initially wanted to describe each of the MCs in this review, but I don't want to risk ruining all the diabolical surprises that await you and I think they’ll have a much bigger impact if I let you discover them on your own.
👹 Unhinged >
The good guys? Unhinged. The bad guys? Unhinged. The people in between? Unhinged. The characters in this book gave me such strong Vampire Diaries/The Originals vibes in terms of how truly fucked up every single one of them could become depending on the circumstances. The actions of the MCs will leave you questioning your own judgement & morality with how conflicted your feelings about them will be (The FMC & MMC are Bonnie & Damon coded in the most flawless way & I am FERAL for it).
🥺 Compelling >
Remember how literally just said you’ll have conflicted feelings about a lot of the MCs? yeah well what else can I say? They all have tragic backstories, someone or something to save & protect, a mission so great that you could not fault the horrors they might inflict & will instead have you empathizing with them. You’ll feel their pain, their sorrows, their desires, & their needs as if they were your own.
THE VIBES :
🫠 Intoxicating >
You are going to be sucked into this world and will stay rooted in there like you’ve been compelled. When you will inevitably have to break the hold it has on you it will feel like you’ve left a piece of your heart & soul behind. This is a true-enemies to (almost) lovers, and the « fated mates » part of it is not your typical lovey-dovey one... Every twist and turn will make you want to stop reading, yet you’ll be paralyzed & forced to watch every horror happen in slow motion...
🩸 Diabolical >
I think I made it clear already that the plot-twists & cliffhanger ending have rendered me utterly speechless & broken, but I think it’s important to SAY IT AGAIN. Also in case it wasn’t clear, I mean EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE PLOT-TWISTS, not just the ending. Which start early on btw, so brace yourself for emotional damage pretty much right away. You’ve been warned.
😮💨 Exquisite >
The TENSION & YEARNING & SLOW BURN had me so freaking weak in the knees. It was delicious, delightful, devious, & written so flawlessly I was drowning in it. The heat is constant but the spice is minimal & only happens towards the end of the book, which will only leave you feral for more.
THE STORY :
😳 Unexpected >
Nothing, and I genuinely mean NOTHING is as it seems. You are not ready for this. When I tell you I didn’t see 99% of the plot-twists coming, I’m not joking. I am like a BLOOD HOUND straight from the pits of hell when it comes to spotting those a mile away, truly. It is an absolute curse to live with. So the joy & agony I felt reading AVOSAB was beyond words, because while I had strong doubts & inklings about a few things, Charlene still managed to add twists to them that completely BLINDSIDED me !!!
🌀 Elaborate >
The layers and depth of the story & magic system & relationships are so incredibly well developed and written! They create an intricate web of information that will come back to punch you right in the gut when the time is right! It felt so unique & refreshing in a world where vampire stories can sometimes feel overdone & straight up redundant.
😭 Devastating >
When I say this book is DARK, I FUCKING MEAN IT!!! From the origin stories of the characters, to their present lives, to every single obstacle they face and don't always surmount, to all the relationships that form & bend & break, it is dark & painful & scary & heartbreaking & soul splitting and will leave you in so many pieces you’ll need to find a bit of magic to put them back together.
Charlene has a way with words that will convey the range & depth of the emotions her characters live & suffer through, that will let you visualize every place & moment, and that will make you feel as though you are standing right there with her characters 🥺 Her writing is simply beautiful !
I’m truly speechless at the fact this is her first book!!!!
Anyways, in case I have not made it clear enough with all of my yapping:
•THIS WAS A MASTERPIECE OF STORYTELLING & EMOTIONAL DAMAGE 🤯💔 •SHE IS A FAVOURITE AUTHOR & AN AUTOMATIC BUY 🥹❤️🔥
•I AM FOREVER INVESTED IN THIS STORY & DO NOT KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO SURVIVE THE WAIT FOR THE NEXT THREE BOOKS 😭🩸
•GO READ HER BOOK OR YOUR NEXT FEW SPOOKY READS MIGHT COME WITH A TERRIBLE CURSE 😒👹
_____________
OVERVIEW :
Rating ⭐ 6/5
Tension 🔥 4/5
Spice 🌶️ 1/5
Emotional Damage 💀 ∞/5
🖤Bonnie & Daemon coded
🩸REAL enemies to (almost?) lovers
🖤Fated mates (with a sickening twist)
🩸Emotional damage galore (you WILL scream & cry & wonder why you did this to yourself)
🖤Found family (that will also break your heart)
🩸Tension, Yearning & Slow Burn turning the air so thick you might just pass out
🖤Touching = death
🩸Blood, more blood, just all the blood (the hottest new trope)
🖤Intricate Shadow & Blood magic system
🩸Never ending plot-twists & a cliffhanger that will make you want to drown your kindle
🖤Surpriiiiiiiiise (but not the good kind)
🩸Don’t trust anything or anyone
🖤Pain is the name of the game
🩸You know nothing (whatever your name is)
FIRST THINGS FIRST :
Those plot twists & that cliffhanger ending weren’t criminal like I thought they would be 😮💨
No you see, luckily for me they were fucking DIABOLICAL.
Cold, cruel, heartbreaking & soul shattering misery.
Plain & simple. What more could I have asked for?
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
It seems I’ve finally cried myself out and am ready to spill my tsunami of a review onto all of you..
(You can find a quick rating overview & list of tropes at the very bottom if you don’t feel like reading a full review.)
NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED, let’s move on to the actual review :
This is one of the very first ARCs I ever requested back at the beginning of the year, and therefor was one of my most anticipated ones!! 👹
If you’ve read any of my reviews before, you know the drill 🤣 I’m the equivalent of Dory in Nemo when it comes to remembering a books’ premise , and this time was no exception!
And because I love nothing more than going into a new story blind, I chose not to refresh my memory. I AM SO FREAKING GLAD I didn’t because this book slapped me so hard across the face I think my head is still spinning a week after finishing it !!!! 😳🤯
Again if you’ve read any of my previous previous, you also know I don’t shy away from pointing out any issues in my honest ARC critiques (though it always comes from a place of love & desire to offer constructive criticism for the future).
✨I simply have NOTHING negative to say about this book. Every word, action, information had its purpose and made sense✨ (also please check your trigger warnings!!!)
I’m a BIG fan of vampires!! I grew up watching Buffy & Angel, and later on became OBSESSED with Vampire Diaries & The Originals 👹
However I must admit I never realized how few vampire stories I’ve read!! So maybe I’m not the best person to judge this book in the scope of the genre, but FUCKING HELL WAS IT GOOD 🔥🔥🔥!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I tell you I was under it’s spell within the first chapter I’m not exaggerating🫠!
I.DEVOURED.EVERY.FUCKING.WORD like the blood in my veins would dry out if I didn’t 😮💨
THE CHARACTERS :
❤️🔥 Memorable >
Every single character (main or side) in this book is so well fleshed out, the range of personalities making them feel so real & complete (including the ones that only make brief appearances). Both the character and relationship developments flow seamlessly, and I felt connected to all of them instantly.
I initially wanted to describe each of the MCs in this review, but I don't want to risk ruining all the diabolical surprises that await you and I think they’ll have a much bigger impact if I let you discover them on your own.
👹 Unhinged >
The good guys? Unhinged. The bad guys? Unhinged. The people in between? Unhinged. The characters in this book gave me such strong Vampire Diaries/The Originals vibes in terms of how truly fucked up every single one of them could become depending on the circumstances. The actions of the MCs will leave you questioning your own judgement & morality with how conflicted your feelings about them will be (The FMC & MMC are Bonnie & Damon coded in the most flawless way & I am FERAL for it).
🥺 Compelling >
Remember how literally just said you’ll have conflicted feelings about a lot of the MCs? yeah well what else can I say? They all have tragic backstories, someone or something to save & protect, a mission so great that you could not fault the horrors they might inflict & will instead have you empathizing with them. You’ll feel their pain, their sorrows, their desires, & their needs as if they were your own.
THE VIBES :
🫠 Intoxicating >
You are going to be sucked into this world and will stay rooted in there like you’ve been compelled. When you will inevitably have to break the hold it has on you it will feel like you’ve left a piece of your heart & soul behind. This is a true-enemies to (almost) lovers, and the « fated mates » part of it is not your typical lovey-dovey one... Every twist and turn will make you want to stop reading, yet you’ll be paralyzed & forced to watch every horror happen in slow motion...
🩸 Diabolical >
I think I made it clear already that the plot-twists & cliffhanger ending have rendered me utterly speechless & broken, but I think it’s important to SAY IT AGAIN. Also in case it wasn’t clear, I mean EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE PLOT-TWISTS, not just the ending. Which start early on btw, so brace yourself for emotional damage pretty much right away. You’ve been warned.
😮💨 Exquisite >
The TENSION & YEARNING & SLOW BURN had me so freaking weak in the knees. It was delicious, delightful, devious, & written so flawlessly I was drowning in it. The heat is constant but the spice is minimal & only happens towards the end of the book, which will only leave you feral for more.
THE STORY :
😳 Unexpected >
Nothing, and I genuinely mean NOTHING is as it seems. You are not ready for this. When I tell you I didn’t see 99% of the plot-twists coming, I’m not joking. I am like a BLOOD HOUND straight from the pits of hell when it comes to spotting those a mile away, truly. It is an absolute curse to live with. So the joy & agony I felt reading AVOSAB was beyond words, because while I had strong doubts & inklings about a few things, Charlene still managed to add twists to them that completely BLINDSIDED me !!!
🌀 Elaborate >
The layers and depth of the story & magic system & relationships are so incredibly well developed and written! They create an intricate web of information that will come back to punch you right in the gut when the time is right! It felt so unique & refreshing in a world where vampire stories can sometimes feel overdone & straight up redundant.
😭 Devastating >
When I say this book is DARK, I FUCKING MEAN IT!!! From the origin stories of the characters, to their present lives, to every single obstacle they face and don't always surmount, to all the relationships that form & bend & break, it is dark & painful & scary & heartbreaking & soul splitting and will leave you in so many pieces you’ll need to find a bit of magic to put them back together.
Charlene has a way with words that will convey the range & depth of the emotions her characters live & suffer through, that will let you visualize every place & moment, and that will make you feel as though you are standing right there with her characters 🥺 Her writing is simply beautiful !
I’m truly speechless at the fact this is her first book!!!!
Anyways, in case I have not made it clear enough with all of my yapping:
•THIS WAS A MASTERPIECE OF STORYTELLING & EMOTIONAL DAMAGE 🤯💔 •SHE IS A FAVOURITE AUTHOR & AN AUTOMATIC BUY 🥹❤️🔥
•I AM FOREVER INVESTED IN THIS STORY & DO NOT KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO SURVIVE THE WAIT FOR THE NEXT THREE BOOKS 😭🩸
•GO READ HER BOOK OR YOUR NEXT FEW SPOOKY READS MIGHT COME WITH A TERRIBLE CURSE 😒👹
_____________
OVERVIEW :
Rating ⭐ 6/5
Tension 🔥 4/5
Spice 🌶️ 1/5
Emotional Damage 💀 ∞/5
🖤Bonnie & Daemon coded
🩸REAL enemies to (almost?) lovers
🖤Fated mates (with a sickening twist)
🩸Emotional damage galore (you WILL scream & cry & wonder why you did this to yourself)
🖤Found family (that will also break your heart)
🩸Tension, Yearning & Slow Burn turning the air so thick you might just pass out
🖤Touching = death
🩸Blood, more blood, just all the blood (the hottest new trope)
🖤Intricate Shadow & Blood magic system
🩸Never ending plot-twists & a cliffhanger that will make you want to drown your kindle
🖤Surpriiiiiiiiise (but not the good kind)
🩸Don’t trust anything or anyone
🖤Pain is the name of the game
🩸You know nothing (whatever your name is)
December 16, 2025
This was a pretty well done debut novel from the lovely Charlene!
⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️
It hit a lot of the marks you want in a Romantasy.
~Interesting world
~Likeable characters
~Great action
~Plot twists
~Amazing side characters
~Political intrigue
~Enemies to lovers
~Slow burn
~Fated mates
I was very sucked in for the first 30% of this. I thought the pacing was great, the world was building nicely, and we also got great side characters introduced. The amount of action throughout the book was so engaging and made it so fun to read! It did take a hot minute for our MMC to come in, but it fit so nicely when he finally made his appearance!
Once I got to the 50% mark, things seemed to be a little more rushed or maybe started to lack the same detail that the first half of the book had. We didn't get the same build that I was looking for, which was a little disappointing with the MMC just getting introduced. The romance was definitely a slow-burn, but it lacked the tension that I was yearning for. I feel like we didn't really get to know his character the same way as we did some of the side characters, which was interesting. Maybe we will get more of him in Book 2!
Overall, I thought it was well done for her first book, and I am very interested to see how this author grows! ❤️
⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️
It hit a lot of the marks you want in a Romantasy.
~Interesting world
~Likeable characters
~Great action
~Plot twists
~Amazing side characters
~Political intrigue
~Enemies to lovers
~Slow burn
~Fated mates
I was very sucked in for the first 30% of this. I thought the pacing was great, the world was building nicely, and we also got great side characters introduced. The amount of action throughout the book was so engaging and made it so fun to read! It did take a hot minute for our MMC to come in, but it fit so nicely when he finally made his appearance!
Once I got to the 50% mark, things seemed to be a little more rushed or maybe started to lack the same detail that the first half of the book had. We didn't get the same build that I was looking for, which was a little disappointing with the MMC just getting introduced. The romance was definitely a slow-burn, but it lacked the tension that I was yearning for. I feel like we didn't really get to know his character the same way as we did some of the side characters, which was interesting. Maybe we will get more of him in Book 2!
Overall, I thought it was well done for her first book, and I am very interested to see how this author grows! ❤️
February 21, 2025
I can’t wait to read this book !
To the corny person who left 1 star
The book didn’t come out and she didn’t release the arcs so why give it 1 star.. you are giving off big hater energy hun !!!
To the corny person who left 1 star
The book didn’t come out and she didn’t release the arcs so why give it 1 star.. you are giving off big hater energy hun !!!
October 8, 2025
With a slow burn that reminded me of Kindred’s Curse Saga, and a pacing similar to that as well, this was a breath of fresh air compared to some more intricate fantasies I’ve been reading.
Do not get me wrong, I love the extremely in-depth, detailed as hell fantasies that you actually have to pay attention to every detail and then some. But sometimes I like a fantasy that is pretty straightforward, doesn’t give me time to get lost, and the plot just keeps chugging forward — that was A Vow of Shadow And Blood.
This is fast paced, yet the burn is slow (like I said, Luther Corbois type of slow), and the plot is intriguing and is a continuously rolling adventure that you kinda just keep reading. A lot of things you can guess will happen if you are someone who pays attention more while reading, but if you just vibe-read it, you’ll end up shitting bricks a couple times at things you should’ve seen coming 🤣
The side characters were some of my favorites, but be warned - this author likes to kill off EVERYONE -,-
The FMCs best friend, Tori, was such a trooper through everything, as well as the apothecary boy, Finn.
I absolutely loved watching Adina begin to trust the royal guard, and how they started to open up to each other.
As for the mmc, who doesn’t like a broody shadow daddy?! I’m immediately reeled tf in when in comes to them. Hook line and sinker.
There is nothing explicit in this book until about 95%, and that’s just some, uhhh, handsy fingery + bitey kinda things 🥴💀
they literally have their first kiss at 94% BUT there is a lot of tension throughout this book.
Lots of drinking 🩸 and biting and ya know, vampy stuff. That kinda thing is always a little bit sexual in nature.
OH and it’s a stiff cliffy. Good luck 🥴🥵
Overall, 4 ⭐️, 1 🌶️!
Thank you so much for Charlene for an advanced copy of AVOSAB!
Do not get me wrong, I love the extremely in-depth, detailed as hell fantasies that you actually have to pay attention to every detail and then some. But sometimes I like a fantasy that is pretty straightforward, doesn’t give me time to get lost, and the plot just keeps chugging forward — that was A Vow of Shadow And Blood.
This is fast paced, yet the burn is slow (like I said, Luther Corbois type of slow), and the plot is intriguing and is a continuously rolling adventure that you kinda just keep reading. A lot of things you can guess will happen if you are someone who pays attention more while reading, but if you just vibe-read it, you’ll end up shitting bricks a couple times at things you should’ve seen coming 🤣
The side characters were some of my favorites, but be warned - this author likes to kill off EVERYONE -,-
The FMCs best friend, Tori, was such a trooper through everything, as well as the apothecary boy, Finn.
I absolutely loved watching Adina begin to trust the royal guard, and how they started to open up to each other.
As for the mmc, who doesn’t like a broody shadow daddy?! I’m immediately reeled tf in when in comes to them. Hook line and sinker.
There is nothing explicit in this book until about 95%, and that’s just some, uhhh, handsy fingery + bitey kinda things 🥴💀
they literally have their first kiss at 94% BUT there is a lot of tension throughout this book.
Lots of drinking 🩸 and biting and ya know, vampy stuff. That kinda thing is always a little bit sexual in nature.
OH and it’s a stiff cliffy. Good luck 🥴🥵
Overall, 4 ⭐️, 1 🌶️!
Thank you so much for Charlene for an advanced copy of AVOSAB!
October 8, 2025
2,75 ⭐️
Thank you so much to the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.
I wanted so badly to love this book but unfortunately I ended up having too many issues with it. I really liked the premise and the concept of the plot and characters, but the execution of it all wasn't what I had hoped. Mainly, I think the book just wanted to do too much without giving it the proper time to develop more naturally and take up the space it needed. Twists and revelations were moved on from too quickly, and we could have used some more details, explanations and reactions to things throughout. It doesn't mean that the book was bad – it just means that I had some struggles that ended up affecting my overall enjoyment of the story and therefore the rating as well. So, let's get into it.
Sometimes characters would know things that they hadn't been told yet (or the other way around), or things would be mentioned that we'd never heard about before, but it was written as if we had. And when new and shocking twists got revealed, it was moved on from way too quickly without the amount of focus and questions that it should have had.
There were also just too many things that didn't really make a lot of sense to me. I'm going to list the biggest ones below, hidden behind spoiler tags. These are some examples of things that ended up frustrating me and that took me out of the story quite a few times.
Lastly, I wasn't the biggest fan of Karius and the way he treated Adina. He is a bit cruel sometimes and is all "I would never do anything to hurt you" while very actively hurting her with his actions, and then making it seem like she is being irrational in her response. And I don't think they have enough meaningful interactions before he says he would burn the world down for her, so it felt a little odd to me and not quite believable. I needed more time with him and more development in their relationship for it to feel natural, but instead it ended up feeling a little forced.
So to sum up, I ended up being disappointed even though I really wish I wasn't. I think the story was interesting and fun, and with a few more rounds of edits I think it could have been great. The characters and twists also had a lot of potential, and I think it would have been so fun to read if the story had taken its time and focused a little more on letting things develop and take up space. But I'm still thankful to the author for letting me receive an ARC – and I'm happy to see so many positive reviews from others, and I hope it continues to find its readers once it's published.
Thank you so much to the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.
I wanted so badly to love this book but unfortunately I ended up having too many issues with it. I really liked the premise and the concept of the plot and characters, but the execution of it all wasn't what I had hoped. Mainly, I think the book just wanted to do too much without giving it the proper time to develop more naturally and take up the space it needed. Twists and revelations were moved on from too quickly, and we could have used some more details, explanations and reactions to things throughout. It doesn't mean that the book was bad – it just means that I had some struggles that ended up affecting my overall enjoyment of the story and therefore the rating as well. So, let's get into it.
Sometimes characters would know things that they hadn't been told yet (or the other way around), or things would be mentioned that we'd never heard about before, but it was written as if we had. And when new and shocking twists got revealed, it was moved on from way too quickly without the amount of focus and questions that it should have had.
There were also just too many things that didn't really make a lot of sense to me. I'm going to list the biggest ones below, hidden behind spoiler tags. These are some examples of things that ended up frustrating me and that took me out of the story quite a few times.
Lastly, I wasn't the biggest fan of Karius and the way he treated Adina. He is a bit cruel sometimes and is all "I would never do anything to hurt you" while very actively hurting her with his actions, and then making it seem like she is being irrational in her response. And I don't think they have enough meaningful interactions before he says he would burn the world down for her, so it felt a little odd to me and not quite believable. I needed more time with him and more development in their relationship for it to feel natural, but instead it ended up feeling a little forced.
So to sum up, I ended up being disappointed even though I really wish I wasn't. I think the story was interesting and fun, and with a few more rounds of edits I think it could have been great. The characters and twists also had a lot of potential, and I think it would have been so fun to read if the story had taken its time and focused a little more on letting things develop and take up space. But I'm still thankful to the author for letting me receive an ARC – and I'm happy to see so many positive reviews from others, and I hope it continues to find its readers once it's published.
October 27, 2025
This will be my first ARC 🥹 can't wait to read it!
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A Vow of Shadow and Blood by @charleneantrobus_
__________________
⭐ 3.75
(I received this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review)
__________________
Adina is an enslaved human, living in the Blackwood house. Her sister Willow is sick, and the only thing that can cure her is vampire venom. So Adina’s been out there killing vampires and stealing their fangs to get the venom she needs. Luckily, her magic helps a lot as her blood is deadly to vampires.
One day she meets a man named Julian, who knows she’s not just an ordinary girl. He can hear her magic. Adina talks to ''her magic'' in her head. And Julian could hear it.
Long story short (no spoilers!) - Julian wants Adina to kill the Crown Prince.
I mean… he just has to drink her blood, right? What could possibly go wrong? 😅
__________________
This is a debut novel by indie author Charlene Antrobus, and honestly, it’s a really good one for a first book! It’s the start of a four-book series.
I really liked it, but I do feel like some details were missing. The story flows well, but it all feels a bit.. on the surface. It ends on a kind of semi-cliffhanger (which I didn’t mind), and the writing is solid with a good pace overall.
My only issue is that A LOT happened in the last 20 pages. Don’t get me wrong, there was plenty of action before, but those final chapters felt like, “how much more drama can I possibly add?” haha.
Still, it’s a really fun and great read! 🖤
I recommend. 😊
_
_
A Vow of Shadow and Blood by @charleneantrobus_
__________________
⭐ 3.75
(I received this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review)
__________________
Adina is an enslaved human, living in the Blackwood house. Her sister Willow is sick, and the only thing that can cure her is vampire venom. So Adina’s been out there killing vampires and stealing their fangs to get the venom she needs. Luckily, her magic helps a lot as her blood is deadly to vampires.
One day she meets a man named Julian, who knows she’s not just an ordinary girl. He can hear her magic. Adina talks to ''her magic'' in her head. And Julian could hear it.
Long story short (no spoilers!) - Julian wants Adina to kill the Crown Prince.
I mean… he just has to drink her blood, right? What could possibly go wrong? 😅
__________________
This is a debut novel by indie author Charlene Antrobus, and honestly, it’s a really good one for a first book! It’s the start of a four-book series.
I really liked it, but I do feel like some details were missing. The story flows well, but it all feels a bit.. on the surface. It ends on a kind of semi-cliffhanger (which I didn’t mind), and the writing is solid with a good pace overall.
My only issue is that A LOT happened in the last 20 pages. Don’t get me wrong, there was plenty of action before, but those final chapters felt like, “how much more drama can I possibly add?” haha.
Still, it’s a really fun and great read! 🖤
I recommend. 😊
October 26, 2025
Firstly, huge thanks to the author for providing me an ARC.
I really, really wanted to like this more. The premise is super cool & there’s some really interesting stuff going on but I just couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to. There were really cool aspects to the story & then just things I really didn’t like. So 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ feels right, so let’s get into it.
PLOT
Adina lives and works as a donor for vampires in what is essentially a high end blood brothel. While many enjoy this jon for its perks — especially as a human living in the dangerous world of vampires — she hates it. But between the mysterious presence living in her mind, her sick twin sister, & best friends, she is content enough. Until she learns how she can potentially cure her sister, which involves taking something from the vampires they don’t want taken & in doing this she finds out way more than she thought she knew. This book has
- vampire courts & politics
- post human vs. vampire war fallout
- stubborn, stabby FMC
- enemies to lovers
- 1st person POV (FMC)
- found family
- low spice
PROS
- The politics of the vampire courts is really interesting. I thought the powers were cool & how they manifested/what some of their purpose was. That’s pretty cool!
- I like the bond with Athriel. While I wish their interactions & tone felt like it made more sense after Adina’s whole life with him, I still liked their bond a lot.
- The found family development was really fun.
- LOVE Finn. Excellent side character, had a lot of fun with him & his role in the story.
- I enjoy Karius quite a bit. Just a hot vampire bitch.
- The stakes going on with the vampire court are pretty high, which puts so much at risk & keeps stakes interesting & stressful.
- The ending, while not necessarily a surprise, was rather interesting & will make for interesting story going forward.
- Slow burn was slow burnin’ which I love.
MIDS
- While I liked Karius, the pacing of the relationship development was odd. Not bad, but not great.
CONS
- Something happened super early in the book that took me out because I just didn’t believe it would happen at all. So when the catalyst of everything is caused by something you don’t buy, it just kinda dampens the whole thing. More info in spoilers.
- I really just did not like Adina unfortunately. She held the holy trinity (& beyond) of my least favorite traits in an FMC. She was stubborn, unbending, a bit of a hypocrite, rash, refused to read the writing on the wall, took on the role of decision-maker for everyone regardless of their want, & had she sat for 5 minutes to think through any of her decisions this book may have had 0 conflict. & I just don’t enjoy stories that progress because of that. She had a couple good moments & admiral traits but I feel they were more often than not displayed with really frustrating actions. It felt like she was arguing with every character all the time, even the characters she supposedly loved. These traits all are just the recipe for an FMC I don’t personally like, so that was a big bummer.
- I think the world building was shaky. For example, it took 40% of the book to get a proper definition to something we talked about a dozen or so times, without a definition. So I was guessing at it & actually am still not sure if I’m right. There were so many things it was just assumed we knew but hadn’t been explained. So many times I went back to see if I had missed an explanation & that takes me out of the story.
Because of me not liking the FMC, I think I would have liked this book so much more if it were in 3rd person. Despite interest in where the story actually goes, I dont know that I have it in me to keep going with this series.
⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
No for real
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- Some things made 0 sense & just seemed like plot fodder when it came to people just bending to Adina’s will.
—— You’re telling me a hidden network of human smugglers who have evaded vampire notice for decades/longer are just going to be cool with someone saying “I’m coming along I have to see my friend until the end then I’ll go home because I’m not going with her” will garner the response of “lol boss will hate this but okay come with” — like, I’m sorry but no fucking way. They would not risk this network like that just because she said “because I said so” they would have turned their asses away. Risking the whole movement for a stranger who could take the whole movement down just wouldn’t happen.
—— I also don’t buy that Karius’s besties would just go with her to the shadow market & not tell him. Like that was so unbelievable to me.
- The amount of times people died or got hurt because Adina HAD TO DO FORCE SOMEONE INTO TAKING HER TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT NOW & didn’t talk to someone else or listen or make a game plan was pretty infuriating.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
K BYEEEEEEEEE
I really, really wanted to like this more. The premise is super cool & there’s some really interesting stuff going on but I just couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to. There were really cool aspects to the story & then just things I really didn’t like. So 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ feels right, so let’s get into it.
PLOT
Adina lives and works as a donor for vampires in what is essentially a high end blood brothel. While many enjoy this jon for its perks — especially as a human living in the dangerous world of vampires — she hates it. But between the mysterious presence living in her mind, her sick twin sister, & best friends, she is content enough. Until she learns how she can potentially cure her sister, which involves taking something from the vampires they don’t want taken & in doing this she finds out way more than she thought she knew. This book has
- vampire courts & politics
- post human vs. vampire war fallout
- stubborn, stabby FMC
- enemies to lovers
- 1st person POV (FMC)
- found family
- low spice
PROS
- The politics of the vampire courts is really interesting. I thought the powers were cool & how they manifested/what some of their purpose was. That’s pretty cool!
- I like the bond with Athriel. While I wish their interactions & tone felt like it made more sense after Adina’s whole life with him, I still liked their bond a lot.
- The found family development was really fun.
- LOVE Finn. Excellent side character, had a lot of fun with him & his role in the story.
- I enjoy Karius quite a bit. Just a hot vampire bitch.
- The stakes going on with the vampire court are pretty high, which puts so much at risk & keeps stakes interesting & stressful.
- The ending, while not necessarily a surprise, was rather interesting & will make for interesting story going forward.
- Slow burn was slow burnin’ which I love.
MIDS
- While I liked Karius, the pacing of the relationship development was odd. Not bad, but not great.
CONS
- Something happened super early in the book that took me out because I just didn’t believe it would happen at all. So when the catalyst of everything is caused by something you don’t buy, it just kinda dampens the whole thing. More info in spoilers.
- I really just did not like Adina unfortunately. She held the holy trinity (& beyond) of my least favorite traits in an FMC. She was stubborn, unbending, a bit of a hypocrite, rash, refused to read the writing on the wall, took on the role of decision-maker for everyone regardless of their want, & had she sat for 5 minutes to think through any of her decisions this book may have had 0 conflict. & I just don’t enjoy stories that progress because of that. She had a couple good moments & admiral traits but I feel they were more often than not displayed with really frustrating actions. It felt like she was arguing with every character all the time, even the characters she supposedly loved. These traits all are just the recipe for an FMC I don’t personally like, so that was a big bummer.
- I think the world building was shaky. For example, it took 40% of the book to get a proper definition to something we talked about a dozen or so times, without a definition. So I was guessing at it & actually am still not sure if I’m right. There were so many things it was just assumed we knew but hadn’t been explained. So many times I went back to see if I had missed an explanation & that takes me out of the story.
Because of me not liking the FMC, I think I would have liked this book so much more if it were in 3rd person. Despite interest in where the story actually goes, I dont know that I have it in me to keep going with this series.
⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
No for real
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- Some things made 0 sense & just seemed like plot fodder when it came to people just bending to Adina’s will.
—— You’re telling me a hidden network of human smugglers who have evaded vampire notice for decades/longer are just going to be cool with someone saying “I’m coming along I have to see my friend until the end then I’ll go home because I’m not going with her” will garner the response of “lol boss will hate this but okay come with” — like, I’m sorry but no fucking way. They would not risk this network like that just because she said “because I said so” they would have turned their asses away. Risking the whole movement for a stranger who could take the whole movement down just wouldn’t happen.
—— I also don’t buy that Karius’s besties would just go with her to the shadow market & not tell him. Like that was so unbelievable to me.
- The amount of times people died or got hurt because Adina HAD TO DO FORCE SOMEONE INTO TAKING HER TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT NOW & didn’t talk to someone else or listen or make a game plan was pretty infuriating.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
K BYEEEEEEEEE
November 5, 2025
"All I know is that I can command my blood to become a deadly poison, capable of killing a vampire with a single drop." (Ch 5)
Slow-burn romantasy | Enemies-to-Lovers | Vampires
"His lips burn hot against my skin, and I hate that him stealing my blood feels this good.... This is intoxicating." (Ch 13)
This one seemed like it was long in coming!
Loved the plot and plots within the plot, the morally grey characters, the twists, the heartbreak, and the ending omgee! I usually write my reviews as I'm reading so I don't forget important things.... well, I didn't this time, and I'm kicking myself, especially since I didn't write the review right away, and I've slept and blinked many times since finishing the book (and read a few other books after). But the reason I didn't write it as I read was because I was so into it! The 2nd book will need to get here quicker than this one did, because I really need to know how it pans out and hope that, though it's a multi-book series, the ending gets dealt with in that 2nd book!
"A small voice deep within makes me question whether I can truly kill this monster or whether he will kill me first." (Ch 14)
If you want an HEA, this book 1 does not have it, but I have hope that there will be one eventually in this series. And it would be worth the wait and suspense!
"“Should I stop?” he whispers, his lips a breath away from mine. His eyes are wild as he looks down at me. I should tell him to stop. I should push him away.... but he’s consuming my mind. The only thing I can think about is him." (Ch 39)
5🌟 eARC courtesy of BookSirens / Lotus Ink
Slow-burn romantasy | Enemies-to-Lovers | Vampires
"His lips burn hot against my skin, and I hate that him stealing my blood feels this good.... This is intoxicating." (Ch 13)
This one seemed like it was long in coming!
Loved the plot and plots within the plot, the morally grey characters, the twists, the heartbreak, and the ending omgee! I usually write my reviews as I'm reading so I don't forget important things.... well, I didn't this time, and I'm kicking myself, especially since I didn't write the review right away, and I've slept and blinked many times since finishing the book (and read a few other books after). But the reason I didn't write it as I read was because I was so into it! The 2nd book will need to get here quicker than this one did, because I really need to know how it pans out and hope that, though it's a multi-book series, the ending gets dealt with in that 2nd book!
"A small voice deep within makes me question whether I can truly kill this monster or whether he will kill me first." (Ch 14)
If you want an HEA, this book 1 does not have it, but I have hope that there will be one eventually in this series. And it would be worth the wait and suspense!
"“Should I stop?” he whispers, his lips a breath away from mine. His eyes are wild as he looks down at me. I should tell him to stop. I should push him away.... but he’s consuming my mind. The only thing I can think about is him." (Ch 39)
5🌟 eARC courtesy of BookSirens / Lotus Ink
October 13, 2025
Holy hellfire and blood bonds bèbès… My heart, soul, and every ounce of sanity I had left was DEVOURED by this book.
Antrobus really just carved out an empire of shadow and pain, where humanity bends beneath the fangs of their rulers and the line between devotion and damnation is drawn in blood. Complete with flawless world building, carnal tension, and emotional damage that can best be described as irreversible. 😮💨
Adina (our FMC) is human, enslaved, and defiant in the face of ruin. She finds herself inexplicably bonded to the Vampire Prince himself. A bond that is as intoxicating as it is terrifying. Every scene drips with the ache of resistance, forbidden desire, and the whisper of revolution on the horizon. Finn’s dry humor saves your sanity (barely), but the rest of this cast will tear you open in ways you didn’t consent to but will thank them for anyway, so there’s that. 🫠
More that just spinning an epic Dark Fantasy Romance, Anteobus also serves themes on a silver dagger:
✨ Choice, even when it burns.
✨ Courage, even when it costs everything.
✨ Power, especially when it’s an illusion designed to divide.
By the time you hit that cliffhanger, you’ll be screaming, sobbing, and maybe googling “emotional support vampire.”
If you loved The Serpent and the Wings of Night or True Blood, buckle up. This one’s for the readers who crave chaos, crave blood, and crave the slow, burning agony of a love should not be possible… come get wrecked.
Antrobus really just carved out an empire of shadow and pain, where humanity bends beneath the fangs of their rulers and the line between devotion and damnation is drawn in blood. Complete with flawless world building, carnal tension, and emotional damage that can best be described as irreversible. 😮💨
Adina (our FMC) is human, enslaved, and defiant in the face of ruin. She finds herself inexplicably bonded to the Vampire Prince himself. A bond that is as intoxicating as it is terrifying. Every scene drips with the ache of resistance, forbidden desire, and the whisper of revolution on the horizon. Finn’s dry humor saves your sanity (barely), but the rest of this cast will tear you open in ways you didn’t consent to but will thank them for anyway, so there’s that. 🫠
More that just spinning an epic Dark Fantasy Romance, Anteobus also serves themes on a silver dagger:
✨ Choice, even when it burns.
✨ Courage, even when it costs everything.
✨ Power, especially when it’s an illusion designed to divide.
By the time you hit that cliffhanger, you’ll be screaming, sobbing, and maybe googling “emotional support vampire.”
If you loved The Serpent and the Wings of Night or True Blood, buckle up. This one’s for the readers who crave chaos, crave blood, and crave the slow, burning agony of a love should not be possible… come get wrecked.
October 12, 2025
What. A. Ride.
The story kept twisting and turning, and I so did not see that ending coming. I knew going in that it's going to be a four book series, all I know now is that I need those other 3 ASAP
(Charlene, please take all the time you need, my head's just still spinning from all the plot twists)
I received this book as an ARC and I'm so glad I signed up!
The story kept twisting and turning, and I so did not see that ending coming. I knew going in that it's going to be a four book series, all I know now is that I need those other 3 ASAP
(Charlene, please take all the time you need, my head's just still spinning from all the plot twists)
I received this book as an ARC and I'm so glad I signed up!
October 31, 2025
While there are some interesting aspects to this story, it commits one of the writing sins that I don’t tolerate anymore: the FMC was the idiot prop.
It’s lazy writing. You create a character that is clueless (naive/innocent/stupid/uninformed) so that the plot can twist and turn. If it’s the MC, it gives the writer even more room to move. Since all the MCs in this genre are female, we have an epidemic of stupid women running through the romantasy stories. I hate it so much.
It’s frequently amplified by the character being stubborn (to create conflict) and weak (so the plot can be forced into any number of directions). That equation ends with a very unlikable FMC, which is what we have here.
She walks into a big orgy to commit murder, which never makes sense. I don’t care if you have a mask on. If you walk into a situation that is already dangerous and refuse to participate in any sexual activities, you’re gonna draw attention. Then on her way out, she loses her temper and just murders a vampire in front of everyone, getting all the other humans killed. She and her friend would’ve also been killed if the MMC hadn’t walked in and saved her.
Failing grade right there.
I decided to give it another minute.
The MMC swears he is her friend and would never hurt her, then blackmails her by buying her twin. This makes the FMC helpless, which I also really hate. Then she throws a knife at him and he just catches it. I hate everything about this scenario.
The MMC has all the power and knowledge. The FMC is helpless and clueless. She’s also stupid and unlikable.
Why do so many romance authors hate their female characters?
This whole idiot prop problem didn’t bother me much until I read about a million romances. You don’t really notice it at first. I’ve read too many books though and it amplifies my opinions to extremes.
So this might not bother a normal reader. It sure as shit dives me up a wall though.
It’s lazy writing. You create a character that is clueless (naive/innocent/stupid/uninformed) so that the plot can twist and turn. If it’s the MC, it gives the writer even more room to move. Since all the MCs in this genre are female, we have an epidemic of stupid women running through the romantasy stories. I hate it so much.
It’s frequently amplified by the character being stubborn (to create conflict) and weak (so the plot can be forced into any number of directions). That equation ends with a very unlikable FMC, which is what we have here.
She walks into a big orgy to commit murder, which never makes sense. I don’t care if you have a mask on. If you walk into a situation that is already dangerous and refuse to participate in any sexual activities, you’re gonna draw attention. Then on her way out, she loses her temper and just murders a vampire in front of everyone, getting all the other humans killed. She and her friend would’ve also been killed if the MMC hadn’t walked in and saved her.
Failing grade right there.
I decided to give it another minute.
The MMC swears he is her friend and would never hurt her, then blackmails her by buying her twin. This makes the FMC helpless, which I also really hate. Then she throws a knife at him and he just catches it. I hate everything about this scenario.
The MMC has all the power and knowledge. The FMC is helpless and clueless. She’s also stupid and unlikable.
Why do so many romance authors hate their female characters?
This whole idiot prop problem didn’t bother me much until I read about a million romances. You don’t really notice it at first. I’ve read too many books though and it amplifies my opinions to extremes.
So this might not bother a normal reader. It sure as shit dives me up a wall though.
March 2, 2025
I am beyond excited to be able to be a part of the ARC reader group that will help support the author! I too, am leaving this review to spite the one individual who chose to leave a ridiculous one star review before the book has even been released.
February 28, 2025
Excited to start reading this book! I got the opportunity for an ARC so I’m extremely excited about this and wishing Charlene Antrobu the best ❤️
October 28, 2025
Advanced Read Copy
I really enjoyed this! First novel success 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
The world is easy to understand, so the story picks up very quickly, and characters introduced slowly enough (but not too slow!) that they're easy to remember and keep track of. I absolutely adore Ajax. The one thing that gets me here (and gets me in so many romantasy stories) is the constant repetitiveness from the FMC of why so-and-so is bad and not trustworthy, even when they've demonstrated time and again otherwise. Otherwise, it ended with a giant cliffhanger and a love for these characters that desperately wants to know the rest of the story, so count me in for the rest of the series!
I really enjoyed this! First novel success 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
The world is easy to understand, so the story picks up very quickly, and characters introduced slowly enough (but not too slow!) that they're easy to remember and keep track of. I absolutely adore Ajax. The one thing that gets me here (and gets me in so many romantasy stories) is the constant repetitiveness from the FMC of why so-and-so is bad and not trustworthy, even when they've demonstrated time and again otherwise. Otherwise, it ended with a giant cliffhanger and a love for these characters that desperately wants to know the rest of the story, so count me in for the rest of the series!
October 29, 2025
This book was simply amazing. I was hooked from the very first pages, and the story just kept getting better and better. I adored the plot, the characters, and the slow, tantalizing discovery of this world. I couldn’t put the book down.
I really enjoyed the worldbuilding: it’s rich, layered, and full of details that make the setting feel alive without ever slowing down the story. While it draws on familiar vampire lore, the author breathes new life into it with fascinating and clever twists. I loved how the existence of two different kinds of vampires added depth and tension to the world, creating clear contrasts in power, status, and identity. The political structure of Houses and Courts was super intriguing - rich in lore, magic, and mystery without ever feeling overwhelming. The world reveals itself piece by piece, keeping you curious and fully immersed. I’m especially excited to explore the other Courts in the next books; there’s a sense that this universe stretches far beyond what we’ve seen so far.
The story is told in first person, present tense, which makes it incredibly easy to connect with Adina, the FMC: you don’t just follow her journey, you experience it. And I’m a big sucker for that. From the very first pages, you realize she’s not alone in her own mind. There’s a voice there - Athriel - with a sharp tongue, endless commentary, and a knack for showing up at the most inappropriate moments. His humor adds such a brilliant contrast to the darker tone of the story, lightening even the most intense scenes without ever breaking immersion. The dynamic between Adina and Athriel is one of the highlights of the book for me, both chaotic and oddly endearing, and it gives the story a unique energy that I absolutely loved.
Adina herself is a fantastic main character. She’s so strong, but not fearless, and her reactions always feel grounded and real. You can sense her vulnerability beneath the surface, especially as she begins to understand more about what’s happening to her and around her.
The side characters carve their place in the reader’s heart so effortlessly that it’s impossible not to care about them. Each one feels distinct and alive, from her loyal best friend to her sister and the new vampires she meets along the way. They bring warmth, tension, and complexity to the story, making every interaction meaningful. I grew attached to them so quickly that when things took a darker turn, it genuinely hurt. The author doesn’t shy away from emotional punches, and there were moments that completely shattered me, especially when I least expected them.
The structure of the story is equally satisfying: the pacing feels deliberate, the tension builds beautifully, and even when I started to have my suspicions about the final twist, it still managed to surprise me in the way it unfolded. It left a lot of unanswered questions, which just make me desperate for the next book.
By the time I turned the last page, one line in particular stayed with me: “You always have a choice.” It perfectly captures the heart of this story: every decision, no matter how small, carries weight. And sometimes, the hardest part isn’t making the choice itself, but learning to live with its consequences.
A huge thank you to Charlene for the ARC of this book, it was simply spectacular!
I really enjoyed the worldbuilding: it’s rich, layered, and full of details that make the setting feel alive without ever slowing down the story. While it draws on familiar vampire lore, the author breathes new life into it with fascinating and clever twists. I loved how the existence of two different kinds of vampires added depth and tension to the world, creating clear contrasts in power, status, and identity. The political structure of Houses and Courts was super intriguing - rich in lore, magic, and mystery without ever feeling overwhelming. The world reveals itself piece by piece, keeping you curious and fully immersed. I’m especially excited to explore the other Courts in the next books; there’s a sense that this universe stretches far beyond what we’ve seen so far.
The story is told in first person, present tense, which makes it incredibly easy to connect with Adina, the FMC: you don’t just follow her journey, you experience it. And I’m a big sucker for that. From the very first pages, you realize she’s not alone in her own mind. There’s a voice there - Athriel - with a sharp tongue, endless commentary, and a knack for showing up at the most inappropriate moments. His humor adds such a brilliant contrast to the darker tone of the story, lightening even the most intense scenes without ever breaking immersion. The dynamic between Adina and Athriel is one of the highlights of the book for me, both chaotic and oddly endearing, and it gives the story a unique energy that I absolutely loved.
Adina herself is a fantastic main character. She’s so strong, but not fearless, and her reactions always feel grounded and real. You can sense her vulnerability beneath the surface, especially as she begins to understand more about what’s happening to her and around her.
The side characters carve their place in the reader’s heart so effortlessly that it’s impossible not to care about them. Each one feels distinct and alive, from her loyal best friend to her sister and the new vampires she meets along the way. They bring warmth, tension, and complexity to the story, making every interaction meaningful. I grew attached to them so quickly that when things took a darker turn, it genuinely hurt. The author doesn’t shy away from emotional punches, and there were moments that completely shattered me, especially when I least expected them.
The structure of the story is equally satisfying: the pacing feels deliberate, the tension builds beautifully, and even when I started to have my suspicions about the final twist, it still managed to surprise me in the way it unfolded. It left a lot of unanswered questions, which just make me desperate for the next book.
By the time I turned the last page, one line in particular stayed with me: “You always have a choice.” It perfectly captures the heart of this story: every decision, no matter how small, carries weight. And sometimes, the hardest part isn’t making the choice itself, but learning to live with its consequences.
A huge thank you to Charlene for the ARC of this book, it was simply spectacular!
October 12, 2025
Let me just start off real quick. I THOROUGHLY enjoyed AVOSAB like I fw this HEAVY lol.
Absolutely delicious,
👏🏼 enticing, 👏🏼 intoxicating, 👏🏼 infatuating.
This was everything and MORE than I ever could have anticipated, I looked forward to this with every post I seen come up and I was so grateful when I received the news that I would be on the arc team but it’s so much better when the book is this incredible I feel so lucky.
This is going to be a lengthy review so stay with me. This will also be the first time I hit the spoilers tab in one of my posts so grab a cuppa Kos I’m here for the long haul. (I’ve actually started this while I’m outside the supermarket waiting for my mum but I can’t help it my obsession has overridden) I have so much to say.
First of 4 in the Blood Vows series, and if this isn’t the next highly sought after Vampire Romantasy then I dont know what’s wrong with you people 🥹🤣 At this point Charlene Antrobus can just take my money and run. I want every novella, every special edition, every side character, I even messaged her for fan art. I sound creepy but I promise I’m just fully immersed in my excitement.
Let’s get into it.
In a world ruled by shadow-wielding vampire royals, nobles and ancient secrets, A Vow of Shadow and Blood follows Adina, a human bound by duty, power, and a past she doesn’t fully understand. What starts as a deadly mission to protect her sister spirals into a web of gods, bloodlines, and magic older than memory.
Antrobus builds a world that feels cinematic to me. You can smell the 🩸, hear the rustle of wind, and taste the tension in every scene. The twists hit hard, especially that ending… I’m still not okay.
• Enemies to Lovers
• Fated Mates
• Vampire × Human
• Royal Politics / Court Intrigue
• Found Family
• Hidden Power / Secret Heritage
• “He Falls First”
• Reluctant Allies → Reluctant Devotion 😌
• Unknown magic
• High-Stakes, End-of-the-World Tension
What I love about this story. I find this unique!
Humans bred to be personal 🩸bags lol I shouldn’t laugh I suppose it could be considered morbid but it’s just so interesting to me.
Born into servitude, stripped from your families and even your family names, owned from birth. Having potent blood meant you were pretty much trained to be just that. If you were a human unlucky enough to be born without potent 🩸 then you ended up a labourer.
Adina knew her place but she also had this fierce independent fight about her.
I loved that she had this inner consciousness seperate to her own (Athriel, we’ll circle back to him 🤔 ) I enjoyed their back and forth banter & arguments. We discover she has unique magic that no one else seems to have OR know about which she uses to her advantage and then I suppose its used against her or tried to be used against her for others advantages.
She was by no means a victim despite her circumstances and I love that in a FMC.
During the first parts of the story I found myself wondering who our love interest was, for a moment there I thought Vincent, (vampire) a clear villain right off the bat but then shortly after we meet Finn (human) our smart ass apothecary/ concoction making… friend? No.. acquaintance and I found him quite witty and funny I enjoyed his character a lot and he definitely had the hots for our Adina.
I did wonder if we could trust him during our first encounter though.
I loved learning throughout the world building which I found impeccable, easy to follow but still without lacking substance nor complexity. I think that’s a skill and it was very well done in my opinion. I can enjoy a mixture of all, easy or extremely intricate but I feel like this was perfection.
The way we refer to vampires or humans throughout, born or sired, the way we refer to humans and which courts or houses they belong too, stunning this was all very well thought out. Leaving no room for confusion. I knew where we were, who we belonged to, I knew our place in the world and I wish I could just carry on blurting it all out hahahaha.
We meet Julian and I also though okay okay here’s our main man, I found him interesting too to begin with and I assumed our next meeting for sure would be us being forced to go with him BUT NO. Okay okay…
Nevermind though because our prince, (d a d d y) Karius, is everything my weakness is made of, brooding, regal, dangerously composed, and quietly unravelling and once he is introduced to us I just KNOW he’s ours.. drawn out sloooow burning enemies to lovers tension that I live for.
I loved everything about his court, even amidst the first encounters of hostility I find the people he surrounds himself with beautiful, Piper, Ajax, Ivanna and Kaia.. I even felt warmth towards Eamon.
I wouldn’t say no to a side story of Ajax either by the way he was a favourite of mine.
I love that throughout the conditioned hate for each others species we learn things about eachother that we otherwise would never have known had we stayed in our own lane.
History isn’t everything it was taught or portrayed to be and I love this revelations that Adina has as her journey progresses.
As per Royal or Court intrigue elements we have hidden agendas and betrayals lurking around every bend which I also thoroughly enjoyed.
This for me was like a great all rounder, I’m chucking stars around like confetti.
I’ve had a browse at others reviews which I don’t usually do and I know we all have our own thoughts and opinions but I don’t agree with some of them.
I found a beautiful connection between myself as the reader and the characters. For me the story didn’t drag at all like I remember at one point being hit with another twist and being totally blind sided because again I didn’t see it coming.
This is and will be one of my highly recommended books of 2025 and will be looking out for any and every hint of when our next installment will be.
Thankyou Charlene Antrobus for this. You’ve gained a new fan out of me. 🩷
Absolutely delicious,
👏🏼 enticing, 👏🏼 intoxicating, 👏🏼 infatuating.
This was everything and MORE than I ever could have anticipated, I looked forward to this with every post I seen come up and I was so grateful when I received the news that I would be on the arc team but it’s so much better when the book is this incredible I feel so lucky.
This is going to be a lengthy review so stay with me. This will also be the first time I hit the spoilers tab in one of my posts so grab a cuppa Kos I’m here for the long haul. (I’ve actually started this while I’m outside the supermarket waiting for my mum but I can’t help it my obsession has overridden) I have so much to say.
First of 4 in the Blood Vows series, and if this isn’t the next highly sought after Vampire Romantasy then I dont know what’s wrong with you people 🥹🤣 At this point Charlene Antrobus can just take my money and run. I want every novella, every special edition, every side character, I even messaged her for fan art. I sound creepy but I promise I’m just fully immersed in my excitement.
Let’s get into it.
In a world ruled by shadow-wielding vampire royals, nobles and ancient secrets, A Vow of Shadow and Blood follows Adina, a human bound by duty, power, and a past she doesn’t fully understand. What starts as a deadly mission to protect her sister spirals into a web of gods, bloodlines, and magic older than memory.
Antrobus builds a world that feels cinematic to me. You can smell the 🩸, hear the rustle of wind, and taste the tension in every scene. The twists hit hard, especially that ending… I’m still not okay.
• Enemies to Lovers
• Fated Mates
• Vampire × Human
• Royal Politics / Court Intrigue
• Found Family
• Hidden Power / Secret Heritage
• “He Falls First”
• Reluctant Allies → Reluctant Devotion 😌
• Unknown magic
• High-Stakes, End-of-the-World Tension
What I love about this story. I find this unique!
Humans bred to be personal 🩸bags lol I shouldn’t laugh I suppose it could be considered morbid but it’s just so interesting to me.
Born into servitude, stripped from your families and even your family names, owned from birth. Having potent blood meant you were pretty much trained to be just that. If you were a human unlucky enough to be born without potent 🩸 then you ended up a labourer.
Adina knew her place but she also had this fierce independent fight about her.
I loved that she had this inner consciousness seperate to her own (Athriel, we’ll circle back to him 🤔 ) I enjoyed their back and forth banter & arguments. We discover she has unique magic that no one else seems to have OR know about which she uses to her advantage and then I suppose its used against her or tried to be used against her for others advantages.
She was by no means a victim despite her circumstances and I love that in a FMC.
During the first parts of the story I found myself wondering who our love interest was, for a moment there I thought Vincent, (vampire) a clear villain right off the bat but then shortly after we meet Finn (human) our smart ass apothecary/ concoction making… friend? No.. acquaintance and I found him quite witty and funny I enjoyed his character a lot and he definitely had the hots for our Adina.
I did wonder if we could trust him during our first encounter though.
I loved learning throughout the world building which I found impeccable, easy to follow but still without lacking substance nor complexity. I think that’s a skill and it was very well done in my opinion. I can enjoy a mixture of all, easy or extremely intricate but I feel like this was perfection.
The way we refer to vampires or humans throughout, born or sired, the way we refer to humans and which courts or houses they belong too, stunning this was all very well thought out. Leaving no room for confusion. I knew where we were, who we belonged to, I knew our place in the world and I wish I could just carry on blurting it all out hahahaha.
We meet Julian and I also though okay okay here’s our main man, I found him interesting too to begin with and I assumed our next meeting for sure would be us being forced to go with him BUT NO. Okay okay…
Nevermind though because our prince, (d a d d y) Karius, is everything my weakness is made of, brooding, regal, dangerously composed, and quietly unravelling and once he is introduced to us I just KNOW he’s ours.. drawn out sloooow burning enemies to lovers tension that I live for.
I loved everything about his court, even amidst the first encounters of hostility I find the people he surrounds himself with beautiful, Piper, Ajax, Ivanna and Kaia.. I even felt warmth towards Eamon.
I wouldn’t say no to a side story of Ajax either by the way he was a favourite of mine.
I love that throughout the conditioned hate for each others species we learn things about eachother that we otherwise would never have known had we stayed in our own lane.
History isn’t everything it was taught or portrayed to be and I love this revelations that Adina has as her journey progresses.
As per Royal or Court intrigue elements we have hidden agendas and betrayals lurking around every bend which I also thoroughly enjoyed.
This for me was like a great all rounder, I’m chucking stars around like confetti.
I’ve had a browse at others reviews which I don’t usually do and I know we all have our own thoughts and opinions but I don’t agree with some of them.
I found a beautiful connection between myself as the reader and the characters. For me the story didn’t drag at all like I remember at one point being hit with another twist and being totally blind sided because again I didn’t see it coming.
This is and will be one of my highly recommended books of 2025 and will be looking out for any and every hint of when our next installment will be.
Thankyou Charlene Antrobus for this. You’ve gained a new fan out of me. 🩷
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2025
A Vow of Shadow and Blood ✨ARC REVIEW✨
Oh my gosh I do not know where to start besties!!!! I read this within 24 hours it consumed me!!! I was immediately taken in by Adina and how badass she is!!!! She immediately tries to save the life of one of the other humans and that shows her character right there!! I enjoyed learning about Adina’s secrets and how she has been able to do the things she does IYKYK!! And I also HATED Amabel with a FIERY PASSION!!!!!! I wanted her to get murdered but maybe in the next one??? A girl can dream lol!! I was so upset at the end of chapter 12 so rude to do that to me!!! I enjoyed the teasing and the tension between Adina and our MMC!!! The tension was absolutely tensioninggggggggg besties omg I just wanted to take both characters and make them kiss lol!!
Our MMC is Karius the big bad vampire prince who our little human hates with a passion!! I was absolutely not suspecting anything that happens in this book I was definitely taken aback!!! This is Charlene’s debut novel with humans, vampires and witches oh my!!! I throughly enjoyed this book and I need book 2 to come out like tomorrow?!?!? It was so so good and I gave it a 4/5🌟 and a 2/5🌶️ because the spice takes a while to get there but when it does………well IYKYK!!
PS. ALTHIE was literally making me laugh out loud I could not handle how funny he was being!!! He is the mysterious voice inside Adina’s head and he has some witty comebacks!! Check out some of my favorite quotes by him below but be warned there could be ❌SPOILERS❌
“I need to pull myself together.” ………..“Indeed, you do. I feel like I am in a brothel every time the two of you are in a room together.”
“Long for it. To feel anything other than fear or rage……..”
“Or jealousy.”………..”Why do you only speak when I least require it?” ………”It entertains me.”
Oh my gosh I do not know where to start besties!!!! I read this within 24 hours it consumed me!!! I was immediately taken in by Adina and how badass she is!!!! She immediately tries to save the life of one of the other humans and that shows her character right there!! I enjoyed learning about Adina’s secrets and how she has been able to do the things she does IYKYK!! And I also HATED Amabel with a FIERY PASSION!!!!!! I wanted her to get murdered but maybe in the next one??? A girl can dream lol!! I was so upset at the end of chapter 12 so rude to do that to me!!! I enjoyed the teasing and the tension between Adina and our MMC!!! The tension was absolutely tensioninggggggggg besties omg I just wanted to take both characters and make them kiss lol!!
Our MMC is Karius the big bad vampire prince who our little human hates with a passion!! I was absolutely not suspecting anything that happens in this book I was definitely taken aback!!! This is Charlene’s debut novel with humans, vampires and witches oh my!!! I throughly enjoyed this book and I need book 2 to come out like tomorrow?!?!? It was so so good and I gave it a 4/5🌟 and a 2/5🌶️ because the spice takes a while to get there but when it does………well IYKYK!!
PS. ALTHIE was literally making me laugh out loud I could not handle how funny he was being!!! He is the mysterious voice inside Adina’s head and he has some witty comebacks!! Check out some of my favorite quotes by him below but be warned there could be ❌SPOILERS❌
“I need to pull myself together.” ………..“Indeed, you do. I feel like I am in a brothel every time the two of you are in a room together.”
“Long for it. To feel anything other than fear or rage……..”
“Or jealousy.”………..”Why do you only speak when I least require it?” ………”It entertains me.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2025
Thank you so much Charlene Antrobus for giving me this ARC!
What a debut for Charlene! I went blind to read this book and now that I’ve read it, I’m so happy to say I enjoyed and devoured this book you can say in one sitting! I can’t even put it into the proper words to do it justice! I was absolutely hooked from the very beginning & the plot and narrative just kept me encompassed in the story the entire time. The plot, the world-building, the character arcs and unique magic system, were so well written!
In a world where humans are treated like slaves, Adina has a dangerous ability: she can turn her blood into a poison which kills the vampires, who are feeding from her. When the wrong person learns her secret, she has no choice but to try to kill the vampire crown prince or her sister dies. Thrown into his home and navigating vampire politics, Adina soon realizes maybe not all vampires are the monsters she thought they are, especially the prince, but with her sister’s life on the line and some shocking revelations coming to light, the decision what to do isn’t going to be easy.
Vow of Shadow and Blood is the first book in a Fantasy Romance series filled with vampires and their politics, interesting, morally grey characters and jaw-dropping plot twists and I loved it so much, I already can’t wait for book 2!
Tropes:
forced proximity,
fated bonds,
he falls first,
vampires x human slaves,
morally grey characters,
found family,
court and political intrigue,
she HATES him,
slow burn,
touch her and 💀(literally),
🔥 the world for you,
Magic system,
possessive vamp daddy.
A Vow Of Shadow & Blood releases Oct. 15th, 2025!
What a debut for Charlene! I went blind to read this book and now that I’ve read it, I’m so happy to say I enjoyed and devoured this book you can say in one sitting! I can’t even put it into the proper words to do it justice! I was absolutely hooked from the very beginning & the plot and narrative just kept me encompassed in the story the entire time. The plot, the world-building, the character arcs and unique magic system, were so well written!
In a world where humans are treated like slaves, Adina has a dangerous ability: she can turn her blood into a poison which kills the vampires, who are feeding from her. When the wrong person learns her secret, she has no choice but to try to kill the vampire crown prince or her sister dies. Thrown into his home and navigating vampire politics, Adina soon realizes maybe not all vampires are the monsters she thought they are, especially the prince, but with her sister’s life on the line and some shocking revelations coming to light, the decision what to do isn’t going to be easy.
Vow of Shadow and Blood is the first book in a Fantasy Romance series filled with vampires and their politics, interesting, morally grey characters and jaw-dropping plot twists and I loved it so much, I already can’t wait for book 2!
Tropes:
forced proximity,
fated bonds,
he falls first,
vampires x human slaves,
morally grey characters,
found family,
court and political intrigue,
she HATES him,
slow burn,
touch her and 💀(literally),
🔥 the world for you,
Magic system,
possessive vamp daddy.
A Vow Of Shadow & Blood releases Oct. 15th, 2025!
October 5, 2025
“You have no idea what you’ve done to me,” he whispers against my skin, and I fight to keep my eyes open. “From that day in the bloodhouse, you have consumed my every thought. There’s barely room for anything else.”
Overall Rating: 4.75/5 ⭐️
Spice Rating: 1.25 🌶️
a vow of shadow and blood has been one of my anticipated reads for months and now that i’ve read it im so happy to say i enjoyed this book so so much i can’t even put it into the proper words to do it justice! the fact that charlene was a new to me author AND this was her debut (?!!? just makes it that much better! from the very beginning i was absolutely hooked & the plot and narrative just kept me encompassed in the story the entire time.
so much happens in this book but it’s never confusing or super dense that you don’t understand what’s going on, and seriously just the perfect pace and so utterly refreshing in regard to the vampire plot — it’s not your classic vampire novel but so much more. so many plot twists, tension, YEARNING, slow burn and betrayal i still can’t wrap my head around it. you’re telling me this is the first of a four part book series??? i’m gonna be sitting here so impatient. miss charlene you’ve absolutely outdone yourself with this book and i can’t wait to read more of your masterpieces. never stop creating.
what to expect in a vow of shadow & blood:
🩸 enemies to lovers
🩸 touch her & die
🩸 vampire prince
🩸 slow burn
🩸 shadow magic
🩸 fated mates
🩸 found family
🩸 he falls first
a vow of shadow & blood releases oct. 15th, 2025!
Overall Rating: 4.75/5 ⭐️
Spice Rating: 1.25 🌶️
a vow of shadow and blood has been one of my anticipated reads for months and now that i’ve read it im so happy to say i enjoyed this book so so much i can’t even put it into the proper words to do it justice! the fact that charlene was a new to me author AND this was her debut (?!!? just makes it that much better! from the very beginning i was absolutely hooked & the plot and narrative just kept me encompassed in the story the entire time.
so much happens in this book but it’s never confusing or super dense that you don’t understand what’s going on, and seriously just the perfect pace and so utterly refreshing in regard to the vampire plot — it’s not your classic vampire novel but so much more. so many plot twists, tension, YEARNING, slow burn and betrayal i still can’t wrap my head around it. you’re telling me this is the first of a four part book series??? i’m gonna be sitting here so impatient. miss charlene you’ve absolutely outdone yourself with this book and i can’t wait to read more of your masterpieces. never stop creating.
what to expect in a vow of shadow & blood:
🩸 enemies to lovers
🩸 touch her & die
🩸 vampire prince
🩸 slow burn
🩸 shadow magic
🩸 fated mates
🩸 found family
🩸 he falls first
a vow of shadow & blood releases oct. 15th, 2025!
December 30, 2025
5/5 stars
LET ME TELL YALL SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First lemme relax, thank you to Charlene Antrobus for this amazing ARC, I remember following her journey of writing this on threads and I just got around to reading it and wow.
WOWWWWWWW!!
Are you joking???? What a debut!!!
Yall I loved this. Absolutely loved this. Karius? Adina??? THE TENSION?????? They aint even do anything in this book but the tension spoke for itself!!! BOYYYYYYYYYYY!!!! OMg. Like I can't I'm speechless. The plot twist? The ending? MY BABY AJAX???? 😭 MY GOODNESSSSSSSSS.
The writing was beautiful, the way everything flowed and the way my heartstrings got pulled every chapterrrrrrrrrrr my goodness. I'm obsessed. I need book two YESTERDAY!
I love the trope of human who hates vampires who then realizes they arent that bad and the character growth Adina went through was absolutely beautifully written. Following her throughout the journey made this book so good. UGH!!!! The heartbreak of everything that went down in the end, and finding out how it all comes full circle?
LEARNING THAT THIS IS 4 BOOKS???????? YALL. 5/5 stars no notes at allllllll. I feel like i have't even talked about the plot or anything that actually happens in this book, but yall just need to read this thats it. thats the review why are you still here?? PICK THIS UPPPPP!!!
LET ME TELL YALL SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First lemme relax, thank you to Charlene Antrobus for this amazing ARC, I remember following her journey of writing this on threads and I just got around to reading it and wow.
WOWWWWWWW!!
Are you joking???? What a debut!!!
Yall I loved this. Absolutely loved this. Karius? Adina??? THE TENSION?????? They aint even do anything in this book but the tension spoke for itself!!! BOYYYYYYYYYYY!!!! OMg. Like I can't I'm speechless. The plot twist? The ending? MY BABY AJAX???? 😭 MY GOODNESSSSSSSSS.
The writing was beautiful, the way everything flowed and the way my heartstrings got pulled every chapterrrrrrrrrrr my goodness. I'm obsessed. I need book two YESTERDAY!
I love the trope of human who hates vampires who then realizes they arent that bad and the character growth Adina went through was absolutely beautifully written. Following her throughout the journey made this book so good. UGH!!!! The heartbreak of everything that went down in the end, and finding out how it all comes full circle?
LEARNING THAT THIS IS 4 BOOKS???????? YALL. 5/5 stars no notes at allllllll. I feel like i have't even talked about the plot or anything that actually happens in this book, but yall just need to read this thats it. thats the review why are you still here?? PICK THIS UPPPPP!!!
October 8, 2025
4.25🌟
Omg I ate this up so fast, finished in less than a day, and it surprised me greatly. (Some spoilers)
I thought it was going to be like a lot of books nowadays, with basic plot and a lot of "romance", but it very much is a slow burn. I enjoyed the relationship between the Adina and Karius, they have a lot of sexual tension and, as I said, their relationship is slow burn and doesn't fully develop until the last 10% of the book lmao. I would've liked to see more of Karius' side, we see Adina changing her mind about, at least some, vampires, and start to let herself like Karius, but for him it feels a little bit out of nowhere. I would've liked to see why he likes her more than read him talking about being attracted to her.
Normally I don't like the whole "I'm deadly" FMCs, because most of the time I find it cringe, but I liked Adina. Her bond with Arthiel is very interesting, and I'm already waiting to see how it plays out in the next book.
I loved the side characters, there are a handful, but they're pretty fleshed out, and they all get the time to shine they deserve and aren't just there for the sake of it. But I'll fight the author for what she did to Ajax, my baby, he didn't deserve it, AND NEITHER DID I.
It's very fast-paced, in a good and bad way, it doesn't give you or the characters time to react to things sometimes. For example, when it gets mentioned that the sired work with the impure, and then they still get taken by surprise at the end of the book. I wished it hadn't moved so quickly from the twists and revelations, and they would've taken the time to process and connect the dots. But the ending, and the cliffhanger ohmygod, I'm dead fr fr, I need to know what happens next!!
Overall, I really did enjoy this book and feel it's a great debut. I don't know if this story is going to need 4 parts, but we will see how it plays out. I'm excited to read the second book when it comes out.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you so much Charlene Antrobus for letting me be one of your ARC readers!! Best of luck with your debut.
Omg I ate this up so fast, finished in less than a day, and it surprised me greatly. (Some spoilers)
I thought it was going to be like a lot of books nowadays, with basic plot and a lot of "romance", but it very much is a slow burn. I enjoyed the relationship between the Adina and Karius, they have a lot of sexual tension and, as I said, their relationship is slow burn and doesn't fully develop until the last 10% of the book lmao. I would've liked to see more of Karius' side, we see Adina changing her mind about, at least some, vampires, and start to let herself like Karius, but for him it feels a little bit out of nowhere. I would've liked to see why he likes her more than read him talking about being attracted to her.
Normally I don't like the whole "I'm deadly" FMCs, because most of the time I find it cringe, but I liked Adina. Her bond with Arthiel is very interesting, and I'm already waiting to see how it plays out in the next book.
I loved the side characters, there are a handful, but they're pretty fleshed out, and they all get the time to shine they deserve and aren't just there for the sake of it. But I'll fight the author for what she did to Ajax, my baby, he didn't deserve it, AND NEITHER DID I.
It's very fast-paced, in a good and bad way, it doesn't give you or the characters time to react to things sometimes. For example, when it gets mentioned that the sired work with the impure, and then they still get taken by surprise at the end of the book. I wished it hadn't moved so quickly from the twists and revelations, and they would've taken the time to process and connect the dots. But the ending, and the cliffhanger ohmygod, I'm dead fr fr, I need to know what happens next!!
Overall, I really did enjoy this book and feel it's a great debut. I don't know if this story is going to need 4 parts, but we will see how it plays out. I'm excited to read the second book when it comes out.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you so much Charlene Antrobus for letting me be one of your ARC readers!! Best of luck with your debut.
October 14, 2025
I loveeeee this book so much! A very well written enemies to lovers story with yearning, undeniable attraction and connection between the MCs.
Before I continue, I have to say, that I got this as an ARC and I am so glad I did!
This book is perfect, the story telling is so well done, that we feel all the feels! The emotional roller coaster is strong in this book, the twists are heartbreaking but they are perfect 😍The FMC is such a badass, she has to kill the vampire prince to save her sister and we see how far she would go to save those she loves! If you loved TVD, you will absolutely love this! The MMC is so Klaus and Damon coded, mostly Klaus in my opinion 🫠, his shadow daddy energy is on a 100!!! My heart has not healed from the ending but I am locked in and ready to follow Charlene on this achingly good journey she has started with AVOSAB! Did I mention they are fated mates? and when the vampire prince feeds on her blood, the feeling is electric? They couldn’t fight their connection no matter how hard they tried.
Some of my Fav quotes:
“What are you going to do, kill me?”His voice drops to a whisper. “There are far more wicked things I have in mind than killing you, little witch.”
“How can I want someone I loathe this badly? Someone who branded me like an animal less than an hour ago. I make myself sick.”
The book comes out October 15,2025, a mustttt read!!
Before I continue, I have to say, that I got this as an ARC and I am so glad I did!
This book is perfect, the story telling is so well done, that we feel all the feels! The emotional roller coaster is strong in this book, the twists are heartbreaking but they are perfect 😍The FMC is such a badass, she has to kill the vampire prince to save her sister and we see how far she would go to save those she loves! If you loved TVD, you will absolutely love this! The MMC is so Klaus and Damon coded, mostly Klaus in my opinion 🫠, his shadow daddy energy is on a 100!!! My heart has not healed from the ending but I am locked in and ready to follow Charlene on this achingly good journey she has started with AVOSAB! Did I mention they are fated mates? and when the vampire prince feeds on her blood, the feeling is electric? They couldn’t fight their connection no matter how hard they tried.
Some of my Fav quotes:
“What are you going to do, kill me?”His voice drops to a whisper. “There are far more wicked things I have in mind than killing you, little witch.”
“How can I want someone I loathe this badly? Someone who branded me like an animal less than an hour ago. I make myself sick.”
The book comes out October 15,2025, a mustttt read!!
October 30, 2025
story... but a vampire × human with enemies to lovers trope I'm sold.
Soo continuing with the review
Plot. 💯✅️
Writing. 💯✅️
Characters 💯✅️
Ending. 💯✅️
There isn't a single complaint I have except that why the cliffhanger or, more importantly, if you are going to leave me with a cliffhanger, give me the next book NOW! I like how Adina accepts that she might have made a mistake, unlike other books where the main character could never do any wrong. While I loved how the relationship between karius and adina developed, I honestly loved her relationship with the other characters more. The book had me go from giggling, kicking my feet in the air to crying, screaming, dying in seconds.
Before reading this book if someone had told me that I would think little witch is a cute nickname I would have laughed...but look at me now, giggling at just that😊
I honestly can't wait for the next book to come out!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Soo continuing with the review
Plot. 💯✅️
Writing. 💯✅️
Characters 💯✅️
Ending. 💯✅️
There isn't a single complaint I have except that why the cliffhanger or, more importantly, if you are going to leave me with a cliffhanger, give me the next book NOW! I like how Adina accepts that she might have made a mistake, unlike other books where the main character could never do any wrong. While I loved how the relationship between karius and adina developed, I honestly loved her relationship with the other characters more. The book had me go from giggling, kicking my feet in the air to crying, screaming, dying in seconds.
Before reading this book if someone had told me that I would think little witch is a cute nickname I would have laughed...but look at me now, giggling at just that😊
I honestly can't wait for the next book to come out!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 12, 2025
I was super excited for this book based on the author's description of the book. I am truly enjoying Vampire PNR books lately.
Spice Index: One Chili - Spice is limited to mainly kissing, with a single minimal description open door scene.
What I Liked:
- The internal banter between the FMC and another main character that wasn't the MMC.
- The depth of political intrigue and world building.
- The FMC's personality and her deep seated need to protect her loved ones at all costs.
- The cold start of the book, jumping straight in without explanation of what was occurring. I love how it grabbed my attention. Great hook!
- THE CLIFFHANGER WAS FABULOUSLY DONE!
What Sort of Didn't Work For Me, but Still Somehow Worked Well:
- Though I loved how it started, I had difficulties with understanding what some of the beginning information meant and it took longer to build the world in my head based off of the hints in the beginning. Until I got past about 30% of the book, I didn't really understand what was occurring. A lot of it made sense after that round about mark. However, it'll make it fun to re-read! I'll be able to see the crumbs develop into cookies.
I'm definitely one that sees things coming. When I don't, I rate the book high. This is one of those books you don't see the ending coming. It's completely out of left field because we're paying attention to another thing unfolding and theories that I had did not do this plot twist justice. Well done.
Who I'd Recommend This To:
Fans of The Vampire Diaries, A Bargain So Bloody, and Mortal End
Thank you to the Author and her team for the ARC. All information contained herein is my true and honest voluntary review.
Spice Index: One Chili - Spice is limited to mainly kissing, with a single minimal description open door scene.
What I Liked:
- The internal banter between the FMC and another main character that wasn't the MMC.
- The depth of political intrigue and world building.
- The FMC's personality and her deep seated need to protect her loved ones at all costs.
- The cold start of the book, jumping straight in without explanation of what was occurring. I love how it grabbed my attention. Great hook!
- THE CLIFFHANGER WAS FABULOUSLY DONE!
What Sort of Didn't Work For Me, but Still Somehow Worked Well:
- Though I loved how it started, I had difficulties with understanding what some of the beginning information meant and it took longer to build the world in my head based off of the hints in the beginning. Until I got past about 30% of the book, I didn't really understand what was occurring. A lot of it made sense after that round about mark. However, it'll make it fun to re-read! I'll be able to see the crumbs develop into cookies.
I'm definitely one that sees things coming. When I don't, I rate the book high. This is one of those books you don't see the ending coming. It's completely out of left field because we're paying attention to another thing unfolding and theories that I had did not do this plot twist justice. Well done.
Who I'd Recommend This To:
Fans of The Vampire Diaries, A Bargain So Bloody, and Mortal End
Thank you to the Author and her team for the ARC. All information contained herein is my true and honest voluntary review.
September 30, 2025
**ARC review. Thank you to Charlene Antrobus and her team.**
I love it when an author I haven't read before pleasantly surprises me. I loved this story. It kept me on the edge of my seat for sure. I liked the world building when it came to the magic system and the societal hierarchy of the vampires and humans.
The FMC, while stubborn and headstrong, was enjoyable to read. So much rage, but such a good heart.
The found family aspect was lovely. The sexual tension was well done also, however there is next to no spice in this one, just one short oral scene.
I knew this was a series but I did wish I knew ahead of time that it will be a 4 part series (mentioned in the afterword). We're a long way off from the culmination of this story.
I love it when an author I haven't read before pleasantly surprises me. I loved this story. It kept me on the edge of my seat for sure. I liked the world building when it came to the magic system and the societal hierarchy of the vampires and humans.
The FMC, while stubborn and headstrong, was enjoyable to read. So much rage, but such a good heart.
The found family aspect was lovely. The sexual tension was well done also, however there is next to no spice in this one, just one short oral scene.
I knew this was a series but I did wish I knew ahead of time that it will be a 4 part series (mentioned in the afterword). We're a long way off from the culmination of this story.
October 9, 2025
Als eerste wil ik de auteur enorm bedanken voor de mogelijkheid om deze ARC te lezen.
Dit boek was echt geweldig, van begin tot het eind zat ik er helemaal in. Je leest het boek vanuit de perspectief van Adina. Zij moet de vampiersprins vermoorden om haar zus te kunnen redden. Maar Adina kan hem niet vermoorden omdat hij haar fated mate is en bij hem in het kasteel woont.
Maar komt dat wel goed? Want Adina is een mens en Karius is een vampier.
DE CLIFFHANGER, ik moet weten hoe het verder gaat. Kan niet wachten op het tweede deel!!!
Release date: 15 oktober 2025
Dit boek was echt geweldig, van begin tot het eind zat ik er helemaal in. Je leest het boek vanuit de perspectief van Adina. Zij moet de vampiersprins vermoorden om haar zus te kunnen redden. Maar Adina kan hem niet vermoorden omdat hij haar fated mate is en bij hem in het kasteel woont.
Maar komt dat wel goed? Want Adina is een mens en Karius is een vampier.
DE CLIFFHANGER, ik moet weten hoe het verder gaat. Kan niet wachten op het tweede deel!!!
Release date: 15 oktober 2025
October 18, 2025
I was given an ARC for "A Vow of Shadow and Blood" and I rate it 4.5 stars.
I am not sure how to even start on this review because I am, as you can probably see in my account, new in providing reviews. But, I can confidently say I devoured this book. I was hooked from the very start.
It is a high-stakes tale of loyalty with power, forbidden love, rebellion, duty and family sacrifice woven together to create a beautiful bow of gothic elegance and brooding, dark romance. The plot was well established but left enough mystery and questions. The world building and character development were smooth and remarkable.
Charlene skimmed on the surface on some elements of the story and left them unexplained. It did not affect my reading experience or comprehension of the plot. It leaves room for imagination and at the same time, I anticipate that the answers will be in the next installment of the series or the one after that (if there is more).
The sexual tension is real in this one and its an epitome of slow burn. But the romance did not overshadow the intricate political and emotional stakes.
Every decision the main character made came with heavy consequences. I loved how the story and the characters are morally complex, and none of them are really completely good or evil. The grey area made every twists well deserved and impactful.
The pacing was generally fast with slight dip in the middle. It picked up pretty quickly with a gripping climax and emotional payoff. Although I had a nagging feeling on the plot twist, the knife wound Charlene gave me as a reader is deep and bleeding. Hopefully, I'll be all healed by the next installment.
If you love a fierce heroine, vampire lores, court intrigues and rebellion, this is a must read!
I am not sure how to even start on this review because I am, as you can probably see in my account, new in providing reviews. But, I can confidently say I devoured this book. I was hooked from the very start.
It is a high-stakes tale of loyalty with power, forbidden love, rebellion, duty and family sacrifice woven together to create a beautiful bow of gothic elegance and brooding, dark romance. The plot was well established but left enough mystery and questions. The world building and character development were smooth and remarkable.
Charlene skimmed on the surface on some elements of the story and left them unexplained. It did not affect my reading experience or comprehension of the plot. It leaves room for imagination and at the same time, I anticipate that the answers will be in the next installment of the series or the one after that (if there is more).
The sexual tension is real in this one and its an epitome of slow burn. But the romance did not overshadow the intricate political and emotional stakes.
Every decision the main character made came with heavy consequences. I loved how the story and the characters are morally complex, and none of them are really completely good or evil. The grey area made every twists well deserved and impactful.
The pacing was generally fast with slight dip in the middle. It picked up pretty quickly with a gripping climax and emotional payoff. Although I had a nagging feeling on the plot twist, the knife wound Charlene gave me as a reader is deep and bleeding. Hopefully, I'll be all healed by the next installment.
If you love a fierce heroine, vampire lores, court intrigues and rebellion, this is a must read!
October 20, 2025
WOW! What a debut from Charlene Antrobus. ☺️😍 I loved how badass Adina was! She truly was a heroine that cared about her family and friends and went beyond to take care of them. When she finally meets the vampire prince, Karius the whole thing had me in a chokehold and up until the wee hours of the morning gobbling this book up. I also highly enjoyed the world building and character development throughout the story. I cannot wait for book two!!!
October 15, 2025
Holy twists and cliffhanger Batman!
Such a great read and for her debut, masterpiece!
Now I have to be patient for book 2. 😵💫
Thank you Charlene for letting me part of your ARC team!
Such a great read and for her debut, masterpiece!
Now I have to be patient for book 2. 😵💫
Thank you Charlene for letting me part of your ARC team!
November 8, 2025
emotional damage
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