Hunted: The brand new seductive vampire romance featuring a powerful vampire and a soul bond from Zara Cox for 2026

by Zara Cox

Discover a BRAND NEW dark, obsessive, scorching romance series from Zara Cox Praise for Zara

'Zara Cox is a sizzling new voice' Kitty French, USA Today best-selling author

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ ‘I love a badass dirty talking mafia man’ Reader Review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ ‘The dirty talk was filthy 🥵' Reader Review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ ‘This is what mafia romance is made of' Reader Review

Genres: Paranormal, Dark Romance, Romance, Romantasy, Paranormal Romance, Vampires

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2026

Reviews

[Bookishness]

A story where the hunter becomes the hunted. The chemistry between the main characters was HOT, with plenty of tension, push-and-pull that made you want to tell the characters to stop with the secrets. The story follows one of the most powerful vampires as he searches for his fated mate (NOT SOUL MATE BECAUSE HE SAID HE DOES NOT HAVE A SOUL) a woman who has spent 6 years hiding from him after her father promised her to the vampire when she was younger, forcing her to run away.

I’m a huge fan of vampire stories, so I really enjoyed this one. Just be prepared: it ends on a major cliffhanger, leaving plenty of questions unanswered. You’ll definitely want to pick up the next book to find out what happens next!


~pre-read~ you know I am always looking for something new!! A dark Mafia Romance about obsessive Vampire!! EXCUSE ME??? read the dedication:

For the readers who like their romance dark, their vows dirtier, and their vampire possessive!

I just received this ARC, dropping everything to give you guys the juicy details! RTC

[Nai]

4.5 ⭐️

I literally devoured this in one sitting omgg, the tension between Valentin and Eira was SO GOOD, I was literally holding my breath from sheer anticipation, wondering when Valentin would learn of Eira's identity, and the extensive lengths she went to conceal who she was, wow!! What a rollercoaster of a read, and that cliffhanger at the end, again, just wow, a time was certainly had!! 

[VickydpBooks]

🖤 Dark paranormal romance
🩸 Powerful vampire hero
🔥 Fated mates
👀 Cat-and-mouse tension
🌙 Secrets & hidden identities
⚔️ Morally grey characters
💕 HEA completed in Claimed

It’s Book 1 of a duology, with Claimed delivering the happily-ever-after.

If you love dark paranormal romance, obsessive heroes, fated mates, vampires, dangerous secrets, and intense cat-and-mouse tension, Hunted sounds like a seriously addictive start to Zara Cox’s latest series.

Lyra Hannigan’s life changes forever when her father offers her to Don Valentin Moretti, one of the world’s most powerful vampires, to settle a debt. Knowing that Moretti will eventually come for her, Lyra disappears without a trace, abandoning her name and her past.

Six years later, she’s living under a new identity as Eira Cross—a skilled bounty hunter in the supernatural underworld. She’s careful, independent, and seemingly impossible to find. But staying hidden becomes much harder when she’s summoned to Moretti’s Tower.

Valentin has problems of his own. As one of the legendary Five Blood and ruler of New York’s supernatural underworld, he should be untouchable. Instead, an ancient curse threatens his immortality, and his desperate search for his elusive fated mate is becoming increasingly ruthless.

When Valentin offers Eira her freedom in exchange for helping him find Lyra, she has no choice but to accept. But the closer they get to the truth, the more complicated everything becomes. The hunter and the hunted are suddenly caught in a dangerous game where identities, loyalties, and desires are constantly shifting.

What makes this premise so intriguing is the mystery surrounding Lyra’s disappearance and Eira’s true identity. The tension builds as the past begins colliding with the present, while Valentin’s obsession and Eira’s determination create a volatile dynamic that’s impossible to ignore.

The dark supernatural atmosphere, powerful vampire mythology, fated-mate connection, ancient curse, and morally complicated characters make this feel like a romance where danger is lurking around every corner. And with the story ending on a cliffhanger that continues into Claimed, readers will definitely want the second book close by.

A dark, seductive, and suspenseful paranormal romance filled with vampires, obsession, secrets, forbidden attraction, and a dangerous game of pursuit. Hunted promises to keep you guessing about who is truly hunting whom until the very end.

[Claire~theblushingreader]

This book was a very pleasant surprise!

I am really enjoying this. Give me an obsessive, stalkery alphahole and I’m usually pretty happy. Give me an obsessive, stalkery VAMPIRE alphahole King and, well… PHEW! 😂 Add in some seriously hot spice and you definitely have my attention.

I really liked the duality of Lyra/Eira and seeing how different she becomes once she is forced into hiding. Before disappearing, she is one person, but once she realizes she needs to stay under the radar of those looking for her, she develops the skills and instincts to survive. I liked watching her become more capable without losing the personality that makes her interesting.

Eira has just the right amount of snark and disobedience to keep things entertaining. She isn't simply going along with everything that happens to her, and her attitude creates some great tension with Valentin. And honestly, the confusion Valentin experiences over just how strongly he is drawn to her? That definitely speaks to my brattier side. 😂

Valentin was another character who worked well for me. He has the right amount of angst for a powerful vampire King who can't find the woman he is inexplicably obsessed with, combined with enough of his darker vampiric nature to make him interesting. His obsession doesn't feel like something he can simply turn off, which makes watching him try to understand his own reactions to Eira even more entertaining.

The world building was decent and gave me enough of the vampire world to stay invested without getting bogged down in unnecessary details. I also appreciated the intentional use of consent within the vampire rituals. Considering the darker nature of the story and the power dynamics involved, I liked that this was something the author clearly incorporated deliberately.

And yes… the spice is HOT. 🔥

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read and definitely better than I expected going in. I’m invested in these characters, curious to see where the story goes next, and absolutely looking forward to picking up Claimed!

[Minnie]

ARC review

4.5⭐|3🌶️|18%🌶️frequency

Oh wow, that's a great book.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but peeps, a vampire who is looking for his fated mate who is hiding from him. Then hire a bounty hunter to look for her. Sounds not too problematic, right? LOL, not if said bounty hunter IS the fated mate 😱 Just Valentin obviously doesn't know it. And that honestly makes it funny🤣 And it's such a brilliant idea.

The chemistry between Valentin and Eira is 💥 It's 🔥 It's, I can't describe it 🙈 It's so incredible. Magnetic isn't even enough. It's definitely the fated mates bond that isn't even "activated" yet.
Also there banter is A+. I so loved how they bicker and everything.

I couldn't stop reading. I was so thrilled to see what would happen when Valentin finds out who Eira is. With every page, I thought, "Guy, wake up, you must feel it, come on, you can't ignore that this connection is just random!!!" 🙈

It's always difficult for me to find good vampire books. I love vampires, and I would love to read more books with them, but I don't know 🤷‍♀️ It's just difficult.
Whatever, this book is definitely one I loved. So, thank you, Zara, for writing it 😘 BUT I also hate you a tiny bit 🤏 for this cliffhanger 😱
I love cliffhangers, but I hate waiting for the next book 🙈 Luckily, the next book will be published soon, so the wait isn't too long 🩷
And I sooo need it. I just need to know. OMG, it's 😱 I had a feeling till the end something like that could happen; I just was too afraid of it to believe it 🙈

If you love vampire romance, I'm sure you will love this one, too 🩷


Thanks to the author, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for trusting me with an ARC 🩷


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[Geri • GardensandGrimoires]

What a great introduction to this vampire duology! We've got a fiercely independent FMC, a powerful vampire king, a fated mates bond and a whole lot of entertaining banter.

Meet Eira, a hunter for hire with a hidden past. Thanks to her debt-ridden father, she's been promised to Valentin, the vampire king of NYC. But Eira has absolutely no intention of accepting that fate, so she runs, building a new life for herself with the help of Selphine, a wonderfully sassy witch who manages to keep her hidden from Valentin for years.

And can we just take a moment to appreciate Selphine? She's the grumpy grandma protector you didn't know you needed, and I absolutely loved her!

For me, though, Eira is the real star of this book. Her quick wit and complete refusal to be intimidated by anyone, vampire king included, make her such a fun character to follow. Honestly, I don't know how she gets away with half the things she says!

Of course, Eira and Valentin's paths eventually cross when he unknowingly hires her to track down his long-lost mate. Yes, you read that right. He's hired the very woman he's been searching for, and so begins a thoroughly entertaining game of cat and mouse.

The chemistry between these two is fantastic, and I loved watching the tension build as they circled one another. There's plenty of push and pull, some brilliant verbal sparring and a fated mates bond that Eira is determined to resist.

Hunted is a really fun start to the duology, with a great cast of characters, plenty of vampire politics, magic, mystery and a romance that promises to get even more interesting.

And that ending?! Talk about a cliff hanger! Thank goodness I had book two ready to go because there was absolutely no way I was leaving Eira and Valentin there!

[Catherine Giguère]

Hunted by Zara Cox was such an addictive read.

Even though it’s a dark vampire romance, it never felt overwhelmingly dark to me. The world feels a lot like our own, but with vampires, witches, magic, and other supernatural beings living alongside humans, making it really easy to get into.

The dynamic between Eira and Valentin was definitely the highlight for me. The slow burn, the constant tension, and the yearning had me completely hooked. Valentin unknowingly hiring Eira, a bounty hunter, to hunt… herself, all while being completely oblivious to who she really was, made for some hilarious moments. Eira’s attitude was an absolute delight. She was sarcastic as hell, never backed down in front of anyone, and I liked her even more because of it all.

Getting chapters from Valentin’s point of view made the story even better. Watching him slowly lose the battle against his feelings while refusing to believe that their connection could be the mate bond was incredibly satisfying.

But, I wish the hunt for Lyra had been pushed somewhat further. It felt like Valentin gave up on finding her rather quickly, and I would have liked more false leads, arguments, and moments where he got closer without realizing his mate was right under his nose.

Overall, the chemistry, humour, and growing tension between them made this such an enjoyable read. The ending definitely left me wanting the next book, and I’ll be picking up Claimed as soon as I can.

A special thank you to Boldwood Books for reaching out and inviting me to read Hunted, and to NetGalley for providing the eARC. I really appreciated the opportunity, and as always, all opinions are my own.

[Eden]

This book had me hooked from the first page. The dark vampire mafia has everything I love in a book. Vampires. Check. Mafias. Check. A daring FMC paired with an obsessed MMC. Check. Hunted by Zara Cox invites readers into an enticing world of thrilling action and supernatural shenanigans. The book cover captures the seductive dark atmosphere of the novel.

The characters in this series are the heart of the story. Fully fledged personalities and development, I was invested in the FMC. We are given a peek into her past and how her decision has consequences. The moment the past catches up to her, our MMC Valentin Moretti, invades her and the readers' senses. The tension between the two of them is instant and each scene they had together has me on the edge of my seat. As the plot progresses, their connection is undeniable and I need more. Outside of the couple, the plot builds up with murders, enemies, and curses that i can't wait to see expanded on in book 2.

Overall, if you are looking for a couple with seductive, irresistible tension, an FMC who is recklessly brave and a vampiric MMC with comebacks and obsession, Hunted by Zara Cox is for you.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story.

[Crystal Reads]

Hunted by Zara Cox was much more than I imagined. A dark vampire romance that gives me a powerful and possessive MMC, plus a baddie FMC that is his fated mate… sign me up every time.

Eira Cross is a supernatural bounty hunter who has spent years building a new life around secrets and staying hidden. She's strong, sarcastic, and definitely not the kind of woman who is going to back down easily. Valentin Moretti is one of the most powerful vampires and is on the hunt for his fated mate while an ancient curse threatens his immortality.

I absolutely loved the dynamic between Eira and Valentin. The push and pull between these two was everything. Their chemistry was intense from the moment they met, and I loved watching Valentin slowly lose his battle against an attraction he couldn't explain. Eira gave him plenty of attitude, and their banter had me completely hooked.

Eira was definitely my favorite character. She was smart, capable, and would always fight for herself. Valentin, on the other hand, is the ultimate morally gray obsessive vampire. He's dangerous, powerful, and completely captivated by the woman standing right in front of him, even though he has no idea who she really is.

And that ENDING?????
I was not prepared at all. I NEED answers!

[Kate Catling]

I didn't expect to like this as much as I did.

A vampire mafia. I hadn't read that before and it's a fun premise: Valentin hires a bounty hunter to find the woman he's owed, and the bounty hunter is her. That isn't a twist and the book doesn't pretend it is; the fun is watching him fail to work it out.

My problem is Eira. She's introduced as the supernatural underworld's best tracker and then, from the moment Valentin is on the page, she never uses her skills. The job is a costume. She just exists in the room with him. Both of them also spend the book withholding information that a single conversation would resolve, which stops reading as tension and starts reading as a decision they keep making.

The pull between them is what the book is actually good at, and it carried me.

Then the ending. It's a cliffhanger, and the longer I sat with it the more it read like one book cut in half. I want to know what happens next. I kinda hate wanting to know.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Chryssa.reads]

I was so intrigued and curious about this book.
What can go wrong with mafia, vampire, witch and fated mates?!Nothing!!!
It was a good read, I really enjoyed it and after that ending, that cliffhanger, I really need to read book 2 right now.
I wanted a litlle bit more informations about this wolrd, how they survive together, about his brothers.
I liked that after that jump of 6 years, we meet a strong and badass FMC. And I liked that, because at first she is a shy and scarred girl.
The MMC, our vampire is under a cursed and he needs his soul mate, which happens to be the hunter. But with the help of a witch she can't be recognised. But he feels a pull towards her and doesn't know why.
It is a slow burn story, but I think it is done well here. And now waiting for the 2nd book to see what happens next.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read the book in advance. This is my honest and only opinion.

[Mia N. Gleason]

She’s hiding in plain sight in this forced-proximity, vampire-human, hunt or be hunted FANTASTIC start to a series. A little bit broken, our FMC rebuilds herself after disappearing from a life that was promised away to our dark and broody MMC. After 6 years, she finds herself forced to meet her fate she’s been outrunning but finds herself beginning to fall for the very creature she ran from all those years ago. I believe we’ll follow this couple through the series (which I prefer!) and continue to meet other baddies along the way. There are secrets, curses, witches, vampires, werewolves, bounty hunters, fated mates, major “touch her and die” vibes sprinkled with obsessive “who did this to you” tendencies and of course…spice. Loved it from page 1 and can’t wait for book 2! Spice was good, banter was good, pacing was good - definitely recommend!

I received an aARC from NetGalley for my honest review and honestly, it was a 5 🌟 read for me!

[Jenn the Readaholic]

NO! I need more now. I need to know. I need answers. I need so much because I have theories and thoughts and curiosities and zero confirmations.

Eira is playing a very dangerous game. She didn’t want to, but when forced onto the board, she proves to be a very formidable player. She’s the one who can resist Valentin. The one who could end or truly start him up again. The one who needs to be honest, but can’t. Not when she’s uncertain of the outcome or anyone’s actual goal. And she’s mad, too. Irrationally? Maybe, but really, I’d say not so maybe. She’s got a right to feel how she does in this deadly game. The question is how this can all possibly end.

And I have no clue how. So I’m mad. I want to know. I need to know. Does Valentin have a clue? Did someone else betray them both? I have to impatiently wait to find out.

[Blossom’s Bookshelf]

I picked up Hunted after being approved for a NetGalley ARC of Claimed, and I’m glad I read the first half of Eira and Valentin’s story before diving into the conclusion.

Eira is a capable, guarded bounty hunter, while Valentin is a smooth, powerful vampire Don who is very used to getting his way. The irony of him tasking her with finding Lyra makes for a brilliant cat-and-mouse dynamic, and I had fun with the way they constantly push each other. Their banter, attraction and spice kept me engaged, but it was Valentin’s response to Eira’s grief over her friend Tezra that made their connection feel deeper to me.

Eira has limited choice in much of the story, particularly where Valentin’s power is concerned, and I’m interested to see how Claimed handles that imbalance. I want them to choose each other for who they are, beyond the fated-mate bond.

And that cliffhanger?! I’m very glad I have Book Two ready to read. 🩸

[Kelly Gomez]

Thank you Boldwood books and Netgalley for the e-arc!

Vampires, mafia, and dark romance? This book hit the perfect trifecta. It’s so refreshing to find a unique twist on both the vampire and mafia world. I devoured this book in two days and I have no regrets. I came in with no expectations and came out craving for the sequel. What I enjoyed about this story is world that Zara has created. I know that after the story of Valentin and Eira concludes, I am still intrigued to want to read what Zara has in store next for this world.

As for both main characters, their relationship wasn’t insta love or lust. It was a gradual thing that kept growing each chapter. It wasn’t rushed, it was paced well, and it made sense.

[Jane Hunt]

A vampire hunter, an ancient curse and a powerful vampire create a dangerous world of betrayal, dark secrets and passion. It's an atmospheric story with intricate world-building. The Five Blood Thrones societies are mafia-style, and this makes them easier to visualise. It's contemporary, dark and gritty with a powerful supernatural curse woven into the mix. The chemistry between the hunter and the vampire leader is tangible, and there are plenty of dark, spicy moments. The betrayals and secrets are what make this addictive, and the ending is a cliffhanger, but if you've been following the clues, you can guess what you're going to find out in the next book.
I like the characters, the supernatural society and the seductive romance.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Hillary_8]

I had a lot of fun with Hunted! 🗡️

Eira was a strong FMC who never backed down and I loved the chemistry between her and Valentin!🥰

Their constant push and pull mixed with the darker vampire world kept me turning the pages!!

I do wish the ending had a little more room to breathe but overall this was such an entertaining paranormal romance! I'll definitely be reading more from Zara Cox!

Tropes:
🩸 Vampire romance
🗡️ Hunter × hunted
✨ Fated mates
🖤 Morally gray x possessive
🔥 Forced proximity
❤️ Protective MMC

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Pub Date: August 26, 2026

Thank you to the author (Zara Cox) & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own!

[Cindy Jones]

Hunted is the first story in the Bloodlines series. It is well-written and interesting. It is Valentin and Ezra's story.

Don Valentin is one of the five Blood Thrones. Lyra slipped through his fingers. She was sold to Valentin to pay off her father's debts. Lyra changes her name to Eira to keep from being discovered. She goes back years later. Secrets are unraveled and Eira has to make a choice. Is Valentin a threat?

I loved how Valentin wanted to get Lyra back. I loved how Lyra had become who she was meant to be. Their story is filled with suspense and secrets. I look forward to the next story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy.

[Caitlin]

Valentin is trying to find his fated mate- I volunteer as tribute.

He's one of the most powerful vampires in the world- check. He is a dark and mysterious red flag- check. Obviously has "experience"- double check.

If you are looking for a dark, vampire romance with laugh out loud banter, look no further.

It does end on a cliffhanger and man I am salivating for book 2!!

POV: Dual POV
Standalone: No- ends on a cliffhanger
Tropes/Vibes:
- paranormal
- vampire
- fated mates
- hidden identity

[Michaela Zeno]

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC of this book. I love a good mafia romance and then mix it with some vampires…yeah sign me up! It also takes place in New Orleans, which is where I’m from so that was an automatic. I need to read it. The hunter and hunted dynamic helped create the perfect tension and then mixing in fated mates, so good. Really enjoyed the story from start to finish and I was hooked!

[Little Red]

This was a dark vampire mafia romance. The plot of this book was definitely interesting and I did like the idea of the Hunter x vampire trope. However I did struggle with this book, as it kind of felt like I was constantly missing information to understand what was happening. And the location seemed to keep changing. I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

[Melissa Magoon]

5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Absolute masterpiece.

From the writing to the tension, I could not put this down.
I always know a book is 5/5 when I am impatiently waiting to be able to get back to it.

The banter is top tier. And our FMC isn’t meek or scared. She’s a badass with a mouth of her own.
I can’t wait for the next one!

[Freya]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The plot was intriguing, and I loved the chemistry between the main characters. The spice was beautiful, and there was definitely a slow burn, but insta-spark plot.
When it ended on a cliff-hanger, I was DEVASTATED to find out I was going to have to wait for the sequel!

[Rachael]

Fantastic read. Need sequel asap.

[emilyreadsandreviews]

I needed a hot vampire man in my life.

[ReneeReads]

I haven't read a good vampire book in a little bit and this one hit that sweet spot. It has a great story, there is intrigue and passion, there is humor and spice and all around I had a great time reading this book. I love the way Zara writes her character and makes them real and relatable even if they happen to be a vampire. This book reads very quickly and once I started I couldn't put it down. The cliffhanger ending only left me wanting more.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 9/1/26