Blood Casino

Vampires & Vices #1

by Nina Walker

Keep your cards close and your enemies closer.

At least that's what my mom always told me. Becoming a vampire hunter was never in my cards, but it is now that she needs my help. A decade ago vampires seized control of the bars, casinos, and the dark underbelly of society. Now they deal in addiction and bargain with blood, and humans over twenty-five can't fight back against their compulsion. It's made my mother vulnerable––the only family I have left.

To save her, I'm forced to make a deal with the devil––one who lives above a casino, wears a crown, and wants to drink my blood. Andrianos Teresi may be dangerous and alluring but I've got a stake hidden up my sleeve. I'll go all in and play his game, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

What I don't expect? The heart that needs guarding is my own.

Genres: Vampires, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, New Adult, Supernatural

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 28, 2021

About the author

Nina Walker writes all kinds of fantasy for teens and adults. She is happily married and living the good life in the mountains of southern Utah.

Connect with her:
FB Group - Nina's Reading Party
IG - @ninabelievesinmagic
TT - @ninawalker.books
www.ninawalkerbooks.com

Reviews

[Kat valentine ( Katsbookcornerreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood casino is a new take on vampires. It mixes vampires with gambling. The vampires have come out to humans and are main players and owners to all the casinos in new Orleans. In exchange for humans blood players like Evangeline's mother can sit and play almost endlessly. When evangeline goes to bail her mother out of another casino she gets more then she bargained for at the Alabaster.Adrian is a centuries old and powerful vampire who owns alabaster and when Evangeline double crosses him not only will
It put a target on her back and have some very scary vamps breathing down her neck,but it opens her eyes to the world of the hunters and one of them just happens to be her best friends hot and sexy brother Felix the guy she has secretly had heart for years.Theirs something about Evangeline that pulls the dark and dangerous Adrian to her so when he finds out she is training to be a hunter he makes her take a blood oath with a exchange of blood thru a kiss and weither evangeline wants to admit it or not it was awesome. Very good start to a new series! It was a enjoyable read with great characters and a well played out storyline as well. Until next time Luv's 💋💗

[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eva apenas tiene 18 anos, pero odia a los vampiros con todo su ser. Gracias a ellos su mama esta a punto de morir desangrada por las "donaciones" que hace para jugar en el casino, pero no solo eso, tambien los odia porque no hay forma de evitar la compulsion que utilizan para que los humanos hagan lo que ellos quieren. Gracias a dios a ella todavia le quedan unos 5 anos (mas o menos) hasta que puedan usar la compulsion en ellos, y quiere hacer lo mas que pueda en ese tiempo. Asi que cuando descubre que el hermano de su mejor amiga (el crush de toda su vida) entrena para ser cazavampiros, no duda querer participar. Pero el entrenamiento, no es tan sencillo como creia, y debera esforzarse al maximo para poder estar a la par de su equipo. Ahora, con su mama en peligro por deudas de juego, tendra que hacer un trato con el diablo (o mejor dicho con el vampiro mas poderoso de New Orleans) para poder liberarla a ella de su adiccion. Pero su trato quizas las lleve a traicionar a sus amigos, y a su nuevo jefe. Sera capaz de salvar a su madre y mantener a los caza-vampiros lejos del radar de los poderosos?

Para ser un libro de inicio de saga esta interesante, maneja un universo muy sencillo donde los vampiros son unos mafiosos podersoso, que utilizan todo su poder para mantener el flujo de "donaciones" con las personas haciendolas adictas a los juegos de azar. Por supuesto, nuestra heroina, es especial, inocente y lo unico que sabe es que quiere matar vampiros, pero durante la trama y todos sus tropiezos mas es cuestion de suerte que de entrenamiento que logre hacerlo.
Ahora, se nota que la prota tiene algun poder especial, y que el "jefe" de los caza-vampiros es una raza que lucha contra ellos. Asi que el proximo libro se percive interesante, entretenido, y si es tan bueno como este, seguro voy a terminar esta trilogia rapidamente.

[astarion's bhaal babe (wingspan matters) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could get lost there if I'm not careful. I would drown and it would not be pleasant. At least I don't think it would be.

I can tell Blood Casino is a book I won't forget about very easily.

After the first 20 pages, I was honestly torn between giving it up or keep reading even if it meant frustrating myself to no end.
I found the plot a bit rushed and I couldn't believe the character claimed to be 18 when she actually acted like a child. I was so ready to give it not more than 2 stars and jump straight into the next vampire novel in order to feed my vampire drama needs.
I don't know what it was exactly that had me stay, but I finally decided to push forward and I'm infinitely glad I listened to my gut.
Eva is not an easy main character, but she grows on you almost immediately, once you see her for the lost soul she is. She's flawed and a bit reckless, she takes really bad decisions and has little sense of preservation, but she's honest and a fighter, and I can't help but admire her determination.
I liked the plot and the originality of how vampires were portraied, even though I must say everything is a bit too fast paced and background infos are limited and sort of vague. I guess I'll have to wait for the sequel to see if all the questions I have will be answered.
Last but not least, I enjoyed the romance. Eva and Felix are cute and I hope they last, but you'd be a fool to deny that there's a hint of a love triangle going on. Eva and Adrian (broody vampire lord)'s chemistry is undeniable and I really appreciated that neither of them acted upon the cringey insta-love/lust trope they'd been blindly thrown into if this was another book.
Not gonna lie, I can't wait to see more of them.
June, come soon😭

[⊹ Gabriela | Asternyx ⊹ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sometimes things that happen at night, stay in the dark."

⤏ Actual rating: 4.5🌟

⤏ What to expect:
∘ New Adult Paranormal
∘ Urban Fantasy
∘ Romance
∘ Vampires & gambling mix
∘ Fast-paced & action-packed
∘ Strong FMC
⤏ Tropes:
∘ Enemies to Lovers
∘ Slowburn
∘ Love triangle
∘ Found Family

⤏ Summary
In a world where vampires aren't hiding in the dark anymore and are able to live among humans, Evangeline Blackwood is a girl who is only trying to help her mother in any way she can. That includes becoming a vampire hunter and making dangerous deals.

⤏ Plot/Writing
Eva's mother is addicted to gambling and although Eva is always saving her, it's becoming difficult.
A decade ago vampires seized control of the bars, casinos, and the dark underbelly of society. Now they deal in addiction and bargain with blood, and humans over twenty-five can't fight back against their compulsion.
One interaction with the vampire prince who runs the casino her mother frequents puts in motion a series of events that would lead her to become a vampire hunter.
Fast-paced, action-packed, and with a plot that is constantly developing this book got me hooked from the very beginning. I also really like the fact that it doesn't get repetitive or boring in any way.

⤏ Worldbuilding
The story takes place in New Orleans and it's a new take on vampires that I honestly find original and intriguing. There are rules in place for vampires and humans to be able to live in a somewhat peaceful way, even though they are still feared and hated by the majority of the population.
The author did a really good job with the worldbuilding and I like that she kept a few of the vampire myths we know.

⤏ Characters
∘ Eva
Evangeline Rose Blackwood goes by the name of Eva, and she's a smart and sassy 18 years old girl. Stuck with a gambling addict for a mother, she's forced to become the responsible one in her family, looking after her mother, trying to help her and make ends meet.
She can be reckless, but also badass and I honestly didn't expect her to face a vampire head-on like she did. She seemed childish at first, but she's a character constantly developing.

"Knowing when to walk away is the only way to win."

∘ Adrian
Adrianos Teresi is one of, if not the most powerful vampire prince and he's my new bookish crush.
He's a mystery, gives off "I-hate-everyone" vibes, and it's clear he has plans of his own - I can't wait to find out what those are. An intriguing character, who loves playing games ― he does own a casino, after all.
Did I mention he's Greek?

⤏ Romance
There's something brewing between Eva and her bestfriend's brother, Felix, but I honestly don't think anything would come out of it (that's my opinion, of course).
The sexual tension between her and Adrian, whenever they are in a room, reaches such high levels 🔥 I'm eager to see more of their interactions in the next book!

⤏ Conclusion
I totally recommend this book for the vampire book readers out there! I'm going to dig into the next one! Adrian's waiting for me ~
*fingers crossed for Adrian's POV 🤞*

«⋯ Vampires & Vices ✧ Series ⋯»
#1 Blood Casino 4🌟
#2 Cruel Stakes ― CR
#3 Wicked Sun ― tbr
#4 True Death ― tbr

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 Stars

Nina Walker is an author that has been on my radar for a bit, but this is my first foray into her waters. I really couldn't have picked a better book to get hooked on her writing with because Blood Casino was awesome.

I really appreciated the fluid storytelling in the book. The flow of the story was so seamless and relaxed. With such a comfortable and easy-to-read writing style, I was swiping through the pages at lightning speed. The plot really enthralled me. I was craving the next page like an addict. I really liked the way that the plot points converged at the end and still left a wider arc open for contemplation. The world-building wasn't overly invasive, but there was enough detail to bring the story to life. I definitely had some questions about the world but I anticipate that many of them will be answered in future books in the series.

I grew so fond of these characters and it really wasn't hard. Walker really made them feel distinctive with their own identities. I really loved Eva for the most part. I loved her loyalty, fierce attitude, and intelligence. She was fairly resourceful and wasn't afraid to go after the things that she wanted. I liked that the author didn't just show us the badass Eva, but the vulnerable parts of her as well. It made her feel very real and honest. Adrian's character is a little harder to place for me. I really liked his character but he was very closed off. It was sometimes hard to get a read on him. He was kind of a mysterious entity. You never really knew what his motives were or what was going on in that brain of his. I would have liked a little more character development for Adrian. We knew basically nothing about his past and his motivations weren't exceptionally clear. The side characters were great. Each of them had their own imprints in the story and they were all noteworthy in their own ways. They all had their own individuality that made them jump off the page.

The romance in this book was rather tame. This is definitely a slow-burn romance situation. It's hard to stay out of spoiler territory while discussing the romance, but let's just say that Eva may have more than one prospect.

Overall, I was so impressed with this book! The story pulled me in from the start and kept me interested and jonesing for more. This is a fascinating take on vampires and a world where vampires are known by the general public. Not a dystopian, but as if vampires existed and lived among humans in our world today. Walker has crafted a clever story that you won't be able to put down. I am so eager to start the second book in this series!


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[E.C.M · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I like the concept of this novel, everything else was lacking. The vampires had no depth, nor did any of the characters, and the writing reminded me of a seventh grader. None of the characters were appealing, and I was constantly telling myself that I liked them or that they had an attraction because the novel wasn’t showing me it. The only reason I even finished the book was because I was hoping it would get better plot wise. There was no true character development either, and the ending truly lacked.
“Oh wow this is a stake? Just let me work out with a bunch of amateurs for two weeks then I’ll take down one of the oldest vampires in North America. No big deal.”
Even with a promising concept, it was not delivered. There was—again—no depth to it. All we got was an empty building and empty gambling. Her mother’s gambling addiction and the effect on her daughter were not even portrayed in a real way. This novel didn’t do anything for me, and I’m quite upset about it. I was looking forward to it all week and here we are. And romance wise? There is no romance. We have an ignorant girl that does ignorant things, and two guys who have no real reason to like her. I mean come on. Adrian is the oldest vampire in North America and it took one look at her for him to be like...”hmmm, might go taste that virgin blood later. IDK.”
This novel has zero substance.
And P.S. It’s not a standalone, but a start of a series.

[maegan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected so much more from this story. It's been a while since vampires have been a thing, but I've never stopped liking them in my paranormal romances, especially when there's an additional twist to the story.

In Blood Casino, vampires are part of the gambling scene in the US, cashing in on the human bets with blood “donations”.

Our heroine, Eva, has a mother with a gambling addiction. That’s how she crosses paths with Adrian Teresi, a vampire Prince that is centuries old, but that falls instantly in lust with Eva. You can already guess my first problem with this book.

The second one being Eva’s age. She’s 18. In this world, vampires can only use compulsion on humans with a fully developed brain, which is why Eva is little more than a teenager. She’s way too young for my liking. I thought it actually took away from the story, plus it’s always creepy when a full-on adult is making the moves on such a young woman.

My third problem with this book was its pacing. It felt rushed and amateurish.

Overall, this had potential, and I won’t lie, by the end I was actually considering picking up the next book just to follow Adrian and Eva’s slow burn romance, but by now I know how these things go and I know that I will end up rant reviewing the rest of the series and wishing I hadn’t continued reading on a whim.

[Demi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Nina Walker for allowing me to have an early access copy of this book. This is my honest review.

This book gave me major 'The Originals' vibe! Every time I think of New Orleans, I always imagine it as a vampire run city, with supernatural creatures always on the brink of war, and the Mikaelson's running everything behind the scenes. Obviously, I've never been to New Orleans, but this book made me feel as though I was there (just without Klaus and Elijah).
I'm a big fan of the vampires in this book. There was a sort of uniqueness to them that was refreshing. Adriano was a lot of fun, in the brooding, 'I-hate-the-world' kind of way. The concept of how the vampire laws and a world of where humans know of the vampires existence and they are able to cohabitate, in a somewhat normal way, is actually super interesting. Most vampire series kind only focus on the hidden vampire world, so this is a great difference.
The only reason I gave this book 3 stars is because I struggled with Eva's character. She was somewhat annoying and overly dramatic for the first half of the series, and it was a bit hard to handle. But, in saying that, towards to end of the book she became a more enjoyable character, so for that, I was thankful.

I'm super excited to see where this series goes. I can see it developing into something amazing! Bring on Cruel Stakes!

[Jessica Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I am very pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed Blood Casino. The synopsis sounded so interesting, it’s been a good while since I’ve read a truly addicting vampire series, AND THIS BOOK IS IT! This was such a quick read, I would get lost in the story and look up and realize I’d been reading for 2 hours straight!

I was immediately interested in this urban fantasy take on vampires and humans knowingly cohabiting the earth. Usually vampires must live secret, but in Blood Casino the vampires have integrated themselves into government and society, surviving off of blood “donations” in order for humans to play their vices. The dichotomy between vampires and humans was fascinating, playing off of humans weaknesses while also demonstrating their capacity for hope with the vampire hunters.

Adrian Teresi... phew. Someone tell me why this man was ripping out a throat and I was reading like 🥵🥵🥵
I am loving the slow burn between Eva and Adrian and I really hope something becomes of them in book 2. This tension was delightful and just the right amount of push and shove. Felix is cute and all but Adrian has SPICE!!

There was a great amount of ambiguity in the ending as well. There’s more to the supernatural world than what the humans are aware of. Who else is lurking in the shadows, feeding of unwitting humans? I NEED BOOK 2 SO I CAN HAVE THESE ANSWERS!

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars! In this Louisiana-based story, vampires and humans coexist and vamps have casinos where humans can gamble using their blood instead of money as payment. Vampires are fiercely regulated (or at least supposed to be) in how much blood they can accept from humans, but Eva’s mom is a gambling addict and somehow finds ways to continue ‘donating.’ So, Eva takes things into her own hands.

While I love the concept of this, I think the execution didn’t work as well for me. There’s kind of a love triangle thing going on, but I never really bought into the other romance with the best friend's brother (who I’m assuming she’s not going to be with, haha). In fact, that whole vampire hunting storyline fell a bit flat for me. I think I will read on in the series, if only to see what happens with our villain anti-hero Adrien.

[Ani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast-paced, action-packed, entertaining read that dealt with tough issues like addiction, family drama, and poverty. I was initially drawn to it by the cover, because I’m a sucker for a game of cards. But I was enthralled by the constant sarcasm/snark (the number of screenshots I took...) between the lovable (but sometimes morally grey) characters, the slow burn romance, and the unique world that Walker crafted. Additionally, the MC was relatable and a POC! There is still so much to uncover, so I’m beyond excited to read the sequel! Just so I remember what happened by the time I pick up book 2, or if you want a refresher, here’s a detailed summary:
-Eva’s mom is addicted to playing poker in a casino that is run by a centuries-old vampire prince, Adrian (he can fly and has powers of telekinesis, too)
-Vampires can use compulsion on humans above the age of 25 to do whatever, including staying addicted to gambling
-Eva LOATHES vampires and is disgusted by the way they treat humans and by what her mother’s gambling has done for her health and economic situation
-Still, Eva tries to save her mother, who has accumulated debt and owes the mob a lot of money
-The casinos are allowed to take blood donations from willing humans, but taking too much is illegal
-One day, they take too much blood from her mother, and Eva gets paid off by Adrian to keep her mouth shut about the incident
-Eva takes the money, but calls law enforcement anyway
-Unfortunately, Adrian is basically above the law and he doesn’t get into much trouble, but now he and Eva are enemies
-He bans her from returning to the casino and threatens to kill her should she return
-Eva stays at her friend Ayla's house and ends up trailing after Ayla's brother (and Eva’s crush), Felix, and his friends, Kenton and Seth
-Eva discovers they’re vampire-hunters-in-training with a secret vampire hunter organization, led by Leslie Tate
-She also kills a newly made vampire
-They reluctantly allow her to join the organization and she trains with them
-Eva’s mom has another emergency at the casino and, despite Adrian’s threat, Eva sneaks in
-She’s caught and is forced to strike another deal with Adrian: become an informant for him and he’ll save her mother from her addiction (he wants to know about Leslie Tate)
-This deal is a blood vow that’s sealed with a kiss ;)
-Eva continues to train with Felix and his friends and they kill a few more vampires
-The mob tosses Eva’s house to collect what’s owed to them and she’s forced to stay with Felix
-Not wanting to draw the mob there, she heads to the casino to crash until she can find an apartment to lease
-She hopes Adrian won’t kill her, since she’s still his informant
-Adrian’s brother, Hugo, takes an interest in Eva and even more so when Adrian declares that she’s his fledgling at the family meeting
-This is for appearances sake, because Adrian’s mother ordered him to take on another fledgling (which he rarely does) to maintain the vampire population
-Eva and Felix cave into their emotions for each other and kiss
-Hugo finds out that Eva killed his newly made vampire “children” (humans he turned into vampires) and gets permission from the queen (Hugo’s and Adrian’s mother) to take Eva as his fledgling instead
-Eva kills Hugo
-Hugo and Adrian were enemies long before Eva came into the picture, but they were never allowed to kill each other, so Adrian is glad that Eva killed Hugo
-Ava discovers that the blood vow was not as binding as she was led to believe
-Exchanging blood just allowed her to track Hugo’s vampire children better
-Still, Adrian upholds his end of the bargain and saves her mother from her addiction
-Eva refuses to continue working for Adrian; Leslie Tate left town, so she wouldn’t be of much use to him as an informant anyway
-Ava returns to Felix, Kenton, and Seth, and confesses the truth about working for Adrian
-She also lets them know that Cam, another person in the organization, has already started working for the vampires and will betray them AND that Leslie Tate may not be all that great after all (may even be a demon who is immune to vampire compulsion and who takes energy from humans)
-They insist she continue working with Adrian to gather more intel and she reluctantly agrees
-Eva returns to the casino and that’s where book 1 ends :)


And here are a few favorite quotes I pulled:

"If they already knew to look for me, then why play this game?"
"Maybe I like to play games. I do run a casino, after all."

"I would say sorry, but I'm not, and I don't like to lie." Her eyes flash and her pupils dilate. Oh crap, is she going to eat me now?

"Well, that sucks."
"Not as much as vampires do," he cracks a total dad-joke and I roll my eyes.

"I said please. Are you his receptionist or not?"
"Executive assistant, there's a difference."
"Oh, so you pick up his dry cleaning as well as answer his phone? My bad."

"You obviously don't know everything about me."
"Oh, what did I miss?"
"I'm loyal." I push past him and slip the key into the lock, letting myself inside.

"Unless you'd like to put me to bed?"
"Virgin blood, remember? I'm not losing it with a sucker. I'm already at rock bottom, no need to dig a hole."

[Dana Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in one sitting!!!

Let’s talk storyline…yessssss Nina crushed it. What an amazing unique take on Vampires. Thank you for finally doing something different and building a fresh new bloodsucker world. Romance and suspense were present the whole time (no spoilers. You’ll have to read!) I have nothing but praise for this book. I’m reading book 2 tonight.

Thank you to Julie Hall who suggested this book on her IG page! And thank you Nina for your creativity and seamless integration into a new world.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vampires run the bars and casinos in New Orleans. At the Alabaster you can play as long as you're hooked up to a blood bag, willingly donating your blood. Evangeline's mother has become a gambling addict and doesn't care how much blood she gives - even if it makes her pass out. In an effort to try and save her mother Evangeline makes a deal with the owner, Adrianos Teresi - the devil himself...

In the beginning I was a bit bothered by Evangeline, or Eva, as she's called. Yes, she's only 18, but I often found her behaviour stupid and childish. I was very pleased when she started acting a little "better". She then became a lot more interesting and fun to read about.

The relationship between Eva and Adrianos - Adrian - is exciting and intriguing. It starts when Eva "tricks" him. (How smart is that?! To con one of the oldest and most powerful vampires??) Even so, they keep crossing paths, and although Adrian says he only does things that favours himself he seems to help Eva out of jams sometimes. Sure, he also use her when he can, but Eva does the same. They develop some kind of love/hate relationship that I'm very curious to read more about!

* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *

[Samantha Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only did this book keep me up too late reading, it also kept me thinking about the story for days after. Nina Walker puts a new spin on vampires that will leave you captivated and wanting more.

There’s a bit of a love triangle featuring the heroine’s fellow vampire hunter on one side and the dangerous but alluring vampire prince on the other.

Eva thinks prince Adrian is pure evil. He and the vampires trade in secrets and blood, a price her mom gladly pays over and over again to feed her gambling addiction. When Eva challenges the dark prince, she finds herself bound to him. She loathes him, but finds she is drawn to him and feels a powerful connection. Will she give into her longings or keep pursing her life as a vampire hunter? And how far is she willing to go to save her mom?

You don’t want to miss this powerful story set in New-Orleans. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

[Mackenzie Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for an enjoyable and fresh Vampire book, look no further! Nina has provided a unique take on what has previously been a saturated theme. After having read every vampire book under the sun when I was growing up, I was definitely a bit hesitant to dive back into the Vampire realm.

Blood Casino was far from disappointing! The storyline was interesting, and I really enjoyed seeing the dynamic of Humans and Vampire's co-existing in the same world. The idea that Vampires use Humans addictive personalities to gain blood donations, money, power, etc. was intriguing.

I honestly couldn't get enough of this book and ended up devouring it within a night! I cannot wait for the next installment and encourage any interested in a fresh Vampire story to pick this one up!

[TheMadLep · Rating 1 out of 5]

There should be a publishing law that prevents anybody so terrible at writing from ever getting published. It's been a long time since I've come across a book with such lazily written characters, shockingly juvenile dialogue and inexcusable grammatical and spelling errors. The main character is supposed to be eighteen but comes across as a particularly vacuous and self absorbed twelve year old; the stereotypically handsome-but-dangerous cutesy-wootsy vampire is just another bland cardboard cutout of all the vampires everyone else has written about in teenage based juvenilia. It's "books" like this flooding the market that make it so hard to find something worth reading these days. Horrendous.
And for the record, a "hoe" is actually a garden implement.
Bloody hell.

[Blanca · Rating 2 out of 5]

“And then he levitates into the moonlit sky and flies away.” No hay palabras para describir mi cara ahora mismo. En fin, es un libro entretenido para pasar el rato después de acabar exámenes y de haberme leído mil clásicos.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning cover for a stunning novel. The way the story unfolded was incredible. Nina knocked this one out of the park, and I can not WAIT for the sequel!

[Scott Shjefte · Rating 3 out of 5]

A vampire story with a gambling twist. Read for free with Prime Read feature from Amazon.

[Katherine Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your typical vamps...

Ah-freaking-mazing. I loved it. This isn't your typical insta-love vampire book and I couldn't put it down. Our heroine isn't begging to be turned into a vamp and our vampire isn't salivating at the thought of turning her. I loved that it kept me on my toes and that even at the end I still can't tell who really is bad and who's really good.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know, another vampire book, but this is a fresh and creative new take on vampires.
The setting is perfect - New Orleans - and following Eva as she tries to save her mom not only from her addictions but some seedy characters (vamps and otherwise) is a great read. And of course she manages to find some romance and unexpected feelings along the way. Can't wait to see what Eva gets into next!!

[Kassidy Stegall · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars. I liked the plot. These type of vampires were a mix of Dracula and True Blood in a “the world knows vampires exist” version of New Orleans. I thought this would be an insta love garbage vampire book and was pleasantly surprised that the book actually had depth and a good plot.

HOWEVER. I cannot stand the main girl. She is the definition of a pick me girl. She’s also incredibly naive and immature. Her thought process was ALL OVER the place. I mean part of me can’t blame her she’s only 18 but DAMN. The “I’m not like other girls” mentality was absurd.

I felt no chemistry between either of the love interests and SURPRISE a love triangle. I think I would have felt more with Adrian if they were together more but they weren’t. I felt nothing for Felix.

*sigh* at least I finished the thing. I don’t think I’ll be reading the next one. I feel the love triangle will be super prominent in the next book. So HARD PASS.

Ok I’m done. Goodbye.

[Allard Janvier · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer- I was given a free digital copy of this book exchange for an honest review.

Potential mini spoilers, read with slight caution.

This book was a solid 4* for me (the first half was 5*, 2nd half 4*), there was definitely things I felt needed refinement but ultimately it was pretty unique and interesting. However there were some elements that pushed it into that 5* spot despite the extra work I felt the book needed:

1. The vamp lead never pretends to be anything other than what he actually is, a badass centuries old vamp who honestly couldn't really care about the whims of humans.
2. The blood payment concept is so intriguing and excellent that alone pulled me and hooked me.
3. The main character actually learns to genuinely kick ass, instead of permanently being saved by everyone.
4. NO INSTA LOVE!

I really enjoyed the concept, and its definitely the vamp novel I've been yearning for in a sea of generic books in the genre for years.
Alot of the top points also are the notable negatives in the book for me. The fact that the love interest and lead don't have insta love, if anything it's insta hate. The flip side of this is they don't really come to have love, or proper lust or really much of anything but respect for each others cunning before the book is out. That was slightly disappointing, though not a deal breaker.

The main character learns to kick ass and work as part of a team, but this happens a little selectively and I really would have liked to see more interaction with that team and her building slightly more substantial relationships with them. Those feelings of friendship seemed to exist without getting to experience the journey very much, at least in my opinion. I enjoyed that platonic dynamic, and while I concede there was definitely a point to the lack of deep substantial bonds being developed I hope their relationships are explored alot more in the next book.

I loved the blood payment concept, the casinos and the like. However because the themes in this book, how dark and serious they are, and the ages of all the characters, i think this book would have benefited more by being a NA book, so the author could really dive down the dark rabbit hole and explore, blood, sex, debt, deception on the level it called for. I enjoyed it, but I always found myself wanting more, and not the the way that leaves you gagging for more, but instead feeling a little undersold. Again, it's by no means a deal breaker, but I definitely want her to explore those darker themes deeper in the sequel.

It is this feeling that the book could have been darker, richer and rawer if it had been NA that brings me to the other slightly neutral point that I found a shame, which was despite the main character being nearly 19 and clearly having to have grown up fast, she reads abit too YA/teen to me. I don't think it can even be blamed on her lack of vices, as I can personally say from a similar position this isn't the mindset of a 19 year old. I dont really expect a 19 year old character to be regularly considering if someone fancies her, getting out a friendzone, etc. This leaned closer to a 16 year old character, and this again falls into that pushing the characters/story to be older, darker. But hey, that may just be my personal preference. But it was the only elements that really snagged for me with the book, otherwise I genuinely enjoyed the main characters personality and voice.

There was alot that wasn't expanded on, and that realistically it the main negative, everything else it very subjective things that come from my reading desires, but there was alot of key elements about the larger plot at play that were left abit uncared for and unaddressed, in a way that wasn't simply as a hook for the next book, it felt more that the book wasn't finished and could benefit from several more scene/100 more pages. You know very little about Adrian and his motivations and history, this other races, the bigger issues between those races, etc.

I love that the leads come to respect each other, and that realistically this book rarely went in the direction I was expecting. In some cases that was abit disappointing, but most of the time I meant it kept me on my toes and hooked reading. I read this in under 2 day, and with a 2 year old running around during lockdown thats no small feat! It usually takes me a week to read any book!

The only other noticeable thing for me about this novel, which is unusual with new releases these days, is the distinct lack of any LGBTQ+ characters. There was lots of ethnical diversity, which was excellent both because we all live in a very multicultural world, and also because New Orleans is highly culturally diverse. But it was strange to read a book where absolutely no one appears to be LGBTQ+, except for one very vague observation in the final chapter about a character where there's not really any hint of this prior. I can completely appreciate this may be intentional as a commentary that we're all just people and it doesn't matter, but I would definitely have expected atleast one openly out character, or trans character, etc, and I keenly felt the absence of this.

This is one of the best concepts for a vamp novel I've read, and don't be misinformed about the aspects I said need work, I've been reading vamp novels for over 16 years so I've been picking and want to encourage development where there's opportunity for it! This is excellent and I'm looking forward to where it goes.

I will definitely be reading the sequel, and I'm also looking forward to reading the bonus story from Adrian's POV when it's released to see if it offers more information about him, his thoughts towards the MC and his feelings in general!

If in any doubt, definitely read this book if you love enemies to lovers and vampires who really bite!

[Philbert Palomer · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Staphy]

DNF at 10%
I just read this and I laughed for a long time:

“Adrianos Teresi will see you now”

I just can't see that line without thinking of 50 shades of Grey, I read a few reviews and I can tell it won't get better, the protagonist it's so dumb and it gives me an "I'm not like other girls" vibe, so bye.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep your cards close and your enemies closer.

A decade ago vampires seized control of the bars, casinos, and the dark underbelly of society of Mew Orleans. Now they deal in addiction and bargain with blood, and humans over twenty-five can't fight back against their compulsion. It's made Evangeline aka Eva's mother vulnerable––the only family she has left. After her grandmother died, her mother became addicted.
The story start with her being in the casino and Eva trying to get her out
She passes out because she donated too muc blood. Eva goes to the vampire boss Adrianos Teresi and demands their money back and punishment
Punishment isnt possible because his memer of the vampire enforcement coalition aka their justice system. She gets her money simply because she annoys Andrianos
She goes to her friend Ayla and Felix (he's her crush) but in the middle of the night she hears a suv and follows it. A vampire attacked her!!! A guy gives her a stake and she killes the new born vampire.
Felix is a vampire hunter!!!!
She wants to join but he refuses.
She goes to work and Adrianos approached her and brings her to on other casino on a boat were her mother id gabling, to prove his loint, he kills a random man to remind her he can kill her and her mother too. She's forbidden to come to a casino again
Back home she meets Felix and his friend. At last she gets in because his friend allows her too. She meets Tate, boss of the vampire hunters and her training begins
Later she gets a call from the nurse of the casino saying her mom is in critical condition. But she refuses to go with Eva. She is kidnapped by Andrian. They made a bloodvow sealed by a kiss: he will stop her mother's addiction in exchange for information about Tate by spying on him!!! The alternative is he kills her mother or when she breaks her vow, she dies!!!
But when she goes to the hunters, Tate is missing!!! They continue training to show him they are strong enough. Eva has no longer a place to stay and moves in the hotel against her better judgement. She meets Hugo, Adrian's brother. They go to a gala and meet the Queen. She gets ambushed by a man who works for the mafia. Her mother is in there debt and they threatened to kill them both!!! Later a man named cameron joins the vampires, but he's ahunter!!!! Traitor!!!
But in secret he tells her about his brother who was ill and his dead made a deal woth the vampires to turn him immortal but instead watched him die and fed of him. Camerons dead killed the vampire later and got imprisoned. Now Cameron wants to be on the winning team and betrayed the hunters because they are nothing compared and he found out about the bigger treat. There is an other supernatural race. The demons, he calls them. They both feed but vampires feed of blood, and the demons feed of energy and fight over a war of there life source with are humans!!! And Leslie Tate is one of them!!!! Plot twist!!!!!
She finds her mother with Hugo at the casino!!!
Apperently the man Adrianos randomly killed was the brother of Armanos the mob boss
He makes a deal with Eva, she has to bet and if she wins he will let them feee, if she loses, he will kill her and her mother!!!
Because she doenst have a choice she makes the bet
And thank heavens the ball lands right
Her mother is free to go but Hugo takes eva and Andrianos to the vip section, he figured out she's a vampire hunter!!! I figured it out in the lobby when her blood was spilled. She’s connected to my line, but yet she’s human. So how can that be?” He leans closer to me and his voice goes low. “There is only one way a human can connect into a vampiric line and that is through venom. If our venom enters your human bloodstream it makes you able to feel, sense, and track the vampires within the family of the vampire who bit you. It also makes us far more attracted to you and your blood more desirable
“This is why you don’t drink directly from human flesh unless you intend to kill or turn,” I whisper breathily.
Andrianos saved her mother by levitating the ball into the right colour because he's the only one who can fly and had telekinesis!!!
But the strange thing is, Andrianos knew she was a hunter so why is he acting surprised?
But he doenst care about eva and lets her be turned by Hugo!!!! He bit her and put her in a coffin and burried her to be turned and Andrianos just watched it happen!!!!!
Butttt she remembered her deal
He knew the stake was there the whole time, his satisfied smile says it all. She stabbed Hugo till he dies!!!! Adrianos wanted to get rid of him but he can't kill his own line so he used Eva to kill hugo for him
Anddddd the vow was fake!!! She never spied and she didn't die!!! She breaks contact and goes back to the hunters. She tells them everything and they always wanted to help her. Thats why she agress to pretend to be on Adrianos side for them so they can figure out what happend to Tate and what these demons are
But just as she is about to meet him, her mothers tells her Adrianos compelled her out of her addiction and any interference with vampires. She's finally truly free!!! Eva reconsiders her deal because under that cold exterior there is something but made up her find quickly: this move with my mother is a play for something bigger, and I intend to find out his endgame before it’s too late.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dude, this book was freaking awesome. Gambling, alcohol, crazy parties, and of course blood, enter the blood casino if you dare, attach an IV and stay awhile. Blood Casino is the first book in Nina Walker's new Vampire and Vices series and this book was everything I could have wanted in a paranormal romance and so much more, you gotta read it.

So this is a slow-burn romance that takes place in the wonderful city of New Orleans after vampires have come out to humans and damn has the world change. Vampires deal in addiction, mostly in gambling, they own these blood casinos, where if a human doesn't have the money to gamble all they have to do is tap a vein and they're all good.

In a city full of vampires Evangeline Rose Blackwood (I love her name) has a problem, her mother. Evangeline (aka Eva) has no other family, just her mom and her mom has a gambling addiction and in a world where vampires take advantage of such situations and I all anyone has to do is give blood to play you can see how this could become detrimental to someone's health. Virginia Blackwood is your typical addict, willing to do anything to get her fix, no matter who it hurts, and most of the time it hurts Eva. Eva is only eighteen years old but she is the most independent eighteen-year-old ever pretty much because she has to be. Eva has a very complicated relationship with her mother, because of Virginia's addiction Eva has become the parent in the relationship, taking care of her mother, making sure rent is paid on time and making sure her mother doesn't donate to much blood at the casinos. Eva doesn't have anyone to lean on so she has to handle everything herself but she doesn't let that stop her. She still wants to do something with her life, supports her friend's dreams, works, is stubborn, smart, and fierce. I love her even if she drives me crazy making certain decisions but I understand where she is coming from when she makes her questionable choices.

The romance situation is a little bit of a mystery. There are two possibilities, one being someone she has known for a while and is finally showing interest. The other is Adrian, he is a vampire and they hate each other but they kinda like each other too. The chemistry is unreal, the back-and-forth between is great, and they both seem to have some sort of surprising connection. While she's not willing to give in because he's a monster, which he very well is because this isn't a dream, vampires are cruel and Eva's life is very hard so complicated, and that includes her relationship with Adrian. So honestly I think the romance is gonna be with Adrian but I honestly can't tell at this point, it could go either way.

Nina does such a good job plotting out a story, it was so compelling, I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The difficult relationship between a child and parent, especially when that parent isn't acting like a parent. When does a person get to the point when they have to let someone they care for go when what that person is doing is not only destroying themselves but starts to destroy you too. It's that storyline that held so much weight for me because it's such a difficult position to be in and I just have to know how it's gonna turn out, what Eva will do when it all comes crashing down, is what drew me in, because as a reader I can't help but see the inevitable conclusion, that disaster was on the horizon. Not to mention the way the supernatural has infiltrated the human world, specifically the government is crazy. The politics are crazy, the laws that govern the vampires are kinda a joke, the human government is corrupted and so much more is going on than what meets the eye. I can't wait for Nina to dive more into it in the rest of the series.

Blood Casino is a fantastic story that has a complex story, complex characters, and complex relationships. The like-hate relationship between Eva and Adrian, the pitfalls of having a gambling addict for a mother, and learning to let people in, are all new concepts for Eva and I can't wait to see how she continues to deal with them. Also, there is so much going on, especially in the vampire world that has yet to be revealed, and there were a couple of shocking surprises that kicks off a whole new thing and leaves me wondering so many questions and have me guessing about a few things. I'm ready for the next book in Vampires and Vices because things are just getting interesting.
 

[❤️My Dog is my Best Friend❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

This rating is actually fairly low for me to say this but why did I actually kind of love this? It's cheesy yet dark, dumb yet brilliant, romantic yet annoying. I have so many conflicting feelings right now but I actually am super excited to read the next book so it must have done more right.

Blood Casino is a vampire book (shocking I know) that is centered around a vampire run casino where blood can be used basically as currency to get more chips. Eva's mother is a gambling addict and Eva has bailed her out one to many times but she begins to get mixed up with some vampire hunters and vampires themselves as her mothers addiction gets more serious. (Goodreads has a better description but that was my attempt at a summary.)

First of all, the world building is phenomenal. Such a unique idea and the execution was super thorough--the author clearly took the time to flesh out the world and the vampires themselves which makes me super excited for the next books to continue exploring that world. Second, Adrian is hands down my favorite character and I would give an entire five stars just for him because he has all the angst and violence a vampire should have. (Not as emo as Edward but ya know) I had a love hate relationship with Eva herself because she was funny and realistic at times but annoying and inconsistent other moments (more into this below cause I like to rant). The chemistry between Adrian and Eva was SIZZLING but her other romance was so so. This is not really a love triangle per se but it definitely has hints of it and I'm really hoping it does not turn into a full blown thing.

Love triangles are hard for me to enjoy.

I love to complain so bear with me. ;)
A. Eva. You know those moments when authors will make their main characters "quirky" and just outspoken enough to annoy you? Eva was this kind of character for me. Eva had the "I'm not taking crap" attitude that I loved but sometimes it was like "girl use your BRAIN this isn't the time! Also--why???" I get that she is eighteen years old but her motivations and character did not seem very defined. One moment she seems mildly disgusted with vampires because of everything with her mother the next she is ready to go on a crusade of vampire killing with a passion for it as if she has been carrying it from the beginning. She never liked vampires but to suddenly be so excited to kill them was bizarre. Her character was full of these back and forth traits like the author could not decide how she wanted Eva to be--hoping that this changes in the sequel. Also on the romantic side of things Eva needs to really decide who she is interested in because this back and forth between chemistry she feels with both boys in her life gets old fast.

B. Felix. I don't hate him but he had the personality of a unbaked pancake. I really only know him in relation to Eva which is a complaint in and of itself so I have nothing against him per se but his interactions within the story I am not the biggest fan of. Eva has had a crush on him forever (best friends brother) but he only sees her as a sister until randomly he doesn't and they are making out. Was I shocked? No. But I expected there to be more than the small hint of his feelings before he was ready to commit to Eva or whatever. They also have no chemistry so if she ends up with Felix I'm going to riot. Side note though: How much does Eva care about him since when she is flirting with other guys (*cough cough* Adrian) she doesn't give Felix a second thought? I don't care for Felix but I'm sure he deserves better than this.

C. While I loved the world building and the vampires I do have one issue. Some of their "abilities" don't have a solid description. How compulsion works, special powers, what is the big difference between the "princes" and your "average joe" vampire. Mildly inconvenient since I don't know the limits.

Basically, if you are a YA vampire romance lover definitely give this a shot. It is a fairly quick read and the story is interesting enough to keep you invested.

Content: some language used sparingly (s-word, a-word, b-word), violence (ripping off peoples heads, blood violence, killing people, really what you'd expect from a vampire book), some heavy making out but nothing too descriptive, sex is discussed but not explicitly, gambling addiction is a heavy portion of this book.

[Bingouk2025 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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While RNGs are synonymous with fairness, they also play a crucial role in maintaining the house edge. Every online casino game is designed with a specific house edge, and the RNG ensures that this edge is consistently applied across thousands or millions of games. This system means that while individual players may experience winning streaks, the casino’s advantage is maintained in the long run, thanks to the statistical nature of the house edge.

The Impact of Player Behavior on Casino Profit

The decisions you make as a player significantly affect the final outcome of the casino. When you choose games with lower odds, such as blackjack or certain forms of video poker, you are playing against the best odds. On the other hand, choosing high-stakes games, such as some slot machines, means that your chances of winning are reduced, which increases the casino’s profit margins. Your choice of game, how you bet, and even when you decide to stop playing all affect the casino’s overall profitability.

The Psychology of Gambling

Casinos, both online and offline, are masters at using psychological triggers to keep players engaged. The design of the games, with their vibrant colors and exciting sounds, aims to stimulate and engage. The implementation of rewards and prizes creates a sense of achievement and the illusion of value, which can encourage players to keep playing. These tactics are not just about creating an entertaining experience; They are used strategically to increase the amount of time and money that players spend, which directly affects the casino’s profits.

The online casino landscape is vast and diverse, with each game offering a different edge. Experienced players understand that choosing a game is not just about preference, but also about strategy. Games with a lower house edge, such as blackjack or some types of video poker, offer better odds for the player, thus reducing the casino’s edge. In contrast, games like slot machines, especially those with large jackpots, typically have a higher house edge, which means worse odds for the player, but a bigger profit for the casino.

How Game Choice Affects Profitability

Your choice of game directly affects both your potential winnings and the expected casino’s profits. By playing games with a low house edge, you not only increase your chances of winning, but you also minimize the statistical advantage of the casino. This doesn't guarantee a win, but it does mean you're making more informed choices that can lead to a more enjoyable and potentially profitable gaming experience.