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An Absolute Bloody Disaster #1
An Absolute Bloody Disaster
"Immortality is kind to no one."
Charlotte Novik is a typical 19-year-old girl: she has an obnoxious older brother, friends who drive her crazy, a giant mansion overlooking the San Francisco Bay, and a refrigerator filled with blood bags.
Oh, and did she mention she’s a vampire? Because that’s kind of important.
When Charlotte accidentally kills someone on a busy street in broad daylight, she unwittingly sets off a string of similar murders throughout the city. Not only do these murders seem somehow connected to her, but also to an ancient vampire whose revenge-laden shadow has loomed over her family for centuries.
Haunted by her best friend’s death (and, subsequently, her murderer), Charlotte and her derelict family are forced to hunt down the killer before he threatens the exposure of vampire-kind.
After all, what could go wrong? Especially with the gaggle of college kids who keep infiltrating their plans, and the golden human boy who can’t seem to leave her alone.
Charlotte Novik is a typical 19-year-old girl: she has an obnoxious older brother, friends who drive her crazy, a giant mansion overlooking the San Francisco Bay, and a refrigerator filled with blood bags.
Oh, and did she mention she’s a vampire? Because that’s kind of important.
When Charlotte accidentally kills someone on a busy street in broad daylight, she unwittingly sets off a string of similar murders throughout the city. Not only do these murders seem somehow connected to her, but also to an ancient vampire whose revenge-laden shadow has loomed over her family for centuries.
Haunted by her best friend’s death (and, subsequently, her murderer), Charlotte and her derelict family are forced to hunt down the killer before he threatens the exposure of vampire-kind.
After all, what could go wrong? Especially with the gaggle of college kids who keep infiltrating their plans, and the golden human boy who can’t seem to leave her alone.
463 pages, Hardcover
First published October 12, 2021
13 people are currently reading
910 people want to read
About the author
Lindsay Clement
2 books68 followersLindsay is a huge nerd who loves reading books almost as much as she loves talking about them. She writes paranormal and fantasy stories with memorable characters, witty banter, plot twists, and a healthy dose of romance. She currently lives in Las Vegas with her husband, Goldendoodle, and growing book collection.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
July 27, 2021
From the moment Lindsay announced AABD, before there was even a title, I wanted to read this story, and let me tell you it did not disappoint! With vampires that have hilarious banter, a snarky, sarcastic FMC, friendship, plot twists that are bound to kill you, an amazing mystery, and blood, I had no choice but to love this novel!
I love banter so much and this book definitely had some great banter! I admit they could be serious sometimes, but I was laughing in a lot of this book. It really took me on an emotional roller coaster. There were so many twists, turns, and omg moments. I went from laughing, to crying, to being angry real fast!
I loved the flashbacks and how the novel/plot was setup. They are trying to solve these murders and it is connected to their past, so we obviously needed background on their past to understand what was going on. The flashbacks were so cool, compared to just them telling a story, you were back there with the characters and it was like there was a whole other story. I would love to see more of the characters past, especially Rayna and Charlotte’s friendship, maybe even a whole prologue to be honest!
Charlotte is AMAZING! I feel like I really relate to her. Obviously I’m not a vampire (but what if I am haha, just kidding), but she’s sarcastic, just like me, can be impulsive, I also am sometimes impulsive, and she plays the piano. I love how she played the piano to calm her mind and to do some trying with her hands because I do the often do the same thing! I went from being “go charlotte!” to “my poor baby,” what she was going through was like whiplash and I just wanted to say leave my poor girl alone. I felt like Charlotte grew a lot in this book, even if you couldn’t always tell, and I can’t wait to see where her character goes. I loved her so much!
It was so nice and so cool to be in a vampires perspective who didn’t drink from animals, and wasn’t always good, but wasn’t necessarily the villain either and still has a conscious and heart. Charlotte wasn’t close to perfect and made plenty of mistakes, but she still tried to do her best even after all she has went though. I feel like that is so much more real, even though she is a vampire, than so many other vampire books and movies.
I am normally not a fan of slow burns, it’s often times one of my least favorite tropes, but this one was done so well! I was all for it and constantly rooting for them throughout the book! I need more of Tristan and Charlotte!
You’ll love An Absolute Bloody Disaster if you love found family, slow burns, deadly plot twists and of course vampires! Thank you so much to the author for sending me an arc for an honest review! I loved AABD and definitely recommend it! Now I need book two now!
I love banter so much and this book definitely had some great banter! I admit they could be serious sometimes, but I was laughing in a lot of this book. It really took me on an emotional roller coaster. There were so many twists, turns, and omg moments. I went from laughing, to crying, to being angry real fast!
I loved the flashbacks and how the novel/plot was setup. They are trying to solve these murders and it is connected to their past, so we obviously needed background on their past to understand what was going on. The flashbacks were so cool, compared to just them telling a story, you were back there with the characters and it was like there was a whole other story. I would love to see more of the characters past, especially Rayna and Charlotte’s friendship, maybe even a whole prologue to be honest!
Charlotte is AMAZING! I feel like I really relate to her. Obviously I’m not a vampire (but what if I am haha, just kidding), but she’s sarcastic, just like me, can be impulsive, I also am sometimes impulsive, and she plays the piano. I love how she played the piano to calm her mind and to do some trying with her hands because I do the often do the same thing! I went from being “go charlotte!” to “my poor baby,” what she was going through was like whiplash and I just wanted to say leave my poor girl alone. I felt like Charlotte grew a lot in this book, even if you couldn’t always tell, and I can’t wait to see where her character goes. I loved her so much!
It was so nice and so cool to be in a vampires perspective who didn’t drink from animals, and wasn’t always good, but wasn’t necessarily the villain either and still has a conscious and heart. Charlotte wasn’t close to perfect and made plenty of mistakes, but she still tried to do her best even after all she has went though. I feel like that is so much more real, even though she is a vampire, than so many other vampire books and movies.
I am normally not a fan of slow burns, it’s often times one of my least favorite tropes, but this one was done so well! I was all for it and constantly rooting for them throughout the book! I need more of Tristan and Charlotte!
You’ll love An Absolute Bloody Disaster if you love found family, slow burns, deadly plot twists and of course vampires! Thank you so much to the author for sending me an arc for an honest review! I loved AABD and definitely recommend it! Now I need book two now!
October 12, 2021
𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀.
𝟰.𝟱⭐ 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
𝘈𝘯 𝘈𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 is anything but its namesake; it's an engaging, funny, and very well written debut novel about snarky (and of course, beautiful) vampires, found family, centuries long revenge, and a gripping mystery. What more you could ask for?
Charlotte is a great FMC. She's strong willed, 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 sarcastic, and loves (intentionally or not) winding people up. It's a cleverly funny perspective to read from and it was without a doubt my favourite aspect of this story. She also goes through a fair amount of character development throughout the course of the book, especially the relationship between her and Xander, as well as her budding romance with Tristan. The rest of the gang are also great, it's hard to pick a favourite but I adored Kaleb!
I do think the twists in this book were fairly obvious, but in the best possible way as the story headed in the exact direction I had hoped, which in fairness, only made me love it even more. I noted a lot of similarities to TVD, and it even felt like what I imagined reading a series of TVD would feel like (I've read the first TVD book and couldn't get on board with it due to the crazy amount of differences to the show but we won't talk about that). Really, this is truly a testament to Lindsay's writing as I could absolutely envision this as a successful TV show.
I'd 100% recommend 𝘈𝘯 𝘈𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 to anyone that appreciates a good vampy mystery, it truly was a great read.
𝟰.𝟱⭐ 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
𝘈𝘯 𝘈𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 is anything but its namesake; it's an engaging, funny, and very well written debut novel about snarky (and of course, beautiful) vampires, found family, centuries long revenge, and a gripping mystery. What more you could ask for?
Charlotte is a great FMC. She's strong willed, 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 sarcastic, and loves (intentionally or not) winding people up. It's a cleverly funny perspective to read from and it was without a doubt my favourite aspect of this story. She also goes through a fair amount of character development throughout the course of the book, especially the relationship between her and Xander, as well as her budding romance with Tristan. The rest of the gang are also great, it's hard to pick a favourite but I adored Kaleb!
I do think the twists in this book were fairly obvious, but in the best possible way as the story headed in the exact direction I had hoped, which in fairness, only made me love it even more. I noted a lot of similarities to TVD, and it even felt like what I imagined reading a series of TVD would feel like (I've read the first TVD book and couldn't get on board with it due to the crazy amount of differences to the show but we won't talk about that). Really, this is truly a testament to Lindsay's writing as I could absolutely envision this as a successful TV show.
I'd 100% recommend 𝘈𝘯 𝘈𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 to anyone that appreciates a good vampy mystery, it truly was a great read.
October 18, 2021
READ THIS BOOK!!! I NEED PEOPLE TO READ THIS BOOK!!!! The characters, the lore, the world, the mystery, the twists, the FOUND FAMILY!!! I’m going to be in withdrawal until AABD2 comes out, so I need people to read this so I can fangirl about it with them!! Lindsay is now an auto buy author and I am already so hyped by the sounds of AABD2! Bring it on!!
February 16, 2022
So if you want to read this, there are hundred of spoilers in this review. It also contains all my thoughts while I was reading, so lots of !!!!! And lots of screaming and verry confusing, but this book deserves an eight of five or like a ten out of five stars! Thank you so much for je author for sending me an earc!
I started out worried if I’d like this book, new author and all, but holy crap I want to read her work for forever and that still wouldn’t be enough time!
Like the characters
Into the second chapter and seems a little teenage wattpad to me.
It’s like if vampires diaries but with more sarcasm
Love the sarcasm- I adore a good hot headed female lead
Also why do I imagine them all British? Are they suppose to be?
The wording is a little too detailed for my taste- it describes everything and I personally am not a huge fan- but it’s really minor
I love Xander’s brotherly feel- I feel like I could hug him and he’d feel nice
It gets really good at chapter five. I love how evolved the characters are, you can see a lot of time was put into this!
I also love the incorporation of languages. I’m learning French myself and I love studying other places- having the mix of different languages is a big plus for me.
Also how sweet the brother sister relationship can be and then five minutes later it’s try me. YESSSSS
I’m in love with Nik- if my future boyfriend isn’t like him well then Bye. I love the sarcasm and overconfident play boy- they have my heart. I love the kind of Cinderella vibes from chapters 9 ans 10!
OK- I just got to the part where the title is part of the book. And yayaya- I love that that it was incorporated!
Chap. 17 Ok, i know vampire life is hard, but Xander is a little too strict- I mean come on- let the people have emotions. Not everyone can be feel-less like you, SIR.
Ok but, Her and Nik- could it be? I like that a lot though.
It’d be hard to be a vampire, so much time passing away and seeing everything without being apart of it? I think that’s be hard mentality- no wonder vampire are freaky- they went mentality unstable.
Quote i love- “I beg your Unbelievable pardon?” YESSSSSSS Charlotte
I love Charlotte’s sarcasm, I am sarcastic so I love seeing a main character being sarcastic.also, I’m terrified of the beach and I live a few miles from it so, ok girl. We can be scared together!
“Your farce is growing tiresome.” Kaleb stares at me with contempt, as if to say, You can do better than that.” That quote makes me way to happy!
Now that I am more into the story (52%) I love the detail added to make everything come alive!
I’m in love with Henry- he’s amazing and I need him in my life!
Chapter 28- I think I know what’s going on. I think Reyna is alive and Kaleb is protecting her. Maybe.
Again- adoring how the whole group listens to her conversations- I can’t get over Xander growling. I love that so much!
I love how strong Lottie is, but she still has weak moments- she’s a full rounded person. Well done with character arc.
Kaleb infuriates me and I love him at the same time. Very confused emotions!
IM SO HAPPY KALEB AND LOTTIE ARE KIND OF OK! I really like Kaleb and I’m so happy it all coming together. Kind of still hoping Rayna is not dead- not sure.
THEY KISSED!!!!! YESSSS
Very much later- I love their family dynamic and I love how close they are all and Kaleb calling people darling is doing something to me.
AHHAHAHA THIS STORY IS SO CUTE!!!! I’m at the part where they talk before the party and now I’m scared about their relationship- are they going to work??? This is amazing!
I love how now we are getting a more in-depth view of Kaleb! I really like him and I hope he doesn’t mess anything up!
AHHAHAHA!!!!! What the heck just happened! I’m in shock! TY FREAKING TY IS KONSTANTIN!!! That was a huge plot twist!
Finally we get to know the truth! This is so amazing.SHES ALIVE SHE IS FREAKING ALIVE!!!!! AHHAHAHA
OH MY WORD DO I NEED THE NEXT BOOK! That’s was an incredible ride of amazing plot and world building!
“Nullum Corpus”
I started out worried if I’d like this book, new author and all, but holy crap I want to read her work for forever and that still wouldn’t be enough time!
Like the characters
Into the second chapter and seems a little teenage wattpad to me.
It’s like if vampires diaries but with more sarcasm
Love the sarcasm- I adore a good hot headed female lead
Also why do I imagine them all British? Are they suppose to be?
The wording is a little too detailed for my taste- it describes everything and I personally am not a huge fan- but it’s really minor
I love Xander’s brotherly feel- I feel like I could hug him and he’d feel nice
It gets really good at chapter five. I love how evolved the characters are, you can see a lot of time was put into this!
I also love the incorporation of languages. I’m learning French myself and I love studying other places- having the mix of different languages is a big plus for me.
Also how sweet the brother sister relationship can be and then five minutes later it’s try me. YESSSSS
I’m in love with Nik- if my future boyfriend isn’t like him well then Bye. I love the sarcasm and overconfident play boy- they have my heart. I love the kind of Cinderella vibes from chapters 9 ans 10!
OK- I just got to the part where the title is part of the book. And yayaya- I love that that it was incorporated!
Chap. 17 Ok, i know vampire life is hard, but Xander is a little too strict- I mean come on- let the people have emotions. Not everyone can be feel-less like you, SIR.
Ok but, Her and Nik- could it be? I like that a lot though.
It’d be hard to be a vampire, so much time passing away and seeing everything without being apart of it? I think that’s be hard mentality- no wonder vampire are freaky- they went mentality unstable.
Quote i love- “I beg your Unbelievable pardon?” YESSSSSSS Charlotte
I love Charlotte’s sarcasm, I am sarcastic so I love seeing a main character being sarcastic.also, I’m terrified of the beach and I live a few miles from it so, ok girl. We can be scared together!
“Your farce is growing tiresome.” Kaleb stares at me with contempt, as if to say, You can do better than that.” That quote makes me way to happy!
Now that I am more into the story (52%) I love the detail added to make everything come alive!
I’m in love with Henry- he’s amazing and I need him in my life!
Chapter 28- I think I know what’s going on. I think Reyna is alive and Kaleb is protecting her. Maybe.
Again- adoring how the whole group listens to her conversations- I can’t get over Xander growling. I love that so much!
I love how strong Lottie is, but she still has weak moments- she’s a full rounded person. Well done with character arc.
Kaleb infuriates me and I love him at the same time. Very confused emotions!
IM SO HAPPY KALEB AND LOTTIE ARE KIND OF OK! I really like Kaleb and I’m so happy it all coming together. Kind of still hoping Rayna is not dead- not sure.
THEY KISSED!!!!! YESSSS
Very much later- I love their family dynamic and I love how close they are all and Kaleb calling people darling is doing something to me.
AHHAHAHA THIS STORY IS SO CUTE!!!! I’m at the part where they talk before the party and now I’m scared about their relationship- are they going to work??? This is amazing!
I love how now we are getting a more in-depth view of Kaleb! I really like him and I hope he doesn’t mess anything up!
AHHAHAHA!!!!! What the heck just happened! I’m in shock! TY FREAKING TY IS KONSTANTIN!!! That was a huge plot twist!
Finally we get to know the truth! This is so amazing.SHES ALIVE SHE IS FREAKING ALIVE!!!!! AHHAHAHA
OH MY WORD DO I NEED THE NEXT BOOK! That’s was an incredible ride of amazing plot and world building!
“Nullum Corpus”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2021
An Absolute Bloody Disaster but a bloody good read!
“Nullum corpus."
Title: An Absolute Bloody Disaster
Author: Lindsay Clement
Genre: Fantasy, YA, Dystopian, Romance
TW: death, murders, blood
Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Thoughts: Oh my gosh I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. At first I was skeptical as I never really got into the whole vampire thing but as I read the last page I had completely fallen in love with Charlotte and her family of vampires. All the characters were so well developed and easily likeable (some more than others) all with their own flaws which made them all the more interesting. The banter between the group was hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud on multiple occasions.
The main protagonist Charlotte is all anyone can want in a main character; badass, sarcastic, easily loveable, hilarious, vulnerable and flawed. Charlotte was such an easy character to fall in love with and I found myself rooting for her on every page. Not only did she have some amazing one liners but all her flaws and vulnerability made her all the more human and relatable, if you can relate to someone who craves blood…….
I loved reading about the flashbacks to the 1800s as it gave us better insight into all the characters and I loved reading about Rayna and Charlotte’s friendship and how Rayna still continued to impact Charlotte’s life in the present. These flashbacks were also heavily linked to the events of the present day which allowed us to understand why each of the characters acted the way that they did.
This book was a murder mystery FILLED with plot twists that have you second guessing everything you know. These twists had me shocked and made it near impossible to stop reading. However I did manage to guess one of the major plot twists but was none the less surprised. As I sit here writing this I am still in complete and utter disbelief at the ending and can’t wait for the sequel to be released as I NEED answers ASAP!!
Oh and how can I forget about the slow burn romance OH MY GOD. I loved reading about Charlotte’s developing relationship with golden boy and I can’t wait to see how their relationship grows in the next books!
I recommend this book for fans of a good murder mystery with elements of the supernatural.
June 22, 2021
Now let me tell you how much I LOVED this book...
If you love vampires, you going to love this book,
The plot is fast-paced, there's romance, a sassy and badass main character, tonnes of plot twists all along side a compelling narrative.
I loved every moment of this book, the character-building, the relationships between said characters, the writing style was easy to read, and the ending will seriously question your ability to wait for the next book.
If you haven't got it on your TBR go do it now.
If you love vampires, you going to love this book,
The plot is fast-paced, there's romance, a sassy and badass main character, tonnes of plot twists all along side a compelling narrative.
I loved every moment of this book, the character-building, the relationships between said characters, the writing style was easy to read, and the ending will seriously question your ability to wait for the next book.
If you haven't got it on your TBR go do it now.
March 22, 2022
4.75⭐
aż sama nie mogę w to uwierzyć, że książka o wampirach (!) mi się tak spodobała
świetny debiut, czekam na kolejne części
aż sama nie mogę w to uwierzyć, że książka o wampirach (!) mi się tak spodobała
świetny debiut, czekam na kolejne części
September 27, 2021
4.5
Thank you so much to the author for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve been OBSESSED with Lindsay Clement since I followed her bookstagram. Everything from her aesthetic to her thoughtful, engaging reviews made me a permanent fan. When I heard she was writing a book of her own, I couldn’t wait to support.
Admittedly, I’m not the biggest fan of vampire books. I’ve long criticized Twilight and Vampire Academy and I was more interested in The Vampire Diaries show than the books. But Lindsay has completely changed my opinion of the genre. And I genuinely have not felt this way about a debut novel in such long time.
There is so much layered, detailed background to set the stage for this book. Though it’s a little slow to jump into the action, the prose never feels overwhelming or like an information dump. And once the mystery at the center of the book takes off, the book remains a dark, fast-paced tale that you won’t want to end.
When it comes to characterization, Lindsay’s depiction of all major players and sideline characters is equally masterful. I cannot tell you how much I love the MC, Charlotte. She’s 19, but also a 200+ year old vampire. And her antics and attitude toe the line between adolescence and immortality perfectly. Then there is the fabulous group dynamic between her, Xander, Nik, Kaleb, and Tristan. As you read, you’ll feel as though you are a part of the story and friend group.
Speaking of the Golden Boy, I ADORE Tristan. Lindsay promised us a swoon-worthy love interest and let me just say, she did not disappoint.
All in all, this book is a vibrant, clever, urban paranormal fantasy that is a must-add to your reading collection.
Thank you so much to the author for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve been OBSESSED with Lindsay Clement since I followed her bookstagram. Everything from her aesthetic to her thoughtful, engaging reviews made me a permanent fan. When I heard she was writing a book of her own, I couldn’t wait to support.
Admittedly, I’m not the biggest fan of vampire books. I’ve long criticized Twilight and Vampire Academy and I was more interested in The Vampire Diaries show than the books. But Lindsay has completely changed my opinion of the genre. And I genuinely have not felt this way about a debut novel in such long time.
There is so much layered, detailed background to set the stage for this book. Though it’s a little slow to jump into the action, the prose never feels overwhelming or like an information dump. And once the mystery at the center of the book takes off, the book remains a dark, fast-paced tale that you won’t want to end.
When it comes to characterization, Lindsay’s depiction of all major players and sideline characters is equally masterful. I cannot tell you how much I love the MC, Charlotte. She’s 19, but also a 200+ year old vampire. And her antics and attitude toe the line between adolescence and immortality perfectly. Then there is the fabulous group dynamic between her, Xander, Nik, Kaleb, and Tristan. As you read, you’ll feel as though you are a part of the story and friend group.
Speaking of the Golden Boy, I ADORE Tristan. Lindsay promised us a swoon-worthy love interest and let me just say, she did not disappoint.
All in all, this book is a vibrant, clever, urban paranormal fantasy that is a must-add to your reading collection.
August 5, 2021
4.5 stars, thank you to the author who sent me an e-ARC of her book in exchange for an honest review.
“We are the masters of our pain. It holds only the power we give it.”
The only way I could describe this book is a rollercoaster-you have the build up, you think you're going somewhere, and then you're yanked in an opposite direction and left reeling and screaming for your life (screaming mentally, though, we don't want to scream at this lovely book). For a debut novel, I'm impressed by the cleverness Clement writes, and how her writing sucks you in and doesn't want to let you go.
This book has many things readers today are looking for; a bad-ass MC (I mean, I'm pretty sure Charlotte invented the meaning of bad-ass), found family, banter that makes you laugh out-loud, and a book-boyfriend list that makes you badly wish fictional characters were real (If I had to choose one, though, I'd choose Kaleb, with Nik as a close second).
"It's not my fault you're an absolute, bloody disaster."
I love Charlotte, she's the type of morally-grey sarcastic character I've been wanting to read about since forever. Her perspective was a refreshing one, and I enjoyed reading about the relatable turmoil she feels around her family and friends, and her feelings towards a certain golden-eyed, freckled boy...
The characters as a whole were so well crafted, and so unique, none like the other. Each time you meet one, you automatically love them, even if they're supposed to be 'evil'. The plot was amazing too, albeit slow-paced in the beginning. Slow isn't bad, though, not when it's used in the term slow-burn! Truly, the romance was probably one of my favorite parts in this book altogether.
“There’s no need to be rude. Some of these misfits happen to be highly functional.”
Something that surprised me in this book is the depth of the plot. With how light the writing feels sometimes, it doesn't truly strike you that something sinister is waiting to happen until, well, it happens. The ending left me shell-shocked, and it hurts that I can't read the second book yet. The wait is going to kill me, I just know it.
If you're a fan of vampires (if you're not, then who are you?!), great humor, bad-ass shenanigans, and twists that leave you wanting more, An Absolutely Bloody Disaster was made just for you. If the vampires don't win you over, the golden-boy surely will.
"Nullum corpus."
“We are the masters of our pain. It holds only the power we give it.”
The only way I could describe this book is a rollercoaster-you have the build up, you think you're going somewhere, and then you're yanked in an opposite direction and left reeling and screaming for your life (screaming mentally, though, we don't want to scream at this lovely book). For a debut novel, I'm impressed by the cleverness Clement writes, and how her writing sucks you in and doesn't want to let you go.
This book has many things readers today are looking for; a bad-ass MC (I mean, I'm pretty sure Charlotte invented the meaning of bad-ass), found family, banter that makes you laugh out-loud, and a book-boyfriend list that makes you badly wish fictional characters were real (If I had to choose one, though, I'd choose Kaleb, with Nik as a close second).
"It's not my fault you're an absolute, bloody disaster."
I love Charlotte, she's the type of morally-grey sarcastic character I've been wanting to read about since forever. Her perspective was a refreshing one, and I enjoyed reading about the relatable turmoil she feels around her family and friends, and her feelings towards a certain golden-eyed, freckled boy...
The characters as a whole were so well crafted, and so unique, none like the other. Each time you meet one, you automatically love them, even if they're supposed to be 'evil'. The plot was amazing too, albeit slow-paced in the beginning. Slow isn't bad, though, not when it's used in the term slow-burn! Truly, the romance was probably one of my favorite parts in this book altogether.
“There’s no need to be rude. Some of these misfits happen to be highly functional.”
Something that surprised me in this book is the depth of the plot. With how light the writing feels sometimes, it doesn't truly strike you that something sinister is waiting to happen until, well, it happens. The ending left me shell-shocked, and it hurts that I can't read the second book yet. The wait is going to kill me, I just know it.
If you're a fan of vampires (if you're not, then who are you?!), great humor, bad-ass shenanigans, and twists that leave you wanting more, An Absolutely Bloody Disaster was made just for you. If the vampires don't win you over, the golden-boy surely will.
"Nullum corpus."
October 4, 2021
An absolute bloody good time!
As soon as this novel was announced by Lindsay Clement, I knew I wanted to get my hands on it. A paranormal vampire mystery with witty banter? Yes please.
I had such a fun time with this story. Vampire Charlotte finds herself accidentally murdering someone (bound to happen as a vampire I guess)! A copy cat killer follows in her wake and she soon finds herself on the hunt for the killer with her equally hilarious friends.
This has a strong sense of found family and I found all of the characters endearing in their own ways. I loved all of the banter and the sarcastic commentary amongst them all. I couldn’t help laughing as time after time they found themselves in sticky situations. Considering the vast cast I also felt Lindsay did a great job with developing each character. They all were diverse in their own right.
This is a slow and steady burn but there’s plenty of plot development and twists to keep you hooked until the pace quickens. I also enjoyed that while there is romance in this story, it wasn’t the main focus.
Overall I’m impressed with Lindsay’s writing which is incredibly engaging and easily digestible way. I found myself flying through even though it’s not a short read by any means.
If you’re looking for a light, paranormal mystery with vampires and romance you need to put this on your TBR quick smart!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As soon as this novel was announced by Lindsay Clement, I knew I wanted to get my hands on it. A paranormal vampire mystery with witty banter? Yes please.
I had such a fun time with this story. Vampire Charlotte finds herself accidentally murdering someone (bound to happen as a vampire I guess)! A copy cat killer follows in her wake and she soon finds herself on the hunt for the killer with her equally hilarious friends.
This has a strong sense of found family and I found all of the characters endearing in their own ways. I loved all of the banter and the sarcastic commentary amongst them all. I couldn’t help laughing as time after time they found themselves in sticky situations. Considering the vast cast I also felt Lindsay did a great job with developing each character. They all were diverse in their own right.
This is a slow and steady burn but there’s plenty of plot development and twists to keep you hooked until the pace quickens. I also enjoyed that while there is romance in this story, it wasn’t the main focus.
Overall I’m impressed with Lindsay’s writing which is incredibly engaging and easily digestible way. I found myself flying through even though it’s not a short read by any means.
If you’re looking for a light, paranormal mystery with vampires and romance you need to put this on your TBR quick smart!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2021
4⭐️
An engaging, well-written debut that I couldn’t put down! I read this book in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it, congrats to the author on her first release!
If you like:
🔥 Vampires that BITE
🔥 Found family
🔥 Snark
🔥 Mystery/Murder
Then you’ll really enjoy this book, in some places it reminded me of like a vampire Addie LaRue!
The world and the characters were really well fleshed out, there’s a lot of great captivating imagery and moments that kept me engaged. There were small plot twists that kept me guessing that I really enjoyed. I did guess the overall ‘big’ plot twists though and to me they felt quite obvious, so it did feel a bit like I was waiting for the characters to catch-up in places.
Charlotte as an MC is interesting, she’s a bit annoying at times and a little obtuse/hot headed – her flaws, and the fact that she’s definitely not the hero, made her an interesting character though. Craft-wise, Charlotte is a bit difficult because she doesn’t really drive the plot, despite her being the main POV – so this was something I felt could have been refined/tied together more so that Charlotte was more active rather than reactive.
I feel like the title actually does this book a bit of a disservice – it’s quite young and tongue in cheek, which is fine but I don’t feel that it really fits the vibe of the book that well. The book has plenty of originality with a really clear authorial voice, there’s just the right about of gore and a good amount of romance. My concern is that because the title is a little slapstick it might come as a shock that this is a dark-ish book that deals with adult themes.
I think the author did well navigating the minefield of Vampire lore and picked a healthy balance of classic tropes with modern references (sparkling). I do think that because the MCs are so morally gray (hello casual murder) it was hard to make the ‘villain’ bad/scary versus dramatic/monologue-y, so I’ll be interested to see how this develops in the next book.
Overall, a really great read that drew me in immediately. I can’t wait to read the next instalment and would definitely recommend this book!
An engaging, well-written debut that I couldn’t put down! I read this book in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it, congrats to the author on her first release!
If you like:
🔥 Vampires that BITE
🔥 Found family
🔥 Snark
🔥 Mystery/Murder
Then you’ll really enjoy this book, in some places it reminded me of like a vampire Addie LaRue!
The world and the characters were really well fleshed out, there’s a lot of great captivating imagery and moments that kept me engaged. There were small plot twists that kept me guessing that I really enjoyed. I did guess the overall ‘big’ plot twists though and to me they felt quite obvious, so it did feel a bit like I was waiting for the characters to catch-up in places.
Charlotte as an MC is interesting, she’s a bit annoying at times and a little obtuse/hot headed – her flaws, and the fact that she’s definitely not the hero, made her an interesting character though. Craft-wise, Charlotte is a bit difficult because she doesn’t really drive the plot, despite her being the main POV – so this was something I felt could have been refined/tied together more so that Charlotte was more active rather than reactive.
I feel like the title actually does this book a bit of a disservice – it’s quite young and tongue in cheek, which is fine but I don’t feel that it really fits the vibe of the book that well. The book has plenty of originality with a really clear authorial voice, there’s just the right about of gore and a good amount of romance. My concern is that because the title is a little slapstick it might come as a shock that this is a dark-ish book that deals with adult themes.
I think the author did well navigating the minefield of Vampire lore and picked a healthy balance of classic tropes with modern references (sparkling). I do think that because the MCs are so morally gray (hello casual murder) it was hard to make the ‘villain’ bad/scary versus dramatic/monologue-y, so I’ll be interested to see how this develops in the next book.
Overall, a really great read that drew me in immediately. I can’t wait to read the next instalment and would definitely recommend this book!
October 12, 2021
“Humanity is a glorious mess”
An Absolute Bloody Disaster was exactly the opposite! I know that sounds cheesy, but it is true!
I am a big fan of Lindsey’s gorgeous bookstagram account, and the more little tastes she gave us of this book, the more I knew I had to read it!
I would like to start out by saying that my love of snarky, beautiful vampires will never die. An Absolutely Bloody Disaster took all of the things I’ve loved about YA Fantasy books—vampires, a murderer mystery, a forbidden romance, and a snarky heroine—and created one big masterpiece!
Our heroine, Charlotte is over 200 years old, and has all the sarcasm I need to feel right at home with her! I loved her personality, her total badassness, and pretty much everything about her. I really loved how Lindsey humanised Charlotte while still giving her the perfect vampire personality.
I also adored the entire vampire gang in this book! They reminded me of the crew in the Vampire Diaries, but with a more comedic tone!
If I didn’t know this was Lindsey’s debut novel, I never would have been able to tell! She writes like she has been a staple in the YA Fantasy genre for years. I am so excited to see where Lindsey takes this story and to see what she does in the future!
Lindsey Clement is truly an author to watch and An Absolutely Blood Disaster should be on any vamp-loving, urban fantasy obsessed reader’s TBR.
Thank you thank you to Lindsey for letting me be a part of her ARC team! This in no way affected my review for this book.
An Absolute Bloody Disaster was exactly the opposite! I know that sounds cheesy, but it is true!
I am a big fan of Lindsey’s gorgeous bookstagram account, and the more little tastes she gave us of this book, the more I knew I had to read it!
I would like to start out by saying that my love of snarky, beautiful vampires will never die. An Absolutely Bloody Disaster took all of the things I’ve loved about YA Fantasy books—vampires, a murderer mystery, a forbidden romance, and a snarky heroine—and created one big masterpiece!
Our heroine, Charlotte is over 200 years old, and has all the sarcasm I need to feel right at home with her! I loved her personality, her total badassness, and pretty much everything about her. I really loved how Lindsey humanised Charlotte while still giving her the perfect vampire personality.
I also adored the entire vampire gang in this book! They reminded me of the crew in the Vampire Diaries, but with a more comedic tone!
If I didn’t know this was Lindsey’s debut novel, I never would have been able to tell! She writes like she has been a staple in the YA Fantasy genre for years. I am so excited to see where Lindsey takes this story and to see what she does in the future!
Lindsey Clement is truly an author to watch and An Absolutely Blood Disaster should be on any vamp-loving, urban fantasy obsessed reader’s TBR.
Thank you thank you to Lindsey for letting me be a part of her ARC team! This in no way affected my review for this book.
October 12, 2021
i was sent an ARC copy of An Absolute Bloody disaster by @novelitica it’s coming out Today October 12th !!! please go check it out because i loved it so so much !!
what is it about ?
Charlotte Novik is a typical 19-year-old girl: she has an obnoxious older brother, friends who drive her crazy, a giant mansion overlooking the San Francisco Bay, and a refrigerator filled with blood bags. Oh, and did she mention she's a vampire? Because that's kind of important.
I loved that book !! it’s so beautifully written, i loved the pace and the use of languages throughout the book (no spoilers you shall by yourself)! With all of that you also get vampires ?? and Nik ??
okay let me tell you about Nik : he is your new book boyfriend, you will love him, love to read about him and you will be left wanting more 🤍
there are many good shocking wow moments in this book i read it in one sitting and that never happens to me !!
did i say it’s about vampires ?? BECAUSE ITS ABOUT VAMPIRES !!
@novelitica congratulations on publishing your book you deserve so much success, let’s welcome this beauty into our little corner of the internet 🤍
- a
what is it about ?
Charlotte Novik is a typical 19-year-old girl: she has an obnoxious older brother, friends who drive her crazy, a giant mansion overlooking the San Francisco Bay, and a refrigerator filled with blood bags. Oh, and did she mention she's a vampire? Because that's kind of important.
I loved that book !! it’s so beautifully written, i loved the pace and the use of languages throughout the book (no spoilers you shall by yourself)! With all of that you also get vampires ?? and Nik ??
okay let me tell you about Nik : he is your new book boyfriend, you will love him, love to read about him and you will be left wanting more 🤍
there are many good shocking wow moments in this book i read it in one sitting and that never happens to me !!
did i say it’s about vampires ?? BECAUSE ITS ABOUT VAMPIRES !!
@novelitica congratulations on publishing your book you deserve so much success, let’s welcome this beauty into our little corner of the internet 🤍
- a
October 13, 2021
4.5/5★
I was gifted this arc by the author in exchange for an honest review.
'𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐞 - 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭.'
Well, colour me impressed.
My guilty pleasure is vampires and this book did not disappoint, although I'm not too sure what I feel guilty about. Aabd delivered on the front of swxy and seductive vampires, a great story and plot, and a whole bunch of chaos and triumph that only these bunch of characters could possess. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting one of my new favourite main girls.
'𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐨𝐧𝐞.' I love this quote because it is basically Lottie is a box.
Charlotte is a whirlwind and I'm in love with her. She is sassy, sarcastic and unapologetically chaotic and definitely a character to be consumed by. I love that she is flawed, and consciously aware of it, not one to blatantly disregard or explain away her problems or mistakes. She's very forward and aware of her flaws and that she is not the perfect monster. She's definitely a heroine you gravitate towards; her likeability is strong and at no point in the book was I against her - it was always 'go on girl' or 'oh you poor baby, it's ok'. Quite frankly, out of the main group, there wasn't a character I proportionally disliked. They were all very different and unique and captivating, Nik and Rose especially. I am very intrigued by them.
Nik is your resident 'badboy' with a penchant for causing trouble and drinking excessively to mask his pain, exasperated by high levels of sarcasm and brutality. Xander, I find, is one of the most complex characters I've yet to suss out. He is compelling (no pun intended) and I am quite enthralled by him, and Victoria. I adore them and am fascinated by them in equal measure. I love vampire soul mates because I always find that they make the most entertaining and energetic romantic couples.
Pippa and Rose are this aura that I was immediately drawn in to; side characters that pull their weight and share the pages with equal personality and pleasure. I am very excited to learn more about them. First person narratives are not my favourite as side characters like Poppy and Rose tend to slip through the cracks more often than not, and I abhore that, but generally speaking, Lottie gave a delightful running narrative of the relationships and the characters, full of funny or snide comments in conversations or remarks about individuals. Pippa was someone I instantly gravitated toeards; her story is heartbreaking and my heart squeezes for her. One of the most memorable and beautiful moments for me was when Kaleb saved her from the stake splinter; not only do you see the vulnerable sides to Pippa and Kaleb, but you also see how much they care for each other, that they are a family and Kaleb, their founder, and through Lottie's eyes no less. I found that the different dynamics between them all, and the family dynamic as a whole, wonderfully captivating.
Kaleb was a unique addition to the crew. Older, more advanced and well versed in vampirism, the alpha of the vampires, and pretty much a condescending pr***, but still fascinating. I rather enjoyed how his sarcastic personality played off of Charlotte's, and that his character was a lot deeper than expected. I did figure early on what he was all about, past the bravado and fake altruism, clearly a more together and emphatic 'villain' of the story. Something about his nature was very appealing to the story, and with the snippets of Rayna that are present in flashback chapters, there is a lot more to Kaleb that meets the eye. From the flashbacks we've had, as well as moments in the present, Kaleb is full of love, and not beyond sacrificing himself for those he cares for, doing anything he can to protect his family. You'll find many instances of this as the story progresses, as Lottie allows us an insight into her past with Kaleb. It was pretty obvious from the beginning that Kaleb would not maliciously murder his beloved, but in the encounters we've had with him, I figured that he'd faked it all to protect everyone. He always seemed like the self-sacrificing, guilt-ridden, type who'd rather every hate him than know the truth and be in danger. A very large part of me loves him for it, and I like that he's not your usual sadistic leader, like Konstantine.
Which brings me to Ty... if I had a nickle for every time I said 'I don't trust him, he's the bad guy', I'd have a mountain of nickles. I jokingly suggested in my arc notes that Ty was the guy behind it all, no knowing about Konstantine at the time, and it wasn't until Kaleb burst into the Manor that it finally clicked. Kaleb and Nik have never seen Ty, Oh shit. I figured that Konstantine had inserted himself into their lives somehow, but I did believe Lottie had more to do with it than 'you were convenient'. I had this idea that Konstantine chose Lottie, not only because she was a little reckless but because out of all of them, if Lottie were in danger, Rayna would come running. But alas, not the tea. Instead now he's taking Victoria and I'm mad as hell. I did have a feeling that Xander was in on Kaleb's plans because they were way too chummy for him not to be... now he's paying for it. We'll just see how it goes but it's making me very nervous because I adore Victoria.
Oh and didn't Rayna find the best time to reinsert herself? Yes, I believe she did miss all the fun 🙄 I'm hoping she's not as painful as I think she is - she's seems like the kind of character you love but have to take with a pinch of salt.
I did find the structure of the book very appealing, as it flits between past and present, and with randomly inserted third person perspectives from other characters. I honestly cannot wait for the story to continue.
It's a delightful mess; an entanglement of slow burns and family drama, and I loved every moment. If you like the found family trope, slow burns, vampires and murder mystery, with a whole lot of sarcasm and chaos, this book is definitely for you!
I was gifted this arc by the author in exchange for an honest review.
'𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐞 - 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭.'
Well, colour me impressed.
My guilty pleasure is vampires and this book did not disappoint, although I'm not too sure what I feel guilty about. Aabd delivered on the front of swxy and seductive vampires, a great story and plot, and a whole bunch of chaos and triumph that only these bunch of characters could possess. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting one of my new favourite main girls.
'𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐨𝐧𝐞.' I love this quote because it is basically Lottie is a box.
Charlotte is a whirlwind and I'm in love with her. She is sassy, sarcastic and unapologetically chaotic and definitely a character to be consumed by. I love that she is flawed, and consciously aware of it, not one to blatantly disregard or explain away her problems or mistakes. She's very forward and aware of her flaws and that she is not the perfect monster. She's definitely a heroine you gravitate towards; her likeability is strong and at no point in the book was I against her - it was always 'go on girl' or 'oh you poor baby, it's ok'. Quite frankly, out of the main group, there wasn't a character I proportionally disliked. They were all very different and unique and captivating, Nik and Rose especially. I am very intrigued by them.
Nik is your resident 'badboy' with a penchant for causing trouble and drinking excessively to mask his pain, exasperated by high levels of sarcasm and brutality. Xander, I find, is one of the most complex characters I've yet to suss out. He is compelling (no pun intended) and I am quite enthralled by him, and Victoria. I adore them and am fascinated by them in equal measure. I love vampire soul mates because I always find that they make the most entertaining and energetic romantic couples.
Pippa and Rose are this aura that I was immediately drawn in to; side characters that pull their weight and share the pages with equal personality and pleasure. I am very excited to learn more about them. First person narratives are not my favourite as side characters like Poppy and Rose tend to slip through the cracks more often than not, and I abhore that, but generally speaking, Lottie gave a delightful running narrative of the relationships and the characters, full of funny or snide comments in conversations or remarks about individuals. Pippa was someone I instantly gravitated toeards; her story is heartbreaking and my heart squeezes for her. One of the most memorable and beautiful moments for me was when Kaleb saved her from the stake splinter; not only do you see the vulnerable sides to Pippa and Kaleb, but you also see how much they care for each other, that they are a family and Kaleb, their founder, and through Lottie's eyes no less. I found that the different dynamics between them all, and the family dynamic as a whole, wonderfully captivating.
Kaleb was a unique addition to the crew. Older, more advanced and well versed in vampirism, the alpha of the vampires, and pretty much a condescending pr***, but still fascinating. I rather enjoyed how his sarcastic personality played off of Charlotte's, and that his character was a lot deeper than expected. I did figure early on what he was all about, past the bravado and fake altruism, clearly a more together and emphatic 'villain' of the story. Something about his nature was very appealing to the story, and with the snippets of Rayna that are present in flashback chapters, there is a lot more to Kaleb that meets the eye. From the flashbacks we've had, as well as moments in the present, Kaleb is full of love, and not beyond sacrificing himself for those he cares for, doing anything he can to protect his family. You'll find many instances of this as the story progresses, as Lottie allows us an insight into her past with Kaleb. It was pretty obvious from the beginning that Kaleb would not maliciously murder his beloved, but in the encounters we've had with him, I figured that he'd faked it all to protect everyone. He always seemed like the self-sacrificing, guilt-ridden, type who'd rather every hate him than know the truth and be in danger. A very large part of me loves him for it, and I like that he's not your usual sadistic leader, like Konstantine.
Which brings me to Ty... if I had a nickle for every time I said 'I don't trust him, he's the bad guy', I'd have a mountain of nickles. I jokingly suggested in my arc notes that Ty was the guy behind it all, no knowing about Konstantine at the time, and it wasn't until Kaleb burst into the Manor that it finally clicked. Kaleb and Nik have never seen Ty, Oh shit. I figured that Konstantine had inserted himself into their lives somehow, but I did believe Lottie had more to do with it than 'you were convenient'. I had this idea that Konstantine chose Lottie, not only because she was a little reckless but because out of all of them, if Lottie were in danger, Rayna would come running. But alas, not the tea. Instead now he's taking Victoria and I'm mad as hell. I did have a feeling that Xander was in on Kaleb's plans because they were way too chummy for him not to be... now he's paying for it. We'll just see how it goes but it's making me very nervous because I adore Victoria.
Oh and didn't Rayna find the best time to reinsert herself? Yes, I believe she did miss all the fun 🙄 I'm hoping she's not as painful as I think she is - she's seems like the kind of character you love but have to take with a pinch of salt.
I did find the structure of the book very appealing, as it flits between past and present, and with randomly inserted third person perspectives from other characters. I honestly cannot wait for the story to continue.
It's a delightful mess; an entanglement of slow burns and family drama, and I loved every moment. If you like the found family trope, slow burns, vampires and murder mystery, with a whole lot of sarcasm and chaos, this book is definitely for you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2021
Firstly, thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy to beta read!
I haven't read many vampire books as im very picky so this was sort of new ground to me. Overall I enjoyed this, the character relationships were well formed, their banter was good. The first half was slow paced but shit goes down within the second half.
There are may shocking moments in this book - some I saw coming and some I didn't! I have formed a love-hate relationship with Charlotte, the FMC from whose perspective the story is told. I found her annoying at times but other times I could sympathise with her. Im eager to see how she evolves in the next book.
I haven't read many vampire books as im very picky so this was sort of new ground to me. Overall I enjoyed this, the character relationships were well formed, their banter was good. The first half was slow paced but shit goes down within the second half.
There are may shocking moments in this book - some I saw coming and some I didn't! I have formed a love-hate relationship with Charlotte, the FMC from whose perspective the story is told. I found her annoying at times but other times I could sympathise with her. Im eager to see how she evolves in the next book.
July 29, 2021
*this book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review*
This book was so beautifully written, I just couldn't stop reading it, I finished half of it on my train trip in 4 hours and then when I get home and I was really really tired I just kept reading because the world that Lindsay creates is pure magic.
I really liked the characters, they were all flawed, they had their own problems and bad habits, but these made them even more lovable. Our main character Charlotte could seem your average teenage girl, if she wouldn't be a few century old vampire. She lives with her wonderful vampire family, who are always there for her if anything happens.
What was my favourite part probably is that this book was fast placed and full of action, definitely my cup of tea. I was always interested in what is going to happen next. Also the way the author uses the flashbacks to tell some memories and past stories about certain things that still affect our characters' lives was fantastic.
Also, I teared up a few times, it got emotional too, I couldn't handle them, but THE PLOT TWISTS, you all are not ready for this magical journey that just starts here. If you want your mind to be blown definitely get this book, because it is a great book, and you don't want to miss it.
This book was so beautifully written, I just couldn't stop reading it, I finished half of it on my train trip in 4 hours and then when I get home and I was really really tired I just kept reading because the world that Lindsay creates is pure magic.
I really liked the characters, they were all flawed, they had their own problems and bad habits, but these made them even more lovable. Our main character Charlotte could seem your average teenage girl, if she wouldn't be a few century old vampire. She lives with her wonderful vampire family, who are always there for her if anything happens.
What was my favourite part probably is that this book was fast placed and full of action, definitely my cup of tea. I was always interested in what is going to happen next. Also the way the author uses the flashbacks to tell some memories and past stories about certain things that still affect our characters' lives was fantastic.
Also, I teared up a few times, it got emotional too, I couldn't handle them, but THE PLOT TWISTS, you all are not ready for this magical journey that just starts here. If you want your mind to be blown definitely get this book, because it is a great book, and you don't want to miss it.
March 2, 2022
Vampires. Betrayal. Found family. Siblings. Sarcasm and sass. Tristan.
Need I say more?
This book isn't typically what I reach for. I'm often a high fantasy girl, and I haven't read many vampire books. But this one delivered in every single way for me. I loved Charlotte's sass and the fact that our vampires were morally grey...but also absolutely devoted to one another. Each character is well fleshed-out and dynamic, coming to life right off the page. The character relationships are absolute perfection. The love and loyalty between all of the friends in this misfit gang is something I just adore.
And Tristan. Gah! Tristan. The complexity and the angst in his and Charlotte's blossoming relationship was wonderful. He was swoon-worthy in the most unexpected ways. He is the perfect golden boy, this amazing cinnamon roll, with spunk and humor that continued to take me by surprise. And he is wonderful opposite to Char's wild, morally grey, sarcastic personality.
Then of course there is that ending... I have no idea what to expect in book 2, but I'm so ready for it!
Need I say more?
This book isn't typically what I reach for. I'm often a high fantasy girl, and I haven't read many vampire books. But this one delivered in every single way for me. I loved Charlotte's sass and the fact that our vampires were morally grey...but also absolutely devoted to one another. Each character is well fleshed-out and dynamic, coming to life right off the page. The character relationships are absolute perfection. The love and loyalty between all of the friends in this misfit gang is something I just adore.
And Tristan. Gah! Tristan. The complexity and the angst in his and Charlotte's blossoming relationship was wonderful. He was swoon-worthy in the most unexpected ways. He is the perfect golden boy, this amazing cinnamon roll, with spunk and humor that continued to take me by surprise. And he is wonderful opposite to Char's wild, morally grey, sarcastic personality.
Then of course there is that ending... I have no idea what to expect in book 2, but I'm so ready for it!
August 2, 2021
Wow. What an incredible debut novel. It was incredibly well written. There was so much detail and backstory but it never felt like it was too much. The storyline had good flow and kept me interested all the way through. I honestly didn’t want to put it down. I’d want to finish work super fast just to go back and read more.
Charlotte is such an amazing main character. She’s truly everything you want in an MC. She’s headstrong and sarcastic and so messy but I love her. The characters are all so well integrated into the story and you get enough backstory about all of them to really understand their group dynamic well. Slow burn is so not my trope but this book was so good that I didn’t even mind it?!
Let me just say that the ending truly blew my mind. Crazy stuff starts happening and I’ll be honest I saw none of it coming!! The only thing that I can complain about is that for some super odd reason I really want Charlotte to get with Kaleb. I’m manifesting this for book 2. Give me the spice we deserve!
Thank you so much to the Author for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Charlotte is such an amazing main character. She’s truly everything you want in an MC. She’s headstrong and sarcastic and so messy but I love her. The characters are all so well integrated into the story and you get enough backstory about all of them to really understand their group dynamic well. Slow burn is so not my trope but this book was so good that I didn’t even mind it?!
Let me just say that the ending truly blew my mind. Crazy stuff starts happening and I’ll be honest I saw none of it coming!! The only thing that I can complain about is that for some super odd reason I really want Charlotte to get with Kaleb. I’m manifesting this for book 2. Give me the spice we deserve!
Thank you so much to the Author for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review!
August 9, 2021
I was kindly sent an e-arc from the author for review. This in no way affects my opinion.
Well...that was absolutely bloody brilliant.
I will no doubt come back and add to this review once I've had time to process my thoughts, but for now, 5 minutes after I've finished it, I'll give you a run down.
First of all, I totally felt like I was part of the gang, and could fully imagine San Francisco even though I've never been. I love first person perspective, and really enjoyed seeing the world through Charlotte's eyes, good and bad. I loved the humour, and felt all of the emotions as if they were my own. The character building was great - I loved Charlotte, Tristan and Xander, and I'm excited to get to know the other characters better in the next book(s).
I thought the flashbacks were a great way of getting to know all the characters, and those chapters felt well placed and flowed well with the rest of the story.
I was trying to decide whether this was a 4 or 5 star read, only because I felt like it took a while to get to the main action of the plot. That being said, I loved the writing style and enjoyed getting to know all of the little details of the characters, the setting and the backstories, which is why I decided to give it 5 stars.
Spoilers ahead...you have been warned...
I'm throughly looking forward to the sequel, which I needed, like, yesterday because I already can't wait to be back with these characters and see how the story continues.
An excellent debut novel.
Well...that was absolutely bloody brilliant.
I will no doubt come back and add to this review once I've had time to process my thoughts, but for now, 5 minutes after I've finished it, I'll give you a run down.
First of all, I totally felt like I was part of the gang, and could fully imagine San Francisco even though I've never been. I love first person perspective, and really enjoyed seeing the world through Charlotte's eyes, good and bad. I loved the humour, and felt all of the emotions as if they were my own. The character building was great - I loved Charlotte, Tristan and Xander, and I'm excited to get to know the other characters better in the next book(s).
I thought the flashbacks were a great way of getting to know all the characters, and those chapters felt well placed and flowed well with the rest of the story.
I was trying to decide whether this was a 4 or 5 star read, only because I felt like it took a while to get to the main action of the plot. That being said, I loved the writing style and enjoyed getting to know all of the little details of the characters, the setting and the backstories, which is why I decided to give it 5 stars.
Spoilers ahead...you have been warned...
I'm throughly looking forward to the sequel, which I needed, like, yesterday because I already can't wait to be back with these characters and see how the story continues.
An excellent debut novel.
August 6, 2021
If you’re into vampires, this book is FOR YOU.
This is such a wonderfully written story with so much snark, family, romance (literally squealed out loud in a few spots), and plot twists. I stayed up way too late finishing this and there are zero regrets about missed sleep.
The main character Charlotte is beyond relatable and I found myself wanting to be friends with her and the other extremely lovable characters.
I’m beyond excited for this to come out in October to add a hard copy to my book shelf. Lindsay, you did a spectacular job. 👏🏻
This is such a wonderfully written story with so much snark, family, romance (literally squealed out loud in a few spots), and plot twists. I stayed up way too late finishing this and there are zero regrets about missed sleep.
The main character Charlotte is beyond relatable and I found myself wanting to be friends with her and the other extremely lovable characters.
I’m beyond excited for this to come out in October to add a hard copy to my book shelf. Lindsay, you did a spectacular job. 👏🏻
October 5, 2022
Okay, so I was super conflicted about Xander throughout the book, but that's mostly because I have a brother myself so I know how Charlotte feels about him. They were either annoyed with each other or protecting each other.
Just needed to say that.
Overall, I picked this book up because I was in the mood for vampires and it did not disappoint. Came for the golden boy. Now I desperately NEED book 2. The twist at the end was halfway predictable for me but the other half just ripped my heart out. That ending was a lot, and I won't sleep until I read the next book. Tristan, I'm coming for you. Don't lose hope! Everything must be okay.
Just needed to say that.
Overall, I picked this book up because I was in the mood for vampires and it did not disappoint. Came for the golden boy. Now I desperately NEED book 2. The twist at the end was halfway predictable for me but the other half just ripped my heart out. That ending was a lot, and I won't sleep until I read the next book. Tristan, I'm coming for you. Don't lose hope! Everything must be okay.
June 20, 2021
I sped through this fast-paced, witty vampire novel in just a few days, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters whenever I wasn’t reading.
This story has all the elements I look for in a good fantasy novel (great characters, badass fight scenes, romance to get invested in, scope for wider backstory that keeps the reader curious) and has left me really eager for the next book in the series.
The protagonist – sassy, sarcastic Charlotte – is great fun! She's wonderfully relatable in her lack of patience, determination to win respect, and unfortunate habit of making bad decisions. Definitely a character I can get behind!
And the rest of the characters are brilliantly formed too. They have such emotional complexity, having been through so much over a long period of time, and this is captured really well in what they say, and even in the minor things, like their movements and expressions.
If you like stories that are equal parts action, humour, found family and romance, and that throw you through a loop with reveal after reveal, you won't regret adding this one to your reading list.
This story has all the elements I look for in a good fantasy novel (great characters, badass fight scenes, romance to get invested in, scope for wider backstory that keeps the reader curious) and has left me really eager for the next book in the series.
The protagonist – sassy, sarcastic Charlotte – is great fun! She's wonderfully relatable in her lack of patience, determination to win respect, and unfortunate habit of making bad decisions. Definitely a character I can get behind!
And the rest of the characters are brilliantly formed too. They have such emotional complexity, having been through so much over a long period of time, and this is captured really well in what they say, and even in the minor things, like their movements and expressions.
If you like stories that are equal parts action, humour, found family and romance, and that throw you through a loop with reveal after reveal, you won't regret adding this one to your reading list.
October 30, 2021
Soo I've never gotten to read a book before where I was able to pester the author with my thoughts as I was reading it... And it was SO. MUCH. FUN. Lindsay has created such full, relatable characters that draw you into their drama without a second thought. This is one of those books where I didn't have to struggle with the first half being only world building, with few character developments. Lindsay dives right in with chaotic Lottie, and lemme tell ya. This chick is RELATABLE. Lottie is me. IF I walked around with no filter and two very 'accident prone' fangs. The way Lindsay intertwines internal and external conflicts in this book is fantastic. I was never bored while reading, and not once did the thought 'OK just make it through this chapter and it'll get better' cross my mind. Which is saying something, bc ADHD can be a betchhh. Moral of the story? READ THIS BOOK. Especially if you like vampires, drama, and YA reads that suck you in. (Also, this read like a Cassandra Clare book for me. It was a fast read because it drew me in with the drama and KEPT me there, until I realized I was done with the book and got sad bahah).
January 10, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love a GOOD vampire novel with lots of vampires and not many humans!!!
Also I PREDICTED THE TWISTS AND TURNS!!!!! (I’m proud of myself)
I love a GOOD vampire novel with lots of vampires and not many humans!!!
Also I PREDICTED THE TWISTS AND TURNS!!!!! (I’m proud of myself)
May 19, 2022
If you like vampire books, this is for you. Loved the witty banter and the relatable characters. Can't wait to find out what happens next.
June 16, 2021
This book is a must read for all the vampire lovers out there! And even if you don’t like vampires, I still think you should read this! I mean… a murder mystery full of sarcastic vampires, slow-burn romance, and dynamic character interactions sounds pretty intriguing, doesn’t it?! You will not be able to put this book down, and I promise you that it DOES NOT DISAPPOINT!! If you still need more convincing, the plot fast-paced, full of twists, and gives you an ending that will leave you yearning for more!
June 28, 2021
I had the privilege of reading the beta copy of this book from the author and I loved it!!
The characters made the story, their relationships were honest and real especially between Charlotte and Xander! Char made some questionable decisions at times but that only made the story better as it builds on her character development. And the women in this book are just awesome, they could hold their own in a fight while wearing dresses!
I couldn’t put the book down, excited every night to read the next chapter and then the ending omg, the last few chapters I couldn’t take my eyes of the screen! The twist was fully shocking I didn’t expect it at all and now I just can’t wait for the next one!!
Well done Lindsay, the writing was amazing, it made me laugh, it made me emotional, it had it all!
The characters made the story, their relationships were honest and real especially between Charlotte and Xander! Char made some questionable decisions at times but that only made the story better as it builds on her character development. And the women in this book are just awesome, they could hold their own in a fight while wearing dresses!
I couldn’t put the book down, excited every night to read the next chapter and then the ending omg, the last few chapters I couldn’t take my eyes of the screen! The twist was fully shocking I didn’t expect it at all and now I just can’t wait for the next one!!
Well done Lindsay, the writing was amazing, it made me laugh, it made me emotional, it had it all!
September 1, 2021
“It was supposed to be the night that changed everything, but now we’re left with more questions than we started with. The whole evening was just an absolute bloody disaster.”
It is no secret that I am a lover of fantasy stories and mythical creatures. An Absolute Bloody Disaster is an urban fantasy featuring vampires and a who-done-it-style mystery.
There were many characters in the “made family” of vampires. The book is written from Charlotte’s POV. Charlotte is a centuries-old vampire who acts like a teenager (and is treated like one). I love her spark and snarky attitude towards basically everyone and everything. She is definitely not the hero type and has many flaws, those flaws made her more likable to me.
The plot was fast-paced and the action was constant. There were several beautifully written passages that I saved in my book journal. The character-building and development were well planned and executed with flash-backs I also enjoyed how the author made obvious references to modern versus classic vampires. At one point in the story, a character asks if they sparkle.
I loved this book and I recommend it to any vampire/fantasy lover. If you loved FBAA, Crave, Twilight, The Sookie Stackhouse series, or even Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, you will love An Absolute Bloody Disaster.
It is no secret that I am a lover of fantasy stories and mythical creatures. An Absolute Bloody Disaster is an urban fantasy featuring vampires and a who-done-it-style mystery.
There were many characters in the “made family” of vampires. The book is written from Charlotte’s POV. Charlotte is a centuries-old vampire who acts like a teenager (and is treated like one). I love her spark and snarky attitude towards basically everyone and everything. She is definitely not the hero type and has many flaws, those flaws made her more likable to me.
The plot was fast-paced and the action was constant. There were several beautifully written passages that I saved in my book journal. The character-building and development were well planned and executed with flash-backs I also enjoyed how the author made obvious references to modern versus classic vampires. At one point in the story, a character asks if they sparkle.
I loved this book and I recommend it to any vampire/fantasy lover. If you loved FBAA, Crave, Twilight, The Sookie Stackhouse series, or even Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, you will love An Absolute Bloody Disaster.
November 4, 2021
I'm usually not crazy about vampires in books, but the plot sounded soo interesting that I knew I had to read it - and oh boy, was I right! I got everything I wanted from this book.
Let’s start with the characters. The author gives us a whole crew of vampires, who have known each other for centuries – and we also get a cute human boy. I absolutely loved all of them. They were detailed, it felt like they had personalities, which can be rare to find these days. I'm a sucker for multiple storylines, especially when one of them is looking back to the past, so I was really excited to know the history of our vampires – how they got turned, how they met, and how they ended up in San Francisco.
The plot starts out with Charlotte losing control over her vampire instincts, and basically it causes all the drama later in the book. The alpha of vampires gets worried, because he killed everyone’s favourite, Rayna a century ago, and now her ex wants to hunt him down – and get her back.
I really don’t want to spoil the whole story, I’ll let everyone discover it themselves, but let me tell you, I DID NOT suspect, that Konstantin was HIM… Also, my heart broke for Charlotte, she really deserved to be loved. The very end was pretty predictable (or at least for me it wasn’t a surprise), but overall I really enjoyed the story.
Huge thank you to the author for providing me an e-ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Let’s start with the characters. The author gives us a whole crew of vampires, who have known each other for centuries – and we also get a cute human boy. I absolutely loved all of them. They were detailed, it felt like they had personalities, which can be rare to find these days. I'm a sucker for multiple storylines, especially when one of them is looking back to the past, so I was really excited to know the history of our vampires – how they got turned, how they met, and how they ended up in San Francisco.
The plot starts out with Charlotte losing control over her vampire instincts, and basically it causes all the drama later in the book. The alpha of vampires gets worried, because he killed everyone’s favourite, Rayna a century ago, and now her ex wants to hunt him down – and get her back.
I really don’t want to spoil the whole story, I’ll let everyone discover it themselves, but let me tell you, I DID NOT suspect, that Konstantin was HIM… Also, my heart broke for Charlotte, she really deserved to be loved. The very end was pretty predictable (or at least for me it wasn’t a surprise), but overall I really enjoyed the story.
Huge thank you to the author for providing me an e-ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2021
During the month of October I love to devour as many supernatural and horror books as I can and devour is certainly what I did with an ‘An Absolute Bloody Disaster’ by @novelitica
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this book and I enjoyed it from beginning to end.
I love Vampire books but it can often to be hard to find really good ones. Well I can honestly say that this is a really good one.
We follow Charlotte ‘Lottie’ to her friends and family and her journey as a Vampire who is over 100 years old. It deals with mortality, morality, humanity and love all mixed in with a gritty serial killer plot.
The book is mainly set against the back drop of San Francisco but Clement deftly flits between the present lives of the Vampires and their past to help us to fully understand their motivations and relationships.
I don’t want to say too much about the plot as I don’t want to spoil any of the juicy revelations. But I will put the synopsis in the comments.
I would highly recommend this book if you’re looking for some supernatural vampire reading.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this book and I enjoyed it from beginning to end.
I love Vampire books but it can often to be hard to find really good ones. Well I can honestly say that this is a really good one.
We follow Charlotte ‘Lottie’ to her friends and family and her journey as a Vampire who is over 100 years old. It deals with mortality, morality, humanity and love all mixed in with a gritty serial killer plot.
The book is mainly set against the back drop of San Francisco but Clement deftly flits between the present lives of the Vampires and their past to help us to fully understand their motivations and relationships.
I don’t want to say too much about the plot as I don’t want to spoil any of the juicy revelations. But I will put the synopsis in the comments.
I would highly recommend this book if you’re looking for some supernatural vampire reading.
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