What do you think?
Blood & Bedlam: A NOLA After Dark Novel
A spicy fantasy—inspired by the Casket Girls—featuring the original vampyr and his daughters, set in New Orleans and building upon the world of Kraven’s Dark Fates series, for fans of Jaysea Lynn and Katee Robert.
Memory is in the blood.
In the shadowed world beneath the city’s music, masks, and midnight rituals, Vlad Dracul reigns. Ancient and bound by blood and magic, he is the original vampyr—protector of his daughters, the Casket Girls, and keeper of a fragile peace among rival clans. His past is carved by centuries of desire and loss, and by one woman he has never forgotten.
Enter Reine.
A bartender with an artist’s eye and a soul older than it should be, Reine is drawn into a forbidden night where vampire politics, Otherworlders, and dangerous magic collide. One glance is enough. Vlad sees the echo of a buried love—and a temptation that could ignite war.
What follows is not a simple romance, but a collision of obsession, memory, and fate. Desire turns lethal. Blood becomes intimate. Loyalties fracture as ancient rivalries flare, and the line between protection and possession dissolves. Reine doesn’t remember Vlad—but her dreams and art betray a bond that refuses to stay buried.
Spanning centuries and pulsing with heat, Blood & Bedlam is a decadent, high-stakes paranormal romance where love survives lifetimes—and New Orleans becomes a gothic playground for monsters who refuse to remain in the dark.
Memory is in the blood.
In the shadowed world beneath the city’s music, masks, and midnight rituals, Vlad Dracul reigns. Ancient and bound by blood and magic, he is the original vampyr—protector of his daughters, the Casket Girls, and keeper of a fragile peace among rival clans. His past is carved by centuries of desire and loss, and by one woman he has never forgotten.
Enter Reine.
A bartender with an artist’s eye and a soul older than it should be, Reine is drawn into a forbidden night where vampire politics, Otherworlders, and dangerous magic collide. One glance is enough. Vlad sees the echo of a buried love—and a temptation that could ignite war.
What follows is not a simple romance, but a collision of obsession, memory, and fate. Desire turns lethal. Blood becomes intimate. Loyalties fracture as ancient rivalries flare, and the line between protection and possession dissolves. Reine doesn’t remember Vlad—but her dreams and art betray a bond that refuses to stay buried.
Spanning centuries and pulsing with heat, Blood & Bedlam is a decadent, high-stakes paranormal romance where love survives lifetimes—and New Orleans becomes a gothic playground for monsters who refuse to remain in the dark.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published September 15, 2026
About the author
T.C. Kraven
20 books226 followersT.C. Kraven is three raccoons in a trench coat, writing stories that seek to promote the diverse dynamics she grew up in. You can often find her tucked into a Waffle House booth in New Orleans, frantically chasing a plot thread over a two egg breakfast.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
September 15, 2026
I really enjoyed reading this! I have been craving a good vampire book for a while. With magic, New Orleans, and dark gothic vibes, this had everything I love in a paranormal romance.
Vlad and Reine had so much chemistry, and I enjoyed watching their story unfold. The connection between them was intense and perfectly balanced with their chaotic history.
The world-building was another highlight with all of the vampires, witches, shifters, supernatural politics, and family drama. The New Orleans setting made everything feel even more spooky and gave the story such a unique vibe. The only thing was the world building gets a bit overwhelming sometimes, but it is the first book in the series.
If you love dark romance, mystery, and the paranormal all wrapped into one, definitely check this out!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Vlad and Reine had so much chemistry, and I enjoyed watching their story unfold. The connection between them was intense and perfectly balanced with their chaotic history.
The world-building was another highlight with all of the vampires, witches, shifters, supernatural politics, and family drama. The New Orleans setting made everything feel even more spooky and gave the story such a unique vibe. The only thing was the world building gets a bit overwhelming sometimes, but it is the first book in the series.
If you love dark romance, mystery, and the paranormal all wrapped into one, definitely check this out!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
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July 6, 2026🩸🦇 Blood & Bedlam 🦇🩸
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Paranormal Romance
• Vampire Romance
• Gothic Atmosphere
• New Orleans
• Fated Love
• Ancient Magic
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 15, 2026
Thank you to Diversion Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Paranormal Romance
• Vampire Romance
• Gothic Atmosphere
• New Orleans
• Fated Love
• Ancient Magic
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 15, 2026
Thank you to Diversion Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A powerful vampire and his family rule the town of New Orleans. Vlad Dracul is an original Vampyre and has ruled the town for centuries, alone. He does not have a queen by his side because he lost the love of his life long ago. Reine is a street-smart bartender who is abducted while out one night with friends. She is taken by an opposing vampire clan and set to be sacrificed but Vlad rescues her. As impossible as it is for him to believe, Reine has the exact resemblance of his long dead wife, yet she is a human.
This story was fantastic. I enjoyed the character development and world building. The author has a way of weaving her tale with details that pull at not only your mind but senses as well. I felt as if I were experiencing the moments in the story right alongside the characters at times. I also enjoyed the aspect of memories being in the blood.
I have a love for the city of New Orleans. I love the culture, history, and especially food. Reading this story, allowed for me to experience that love again.
I recommend this novel for mature audiences only. This is a slow burn with lots of angst and spice. This was a first read for me by this author and I plan to check out others she has written.
I received this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This story was fantastic. I enjoyed the character development and world building. The author has a way of weaving her tale with details that pull at not only your mind but senses as well. I felt as if I were experiencing the moments in the story right alongside the characters at times. I also enjoyed the aspect of memories being in the blood.
I have a love for the city of New Orleans. I love the culture, history, and especially food. Reading this story, allowed for me to experience that love again.
I recommend this novel for mature audiences only. This is a slow burn with lots of angst and spice. This was a first read for me by this author and I plan to check out others she has written.
I received this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 26, 2026
♾️⭐️
A love that transcends time, fate, and death itself. The love between Reine and Vlad is a story that will now forever be a favorite of mine. It’s so beautifully written, and I got chills several times. Love aside, this book hits the ground running and doesn’t stop. It’s packed full of action, secrets, mystery, unwavering love, and a dash of delicious spice. Read this book. I’ll be listening when it comes out on audio.
A love that transcends time, fate, and death itself. The love between Reine and Vlad is a story that will now forever be a favorite of mine. It’s so beautifully written, and I got chills several times. Love aside, this book hits the ground running and doesn’t stop. It’s packed full of action, secrets, mystery, unwavering love, and a dash of delicious spice. Read this book. I’ll be listening when it comes out on audio.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Format: ARC | Ebook
Book Type/Dynamic: MF Paranormal Romance | Fated Love Across Lifetimes | Ancient Vampyr x Human | Found Family | Touch Her & Die
New Orleans, ancient blood magic, vampire politics, dangerous women, and an immortal man who has spent centuries yearning for the same soul?
Yes. Put the fangs directly into my veins.
Blood & Bedlam is a lush, bloody, deeply romantic beginning to T.C. Kraven’s NOLA After Dark series. It takes the familiar bones of Dracula lore, drags them through the candlelit streets of New Orleans, and dresses them in Casket Girls history, Otherworlder politics, midnight rituals, and enough supernatural chaos to keep the story moving well beyond the romance.
At the center of it all is Vlad Dracul, the original vampyr, ruler, protector, father, and immortal wife guy of my darkest dreams.
Vlad could have easily become another ancient, controlling vampire archetype, but there is so much more beneath his possessive exterior. He carries centuries of grief, responsibility, devotion, and barely restrained violence. His love for his daughters, the Casket Girls, gives him an unexpected tenderness that made him feel far more layered than simply being the terrifying supernatural male everyone fears.
Do not misunderstand me. He is still terrifying.
He is simply terrifying while being a devoted girl dad with a centuries-long yearning problem, which may be an even more dangerous combination.
Then there is Reine, a bartender and artist who finds herself pulled into a world of vampyrs, rival factions, old magic, and secrets written into her own blood. Her dreams and artwork suggest that some part of her remembers Vlad, even when her conscious mind does not.
I appreciated that Reine did not immediately become a helpless ornament in Vlad’s world. She is understandably overwhelmed by what is happening around her, but she still questions, pushes, reacts, and attempts to hold on to herself while being dropped directly into the supernatural deep end with several emotional bricks tied to her ankles.
The relationship between Vlad and Reine develops quickly within the present-day timeline, but this is not exactly ordinary instalove. Their connection carries the weight of memories, loss, reincarnation, and a love that has been starving for centuries. Vlad recognizes her soul long before she understands why she is drawn to him, creating a delicious imbalance between his certainty and her confusion.
He remembers everything while she remembers almost nothing. And he has been bleeding for her for far too long to behave normally about finally having her within reach.
That yearning is where the relationship truly shines. Vlad does not merely want Reine. He recognizes her. He mourns her while she is standing directly in front of him. His desire is wrapped around grief, worship, protectiveness, and the kind of possession that comes with an implied body count.
The wider Dracul family was another enormous strength. The Casket Girls are not decorative background characters placed around Vlad to make him appear powerful. They have distinct personalities, relationships, loyalties, and histories of their own. Their bond feels like a true chosen family: loving, complicated, fiercely protective, and entirely capable of murder before brunch.
The setting is equally intoxicating. New Orleans doesn't feel pasted behind the characters as gothic wallpaper. Its music, history, masks, rituals, heat, and supernatural undercurrents are woven into the story’s blood supply. Kraven blends the mythology surrounding the Casket Girls with traditional vampyr lore and her established Dark Fates universe, creating a city crowded with witches, gods, shifters, monsters, and political grudges that have had centuries to ferment.
As for the spice, I am settling firmly on 3 out of 5.
There are several explicit scenes, and the book understands that blood drinking becomes an entirely different activity when desire enters the room. The intimacy is seductive, possessive, occasionally feral, and deeply connected to Vlad and Reine’s supernatural bond. However, this is not a smut-first story or a book where everyone is naked by chapter three and simply remains that way for convenience.
On my personal scale, a five means the plot is gasping for air beneath an enthusiastic pile of bodies. Blood & Bedlam keeps its clothes on long enough to build its characters, mythology, mystery, and family relationships. When the spice arrives, it absolutely brings the heat, but the emotional yearning leaves the deeper burn.
Overall, Blood & Bedlam gave me nearly everything I want from a vampire romance: an immortal man hopelessly devoted to one woman, a heroine connected to something ancient and dangerous, historical mythology, blood-soaked intimacy, supernatural politics, vicious found family, and New Orleans gothic atmosphere dripping from every page.
It's romantic, decadent, violent, occasionally heartbreaking, and sexy without sacrificing the world around its central couple.
A solid 4.5 stars from me.
Vlad Dracul may have crossed oceans of time for his woman, but more importantly, he arrived with fangs, daughters, emotional damage, and touch-her-and-die energy.
That is what I call properly accessorized.
ARC Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
Spice Rating: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Format: ARC | Ebook
Book Type/Dynamic: MF Paranormal Romance | Fated Love Across Lifetimes | Ancient Vampyr x Human | Found Family | Touch Her & Die
New Orleans, ancient blood magic, vampire politics, dangerous women, and an immortal man who has spent centuries yearning for the same soul?
Yes. Put the fangs directly into my veins.
Blood & Bedlam is a lush, bloody, deeply romantic beginning to T.C. Kraven’s NOLA After Dark series. It takes the familiar bones of Dracula lore, drags them through the candlelit streets of New Orleans, and dresses them in Casket Girls history, Otherworlder politics, midnight rituals, and enough supernatural chaos to keep the story moving well beyond the romance.
At the center of it all is Vlad Dracul, the original vampyr, ruler, protector, father, and immortal wife guy of my darkest dreams.
Vlad could have easily become another ancient, controlling vampire archetype, but there is so much more beneath his possessive exterior. He carries centuries of grief, responsibility, devotion, and barely restrained violence. His love for his daughters, the Casket Girls, gives him an unexpected tenderness that made him feel far more layered than simply being the terrifying supernatural male everyone fears.
Do not misunderstand me. He is still terrifying.
He is simply terrifying while being a devoted girl dad with a centuries-long yearning problem, which may be an even more dangerous combination.
Then there is Reine, a bartender and artist who finds herself pulled into a world of vampyrs, rival factions, old magic, and secrets written into her own blood. Her dreams and artwork suggest that some part of her remembers Vlad, even when her conscious mind does not.
I appreciated that Reine did not immediately become a helpless ornament in Vlad’s world. She is understandably overwhelmed by what is happening around her, but she still questions, pushes, reacts, and attempts to hold on to herself while being dropped directly into the supernatural deep end with several emotional bricks tied to her ankles.
The relationship between Vlad and Reine develops quickly within the present-day timeline, but this is not exactly ordinary instalove. Their connection carries the weight of memories, loss, reincarnation, and a love that has been starving for centuries. Vlad recognizes her soul long before she understands why she is drawn to him, creating a delicious imbalance between his certainty and her confusion.
He remembers everything while she remembers almost nothing. And he has been bleeding for her for far too long to behave normally about finally having her within reach.
That yearning is where the relationship truly shines. Vlad does not merely want Reine. He recognizes her. He mourns her while she is standing directly in front of him. His desire is wrapped around grief, worship, protectiveness, and the kind of possession that comes with an implied body count.
The wider Dracul family was another enormous strength. The Casket Girls are not decorative background characters placed around Vlad to make him appear powerful. They have distinct personalities, relationships, loyalties, and histories of their own. Their bond feels like a true chosen family: loving, complicated, fiercely protective, and entirely capable of murder before brunch.
The setting is equally intoxicating. New Orleans doesn't feel pasted behind the characters as gothic wallpaper. Its music, history, masks, rituals, heat, and supernatural undercurrents are woven into the story’s blood supply. Kraven blends the mythology surrounding the Casket Girls with traditional vampyr lore and her established Dark Fates universe, creating a city crowded with witches, gods, shifters, monsters, and political grudges that have had centuries to ferment.
As for the spice, I am settling firmly on 3 out of 5.
There are several explicit scenes, and the book understands that blood drinking becomes an entirely different activity when desire enters the room. The intimacy is seductive, possessive, occasionally feral, and deeply connected to Vlad and Reine’s supernatural bond. However, this is not a smut-first story or a book where everyone is naked by chapter three and simply remains that way for convenience.
On my personal scale, a five means the plot is gasping for air beneath an enthusiastic pile of bodies. Blood & Bedlam keeps its clothes on long enough to build its characters, mythology, mystery, and family relationships. When the spice arrives, it absolutely brings the heat, but the emotional yearning leaves the deeper burn.
Overall, Blood & Bedlam gave me nearly everything I want from a vampire romance: an immortal man hopelessly devoted to one woman, a heroine connected to something ancient and dangerous, historical mythology, blood-soaked intimacy, supernatural politics, vicious found family, and New Orleans gothic atmosphere dripping from every page.
It's romantic, decadent, violent, occasionally heartbreaking, and sexy without sacrificing the world around its central couple.
A solid 4.5 stars from me.
Vlad Dracul may have crossed oceans of time for his woman, but more importantly, he arrived with fangs, daughters, emotional damage, and touch-her-and-die energy.
That is what I call properly accessorized.
ARC Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
October 5, 2026
⭐️3.75
This was my first book by T.C. Kraven, and I had some very mixed feelings about it. There were definitely things I enjoyed, but I also found myself confused by quite a few aspects of the world and story.
To be clear, I LOVE a good vampire story. But in this case, the supernatural world is busy!! We have vampires, shifters, witches, gods, otherworlders, the Immortal Guard, and apparently several different levels of vampire hierarchy. I actually like the idea of a world this expansive, but I felt like some of these elements were introduced before there was enough explanation for me to understand how everything fit together. I especially found myself questioning the ranking of the vampires and what exactly made Vladimir’s family different from the First Bloods. I also wanted more information about Vlad’s “daughters” and whether they had abilities beyond simply being vampires/otherworlders.
Vlad was probably one of my biggest disappointments. His whole intimidating, hot-vampire persona seemed to crumble almost immediately around Mina/Reine, and unfortunately, that took away some of the appeal of his character for me. I also struggled with Reine and Vlad’s relationship. Something about the dynamic felt strange to me, especially because I kept picturing Vlad as having a very father-like relationship with his “daughters,” only for him to pursue a woman who feels like she belongs in the same age group as them. I really couldn’t get that image out of my head.
Reine herself was interesting, though. I liked the exploration of her different lives and the eventual choice she has to make between being a witch or a vampyr. Her discovering that she was a witch was a genuine surprise, as was her brother suddenly appearing to reclaim the power. However, that entire storyline felt very rushed and short-lived. There were several moments like this where I wanted more development rather than another major piece of information being thrown at me.
I also had a hard time reconciling Reine with Mina. Reine has a serious potty mouth, and I just couldn’t quite picture her as the same person, although I suppose “modern-day Mina” explains some of that.
One thing I apparently have a running theme with lately is female fantasy protagonists who are artists, because once again, the female main character is a drawer/painter. At this point, I’m starting to wonder if every fantasy heroine I read is secretly an artist. Not hating, just recognizing a theme.
I also wish New Orleans had played a bigger role in the story. With the whole “NOLA After Dark” atmosphere, I was expecting the setting to really come alive, but I felt like that aspect fell a little flat. There were also several scenes where the descriptions were so specific that I found myself imagining them as a very low-budget movie with questionable CGI and actors. I don’t know if that makes sense, but it definitely happened more than once.
And then we get to the final stretch. The last 100 pages were JAM-PACKED with information, revelations, and events. So much happened so quickly that it became a little overwhelming to keep track of everything.
Overall, I think there are some really interesting ideas here, and I enjoyed enough of the story, but I wanted more explanation and development in several areas. The world has a lot of potential, but at times it felt like the book was moving faster than I could process all the new information being thrown at me.
This was my first book by T.C. Kraven, and I had some very mixed feelings about it. There were definitely things I enjoyed, but I also found myself confused by quite a few aspects of the world and story.
To be clear, I LOVE a good vampire story. But in this case, the supernatural world is busy!! We have vampires, shifters, witches, gods, otherworlders, the Immortal Guard, and apparently several different levels of vampire hierarchy. I actually like the idea of a world this expansive, but I felt like some of these elements were introduced before there was enough explanation for me to understand how everything fit together. I especially found myself questioning the ranking of the vampires and what exactly made Vladimir’s family different from the First Bloods. I also wanted more information about Vlad’s “daughters” and whether they had abilities beyond simply being vampires/otherworlders.
Vlad was probably one of my biggest disappointments. His whole intimidating, hot-vampire persona seemed to crumble almost immediately around Mina/Reine, and unfortunately, that took away some of the appeal of his character for me. I also struggled with Reine and Vlad’s relationship. Something about the dynamic felt strange to me, especially because I kept picturing Vlad as having a very father-like relationship with his “daughters,” only for him to pursue a woman who feels like she belongs in the same age group as them. I really couldn’t get that image out of my head.
Reine herself was interesting, though. I liked the exploration of her different lives and the eventual choice she has to make between being a witch or a vampyr. Her discovering that she was a witch was a genuine surprise, as was her brother suddenly appearing to reclaim the power. However, that entire storyline felt very rushed and short-lived. There were several moments like this where I wanted more development rather than another major piece of information being thrown at me.
I also had a hard time reconciling Reine with Mina. Reine has a serious potty mouth, and I just couldn’t quite picture her as the same person, although I suppose “modern-day Mina” explains some of that.
One thing I apparently have a running theme with lately is female fantasy protagonists who are artists, because once again, the female main character is a drawer/painter. At this point, I’m starting to wonder if every fantasy heroine I read is secretly an artist. Not hating, just recognizing a theme.
I also wish New Orleans had played a bigger role in the story. With the whole “NOLA After Dark” atmosphere, I was expecting the setting to really come alive, but I felt like that aspect fell a little flat. There were also several scenes where the descriptions were so specific that I found myself imagining them as a very low-budget movie with questionable CGI and actors. I don’t know if that makes sense, but it definitely happened more than once.
And then we get to the final stretch. The last 100 pages were JAM-PACKED with information, revelations, and events. So much happened so quickly that it became a little overwhelming to keep track of everything.
Overall, I think there are some really interesting ideas here, and I enjoyed enough of the story, but I wanted more explanation and development in several areas. The world has a lot of potential, but at times it felt like the book was moving faster than I could process all the new information being thrown at me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
TL;DR: Gothic, scorching, and achingly romantic, this is vampire romance with its fangs fully out. Blood & Bedlam took a minute to fully sink its fangs into me, but once it did, I was GONE. It’s dark, ridiculously spicy, romantic in this aching, centuries-spanning way, and packed with vampires, reincarnation, blood magic, supernatural politics, and enough chaos to have me genuinely panicking near the end.
I’ll admit, Blood & Bedlam and I had a slightly rocky start. The first chapter didn’t immediately grab me (I truly don’t think that was a writing issue and more a me issue in the moment), and I actually sat on this one for a bit before coming back to it. But once I hit Chapter 2? Completely different story. Suddenly I was flying through it, and somewhere along the way “I’ll read a little more” turned into being awake at 3 a.m. multiple times because there was absolutely no way I was stopping.
The relationship between Reine and Vlad ended up being what completely sold me. There’s so much longing and history wrapped up in these two, and as the pieces of their connection started falling into place, their romance became surprisingly emotional. Vlad’s devotion to her is INTENSE, but underneath all that possessive ancient-vampire energy is something genuinely tender and tragic. There were several moments where I just sat there thinking why is this so painfully romantic?! The book really made me feel the weight of everything these two had lost and how desperately they wanted another chance.
And yes, this is absolutely a spicy book. The spice is explicit, fairly frequent after the halfway mark, and very much intertwined with the vampire blood/bonding side of the story rather than feeling completely separate from the plot. There are fangs. There is blood. There is possessiveness. There are some extremely vivid dream/memory situations. Do with that information what you will. 😂
I also really enjoyed how much bigger the supernatural world became as the story went on. What starts with Reine being dragged into Vlad’s world expands into rival vampire clans, Otherworlders, old magic, gods, family betrayals, soul ties, and centuries-old consequences.
And that final stretch? RUDE. I went from intrigued to concerned to legitimately staring at how little book I had left and wondering how we were possibly going to survive everything happening. Then T.C. Kraven decided apparently I needed to cry too. The emotional payoff hit much harder than I expected, especially after watching Vlad carry centuries of grief and regret throughout the story. By the time we reached the end, the idea of finally finding home and family after everything Reine had endured is what really got me.
The epilogue also left me VERY interested in where this series is going next because excuse me, there are some relationship complications happening over there that I absolutely need explained. 👀
If you like gothic New Orleans, mouthy FMCs, ancient vampires, diverse supernatural worlds, obsessive devotion, fangs, blood magic, “I would fight fate itself for you” energy, and vampire romance that is both scorching hot and surprisingly emotional then put this one on your TBR.
P.S. Thanatos sounds hot AF.
Thank you to NetGalley and Diversion Books for providing me with an advance copy of Blood & Bedlam in exchange for my honest review
I’ll admit, Blood & Bedlam and I had a slightly rocky start. The first chapter didn’t immediately grab me (I truly don’t think that was a writing issue and more a me issue in the moment), and I actually sat on this one for a bit before coming back to it. But once I hit Chapter 2? Completely different story. Suddenly I was flying through it, and somewhere along the way “I’ll read a little more” turned into being awake at 3 a.m. multiple times because there was absolutely no way I was stopping.
The relationship between Reine and Vlad ended up being what completely sold me. There’s so much longing and history wrapped up in these two, and as the pieces of their connection started falling into place, their romance became surprisingly emotional. Vlad’s devotion to her is INTENSE, but underneath all that possessive ancient-vampire energy is something genuinely tender and tragic. There were several moments where I just sat there thinking why is this so painfully romantic?! The book really made me feel the weight of everything these two had lost and how desperately they wanted another chance.
And yes, this is absolutely a spicy book. The spice is explicit, fairly frequent after the halfway mark, and very much intertwined with the vampire blood/bonding side of the story rather than feeling completely separate from the plot. There are fangs. There is blood. There is possessiveness. There are some extremely vivid dream/memory situations. Do with that information what you will. 😂
I also really enjoyed how much bigger the supernatural world became as the story went on. What starts with Reine being dragged into Vlad’s world expands into rival vampire clans, Otherworlders, old magic, gods, family betrayals, soul ties, and centuries-old consequences.
And that final stretch? RUDE. I went from intrigued to concerned to legitimately staring at how little book I had left and wondering how we were possibly going to survive everything happening. Then T.C. Kraven decided apparently I needed to cry too. The emotional payoff hit much harder than I expected, especially after watching Vlad carry centuries of grief and regret throughout the story. By the time we reached the end, the idea of finally finding home and family after everything Reine had endured is what really got me.
The epilogue also left me VERY interested in where this series is going next because excuse me, there are some relationship complications happening over there that I absolutely need explained. 👀
If you like gothic New Orleans, mouthy FMCs, ancient vampires, diverse supernatural worlds, obsessive devotion, fangs, blood magic, “I would fight fate itself for you” energy, and vampire romance that is both scorching hot and surprisingly emotional then put this one on your TBR.
P.S. Thanatos sounds hot AF.
Thank you to NetGalley and Diversion Books for providing me with an advance copy of Blood & Bedlam in exchange for my honest review
September 23, 2026
4.5 Stars rounded down to 4.
Blood & Bedlam by T.C. Kraven is further proof that Kraven is insanely talented and apparently determined to keep feeding my obsession with all things New Orleans. Vampires, blood magic, centuries of history, reincarnated love, supernatural politics, and the decadence of New Orleans? I never stood a chance.
Kraven's take on Vlad Dracul immediately caught my attention. Rather than simply retelling another familiar Dracula story, Blood & Bedlam creates its own mythology around the original vampyr, his daughters—the Casket Girls—and the supernatural world existing beneath the surface of the city. The concept felt fresh while still embracing everything I want from a vampire novel.
Then there is Reine. Her connection to Vlad goes far beyond immediate attraction, and uncovering exactly why this seemingly ordinary bartender feels so familiar to a centuries-old vampyr became one of my favorite parts of the story. There is so much history and longing wrapped into their relationship, and Kraven lets that history slowly reveal itself as the larger supernatural conflict develops around them.
But the setting might have been what truly sold me. New Orleans already feels like a city where something supernatural could be happening just beyond your line of sight, and Kraven takes full advantage of that. The history, music, magic, nightlife, and general atmosphere are woven throughout the story rather than simply using the city as a pretty backdrop. It feels integral to the world she's creating.
The mythology surrounding the Casket Girls was especially interesting. Between the historical inspiration, competing supernatural factions, blood and magic, and the threat of everything erupting into chaos, there is considerably more happening here than the central romance. The world feels like it existed long before we arrived and will continue existing after we leave it.
Kraven's writing is lush, atmospheric, and wonderfully suited to this kind of story. Blood & Bedlam manages to feel decadent, romantic, bloody, and genuinely fun all at once.
It also doesn't hurt that an author writing sexy New Orleans vampires refers to her readers as her “heauxs.” I'm sorry, but that alone tells you exactly what kind of delightful chaos you're signing up for.
T.C. Kraven has built something incredibly fun here, and I cannot get enough of the supernatural New Orleans world she's creating. I'll happily return whenever she decides to let us heauxs back in.
Thank you, NetGalley, T.C. Kraven, and Diversion Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.
Blood & Bedlam by T.C. Kraven is further proof that Kraven is insanely talented and apparently determined to keep feeding my obsession with all things New Orleans. Vampires, blood magic, centuries of history, reincarnated love, supernatural politics, and the decadence of New Orleans? I never stood a chance.
Kraven's take on Vlad Dracul immediately caught my attention. Rather than simply retelling another familiar Dracula story, Blood & Bedlam creates its own mythology around the original vampyr, his daughters—the Casket Girls—and the supernatural world existing beneath the surface of the city. The concept felt fresh while still embracing everything I want from a vampire novel.
Then there is Reine. Her connection to Vlad goes far beyond immediate attraction, and uncovering exactly why this seemingly ordinary bartender feels so familiar to a centuries-old vampyr became one of my favorite parts of the story. There is so much history and longing wrapped into their relationship, and Kraven lets that history slowly reveal itself as the larger supernatural conflict develops around them.
But the setting might have been what truly sold me. New Orleans already feels like a city where something supernatural could be happening just beyond your line of sight, and Kraven takes full advantage of that. The history, music, magic, nightlife, and general atmosphere are woven throughout the story rather than simply using the city as a pretty backdrop. It feels integral to the world she's creating.
The mythology surrounding the Casket Girls was especially interesting. Between the historical inspiration, competing supernatural factions, blood and magic, and the threat of everything erupting into chaos, there is considerably more happening here than the central romance. The world feels like it existed long before we arrived and will continue existing after we leave it.
Kraven's writing is lush, atmospheric, and wonderfully suited to this kind of story. Blood & Bedlam manages to feel decadent, romantic, bloody, and genuinely fun all at once.
It also doesn't hurt that an author writing sexy New Orleans vampires refers to her readers as her “heauxs.” I'm sorry, but that alone tells you exactly what kind of delightful chaos you're signing up for.
T.C. Kraven has built something incredibly fun here, and I cannot get enough of the supernatural New Orleans world she's creating. I'll happily return whenever she decides to let us heauxs back in.
Thank you, NetGalley, T.C. Kraven, and Diversion Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.
October 3, 2026
Give me an ancient vampyr, reincarnated love, New Orleans after dark, and a man who has been waiting lifetimes for one woman to find her way back to him, and I was completely hooked!
Blood & Bedlam had such a lush, gothic atmosphere, and I loved being thrown into the paranormal world of New Orleans, where vampires, ancient magic, political intrigue, and family secrets all collide. The lore surrounding the Casket Girls was such a fun addition, especially because it tied so beautifully into Vlad’s relationship with his daughters and the family he’s built.
Vlad definitely stands out to me. He’s ancient, powerful, possessive, completely devoted, and such a girl dad at heart. I loved seeing how deeply he loves his daughters and how much care the author put into showing their relationships. The found family aspect was honestly one of my favorite parts of the entire book. The girls each brought something different to the story, and by the end I was already wanting a book for every single one of them.
I also really enjoyed Reine. She’s an artist who has been drawing the same mysterious man and strange symbols from her dreams, only to suddenly find herself thrown into a world she never knew existed. I loved how she was basically dropped into the deep end and expected to figure everything out while the world around her was falling apart. Her reactions felt genuine, and I appreciated that she wasn’t written as someone who simply needed to be rescued. She held her own and brought so much to Vlad and his family.
The reincarnated love between Vlad and Reine was such an intriguing part of the story. I loved the idea that love can survive even when memories don’t, and the way their connection unfolded through dreams, instinct, art, and that undeniable feeling of familiarity made their relationship so compelling. There was such a magnetic pull between them, and I especially enjoyed watching Reine slowly piece together why Vlad felt so familiar to her.
While I didn’t connect with every part of the story as deeply as I hoped, I still really appreciated what it brought to the table. The gothic New Orleans setting, paranormal lore, found family, ancient love, vampire politics, and characters all worked together to create something that felt rich and atmospheric.
Vampyr x witch, reincarnated love, fated mates through time, shadow daddy, artist fmc, girl dad, found family, and gothic New Orleans… this book really had so many things I love to read about packed into one story!
Blood & Bedlam had such a lush, gothic atmosphere, and I loved being thrown into the paranormal world of New Orleans, where vampires, ancient magic, political intrigue, and family secrets all collide. The lore surrounding the Casket Girls was such a fun addition, especially because it tied so beautifully into Vlad’s relationship with his daughters and the family he’s built.
Vlad definitely stands out to me. He’s ancient, powerful, possessive, completely devoted, and such a girl dad at heart. I loved seeing how deeply he loves his daughters and how much care the author put into showing their relationships. The found family aspect was honestly one of my favorite parts of the entire book. The girls each brought something different to the story, and by the end I was already wanting a book for every single one of them.
I also really enjoyed Reine. She’s an artist who has been drawing the same mysterious man and strange symbols from her dreams, only to suddenly find herself thrown into a world she never knew existed. I loved how she was basically dropped into the deep end and expected to figure everything out while the world around her was falling apart. Her reactions felt genuine, and I appreciated that she wasn’t written as someone who simply needed to be rescued. She held her own and brought so much to Vlad and his family.
The reincarnated love between Vlad and Reine was such an intriguing part of the story. I loved the idea that love can survive even when memories don’t, and the way their connection unfolded through dreams, instinct, art, and that undeniable feeling of familiarity made their relationship so compelling. There was such a magnetic pull between them, and I especially enjoyed watching Reine slowly piece together why Vlad felt so familiar to her.
While I didn’t connect with every part of the story as deeply as I hoped, I still really appreciated what it brought to the table. The gothic New Orleans setting, paranormal lore, found family, ancient love, vampire politics, and characters all worked together to create something that felt rich and atmospheric.
Vampyr x witch, reincarnated love, fated mates through time, shadow daddy, artist fmc, girl dad, found family, and gothic New Orleans… this book really had so many things I love to read about packed into one story!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An ARC was freely provided to me by Diversion Books - thank you!
This is EXACTLY what I craved from watching S1 of Castlevania. Vlad: wife guy, loving father, and hot as HELL.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5) | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3)
Please keep in mind that although ARCs don't often change much, if at all, before publishing: it is possible, and this review is based on pre-released content.
I gave up on vampire lit yeaaars ago, because I found everything I tried was either too YA (much love, just not my thing) or contrived.
Blood & Bedlam changed my mind. Vlad's characterization is amazing. He's just… I don't have words to adequately express my love for and awe of this character! Every time his POV came around I fell deeper and deeper in love with him.
Raine, while I didn't form as intense of a bond with, was great. I wanted more of her to shine through, as her individual self. That's not to say she's flat or boring; I enjoyed her as a main character and found her a good match with Vlad. She's literally just out here trying Her Best, y'all. Thrown completely in the deep end with WEIGHTS on her ankles, pretty much, her reactions felt real and reasonable. She didn't feel like The Chosen One (one of my worries), she held her own, and added so much to Vlad and his family.
Speaking of family… HOLY. Oh my god. The author's note? Check. I have absolutely fallen in love with the girls. I would like each of them to have their own book, pls and ty. Especially Camille?! After that ending??? 😤
This is one of the best renditions of Found/Chosen Family I've ever read. Vlad is a girl dad, through and through. The author takes her time to properly introduce them, and does it so well that when we skip forward, we can easily infer how much growth they've had. How their papa () has helped - as parents should - shape them into the strong women they are today. He doesn't take it for granted, either, and his love for his daughters ooze off the page and straight into the heart. Raine, too, is aware and just as - appreciative sounds odd, but I don't have anything better.
The daughters themselves were brilliant. Though the book wasn't about them, they felt like completely realized, nuanced characters. They also aren't pushed to the side; they're a HUGE part of Vlad's life, and it shows. It's just beautiful.
And last but definitely not least, the spice. Ma'am. Madam Author. I see you. Thank you. 🥵
Blood & Bedlam has a planned publication date of Sep 15, 2026!
This is EXACTLY what I craved from watching S1 of Castlevania. Vlad: wife guy, loving father, and hot as HELL.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5) | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3)
Please keep in mind that although ARCs don't often change much, if at all, before publishing: it is possible, and this review is based on pre-released content.
I gave up on vampire lit yeaaars ago, because I found everything I tried was either too YA (much love, just not my thing) or contrived.
Blood & Bedlam changed my mind. Vlad's characterization is amazing. He's just… I don't have words to adequately express my love for and awe of this character! Every time his POV came around I fell deeper and deeper in love with him.
Raine, while I didn't form as intense of a bond with, was great. I wanted more of her to shine through, as her individual self. That's not to say she's flat or boring; I enjoyed her as a main character and found her a good match with Vlad. She's literally just out here trying Her Best, y'all. Thrown completely in the deep end with WEIGHTS on her ankles, pretty much, her reactions felt real and reasonable. She didn't feel like The Chosen One (one of my worries), she held her own, and added so much to Vlad and his family.
Speaking of family… HOLY. Oh my god. The author's note? Check. I have absolutely fallen in love with the girls. I would like each of them to have their own book, pls and ty. Especially Camille?! After that ending??? 😤
This is one of the best renditions of Found/Chosen Family I've ever read. Vlad is a girl dad, through and through. The author takes her time to properly introduce them, and does it so well that when we skip forward, we can easily infer how much growth they've had. How their papa () has helped - as parents should - shape them into the strong women they are today. He doesn't take it for granted, either, and his love for his daughters ooze off the page and straight into the heart. Raine, too, is aware and just as - appreciative sounds odd, but I don't have anything better.
The daughters themselves were brilliant. Though the book wasn't about them, they felt like completely realized, nuanced characters. They also aren't pushed to the side; they're a HUGE part of Vlad's life, and it shows. It's just beautiful.
And last but definitely not least, the spice. Ma'am. Madam Author. I see you. Thank you. 🥵
Blood & Bedlam has a planned publication date of Sep 15, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC Review--Thank you NetGalley & the author for this arc.
I am such a sucker for any form of Dracula reimagining. What I love most is the way the story treats love as something that can survive not only death, but time itself. But also the role memory plays when Vlad & Mina finally reconnect in the present. For Reine/Mina who has been reincarnated, the past exists only as these strange, unexplainable dreams that she then sketches. She has been carrying fragments of a life she doesn’t consciously remember. She has the echo of their love without knowing where it comes from. And then there’s Vlad, carrying the opposite burden: he remembers EVERYTHING. His past is a vault of vivid (& unbearable) understanding. He has lived with the memory of her for centuries. That contrast makes their reunion so powerful to me. They aren’t simply two people falling in love again. They are two people arriving at the same memory from opposite directions.
It’s as though memory itself refuses to let them be completely separated. Death can take a life, time can erase a history, and consciousness can forget, but some part of their connection always survives.
The love story consumed me, but I also absolutely loved the modern New Orleans setting. NOLA is one of my favorite places; it feels otherworldly and T.C. Kraven does such a fantastic job capturing the way the lore/history feels so alive there.
I also enjoyed the family aspect of this retelling. Vlad’s “daughters” are a picture of feminine strength, power, resilience, and reclamation. This was such a cool integration of the history/lore of the casquette girls (“casket girls”).
Great read. Definitely going on my shelf.
“I watch her call to the beast, a beacon lighthouse in the port of a raging storm of darkness, and like a moth to flame, he comes. He submits. He’s gentle. The creature locked inside up tight, the darkest part of the Blood for me, BOWED TO HER.”
I am such a sucker for any form of Dracula reimagining. What I love most is the way the story treats love as something that can survive not only death, but time itself. But also the role memory plays when Vlad & Mina finally reconnect in the present. For Reine/Mina who has been reincarnated, the past exists only as these strange, unexplainable dreams that she then sketches. She has been carrying fragments of a life she doesn’t consciously remember. She has the echo of their love without knowing where it comes from. And then there’s Vlad, carrying the opposite burden: he remembers EVERYTHING. His past is a vault of vivid (& unbearable) understanding. He has lived with the memory of her for centuries. That contrast makes their reunion so powerful to me. They aren’t simply two people falling in love again. They are two people arriving at the same memory from opposite directions.
It’s as though memory itself refuses to let them be completely separated. Death can take a life, time can erase a history, and consciousness can forget, but some part of their connection always survives.
The love story consumed me, but I also absolutely loved the modern New Orleans setting. NOLA is one of my favorite places; it feels otherworldly and T.C. Kraven does such a fantastic job capturing the way the lore/history feels so alive there.
I also enjoyed the family aspect of this retelling. Vlad’s “daughters” are a picture of feminine strength, power, resilience, and reclamation. This was such a cool integration of the history/lore of the casquette girls (“casket girls”).
Great read. Definitely going on my shelf.
“I watch her call to the beast, a beacon lighthouse in the port of a raging storm of darkness, and like a moth to flame, he comes. He submits. He’s gentle. The creature locked inside up tight, the darkest part of the Blood for me, BOWED TO HER.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, T.C. Kraven & Diversion Books for the free, pre-publication copy (ARC or Digital Review Copy) of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Vampires in New Orleans...SOLD! This was my first book by T.C. Kraven and it did not disappoint! The immersive and colorful backdrop of New Orleans was perfect for this new telling of Vlad and his beloved Mina, aka Reine. The story dives right in and keeps such an engaging pace throughout the entire book that I never noticed a slowdown in the story. We are immediately thrown into the paranormal world of the vampires who run NOLA and the hierarchy behind it all. I loved the lore of the Casket Girls being brought into this story and it setting the tone of Vlad’s love for his daughters. Our FMC Reine is thrown into this world as if in a tornado of exploding actions surrounding her without fulling understanding why it is all happening to her. Without giving too much away, it is a wonderful new way to tell the story of Dracula and Mina and the power of their love over the centuries. I was fully invested right from the start and enjoyed the chemistry that was built between them. The spice was definitely there, they had such a magnetic pull to each other it could be felt on every page, but I would expect nothing less between these two characters after being apart from each other for so long.
And Cami, dear Cami, I can’t wait to see how your story unfolds!
The surprising inclusion of other characters from ancient Greek lore was so well done! I wanted more of them and hope we get that in the next book! The gothic atmosphere, political intrigue, spicy pull of our two main characters, and the power of family made this such an enjoyable read, I look forward to book two when it comes out...and hopefully I don’t have to wait too long!!
Vampires in New Orleans...SOLD! This was my first book by T.C. Kraven and it did not disappoint! The immersive and colorful backdrop of New Orleans was perfect for this new telling of Vlad and his beloved Mina, aka Reine. The story dives right in and keeps such an engaging pace throughout the entire book that I never noticed a slowdown in the story. We are immediately thrown into the paranormal world of the vampires who run NOLA and the hierarchy behind it all. I loved the lore of the Casket Girls being brought into this story and it setting the tone of Vlad’s love for his daughters. Our FMC Reine is thrown into this world as if in a tornado of exploding actions surrounding her without fulling understanding why it is all happening to her. Without giving too much away, it is a wonderful new way to tell the story of Dracula and Mina and the power of their love over the centuries. I was fully invested right from the start and enjoyed the chemistry that was built between them. The spice was definitely there, they had such a magnetic pull to each other it could be felt on every page, but I would expect nothing less between these two characters after being apart from each other for so long.
And Cami, dear Cami, I can’t wait to see how your story unfolds!
The surprising inclusion of other characters from ancient Greek lore was so well done! I wanted more of them and hope we get that in the next book! The gothic atmosphere, political intrigue, spicy pull of our two main characters, and the power of family made this such an enjoyable read, I look forward to book two when it comes out...and hopefully I don’t have to wait too long!!
August 18, 2026
I received an ARC of Blood & Bedlam via NetGalley request. A huge thank you to TC Kraven, NetGalley, and Diversion Books for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts are my own.
I am a huge fangirl of TC Kraven. I've read several of her books already and met her earlier this year at a book event. She has an amazing energy, upbeat, and when you talk to her, you learn just how much she loves her city of New Orleans, which is where Blood & Bedlam takes place.
We first meet male main character Vladimir as he awakens on a ship in 1728. He quickly realizes he's awoken to a scene of horrors as the deck crew takes advantage of the women passengers. Vladimir's inner beast destroys the entirety of the ship's crew, save four surviving women. These women, we learn, would become Vladimir's daughters.
The book jumps to present day, and we meet Reine, a work-a-holic bartender/artist who lives her life essentially sleeping and working, with her best friend, Makenna, as her only true companion. The two prepare for a night of debauchery on Halloween night at a ball. The night quickly goes awry when vampires with unsavory intentions thrall the two women and relocate them to a different party, where Vladimir is in attendance.
When Reine awakens from her thrall, it's in Vladimir's home, and the memories of the night before flood her consciousness. The vampires killed Makenna and nearly killed Reine had Vladimir not intervened. Right away, he is entranced by Reine, because she is a near carbon-copy of his wife, Mina, who passed away centuries before.
As the book progresses, it becomes clear that Reine is not who she believes she is. She struggles with her identity as Vladimir struggles with the possibility his dead wife has returned to him. Their chemistry grows in intensity as memories start coming to the surface and long-buried truths are brought to light.
I absolutely loved this book. I consider it a second chance romance, because we do eventually learn that Reine is Mina. It's sexy, romantic, a little angsty, but filled with strong characters. The writing is superb. For anyone looking for a HEA, single-book vampire romance, this is definitely one to enjoy.
I am a huge fangirl of TC Kraven. I've read several of her books already and met her earlier this year at a book event. She has an amazing energy, upbeat, and when you talk to her, you learn just how much she loves her city of New Orleans, which is where Blood & Bedlam takes place.
We first meet male main character Vladimir as he awakens on a ship in 1728. He quickly realizes he's awoken to a scene of horrors as the deck crew takes advantage of the women passengers. Vladimir's inner beast destroys the entirety of the ship's crew, save four surviving women. These women, we learn, would become Vladimir's daughters.
The book jumps to present day, and we meet Reine, a work-a-holic bartender/artist who lives her life essentially sleeping and working, with her best friend, Makenna, as her only true companion. The two prepare for a night of debauchery on Halloween night at a ball. The night quickly goes awry when vampires with unsavory intentions thrall the two women and relocate them to a different party, where Vladimir is in attendance.
When Reine awakens from her thrall, it's in Vladimir's home, and the memories of the night before flood her consciousness. The vampires killed Makenna and nearly killed Reine had Vladimir not intervened. Right away, he is entranced by Reine, because she is a near carbon-copy of his wife, Mina, who passed away centuries before.
As the book progresses, it becomes clear that Reine is not who she believes she is. She struggles with her identity as Vladimir struggles with the possibility his dead wife has returned to him. Their chemistry grows in intensity as memories start coming to the surface and long-buried truths are brought to light.
I absolutely loved this book. I consider it a second chance romance, because we do eventually learn that Reine is Mina. It's sexy, romantic, a little angsty, but filled with strong characters. The writing is superb. For anyone looking for a HEA, single-book vampire romance, this is definitely one to enjoy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Blood & Bedlam was such a fun paranormal romance and honestly the perfect read for spooky season! Vampires, New Orleans, gothic vibes, ancient magic, and romance? I was sold. 🩸🖤
I really enjoyed Vlad and Reine’s story. Vlad is this powerful vampire who is extremely protective of the people he loves, while Reine is thrown into a world she doesn’t fully understand. I loved watching her slowly uncover pieces of her past and realize that there was so much more to her connection with Vlad than she originally thought.
One of my favorite parts was Reine’s artwork and how it connected to memories she didn’t even know she had. I thought that was such an interesting way to slowly reveal her history instead of giving us all the answers at once. It definitely kept me wanting to know more.
And Vlad?! The yearning!! This man has waited CENTURIES, and I loved how completely gone he was for Reine. Their connection had that fated-love feeling while still giving Reine time to figure out who she was and what she wanted.
I also really enjoyed the family dynamic. Vlad’s daughters were such a fun addition to the story, and I loved seeing Reine slowly find her place among everyone. The paranormal world was so much bigger than just vampires too, which made me really interested to see where this series goes next.
Overall, this had such a good mix of romance, mystery, spice, supernatural elements, and found family. And after that epilogue, I definitely need to know what happens next!
If you love vampires, fated love, reincarnation, protective MMCs, found family, gothic vibes, and a little spice, definitely add this one to your TBR! 🩸
Thank you T.C. Kraven and Luna literacy for the opportunity to read Blood & Bedlam! 🖤
Blood & Bedlam was such a fun paranormal romance and honestly the perfect read for spooky season! Vampires, New Orleans, gothic vibes, ancient magic, and romance? I was sold. 🩸🖤
I really enjoyed Vlad and Reine’s story. Vlad is this powerful vampire who is extremely protective of the people he loves, while Reine is thrown into a world she doesn’t fully understand. I loved watching her slowly uncover pieces of her past and realize that there was so much more to her connection with Vlad than she originally thought.
One of my favorite parts was Reine’s artwork and how it connected to memories she didn’t even know she had. I thought that was such an interesting way to slowly reveal her history instead of giving us all the answers at once. It definitely kept me wanting to know more.
And Vlad?! The yearning!! This man has waited CENTURIES, and I loved how completely gone he was for Reine. Their connection had that fated-love feeling while still giving Reine time to figure out who she was and what she wanted.
I also really enjoyed the family dynamic. Vlad’s daughters were such a fun addition to the story, and I loved seeing Reine slowly find her place among everyone. The paranormal world was so much bigger than just vampires too, which made me really interested to see where this series goes next.
Overall, this had such a good mix of romance, mystery, spice, supernatural elements, and found family. And after that epilogue, I definitely need to know what happens next!
If you love vampires, fated love, reincarnation, protective MMCs, found family, gothic vibes, and a little spice, definitely add this one to your TBR! 🩸
Thank you T.C. Kraven and Luna literacy for the opportunity to read Blood & Bedlam! 🖤
October 3, 2026
This book is... everything I feel like a lot of people have been wanting out of a Vampire romance 🙂↕️
Vlad is the original Vampyr in this supernatural world existing beneath the city of New Orleans, and has ruled alone for centuries after losing his wife long, long ago. While he rules and protects the city, he is also devoted dad to his daughters, all while carrying immense grief from his loss.
Reine is a human bartender who is abducted by an opposing vampire clan one night while she is out with her friends. Before she meets a gruesome end, she is rescued by Vlad, who is in disbelief of how she looks exactly like his late wife. But he recognizes her soul, and while Reine doesn't recognize his at first, the pieces start falling into place as the story unfolds. Imagine just going out with your friends and then being thrown to the depths of the underworld with the original Vampyr, who claims you're his late wife reincarnated that he has been yearning for for centuries. No pressure 😂 You feel all the emotions with them, and watching their love story unfold again is a real treat, even if it hurts.
The world building in this is also wonderful, and New Orleans truly makes the ultimate setting for a supernatural world. As the story goes on, we also get a look into gods, otherworlders, magic, and soul ties. Let's not forget Vlad's daughters, the Casket Girls. Each one of them was a fully developed character, not just a side character that had no depth. I hope we get a story for each of them!
Thank you so much to Luna Literary as well as NetGalley for allowing me to read and review, I look forward to the next one!!
Vlad is the original Vampyr in this supernatural world existing beneath the city of New Orleans, and has ruled alone for centuries after losing his wife long, long ago. While he rules and protects the city, he is also devoted dad to his daughters, all while carrying immense grief from his loss.
Reine is a human bartender who is abducted by an opposing vampire clan one night while she is out with her friends. Before she meets a gruesome end, she is rescued by Vlad, who is in disbelief of how she looks exactly like his late wife. But he recognizes her soul, and while Reine doesn't recognize his at first, the pieces start falling into place as the story unfolds. Imagine just going out with your friends and then being thrown to the depths of the underworld with the original Vampyr, who claims you're his late wife reincarnated that he has been yearning for for centuries. No pressure 😂 You feel all the emotions with them, and watching their love story unfold again is a real treat, even if it hurts.
The world building in this is also wonderful, and New Orleans truly makes the ultimate setting for a supernatural world. As the story goes on, we also get a look into gods, otherworlders, magic, and soul ties. Let's not forget Vlad's daughters, the Casket Girls. Each one of them was a fully developed character, not just a side character that had no depth. I hope we get a story for each of them!
Thank you so much to Luna Literary as well as NetGalley for allowing me to read and review, I look forward to the next one!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was perfect for my first spooky paranormal read of the season! Vladimir, the vampire king is convinced Reine a human) is Mina, the wife he lost centuries ago. The beginning drew me in immediately, with Reine being mind-roofied by Eurotrash vampires and it quickly spirals into shared memories, blood magic, ancient gods, political betrayal, and one seriously complicated family reunion.
The New Orleans setting and vampire lore hooked me, but it was the relationship between Reine and Vlad that kept me reading. Their story is a true slow burn built across lifetimes, and the way this author takes trauma and rage and turns it into something beautiful really worked for me. Reine’s willingness to sacrifice herself for the people she loves, even after everything she has endured, absolutely wrecked me.
And Vlad? That man challenged the literal god of death and dragged her soul back into her body because he refused to let her go. Apparently “until death” means nothing when your husband is an 800-year-old vampire king.
There were a couple of editing choices that pulled me out of the story, particularly “conversate” appearing twice in the narrative, but I read an early copy and hope those are corrected before publication.
The epilogue left us with a newly inherited Dracul, unrest among the clans, a proposed political marriage, and one extremely unhappy bodyguard. So yes, I will definitely be needing book two. 👀
Thank you T.C.Kraven and Diversion Books for the free early e-arc via NetGalley!
The New Orleans setting and vampire lore hooked me, but it was the relationship between Reine and Vlad that kept me reading. Their story is a true slow burn built across lifetimes, and the way this author takes trauma and rage and turns it into something beautiful really worked for me. Reine’s willingness to sacrifice herself for the people she loves, even after everything she has endured, absolutely wrecked me.
And Vlad? That man challenged the literal god of death and dragged her soul back into her body because he refused to let her go. Apparently “until death” means nothing when your husband is an 800-year-old vampire king.
There were a couple of editing choices that pulled me out of the story, particularly “conversate” appearing twice in the narrative, but I read an early copy and hope those are corrected before publication.
The epilogue left us with a newly inherited Dracul, unrest among the clans, a proposed political marriage, and one extremely unhappy bodyguard. So yes, I will definitely be needing book two. 👀
Thank you T.C.Kraven and Diversion Books for the free early e-arc via NetGalley!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2026
Thank you SO MUCH to T.C. Kraven and Diversion Books for the physical ARC copy of this gem! 🖤 This was such a fun read for fall! Give me vampires, gothic vibes, New Orleans, and a little spice and I’m in!
🩸 Mildly spicy paranormal romance
🩸 Vampires & vampire politics
🩸 Gothic New Orleans setting
🩸 Reincarnation & love across lifetimes
🩸 Ancient magic
🩸 Found family
🩸 Yearning & fated love
This book did a great job of balancing romance with the overall plot. We have Vlad Dracul, an ancient and powerful vampyr in New Orleans who is fiercely protective of his daughters. Then there’s Reine, a human bartender and artist who bears the face and carries the soul of Vlad’s one true love, the woman he lost centuries ago.
I loved the slower unfolding of the story and how the romance builds alongside the mystery. One of my favorite parts was Reine’s artwork and the way it began revealing memories she didn’t understand. I really enjoyed both the main characters and the side characters, especially Vlad’s daughters and the found family dynamic. And that epilogue with Camille?! I am VERY interested in her story and hope it’s next!
I also definitely want to go back and read more of T.C. Kraven’s Dark Fates series. There are connections and cameos from that universe in this book, and now I need to know more!
If you love yearning, morally gray MMCs, fated love, vampire romance, found family, protective MMCs, and serious touch-her-and-die vibes, definitely add this one to your TBR!
4.5 stars!
🩸 Mildly spicy paranormal romance
🩸 Vampires & vampire politics
🩸 Gothic New Orleans setting
🩸 Reincarnation & love across lifetimes
🩸 Ancient magic
🩸 Found family
🩸 Yearning & fated love
This book did a great job of balancing romance with the overall plot. We have Vlad Dracul, an ancient and powerful vampyr in New Orleans who is fiercely protective of his daughters. Then there’s Reine, a human bartender and artist who bears the face and carries the soul of Vlad’s one true love, the woman he lost centuries ago.
I loved the slower unfolding of the story and how the romance builds alongside the mystery. One of my favorite parts was Reine’s artwork and the way it began revealing memories she didn’t understand. I really enjoyed both the main characters and the side characters, especially Vlad’s daughters and the found family dynamic. And that epilogue with Camille?! I am VERY interested in her story and hope it’s next!
I also definitely want to go back and read more of T.C. Kraven’s Dark Fates series. There are connections and cameos from that universe in this book, and now I need to know more!
If you love yearning, morally gray MMCs, fated love, vampire romance, found family, protective MMCs, and serious touch-her-and-die vibes, definitely add this one to your TBR!
4.5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A spectacular, lyrical, and incredibly well-balanced start to the NOLA After Dark series. T.C. Kraven masterfully expands her existing universe, blending historical lore with a high-heat paranormal romance that seamlessly moves between character growth and intense plot progression without ever dragging.
The prose is beautiful and atmospheric, immediately setting a dark, gothic tone for New Orleans vampire politics. Vlad is a phenomenal MMC—fiercely protective of his daughters and his fragile peace, yet completely undone and turned into a powerful, yearning mess the moment Reine enters his orbit. The forbidden, high-stakes nature of their fated bond keeps the tension dialed up from the very first chapter. Reine is a fantastic FMC, and watching her discover her origins while her own art betrays memories she doesn't even know she has is incredibly gripping.
The rich world-building—complete with otherworlders, witches, and gods—makes the universe feel incredibly deep and cohesive. The chemistry and spice between Vlad and Reine are absolute perfection, serving the overarching plot beautifully. It's a decadent, fast-paced ride that completely entrapped me from start to finish!
Thank you to NetGalley, T.C. Kraven, and Diversion Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review
The prose is beautiful and atmospheric, immediately setting a dark, gothic tone for New Orleans vampire politics. Vlad is a phenomenal MMC—fiercely protective of his daughters and his fragile peace, yet completely undone and turned into a powerful, yearning mess the moment Reine enters his orbit. The forbidden, high-stakes nature of their fated bond keeps the tension dialed up from the very first chapter. Reine is a fantastic FMC, and watching her discover her origins while her own art betrays memories she doesn't even know she has is incredibly gripping.
The rich world-building—complete with otherworlders, witches, and gods—makes the universe feel incredibly deep and cohesive. The chemistry and spice between Vlad and Reine are absolute perfection, serving the overarching plot beautifully. It's a decadent, fast-paced ride that completely entrapped me from start to finish!
Thank you to NetGalley, T.C. Kraven, and Diversion Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Death and Magic and centuries couldn't break us."
When you talk about a love to last beyond lifetimes, there is one that shows up throughout centuries. This tale is a new twist on an age old love story of Vlad and his beloved Mina set in New Orleans full of ancient regalia, pomp and circumstance. If you crave a yearning love story full of heartbreak, magic, vampires, otherworldly creatures, and action then this book is for you. This tale is definitely a slow build up with the spice and keeps you on the edge of when will the FMC and MMC finally take the step we all know they will. Vladimir's soul encompassing obsession for Reine has him risking family, peace between all creatures, and his own sanity just for a mere chance of precious time with her. As Reine struggles with finding the meaning to these dreams that seem like long distant memories, she finds herself caught up in a war between houses. The ancient magic that surrounds the mystery of Reine has Vlad calling on a lifelong friend, Hecate, and it only brings more questions than answers. It is a short read that keeps you turning the pages late into the night and ravenous for more. Don't miss out, it's worth the read!
🌶 Slow burn
☠️ War
✨️ Magic
⚰️ Vampires
When you talk about a love to last beyond lifetimes, there is one that shows up throughout centuries. This tale is a new twist on an age old love story of Vlad and his beloved Mina set in New Orleans full of ancient regalia, pomp and circumstance. If you crave a yearning love story full of heartbreak, magic, vampires, otherworldly creatures, and action then this book is for you. This tale is definitely a slow build up with the spice and keeps you on the edge of when will the FMC and MMC finally take the step we all know they will. Vladimir's soul encompassing obsession for Reine has him risking family, peace between all creatures, and his own sanity just for a mere chance of precious time with her. As Reine struggles with finding the meaning to these dreams that seem like long distant memories, she finds herself caught up in a war between houses. The ancient magic that surrounds the mystery of Reine has Vlad calling on a lifelong friend, Hecate, and it only brings more questions than answers. It is a short read that keeps you turning the pages late into the night and ravenous for more. Don't miss out, it's worth the read!
🌶 Slow burn
☠️ War
✨️ Magic
⚰️ Vampires
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Diversion Books, T.C. Kraven and NetGalley for the ARC!
Reine is an artist who draws her dreams, symbols and a man she doesn’t recognize, until one night where everything changes. The man she’s been drawing since she picked up a pencil rescues her from a deranged vampire who tries to devour her.
Vladimir Dracul is an ancient vampyr, with four daughters he cherishes more than his own life. When he sees Reine, something long dead awakens in him. They’re drawn to each other like moths to a flame. Reine knows him, but she can’t figure out how. Will they be able to piece their old lives together? Or will it ruin them? Memory is in the blood, and all he has to do is take a bite.
I really liked this book! Vlad felt different than most other vampire MMCs I’ve read before, and I very much liked the premise. I also enjoyed Reine, though she did annoy me here and there but overall I think she’s a great character. Some of the daughters also put me off at first, but thats just a me thing. I also really liked the writing style, it was very eloquent and detailed. I do think the world building could’ve been a bit better, but all in all a very good read! I’m excited to see what else the author has in store for us!
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Reine is an artist who draws her dreams, symbols and a man she doesn’t recognize, until one night where everything changes. The man she’s been drawing since she picked up a pencil rescues her from a deranged vampire who tries to devour her.
Vladimir Dracul is an ancient vampyr, with four daughters he cherishes more than his own life. When he sees Reine, something long dead awakens in him. They’re drawn to each other like moths to a flame. Reine knows him, but she can’t figure out how. Will they be able to piece their old lives together? Or will it ruin them? Memory is in the blood, and all he has to do is take a bite.
I really liked this book! Vlad felt different than most other vampire MMCs I’ve read before, and I very much liked the premise. I also enjoyed Reine, though she did annoy me here and there but overall I think she’s a great character. Some of the daughters also put me off at first, but thats just a me thing. I also really liked the writing style, it was very eloquent and detailed. I do think the world building could’ve been a bit better, but all in all a very good read! I’m excited to see what else the author has in store for us!
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have a soft spot for T.C. Kraven's writing, so I was excited to pick up Blood & Bedlam. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite hook me the way I had hoped it would.
That isn't to say it's a bad book. The writing itself is solid, the gothic New Orleans atmosphere is immersive, and there are plenty of intriguing elements woven throughout the story. You've got vampires, ancient magic, reincarnated love, political intrigue, and enough paranormal drama to keep things moving.
For me, though, the connection just wasn't there. I kept waiting for that moment where I became completely invested in the characters or desperate to know what happened next, and it never fully arrived. The premise is fascinating, especially with Vlad seeing echoes of a lost love in Reine, but I found myself appreciating the story more than becoming emotionally attached to it.
That said, if you're a fan of paranormal romance, vampire politics, fated mates, and gothic vibes, there's still plenty here to enjoy. It simply wasn't the standout read I was hoping for.
Will I continue reading T.C. Kraven's work? Absolutely. This one just wasn't my favorite.
That isn't to say it's a bad book. The writing itself is solid, the gothic New Orleans atmosphere is immersive, and there are plenty of intriguing elements woven throughout the story. You've got vampires, ancient magic, reincarnated love, political intrigue, and enough paranormal drama to keep things moving.
For me, though, the connection just wasn't there. I kept waiting for that moment where I became completely invested in the characters or desperate to know what happened next, and it never fully arrived. The premise is fascinating, especially with Vlad seeing echoes of a lost love in Reine, but I found myself appreciating the story more than becoming emotionally attached to it.
That said, if you're a fan of paranormal romance, vampire politics, fated mates, and gothic vibes, there's still plenty here to enjoy. It simply wasn't the standout read I was hoping for.
Will I continue reading T.C. Kraven's work? Absolutely. This one just wasn't my favorite.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am so fucking excited for this new series that exists within T.C. Kraven's Otherworldly series. Vampire? Hell fucking yeah. Mythology, lore, undying and eternal love? I AM THERE!
I was completely sucked into this story from the first chapter, the introduction of these characters exploding onto the page in a bloody and violent meeting. And she kept me engrossed to the very end, wondering how this new high-stakes plot was going to play out. I adore these sisters so much; I love Reine and Vlad bc I am forever a slut for Dracula and stories of fatalistic, all-consuming, feverish, impassioned love. I also hope we get to see how the other sisters' Bonded relationships came about as the series unfolds.
The spice??? I'm melted in a grateful puddle for their explosive love for each other. Not to mention how she weaves some heavy topics into this story, such as how women and their power/leadership are never accepted as equals, and therefore men will always try to take it "because they feel born to it."... "The essential stipulation of girlhood."
Quote:
“You crave me?” she asks on a pant, and I level her with a look so intense it threatens to ignite us both. “Viciously.”
I was completely sucked into this story from the first chapter, the introduction of these characters exploding onto the page in a bloody and violent meeting. And she kept me engrossed to the very end, wondering how this new high-stakes plot was going to play out. I adore these sisters so much; I love Reine and Vlad bc I am forever a slut for Dracula and stories of fatalistic, all-consuming, feverish, impassioned love. I also hope we get to see how the other sisters' Bonded relationships came about as the series unfolds.
The spice??? I'm melted in a grateful puddle for their explosive love for each other. Not to mention how she weaves some heavy topics into this story, such as how women and their power/leadership are never accepted as equals, and therefore men will always try to take it "because they feel born to it."... "The essential stipulation of girlhood."
Quote:
“You crave me?” she asks on a pant, and I level her with a look so intense it threatens to ignite us both. “Viciously.”
September 19, 2026
First and foremost, one can only pray to encounter a love that survives lifetimes. The chemistry between Vlad and Reine is haunting, magnetic, and heavy with an almost wicked intensity. The harder he fought to deny his dark hunger for her, the more relentlessly they were pulled right back into each other's shadowed orbit. Their connection brings a scorching, level 5/5 spice to the page. It is decadent, raw, and beautifully unrepentant.
Beneath the music and midnight rituals of the city, T.C. weaves a world building that is atmospheric, dangerous, and utterly intoxicating. The story serves as a profound reminder that the found families we choose in the dark can run deeper than blood—and that even the most harrowing betrayals are worth forgiving when a bond is truly immortal. Ultimately, it proves that if love is absolute, even the deepest sins can find absolution, and a relationship can withstand any trial.
For anyone craving a fiercely protective hero, a resilient heroine, and an epic, high stakes romance steeped in gothic atmosphere and exquisite heat, Blood and Bedlam is an absolute must read. Highly recommended!!
Beneath the music and midnight rituals of the city, T.C. weaves a world building that is atmospheric, dangerous, and utterly intoxicating. The story serves as a profound reminder that the found families we choose in the dark can run deeper than blood—and that even the most harrowing betrayals are worth forgiving when a bond is truly immortal. Ultimately, it proves that if love is absolute, even the deepest sins can find absolution, and a relationship can withstand any trial.
For anyone craving a fiercely protective hero, a resilient heroine, and an epic, high stakes romance steeped in gothic atmosphere and exquisite heat, Blood and Bedlam is an absolute must read. Highly recommended!!
October 2, 2026
Give me an ancient vampyr, reincarnated love, New Orleans after dark, and a man who has been waiting lifetimes for one woman to come back to him.
I was never going to behave normally about this.
Blood & Bedlam feels lush, gothic, dangerous, and completely soaked in longing. The paranormal world is big and messy, but what pulled me in most was the idea that love can survive even when memory doesn’t.
Vlad is exactly the kind of shadow daddy I expect to ruin my life.
Ancient. Powerful. Possessive. Devoted to his daughters. Absolutely incapable of being normal about Reine.
And honestly? Same.
There’s something delicious about the tension between he knows exactly who she is and she has no idea why this man feels so familiar. Reine’s connection to Vlad unfolds through instinct, dreams, art, and this constant sense that something inside her remembers before her mind does.
That got me.
And the fact that he isn’t just some brooding immortal floating around being hot? He’s a GIRL DAD.
A centuries-old vampyr with blood magic, enemies, and enough possessive energy to level a city, but also fiercely protective of his daughters?
Unfortunately, that works on me.
🩸 Vampyr x Witch
🌙 Fated Mates Through Time
🖤 Shadow Daddy
🎨 Artist FMC
🔥 Reincarnation
👨👧 Girl Dad
✨ Found Family
⚜️ Gothic New Orleans
❤️🔥 “You’re Mine” Energy
What I loved most was the atmosphere. New Orleans doesn’t feel like wallpaper here. It feels seductive, haunted, and alive, which makes the romance feel even more decadent.
This isn’t a sweet little paranormal love story.
It’s obsession. Memory. Blood. Fate. Old grief. New desire.
And two souls that apparently looked at several lifetimes and said, nope, we’re still not done.
Messy. Gothic. Spicy. Romantic.
Exactly the kind of paranormal chaos I came for.
I was never going to behave normally about this.
Blood & Bedlam feels lush, gothic, dangerous, and completely soaked in longing. The paranormal world is big and messy, but what pulled me in most was the idea that love can survive even when memory doesn’t.
Vlad is exactly the kind of shadow daddy I expect to ruin my life.
Ancient. Powerful. Possessive. Devoted to his daughters. Absolutely incapable of being normal about Reine.
And honestly? Same.
There’s something delicious about the tension between he knows exactly who she is and she has no idea why this man feels so familiar. Reine’s connection to Vlad unfolds through instinct, dreams, art, and this constant sense that something inside her remembers before her mind does.
That got me.
And the fact that he isn’t just some brooding immortal floating around being hot? He’s a GIRL DAD.
A centuries-old vampyr with blood magic, enemies, and enough possessive energy to level a city, but also fiercely protective of his daughters?
Unfortunately, that works on me.
🩸 Vampyr x Witch
🌙 Fated Mates Through Time
🖤 Shadow Daddy
🎨 Artist FMC
🔥 Reincarnation
👨👧 Girl Dad
✨ Found Family
⚜️ Gothic New Orleans
❤️🔥 “You’re Mine” Energy
What I loved most was the atmosphere. New Orleans doesn’t feel like wallpaper here. It feels seductive, haunted, and alive, which makes the romance feel even more decadent.
This isn’t a sweet little paranormal love story.
It’s obsession. Memory. Blood. Fate. Old grief. New desire.
And two souls that apparently looked at several lifetimes and said, nope, we’re still not done.
Messy. Gothic. Spicy. Romantic.
Exactly the kind of paranormal chaos I came for.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.4/5 ⭐️s
Been on the hunt for some new paranormal romances (returning to my roots) & happy I came across this one! I had fun reading it & I def felt some nostalgia. I grew up reading paranormal romances (admittedly at too young an age—no regrets—) & will forever love the immortal man who yearns & loves one woman above all else.
There are a few things here & there that I wish were better expanded upon but I understand this book being one that you should mostly be able to read as a standalone. That being said, I felt like some things were moved on from too fast & I would’ve liked some more suspense & tension.
The prose is lyrical & beautiful at times but I occasionally felt like some sentence structures were a little odd, which made me feel lost in the moment due to having to reread the passage to understand exactly what was being described.
All in all, I had so much fun reading it & I actually couldn’t put it down because I was so entrapped!
Thank you to NetGalley & Diversion Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review :)
Been on the hunt for some new paranormal romances (returning to my roots) & happy I came across this one! I had fun reading it & I def felt some nostalgia. I grew up reading paranormal romances (admittedly at too young an age—no regrets—) & will forever love the immortal man who yearns & loves one woman above all else.
There are a few things here & there that I wish were better expanded upon but I understand this book being one that you should mostly be able to read as a standalone. That being said, I felt like some things were moved on from too fast & I would’ve liked some more suspense & tension.
The prose is lyrical & beautiful at times but I occasionally felt like some sentence structures were a little odd, which made me feel lost in the moment due to having to reread the passage to understand exactly what was being described.
All in all, I had so much fun reading it & I actually couldn’t put it down because I was so entrapped!
Thank you to NetGalley & Diversion Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review :)
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🎃THE HALLOWEEN READ OF THE SEASON🎃
this book was so mf good, tc kraven puts crack in her books i swear. she had me hooked from the first chapter!
it’s like she took a dash of brides of dracula (but made them daughters) & you know that dracula movie everyone went feral for where he tries to k*ll himself after losing her and he finds her reincarnated?? THIS IS THAT BUT MOREEEEE!
vlad is everything you want in an vampire mmc, he’s hot, feral for his lost love, soft for her & his girls, but monstrous when he needs to be (literally). reine is soft yet stubborn & sassy. i loved her to pieces. the plot was fantastic, the spice was spicinnnn 😮💨, each character was detailed & unique.
BARK BARK BARK I NEED MORE ASAP
🩸 touch her & die
🩸 human x vampire
🩸 fated mates
🩸 magic
🩸 second chance romance
🩸 found family
🩸 gods/goddesses, witches, shifters
thank you to the author for the arc!
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🎃THE HALLOWEEN READ OF THE SEASON🎃
this book was so mf good, tc kraven puts crack in her books i swear. she had me hooked from the first chapter!
it’s like she took a dash of brides of dracula (but made them daughters) & you know that dracula movie everyone went feral for where he tries to k*ll himself after losing her and he finds her reincarnated?? THIS IS THAT BUT MOREEEEE!
vlad is everything you want in an vampire mmc, he’s hot, feral for his lost love, soft for her & his girls, but monstrous when he needs to be (literally). reine is soft yet stubborn & sassy. i loved her to pieces. the plot was fantastic, the spice was spicinnnn 😮💨, each character was detailed & unique.
BARK BARK BARK I NEED MORE ASAP
🩸 touch her & die
🩸 human x vampire
🩸 fated mates
🩸 magic
🩸 second chance romance
🩸 found family
🩸 gods/goddesses, witches, shifters
thank you to the author for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from Author
TC has a way of completely immersing you into the worlds she creates while also packing it full of lore and the tales of old. I am always sucked in within the first few pages. This book was no exception.
This was immediately set in a dark gothic tone with historical NOLA elements that I absolutely loved. Vlad and Reiner’s dynamic was beautiful to see unfold. Plus cameos from past characters from The Dark Fates series?! PLEASE! I absolutely loved this book, and cannot wait for more from NOLA After Dark! If you love paranormal romances with a possessive vampire MMC, an FMC who is thrust into a world full of otherworlders and uncovers her past, and family dynamics filled with loyalty above all, you won’t be disappointed with Blood & Bedlam!
Thank you to TC, Netgalley, and Diversion Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
This was immediately set in a dark gothic tone with historical NOLA elements that I absolutely loved. Vlad and Reiner’s dynamic was beautiful to see unfold. Plus cameos from past characters from The Dark Fates series?! PLEASE! I absolutely loved this book, and cannot wait for more from NOLA After Dark! If you love paranormal romances with a possessive vampire MMC, an FMC who is thrust into a world full of otherworlders and uncovers her past, and family dynamics filled with loyalty above all, you won’t be disappointed with Blood & Bedlam!
Thank you to TC, Netgalley, and Diversion Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
July 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, T.C. Kraven, and Diversion Books for the e-ARC.
Blood & Bedlam by T.C. Kraven was an exceptional dark paranormal romance with plenty of spice. It blends mystery, vampires, witches, New Orleans folklore, romance, gothic undertones, and even a touch of Greek mythology into a compelling story. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of New Orleans, the book delivers a slow-burn romance with delicious tension between Vladimir and Reine. Vladimir was a fantastic MMC: devoted to his four daughters, fiercely protective of them, and completely captivating in his obsession and possessiveness over Reine. At first, Reine seems meek, but she is anything but; once she comes into her own, she proves to be every bit as fierce as Vladimir’s daughters. After I reached the halfway mark, I could not put it down and spent the rest of the evening reading just to finish it.
Blood & Bedlam by T.C. Kraven was an exceptional dark paranormal romance with plenty of spice. It blends mystery, vampires, witches, New Orleans folklore, romance, gothic undertones, and even a touch of Greek mythology into a compelling story. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of New Orleans, the book delivers a slow-burn romance with delicious tension between Vladimir and Reine. Vladimir was a fantastic MMC: devoted to his four daughters, fiercely protective of them, and completely captivating in his obsession and possessiveness over Reine. At first, Reine seems meek, but she is anything but; once she comes into her own, she proves to be every bit as fierce as Vladimir’s daughters. After I reached the halfway mark, I could not put it down and spent the rest of the evening reading just to finish it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
♾️🌟
OBSESSED!! I ate this book up! Perfection!! I loved how we get the Vladimir Dracula lore, but with a twist that has all of my FAVORITE things. Hecate, gods, shifters, mates, witches, and ancient magic. Did I mention feminine rage, gaining power to avenge and protect yourself. Oh wait found family and a love so strong it spans hundreds of years.
Aside from all my favorite things, the writing was done in a way that sucked me in and had my imagination on overdrive. The spice was beautifully passionate. The love between Vlad and Reine and within Clan Dracul radiates off the pages.
This was such a unique spin off of "Dracula" that I will forever prefer this version. T.C did an absolutely amazing job paying homage to Casket Girls of Louisiana. I knew nothing about that part of the culture and thought it was beautifully done.
OBSESSED!! I ate this book up! Perfection!! I loved how we get the Vladimir Dracula lore, but with a twist that has all of my FAVORITE things. Hecate, gods, shifters, mates, witches, and ancient magic. Did I mention feminine rage, gaining power to avenge and protect yourself. Oh wait found family and a love so strong it spans hundreds of years.
Aside from all my favorite things, the writing was done in a way that sucked me in and had my imagination on overdrive. The spice was beautifully passionate. The love between Vlad and Reine and within Clan Dracul radiates off the pages.
This was such a unique spin off of "Dracula" that I will forever prefer this version. T.C did an absolutely amazing job paying homage to Casket Girls of Louisiana. I knew nothing about that part of the culture and thought it was beautifully done.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 ⭐
3.5 🌶️ Several explicit scenes
4 ☠️ Several triggers apply
Ahhhh! This book is everything! Heart wrenchingly honest, shrouded in mystery, devilishly seductive and tantalizingly spicy!
Reine is phenomenal, with a vialant spirit and unwavering devotion. Vald is down soo bad and such a great dad, I love him. The Dracul clan is a beautiful example of chosen family and the strength they nurture in each other. Each of the girls brings a unique personality to the table, I enjoyed watching them bond with Reine and welcome her to the family. I'm excited to see more of their stories. It was so nice getting to see some of the Dark Fates krewe again too!
T.C. elegantly weaves history and lore into soul altering tales of love and defiance, and I can't get enough of them!
3.5 🌶️ Several explicit scenes
4 ☠️ Several triggers apply
Ahhhh! This book is everything! Heart wrenchingly honest, shrouded in mystery, devilishly seductive and tantalizingly spicy!
Reine is phenomenal, with a vialant spirit and unwavering devotion. Vald is down soo bad and such a great dad, I love him. The Dracul clan is a beautiful example of chosen family and the strength they nurture in each other. Each of the girls brings a unique personality to the table, I enjoyed watching them bond with Reine and welcome her to the family. I'm excited to see more of their stories. It was so nice getting to see some of the Dark Fates krewe again too!
T.C. elegantly weaves history and lore into soul altering tales of love and defiance, and I can't get enough of them!
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