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Their Vampire Queen #1-6
The House Isador Boxed Set
An epic tale of a vampire queen and her loyal Blood.
From a lost princess who doesn't even know she's a vampire, to a formidable queen battling gods and the Triune, Shara’s promise holds true.
What this queen takes, she loves, and what she loves, she keeps for all time.
Long live House Isador!
This boxed set includes Queen Takes Knights, Queen Takes King, Queen Takes Queen, Queen Takes Rook, Queen Takes Checkmate, and Queen Takes Triune.
From a lost princess who doesn't even know she's a vampire, to a formidable queen battling gods and the Triune, Shara’s promise holds true.
What this queen takes, she loves, and what she loves, she keeps for all time.
Long live House Isador!
This boxed set includes Queen Takes Knights, Queen Takes King, Queen Takes Queen, Queen Takes Rook, Queen Takes Checkmate, and Queen Takes Triune.
1552 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2019
1989 people are currently reading
2241 people want to read
About the author
Joely Sue Burkhart
118 books2,013 followersI write books. Sometimes I even finish them!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
never-reading-andor-finishing
March 21, 2020DNF at 16%
There's no substance to the plot and characters. Things go from 0 to 80 super fast, I've read books where authors have made that work, but that's not the case here.
Character development is minimal at best.
A reverse harem series that has no bite.
Freebie on amazon 18th March 2020
There's no substance to the plot and characters. Things go from 0 to 80 super fast, I've read books where authors have made that work, but that's not the case here.
Character development is minimal at best.
A reverse harem series that has no bite.
Freebie on amazon 18th March 2020
Want to read
April 7, 2025🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/20/2020)! 🎁
August 28, 2021
WOW, how come no one warned me this wasn't completed?! I feel so lied to!
In all seriousness, I really loved these books. Maybe a bit too much adoration instead of just thinking or progressing plot, but sometimes these kinda of books are fun to read about.... even if there is a TON of blood all over the place.
In all seriousness, I really loved these books. Maybe a bit too much adoration instead of just thinking or progressing plot, but sometimes these kinda of books are fun to read about.... even if there is a TON of blood all over the place.
May 26, 2024
◾️Queen Takes Knights
¡¡¡ VAMPIRES !!!
How can I NOT want to read this baby?
Queens, vampire warriors (aka Blood), magic, shape shifting, monsters and hot sex? Well, just take my money already!
Shara is running from “monsters” - same monsters that killed her parents- unaware of knowing she is a vampire Queen. (How badass is THAT!)
A Queen is a female vampire who gets power by feeding on her Bloods ( and her Bloods gets power from feeding from their Queen) Shara is attacked yet again by monsters and is saved by her very first two Bloods. I say first BECAUSE THIS TURNED OUT TO BE THE START OF A RH SERIES AND I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW, can you tell? 😅
I found this storyline beyond captivating. My only “oh no please don’t” - was the fact that Shara fell into bed with the vampire hunks so good damn quick. She was so accepting of them, and their “explanation” of what she was and yes I know she has powers, but I like it when the female lead tell them to... well...fuck off”?
Wouldn’t you be like “wtf you mean I am a vampire Queen, you creep!”
That aside - THIS BOOK WAS SO UNIQUE! I need to read the rest. It’s that simple.
Now go away, so I can go and spend my money on the rest of this series.
Read: 25/09/2018
1st rate: 4,5 stars (such a good book!!)
Genre: PNR & RH (totally an amazing combo!!)
Will I recommend: YOU. NEED. THIS. BOOK. IN. YOUR. LIFE.
◾️Queen Takes King
*happy sigh 👏
!! Ladies and gentlemen !!
This book is all about magic-wielding, shapeshifting vampires, crazy Greek gods, vampire courts, building a nest and also finding out who Shara really is- beyond being a badass vampire Queen.
Oh and did I mention her Bloods are growing in numbers ? HAWT! 🔥🔥
I do wish the author would cut down on the whole period thing. 😂 She writes about it A LOT. And I get it now. All blood from the Queen is precious & powerful 😂 But let’s move on, shall we? 🤷🏻♀️
Anyway! I found this book so compelling. It’s so unique and I really hope we get more “ story”, and not just the hot ass sex. (But bravo for that, Buckhart!) I am just so curious about finding out who she is, how she will be as a queen, and how the storyline will develop! This can be really good!
Probably what I need to give the final star, now that I think about it?🤔
There are so many great ideas in this book, and I am really excited to see where Buckhart will take us.
Big fucking points for the diversity! #awesome
Read: 13/10/2018
Genre: RH & PNR
1st. Rate: 4 stars
Cover: 5 stars (its totally amazing!)
Will I recommend: Yes
◾️Queen Takes Queen
Oh. My. Smoking. Hot. Fuck. Alert.
So I totally just stole that sentence from the book. I read it and I was like “yep, that’s how I feel about this book”.
We are following Shara, a powerful new Queen who gets an invite to visit another queen in Mexico who desperately needs her protection. Why? Well, you gotta read the book to find out but I assure you it’s not what you would expect!
I think the books gets better and better. More action, more mystery. More “I don’t know what will happen I am so excited”! I think her previous books were easier to predict and even though this one had some similarities, it also had moments when I was thinking “ what IS she hiding?”. That’s some very good brownie points there!
These books have a total different look on vampires, and I think that is one of the reasons why I am so pulled into this story. I think the ideas are great and highly unique. It’s badass.
Also add to the fact that’s it’s a paranormal reverse harem, just makes is even more awesome.
Read:18/11/2018
Genre: RH/paranormal/ romance
1st rating: 4 stars
Cover: These covers are stunning. All of the books in this series are EPIC!
Will I recommend: Yes, they are really entertaining.
◾️Queen Takes Rook
▪️Vampires, Aztec mythology, magic, shapeshifters and POWER! ▪️
This series has so many great parts!
Sometimes a bit cringe-worthy, but I have to admit, I am extremely fascinated by the story.
It also slightly bothers me that the Blood keep telling Shara that “ You could kill me right now and it would be my pleasure”. Ehm.. lets pull down that a notch because it’s repeated quite often. Like I know she is your everything, but give her a little fight?
The last half of the book was by far the best. It had a lot more action. More emotions, more angst.
Since it’s an RH, the “RH-part” is heavily focused on, and very well executed too, but I also crave a plot. Action. Power.
We get a lot more of that in this book compared to the prior works. It’s not that there isn’t any plot, quite on the contrary. It just “skims the surface”. I prefer a deeper connection. A deeper storyline, but ONLY and ONLY because the author has so many brilliant ideas and I want her to dig deeper. To give her great ideas a chance to really shine. To develop.
It is a bloody good book anyways, but dig Buckhart. Dig.
Read:04/01/2019
Cover: 5 stars (they are all phenomenal)
Genre: RH/Paranormal/Romance
1st rating: 4 stars
POV: Multiple
Will I recommend: Yes
◾️Queen Takes Checkmate
There are so many interesting and mysteries things I love in this series.
The mythology.
The world-building.
The Blood.
The “hierarchy”.
The Power, and that’s just to name a few.
Plus the sex is HAWT.
It took a while to get truly captivated by the story, but the final 150 pages did the trick.
I was thinking “3 stars” until the last pages, so it did help on my final rating.
It just such a creative and strangely complex story, and I simply love the fact that vampires can shapeshift.
That gods are the enemies. That light is not always good.
I found this story so refreshing in that aspect.
Read: 26/12/2019
1st rating: 4 stars
Genre/sub-genres: Reverse Harem/romance/paranormal/vampires/mythology/shapeshifters/action
Cover: Another stunning 5 stars cover.
POV: Dual - 1st person (Mainly Shara, but also her Blood)
Will I recommend: Yes
◾️Queen Takes Triune
I have a slight issue with completing series. Not just this one, but books in general. I read the previous books in 2018-2019, and it might be why I went this low.
The previous books focused a lot more on mythology and creatures and I remember really enjoying that.
I could not for the life of me let go of all the parts that bothered me. I am really glad I finished Shara’s story because I have thought for years to get around to it, but I honestly didn’t enjoy it.
The amount of times the Blood “kneeled by her feet”, or declared “Just kill me, I will let you do anything to me” or “ I will die for you, please don’t leave me” was exhausting.
I found Shara extremely annoying as well.
The story was repetitive.
It bothered me that a Queen so young (months) just “knew” everything and “could do everything”, and I do recognize she is super powerful, but yet a certain amount of “training” or “studying” is required and Shara just covered herself in blood and everything worked for her.
I originally started this series because I loved the covers, mythology is a big interest of mine and vampires just flat out rocks. But also because of the smut.
I can handle a lot of creative stuff but sadly the smut in this went so far off the trail for me.
I did not find a single moment sexy. I cringed. I went “this is ridiculous”, and not to be mean about it, but it was just so off.
Read: 26.05.2024
1st rating: 2 stars
Genre/tropes: Reverse harem/ paranormal/vampires/mythology/smut
Cover: 3 stars
POV’s: Multiple (1st person)
Will I recommend: No.
January 25, 2020
I left reviews on some.
Vampires, sex, bloody. Adult characters, not YA. Lot of men.
Yes. That resume pretty much. I really liked this serial as the author didn’t hold back. I almost ignored it as it is under reverse harem category. Not wrong,.. there is a queen after all and per definition of reverse harem, queen has males harem, men at her beck and call of the queen... not my favorite as I prefer equality but the heroine was lovable and not a bitch. But what I liked is that versus 99.99% of other reverse harem is that sex are multiple... MF, MMF, MFM and MFMM+ which I prefer.
Plot is good. Well written. So why not 5 stars? ... the epilogue. It was in my opinion rushed. The author wrote that the book was the end of shara story but it ended on a cliffhanger, her last guy added had zero romantic development.... for me it was not a happy ending. The author, upon so many fans vocal deception, wrote another book in a rush, claiming she did it in purpose to introduce other serials with other queens but I think she understood she made a booboo. So we got the epilogue in an unplanned extra book but not the happy ending as the supposed villain was still not killed. But better ending anyway.
But overall, it IS a serial I recommend. Just be warned about the epilogue as you may be frustrated.
It had been ages since I read a good vampire menage. I missed them. After my overdose of them, years back, I never knew I would say that! Lol
I will also always praise boxes with one complete story of the serial! Yay for that! I hate the months delays in between when I forget half of the story... and it IS costly too! Meh
Vampires, sex, bloody. Adult characters, not YA. Lot of men.
Yes. That resume pretty much. I really liked this serial as the author didn’t hold back. I almost ignored it as it is under reverse harem category. Not wrong,.. there is a queen after all and per definition of reverse harem, queen has males harem, men at her beck and call of the queen... not my favorite as I prefer equality but the heroine was lovable and not a bitch. But what I liked is that versus 99.99% of other reverse harem is that sex are multiple... MF, MMF, MFM and MFMM+ which I prefer.
Plot is good. Well written. So why not 5 stars? ... the epilogue. It was in my opinion rushed. The author wrote that the book was the end of shara story but it ended on a cliffhanger, her last guy added had zero romantic development.... for me it was not a happy ending. The author, upon so many fans vocal deception, wrote another book in a rush, claiming she did it in purpose to introduce other serials with other queens but I think she understood she made a booboo. So we got the epilogue in an unplanned extra book but not the happy ending as the supposed villain was still not killed. But better ending anyway.
But overall, it IS a serial I recommend. Just be warned about the epilogue as you may be frustrated.
It had been ages since I read a good vampire menage. I missed them. After my overdose of them, years back, I never knew I would say that! Lol
I will also always praise boxes with one complete story of the serial! Yay for that! I hate the months delays in between when I forget half of the story... and it IS costly too! Meh
January 20, 2026
I couldn’t put it down I absolutely loved it! Definitely going to be a book I reread multiple times
Her blood are amazing and sexy and Shara is a badass!
Her blood are amazing and sexy and Shara is a badass!
September 19, 2024
Reread: 5/5 ⭐️ Perfection. Absolute PERFECTION.
April 8, 2020
So these books really weren't for me.
I think there is such a fine line to tread with RH and these fall on the wrong side of the line for me.
All of the male characters were pretty much the same thing, although they had slight differences it wasnt really enough and I got lost in each of the chapters forgetting who I was reading.
This is very much in the vein of all males in the story fall at the female leads feet and hero worship her within minutes of meeting her. I find it so hard to get lost in books like this as it just is not believable.
The overarching story was really promising and I enjoyed the world the author built, but i found it hard to follow amongst all the sex scenes. Dont get me wrong, the sex scenes were hot lol but too many distracted from the actual story, and there was just so much repition between all characters.
If you do enjoy RH like what I described then this will be a really good read for you, but just not for me
I think there is such a fine line to tread with RH and these fall on the wrong side of the line for me.
All of the male characters were pretty much the same thing, although they had slight differences it wasnt really enough and I got lost in each of the chapters forgetting who I was reading.
This is very much in the vein of all males in the story fall at the female leads feet and hero worship her within minutes of meeting her. I find it so hard to get lost in books like this as it just is not believable.
The overarching story was really promising and I enjoyed the world the author built, but i found it hard to follow amongst all the sex scenes. Dont get me wrong, the sex scenes were hot lol but too many distracted from the actual story, and there was just so much repition between all characters.
If you do enjoy RH like what I described then this will be a really good read for you, but just not for me
July 29, 2020
DNF
I got about 70% into the entire series (books 1 - 6) and decided I'd had enough after I couldn't remember the people in the main character's harem, and after the main character developed skills so above and beyond that I didn't see anything challenging her. In other words, I lost my investment with this character's eventual outcome.
(And, the continuing menstrual blood theme was kinda grossing me out...)
I got about 70% into the entire series (books 1 - 6) and decided I'd had enough after I couldn't remember the people in the main character's harem, and after the main character developed skills so above and beyond that I didn't see anything challenging her. In other words, I lost my investment with this character's eventual outcome.
(And, the continuing menstrual blood theme was kinda grossing me out...)
March 17, 2020
I binge read this boxed set because I couldn't get enough of it!!! This was really interesting spin on the Vampire and Shifter paranormal story lines. The idea of the Queen being the most powerful and gaining/increasing her power from her loyal followers who are bound to her by blood was intriguing. Her Blood, as they are called, also came into more power and are able to shift into different creatures after feeding for the first time.
JSB's characters were well developed and had a lot of depth. She captured the quick build in the intensity of their relationships from their feedings and sexual encounters. The reverse harem is a favorite of mine and the scenes in this book were hot and dirty. Just the way I like them!
There is a lot of referencing to mythology in regards to the Vamp Queens being descendants of Goddesses and interacting with various Gods from Greek, Aztec etc mythology. You can tell that JSB put a lot of research into these mythical Gods/Goddesses and how they were linked to each other. Personally, I found this fascinating and enjoyed googling them to read their history and better understand how they worked in the story line.
Oh and I loved the play on the titles of the books as they related to the chess match being played by our Queen to bring in more Blood to her nest and to play the political games necessary to survive very power hungry Queens anxious to take her power.
Can't wait to continue on in the series!!!
JSB's characters were well developed and had a lot of depth. She captured the quick build in the intensity of their relationships from their feedings and sexual encounters. The reverse harem is a favorite of mine and the scenes in this book were hot and dirty. Just the way I like them!
There is a lot of referencing to mythology in regards to the Vamp Queens being descendants of Goddesses and interacting with various Gods from Greek, Aztec etc mythology. You can tell that JSB put a lot of research into these mythical Gods/Goddesses and how they were linked to each other. Personally, I found this fascinating and enjoyed googling them to read their history and better understand how they worked in the story line.
Oh and I loved the play on the titles of the books as they related to the chess match being played by our Queen to bring in more Blood to her nest and to play the political games necessary to survive very power hungry Queens anxious to take her power.
Can't wait to continue on in the series!!!
December 10, 2020
Very interesting
Queen takes knights
4 stars I’m not too sure how I feel about book one. It’s a tug of war and did I like it or love it.
Queen Takes King
4 stars While predictable in parts, still enjoyable. I’m still not sure how I feel about it but I’m going to keep reading.
Queen Takes Queen
4stars
Book three was so close to 5 star but there were multiple times that I felt a section was dragging on. That being sad there were more sections that I was totally absorbed in the story.
Queen takes Rook
5 stars
I absolutely loved this one. Although there were a few parts that I was like get to it already I didn’t want to put it down! Hoping the next one follows suit
Queen takes checkmate
4.5 stars
Loved it. Didn’t want to put it down but the ending felt like it took forever to get there. Now time for the long awaited showdown with the Triune
Queen Takes Triune
4.5 stars
It was great. There was a couple times I got lost, thinking I’d skip some pages or something and had to go back and read but other than that it was very interesting. While that apparently is all of Shara for now, I definitely want to continue on and see what happens!
Queen takes knights
4 stars I’m not too sure how I feel about book one. It’s a tug of war and did I like it or love it.
Queen Takes King
4 stars While predictable in parts, still enjoyable. I’m still not sure how I feel about it but I’m going to keep reading.
Queen Takes Queen
4stars
Book three was so close to 5 star but there were multiple times that I felt a section was dragging on. That being sad there were more sections that I was totally absorbed in the story.
Queen takes Rook
5 stars
I absolutely loved this one. Although there were a few parts that I was like get to it already I didn’t want to put it down! Hoping the next one follows suit
Queen takes checkmate
4.5 stars
Loved it. Didn’t want to put it down but the ending felt like it took forever to get there. Now time for the long awaited showdown with the Triune
Queen Takes Triune
4.5 stars
It was great. There was a couple times I got lost, thinking I’d skip some pages or something and had to go back and read but other than that it was very interesting. While that apparently is all of Shara for now, I definitely want to continue on and see what happens!
August 15, 2024
Well this was certainly an interesting reading experience! If blood play, reverse harem, lots of coitus, and vampires and other monstrous creatures are your thing, then this one is for you!
Shara, the FMC, is a teenager living on her own, never staying in one place too long, spending her days and.nights remaining vigilant. Monsters are out there. And they want her.
Fast forward to discovering that she is the last in line of a powerful vampire lineage descended from Isis herself.
I almost don’t know what to say next. Over the course of 6 books, she comes into her powers, acquires her loyal harem (“ Blood,” as they are called), and basically upends centuries of vampire politics and injustices while enjoying the blood and sexy bodies of her mostly male harem. She also communicates with woodland creatures, like a blood soaked emo Disney Princess. It’s all ridiculous, but in the best and most addicting way possible.
Pure escapism. Total hedonism. Lots of political plotting and a healthy amount of violence. I loved it.
Shara, the FMC, is a teenager living on her own, never staying in one place too long, spending her days and.nights remaining vigilant. Monsters are out there. And they want her.
Fast forward to discovering that she is the last in line of a powerful vampire lineage descended from Isis herself.
I almost don’t know what to say next. Over the course of 6 books, she comes into her powers, acquires her loyal harem (“ Blood,” as they are called), and basically upends centuries of vampire politics and injustices while enjoying the blood and sexy bodies of her mostly male harem. She also communicates with woodland creatures, like a blood soaked emo Disney Princess. It’s all ridiculous, but in the best and most addicting way possible.
Pure escapism. Total hedonism. Lots of political plotting and a healthy amount of violence. I loved it.
October 16, 2021
Ok
Book #1 was a reread but I couldn't pass up a free set when I liked #1.
So this was violent and seriously x rated all over the place but it was also sweet and filled with such differing personalities. I really loved the comraderie between the characters even if it became almost too many characters to keep track of. It was witty and mysterious and I honestly could hardly put it down. The details given to colors and feeling and O. m. G.
The monsters and transformations was so amazing.
However I'm rather happy to end my journey here. The politics are overwhelming annoying to me.
Book #1 was a reread but I couldn't pass up a free set when I liked #1.
So this was violent and seriously x rated all over the place but it was also sweet and filled with such differing personalities. I really loved the comraderie between the characters even if it became almost too many characters to keep track of. It was witty and mysterious and I honestly could hardly put it down. The details given to colors and feeling and O. m. G.
The monsters and transformations was so amazing.
However I'm rather happy to end my journey here. The politics are overwhelming annoying to me.
May 7, 2022
Shara has been on the run her whole life, as both of her parents were killed by monsters. However, she finds out that she's the lost princess of a vampire house, one of the strongest descending from the goddess Isis, and now Shara needs to fulfil her goddess' wishes. She takes on her Blood, man and women who give power to her and protect her, until she can reclaim her rightful place.
This series has a lot of sexy times, and I felt sometimes the story was put aside just to show the hot scenes.
This series has a lot of sexy times, and I felt sometimes the story was put aside just to show the hot scenes.
July 16, 2023
So many dicks
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2020
Overall an amazing set of books. Definitely would recommend them all. So glad my sister Aimee recommended them to me. 💜💜💜
September 20, 2021
I binged through the whole six books in a matter of days, and now I have a book hangover.
Vampires are generally my least preferred fantasy / magical creatures to read about, and I haven't even been able to read Christine Feehan's Carpathian series, but somehow I was okay with this? Even though there's so much blood in it? Like they literally smear blood all over themselves, are dripping blood on clothes, purposefully cut themselves to drip blood on the ground as a sacrifice, etc. They even use blood as lube for anal sex 😵
I think some part of my mind shut off and was watching things unfold as if from a distance, not really processing that it was blood, if you know what I mean. Cos having blood all over the place is so messy and icky. The harem even like to drink Shara's period blood, which is for some reason more powerful than her normal blood. And that's like the ickiest. Even Shara thinks it's icky at first, since she was raised human and believed herself to be human for 22 years.
Apart from the blood thing, the story never gets very gory, and there is some violence, but not gratuitous and menacing, so maybe that's why I was okay with it. I really can't explain it. Shara has to kill sometimes, but it is never without the heavy weight of knowing that she is taking another life. It doesn't bring her pleasure to hurt or kill another, blood or no blood.
A lot of the danger really comes from machinations and plots and manoeuvres, more than from fighting and confrontations. I really admired Burkhart's creativity as the series went on, because I honestly don't know how she came up with some of those scenarios and how she wove all the plot threads together without leaving any holes! And how although Shara keeps running into danger, it never felt repetitive or predictable.
I did feel that the word 'love' was bandied about much too easily. Shara has to call her harem to her -- her 'Blood' because she feeds on them to gain power -- and she has sworn not to take any Blood that she doesn't love. But how can you fall in love within minutes of meeting? Most of her Blood are claimed almost the moment they meet, and she explains this as that something in her resonates when she meets them and she knows that the goddess Isis has sent them to her. But it's hard to believe that she loves them at that point.
The men of course love her, because in many cases she saves them -- whether it is from a long captivity like the dragon Leviathan and her kraken Okeanos, or from a long existence of being used by other queens as a weapon, being wanted only for their skill, like Guillaume and Xin; or from a long lonely life spent searching for purpose, like Rik and Daire. That they fell in love with her really fast I could believe, but that she fell for them was harder to believe. Although you can maybe argue that when she drinks their blood for the first time to create their bond, she gains access to their memories and knows all about them, so maybe that makes it easier to fall in love, knowing the core of the person and seeing their true character.
There's another eww moment when she takes on her mother's former Blood as one of her own. He admits to having had sex with both her mother and her aunt (her mother's sister), and now Shara is having sex with him, too. I was like 😬😳
I'm confused as to what makes a man a king or just Blood. They are both Aima (their particular race) and both seem to be born to queens. I never felt this this was explained clearly. If there are female Blood, this also means that not all females are born to be queens. This is something I really want to know.
Apart from these small issues, though, this series was a very satisfying read. Haven't read anything like it before. It'll be hard to top.
Vampires are generally my least preferred fantasy / magical creatures to read about, and I haven't even been able to read Christine Feehan's Carpathian series, but somehow I was okay with this? Even though there's so much blood in it? Like they literally smear blood all over themselves, are dripping blood on clothes, purposefully cut themselves to drip blood on the ground as a sacrifice, etc. They even use blood as lube for anal sex 😵
I think some part of my mind shut off and was watching things unfold as if from a distance, not really processing that it was blood, if you know what I mean. Cos having blood all over the place is so messy and icky. The harem even like to drink Shara's period blood, which is for some reason more powerful than her normal blood. And that's like the ickiest. Even Shara thinks it's icky at first, since she was raised human and believed herself to be human for 22 years.
Apart from the blood thing, the story never gets very gory, and there is some violence, but not gratuitous and menacing, so maybe that's why I was okay with it. I really can't explain it. Shara has to kill sometimes, but it is never without the heavy weight of knowing that she is taking another life. It doesn't bring her pleasure to hurt or kill another, blood or no blood.
A lot of the danger really comes from machinations and plots and manoeuvres, more than from fighting and confrontations. I really admired Burkhart's creativity as the series went on, because I honestly don't know how she came up with some of those scenarios and how she wove all the plot threads together without leaving any holes! And how although Shara keeps running into danger, it never felt repetitive or predictable.
I did feel that the word 'love' was bandied about much too easily. Shara has to call her harem to her -- her 'Blood' because she feeds on them to gain power -- and she has sworn not to take any Blood that she doesn't love. But how can you fall in love within minutes of meeting? Most of her Blood are claimed almost the moment they meet, and she explains this as that something in her resonates when she meets them and she knows that the goddess Isis has sent them to her. But it's hard to believe that she loves them at that point.
The men of course love her, because in many cases she saves them -- whether it is from a long captivity like the dragon Leviathan and her kraken Okeanos, or from a long existence of being used by other queens as a weapon, being wanted only for their skill, like Guillaume and Xin; or from a long lonely life spent searching for purpose, like Rik and Daire. That they fell in love with her really fast I could believe, but that she fell for them was harder to believe. Although you can maybe argue that when she drinks their blood for the first time to create their bond, she gains access to their memories and knows all about them, so maybe that makes it easier to fall in love, knowing the core of the person and seeing their true character.
There's another eww moment when she takes on her mother's former Blood as one of her own. He admits to having had sex with both her mother and her aunt (her mother's sister), and now Shara is having sex with him, too. I was like 😬😳
I'm confused as to what makes a man a king or just Blood. They are both Aima (their particular race) and both seem to be born to queens. I never felt this this was explained clearly. If there are female Blood, this also means that not all females are born to be queens. This is something I really want to know.
Apart from these small issues, though, this series was a very satisfying read. Haven't read anything like it before. It'll be hard to top.
December 25, 2021
The book is full of insta love, sex (straight, gay, and a little kinky) vampire queens, and creative takes on mythology, mostly Egyptian, but other mythologies are in the mix.
A girl goes from fighting thrall monsters and being on the run to vampire queen heir.
She calls Blood to her, which are men and women who she literally feeds from and feeds her blood to, and they are loyal and immediately in love with her.
Over 6 books, she has to fight off another Vampire queen, an Egyptian God Ra, monster thralls [Blood who have gone mad from losing their queen and drink human blood], free a King dragon who tries to kill her. Break a curse. Protect a child from Ra. Take down the vampire queen court and restart the vampire nation.
My biggest problem was the insta love and thoughts of utter devotion and awe of the main character. It just kept going on over and over through the 6 books. If you took out all the devotions of love and stuff, it would knock this down to a 3 book series instead of 6. It felt like the author wanted to excuse the insta love by creating a foundation for it, but it was weak, and she kept having to reinforce it.
A girl goes from fighting thrall monsters and being on the run to vampire queen heir.
She calls Blood to her, which are men and women who she literally feeds from and feeds her blood to, and they are loyal and immediately in love with her.
Over 6 books, she has to fight off another Vampire queen, an Egyptian God Ra, monster thralls [Blood who have gone mad from losing their queen and drink human blood], free a King dragon who tries to kill her. Break a curse. Protect a child from Ra. Take down the vampire queen court and restart the vampire nation.
My biggest problem was the insta love and thoughts of utter devotion and awe of the main character. It just kept going on over and over through the 6 books. If you took out all the devotions of love and stuff, it would knock this down to a 3 book series instead of 6. It felt like the author wanted to excuse the insta love by creating a foundation for it, but it was weak, and she kept having to reinforce it.
June 28, 2022
The idea of the story is pretty genius. I love the power dynamic of a queen that has all of her blood, but that her blood in turn get power from her so everyone’s just a badas*.
However, though this is a reverse harem and I love a good reverse harem, there were too many blood at the end. I didn’t connect with almost any of the ones at the end and there just wasn’t time for any character development. I also thought it was a little weird that the first two she picks already have a super developed relationship. I almost think I would’ve liked it a little more if their relationship would’ve developed after she chose them as blood.
As far as spice, there is a good amount of spice but it does get a little bit repetitive after so many books. There was one particular scene where one of her blood had to be “dominated” by her alpha to be able to have sex with her and I wasn’t a huge fan of that, but there are a good variety of spicy variations in this book and they are very gender inclusive.
Overall, it’s not a bad series I just think it’s drawn out too long and there’s just a little too many characters that are introduced and thrown in for the sake of the story.
However, though this is a reverse harem and I love a good reverse harem, there were too many blood at the end. I didn’t connect with almost any of the ones at the end and there just wasn’t time for any character development. I also thought it was a little weird that the first two she picks already have a super developed relationship. I almost think I would’ve liked it a little more if their relationship would’ve developed after she chose them as blood.
As far as spice, there is a good amount of spice but it does get a little bit repetitive after so many books. There was one particular scene where one of her blood had to be “dominated” by her alpha to be able to have sex with her and I wasn’t a huge fan of that, but there are a good variety of spicy variations in this book and they are very gender inclusive.
Overall, it’s not a bad series I just think it’s drawn out too long and there’s just a little too many characters that are introduced and thrown in for the sake of the story.
November 16, 2021
Not enough
So this series has a very distinct review line either you loved it or hated it but I fell somewhere in between. I didn’t mind all the sex I mean hello that’s what I’m here for in this genre. And I was down for the weird because well everyone has kinks and I can read about them. The story line was what got me and pace. The story could have been really great and some people said they felt the blood and sex took away from the story but I think it was the character development that made the story fall flat.
We meet our MC and we get these snippets of information to piece together throughout the book but after one chapter of her we meet our males and BAM they are in love. The MC at one point talks about not taking any other “Blood” unless she loves them but she takes them all immediately without any information. We find out things about the guys but not the kind of regular relationship building way. So something about it felt inauthentic.
I really wanted to like it but it just seemed like a very simple story with no depth when it could have been written with a little more meat to give it something extra and bring the story all together. It moved pretty fast so sometimes I was trying to understand what was happening for everything to shift in the next paragraph.
I gave it a 2.5 because I didn’t make it through the entire series because at some point I just stopped caring because I didn’t have that connection with any of the characters. Don’t get me wrong they were hot and some of those smutty scenes were amazing but I just need more to get me through all of the books. Maybe if I finish the series I will up my stars but until then this is where I have to land.
So this series has a very distinct review line either you loved it or hated it but I fell somewhere in between. I didn’t mind all the sex I mean hello that’s what I’m here for in this genre. And I was down for the weird because well everyone has kinks and I can read about them. The story line was what got me and pace. The story could have been really great and some people said they felt the blood and sex took away from the story but I think it was the character development that made the story fall flat.
We meet our MC and we get these snippets of information to piece together throughout the book but after one chapter of her we meet our males and BAM they are in love. The MC at one point talks about not taking any other “Blood” unless she loves them but she takes them all immediately without any information. We find out things about the guys but not the kind of regular relationship building way. So something about it felt inauthentic.
I really wanted to like it but it just seemed like a very simple story with no depth when it could have been written with a little more meat to give it something extra and bring the story all together. It moved pretty fast so sometimes I was trying to understand what was happening for everything to shift in the next paragraph.
I gave it a 2.5 because I didn’t make it through the entire series because at some point I just stopped caring because I didn’t have that connection with any of the characters. Don’t get me wrong they were hot and some of those smutty scenes were amazing but I just need more to get me through all of the books. Maybe if I finish the series I will up my stars but until then this is where I have to land.
January 23, 2022
The complete set
Shara believes she's a human. A human hunted by monsters. Always in the run, never able to rest, her home abandoned, and a love life is definitely out of the question. So, when 2 strangers show up, literally in the nick of time, she's amazed but wary. The explanation as to how they're there seems like a fairy tale. When they explain what she is, it seems like a dark tale. Especially when she spots the blood on one of them. And it seems to call to her.
Spoilers ahead.
I've read the series before. When I saw the bundle for sale, I grabbed it. Shara's story is a fascinating one. A woman raised human who discovers a hidden world where women hold the power. Where sexuality is more than accepted, it's revered. Blood is power. The story leads down several paths of discovery. Shara learns to love, learns her heritage, learns her strengths and how to make her weaknesses a strength. She discovers what she's willing to do for love, not just of those she loves herself, but to ensure others find love as well. Trigger warnings for mention of rape. It doesn't happen to Shara but it is threatened to her, and someone she loves was assaulted. There are a few shaky parts that don't add up, like some timeline issues with Mehen. And how he aquired some of the knowledge he has when he was locked away. And, definitely, insta-love has a role. And some of the guys recover, mentally and physically, rather fast for what some of them have gone through. But, on the whole, it's a solid series and has spun several companion novellas. And recently the author has stated that Shara herself will get some new stories. Which I know fans eagerly await.
Shara believes she's a human. A human hunted by monsters. Always in the run, never able to rest, her home abandoned, and a love life is definitely out of the question. So, when 2 strangers show up, literally in the nick of time, she's amazed but wary. The explanation as to how they're there seems like a fairy tale. When they explain what she is, it seems like a dark tale. Especially when she spots the blood on one of them. And it seems to call to her.
Spoilers ahead.
I've read the series before. When I saw the bundle for sale, I grabbed it. Shara's story is a fascinating one. A woman raised human who discovers a hidden world where women hold the power. Where sexuality is more than accepted, it's revered. Blood is power. The story leads down several paths of discovery. Shara learns to love, learns her heritage, learns her strengths and how to make her weaknesses a strength. She discovers what she's willing to do for love, not just of those she loves herself, but to ensure others find love as well. Trigger warnings for mention of rape. It doesn't happen to Shara but it is threatened to her, and someone she loves was assaulted. There are a few shaky parts that don't add up, like some timeline issues with Mehen. And how he aquired some of the knowledge he has when he was locked away. And, definitely, insta-love has a role. And some of the guys recover, mentally and physically, rather fast for what some of them have gone through. But, on the whole, it's a solid series and has spun several companion novellas. And recently the author has stated that Shara herself will get some new stories. Which I know fans eagerly await.
November 14, 2024
Holy smokes! That’s the best way to start this captivating addictive series. With each new twist and turn ( and there are plenty of them) you are left thinking how crazy wild it truly is. All I can say is Long Live Shara fucking Isador! If you love shifters, vampires and all things involving magic and mythology this is for you. Well as long as you don’t mind romance and lots of spice! This is a reverse harem story so there is plenty of 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This is the story of a girl who was lost and forgotten, left to fend for herself after the deaths of her parents. Constantly on the run from what hunts her in the dark Shara continues to keep pushing on. At least that’s the game plan just keep moving until one fateful night when two mysterious guys show up and turn her world upside down.
Shara Dalton becomes Shara Isador. You see the scared girl get so much more than she ever thought was possible. Love ✅ money✅ power✅ and more importantly a home filled with people that are family.
I wish I knew a better way to say how freaking awesome this book is without spoilers. There is constantly something going on around Shara. Someone is always threatening her, there is political intrigue, mystery. These have so much in them I really think it’s perfect for those that like a wide variety to their stories.
I think y’all get that I really freaking love Shara, now please excuse me while I go find the next book. Just saying, I need more!!!
This is the story of a girl who was lost and forgotten, left to fend for herself after the deaths of her parents. Constantly on the run from what hunts her in the dark Shara continues to keep pushing on. At least that’s the game plan just keep moving until one fateful night when two mysterious guys show up and turn her world upside down.
Shara Dalton becomes Shara Isador. You see the scared girl get so much more than she ever thought was possible. Love ✅ money✅ power✅ and more importantly a home filled with people that are family.
I wish I knew a better way to say how freaking awesome this book is without spoilers. There is constantly something going on around Shara. Someone is always threatening her, there is political intrigue, mystery. These have so much in them I really think it’s perfect for those that like a wide variety to their stories.
I think y’all get that I really freaking love Shara, now please excuse me while I go find the next book. Just saying, I need more!!!
January 27, 2022
I liked the story. She had great ideas and fully developed backstories for each character. The way they came into the story always made sense. It was a story that sparked my creativity-which I really, really appreciate. I felt like each backstory had the capacity for a lot of depth and my brain takes that opportunity and runs with it, so I loved it.
She had a different villain in each story. The story that brought them there was always good. HOWEVER, every "boss fight" was very anti-climatic. Very. I imagine a lot of people hated this. I, personally, have bad anxiety and she never triggered it because the answer was always so simple. LOL. Then in Book 6...it was finally too little for me. Like, the way she won the battle brought little closure and she left a lot of questions. There are more books and I will read them to see if they wrap up more.
Characters: she made very interesting characters. In the end, the FMC had a harem of 12 men and 1 woman. I learned that is too many for me. The sex lost something after guy #6. Not that guys 6-12 weren't interesting, because they were. But there was just too much to keep track of and I felt like the individual relationships got lost because there were too many. I had favorite guys and I wanted her to bang them individually as much as the orgies happened because I wanted to hear all the dirty details about them. Orgies lose details.
She had a different villain in each story. The story that brought them there was always good. HOWEVER, every "boss fight" was very anti-climatic. Very. I imagine a lot of people hated this. I, personally, have bad anxiety and she never triggered it because the answer was always so simple. LOL. Then in Book 6...it was finally too little for me. Like, the way she won the battle brought little closure and she left a lot of questions. There are more books and I will read them to see if they wrap up more.
Characters: she made very interesting characters. In the end, the FMC had a harem of 12 men and 1 woman. I learned that is too many for me. The sex lost something after guy #6. Not that guys 6-12 weren't interesting, because they were. But there was just too much to keep track of and I felt like the individual relationships got lost because there were too many. I had favorite guys and I wanted her to bang them individually as much as the orgies happened because I wanted to hear all the dirty details about them. Orgies lose details.
August 29, 2025
Series Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥.5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Queen Takes Knights
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Queen Takes King
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️.5
Queen Takes Queen
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Queen Takes Rook
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️.5
Queen Takes Checkmate
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Queen Takes Triune
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥.5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Queen Takes Knights
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Queen Takes King
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️.5
Queen Takes Queen
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Queen Takes Rook
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️.5
Queen Takes Checkmate
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Queen Takes Triune
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
January 23, 2021
Extremely well written overall
This series is really above average in writing level. The author writes beautifully and descriptively. I think this is one of the most well written reverse harems I have read. There is a plethora of interesting mythological detail that goes into the plot, as well as, a likeable, kicks-ass heroine. The guys all have interesting, individual personalities, though some got a little short shifted as far as time in the limelight. I found, though, that I cared about their fates, though. My big complaint is that if you don't have an actual blood fetish, the blood descriptions get boring in their quantity and repetitive nature. Additionally, the sex was just constant and bloody when the plot could have REALLY benefited from more time between the main characters outside the bedroom. It's just not sexy in that quantity. It feels like someone is reading the kama sutra over and over, and I have to say that that junk gets old. What I love about this book: the characters, the mythology, the action, the adventure, the overall plot are all abundant and make this an above average read.
This series is really above average in writing level. The author writes beautifully and descriptively. I think this is one of the most well written reverse harems I have read. There is a plethora of interesting mythological detail that goes into the plot, as well as, a likeable, kicks-ass heroine. The guys all have interesting, individual personalities, though some got a little short shifted as far as time in the limelight. I found, though, that I cared about their fates, though. My big complaint is that if you don't have an actual blood fetish, the blood descriptions get boring in their quantity and repetitive nature. Additionally, the sex was just constant and bloody when the plot could have REALLY benefited from more time between the main characters outside the bedroom. It's just not sexy in that quantity. It feels like someone is reading the kama sutra over and over, and I have to say that that junk gets old. What I love about this book: the characters, the mythology, the action, the adventure, the overall plot are all abundant and make this an above average read.
November 29, 2022
Just what I was looking for
I love dark urban magic, and the required erotica makes this series exactly what I love most about the genre. Mythology in a modern style, fully unique to this series, yet it pays a respectful homage to those archetypes too. There is action and comedy. Passion and compassion. Intrigue and repercussions...even a mystery arc with family of origin stuff. I think most people could find something in this series to relate to and enjoy.
Shara has been in survival mode for so long, she doesn't feel what makes life worth the struggle...but she struggles on nonetheless. When Rik & Daire find her, things start to fall into place. Finally. Life opens up and new depths of love and danger both help to fire her into a powerful and ferocious Queen, as destined.
The boxed set is fantastic. This is really Shara's opening number, not the whole thing. I am hooked and I can't wait to read more about her established court. What a wonderful blend of the best and worst of humanity and divinity, a study in the polarity of good versus evil.
Enough waxing on, I am gonna buy the next ones and keep going. Highly recommended for most fantasy/romance readers.
I love dark urban magic, and the required erotica makes this series exactly what I love most about the genre. Mythology in a modern style, fully unique to this series, yet it pays a respectful homage to those archetypes too. There is action and comedy. Passion and compassion. Intrigue and repercussions...even a mystery arc with family of origin stuff. I think most people could find something in this series to relate to and enjoy.
Shara has been in survival mode for so long, she doesn't feel what makes life worth the struggle...but she struggles on nonetheless. When Rik & Daire find her, things start to fall into place. Finally. Life opens up and new depths of love and danger both help to fire her into a powerful and ferocious Queen, as destined.
The boxed set is fantastic. This is really Shara's opening number, not the whole thing. I am hooked and I can't wait to read more about her established court. What a wonderful blend of the best and worst of humanity and divinity, a study in the polarity of good versus evil.
Enough waxing on, I am gonna buy the next ones and keep going. Highly recommended for most fantasy/romance readers.
June 16, 2024
This book starts off with a FMC (Shara) on the run from monsters, she can’t stay in one place for too long. Two men find her as she’s being attacked by monsters, and at the moment her life completely changes. Shara finds love, strength, and most importantly power through these men as her harem changes and grows.
The author put a spin on the typical vampire story we aren’t used to by including ancient religions with Egyptian, Celtic, Mesoamerican, Norse, Roman, and Greek Goddesses and Gods. The world building through each book gets better and better using minute details to change this vastly growing world. The “magic” used in this book is controlled by blood and is written and developed in a way that is not overdone and filled with gore, but intimate and special.
This book is spicy and leaves you gasping for breath, while sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for the next big bomb to drop.
KU download of Box Set 1600 pages includes 6 books
Queen Takes Knights,
Queen Takes King,
Queen Takes Queen,
Queen Takes Rook,
Queen Takes Checkmate
As I finish this box set I have already downloaded the newest book in the series “Queen Takes More”
February 27, 2022
I am wrecked
It has taken me a WEEK to get my thoughts together enough to write a review. I’ve been going through and reading all the RH books I had on my kindle, and I finally made it to House Isador. The only word I can think to use to describe my reading experience is consumed. Completely and utterly consumed. I was reading at every available moment, staying up until almost 3am on the weekend, anything I could to just keep reading. I have never read an RH this big, and for Joely to have weaved 13 main characters, a whole gaggle of important and much-loved supporting characters, and a 6-book overarching plot together into a story this seamless is an absolute feat and triumph. I truly felt connected to each of the Blood, I loved them all, and I felt like the series absolutely would not have been the same if any of them weren’t in it. That is some straight up sorcery. I was even inspired to make my own little playlist for the characters, which I have never done before. Suffice it to say, the book hangover was REAL, and I freaking love this series.
It has taken me a WEEK to get my thoughts together enough to write a review. I’ve been going through and reading all the RH books I had on my kindle, and I finally made it to House Isador. The only word I can think to use to describe my reading experience is consumed. Completely and utterly consumed. I was reading at every available moment, staying up until almost 3am on the weekend, anything I could to just keep reading. I have never read an RH this big, and for Joely to have weaved 13 main characters, a whole gaggle of important and much-loved supporting characters, and a 6-book overarching plot together into a story this seamless is an absolute feat and triumph. I truly felt connected to each of the Blood, I loved them all, and I felt like the series absolutely would not have been the same if any of them weren’t in it. That is some straight up sorcery. I was even inspired to make my own little playlist for the characters, which I have never done before. Suffice it to say, the book hangover was REAL, and I freaking love this series.
August 22, 2023
this was ….a lot
So overall the series was somewhere in the middle. Over six books things just kept shifting? I guess? So much so that it felt like the author didn’t know what kind of series she was writing. It started out with heavy steam and light plot and then somewhere along the way switched and I was not here for that because that wasn’t what I signed up for!!!!! I wanted heavy steam and light plot!! Instead I’m skimming WAY TOO MUCH DETAIL by book 3 and just sighing but I was also invested and couldn’t quit and welp now we’re done.
Also some of this was hella weird, even for me, and I love weird.
And to throw in one last guard at the end???? And there’s somehow more???? There needs to somehow be more ok this SIX BOOK SERIES somehow got so plot heavy the ending felt rushed and I just don’t know. And the author somehow made the lovie scenes so uneven and then fewer and blah.
Obviously I’m gonna read Gwen’s though.
This was wild I don’t even know I just wish it had been more consistent the whole way through.
So overall the series was somewhere in the middle. Over six books things just kept shifting? I guess? So much so that it felt like the author didn’t know what kind of series she was writing. It started out with heavy steam and light plot and then somewhere along the way switched and I was not here for that because that wasn’t what I signed up for!!!!! I wanted heavy steam and light plot!! Instead I’m skimming WAY TOO MUCH DETAIL by book 3 and just sighing but I was also invested and couldn’t quit and welp now we’re done.
Also some of this was hella weird, even for me, and I love weird.
And to throw in one last guard at the end???? And there’s somehow more???? There needs to somehow be more ok this SIX BOOK SERIES somehow got so plot heavy the ending felt rushed and I just don’t know. And the author somehow made the lovie scenes so uneven and then fewer and blah.
Obviously I’m gonna read Gwen’s though.
This was wild I don’t even know I just wish it had been more consistent the whole way through.
May 28, 2025
I started this series looking for some kinky smut to read (preferably dark romance) and the first book drew me in with it's cover. The first book started off pretty bad, (if insta-lust is not your thing please skip this book) and the smut was pretty terrible (I really need more build-up than multiple orgasms seconds apart, and the orgies made no sense.) but the plot had me hooked. This pattern continued in the first five books, reaching a pretty epic conclusion in the fifth one. Then we get the sixth book.. and... the pacing was thrown out the window. I didn't get the point of the sixth book, it was so incredibly dull and the epic (big eyeroll here) "conflict" felt really forced. It gets somewhat more interesting in the final 10% or so, but really, just finish this series after the fifth book because the sixth book seems to deflate like a leaky balloon. Sad to report the author seems to have the intention to milk this series until there's nothing left because there's way too many books to justify and it seems there are many more still planned.
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