Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

An Absolute Bloody Disaster #2

A Ruthless Bloody Betrayal

Rate this book
The tide is coming in.

Just when Charlotte Novik thought things couldn’t get any worse, the universe had to go and prove her wrong.

Not only is she falling for Tristan—a human boy who now knows she is a vampire--but her best friend has come back from the dead after 121 years, an impossibility that Charlotte has been dreaming of for decades. But Rayna’s so-called resurrection isn’t exactly living up to those dreams. Charlotte’s friend has changed in the last century, and it’s clear that she has her own reasons for coming back. Reasons she refuses to share.

Meanwhile, Konstantin—a vengeful shadow from Rayna’s past—has revealed himself after covertly infiltrating Charlotte’s life, pretending to be the fledgling vampire, Ty. After killing one of Tristan’s friends, he kidnapped Victoria, Charlotte’s soon-to-be sister-in-law, and swore not to hurt her in exchange for one thing: that they tell him the truth about Rayna. Unfortunately, he failed to specify which truth. With only a week to meet Konstantin’s demands, Charlotte and her family are forced to dive into their checkered pasts, unearthing secrets that threaten to tear them apart at the seams.

As Charlotte re-navigates her relationship with her once-best friend, she'll learn more about herself—and Rayna—than she ever thought possible. But one thing is for sure: nothing matters more than their family, and they’ll each go to great lengths to protect what they’ve found…and what they’ve lost. With Konstantin on the prowl, a sister in danger, and tensions running high, the stakes have never been higher in this twisted game. And both Charlotte and Rayna will do whatever it takes to win.

525 pages, Hardcover

Published April 30, 2025

2 people are currently reading
78 people want to read

About the author

Lindsay Clement

2 books68 followers
Lindsay 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.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
15 (68%)
4 stars
6 (27%)
3 stars
1 (4%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Jess Trow.
139 reviews7 followers
April 29, 2025
REVIEW
I received a copy of this book as an eARC in return for an honest review. This review will contain spoilers for the ending of the first book, An Absolute Bloody Disaster.

I finished A Ruthless Bloody Betrayal almost a month ago, and I am still reeling. My God. Many sequels fall into a state of second book syndrome, where it exists solely to set up the final book in a trilogy. ARBB is most decidedly NOT that. This is a mile a minute thrill ride that takes you by the throat and does not let go. It is chock full of bloody betrayals!

Charlotte’s whole world has been turned upside down in the space of a week. Her friend Rayna has returned from the dead after 121 years, Konstantin (a vengeful shadow from Rayna’s past) has infiltrated her life and kidnapped her soon-to-be sister-in-law Victoria, and on top of that, Charlotte has to deal with her growing feelings for a human who knows she is a vampire. And things only keep getting more complicated.

Konstantin gives the family a week to reveal the truth about Rayna (but there are so many, no one knows which), and if they meet his demands he will return Victoria. As Charlotte re-navigates her relationship with her once-best friend, she uncovers more secrets about Rayna (and herself) than she ever thought possible.

Nothing is more important than family, and both Charlotte and Rayna will do whatever it takes to protect those they love.

When I tell you this book was a wild ride, it was a WILD ride, my friends. There are twists and shocks at every turn, reveals that left me speechless and desperate to find out what happened next. Lindsay has created a world and cast of characters that are in equal measures extremely complex but completely understandable. There are so many layers to the iceberg that is the extended Novik-Veseley family, and there are still so many more to uncover in the finally book in the series, I’m sure.

Getting to see more characters from the family’s past was an incredible way to open up the world in this instalment. Finally meeting Rayna in the flesh, rather than just through flashbacks was incredibly interesting, seeing how the reality doesn’t line up with Charlotte’s rose tinted memories, and getting to know her more intimately as a character. I spoke with Lindsay regarding Rayna, and I can absolutely see why she is doing what she’s doing. However, it doesn’t make me like her any more.

The twists and reveals once again kept me guessing, and while I picked up on the clues Lindsay was dropping in regards to the big reveal at the end, it was still a shocking moment to actually witness. I will also note, that this book had me in actual tears at one point, and I still have not forgiven Lindsay for that moment, and I don’t think I ever will. Make sure you have tissues on hand throughout, folks!

All that to say, I cannot wait to get my hands on a finished copy, and to find out how this trilogy will close out. This series is up there as an all time favourite, and I need to know these gremlins get a happy ending!


10.04.25 - Full review to come, but my God I am REELING right now!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for T.M. Ghent.
Author 3 books46 followers
April 24, 2025
Um, please excuse me, but I believe I've dropped my heart on the floor. That ending was a rush and filled with adrenaline. Inside the stories were tucked secrets and whispered subtleties that when you finally get to the end, your heart is left screaming "no" and your brain trying to console it because it knew the whole damn time. Clement committed her own bloody betrayal on us readers with this epic masterpiece.
Profile Image for Ashley (alwaysbooksandtea).
343 reviews
February 12, 2025
"Our Alpha. My friend. His edges peeling, his foundation cracked. But still standing. Still here. And as long as Kaleb Sutton is still standing, so are we all."

*A huge thank you to Lindsay for allowing me to read an ARC of ARBB! All thoughts and comments are my own.*

A Ruthless Bloody Betrayal is book two in the An Absolute Bloody Disaster series by Lindsay Clement. It follows Charlotte and her vampire found family as they face off against an unveiled enemy. Friends new and old come together to try and stop a San Francisco takeover, and to rescue some of their own from behind enemy lines. Filled with intense emotions, fractured relationships, dark secrets, burgeoning romance, familial sacrifice, and of course a bloody betrayal (or two), ARBB is an absolutely brilliant follow-up to AABD.

At its heart A Ruthless Bloody Betrayal is about family. Family born, family chosen, and the lengths one will go to protect them. Clement has beautifully depicted the tumultuousness of familial relationships. The love, loyalty, and protectiveness. The resentment, distrust, and selfishness. The banter. The infighting. There are so many fantastic relationships in this story, but one of the highlights for me is Nik and Charlotte's. They navigated a romantic relationship before it fell apart, and now are the closest of friends. Their understanding and care for each other is a beacon amidst the tension of other relationships.

As in book one there is no spice to be had, but the romance is still piping hot with both swoon and steam. I don't know how, but Clement has turned me into a Tristan fan. The golden boy gets an edge in this book, and now I finally get it. I see you, Tristan, and I'm a fan! I know what you're thinking. What about Kaleb? Still President of the Kaleb Sutton fan club. Even more in love with him than before. I'll just say that Clement got me on board with her vision, and I'm here for it!

A Ruthless Bloody Betrayal is the perfect mix of action, suspense, humor, and heart. Oh, and utter devastation. Can't forget that. ARBB has that in spades. There are so many twists and turns in the plot that I didn't see coming. I had the absolute best time reading this story, even when it caused me to gasp out loud and tear up. This is one of my favorite series, and I cannot WAIT to see where Clement takes us in book three. This series should be on the top of your TBRs!

You're in for a wild ride, friends. Buckle up.

"It's just- I can't lose her, Lottie. I've already lost one love. I can't lose another. I- I don't think I would survive it."

"I have been keeping my distance because I knew if I got too close, I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off of you."

"Good hell. I'm about to be murdered by a pirate."

"I'm yours, Char. If you'll have me."

"I see you, Kaleb Sutton...And you are a better man than any of us deserve."
Profile Image for Giada's bookshelf.
104 reviews1 follower
April 8, 2025
First of all, thank you Lindsay for the ARC!!🤍 I read “An Absolute Bloody Disaster” a few months after it came out and absolutely fell in love with the story, so I was very excited to dig into its sequel!

The story takes place right after the events of An Absolute Bloody Disaster and follows Charlotte and her family as they try to deal with Konstantin’s return. 🧛

I personally think the biggest strength of this series is how well the characters are built! Each of them is special and original in their own way, they have memorable personalities and their dynamics are great!! I have to say I really enjoy their interactions, and I grew very fond of them. I am a sucker for the found family trope - and the characters of ARBB are a big broken but beautiful family.

If in the first book my favourites were Tristan and Nik, in this one I found myself falling hard for Kaleb and Xander. I find Kaleb’s character multi-layered and endearing, and I wish I had seen more of Xander because I am absolutely in love with this protective older brother.

I also found myself really intrigued by Konstantin and - despite hating him with my whole heart for what he has done- I want to know more about him and I believe he’s a really interesting villain. (Not me almost falling for a traumatised villain again🤷🏼‍♀️😅)
I am looking forward to seeing how his relationship with a certain character will develop in the last book of the trilogy.

In A Ruthless Bloody Betrayal we find out more about the main characters’ troubled pasts, and I particularly enjoyed these flashbacks Lindsay added in the narration.

This sequel is filled with betrayals, action, some tender moments and a lot of heartbreak. I grew very fond of these characters and seeing them suffer is really upsetting💔 I really want all of them to get a happy ending (okay maybe not all of them, especially after the ending👀).
Lindsay’s writing style is fast-paced and coesive and it makes reading this book a very enjoyable experience!!

Make sure you grab your copy! A Ruthless Bloody Betrayal comes out on April 30th🤩🩸
Profile Image for Becky Gordy.
264 reviews3 followers
May 10, 2025
I found the first half of this book slow and fairly whiney, but the second half really made up for it!

Honestly, I found myself considering DNF at points because I didn’t feel things were moving and remember thinking “I don’t know how I loved the first one so much, I was eagerly waiting for the years it took book two to come out”, but the second half of the book totally made up for it.

The author really got all of my emotions going - fear, despair, heart break, rage, terror, and betrayal. But she tempered them with forgiveness, growth, humor, and intrigue. I can say I was desperately hoping for Charlotte to get her best friend back, but am absolutely not surprised by the Ruthless Bloody Betrayal that occurred.

I hope in the next book, Charlotte truly comes to appreciate her family, both found and born, and the support they provide each other. They may not understand each other fully, but always have each others best interests at heart. I’m crossing my fingers for more of the backstory, particularly the exact events of that fateful day in Belarus. I’m curious to see how Caleb and the other react to the revelation about Char and cannot Wait for the fireworks Tristan is about to set off!
Profile Image for Charity Massengale.
Author 1 book11 followers
May 3, 2025
"You keep saying that, but let's not pretend it was anything more than what it actually was."
"And what, pray tell, what that?"
"A ruthless, bloody betrayal."

Being swept back into the vampire world of San Francisco with Charlotte Novik and her found family was a delight. I absolutely adored the first book, An Absolute Bloody Disaster, and the sequel was equally as well put together. The plot was fast moving, interesting, and solid. I enjoyed the new characters and obstacles as the past unfolded with the present. Lindsay's writing is authentic and flows so well. I did find this book to be quite a bit long in the tooth, which kept me looking to resolution. I kept waiting for something in the plot to truly shock me, but nothing did. Yet as much as I adore these characters and world, that might not be a bad thing. The cliff-hanger ending was satisfying, and I cannot wait to see where the story unfolds from here!

Other quotes I loved:
"You have the power over your own life, darling."

"Good hell. I'm about to be murdered by a pirate."

"Your life just got turned on its head. It's ok to be broken for a while."
Profile Image for Bekka Brantly.
93 reviews
April 2, 2025
**I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.**

I was a huge fan of the first book and was really looking forward to the sequel. It didn't live up to my expectations and I was pretty bummed about it. All that said, I will be reading the third book because I do enjoy the writing, world, characters, and trajectory of the story.

*Spoilers ahead*

I had a really hard time with the premise of this story. One of their own gets captured but instead of looking for her, they all party and then sulk and then do it all again. Basically the entirety of the book. It felt like the story was being stretched out just so the rescue could be the ending and we weren't quite sure what to fill the rest of the book with. Charlotte finds out that her brother has been a Beta all along which, in my opinion, undermines her character. It made her seem like a dumb blonde instead of the badass I was thinking she was. There were some good twists, but I couldn't quite get into the story enough to be excited about them.
Profile Image for Cristen Cagle.
Author 5 books44 followers
July 18, 2025
I really enjoyed diving back into this world! It's intense and action-packed and you honestly don't know what to expect, to an extent. The characters definitely maintain their personality and there's a ton of growth because of various reveals that happen throughout the story that change dynamics between characters.

How Lindsay handled those reactions was so well done, too. I get that oftentimes vampire novels get a "bad rap" because folks think that hundred years old vampires should "know better" but they're still flawed beings and Lindsay showcased that in A Ruthless Bloody Betrayal.

My main critique would be that I wish I understood more of Konstantin's decisions/desires but also get why those are not fully revealed at this time.

All in all, a vampire urban fantasy well worth the read! It's funny, a bit chaotic, and has the cut throat elements you'd expect from a family/group of vampires.

And lastly, poor Tristan (if you've read you know, and if you haven't, you'll have to read and learn).
Profile Image for Marlsbad313.
2 reviews
February 27, 2025
I loved this book! For a second book in a trilogy series, this one was solid! This book was well-paced and kept me interested until the last page. I was excited to find out what would happen next! The romance is enough to make you swoon without the need for spice. You will be second-guessing yourself throughout the whole book as the twist and turns keep coming! I enjoyed learning some new things about the plot that were introduced in the first book. Clement gave us just enough to be satisfied with those answers, but still gave us enough new content to be excited for the next book. I'm looking forward to Book 3!!
Profile Image for Monica Shantel.
Author 12 books20 followers
April 8, 2025
This is an ARC review.

Ahhhhh!

How do i begin. How do I cope. Lindsay has RUINED me. And somehow I still want more.

I have missed my little alcoholic vampire family so much. I love Char. I love Kaleb. I love Tristan. Xander. All of them. *cries*

And I'm not okay.

This book was a wild ride. So I need book 3 now. This book was easily 5 stars. I devoured it. I'm debating if I need to sell a kidney and go into a coma for a year or so until the next book is ready, lol.

No but seriously I'm obsessed.
Profile Image for Amelia Rose.
Author 5 books11 followers
June 24, 2025
A spectacular book 2!!! It took turns, it threw me for loops, every time I thought "this is the cliffhanger ending..." It eased off and gave me more!

This was so so good! Even though parts were predictable, I didn't mind waiting for the characters to discover it on their own. I was on the journey with them, and, like Rayna, I might have had suspicions, but I was still just along for the ride.

This. Series. Is. So. Good!!! The characters, the messy family dynamic, the volatile emotions...I need more. Book 3, now please!
Profile Image for Ally | abookishcoffeeholic.
107 reviews5 followers
June 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 stars for this super angsty vampire novel.

I did not expect this to be such a wild ride! The characters are growing on me, and after that ending I just need to know what happens. If you love vampire books and YA series this book should be on your TBR for sure.



Thank you to the author for a chance to read this as an ARC to provide my honest review.
Profile Image for Mar.
50 reviews1 follower
July 5, 2025
This was a wild ride from start to finish. The pacing could’ve been a tad better, especially towards the middle, but the chaotic ending really makes up for it. This is one of those stories where every character has their own motives and their own lives outside of the main character and that adds so many layers to the mystery.
2 reviews
February 1, 2025
Lindsay did it again. I couldn’t put this book down. I was either swooning, crying, or screaming throughout the whole thing. I need book 3 NOW.
Profile Image for Lauren Vick.
159 reviews10 followers
February 24, 2025
My jaw is on the floor after finishing that last chapter. That was such a plot twist that I didn’t see coming! Rayna, you are one sneaky little vampire.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jennekah Barnes.
187 reviews
June 16, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ Definitely better than the first! Writing is improving but the overall story is very predictable and there’s almost too much foreshadowing. The series has a lot of potential! 🌶️
Profile Image for Lauren.
431 reviews15 followers
March 5, 2025
Love morally grey protagonists? Complex found family? Fast-paced romantasy with a bit of bite? The second book in the Absolute Bloody Disaster series serves them all up with a side of betrayal. It’s a raucous romp of a vampire revenge plot, and will leave you eager for book three.

It follows protagonist Charlotte, who must come to terms with the century-long lies her loved ones have been telling her. She must navigate numerous betrayals at the same time as tracking down her missing friend, falling for a human and escaping the clutches of a powerful vampire intent on tearing her city apart.

My favourite thing about this series is how well the author forms her characters. There’s a big cast but each of them is memorable. They are flawed and gifted in realistic ways, with turns of phrase and mannerisms that play brilliantly into the concept of how long they’ve lived beside one another. As a reader, you care enough about the group that every fight scene has you on the edge of your seat. Your heart breaks at each new form of turmoil and - like with any dysfunctional but ultimately loyal family - you want to scream at them most of the time, but you also want to protect them at all costs. They cover such a range of personality types, I guarantee you’ll adore at least one of them, and another will frustrate you to no end.

I’m definitely on board for this wild ride and all the original takes on vampire lore. I fully recommend it if you’re looking for your next romantasy binge.

I’m very grateful to the author for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.