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The Vampire Trials #1
The Summoning
Drax. Colt. Finn.
The three vampire bad boys that have been terrorizing the night life of this city since they were old enough to know what a party was. On top of being insanely rich and handsomely supernatural there's one more thing that makes them untouchable- they're next in line to rule this city.
For the last hundred years humans have been at the bottom of the food chain since the rise of supernaturals, and in our city vampires rule the roost.
Divided into three different triads, each section of the city has a vampire governor who is fit to do as he pleases.
Drax, Colt, and Finn are next in line for those thrones.
To keep their subjects in line every five years they do a purge where every adult man is fair game for any vampire to feed on for twentyfour hours. To determine which traids need to partake in the purge and which one will be exempt, three people from each triad are summoned to participate in a sick and twisted game to survive. The winner gets to guarantee safety for their community.
The losers die.
For years I had kept my head down, followed every triad law, and focused on keeping my mother alive. But an announcement that women will now be included in the summoning turns my world upside down.
The first person to be summoned from triad three is me.
I came into this prepared to fight for my life, but what I didn't expect to fight was the city's supernatural playboys' sick attraction to me.
In the Vampire Trials only one thing matters to me- getting home to my mom. And when I say I'd do anything to get there, I mean it.
The three vampire bad boys that have been terrorizing the night life of this city since they were old enough to know what a party was. On top of being insanely rich and handsomely supernatural there's one more thing that makes them untouchable- they're next in line to rule this city.
For the last hundred years humans have been at the bottom of the food chain since the rise of supernaturals, and in our city vampires rule the roost.
Divided into three different triads, each section of the city has a vampire governor who is fit to do as he pleases.
Drax, Colt, and Finn are next in line for those thrones.
To keep their subjects in line every five years they do a purge where every adult man is fair game for any vampire to feed on for twentyfour hours. To determine which traids need to partake in the purge and which one will be exempt, three people from each triad are summoned to participate in a sick and twisted game to survive. The winner gets to guarantee safety for their community.
The losers die.
For years I had kept my head down, followed every triad law, and focused on keeping my mother alive. But an announcement that women will now be included in the summoning turns my world upside down.
The first person to be summoned from triad three is me.
I came into this prepared to fight for my life, but what I didn't expect to fight was the city's supernatural playboys' sick attraction to me.
In the Vampire Trials only one thing matters to me- getting home to my mom. And when I say I'd do anything to get there, I mean it.
Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2020
673 people are currently reading
1670 people want to read
About the author
Storm Song
39 books600 followersStorm Song is a romance author of color who thinks smut can change the world too. She believes everyone deserves to see themselves as the hero of the story, especially if the story has a little spice.
When she isn’t writing she can be found playing video games, smoking the devil’s lettuce, and otherwise causing mayhem wherever she goes.
Wanna learn more? Head to her website www.stormsongbooks.com or catch up with her on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook @authorstormsong.
When she isn’t writing she can be found playing video games, smoking the devil’s lettuce, and otherwise causing mayhem wherever she goes.
Wanna learn more? Head to her website www.stormsongbooks.com or catch up with her on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook @authorstormsong.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
June 30, 2020
2.5 Stars
I am really disappointed. The blurb sounds freakin' awesome but sadly, the book wasn't up to my expectations. It had potential, but it didn't reach it.
So basically, supernaturals are finally out and everyone knows of their existence. Our FMC Scarlett Johnson lives in a city overrun by vampires. Humans are at the bottom of the food chain and no one would dare step outside their homes in the evening out of fear. Her entire city is divided into three, and each has a seperate governor. Every five years, a handful of humans are chosen and pitted against each other and the winner saves their triad from something akin to a 'purge' while all men in the other two are free game for all vampires. This year for the first time, a shocking announcement is made saying that females will also be chosen to contest and will also be free food for vampires if they don't belong to the winning triad and Scarlett as the first and only woman chosen this time, must use every weapon at her disposal from her curves to her guns if she wants a chance of surviving.
So that was the idea of the book but after this the execution was poor. It may be due to the page count or it may be due to the tropes I didn't like but this book was overall a disappointment. So let's talk about both of them.
1. Page count
So it is understandable that such a short book would not have much depth but everything sped past in a snap here. Like I started reading and fifteen minutes later all the guys are in love with her and I'm like "What??!"
For example, 32%: "Actually, I'd like to stay. I've never met a girl before who wasn't very obviously throwing herself at me. You truly want nothing from me, and nothing to do with me. You're like a Unicorn. A mythical creature."
Nice dialogue, bro, but this is too soon. Like they have been together in the same room for five minutes and Scarlett's mind was on something else and this guy started spouting this shit from literally nowhere. Like for all he knows of her, she could be a lesbian. So yeah, too soon.
There was no real depth, no complexity, no world building, no nothing.
2. Trope: Special Snowflake.
So if you're a fan of this trope, no problem. You can dive right in to the book. But I am not a fan. Like people were fawning over her saying "What makes you special?" "You're an enigma," "I've met no one like you," and shit like that which got on my nerves because there wasn't anything that remarkable about her. Like if a MMC tells the FMC why he loves her and not someone else in the third book after they've been through tons of trying times, I'll be a pile of goo but guys musing out loud about how special she is the moment they meet her is a firm no-no.
Examples: 41%- "Honestly, though, your mind is like an enigma. Most minds are a mess, thoughts laying all over the place like trash. I usually can't tell up from down in people's heads, but that pretty little head of yours is different. It's like a maze where the walls are really bookcases. All your thoughts are labelled neatly in a row, but I can't seem to find my way through. It's incredible, really."
Seriously? We weren't shown anything like that. I rolled my eyes so hard I could almost see my brain. This trope is seriously one of the most irritating. Stupid special snowflakes.
46%-. "You single handedly found a way to fuck up a lifetime of work and even more possibilities for them and me. For what? Why you? What makes you so special?"
If the author expected me to muse along with the boys and widen my eyes at the wonder of a FMC, she was wrong. THERE IS NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT HER. YOU'RE JUST IDIOTS HAVING STUPID CRUSHES. GET OVER IT.
These guys were actually so stupid that minutes within them meeting her, all of them spilled their sob stories that didn't even make me sad, it was just plain stupid. Apparently their dads abused them as kids. Like hitting them and stuff. So what? What are you trying to convey? The situation for which they spilled it for didn't make sense either. Like it wasn't like someone was scared and having a panic attack and Scarlett was trying to calm them or something. They're just like "Hey, my father is an asshole who hit me as a child. So I don't like him and that is why I became like this. I'm a badboy. I'm telling you this because you're different and I know I can trust you. You're so special," and that's it! And the heroine is even more stupid and feels damn bad for them. Totally need more pages if it wants me to actually feel something. And they don't even act like bad boys! One of them blushes after she kisses him and that was plain wrong. What kind of a playboy blushes after a kiss? You're not even a playboy then. But if this is the first time you blushed after a kiss, that only cements the trope of the FMC being a special snowflake because only she can cause that reaction. So stupid.
So yeah, I didn't like this book. If you ask me, I would tell you to go back to your TBR pile instead of starting this one.
I am really disappointed. The blurb sounds freakin' awesome but sadly, the book wasn't up to my expectations. It had potential, but it didn't reach it.
So basically, supernaturals are finally out and everyone knows of their existence. Our FMC Scarlett Johnson lives in a city overrun by vampires. Humans are at the bottom of the food chain and no one would dare step outside their homes in the evening out of fear. Her entire city is divided into three, and each has a seperate governor. Every five years, a handful of humans are chosen and pitted against each other and the winner saves their triad from something akin to a 'purge' while all men in the other two are free game for all vampires. This year for the first time, a shocking announcement is made saying that females will also be chosen to contest and will also be free food for vampires if they don't belong to the winning triad and Scarlett as the first and only woman chosen this time, must use every weapon at her disposal from her curves to her guns if she wants a chance of surviving.
So that was the idea of the book but after this the execution was poor. It may be due to the page count or it may be due to the tropes I didn't like but this book was overall a disappointment. So let's talk about both of them.
1. Page count
So it is understandable that such a short book would not have much depth but everything sped past in a snap here. Like I started reading and fifteen minutes later all the guys are in love with her and I'm like "What??!"
For example, 32%: "Actually, I'd like to stay. I've never met a girl before who wasn't very obviously throwing herself at me. You truly want nothing from me, and nothing to do with me. You're like a Unicorn. A mythical creature."
Nice dialogue, bro, but this is too soon. Like they have been together in the same room for five minutes and Scarlett's mind was on something else and this guy started spouting this shit from literally nowhere. Like for all he knows of her, she could be a lesbian. So yeah, too soon.
There was no real depth, no complexity, no world building, no nothing.
2. Trope: Special Snowflake.
So if you're a fan of this trope, no problem. You can dive right in to the book. But I am not a fan. Like people were fawning over her saying "What makes you special?" "You're an enigma," "I've met no one like you," and shit like that which got on my nerves because there wasn't anything that remarkable about her. Like if a MMC tells the FMC why he loves her and not someone else in the third book after they've been through tons of trying times, I'll be a pile of goo but guys musing out loud about how special she is the moment they meet her is a firm no-no.
Examples: 41%- "Honestly, though, your mind is like an enigma. Most minds are a mess, thoughts laying all over the place like trash. I usually can't tell up from down in people's heads, but that pretty little head of yours is different. It's like a maze where the walls are really bookcases. All your thoughts are labelled neatly in a row, but I can't seem to find my way through. It's incredible, really."
Seriously? We weren't shown anything like that. I rolled my eyes so hard I could almost see my brain. This trope is seriously one of the most irritating. Stupid special snowflakes.
46%-. "You single handedly found a way to fuck up a lifetime of work and even more possibilities for them and me. For what? Why you? What makes you so special?"
If the author expected me to muse along with the boys and widen my eyes at the wonder of a FMC, she was wrong. THERE IS NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT HER. YOU'RE JUST IDIOTS HAVING STUPID CRUSHES. GET OVER IT.
These guys were actually so stupid that minutes within them meeting her, all of them spilled their sob stories that didn't even make me sad, it was just plain stupid. Apparently their dads abused them as kids. Like hitting them and stuff. So what? What are you trying to convey? The situation for which they spilled it for didn't make sense either. Like it wasn't like someone was scared and having a panic attack and Scarlett was trying to calm them or something. They're just like "Hey, my father is an asshole who hit me as a child. So I don't like him and that is why I became like this. I'm a badboy. I'm telling you this because you're different and I know I can trust you. You're so special," and that's it! And the heroine is even more stupid and feels damn bad for them. Totally need more pages if it wants me to actually feel something. And they don't even act like bad boys! One of them blushes after she kisses him and that was plain wrong. What kind of a playboy blushes after a kiss? You're not even a playboy then. But if this is the first time you blushed after a kiss, that only cements the trope of the FMC being a special snowflake because only she can cause that reaction. So stupid.
So yeah, I didn't like this book. If you ask me, I would tell you to go back to your TBR pile instead of starting this one.
June 15, 2020
I can't believe how quickly I read this and book 2.
Vampire Trials: The Summoning definitely gave me some hunger game vibes. Yet, instead of the rich being in control.. it's the vampires. The whole supernatural part of this was what made it completely interesting. Plus, it didn't hurt that some of the vampires in power weren't for the trials one bit. Things definitely picked up when one female is picked this year and of course.. shit hits the fan.
No one really knows when or why things happened the way they did. They just knew that rules were being changed right then and there in order to make it happen. For example, the trials were for men only and then somehow women are allowed in it and Scarlett is the lucky volunteer? Things were fishy from the very beginning and it just seemed like the vamps in power were getting greedy.
Along the way she runs into Finn, Colt, and Drax. I instantly knew this was her little harem and I was very excited for it all. The four of them, plus Max, were all about getting rid the trials. She was their mockingjay in a way and it didn't hurt that there was so much sexual tension between them all.
Again, I loved it all. The only thing I would change is if it could become a lot longer. Ugh, I wanted so much more and it was cut off way too early.
Vampire Trials: The Summoning definitely gave me some hunger game vibes. Yet, instead of the rich being in control.. it's the vampires. The whole supernatural part of this was what made it completely interesting. Plus, it didn't hurt that some of the vampires in power weren't for the trials one bit. Things definitely picked up when one female is picked this year and of course.. shit hits the fan.
No one really knows when or why things happened the way they did. They just knew that rules were being changed right then and there in order to make it happen. For example, the trials were for men only and then somehow women are allowed in it and Scarlett is the lucky volunteer? Things were fishy from the very beginning and it just seemed like the vamps in power were getting greedy.
Along the way she runs into Finn, Colt, and Drax. I instantly knew this was her little harem and I was very excited for it all. The four of them, plus Max, were all about getting rid the trials. She was their mockingjay in a way and it didn't hurt that there was so much sexual tension between them all.
Again, I loved it all. The only thing I would change is if it could become a lot longer. Ugh, I wanted so much more and it was cut off way too early.
June 9, 2020
Scarlett lives in a dystopian future where supernaturals have risen to power, vampire triads rule and gangbangers rove in gangs across New York City.
To keep the bottom feeders (humans) in line, every five years the vamps allow any adult man to be fed on for 24 hours in a type of purge, if you will. The Vampire Trials exist to determine which triads will participate and which will be exempt. Only one survives the Trials, and that triad is then exempt from the 24 hours of carnage to come.
But with the announcement that women are fair game in the Trials now, Scarlett has more to fear than simply her daily life. Especially when her name is the first and only female name called.
Realizing this is literally a fight to the death, Scarlett decides to use her feminine wiles to help her survive as the only female contestant. She’ll use her curves to distract, then move in for the kill! To get the guy contestants to underestimate her, however, Scarlett will need to play the role of the ditzy, brainless blonde without training. Nothing more than a “pretty face swimming in a pool of testosterone.”
The vampire sons of the three triads are also present, and while purely vampire, they’re hot and drawn to Scarlett. Will her plan work well enough to fool the vamp guys, too?
So this had a really strong beginning, but felt it fell short immediately after. I love the idea of trials a la Hunger Games, but we really didn’t get to see any of that here.
The vampire sons are super hot, but again, there is no backstory to them at all. They’re there, they’re gorgeous, and they like sex.
I think this book could have been so much better if it had been twice as long. We needed a whole lot more exposition - world building and character development. We also needed more rising action. Seems like everything happened so quickly, with no explanation, that the pace didn’t even make much sense. Too superficial for me, unfortunately.
Sigh.
To keep the bottom feeders (humans) in line, every five years the vamps allow any adult man to be fed on for 24 hours in a type of purge, if you will. The Vampire Trials exist to determine which triads will participate and which will be exempt. Only one survives the Trials, and that triad is then exempt from the 24 hours of carnage to come.
But with the announcement that women are fair game in the Trials now, Scarlett has more to fear than simply her daily life. Especially when her name is the first and only female name called.
Realizing this is literally a fight to the death, Scarlett decides to use her feminine wiles to help her survive as the only female contestant. She’ll use her curves to distract, then move in for the kill! To get the guy contestants to underestimate her, however, Scarlett will need to play the role of the ditzy, brainless blonde without training. Nothing more than a “pretty face swimming in a pool of testosterone.”
The vampire sons of the three triads are also present, and while purely vampire, they’re hot and drawn to Scarlett. Will her plan work well enough to fool the vamp guys, too?
So this had a really strong beginning, but felt it fell short immediately after. I love the idea of trials a la Hunger Games, but we really didn’t get to see any of that here.
The vampire sons are super hot, but again, there is no backstory to them at all. They’re there, they’re gorgeous, and they like sex.
I think this book could have been so much better if it had been twice as long. We needed a whole lot more exposition - world building and character development. We also needed more rising action. Seems like everything happened so quickly, with no explanation, that the pace didn’t even make much sense. Too superficial for me, unfortunately.
Sigh.
February 21, 2021
I knew this was going to be bad but oh dear...
This book is essentially The Hunger Games with vampires. But they don't actually... act like vampires. It seriously seemed like the author created a handful of characters and played Hunger Games with them. Minus the killing and actual drama.
The core issue in this book was the characters and their respected relationships. It felt like I was reading a water-downed version of the story. The writing, the characters, the plot, everything was incredibly disjointed. The characters felt less than cookie-cutter. There was no cookie... only cutter.
Scarlett Johnson gains the attraction of four different guys all in the course of 150 pages and has sex with each of them within that time. And ya know... Hunger Games. What really irked me was their sudden "connection". Scarlett had ONE interaction per love interest and professed her "deep bond" with them. She even goes on to call it a "shared trauma bond". No sweetie, it is just a lust bond.
And those sex scenes I mentioned? They were some of the most poorly written scenes I've ever read. Incredibly disjointed and just- awkward. Especially more awkward when the author claims her books are "steamy & sexy". I will say- this is her debut novel so I'm sure that will improve in time.
Anyways... This was part 1 of torturing myself so my friends on Twitter don't have to!! Tune back in tomorrow for part 2! Yippee. (And I won't lie... I am curious...)
This book is essentially The Hunger Games with vampires. But they don't actually... act like vampires. It seriously seemed like the author created a handful of characters and played Hunger Games with them. Minus the killing and actual drama.
The core issue in this book was the characters and their respected relationships. It felt like I was reading a water-downed version of the story. The writing, the characters, the plot, everything was incredibly disjointed. The characters felt less than cookie-cutter. There was no cookie... only cutter.
Scarlett Johnson gains the attraction of four different guys all in the course of 150 pages and has sex with each of them within that time. And ya know... Hunger Games. What really irked me was their sudden "connection". Scarlett had ONE interaction per love interest and professed her "deep bond" with them. She even goes on to call it a "shared trauma bond". No sweetie, it is just a lust bond.
And those sex scenes I mentioned? They were some of the most poorly written scenes I've ever read. Incredibly disjointed and just- awkward. Especially more awkward when the author claims her books are "steamy & sexy". I will say- this is her debut novel so I'm sure that will improve in time.
Anyways... This was part 1 of torturing myself so my friends on Twitter don't have to!! Tune back in tomorrow for part 2! Yippee. (And I won't lie... I am curious...)
November 4, 2020
I read this book as part of the What The Smut 2020 Winter Book Club.
I really like the premise of this novel. Seeing a world handling such a fundamental change (the revelation that a supernatural world exists) and how the oppressed can come to revolt is a really powerful idea.
Unfortunately, the writing seems two-dimensional. I felt I was reading cliff notes. None of the characters, situations, or backdrop sparks any imagery in my mind.
If I hadn't been reading this for a book club I never would have gotten through the entire thing.
I really like the premise of this novel. Seeing a world handling such a fundamental change (the revelation that a supernatural world exists) and how the oppressed can come to revolt is a really powerful idea.
Unfortunately, the writing seems two-dimensional. I felt I was reading cliff notes. None of the characters, situations, or backdrop sparks any imagery in my mind.
If I hadn't been reading this for a book club I never would have gotten through the entire thing.
June 9, 2020
This was like a retelling of the Hunger Games with vampires and supernaturals thrown in. The heroine lives in one of the poorest districts and because of a five year grudge she’s thrown into the Summoning. Where you guessed it, a bunch of humans from various districts fight to the death. They represent their districts and have to not only fight and kill one another they have to survive the course (the outskirts) as well. Nothing is off the table and Scarlett has to decide if she wants to fight to live and get back to her mother or give up entirely and face death early on. From the moment her name is announced as a contestant her life is on fast forward. She has no allies and as the only woman in the game that alone puts her in a very precarious and dangerous situation. Of course she never saw a rebellion happening or for the heirs and sons to the Powers that be take the side of mankind. I really liked the heroine. Sure she was scared to shit but when she put her sarcastic mind to something she went all in. There was a big old cliffhanger at the end and I’m most worried the Governers are going to take out their revenge on her mother and she won’t see her again. That’ll only cement Scarlett’s place as the rebellions figurehead but everything she’s done has been for her mother so I can’t imagine what damage she’ll unleash if they do harm her. I didn’t love or hate the guys, Max was actually my favorite. I almost lost it when he ‘died.’ Still hate that he kept her in the dark but he won me over in the end. Looking forward to see where the series goes beyond the trials..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2021
1.5 ? review to come, i need a break from thinking about this book
October 1, 2020
Really great. A lot of spelling mistakes though.
April 17, 2021
If I could give this book zero stars, you'd bet your ass I'd do it.
**Light Review of the Plot, nothing too spoilery**
I've never in my life encountered a book that had absolutely nothing - and I'm dead fucking serious - redeemable about it. This book has managed it.
Something in me wanted to leave the one star rating and throw this on the trash heap where it belongs, but I've been irritated enough into explaining my many, many grievances.
I bought this book on kindle because I encountered the author randomly on Instagram, and she claimed to make six figures writing vampire romance novels. I was interested, because it's damn hard to make six figures - consistently - as a writer. I like the vampire genre, and I was surprised to have never heard of her series, which, naturally, should be quite popular if she's banking a six figure salary off her work. I'm now willing to bet that this claim was a load of bollocks.
That sounds harsh. Let me explain - I absolutely refuse to believe that this book has been through an actual publishing process. I refuse to believe that this was edited, and proofread, and had real human beta readers. I R E F U S E to believe that professionals working in this industry said, yup, that's good to go my guy. If anything, this felt like I was reading the misshapen corpse of someone's discarded first draft.
I'll give an example off the top of my head. In one of the first chapters, Scarlet apparently has snow white hair. This struck me as odd, because the girl on the front cover (of my kindle version) has dark hair. Okay, no problem, I'll breeze past that. Only, how could I? Because almost every single page of this book drips with she's so PRETTY. She's so BEAUTIFUL. But... I got to the end of the book and hadn't even received one full description of Scarlet, who, to be super special and super unique, demands to be called Scar on one page, because apparently that's badass and not super fucking cringe, but this nickname is never mentioned ever again. I had no actual awareness of Scarlet, there was no sense of self, no palpable essence, no soul.
I'll give you another example. One of the super hot and super interchangeable vampire boys, this one called Drax, sniffs a drug called Ice upon the very first meeting with Scarlet. Where she, predictably, slams into him in a hallway and topples to the floor. Like, he sniffs it right then and there. Three quarters of the way through the book, and Drax is going through withdrawals, and Scarlet is shocked that he'd ever take something like Ice.
It's as if this author slammed out a first draft, didn't bother to do a re-read, didn't bother to edit, and posted it online ready to be paid for.
And the plot... My god. My good, fucking god. Let me ramble in the actual style of the writing (Scarlet is good at that, as she points out every four chapters) so you can see where my fury has come from.
So there's like... Vampires, right? And they rule America. Dunno about the world, it's not mentioned. Except when one of the super hot vampire boys is said to have an English accent, but this is never mentioned again, so shut up. Anyway, there's these trials. They might happen every five years, of they might happen every year, I don't know. They're like... Barbaric, no examples of this are given to build any depth, so shut up. And like, Scarlet, okay. She's like... Super badass. Except, she's really unfit and can't run anywhere, but like, she can totally shoot a gun halfway through the book, this is never mentioned before either. And like, there's vampire boys. There's three of them. No description of them is given, so like, we don't know what they look like, we just know that they're hot. One is sweet, one is a drug addict which means he's fun, the other one is like, scary and HATES Scarlet, but jumps in front of a bullet for her. Shut up, I know it doesn't make sense, just go with it. Anyway, without any sort of prompting or effort or events, everyone in the whole entire country starts to oppose the trials because Scarlet is in them. Like, for no other reason. It's because she's in them, and that's it. And like, she's super relatable and really funny because she mentions the word vagina in a national broadcast while trying to rally the nation to her cause to stop the trials. Also, there's witches and werewolves, but like, we mention them in the last thirty pages when apparently witches are helping make the trials more dangerous. Did I mention, there's also a wall around the whole of New York? Yeah, we won't introduce that fact until the last 50 pages either, but that's no problem. Also like, Scarlet isn't a slut, and doesn't know anything about sex, and she's not got time for boys or make-up in the first 150 pages, but like, she sleeps with four boys in one day and that's super normal and not weird at all.
I kept reading this book because I was like huh, okay, maybe the sex is going to be good. That's what this is all geared towards, right? Wrong. The sex is bad, so bad.
Listen, I sound deranged. I don't want to be so angry about this. And hey, give it a go to see for yourself. I really did think the concept had potential, and I assumed there must have been something okay about them for the author to have that cracking salary.
Honestly though, just drop me a message and I'll be happy to provide you with better written fanfiction on wattpad. Goddamn.
**Light Review of the Plot, nothing too spoilery**
I've never in my life encountered a book that had absolutely nothing - and I'm dead fucking serious - redeemable about it. This book has managed it.
Something in me wanted to leave the one star rating and throw this on the trash heap where it belongs, but I've been irritated enough into explaining my many, many grievances.
I bought this book on kindle because I encountered the author randomly on Instagram, and she claimed to make six figures writing vampire romance novels. I was interested, because it's damn hard to make six figures - consistently - as a writer. I like the vampire genre, and I was surprised to have never heard of her series, which, naturally, should be quite popular if she's banking a six figure salary off her work. I'm now willing to bet that this claim was a load of bollocks.
That sounds harsh. Let me explain - I absolutely refuse to believe that this book has been through an actual publishing process. I refuse to believe that this was edited, and proofread, and had real human beta readers. I R E F U S E to believe that professionals working in this industry said, yup, that's good to go my guy. If anything, this felt like I was reading the misshapen corpse of someone's discarded first draft.
I'll give an example off the top of my head. In one of the first chapters, Scarlet apparently has snow white hair. This struck me as odd, because the girl on the front cover (of my kindle version) has dark hair. Okay, no problem, I'll breeze past that. Only, how could I? Because almost every single page of this book drips with she's so PRETTY. She's so BEAUTIFUL. But... I got to the end of the book and hadn't even received one full description of Scarlet, who, to be super special and super unique, demands to be called Scar on one page, because apparently that's badass and not super fucking cringe, but this nickname is never mentioned ever again. I had no actual awareness of Scarlet, there was no sense of self, no palpable essence, no soul.
I'll give you another example. One of the super hot and super interchangeable vampire boys, this one called Drax, sniffs a drug called Ice upon the very first meeting with Scarlet. Where she, predictably, slams into him in a hallway and topples to the floor. Like, he sniffs it right then and there. Three quarters of the way through the book, and Drax is going through withdrawals, and Scarlet is shocked that he'd ever take something like Ice.
It's as if this author slammed out a first draft, didn't bother to do a re-read, didn't bother to edit, and posted it online ready to be paid for.
And the plot... My god. My good, fucking god. Let me ramble in the actual style of the writing (Scarlet is good at that, as she points out every four chapters) so you can see where my fury has come from.
So there's like... Vampires, right? And they rule America. Dunno about the world, it's not mentioned. Except when one of the super hot vampire boys is said to have an English accent, but this is never mentioned again, so shut up. Anyway, there's these trials. They might happen every five years, of they might happen every year, I don't know. They're like... Barbaric, no examples of this are given to build any depth, so shut up. And like, Scarlet, okay. She's like... Super badass. Except, she's really unfit and can't run anywhere, but like, she can totally shoot a gun halfway through the book, this is never mentioned before either. And like, there's vampire boys. There's three of them. No description of them is given, so like, we don't know what they look like, we just know that they're hot. One is sweet, one is a drug addict which means he's fun, the other one is like, scary and HATES Scarlet, but jumps in front of a bullet for her. Shut up, I know it doesn't make sense, just go with it. Anyway, without any sort of prompting or effort or events, everyone in the whole entire country starts to oppose the trials because Scarlet is in them. Like, for no other reason. It's because she's in them, and that's it. And like, she's super relatable and really funny because she mentions the word vagina in a national broadcast while trying to rally the nation to her cause to stop the trials. Also, there's witches and werewolves, but like, we mention them in the last thirty pages when apparently witches are helping make the trials more dangerous. Did I mention, there's also a wall around the whole of New York? Yeah, we won't introduce that fact until the last 50 pages either, but that's no problem. Also like, Scarlet isn't a slut, and doesn't know anything about sex, and she's not got time for boys or make-up in the first 150 pages, but like, she sleeps with four boys in one day and that's super normal and not weird at all.
I kept reading this book because I was like huh, okay, maybe the sex is going to be good. That's what this is all geared towards, right? Wrong. The sex is bad, so bad.
Listen, I sound deranged. I don't want to be so angry about this. And hey, give it a go to see for yourself. I really did think the concept had potential, and I assumed there must have been something okay about them for the author to have that cracking salary.
Honestly though, just drop me a message and I'll be happy to provide you with better written fanfiction on wattpad. Goddamn.
June 10, 2020
Well the idea is good but I feel the story was rushed. The whole book could have been beefed up more to make us really fall in love with it. The trails were okay but I would have liked to get my head around them more. Love Max, and his twist was good. I feel that it's a little close to hunger games and some more differences needs to be added. I feel that her mum wont get to see the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2020
3.5 Stars / 2 Steam Fans
If you like Hunger Games and supernatural beings, then you will enjoy the start of this series. I also enjoyed that the reverse harem (polyamorous) was enjoyable. Scarlett does not have a magical pussy or an unexplained draw for Drax, Colt, Finn, and Max. They all had their own attractions. The one thing that did get overused was their clothes just fell off. I am interested in learning more about this world.
Video review available in Week 44: Oct 25 – Oct 31 weekly book reviews.
For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
If you like Hunger Games and supernatural beings, then you will enjoy the start of this series. I also enjoyed that the reverse harem (polyamorous) was enjoyable. Scarlett does not have a magical pussy or an unexplained draw for Drax, Colt, Finn, and Max. They all had their own attractions. The one thing that did get overused was their clothes just fell off. I am interested in learning more about this world.
Video review available in Week 44: Oct 25 – Oct 31 weekly book reviews.
For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
December 22, 2020
This book had a lot of potential. The blurb pulled me in but the actual book itself didn't do its job. The writing felt immature and the story felt rushed. It's like a clash of the story of Hunger Games with the "sexy vampire" push from the Vampire Diaries. I found it incredibly strange how she kept kissing the brothers and how quickly her concerns about her mother's safety disappeared. Overall there is a big chance that this book could be fantastic but it just did not happen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2020
To start, the whole premise of the book really made me interested immediately! I've been in a book slump because there are so many similar RH books out there and I've really been looking for something different. I received this as an ARC for an honest review...and I will have to say that I ALMOST gave it five stars.
The Vampire Trials takes place in a dystopian-esque world where NY is separated into 3 triads. Each triad is ruled over by a Governor, but not just any Governor...a vampire Governor. In order to appease the vampire population, these Governors host a trial game of sorts every five years that has a very Hunger Games feel to it. Three participants from each triad are pitted against each other until only one is left standing. In previous trials, only men were chosen to participate. This year, things have changed and women could be chosen as well by "random" drawing.
Here is where things get interesting. Whichever participant wins, also makes sure that their triad is saved from the next part of this trial. The two losing triads are then open for 24 hours for vampires to kill anyone they come across. This had all of The Purge feels for me! So all of the participants not only have their own lives to fight for, but they are fighting for all of their family, friends, and citizens in the triads they live in.
Oh...I almost forgot to mention that the best part of this were the Governors sons...Finn, Colt, and Drax!! They seem so yummy, and I like how they were all so different, but I am for sure team Colt. That bathtub scene was everything I needed in this book that I didn't know I needed. I won't add more about the boys for fear of giving away what makes them so unique, but I will say that they are not the only possible love interests for our lovely heroine!
Scarlett, was just the perfect heroine for me! She is was very real and showed a range of emotions, especially in the beginning of the story. Too many heroines in books nowadays are either too hard or too weak, but I felt that she was the heroine I've been waiting to read about.
The whole premise of this book was amazing, the world was very intriguing and I felt that the author did a great job at introducing everything in the first few chapters, and the characters were just what I was looking for. The first few chapters were fantastic...we got an amazingly detailed idea of what was going on and the first meetings with the boys were perfect. Then it felt like everything started to speed up. I'm not as crazy about insta-love, and wish the author would have used the trial to build the relationships before things got steamy. The action scenes when the trials first began also felt rushed. So truthfully, I just wish the author would have stretched things out and continued building on the relationships and descriptions of what was going on during the trials. This could have easily been made into 2-3 books. With that begin said, I would easily read this again! I'm very excited about the second book and where this can go from here...plus how do the boys deal with sharing?!
The Vampire Trials takes place in a dystopian-esque world where NY is separated into 3 triads. Each triad is ruled over by a Governor, but not just any Governor...a vampire Governor. In order to appease the vampire population, these Governors host a trial game of sorts every five years that has a very Hunger Games feel to it. Three participants from each triad are pitted against each other until only one is left standing. In previous trials, only men were chosen to participate. This year, things have changed and women could be chosen as well by "random" drawing.
Here is where things get interesting. Whichever participant wins, also makes sure that their triad is saved from the next part of this trial. The two losing triads are then open for 24 hours for vampires to kill anyone they come across. This had all of The Purge feels for me! So all of the participants not only have their own lives to fight for, but they are fighting for all of their family, friends, and citizens in the triads they live in.
Oh...I almost forgot to mention that the best part of this were the Governors sons...Finn, Colt, and Drax!! They seem so yummy, and I like how they were all so different, but I am for sure team Colt. That bathtub scene was everything I needed in this book that I didn't know I needed. I won't add more about the boys for fear of giving away what makes them so unique, but I will say that they are not the only possible love interests for our lovely heroine!
Scarlett, was just the perfect heroine for me! She is was very real and showed a range of emotions, especially in the beginning of the story. Too many heroines in books nowadays are either too hard or too weak, but I felt that she was the heroine I've been waiting to read about.
The whole premise of this book was amazing, the world was very intriguing and I felt that the author did a great job at introducing everything in the first few chapters, and the characters were just what I was looking for. The first few chapters were fantastic...we got an amazingly detailed idea of what was going on and the first meetings with the boys were perfect. Then it felt like everything started to speed up. I'm not as crazy about insta-love, and wish the author would have used the trial to build the relationships before things got steamy. The action scenes when the trials first began also felt rushed. So truthfully, I just wish the author would have stretched things out and continued building on the relationships and descriptions of what was going on during the trials. This could have easily been made into 2-3 books. With that begin said, I would easily read this again! I'm very excited about the second book and where this can go from here...plus how do the boys deal with sharing?!
April 21, 2020
Buffy the vampire slayer meets Hunger games!
Set in a future where mystic & paranormal creatures have come out. They have taken over New York City & developed “the trials” a game to the death where the winners triad is sparred from the purge. A 24 hour period where vampires can kill any adult male.
This year they’ve made some changes & women are being included. Scarlet, our heroine is the first woman picked for the trials. She has to fight her way back home, back to her sick mother.
I enjoyed this book however some parts felt very rushed. I feel the story could have been split into 2 & extended. We could have got a deeper back story for everyone & not had the instalove we get with scarlet & her supernatural love interests.
June 18, 2020
3.5 rounded up
This is hunger games with vampires, adult themes and far too much/fast action. Everything is crammed together and the plot lurches forward at a break neck speed. It’s not bad, by any means, in fact, it’s quite interesting - but it’s too quick.
The relationships, all four of them, develop with no build, the secrets are revealed with little pomp and the methods are thrust into the spotlight with no flair. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good idea, it just should have been stretched out a bit more for details sake and character connection.
At this point, I feel nothing for any of them. I was told a story, but I didn’t feel like I was part of it.
Perspective:
~First Person, Single POV
Ending Type:
~Cliffhanger
Rating:
~Mature
Romantic Dynamic
~MMMMF
Heat Level:
~4 out of 5
Taboos:
~None
Character Age Range:
~20+
This is hunger games with vampires, adult themes and far too much/fast action. Everything is crammed together and the plot lurches forward at a break neck speed. It’s not bad, by any means, in fact, it’s quite interesting - but it’s too quick.
The relationships, all four of them, develop with no build, the secrets are revealed with little pomp and the methods are thrust into the spotlight with no flair. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good idea, it just should have been stretched out a bit more for details sake and character connection.
At this point, I feel nothing for any of them. I was told a story, but I didn’t feel like I was part of it.
Perspective:
~First Person, Single POV
Ending Type:
~Cliffhanger
Rating:
~Mature
Romantic Dynamic
~MMMMF
Heat Level:
~4 out of 5
Taboos:
~None
Character Age Range:
~20+
February 20, 2021
I started reading this because of a TikTok, but oh my god this is bad. It's so entertaining, but the writing is all over the place. The sex scenes are very bland, but I guess I'll keep reading until I get to the five guys and the scene I was promised.
July 26, 2020
A very fast story
It was good story of action and a badass girl. She take all and more. Very fast story line and I like it.
It was good story of action and a badass girl. She take all and more. Very fast story line and I like it.
February 25, 2021
what the fuck did i just read?
November 25, 2020
this was for purely scientific reasons don't judge me
December 15, 2020
This was hunger games broken down in two seconds. When I say things moved fast, I mean the author sprinted through this book. I did not have a second to feel for the character or her circumstance before we were onto the next scene. It came off as a shallow book with a plot like any other.
January 8, 2021
I had so much fun reading this for our podcast What the Smut. Check it out for all of the spoilers.
If what you are into is a mix of hunger games meats twilight this might be a book for you. It wasnt for me though. the writing was a bit lack luster and the spelling errors were a bit too many. I was hoping that this book would live up to my expectations since i followed the author on tik tok there was promise of super steaminess that really wasn't all that great if at all there.
If what you are into is a mix of hunger games meats twilight this might be a book for you. It wasnt for me though. the writing was a bit lack luster and the spelling errors were a bit too many. I was hoping that this book would live up to my expectations since i followed the author on tik tok there was promise of super steaminess that really wasn't all that great if at all there.
April 23, 2021
The Blurb truly did its job. It sucked me right in. I was so looking forward to the bad boys and the kick ass girl, the whole hunger games meets Buffy. Never happened though. The so called 'Vampack' were nothing short of wooses. As for 'Scar', her dead daddy would be disappointed. As for the reverse harem - seriously in this setting - just came across as 'better get a sex scene in'. This book has so much potential. The story's there, the characters, the setting, but it's just not finished. It could be bigger, bolder and better. I want to know more, I want to click on the next book, but this one just felt like a beta read.
August 6, 2020
Needs enhancement
SPOILER WARNING
This book has so much potential. Unfortunately, it’s missing some key things and there are some events that just don’t work. For example, relationship development is REALLY lacking. If the author wants me to care about the death of a character (ex. Vinny), then we need to get to know him. I think it was a big mistake not to utilize more days at the Trials Manor to not only attach us to him, but to spend more time setting up attraction and the relationship with the 3 vamps. I think it was a big missed opportunity.
So many times during the book she was just throwing herself into a kiss with one of the guys, and I’m rolling my eyes because the emotional development/attachment just wasn’t there. You have the whole series to build this. Don’t rush it.
And before that, the visit with Charlie didn’t make much sense either. First he’s arming her so she can run, but the pep talk is to get her to stand up for her dad’s memory and join the trials? That contradicts. The whole scene is an emotional flip flop.
And her “job” is taking care of her mom? If her aunt cared that much, the situation would be different already.
I really want to love this series, hence the stars, but I just can’t feel the connection I should.
SPOILER WARNING
This book has so much potential. Unfortunately, it’s missing some key things and there are some events that just don’t work. For example, relationship development is REALLY lacking. If the author wants me to care about the death of a character (ex. Vinny), then we need to get to know him. I think it was a big mistake not to utilize more days at the Trials Manor to not only attach us to him, but to spend more time setting up attraction and the relationship with the 3 vamps. I think it was a big missed opportunity.
So many times during the book she was just throwing herself into a kiss with one of the guys, and I’m rolling my eyes because the emotional development/attachment just wasn’t there. You have the whole series to build this. Don’t rush it.
And before that, the visit with Charlie didn’t make much sense either. First he’s arming her so she can run, but the pep talk is to get her to stand up for her dad’s memory and join the trials? That contradicts. The whole scene is an emotional flip flop.
And her “job” is taking care of her mom? If her aunt cared that much, the situation would be different already.
I really want to love this series, hence the stars, but I just can’t feel the connection I should.
November 21, 2021
Scarlett is the first woman to be chosen for the Vampire Trials. In a New York of the future where vampires run the city and humans are just food, the three vampire governors who had divided the city in three zones, have trials where three contestants from each zone face off and the one who wins the games, both him and his area are safe from the purge. During the purge in the day where the vampires have the right to kill how many male humans over 18 they wanted. However, things change. Scarlett gets selected and now the purge includes women over 18 too. She doesn't give up though. With the three sons of the three governors, Drax, Colt and Finn, and a mysterious boy, Max, she faces off the trial and the other humans who want her dead to end the governors' supremacy and give freedom to the humans in her city. Scarlett character is very human and I don't mean as a being. She's a scared 20-year old, who doesn't know why she was chosen to participate in the trials, and multiple times she thinks to give up, but every time she hits the ground, she raises up stronger than before.
I kindly received an ARC from the author, but I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.
I kindly received an ARC from the author, but I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.
Read
May 8, 2020DNF @ 34%
This Book makes no sense... night is the worst time for humans to travel in this world where vampires rule. Scarlett decides to go out in the middle of the night to get her Mother medication when she has been out for DAYS? So why not go during the day?
She is picked to be apart of this Hunger Games Trial and instead of facing the music she runs when she knows they will kill everyone including her family?
She runs to a long time family friend who gets killed for her stupidity?
Then she decides she will become a Jessica Rabbit and pretend to be a mindless twat and attract all the boys to throw them off their game.
Meets one vampire and boom her entire mindset is changed?
I can't.... TAP OUT.
This Book makes no sense... night is the worst time for humans to travel in this world where vampires rule. Scarlett decides to go out in the middle of the night to get her Mother medication when she has been out for DAYS? So why not go during the day?
She is picked to be apart of this Hunger Games Trial and instead of facing the music she runs when she knows they will kill everyone including her family?
She runs to a long time family friend who gets killed for her stupidity?
Then she decides she will become a Jessica Rabbit and pretend to be a mindless twat and attract all the boys to throw them off their game.
Meets one vampire and boom her entire mindset is changed?
I can't.... TAP OUT.
April 22, 2020
Great story line, maze runner meets hunger games. Fast burn, but not very steamy. Character development is nearly there, the ending leaves room for a sequal. And more of the 3 Vampires, Max, and Scarlet.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.
July 4, 2021
Didnt like it but I have tunnel vision and must continue
April 14, 2021
Overall story is good.
The relationships are at like light speed and not like insta love mate which is understandable but like shes a mary sue and all the single boys immediately love her type deal and for some reason shes immediately in relationships with all of them and act like they havent only spoken once or twice and known eachother for less than a day before fucking etc
...but its also a fast moving plot so much so it seems a little jarring and mostly rushed compared to other books in similar genres like the hive trilogy for example. I dont dislike it per say but you dont get that attached to people or really know them and youre not invested into the story as much. I mean the fact that its a sort post apocalyptic dystopian shit government i feel makes you more invested than you should be given how rushed and lacking meaningful stuff and depth in general its more like its telling you how to feel instead of letting you connect and relying on everyones general dislike of shitty overlords etc to make them care.
Now even with that it was fairly enjoyable read it in one sitting easily which is my norm anyway but yeah it was easy to because of how fast paced and the fact that i didnt and couldnt really slowly absorb anything.
The countless grammar errors really made this reading experience less fluid and enjoyable. I can forgive some in lesser known authors work or trashy novellas sorta deal but i mean this author doesnt have that excuse and frankly it makes it feel very cheap like shes just word vomiting and saying good enough theyll read anything rather than taking the time to make sure its proofread and whatnot. I mean its a book not a youtube comment or review it should have a couple very small errors at most some of them were like big like repeating the start of the sentence at the end like saying
in horror she looked at him in horror...
Or writing she could when it was clearly suppose to be she couldnt and therefore making the opposite of the intended meaning.
I mean the odd spelling mistake i can accept but thats major stuff that just screams sloppy and detracts from the experience.
The next and most annoying flaw was scar meeting drax for the first time and him holding a bag of ice and sniffing it ala a deug she knew and identified and saw him use. No issue if later in that book when said dude was suffering withdrawals and was all shocked to find that out and seemed to have no knowledge of the fact he took drugs despite seeing him like the day before... well that fucks me off. Like fucking up grammar is one thing making the plot and character development rushed another but having scenes that make zero logical fkn sense like it wouldve been easy enough to remove drugs from there first passing encounter or rather not make her completely fkn clueless when its acknowledged later in the book.
So yeah despite my glowing review... i did overall enjoy the story and the read. Therefore its getring 3 stars when all the flaws i listed should make it a 2.
I wanted a rh series i could binge and i found one and frankly this author pulls this shit in most of her books so ive come to expect the lower quality in favour of apparent quantity.
That being said unless you think this is really up your alley in terms of stories and you do enjoy insta love and fast paced less in depth stuff to the point of it being a bit dumb at times then youd probs enjoy or love this. If not steer clear and read the hive trilogy or something else of that level because there are better books out there that are like 5 star amazing all the way through that deserve you more.
The relationships are at like light speed and not like insta love mate which is understandable but like shes a mary sue and all the single boys immediately love her type deal and for some reason shes immediately in relationships with all of them and act like they havent only spoken once or twice and known eachother for less than a day before fucking etc
...but its also a fast moving plot so much so it seems a little jarring and mostly rushed compared to other books in similar genres like the hive trilogy for example. I dont dislike it per say but you dont get that attached to people or really know them and youre not invested into the story as much. I mean the fact that its a sort post apocalyptic dystopian shit government i feel makes you more invested than you should be given how rushed and lacking meaningful stuff and depth in general its more like its telling you how to feel instead of letting you connect and relying on everyones general dislike of shitty overlords etc to make them care.
Now even with that it was fairly enjoyable read it in one sitting easily which is my norm anyway but yeah it was easy to because of how fast paced and the fact that i didnt and couldnt really slowly absorb anything.
The countless grammar errors really made this reading experience less fluid and enjoyable. I can forgive some in lesser known authors work or trashy novellas sorta deal but i mean this author doesnt have that excuse and frankly it makes it feel very cheap like shes just word vomiting and saying good enough theyll read anything rather than taking the time to make sure its proofread and whatnot. I mean its a book not a youtube comment or review it should have a couple very small errors at most some of them were like big like repeating the start of the sentence at the end like saying
in horror she looked at him in horror...
Or writing she could when it was clearly suppose to be she couldnt and therefore making the opposite of the intended meaning.
I mean the odd spelling mistake i can accept but thats major stuff that just screams sloppy and detracts from the experience.
The next and most annoying flaw was scar meeting drax for the first time and him holding a bag of ice and sniffing it ala a deug she knew and identified and saw him use. No issue if later in that book when said dude was suffering withdrawals and was all shocked to find that out and seemed to have no knowledge of the fact he took drugs despite seeing him like the day before... well that fucks me off. Like fucking up grammar is one thing making the plot and character development rushed another but having scenes that make zero logical fkn sense like it wouldve been easy enough to remove drugs from there first passing encounter or rather not make her completely fkn clueless when its acknowledged later in the book.
So yeah despite my glowing review... i did overall enjoy the story and the read. Therefore its getring 3 stars when all the flaws i listed should make it a 2.
I wanted a rh series i could binge and i found one and frankly this author pulls this shit in most of her books so ive come to expect the lower quality in favour of apparent quantity.
That being said unless you think this is really up your alley in terms of stories and you do enjoy insta love and fast paced less in depth stuff to the point of it being a bit dumb at times then youd probs enjoy or love this. If not steer clear and read the hive trilogy or something else of that level because there are better books out there that are like 5 star amazing all the way through that deserve you more.
April 22, 2020
Note: I received this book from the author and I voluntarily give this review, it is my honest opinion.
This book was great! A badass female activist who wants to stand-up for the humans in a vampire run city, three bad-boy princes who aren't what they seem, and a trial to test them all. Vampire Trials: The Summoning is just the beginning and I am super excited about it.
I'm already familiar with Storm's writing, I love it, she manages to create a story with a brave, tough yet vulnerable female character and have the guys care for and support her in any way they can. Each guy is different, has had different experiences, and can give the MFC better insight into her world or current situation. They are strong yet supportive and cherish the MFC. That is exactly what I got with The Summoning. Scarlett is caring and strong, she wants to stand-up to the vampire oppressors and when she gets thrown into the trials she isn't fearless, sometimes she gets overwhelmed but she still battles on. She fights, fights to survive, fight to not become the monster they want her to be, and fights to be the human voice in a vampire run city.
The guys are great, I love each and every single one of them. They care about Scarlett and let her take the lead in situations. They help her come up with the plans and support her when things become a little too much. All the while Scarlett is helping heal them from the trauma that occurred in their own lives. Out of all the guys, if my arm was twisted to pick one, so far it would be Colt. Colt has a more nerdy laid-back attitude who feels and knows a lot, therefore, he has a lot on his shoulders.
This book is The Hunger Games set in modern society but with vampires in a Purge setting and I loved it. I am not a Hunger Games fan. I never read the books but I did see the movies with my sister and while the movie wasn't terrible it still wasn't my type of story. It was something about the fight for your life for the entertainment of others that didn't entice me but Storm has done something write because I loved this book. The idea that vampires run a city, that humans have to deal with vampire dangers every day and then once every five years there are games and then a purge. I was hooked on this story, it was familiar but new all at once.
Some of the things that I am looking forward to in the next book, more of the world, the world-building was good and I can't wait to get more of it. We got just a glimpse of New York but more of the world could be introduced. I would also love to see more supernaturals introduced to the story, and maybe some of their history in the world once the supernaturals were revealed. One of my biggest regrets is that the story is told only from Scarlett's perspective, I really wish we had povs from not only the guys but the governors as well. That would give a layer to the story, I mean it's good without it but I think it would just give it that little something extra.
Vampire Trials: The Summoning was an exciting and entertaining read that has me begging for the next book in the series.
This book was great! A badass female activist who wants to stand-up for the humans in a vampire run city, three bad-boy princes who aren't what they seem, and a trial to test them all. Vampire Trials: The Summoning is just the beginning and I am super excited about it.
I'm already familiar with Storm's writing, I love it, she manages to create a story with a brave, tough yet vulnerable female character and have the guys care for and support her in any way they can. Each guy is different, has had different experiences, and can give the MFC better insight into her world or current situation. They are strong yet supportive and cherish the MFC. That is exactly what I got with The Summoning. Scarlett is caring and strong, she wants to stand-up to the vampire oppressors and when she gets thrown into the trials she isn't fearless, sometimes she gets overwhelmed but she still battles on. She fights, fights to survive, fight to not become the monster they want her to be, and fights to be the human voice in a vampire run city.
The guys are great, I love each and every single one of them. They care about Scarlett and let her take the lead in situations. They help her come up with the plans and support her when things become a little too much. All the while Scarlett is helping heal them from the trauma that occurred in their own lives. Out of all the guys, if my arm was twisted to pick one, so far it would be Colt. Colt has a more nerdy laid-back attitude who feels and knows a lot, therefore, he has a lot on his shoulders.
This book is The Hunger Games set in modern society but with vampires in a Purge setting and I loved it. I am not a Hunger Games fan. I never read the books but I did see the movies with my sister and while the movie wasn't terrible it still wasn't my type of story. It was something about the fight for your life for the entertainment of others that didn't entice me but Storm has done something write because I loved this book. The idea that vampires run a city, that humans have to deal with vampire dangers every day and then once every five years there are games and then a purge. I was hooked on this story, it was familiar but new all at once.
Some of the things that I am looking forward to in the next book, more of the world, the world-building was good and I can't wait to get more of it. We got just a glimpse of New York but more of the world could be introduced. I would also love to see more supernaturals introduced to the story, and maybe some of their history in the world once the supernaturals were revealed. One of my biggest regrets is that the story is told only from Scarlett's perspective, I really wish we had povs from not only the guys but the governors as well. That would give a layer to the story, I mean it's good without it but I think it would just give it that little something extra.
Vampire Trials: The Summoning was an exciting and entertaining read that has me begging for the next book in the series.
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