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Lords of Deliverance #1.5
Vampire Fight Club
Previously published in Supernatural
New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione tempts you into the darkly irresistible world of Demonica, populated by angels and demons, shifters and humans, all with a thirst that must be quenched . . .
When a wave of violence that hits too close to home forces shapeshifter and underworld nurse Vladlena Paskelkov to go undercover, her first stop is a haven of vice—with a dangerously sexy vamp in charge . . .
Legendary, jaded, Nathan Sabine is the manager of Thirst, a wildly popular vampire club—and secret underground blood arena. But Nathan, a rare daywalker, possesses other, even more explosive secrets, as does his beautiful new medic, Vladlena. The one thing they can't conceal is the lust that simmers between them . . .
Now, in an underworld divided by revelry and violence, debauchery and vengeance, Nate and Lena will discover which risks are worth taking—and which...
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2011
136 people are currently reading
1754 people want to read
About the author
Larissa Ione
104 books10.1k followersAir Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career in meteorology to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today, and has been nominated for a RITA award. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her retired U.S. Coast Guard husband, her son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhounds, a King Shepherd named Hexe and a Belgian Malinois named Duvel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
February 6, 2023
Larissa Ione has always been one of my favorite demon writers with her rich, complex worlds inhabited by shifters, demons, vamps, and crossbreeds, and this novella based in a fight club was a short, tasty treat. Short and steamy.
November 29, 2017
Same story from the Supernatural Anthology - New hot book cover
Shapeshifter Vladlena aka Lena and the daywalker vampire Nathan.
Vladlena has lost her brother at an underground supernatural fight club. A very illegal club underneath the dance club, Thirst, where Nathan is working as a manager. Vladlena is working as a nurse at UG and she will most probably die soon because she cannot shift.
Vladlena and Nathan will meet when Vladena goes undercover to expose the illegal club and those who killed her brother.
Nate has also his own agenda and his own plan of revenge for personal reasons.
A short story that takes place in Demonica world. Our favorite Seminus brothers are present as the Vladlena’s bosses and lots of the characters from Demonica are doing quick appearances.
This story is the first reference about the daywalker vampires.
Shapeshifter Vladlena aka Lena and the daywalker vampire Nathan.
Vladlena has lost her brother at an underground supernatural fight club. A very illegal club underneath the dance club, Thirst, where Nathan is working as a manager. Vladlena is working as a nurse at UG and she will most probably die soon because she cannot shift.
Vladlena and Nathan will meet when Vladena goes undercover to expose the illegal club and those who killed her brother.
Nate has also his own agenda and his own plan of revenge for personal reasons.
A short story that takes place in Demonica world. Our favorite Seminus brothers are present as the Vladlena’s bosses and lots of the characters from Demonica are doing quick appearances.
This story is the first reference about the daywalker vampires.
November 22, 2017
One of my favourite series and even though this story isn't very long a definite 4 and a half . This was apparently published in the anthology Supernatural so please check that you don't already have that.
I loved being back in the Demonica world with all its delicious paranormal creatures and of course the sexy demons who run the UG hospital. It was very interesting finding out about the unusual problem that Lena has but things get even more complicated when someone very close to her winds up dead. Of course she wants to find out just who killed him but Lena is about to step way out of her comfort zone.
Nathan might be a vampire but in many ways he is dead . Working for his enemy and yet with no drive left to take his revenge. What he wasn't expecting was to meet a nurse who is like a breath of air to him! Nathan has been just going through the motions until now and yet suddenly he starts to feel really alive again. Just what is Lena really up to though?
A quick, short read that still managed to pull me in. Yes this couple seem an unlikely pairing initially but there's no denying the chemistry that sizzles between them. Even better is the fact that Nathan wants to be a better man with Lena around and will do anything to protect her. I loved it and it's connection to a certain four infamous characters just added to the fun. Sexy yes but with an emotional pull . Plus those amazing Sem brothers feature so I'm a very happy reader
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
I loved being back in the Demonica world with all its delicious paranormal creatures and of course the sexy demons who run the UG hospital. It was very interesting finding out about the unusual problem that Lena has but things get even more complicated when someone very close to her winds up dead. Of course she wants to find out just who killed him but Lena is about to step way out of her comfort zone.
Nathan might be a vampire but in many ways he is dead . Working for his enemy and yet with no drive left to take his revenge. What he wasn't expecting was to meet a nurse who is like a breath of air to him! Nathan has been just going through the motions until now and yet suddenly he starts to feel really alive again. Just what is Lena really up to though?
A quick, short read that still managed to pull me in. Yes this couple seem an unlikely pairing initially but there's no denying the chemistry that sizzles between them. Even better is the fact that Nathan wants to be a better man with Lena around and will do anything to protect her. I loved it and it's connection to a certain four infamous characters just added to the fun. Sexy yes but with an emotional pull . Plus those amazing Sem brothers feature so I'm a very happy reader
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
November 17, 2025
Bloodthirsty vengeance isn’t all she or he thought it would be in VAMPIRE FIGHT CLUB, book 6.5 in the Demonica Series.
Lena was working at as a nurse in the UG when someone very close to her is rushed in just in time to die. Vladlena, aka Lena, makes it her mission to uncover and make his murderers pay. She never imagined getting caught you in the paranormal fight club world.
Nathan manages a supernatural nightclub, but he also oversees some seeder and even darker business endeavors including the underground fight club. Lena catches Nathan eye when she applies to become Thirst’s, the supernatural nightclub, in-house medical staff.
A heavy dose of the darker side, a splash of mystery and some smoldering hot chemistry make Vampire Fight Club a marvelous addition to anyone’s reading shelf. If you are a fan, you won’t want to miss this teasing taste of more of the Demonica – Vampire Fight Club series.
I received this ARC copy of Vampire Fight Club from Kensington Books - Lyrical Press. This is my honest and voluntary review. Vampire Fight Club is set for publication November 28, 2017.
Lena was working at as a nurse in the UG when someone very close to her is rushed in just in time to die. Vladlena, aka Lena, makes it her mission to uncover and make his murderers pay. She never imagined getting caught you in the paranormal fight club world.
Nathan manages a supernatural nightclub, but he also oversees some seeder and even darker business endeavors including the underground fight club. Lena catches Nathan eye when she applies to become Thirst’s, the supernatural nightclub, in-house medical staff.
A heavy dose of the darker side, a splash of mystery and some smoldering hot chemistry make Vampire Fight Club a marvelous addition to anyone’s reading shelf. If you are a fan, you won’t want to miss this teasing taste of more of the Demonica – Vampire Fight Club series.
I received this ARC copy of Vampire Fight Club from Kensington Books - Lyrical Press. This is my honest and voluntary review. Vampire Fight Club is set for publication November 28, 2017.
November 29, 2017
One of my most favorite pnr series. Good entry.
April 2, 2018
I loved dropping back into the world of Larissa Ione’s Demonica series with this novella I missed the first time around. The was originally published as part of the Supernatural anthology back in 2011, placing the story about midway through the Horsemen of the Apocalypse arc. You don’t have to be familiar with the rest of the series to understand what’s going on here, but they’re such great books, I would definitely recommend going back to Pleasure Unbound and enjoy Demonica from the beginning.
This story features a hero and heroine I don’t remember from the series, so obviously, this novella wasn’t tied closely to the overall timeline. Nathan is a powerful daywalking vampire who has spent so long trying to get close to his nemesis that he has lost the fiery need for revenge. You see, Rune killed his mate, but was too powerful for Nathan to take down at the time. So he went to work for Rune at his club and illegal fighting operation. He planned to destroy the man’s world; instead, he just grew dead inside.
Until Lena comes along. The nurse at Underworld General hospital is trying to find the illegal fights that took her brother’s life. She is living on borrowed time anyway, since she has never been able to shift into her animal form and it’s killing her. Her intense attraction to the club’s manager is a distraction she doesn’t want or need, but if she’s going to die soon, why not go out with a bang?
The story moves fast, which you can expect from something this short. It’s insta-lust and not super-emotional. But it is sexy and fun and I read the whole thing in one sitting. It will probably more exciting for readers like me who have loved this series for a long time, but I think new readers can enjoy it for what it is: a short, sexy paranormal romp.
Rating: B
*ARC provided for review
This story features a hero and heroine I don’t remember from the series, so obviously, this novella wasn’t tied closely to the overall timeline. Nathan is a powerful daywalking vampire who has spent so long trying to get close to his nemesis that he has lost the fiery need for revenge. You see, Rune killed his mate, but was too powerful for Nathan to take down at the time. So he went to work for Rune at his club and illegal fighting operation. He planned to destroy the man’s world; instead, he just grew dead inside.
Until Lena comes along. The nurse at Underworld General hospital is trying to find the illegal fights that took her brother’s life. She is living on borrowed time anyway, since she has never been able to shift into her animal form and it’s killing her. Her intense attraction to the club’s manager is a distraction she doesn’t want or need, but if she’s going to die soon, why not go out with a bang?
The story moves fast, which you can expect from something this short. It’s insta-lust and not super-emotional. But it is sexy and fun and I read the whole thing in one sitting. It will probably more exciting for readers like me who have loved this series for a long time, but I think new readers can enjoy it for what it is: a short, sexy paranormal romp.
Rating: B
*ARC provided for review
January 7, 2021
A re-read as a standalone this time.
You can also find this story in Supernatural.
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Vampire Fight Club is set in the Demonica world.
A shapeshifter UG nurse is trying to find her brother's murderer, so she goes undercover as a nurse at an underground fight club. You don't have to know anything from this world to enjoy it, but it is more interesting if you do. I liked the story.
You can also find this story in Supernatural.
---
Vampire Fight Club is set in the Demonica world.
A shapeshifter UG nurse is trying to find her brother's murderer, so she goes undercover as a nurse at an underground fight club. You don't have to know anything from this world to enjoy it, but it is more interesting if you do. I liked the story.
September 29, 2024
My Review:
Vampire Fight Club is a novella in the "Demonica" world by this author. I was really in the mood to get back to her books but something that was a bit shorter and this novella fit my mood just right and wow it had a softer FMC. I LOVED that. While she will fight when she needs to, she isn't natural at it, but just out of self defense. The setup of the story was truly heartbreaking though. The heroine, is a shifter that can't shift and because of that she is dying. When her brother, the only one that protected her from their other brothers who look at her as if she is weak, is killed in a underground fighting ring, she is determined to see who is behind it and kill them herself. She poses as a nurse, and runs into the one in charge, a vampire, Nathan Sabine. Nathan, is looking for revenge one day for the man who murdered his late wife in front of him but currently is too powerful and waiting for the right moment. Then he runs into Vladlena, whom he has an instant attraction and connection to. He tries to fight off what he feels for her, but when he learns why she is truly at his club, he is determined to protect her no matter what. But their enemy is cunning and will put them through their paces.
I absolutely had a blast with this book and I couldn't put it down! It sucked me in right away and this just goes to show that novellas can be really fun to read when done right. Of course, Larissa Ione, is just one of those authors that you can trust right away and I definitely found myself captivated immediately. I couldn't get enough of this one here. And if you are a fan of this world or this author and just need a shorter book to relax with for an evening, this is perfect. Its short, shouldn't take more than an hour, and will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through.
Questions for my readers
Have you read Larissa Ione? What is your favorite book from her? Let me know in the comments below!
Vampire Fight Club is a novella in the "Demonica" world by this author. I was really in the mood to get back to her books but something that was a bit shorter and this novella fit my mood just right and wow it had a softer FMC. I LOVED that. While she will fight when she needs to, she isn't natural at it, but just out of self defense. The setup of the story was truly heartbreaking though. The heroine, is a shifter that can't shift and because of that she is dying. When her brother, the only one that protected her from their other brothers who look at her as if she is weak, is killed in a underground fighting ring, she is determined to see who is behind it and kill them herself. She poses as a nurse, and runs into the one in charge, a vampire, Nathan Sabine. Nathan, is looking for revenge one day for the man who murdered his late wife in front of him but currently is too powerful and waiting for the right moment. Then he runs into Vladlena, whom he has an instant attraction and connection to. He tries to fight off what he feels for her, but when he learns why she is truly at his club, he is determined to protect her no matter what. But their enemy is cunning and will put them through their paces.
I absolutely had a blast with this book and I couldn't put it down! It sucked me in right away and this just goes to show that novellas can be really fun to read when done right. Of course, Larissa Ione, is just one of those authors that you can trust right away and I definitely found myself captivated immediately. I couldn't get enough of this one here. And if you are a fan of this world or this author and just need a shorter book to relax with for an evening, this is perfect. Its short, shouldn't take more than an hour, and will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through.
Questions for my readers
Have you read Larissa Ione? What is your favorite book from her? Let me know in the comments below!
July 8, 2024
I found Lena to be quite silly throughout the story. She knew that her days were numbered and decided to investigate her brother's death. She goes undercover and a slipshod kind of plan to find out the truth, unprepared to defend herself or snoop wisely. Nathan was okay, but it was hard to find depth behind either of these characters. I was entertained by the story though. I liked the idea of this club that caters to a certain type of clientele, which is a front for an underground supernatural fight club. The big bad was suitably scary and there was plenty of action that moved the story along. I loved how subtle the author was with providing links to the main story. Now that I know that there's a link between Nathan and Thanatos, I wonder if he'll be making an appearance in Death's book.
December 30, 2022
I really enjoyed Vampire Fight Club. I loved seeing all my old favorites in the series and loved Nathan and Vladlena. I honestly forgot how much I love this world so for 2023 I plan to catch up with this series.
November 22, 2017
What I’m Talking About:
Nathan (Nate) Sabine, a rare, daywalker vampire, has worked at an underground fight club for decades hoping to bring it down from the inside, ever since the owner, Fade, killed his wife. But Nate has become apathetic and has lost sight of his need for revenge. He hates himself.
Vladlena (Lena) Paskelkov is a nurse at UGH. She’s working when one of the paramedics brings in her brother all torn up. They discover he was killed at an underground fight club. Lena decides to go undercover as a medic for the fight club’s legitimate front, the Vampire nightclub Thirst, to seek revenge for her brother’s murder.
Although previously released, Vampire Fight Club is one of the few (only?) Demonic stories I hadn’t read. I absolutely enjoyed diving into the old school Demonica tales. The story is set mid-series, after the original crew have their stories, but before most of the Lords of Deliverance characters are mated. It’s fast, simple, and fun. Nate and Lena share an instant attraction, although it sort of horrifies Lena as she’s not certain if Nate had anything to do with her brother’s death. But their pull is undeniable, and it gives Nate a reason to live again. It also helps Lena fulfill her own shifter needs.
Vampire Fight Club is independent of the original series and can be enjoyed as a standalone or introduction to this awesome PNR series. As for fans of Underground General Hospital, this story is an entertaining, sexy addition to the Demonica series.
My Rating: B, Liked It
Review copy provided by Netgalley
Nathan (Nate) Sabine, a rare, daywalker vampire, has worked at an underground fight club for decades hoping to bring it down from the inside, ever since the owner, Fade, killed his wife. But Nate has become apathetic and has lost sight of his need for revenge. He hates himself.
Vladlena (Lena) Paskelkov is a nurse at UGH. She’s working when one of the paramedics brings in her brother all torn up. They discover he was killed at an underground fight club. Lena decides to go undercover as a medic for the fight club’s legitimate front, the Vampire nightclub Thirst, to seek revenge for her brother’s murder.
Although previously released, Vampire Fight Club is one of the few (only?) Demonic stories I hadn’t read. I absolutely enjoyed diving into the old school Demonica tales. The story is set mid-series, after the original crew have their stories, but before most of the Lords of Deliverance characters are mated. It’s fast, simple, and fun. Nate and Lena share an instant attraction, although it sort of horrifies Lena as she’s not certain if Nate had anything to do with her brother’s death. But their pull is undeniable, and it gives Nate a reason to live again. It also helps Lena fulfill her own shifter needs.
Vampire Fight Club is independent of the original series and can be enjoyed as a standalone or introduction to this awesome PNR series. As for fans of Underground General Hospital, this story is an entertaining, sexy addition to the Demonica series.
My Rating: B, Liked It
Review copy provided by Netgalley
October 24, 2021
Nurse Vladlena goes undercover at a vampire club to avenge her brother's death. She's hired as a medic by vampire Nate, one of the club owners.
Nate and Lena had immediate chemistry. I really liked their romance. Plus, Lena's secrecy made the story a lot more exciting to read. Since Lena works at UGH, we also had some special appearances from Eidolon and the others.
That being said, I wish that Lena and Nate had a longer story. The ending was a bit rushed. And the undefeatable evil villain got defeated a bit too easily. But I love that Nate and Lena saved each other.
Overall, Vampire Fight Club is a fun and sexy novella that fits well in the Demonica and Lords of Deliverance series.
Nate and Lena had immediate chemistry. I really liked their romance. Plus, Lena's secrecy made the story a lot more exciting to read. Since Lena works at UGH, we also had some special appearances from Eidolon and the others.
That being said, I wish that Lena and Nate had a longer story. The ending was a bit rushed. And the undefeatable evil villain got defeated a bit too easily. But I love that Nate and Lena saved each other.
Overall, Vampire Fight Club is a fun and sexy novella that fits well in the Demonica and Lords of Deliverance series.
December 21, 2018
Me encanto.
Lena es de lo mejor valiente y hermosa.
Él sexy a rabiar y fuerte, tan macho alfa, tan él.
Corto pero con una trama super entretenida, al punto sin rodeos, con mucha acción y escenas de sexo candentes.
Thanatos, ese jinete me encanta! ansió su historia.
Lena es de lo mejor valiente y hermosa.
Él sexy a rabiar y fuerte, tan macho alfa, tan él.
Corto pero con una trama super entretenida, al punto sin rodeos, con mucha acción y escenas de sexo candentes.
Thanatos, ese jinete me encanta! ansió su historia.
May 30, 2018
I’m not the biggest lover of short stories and novellas, I much prefer digging deep into the full-length novels of any given series, yet there are some cases where I just have to read such stories. Larissa Ione is an author who has me more than willing to dive into her shorter tales, more than happy to read the short stories that accompany the full-length novels I adore so much.
Since I picked up the first book in the Demonica series, I have desperately been needing more. It’s one of my favourite paranormal romance series, and the Lords of Deliverance spinoff is promising to be just as enjoyable. Vampire Fight Club is a nice little addition to the Demonica universe, taking place in the Lords of Deliverance timeline.
I will be completely honest and say this wasn’t quite a full four-star rating. Mostly, this is a reflection of how I prefer longer stories – and how, at the end of this one, I was left wishing we’d been given more scenes so that I could have fallen ever deeper in love with another Larissa Ione tale. However, as the rating was so close to being a four-star rating, I had to round it up.
Although this takes place in the Lords of Deliverance timeline, it is not a pivotal story to the overall arc. It makes references to what is going on in the universe, yet the story stands just fine on its own. It is quick and fun, with all of the author’s usual trademarks – some action, some steam, great characters, and a storyline that leaves you more than curious about how the events come together.
Without a doubt, this was another great read from Larissa Ione. I’ve seen mention that Base Instincts, another Larissa Ione short story I’m extremely interested in reading, is linked to this one, and I cannot wait to see how it plays out.
Since I picked up the first book in the Demonica series, I have desperately been needing more. It’s one of my favourite paranormal romance series, and the Lords of Deliverance spinoff is promising to be just as enjoyable. Vampire Fight Club is a nice little addition to the Demonica universe, taking place in the Lords of Deliverance timeline.
I will be completely honest and say this wasn’t quite a full four-star rating. Mostly, this is a reflection of how I prefer longer stories – and how, at the end of this one, I was left wishing we’d been given more scenes so that I could have fallen ever deeper in love with another Larissa Ione tale. However, as the rating was so close to being a four-star rating, I had to round it up.
Although this takes place in the Lords of Deliverance timeline, it is not a pivotal story to the overall arc. It makes references to what is going on in the universe, yet the story stands just fine on its own. It is quick and fun, with all of the author’s usual trademarks – some action, some steam, great characters, and a storyline that leaves you more than curious about how the events come together.
Without a doubt, this was another great read from Larissa Ione. I’ve seen mention that Base Instincts, another Larissa Ione short story I’m extremely interested in reading, is linked to this one, and I cannot wait to see how it plays out.
October 30, 2017
More Demonica, baby! Woohoo!
This novella was originally published in the Supernatural anthology, and is now available to purchase separately. It takes us back to events after book #6 in the Demonica series (Eternal Rider, Lords of Deliverance, #1), and is a quick story featuring Underground General Nurse, Vladlena. It’s not a must-read in order to follow the overarching storyline, but mad fans of the series such as myself, will love stepping back into this world any way we can, and I loved this little quickie.
When Vladlena’s brother is killed in an underground fight club, she decides to go undercover as a medic at the Thirst nightclub – the front for supernatural fighting ring, Gladius. When she meets club Manager, Nate, he is a complete jerk to her but there is an attraction there that she fights to ignore, not knowing how involved Nate was in her brother’s death.
Nate is instantly intrigued by his new medic, and he wants her badly – more than he’s wanted anybody pretty much ever. As an ex-fighter himself, Nate seems smooth and in control, but he is battling his own demons, and his reasons for being at Thirst/Gladius are also more than what they originally seem.
The chemistry between Lena and Nate is palpable, and even in such a quick book, Ione manages to create a connection between them that you can feel. There is sexy time but there is also an emotional element to their relationship that I really liked, and when they are forced to face the unimaginable, they will realise that they finally have something to fight for… but will it be too late?
As expected, I loved this read. There’s something about being back in this world that always gets me excited, and I’m always thrilled for anything that allows me to delve right back in. I loved that we got glimpses of the Sem boys, and a nice little tie-in to the Lords of Deliverance series, and I really enjoyed the story.
A great little extra, and an enjoyable and quick read – 4 stars.
This novella was originally published in the Supernatural anthology, and is now available to purchase separately. It takes us back to events after book #6 in the Demonica series (Eternal Rider, Lords of Deliverance, #1), and is a quick story featuring Underground General Nurse, Vladlena. It’s not a must-read in order to follow the overarching storyline, but mad fans of the series such as myself, will love stepping back into this world any way we can, and I loved this little quickie.
When Vladlena’s brother is killed in an underground fight club, she decides to go undercover as a medic at the Thirst nightclub – the front for supernatural fighting ring, Gladius. When she meets club Manager, Nate, he is a complete jerk to her but there is an attraction there that she fights to ignore, not knowing how involved Nate was in her brother’s death.
Nate is instantly intrigued by his new medic, and he wants her badly – more than he’s wanted anybody pretty much ever. As an ex-fighter himself, Nate seems smooth and in control, but he is battling his own demons, and his reasons for being at Thirst/Gladius are also more than what they originally seem.
The chemistry between Lena and Nate is palpable, and even in such a quick book, Ione manages to create a connection between them that you can feel. There is sexy time but there is also an emotional element to their relationship that I really liked, and when they are forced to face the unimaginable, they will realise that they finally have something to fight for… but will it be too late?
As expected, I loved this read. There’s something about being back in this world that always gets me excited, and I’m always thrilled for anything that allows me to delve right back in. I loved that we got glimpses of the Sem boys, and a nice little tie-in to the Lords of Deliverance series, and I really enjoyed the story.
A great little extra, and an enjoyable and quick read – 4 stars.
April 23, 2018
I was thrilled to revisit one of my favorite PnR series and the Demonica world! Although this is a side story, we still get to visit Underworld General, and I always love reading anything with Eidolon, Shade, and the rest of the group!
November 26, 2017
I loved Larissa Ione’s Demonica series. I had to grab this novella so I could venture back into that world even if it was just for a small bit of time. As much as I enjoyed that series I still cannot believe that I have not moved on to the Lords of Deliverance books. I even own the first few.
Many readers will be pleased to know that if you are not familiar with the above mentioned worlds you can still read this novella and not be confused about what has gone on at Underworld General. Fans of those series will be pleased to know that the Seminus demons they’ve loved in the previous books have small roles here in Vampire Fight Club.
Working as a nurse at Underworld General has forced Vladena to see many injuries and deaths. One she never expected to see was her brother Vaughn. His injuries and subsequently his death are what push her to do a little investigating of her own. All it takes is a little snooping and she knows exactly where she needs to go to find out what happened to her brother, Thirst.
Nathan is in Thirst for his own revenge. Over the course of his long vampire life he has discovered keep your friends close and your enemies closer is the best way to exact that revenge. Sadly for Nate time has allowed his desire for that hate to fade. Now he just runs the club that the individual he hates the most in this world owns. Enter Lena. He knows she’s hiding something. He knows she has walked into his club as more than a medic looking for a job. He still over looks it all because she has awoken something in him that he has believed dies a long time ago.
One of my many problems with novellas is the insta-love and must mate and must mate now that makes the shortness and sex work. I didn’t experience that here. Yes this read is short, but it is still uber hot without the rush. On top of that both Lena and Nate get the justice/revenge that brought them both to where they met.
Many readers will be pleased to know that if you are not familiar with the above mentioned worlds you can still read this novella and not be confused about what has gone on at Underworld General. Fans of those series will be pleased to know that the Seminus demons they’ve loved in the previous books have small roles here in Vampire Fight Club.
Working as a nurse at Underworld General has forced Vladena to see many injuries and deaths. One she never expected to see was her brother Vaughn. His injuries and subsequently his death are what push her to do a little investigating of her own. All it takes is a little snooping and she knows exactly where she needs to go to find out what happened to her brother, Thirst.
Nathan is in Thirst for his own revenge. Over the course of his long vampire life he has discovered keep your friends close and your enemies closer is the best way to exact that revenge. Sadly for Nate time has allowed his desire for that hate to fade. Now he just runs the club that the individual he hates the most in this world owns. Enter Lena. He knows she’s hiding something. He knows she has walked into his club as more than a medic looking for a job. He still over looks it all because she has awoken something in him that he has believed dies a long time ago.
One of my many problems with novellas is the insta-love and must mate and must mate now that makes the shortness and sex work. I didn’t experience that here. Yes this read is short, but it is still uber hot without the rush. On top of that both Lena and Nate get the justice/revenge that brought them both to where they met.
November 28, 2017
Free standing short paranormal part of Ione Demonica series. Amazing author who presents characters of unique abilities and challenges. The Underground General Hospital specializes in the care and emergency treatment of shifters and demons alike. Vladlena (Lena) is a nurse on duty when her brother is brought in with terminal injuries. Going undercover to investigate her siblings death and the illegal club Lena meets Day Walking Vamp Nathan Sabine. Good overcoming Evil is the theme. "A copy of this book was provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."
June 9, 2016
Lena works for the hospital but after her brother is killed at a fight club she becomes a medic at the club where she meets Nate, who acts like a jerk. I enjoyed how Lena grew into a strong independant woman.
November 22, 2017
This book was ok.. Honestly it was just a short vampire story mixed with a fight club. There wasn't much else to it. The couple was fine.. Nothing sticks out in my mind about them. Everything was just meh.
April 23, 2018
A quick short story from the Supernatural
This is from the Demonica series - not bad
This is from the Demonica series - not bad
March 29, 2020
Reviewed for THC Reviews
Vampire Fight Club is a novella in Larissa Ione’s Demonica/Lords of Deliverance series that falls between Eternal Rider and Immortal Rider in the series chronology. It tells the story of Vladlena, a nurse at Underworld General Hospital, who is also a shifter who can’t transform into her animal self. As a result, she’s doomed to die shortly after her twenty-fourth birthday, which is rapidly approaching. When her brother is brought in torn to shreds and she discovers that he’d been participating in some sort of arena death match, she’s determined to infiltrate the fight club and take it down as her last act. To that end, she gets a job as a medic at the legitimate nightclub that caters to supernaturals and acts as a front for the underground operation. There she meets club manager Nathan, a vampire who stirs her desires but who she doesn’t know if she can trust. As their attraction ramps up, she eventually comes to realize that they have similar goals, but the club owner isn’t so easy to eliminate.
Nathan was turned vampire two centuries before, and soon after, he accidentally turned his beloved wife, whom he thought he’d killed. Mourning her loss, he wandered Europe for decades before finally finding her alive and in the arms of another supernatural known as Fade. After seducing her away from Fade, he hoped they’d finally have a future together only to have that cut short when Fade captured her and put her in the fighting area where she was killed. Filled with rage over losing her again, Nathan intended to infiltrate Fade’s organization and take it down from the inside, but the longer it’s taken, the more apathetic he’s become until he hates himself for not doing more. When Vladlena comes into his club, she stirs something inside him that he hasn’t felt in ages, and when Fade presents a threat to her, Nathan discovers that he’ll do anything to keep her safe.
Overall, Vampire Fight Club was a good addition to this series. It was an interesting novella that presented a story of two characters who fit together very well. The characterizations were quite good for this shorter format and I generally enjoyed the story. I have only two small complaints. The first is that Nathan can be a bit of a jerk in the beginning, which made me want to smack him silly, but during the final third or so of the novella, when he rediscovers his purpose in life, he turns into a much nicer and more admirable person. It was at that point I finally fell for him. The second issue is that Nathan and Lena tend to lead with their sexual chemistry right out of the gate, which didn’t work well for me. Even though they don’t actually have sex until the end, they do other things, and I just wasn’t feeling enough of a connection between them to make such intimacies appealing to me. This was probably because Nate rubbing me the wrong way, made it hard to discern what Lena saw in him at that point. Despite all that, though, the ending was great, an action-packed showdown that really engaged by attention, and once Nate and Lena actually began communicating, I finally felt that all-important emotional bonding between them that put paid to their romantic relationship. Nate also has an intriguing connection to one of the Four Horsemen, which the author says in her endnote will be explored later in the Lords of Deliverance series, so I look forward to seeing more of Nate and Lena in future books. Vampire Fight Club was originally published in the anthology, Supernatural, but was later re-released as a stand-alone ebook.
Vampire Fight Club is a novella in Larissa Ione’s Demonica/Lords of Deliverance series that falls between Eternal Rider and Immortal Rider in the series chronology. It tells the story of Vladlena, a nurse at Underworld General Hospital, who is also a shifter who can’t transform into her animal self. As a result, she’s doomed to die shortly after her twenty-fourth birthday, which is rapidly approaching. When her brother is brought in torn to shreds and she discovers that he’d been participating in some sort of arena death match, she’s determined to infiltrate the fight club and take it down as her last act. To that end, she gets a job as a medic at the legitimate nightclub that caters to supernaturals and acts as a front for the underground operation. There she meets club manager Nathan, a vampire who stirs her desires but who she doesn’t know if she can trust. As their attraction ramps up, she eventually comes to realize that they have similar goals, but the club owner isn’t so easy to eliminate.
Nathan was turned vampire two centuries before, and soon after, he accidentally turned his beloved wife, whom he thought he’d killed. Mourning her loss, he wandered Europe for decades before finally finding her alive and in the arms of another supernatural known as Fade. After seducing her away from Fade, he hoped they’d finally have a future together only to have that cut short when Fade captured her and put her in the fighting area where she was killed. Filled with rage over losing her again, Nathan intended to infiltrate Fade’s organization and take it down from the inside, but the longer it’s taken, the more apathetic he’s become until he hates himself for not doing more. When Vladlena comes into his club, she stirs something inside him that he hasn’t felt in ages, and when Fade presents a threat to her, Nathan discovers that he’ll do anything to keep her safe.
Overall, Vampire Fight Club was a good addition to this series. It was an interesting novella that presented a story of two characters who fit together very well. The characterizations were quite good for this shorter format and I generally enjoyed the story. I have only two small complaints. The first is that Nathan can be a bit of a jerk in the beginning, which made me want to smack him silly, but during the final third or so of the novella, when he rediscovers his purpose in life, he turns into a much nicer and more admirable person. It was at that point I finally fell for him. The second issue is that Nathan and Lena tend to lead with their sexual chemistry right out of the gate, which didn’t work well for me. Even though they don’t actually have sex until the end, they do other things, and I just wasn’t feeling enough of a connection between them to make such intimacies appealing to me. This was probably because Nate rubbing me the wrong way, made it hard to discern what Lena saw in him at that point. Despite all that, though, the ending was great, an action-packed showdown that really engaged by attention, and once Nate and Lena actually began communicating, I finally felt that all-important emotional bonding between them that put paid to their romantic relationship. Nate also has an intriguing connection to one of the Four Horsemen, which the author says in her endnote will be explored later in the Lords of Deliverance series, so I look forward to seeing more of Nate and Lena in future books. Vampire Fight Club was originally published in the anthology, Supernatural, but was later re-released as a stand-alone ebook.
November 5, 2017
I admit that it has been a while since I read the Demonica series -- I used to LOVE that one years back -- so I didn't remember much about the characters... BUT this one could pretty much read as a stand alone anyway. It has a day-walker vampire and a defective shifter nurse.
Full opinion later
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Full opinion later
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
February 2, 2018
Great little novella.
November 30, 2017
I was looking at my friend's review and realized that I never even added this book, although I read and enjoyed it. I know I read it close to the time of reading Overkill, so I am just guessing about the month. Pretty sure on the year.
I really liked this novella that deals with a nurse trying to find answers. The "manager" of Thirst is also hiding some things. They have chemistry right away. This is about all I remember other than not liking the club owner. I'm giving it 4 stars as that is my memory, I really liked it. On re-read I might change it.
I really liked this novella that deals with a nurse trying to find answers. The "manager" of Thirst is also hiding some things. They have chemistry right away. This is about all I remember other than not liking the club owner. I'm giving it 4 stars as that is my memory, I really liked it. On re-read I might change it.
December 7, 2022
Vampire Fight Club is part of the Lords Of Deliverance series. I have to be honest and say I have not read the other books in the series, and I'm not sure if it was necessary / mandatory to do so... I'm going to say no since I was able to completely follow this book with no issues.
This book takes place in Demonica - which contains humans, shifters, demons, etc. We meet our FMC Vladlena whom has gone undercover to try to avenge her brother whom she believes was killed at a club called Thirst. She gets a job there as a medic, as it's an underground fight club of sorts. She meets our male MC Nate there. She believes Nate is whom killed her brother, but she cannot deny the immediate attraction she feels towards Nate... and that attraction is mutual.
The rest of the book is her trying to find out what happened to her brother all while trying to navigate her feelinlgs for Nate.. Nate struggles with his feelings for Vladlena as well, mostly because his boss at the club wants to use her as a sacrifice.
Overall, a good QUICK book. I just may check out others in the series.
This book takes place in Demonica - which contains humans, shifters, demons, etc. We meet our FMC Vladlena whom has gone undercover to try to avenge her brother whom she believes was killed at a club called Thirst. She gets a job there as a medic, as it's an underground fight club of sorts. She meets our male MC Nate there. She believes Nate is whom killed her brother, but she cannot deny the immediate attraction she feels towards Nate... and that attraction is mutual.
The rest of the book is her trying to find out what happened to her brother all while trying to navigate her feelinlgs for Nate.. Nate struggles with his feelings for Vladlena as well, mostly because his boss at the club wants to use her as a sacrifice.
Overall, a good QUICK book. I just may check out others in the series.
March 8, 2014
A short story starring Vladlena and Nathan, an unlikely pair.
Nathan is a special sort of a vampire who manages a club called Thirst. For decades he has felt dead inside and nothing matters to him anymore. Since he was bitten and turned by Thanatos he had to hide his true self. He could walk in the sun and he was stronger than other vampires. But all of that didn't help him when Fade, the club's owner, killed his wife Eleanor in an arena with him watching the entire thing. He swore on that day that he would avenge her. But as that rage piled up decades past. And the rage turned to ice and to nothingness. He remained working for Fade with no idea why anymore.
Vladlena is a shifter who can't shift. She works as a nurse at the Underground General Hospital. Eidolon, her boss, tried to help her with special medicine but it didn't work on her. Since she turned 24 and still didn't shift she knew her days were numbered and there was nothing she could do to stop it. One day, her brother was brought in half-dead and while dying spoke his last words to her - Thirst... club... It gave Lena a purpose. Avenging her brother's death will be her last act. On that note, she managed to get a job at club called Thirst as a nurse. It was all going well until she met her boss, Nate.
Since their first encounter they knew they were drawn to each other but both of them had secrets and until those secrets were out and dealt with, they couldn't do anything with their mutual desire.
I really liked this short story that was published in a book Supernatural, along with some others from different authors. It depicts a life of one of the UGH nurses and it brings about the variety of characters and world building in the Lords of Deliverance Series. The main characters from the Demonica Series also appear and they add to the credentials of the story itself.
It's really amazing how the author can bring to life such an "unimportant" character and make the rest of the series and the storyline work in her favor. Vladlena is a likeable character, kind of a naive, troubled woman who hadn't experienced much in life but she still shows a great deal of potential and spark. Nathan is on the other hand an egoistic, arrogant vampire who knows just how much he impacts the woman's senses and manipulates it to his advantage. As his character develops we see the other side of him as well, the lonely, self-loathing side. And his will to protect a young but fierce woman that brought him back to life, so to speak. It's a nice respite from all the tension and lack of breathing in the books of the Lords of Deliverance Series.
I would recommend the Vampire Fight Club to everyone, even to those who hadn't read the other books in the Demonica or LOD series. You can read it in an hour or so and it will keep you amused and happy. You will start caring for the other characters as well and who knows, maybe you'll get hooked on the other works from Larissa Ione as the rest of us.
Nathan is a special sort of a vampire who manages a club called Thirst. For decades he has felt dead inside and nothing matters to him anymore. Since he was bitten and turned by Thanatos he had to hide his true self. He could walk in the sun and he was stronger than other vampires. But all of that didn't help him when Fade, the club's owner, killed his wife Eleanor in an arena with him watching the entire thing. He swore on that day that he would avenge her. But as that rage piled up decades past. And the rage turned to ice and to nothingness. He remained working for Fade with no idea why anymore.
Vladlena is a shifter who can't shift. She works as a nurse at the Underground General Hospital. Eidolon, her boss, tried to help her with special medicine but it didn't work on her. Since she turned 24 and still didn't shift she knew her days were numbered and there was nothing she could do to stop it. One day, her brother was brought in half-dead and while dying spoke his last words to her - Thirst... club... It gave Lena a purpose. Avenging her brother's death will be her last act. On that note, she managed to get a job at club called Thirst as a nurse. It was all going well until she met her boss, Nate.
Since their first encounter they knew they were drawn to each other but both of them had secrets and until those secrets were out and dealt with, they couldn't do anything with their mutual desire.
I really liked this short story that was published in a book Supernatural, along with some others from different authors. It depicts a life of one of the UGH nurses and it brings about the variety of characters and world building in the Lords of Deliverance Series. The main characters from the Demonica Series also appear and they add to the credentials of the story itself.
It's really amazing how the author can bring to life such an "unimportant" character and make the rest of the series and the storyline work in her favor. Vladlena is a likeable character, kind of a naive, troubled woman who hadn't experienced much in life but she still shows a great deal of potential and spark. Nathan is on the other hand an egoistic, arrogant vampire who knows just how much he impacts the woman's senses and manipulates it to his advantage. As his character develops we see the other side of him as well, the lonely, self-loathing side. And his will to protect a young but fierce woman that brought him back to life, so to speak. It's a nice respite from all the tension and lack of breathing in the books of the Lords of Deliverance Series.
I would recommend the Vampire Fight Club to everyone, even to those who hadn't read the other books in the Demonica or LOD series. You can read it in an hour or so and it will keep you amused and happy. You will start caring for the other characters as well and who knows, maybe you'll get hooked on the other works from Larissa Ione as the rest of us.
November 28, 2017
Three and a half stars.
Apparently I read this as part of the Supernatural anthology, I didn't instantly recall it, benefits of a shocking memory, so I enjoyed reading it again.
Nate Sabine is a vampire who runs a supernatural nightclub called Thirst and an underground supernatural fight club called Gladius. He works for a demon called Fade. When a shifter dies in the ring during one of the fights Nate orders him taken outside, in case he is mated and his mate comes looking for him. Instead he is found and taken to Underworld General Hospital, where one of the nurses, Vladlena Paskelkov, recognises him as her brother Vaughn. Vaughn is not quite dead and manages to cough out a few words before he dies which leads Lena and the doctors at UG to believe that there is an underground fight club connected to Thirst. Lena applies for a job as medic in the nightclub and immediately runs into Nate. Lena has a fatalistic streak since she has turned 24 years old and never shifted, she knows she probably only has weeks to live before her inability to shift kills her.
It has been a while since I read any of the Dominica books and I was worrried that I might not remember the characters but Larissa Ione writes such memorable characters that the doctors of UG were instantly recognisable, even if I didn't recall this particular novella. She certainly packed a whole lot of plot into just 93 pages: there's the romance between Nate and Lena; Nate's backstory about becoming a vampire and meeting Fade; Lena's family history; Lena's inability to shift, it's all there and nothing feels rushed (except maybe the big showdown).
Overall, An action-packed supernatural novella that could be read as a stand alone intro to the Demonica series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
Apparently I read this as part of the Supernatural anthology, I didn't instantly recall it, benefits of a shocking memory, so I enjoyed reading it again.
Nate Sabine is a vampire who runs a supernatural nightclub called Thirst and an underground supernatural fight club called Gladius. He works for a demon called Fade. When a shifter dies in the ring during one of the fights Nate orders him taken outside, in case he is mated and his mate comes looking for him. Instead he is found and taken to Underworld General Hospital, where one of the nurses, Vladlena Paskelkov, recognises him as her brother Vaughn. Vaughn is not quite dead and manages to cough out a few words before he dies which leads Lena and the doctors at UG to believe that there is an underground fight club connected to Thirst. Lena applies for a job as medic in the nightclub and immediately runs into Nate. Lena has a fatalistic streak since she has turned 24 years old and never shifted, she knows she probably only has weeks to live before her inability to shift kills her.
It has been a while since I read any of the Dominica books and I was worrried that I might not remember the characters but Larissa Ione writes such memorable characters that the doctors of UG were instantly recognisable, even if I didn't recall this particular novella. She certainly packed a whole lot of plot into just 93 pages: there's the romance between Nate and Lena; Nate's backstory about becoming a vampire and meeting Fade; Lena's family history; Lena's inability to shift, it's all there and nothing feels rushed (except maybe the big showdown).
Overall, An action-packed supernatural novella that could be read as a stand alone intro to the Demonica series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
February 15, 2021
Fun novella, with an interesting world and characters that I want to read more about. This was my first Larissa Lore book and I'll definitely read more by this author.
I listened to this on audiobook (it's on the Supernatural anthology) and I really liked the narrator.
I listened to this on audiobook (it's on the Supernatural anthology) and I really liked the narrator.
November 18, 2017
Vampire fight Club is a short novella in the Demonica-Lords of Deliverance series. I love this series and this is a fabulous addition. Nate and Lena are dynamic well developed characters and the overall characters interaction is compelling. If you haven't read this book or series you don't know what you are missing.
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