Once Upon A Vampire

Tales From The Blood Coven #1

by Mari Mancusi

From The Creator Of The Blood Coven Vampires...Some Fresh New Blood...

Bestselling author Hannah Miller knows how to steam up the pages and make fans swoon. But in real life, things are a lot less dramatic. Still haunted by one terrible night in her past, she's become a recluse, holed up in her apartment, hiding out in her stories. Keeping real life locked outside.

Until one night--when Logan Valcourt walks into her book signing, dark and broody and looking disturbingly like the hero in her books. When he makes a bet with her--saying he can prove vampires aren't just fictional--she finds herself unable to say no.

Now she's been thrust into a world straight off the pages of a bestselling book. Of blood and vampires. Betrayal and murder. It's completely terrifying--yet completely exhilarating all at the same time. Especially the look she sees growing in Logan's eyes. A dark desire that's becoming all too real. Will Hannah ever be able to return the pages of her old life? Or will she decide to start a new chapter...once upon a vampire?

Genres: Vampires, Romance, Young Adult, Young Adult Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Drama

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 21, 2017

About the author

Mari Mancusi grew up where the north wind meets the sea (otherwise known as Massachusetts), but has since made her home in the great state of Texas, mostly due to her love of summer. (And tacos.) A former Emmy Award winning TV news producer, today she is the author of more than two-dozen books for kids, teens, and adults, mostly of the sci-fi/fantasy variety. In addition to writing, Mari loves traveling, video games, and cosplaying. She is also Mom to an eight year old Frozen superfan who, when recently asked by her teacher to describe her hero answered: “My Mom!” (Okay, fine, she said Kristin Bell.)

You can find Mari online at www.marimancusi.com. She knows several Samanthas.

Reviews

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say I was a huge fan of the Blood Coven novels when I was younger would be an understatement. I remember going to high school sporting events and having to sit on a bus for hours to get to our location so we could compete - so of course I would brings books by authors such as Mari Mancusi, Zac Brewer, Ellen Schreiber, and other fantastic YA novelists. I was heartbroken when the series ended and I was hoping one day Mari might come back to it.

AND GUESS WHAT?! SHE DID!!

Once Upon a Vampire is more of an adult novel than YA (although, I'm sure YA fans could pick it up and not be totally disgusted with it. This book is a great continuation).

While it might not be a direct continuation with our former leads, this book environment wise is similar. Hannah and Logan follow a similar path to our former leading ladies and their respective fellows. Rayne is a big part of this story and Jareth also appears, but they aren't our main leads - even if Rayne takes a bigger role than expected. Magnus is also referenced, but does not make an appearance.

I was definitely hooked to this book - my book cravings had been something easy to read, sexy with a dash of fantasy, and nothing mind blowing (like Game of Thrones), so this book fit the bill. It's super easy to read, it's easy to fall in love with these characters and the nostalgia is perfect for any previous YA reader who was as obsessed with Mari's work as I was.

My "problems" with the novel - the conversation of blood mates was brought up twice, with two different reactions. One that the mate killed herself, the other that he didn't have one...I'm slightly confused. Maybe I read it wrong, but it really threw the story off for me.

The romance was a beautiful line of this story, and I loved how Mari slowly introduced it. It wasn't just sudden, and our character's own pasts helped make the story a little more believable. It might not be a crazy realistic scenario (a 200 page story over a few days with vampires trying to kill someone. Please let me know if you've experienced this before so I can edit the review...) but it fit beautifully into the story. I really loved it.

I finished this book in about half an hour, I was that obsessed and couldn't stop reading. I didn't want to put it down, and I can't wait for more books by Mari!! If there are more books in this series, I would be the happiest little reviewer in the world!! I would love to see more Sunny appear, since Rayne was visible in this story...But I'm not picky. Even just another book will fill my desires for more Blood Coven novels!

And we won't have to wait to long...Dark and Stormy Vampire is next! And of course, as per usual, Mari leaves us off with a horrible cliff hanger! I swear Mari loves to torture us readers by leaving us with cliffhangers AND making us wait for more books...

Side Notes: Mari's description of Logan is beautiful, but my recent obsession with Gilmore Girls can only see Logan Huntzberger. It oddly fits though...

Five out of five stars.

Thank you to Mari Mancusi and our epic Read and Review team for providing me a copy of this novel!! I can't wait for the next one!!!

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this series as much as I loved the blood coven series but I just didn't connect with this book. It wasn't like the original series. I didn't connect to the MC. She was very unlikable from page one. Maybe it was that she was a writer of vampires that just didn't believe or that Mari wrote the character having an anxiety disorder and it wasn't portrayed very well. The book and characters weren't written like the old series and maybe that's part of why I didn't connect because I had high expectations based on the series that I adored so much. I was expecting the same characterization and I didn't get that.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with any of the prior Blood Coven books, I was anticipating a very exciting read. This is a YA book, and so far away from what I typically read that I get excited going back and re-discovering the Blood Coven. I was offered the chance to read an ARC of this book, and immediately the story kept me in its grip and didn't let up until I was done. This story centers around a best-selling author that writes about vampires, and a vampire that becomes enthralled with her. The adventures that ensue during this book are at times comical, and the back and forth tension between them both sparks a great story for me.

Please note that you do not need to have read the prior Blood Coven books to read this, but it's a nice touch when you can pick up things from the prior books. I can't wait for the next book in Hannah and Logan's journey!

[Hannah Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

As bad as this may sound, I actually liked this more than I did the original series. In this, I found more "meaning." You are introduced to an author, who you can tell stays in her own, secluded world and has been for a number of years, hardly trusting anyone she met and is happy in getting the praise from words than in person. She finally meets a man who wants to get to know and introduces her to a new world she never knew existed. It was Logan who helped Hannah find a new path in her life, to learn to trust again and find love.

I felt that there was more of a mystery to Hannah's life than it just being straight out introduced from the very beginning. Her actions get you guessing if she was a character Rayne has met back in high school.

[Auj · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.6

It was cute and fun. I know it was supposed to be a little scary, but it wasn't at al lmao. The romance was cute, but it wasn't amazingly earth-shattering. Ugh, I hated when Hannah pulled out her razor to cut herself. Luckily, spending time with Logan fixed that. The fact that she had anxiety was interesting. And I kinda wanted to read her books.

The ending though, wtf....

Also, it wasn't clear why Logan was locked up, what he did to sacrifice himself I guess so Hannah would be safe? Idk, I'm still confused

[Jenny Beuerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book

I absolutely loved this story. The characters were well written and even in such a short time easily loveable. I wish there had been a bit more character development but with Logan and Hannah's story continuing, I figure it will be brought up next. Why is it t not February yet?!?

[Janneke De Vries · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the book. I was a huge fan back in 2008 when the first books came out and I couldn't believe my eyes like 5 days ago when I saw there is another book. I saw, bought, read and I was amazed. I can highly recommend this book to everyone who liked the blood coven series.

[Crystal Feaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was looking for a good vampire read loved this!!.......ready for the next one 🦇

[Allesandra Brandenburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading this series since high school, so I was so excited for this spin off story! Loved it!!

Does anyone know if she’s ever going to put out the second one?

[Alicia Rust · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Blood Coven Vampire Novel series and this book had everything I wanted from a spin off that you could ask for. It had drama, suspense, a brooding vampire, a human love interest with a past that haunts her, and some of our favorite characters from the original story. Really hope that book 2 gets written abs published soon.

[Lilylou426 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest the blurb sounded so cliche I didn't want to like it.....but I did! So much so that I bought the rest of the series and can't wait to binge it!