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1n3sbr1t0's review
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
2.5
So you’re telling me this girl sees her whole family get murdered, turns into a vampire against her will, kills her best friend because of bloodlust, gets recruited to go to an academy for the supernatural, and finds out she has TWO THREE FUCKING MATES all in one week, when mates are such an EXTREMELY RARE thing to happen?!
This series is going downhill, and it’s not even funny anymore. I’m getting BOREDD. There’s no depth to the characters and their relationships and these two books could have been just one tbh. Also the plot? It’s non existent really. AND THE SMUT IS NOT EVEN GOOD. Really there’s no good reason to continue this series.
How can you forgive Drake so quickly when you don’t even know what really happened with your family?! Girl, this is the man you swore to kill to get vengeance in your family’s name. That was literally your only purpose in life, after you were left with nothing. And now you’re saying “I love you” to vampires you met a week ago. Makes so much sense really. Your dead family must be so proud of you.
Tropes: vampire smut, teacher/student romance, enemies to lovers, fated mates, reverse harem
This series is going downhill, and it’s not even funny anymore. I’m getting BOREDD. There’s no depth to the characters and their relationships and these two books could have been just one tbh. Also the plot? It’s non existent really. AND THE SMUT IS NOT EVEN GOOD. Really there’s no good reason to continue this series.
How can you forgive Drake so quickly when you don’t even know what really happened with your family?! Girl, this is the man you swore to kill to get vengeance in your family’s name. That was literally your only purpose in life, after you were left with nothing. And now you’re saying “I love you” to vampires you met a week ago. Makes so much sense really. Your dead family must be so proud of you.
Tropes: vampire smut, teacher/student romance, enemies to lovers, fated mates, reverse harem
noeliacew's review
2.0
2'5. No está mal, se lee super rápido, pero Alina me parece que tiene una personalidad muy contradictoria, quiere dar la idea de que es una persona con muchas barreras, que le cuesta confiar, que no se abre fácilmente pero después hace todo lo contrario...Es todo lo opuesto a un slow burn, es un fast burn. También siento que la historia no avanza, si dejamos de lado los 3 mates, siento que no hay un progreso con los personajes o la trama directamente.
pippwynn's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
queenoferebor's review
It's been a long time since I last DNFd a book. I have this completionist mindset that doesn't allow me to leave things halfway done, but I just couldn't with this book. I chose my mental health.
"I always thought you and I were..."
Always? What is this "always" you speak of? You've known he for five minutes!!!! (Ok, maybe like a week, but still). I don't know if the book is asking me to suspend my disbelief for the sake of the porn or if it's just bad writing but I'm not staying to figure it out.
Characters: Badly developed. They have the personality of a rock. Alina is that OC you wrote when you were 13 trying to self-insert yourself in Hogwarts but you couldn't decide if you wanted her to end up with Draco, Harry or Sirius (yes, I'm speaking from experience. I've written my reverse-harem HP fanfiction too). The males are just dull.
The plot: Nonexistent. You family has been killed? Don't worry, I guess masturbating will fix it. You are mated with three dudes? Well, God gave you so many holes for a reason. Why have plot when you can have sex?
I don't have anything against PWP stories (again, I read fanfic), but I'm disappointed and frustrated because this series had a very good premise. However, it was trumped due to the minimal length of the books and the subpar writing.
I guess Sherrilyn Kenyon is keeping the top spot for long paranormal romance series for me.
"I always thought you and I were..."
Always? What is this "always" you speak of? You've known he for five minutes!!!! (Ok, maybe like a week, but still). I don't know if the book is asking me to suspend my disbelief for the sake of the porn or if it's just bad writing but I'm not staying to figure it out.
Characters: Badly developed. They have the personality of a rock. Alina is that OC you wrote when you were 13 trying to self-insert yourself in Hogwarts but you couldn't decide if you wanted her to end up with Draco, Harry or Sirius (yes, I'm speaking from experience. I've written my reverse-harem HP fanfiction too). The males are just dull.
The plot: Nonexistent. You family has been killed? Don't worry, I guess masturbating will fix it. You are mated with three dudes? Well, God gave you so many holes for a reason. Why have plot when you can have sex?
I don't have anything against PWP stories (again, I read fanfic), but I'm disappointed and frustrated because this series had a very good premise. However, it was trumped due to the minimal length of the books and the subpar writing.
I guess Sherrilyn Kenyon is keeping the top spot for long paranormal romance series for me.
mojidaa's review
4.0
Still super enjoyable, but definitely started to lose its charms little by little. It got more childish, messier, plot definitely started to disappear, and I don’t think there was anything I would remember about this book once I wake up tomorrow. That was how blurry this book was, what a let down.
As for Alina, I think I liked her a lot. Ye, she might seem unreasonable at times but she was kinda badass and I kinda fell for her.
Drake was my favourite. I just love, love men in power, man. And he was a freaking king, what was I supposed to do? I couldn’t possibly hold myself back, can I? But I don’t think I roll with the idea of him having this super duper soft side as his real personality while his stoic one was the one he put on to show. I mean for someone who has lived for so long, for him to have this kind of pure and soft heart was a bit..weird, right?.
Lincoln also came close. I mean a vampire professor can do no wrong so
As for Alina, I think I liked her a lot. Ye, she might seem unreasonable at times but she was kinda badass and I kinda fell for her.
Drake was my favourite. I just love, love men in power, man. And he was a freaking king, what was I supposed to do? I couldn’t possibly hold myself back, can I? But I don’t think I roll with the idea of him having this super duper soft side as his real personality while his stoic one was the one he put on to show. I mean for someone who has lived for so long, for him to have this kind of pure and soft heart was a bit..weird, right?.
Lincoln also came close. I mean a vampire professor can do no wrong so
maddydactyl's review
4.0
Bite of Betrayal is the second book in this part of the Dark Imaginarium Academy world. Alina Van Helsing has been turned into a vampire and started at DIA - she has met her (3) love interests and started to establish her life as a vamp.
At the end of Book One, we watched as the man she had been hunting since the death of her family became love interest #3, and as Book Two develops, we get to see more of the relationships develop and deepen, and we also watch as they go through significant challenges to stay together.
All of the men in this book are so hot for different reasons.
Linc - so domineering, so strong and so fierce. He loved Alina the moment he saw her, sure it was love mixed with rage and hate and confusion, but once the rest of it wore away, the love remained. I can't imagine the emotional toll of watching his mate find not only another, but two other mates. I do wonder if in the long term, Linc may have something going on that he hasn't admitted to - I dont want to believe that he would do anything to harm Alina now that he knows her, but I wonder if he has perhaps done something in the past to harm slayers and unintentionally harmed Alina in the process. I dont want to believe Linc was involved in the slaughter of the Van Helsings, but honestly everyone in this novel is a suspect.
Drake / Dracula - Honestly I wasn't super keen on Drake-ula immediately, but he grew on me very quickly by being hopelessly smitten with Alina. Alina tries pushing him away, but their fated mate destiny pulls them together with the force of 1000 suns. I really like this interpretation of Dracula - not a monster seeking a wife to make vamp babies or to spend eternity possessing, but a man with the weight of the worlds on his shoulders who just wants a companion. Someone who will challenge him as much as adore him.
Andrei - Oh you poor, sweet, idiot. You've got Alina Van Helsing on your side, and her other mates are fucking Lincoln and the mac-daddy Drac himself, Andrei just does not realise how easily he could destroy his father. His father is absolutely a fucking monster, and I wouldn't be surprised if he arranged the Van Helsing slaughter so he'd have that notch on his belt when he eventually tries to overtake Drake-ula. I understand Linc trying to save his mother - and it is an impossible choice for anyone who loves their mother to choose between the woman who birthed and raised you and the one you love - especially when you know the one you love has other powerful mates to protect her. I think Andrei knows he's the "least impressive man" in the bunch, but he doesn't realise how magical that actually makes him. Andrei should be an asshole, but he's sweet and sad and deserves love and happiness.
I have spent this entire book watching her struggle with not wanting to fall for Drake and wanting to focus her attentions on her existing mateship with Linc & Andrei, and then when that sweet glorious moment of acceptance happens and she accepts Drake as a romantic interest, Andrei's asshole monster of a father rocks up and ruins it for everyone.
I'm going to absolutely decimate the next two books - I want this to end up with a HEA for all the MC's, I'm really rooting for Queen Alina and her Harem of Husbands to rule over Vampire kind forever.
My favourite parts:
- Alina visiting
- coming to peace terms - accepting they both want to be with Alina more than they want to fight one another.
- The Ball - while emotionally devastating, was an awesome scene. I loved the imagery of the whole court meeting the King and Queen together, and Lo is an amazing party organiser.
- Alina has grown on me since the first book, she is getting more certain in her steps and more confident. Love this growth.
What I think could've been improved:
- I just want more, more? I dont know how else to say except that this is a 300-pager that I wish was a 600-pager.
- This one was less spicy than the first which was admittedly surprising.
- Book ended in a way which felt too sudden, but I expect just as 1 finished with a cliffhanger that 2 immediately picked up from, I expect the cliffhanger here will be immediately picked up in 3.
What I didn't enjoy:
- Once again, no disrespect to the author because she has written him brilliantly and he makes me want to throw things.
Final Ratings (Out of 5⭐ or 5
At the end of Book One, we watched as the man she had been hunting since the death of her family became love interest #3, and as Book Two develops, we get to see more of the relationships develop and deepen, and we also watch as they go through significant challenges to stay together.
All of the men in this book are so hot for different reasons.
Spoiler
Linc - so domineering, so strong and so fierce. He loved Alina the moment he saw her, sure it was love mixed with rage and hate and confusion, but once the rest of it wore away, the love remained. I can't imagine the emotional toll of watching his mate find not only another, but two other mates. I do wonder if in the long term, Linc may have something going on that he hasn't admitted to - I dont want to believe that he would do anything to harm Alina now that he knows her, but I wonder if he has perhaps done something in the past to harm slayers and unintentionally harmed Alina in the process. I dont want to believe Linc was involved in the slaughter of the Van Helsings, but honestly everyone in this novel is a suspect.
Drake / Dracula - Honestly I wasn't super keen on Drake-ula immediately, but he grew on me very quickly by being hopelessly smitten with Alina. Alina tries pushing him away, but their fated mate destiny pulls them together with the force of 1000 suns. I really like this interpretation of Dracula - not a monster seeking a wife to make vamp babies or to spend eternity possessing, but a man with the weight of the worlds on his shoulders who just wants a companion. Someone who will challenge him as much as adore him.
Andrei - Oh you poor, sweet, idiot. You've got Alina Van Helsing on your side, and her other mates are fucking Lincoln and the mac-daddy Drac himself, Andrei just does not realise how easily he could destroy his father. His father is absolutely a fucking monster, and I wouldn't be surprised if he arranged the Van Helsing slaughter so he'd have that notch on his belt when he eventually tries to overtake Drake-ula. I understand Linc trying to save his mother - and it is an impossible choice for anyone who loves their mother to choose between the woman who birthed and raised you and the one you love - especially when you know the one you love has other powerful mates to protect her. I think Andrei knows he's the "least impressive man" in the bunch, but he doesn't realise how magical that actually makes him. Andrei should be an asshole, but he's sweet and sad and deserves love and happiness.
I have spent this entire book watching her struggle with not wanting to fall for Drake and wanting to focus her attentions on her existing mateship with Linc & Andrei, and then when that sweet glorious moment of acceptance happens and she accepts Drake as a romantic interest, Andrei's asshole monster of a father rocks up and ruins it for everyone.
I'm going to absolutely decimate the next two books - I want this to end up with a HEA for all the MC's, I'm really rooting for Queen Alina and her Harem of Husbands to rule over Vampire kind forever.
My favourite parts:
- Alina visiting
Spoiler
Drake-ula's palace and spending nights with him.-
Spoiler
Linc and Andrei- The Ball - while emotionally devastating, was an awesome scene. I loved the imagery of the whole court meeting the King and Queen together, and Lo is an amazing party organiser.
- Alina has grown on me since the first book, she is getting more certain in her steps and more confident. Love this growth.
What I think could've been improved:
- I just want more, more? I dont know how else to say except that this is a 300-pager that I wish was a 600-pager.
- This one was less spicy than the first which was admittedly surprising.
Spoiler
I vaguely recall seeing a reel/tiktok about this series (which is literally what led me to read it) and it referenced a 3 way (MMF) happening in front of the 3rd, discluded l0ver which I THINK MAY BE BOOK 3 IF THE SCENE ACTUALLY EXISTS so I'm interested to see that hopefully in the next book.- Book ended in a way which felt too sudden, but I expect just as 1 finished with a cliffhanger that 2 immediately picked up from, I expect the cliffhanger here will be immediately picked up in 3.
What I didn't enjoy:
-
Spoiler
ANDREI'S FUCKING DADDY-O.Final Ratings (Out of 5⭐ or 5
ellykristina's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
maadreads's review
4.0
This series just keeps getting better. I like how fast paced it is, you don't have to wait long for a resolution.