What do you think?
Rate this book
Slaying It #2
Vampires Never Say Die
You thought life was hard for a vampire? Try being the newest Slayer on the block. Yet just when Carrie Adams thought it couldn't get any worse, she learns that in the world of the unexpectedly supernatural, nothing is ever what it seems. Meet Carrie Serious. Disciplined. Focused. But as an aspiring actress, she's at the mercy of casting directors who barely glance at her headshot before making snap judgments about her talent based solely on her looks. She feels powerless…until one night she goes from snarling at her obnoxiously attractive coworker (musician-slash-bartender Nick Stokes) to wanting to kill him. Literally. Turns out Nick has become LA's latest vampire and she is his chosen Slayer…a decidedly unwelcome job that comes with an overnight super-bodybuilder-buff physique, the ability to conjure a sword made of fire, and a new gang of supernatural enemies out for her blood. Nick swears he'll help her. Carrie swears she'll figure out how to help herself. But in a Hollywood-bright world of typecasting, can a Slayer and her sworn vampire nemesis break free of their assigned roles…and discover the deeper emotions there for the staking? Also By Gloria When Life Gives You Vampires
288 pages, Paperback
Published August 20, 2024
About the author
Gloria Duke
2 books121 followersGloria Duke is a pen name. In my other life, I'm Gloria Ketterer, a WGA Award-winning radio writer, TV sitcom writer, and brand advertising creative director. I live in Philadelphia, PA with my dog, Rocky, and my cat, Pippa. I hate humidity but love a comfy pair of pajamas, a big glass of red wine--and, of course, a good rom-com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
August 18, 2024
Vampire’s Never Say Die by Gloria Duke
Slaying It series #2. Paranormal vampire romance. Can be read as a stand-alone. First person, present tense, all from Carrie’s POV.
Carrie Adams wakes up “ripped” one morning and finds she’s now a vampire slayer. Crazy! Turns out an annoying coworker opted to become a vampire and universe rules require balance, thus Carrie’s change. She needs to figure out what this means for her aspiring acting career as well as her growing feelings for the vampire that caused all this.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook copy and an audiobook. The audiobook was performed by Cady Zuckerman who did a really fantastic job with distinct voices for Carrie and Nick, as well as expressing emotions clearly and making the audio eye-catching. Carrie went from timid to confident and that difference can be heard. Nick had a scene where he’s unsure of Carrie and that timid fear is felt in his voice.
The audiobook is great for keeping the listening audience attentive.
I tried various speeds for clarity and comfort and ended up listening at my usual 1.5 which best matches reading and talking experience.
There are potential body image issues that come from auditions for acting jobs that are understandably difficult. Interestingly, she is just as uncomfortable and unsure what to wear when she’s fit. It’s a process for both Carrie and Nick as they go through huge life changes. Without any specific storyline spoilers, both become confident and comfortable in their own skin. That’s powerful.
Paranormal antics, romance and becoming more. I liked this second book in the series much better than the first.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher
Slaying It series #2. Paranormal vampire romance. Can be read as a stand-alone. First person, present tense, all from Carrie’s POV.
Carrie Adams wakes up “ripped” one morning and finds she’s now a vampire slayer. Crazy! Turns out an annoying coworker opted to become a vampire and universe rules require balance, thus Carrie’s change. She needs to figure out what this means for her aspiring acting career as well as her growing feelings for the vampire that caused all this.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook copy and an audiobook. The audiobook was performed by Cady Zuckerman who did a really fantastic job with distinct voices for Carrie and Nick, as well as expressing emotions clearly and making the audio eye-catching. Carrie went from timid to confident and that difference can be heard. Nick had a scene where he’s unsure of Carrie and that timid fear is felt in his voice.
The audiobook is great for keeping the listening audience attentive.
I tried various speeds for clarity and comfort and ended up listening at my usual 1.5 which best matches reading and talking experience.
There are potential body image issues that come from auditions for acting jobs that are understandably difficult. Interestingly, she is just as uncomfortable and unsure what to wear when she’s fit. It’s a process for both Carrie and Nick as they go through huge life changes. Without any specific storyline spoilers, both become confident and comfortable in their own skin. That’s powerful.
Paranormal antics, romance and becoming more. I liked this second book in the series much better than the first.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher
August 15, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
𝙑𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙖𝙮 𝘿𝙞𝙚 is a funny and light-hearted rom-com that’s perfect for those moments when you need a quick, entertaining read between more intense books. The pace is fast and never drags, keeping you engaged from start to finish, and the story itself is downright hilarious. 😂
Sure, the events unfold quickly, and there were moments where the writing could have been a bit more polished. However, the purpose of this book isn’t to be a literary masterpiece—it’s to show how even a simple, straightforward concept can be incredibly entertaining.
I really liked Nick as a character. He had so much potential, and I couldn’t help but feel that a dual POV would have elevated the story to a solid 4-star read. A deeper dive into Nick’s background and perspective would have added more depth and balance, perhaps cutting down on Carrie’s scenes, like her frequent walks, to make room for more of Nick’s side of the story. 🙈
Overall, Vampires Never Say Die may not break new ground, but it’s a fun, breezy read that delivers exactly what it promises—a good time.
Dreamscape Media production never dissapoints for the audiobook installment of this book! I enjoyed it even more than the paperback. I loved Fiona Aarington voice!!!
Thank you Sourcebooks Casablance and netgalley for the ARC ♥️ and Dreamscape Media for the ALC ♥️
𝙑𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙖𝙮 𝘿𝙞𝙚 is a funny and light-hearted rom-com that’s perfect for those moments when you need a quick, entertaining read between more intense books. The pace is fast and never drags, keeping you engaged from start to finish, and the story itself is downright hilarious. 😂
Sure, the events unfold quickly, and there were moments where the writing could have been a bit more polished. However, the purpose of this book isn’t to be a literary masterpiece—it’s to show how even a simple, straightforward concept can be incredibly entertaining.
I really liked Nick as a character. He had so much potential, and I couldn’t help but feel that a dual POV would have elevated the story to a solid 4-star read. A deeper dive into Nick’s background and perspective would have added more depth and balance, perhaps cutting down on Carrie’s scenes, like her frequent walks, to make room for more of Nick’s side of the story. 🙈
Overall, Vampires Never Say Die may not break new ground, but it’s a fun, breezy read that delivers exactly what it promises—a good time.
Dreamscape Media production never dissapoints for the audiobook installment of this book! I enjoyed it even more than the paperback. I loved Fiona Aarington voice!!!
Thank you Sourcebooks Casablance and netgalley for the ARC ♥️ and Dreamscape Media for the ALC ♥️
June 4, 2024
If you're looking for a fun silly supernatural rom-com, this is your book.
It's the second book in a series called (Slaying It), but can be read as a standalone. It's fast paced and easy to read with relatable -and amazing- characters that will keep you hooked since the first chapters.
Its a Vampire\Vampire slayer and he fell first. How can you not be interested?
it has some spice too. 2\5🌶️
Carrie Adams is an aspiring actor that was always judged by how she looks instead of how talented she is. She has dreams and is determined to achieve them. she is also a people pleases and has felt powerless most of her life until one night everything changed. . . .
and Nick is soo sweet. i lovee himm. I mean he has a cat too!! His character is so beautiful. he's as charming as they come.
Liv and Heather were a perfect addition to the book. Their friendship with Carrie and their support were so special. Liv made me laugh so hard whenever she was in a scene. I need them in my life😭.
i am so thankful for Gloria Duke, her publishing team, and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
It's the second book in a series called (Slaying It), but can be read as a standalone. It's fast paced and easy to read with relatable -and amazing- characters that will keep you hooked since the first chapters.
Its a Vampire\Vampire slayer and he fell first. How can you not be interested?
it has some spice too. 2\5🌶️
Carrie Adams is an aspiring actor that was always judged by how she looks instead of how talented she is. She has dreams and is determined to achieve them. she is also a people pleases and has felt powerless most of her life until one night everything changed. . . .
and Nick is soo sweet. i lovee himm. I mean he has a cat too!! His character is so beautiful. he's as charming as they come.
Liv and Heather were a perfect addition to the book. Their friendship with Carrie and their support were so special. Liv made me laugh so hard whenever she was in a scene. I need them in my life😭.
i am so thankful for Gloria Duke, her publishing team, and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
August 23, 2024
I enjoyed this sooo much more than the first book.
There is still some body insecurity in this one, but it makes more sense here and is thrust upon our FMC more than internally repeating.
The story is fun, there's some cute banter and then the author threw in some body positivity in strength which I adored!
Much love to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for my ALC
There is still some body insecurity in this one, but it makes more sense here and is thrust upon our FMC more than internally repeating.
The story is fun, there's some cute banter and then the author threw in some body positivity in strength which I adored!
Much love to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for my ALC
August 20, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ALC of this novel!
4.5/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️
4/5 🎧
This story was giving Buffy and Angel vibes. And as a millennial who grew up watching Buffy, I couldn’t help but picture both of them in these character’s roles. The narrator even sounded a bit like Sarah Michelle Gellar! I do with they’d had a male narrator and done a duet narration, but overall I enjoyed the narrator.
But, the story. THE STORY. It had wit and humor. It romance and parts that made you swoon. It had a bit of spice. It had some action. And it had parts that made me mad (as authors love to do to use poor readers from time to time). While I said it reminded me of Buffy and Angel, let me reiterate that it is nowhere near their story. This started as an enemies to lovers but felt more fated mates by the end. But, I’ll let you decide for yourself!
4.5/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️
4/5 🎧
This story was giving Buffy and Angel vibes. And as a millennial who grew up watching Buffy, I couldn’t help but picture both of them in these character’s roles. The narrator even sounded a bit like Sarah Michelle Gellar! I do with they’d had a male narrator and done a duet narration, but overall I enjoyed the narrator.
But, the story. THE STORY. It had wit and humor. It romance and parts that made you swoon. It had a bit of spice. It had some action. And it had parts that made me mad (as authors love to do to use poor readers from time to time). While I said it reminded me of Buffy and Angel, let me reiterate that it is nowhere near their story. This started as an enemies to lovers but felt more fated mates by the end. But, I’ll let you decide for yourself!
August 26, 2024
Here were my thoughts while reading the book:
-Carrie is a funny, independent, serious and disciplined women. She’s an aspiring actrice who turns vampire and now has to navigate this new world. I loved seeing her transform and find her new normal. She literally wakes up a vampire lol.
-love learning of behind the scenes of being an actrice and going to auditions, I found that cool
- Nick tries to help her figure out her vampire life (he the reason she’s a vampire)
- Her being in the field of art and her family seeing that as nothing is so real
- They are not only vampire but vampire slayer slayyyyy
- Ouuu the spice is spicing two vampires in bed what could happen ? lol
- I will say there were parts I felt a bit bored
- But Carrie and Nick carried the book
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Carrie is a funny, independent, serious and disciplined women. She’s an aspiring actrice who turns vampire and now has to navigate this new world. I loved seeing her transform and find her new normal. She literally wakes up a vampire lol.
-love learning of behind the scenes of being an actrice and going to auditions, I found that cool
- Nick tries to help her figure out her vampire life (he the reason she’s a vampire)
- Her being in the field of art and her family seeing that as nothing is so real
- They are not only vampire but vampire slayer slayyyyy
- Ouuu the spice is spicing two vampires in bed what could happen ? lol
- I will say there were parts I felt a bit bored
- But Carrie and Nick carried the book
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 18, 2024
A fun and funny paranormal romance featuring a bartender slash wannabe actress who is turned into a vampire slayer when her frenemy, Nick becomes a vampire. Part Buffy the vampire slayer with a dash of enemies to lovers, this was an unexpectedly delightful story that tackles body image issues, toxic parental relationships and people pleasing. Spicy and heartfelt and good on audio. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
June 6, 2024
Vampires Never Say Die was a phenomenal read that included three of my favorite things: vampires, personal growth, and plenty of angst. This novel can be read as a standalone. However, it is part of a new series, "Slaying It." This is book two in the series, and it follows the life of aspiring Hollywood actress Carrie Adams as she undergoes transformations both physically and emotionally with her roommates and her coworker Nick, who is notorious for stepping on her last nerve. This book is told from Carrie's point of view and is very fast-paced. The chapters were a good length, and the characters in them had both flaws and virtues that I found very relatable which made this read even more exciting. I am very grateful to Gloria Duke, her publishing team, and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC.
June 5, 2024
Nick and Carrie tend bar together, they stay on opposite sides of the counter and avoid each other at all costs. When nick brushes against Carrie their dynamic changes. Once a human now a vampire slayer who is hellbent on killing the recently turned vampire they work together to fight the urges of the new dynamic. With the drama of bandmates and another vampire slayer folding into the mix their newly formed relationship is strained. Will Nick and Carrie overcome the obstacles of this new life?
I actually considered DNF'ing this book because I wasn't vibing with the first few pages but I'm glad I stuck with it, I enjoyed the relationship brewing between Nick and Carrie and the small details in between.
Thanks netgalley for the option to review this book!
I actually considered DNF'ing this book because I wasn't vibing with the first few pages but I'm glad I stuck with it, I enjoyed the relationship brewing between Nick and Carrie and the small details in between.
Thanks netgalley for the option to review this book!
June 30, 2024
3.5⭐️
Very cute and cheesy but still a good laugh!
In a world where anytime a vampire is created their enemy is turned into a vampire slayer, only chaos can be expected!!
Such an easy fun read, still very predictable as it was a very classic style vampire story, but I enjoyed the read. 🧛♀️
The daylight aspect making vampires be out cold asleep was just so funny to me, like “ooo sunrise is about to be… 😴😴” 🤣 If you were a slayer your job is so easy during the day
It just felt light and fluffy the whole way though, despite the potential story line threat I was never worried it wouldn’t end all cute and it did 🥰 What an adorable ending.
Anyhoo thank you NetGalley for the ARC, if you want a fun easy vampire read, this is an easy choice!!
Very cute and cheesy but still a good laugh!
In a world where anytime a vampire is created their enemy is turned into a vampire slayer, only chaos can be expected!!
Such an easy fun read, still very predictable as it was a very classic style vampire story, but I enjoyed the read. 🧛♀️
The daylight aspect making vampires be out cold asleep was just so funny to me, like “ooo sunrise is about to be… 😴😴” 🤣 If you were a slayer your job is so easy during the day
It just felt light and fluffy the whole way though, despite the potential story line threat I was never worried it wouldn’t end all cute and it did 🥰 What an adorable ending.
Anyhoo thank you NetGalley for the ARC, if you want a fun easy vampire read, this is an easy choice!!
June 9, 2024
I found book one of this series, When Life Gives You Vampires, while browsing a used bookstore for my birthday in May, so finding this one immediately after reading that as a Read Now felt like fate.
While book one is still my favorite between the two, I did still enjoy this second book in the Slaying It world.
Getting to see the slayer side of things was so incredibly fascinating. Last book focused on the newbie vamp so we didn’t fully get to see the newbie slayer experience and the struggles that come with that. Carrie’s experience broke things down and showed readers the other half of the mythos for this world while still explaining more of the vampire rules which I enjoyed.
And I definitely loved how the book tackled body image issues. Carrie was already taller than most in her field, so adding on a slayer amount of muscle would for sure make anyone uncomfortable in her skin. Watching her gain confidence in herself was a big part of this book. She was able to stand up for herself where she couldn’t before and overcome a lot of her anxieties about living in the world and trying to start an acting career. And keeping that newfound confidence when all things were said and done, I think that was so important to see play out.
The mythos behind this world’s new vampire and slayer bond was also incredibly fascinating. Last book focused on rivals in a work place and past misspoken words for the animosity that started a vamp/slayer bond. This book showed that there’s a fine line between hate and attraction. Carrie never truly hated Nick: she was just jealous of how easy he seemed to move through life when hers was so riddled with anxiety. I enjoyed watching their relationship play out as she fought the darker side of her new abilities with Nick’s help and she was able to see a Nick in a new light because of their time together sharing this secret.
Other than the world’s mythos: there is no overlap between this book and the first. You could totally read them as standalones simply being set in the same world. Was I a little bummed that there was no crossover with the first book’s main characters?? Maybe a little. BUT this was still an enjoyable read and I’d be intrigued to see if the author creates others stories from this universe.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)
Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book!
While book one is still my favorite between the two, I did still enjoy this second book in the Slaying It world.
Getting to see the slayer side of things was so incredibly fascinating. Last book focused on the newbie vamp so we didn’t fully get to see the newbie slayer experience and the struggles that come with that. Carrie’s experience broke things down and showed readers the other half of the mythos for this world while still explaining more of the vampire rules which I enjoyed.
And I definitely loved how the book tackled body image issues. Carrie was already taller than most in her field, so adding on a slayer amount of muscle would for sure make anyone uncomfortable in her skin. Watching her gain confidence in herself was a big part of this book. She was able to stand up for herself where she couldn’t before and overcome a lot of her anxieties about living in the world and trying to start an acting career. And keeping that newfound confidence when all things were said and done, I think that was so important to see play out.
The mythos behind this world’s new vampire and slayer bond was also incredibly fascinating. Last book focused on rivals in a work place and past misspoken words for the animosity that started a vamp/slayer bond. This book showed that there’s a fine line between hate and attraction. Carrie never truly hated Nick: she was just jealous of how easy he seemed to move through life when hers was so riddled with anxiety. I enjoyed watching their relationship play out as she fought the darker side of her new abilities with Nick’s help and she was able to see a Nick in a new light because of their time together sharing this secret.
Other than the world’s mythos: there is no overlap between this book and the first. You could totally read them as standalones simply being set in the same world. Was I a little bummed that there was no crossover with the first book’s main characters?? Maybe a little. BUT this was still an enjoyable read and I’d be intrigued to see if the author creates others stories from this universe.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)
Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book!
June 7, 2024
I really fought hard to love this book, but it was so satirical that I couldn’t get invested or take it seriously. The premise is so cool and I actually really loved the characters, but the writing is so cheesy and unbelievable, and the first chapter is very choppy.
September 3, 2024
I liked this book a lot! It’s a cute, quick read!
I kept feeling this pit in my stomach because of Carrie’s and Nick’s circumstances and I had no idea how the plot was going to work itself out. I was okay with the ending. It really sucked that Nick had this huge crush on her the whole time and decided to become a vampire… & then for that to be the way Carrie finally notices and develops feelings for him!!!… ugh. This is just my preference but I think it’s silly that he just automatically falls asleep during daylight hours regardless where he is.. it’s so restricting.
Carrie was an interesting character. I was very shocked to read her first few chapters and then to learn she let her parents and sister bulldoze over her the way they did. When her parents showed up to give her an “intervention” I was like OOOOHHH PLEASE DON’T JUST TAKE IT. I was so happy she found her voice and stood on her views and opinions regardless of how many people tried to convince her otherwise. Her friends were amazing to her and I loved their dynamics.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
I kept feeling this pit in my stomach because of Carrie’s and Nick’s circumstances and I had no idea how the plot was going to work itself out. I was okay with the ending. It really sucked that Nick had this huge crush on her the whole time and decided to become a vampire… & then for that to be the way Carrie finally notices and develops feelings for him!!!… ugh. This is just my preference but I think it’s silly that he just automatically falls asleep during daylight hours regardless where he is.. it’s so restricting.
Carrie was an interesting character. I was very shocked to read her first few chapters and then to learn she let her parents and sister bulldoze over her the way they did. When her parents showed up to give her an “intervention” I was like OOOOHHH PLEASE DON’T JUST TAKE IT. I was so happy she found her voice and stood on her views and opinions regardless of how many people tried to convince her otherwise. Her friends were amazing to her and I loved their dynamics.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
August 25, 2024
4.5/5 ✨
This was simply amazing? I truly didn't expect to love this so much when I picked it up, on the basis that romance books aren't usually my thing, but boy was I wrong.
This is a workplace romance that takes a unique twist on the enemies to lovers trope between Carrie, aspiring Hollywood actress and newly-turned vampire slayer, and Nick,musician and newly-turned vampire. The romance felt actually real, with Carrie and Nick having good character development.
This was super entertaining and so much fun!
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
This was simply amazing? I truly didn't expect to love this so much when I picked it up, on the basis that romance books aren't usually my thing, but boy was I wrong.
This is a workplace romance that takes a unique twist on the enemies to lovers trope between Carrie, aspiring Hollywood actress and newly-turned vampire slayer, and Nick,musician and newly-turned vampire. The romance felt actually real, with Carrie and Nick having good character development.
This was super entertaining and so much fun!
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
September 6, 2024
3.5⭐, 2🌶️
This book has soo much going for it to be a really cool modern magical/ fantasy romance. I think where it missed the mark was it was just a tad too short? I would have liked more of Carrie and Nick being a couple, and not essentially enemies to friends to a one night stand to a second into third act split into a very fast reconciliation. They were not together long enough and I just couldnt enjoy the romance of this book, It didnt read well for me and just felt lack luster for a love story.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book has soo much going for it to be a really cool modern magical/ fantasy romance. I think where it missed the mark was it was just a tad too short? I would have liked more of Carrie and Nick being a couple, and not essentially enemies to friends to a one night stand to a second into third act split into a very fast reconciliation. They were not together long enough and I just couldnt enjoy the romance of this book, It didnt read well for me and just felt lack luster for a love story.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 14, 2024
I liked this more than the first Slaying It book. There were some parts where an idea wasn't fully followed through, and I wish it had went a little longer to tie some loose ends, but it was very enjoyable.
August 11, 2024
Vampires Never Say Die is a contemporary paranormal rom-com by Gloria Duke between aspiring actor Carrie and musician Nick. While struggling to make it big in Los Angeles, they both work as bartenders. However, Carrie hates Nick because he's lazy at work. However, when he gets turned into a vampire, the universe transforms her into a vampire slayer to maintain cosmic balance. As part of her transformation, Carrie is biologically compelled to kill any vampires near her and gets huge muscles overnight.
The main issues with the book are the prose itself, an incredibly clumsy minority metaphor and deceptive marketing.
Using fantastic creatures, including vampires, as a metaphor for the Other is not a new concept and has been over and over. However, Duke does not put in the work to build this metaphor in her book. Are Duke’s vampires a stand-in for LGBT people? People of Color? Religious minorities?
There’s no coding whatsoever until around halfway through the book when Carrie mentally compares killing vampires to hate crimes against Asian people. And then it’s dropped until the final confrontation between Carrie and Jenn, an overzealous slayer who tries to murder Nick and all his new vampire friends.
At which point Carrie comes out and makes the daring statement that killing the woman appointed by the cosmos to kill vampires and tried to do just that, is racist.
The following exchange takes place:
"You think we shouldn't defend ourselves against slayers?"
I search my brain for a response, but I don't know what else to say. For a moment, I think I may choke the same way I've choked at way too many auditions.
But then I remember the one audition where I didn't choke. And suddenly, I have the words. So with a few embellishments of my own and silent apologies to the writers of Robbery-Homicide Division I launch into my closing argument.
"But what you're talking about isn't self-defense," I say. "It's killing motivated by hatred, plain and simple. And that makes it not just a crime but the worst kind of crime. A hate crime." I pause to look around the space. I have everyone's attention, but I can't tell if they're with me or not. "Blind hate against someone simply because they belong to a particular community-slayer or vampire-is never justifiable. Do you really want to live with that? Do you want to carry around the guilt of that...forever?"
It’s a really weird take, given how one of the few things the book shows is how slayers are biologically compelled to kill vampires. This positions them as an existential threat to the vampires, who are apparently supposed to be metaphors for Asian people.
In the real world there is no biological imperative that makes people bigoted. Bigotry is something people learn from society and can unlearn. But in this book, it's a biological impulse Carrie and Jenn have to actively suppress.
Duke’s writing is often repetitive. There are several moments early in the book where Carrie says“And to…well…kill him. Yup. Kill. As in…uh…kill” and “I look at Nick and just like last night I want to kill him. Kill him.”
Maybe saying “kill” over and over is meant to convey her surprise at her new slayer instincts but it doesn’t work, it’s just aggravating.
Carrie will also have hamfisted monologues about how she’s become empowered and things are her choice over and over again towards the end of the book and summarize events that only happened a few chapters ago. While romance novels aren’t generally considered an intellectual pursuit, that doesn't mean the readers are idiots who need everything spoonfed to them.
There’s also a telling instead of showing problem. When an audition goes well for Carrie she says “Hearing this, I know I should be happy, elated, freaking over the moon with joy, and of course I am. But mostly what I’m feeling in this moment is…relief.”
How does Carrie express this relief? She smiles once at the end of the conversation with her agent. Telling with minimal to no showing makes it hard to get too invested in the story because the characters are so damn flat.
And because the characters were flat, the supernatural enemies-to-lovers bit Carrie and Nick have going on was boring and uncompelling. Carrie’s struggles with her family and acting career were the most interesting part of the book but got the least amount of pagetime.
The writing also tries to be clever by having the characters be kind of self aware of the fact that they’re in a romance novel. Liv, Carrie’s roommate and confidant, constantly talks about how Carrie and Nick’s romance would go in her imaginary movie based on their lives. At one point she straight up says “In the screenplay version of your story the whole slay-or-be-slain thing is just the external conflict that brings you two together and helps you work out your differences.”
Nothing wrong with leaning on the fourth wall or some meta humor but it just did not land.
It might have helped if Liv and the other best friend character, Heather, had personalities outside of being Carrie’s best friends. They were even flatter than she was and were just there to say supportive things on cue.
The deceptive summary is a relatively minor issue compared to everything else but still worth mentioning. The Vampires Never Say Die summary references to Hollywood preferring certain body types and being judged for her looks. And there is a trigger warning inside the book about how Carrie is pressured to conform to beauty standards her journey may be triggering.
This implies the story is going to be about fatphobia and/or eating disorders and Carrie suddenly becoming buff will allow the book to highlight how body-based discrimination works in Hollywood.
But no, Carrie is a thin blonde white girl who just wasn’t thin enough or pretty enough for Hollywood. To Duke’s credit, one of the few things the book shows is how being buff causes problems for Carrie.
Whether she has an eating disorder is unclear. She does make references to weighing herself everyday and counting her calories and doesn’t drink alcohol often because it’ll dry out her skin but none of that is ever challenged in the narrative. It’s brought up as flavor text and there’s no moment where Carrie decides that beauty standards are bullshit and who cares if she puts on a little weight? If she had an eating disorder, it hopefully wouldn’t be glossed over.
There were some redeeming features but not many. Carrie had a personality, however flimsy, which went a long way towards making the book bearable. Other romance novels are clearly written so the female readers can project themselves onto the main character and the romances are incredibly boring as a result.
Nick was a decent guy and he asks for consent multiple times when he’s with Carrie, which was nice.
But overall, this book is a huge, poorly written mess and could’ve used a better editor. Its characters are flat and the attempt to tackle racism is cringeworthy at best. There’s nothing to this book. Watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer instead.
The main issues with the book are the prose itself, an incredibly clumsy minority metaphor and deceptive marketing.
Using fantastic creatures, including vampires, as a metaphor for the Other is not a new concept and has been over and over. However, Duke does not put in the work to build this metaphor in her book. Are Duke’s vampires a stand-in for LGBT people? People of Color? Religious minorities?
There’s no coding whatsoever until around halfway through the book when Carrie mentally compares killing vampires to hate crimes against Asian people. And then it’s dropped until the final confrontation between Carrie and Jenn, an overzealous slayer who tries to murder Nick and all his new vampire friends.
At which point Carrie comes out and makes the daring statement that killing the woman appointed by the cosmos to kill vampires and tried to do just that, is racist.
The following exchange takes place:
"You think we shouldn't defend ourselves against slayers?"
I search my brain for a response, but I don't know what else to say. For a moment, I think I may choke the same way I've choked at way too many auditions.
But then I remember the one audition where I didn't choke. And suddenly, I have the words. So with a few embellishments of my own and silent apologies to the writers of Robbery-Homicide Division I launch into my closing argument.
"But what you're talking about isn't self-defense," I say. "It's killing motivated by hatred, plain and simple. And that makes it not just a crime but the worst kind of crime. A hate crime." I pause to look around the space. I have everyone's attention, but I can't tell if they're with me or not. "Blind hate against someone simply because they belong to a particular community-slayer or vampire-is never justifiable. Do you really want to live with that? Do you want to carry around the guilt of that...forever?"
It’s a really weird take, given how one of the few things the book shows is how slayers are biologically compelled to kill vampires. This positions them as an existential threat to the vampires, who are apparently supposed to be metaphors for Asian people.
In the real world there is no biological imperative that makes people bigoted. Bigotry is something people learn from society and can unlearn. But in this book, it's a biological impulse Carrie and Jenn have to actively suppress.
Duke’s writing is often repetitive. There are several moments early in the book where Carrie says“And to…well…kill him. Yup. Kill. As in…uh…kill” and “I look at Nick and just like last night I want to kill him. Kill him.”
Maybe saying “kill” over and over is meant to convey her surprise at her new slayer instincts but it doesn’t work, it’s just aggravating.
Carrie will also have hamfisted monologues about how she’s become empowered and things are her choice over and over again towards the end of the book and summarize events that only happened a few chapters ago. While romance novels aren’t generally considered an intellectual pursuit, that doesn't mean the readers are idiots who need everything spoonfed to them.
There’s also a telling instead of showing problem. When an audition goes well for Carrie she says “Hearing this, I know I should be happy, elated, freaking over the moon with joy, and of course I am. But mostly what I’m feeling in this moment is…relief.”
How does Carrie express this relief? She smiles once at the end of the conversation with her agent. Telling with minimal to no showing makes it hard to get too invested in the story because the characters are so damn flat.
And because the characters were flat, the supernatural enemies-to-lovers bit Carrie and Nick have going on was boring and uncompelling. Carrie’s struggles with her family and acting career were the most interesting part of the book but got the least amount of pagetime.
The writing also tries to be clever by having the characters be kind of self aware of the fact that they’re in a romance novel. Liv, Carrie’s roommate and confidant, constantly talks about how Carrie and Nick’s romance would go in her imaginary movie based on their lives. At one point she straight up says “In the screenplay version of your story the whole slay-or-be-slain thing is just the external conflict that brings you two together and helps you work out your differences.”
Nothing wrong with leaning on the fourth wall or some meta humor but it just did not land.
It might have helped if Liv and the other best friend character, Heather, had personalities outside of being Carrie’s best friends. They were even flatter than she was and were just there to say supportive things on cue.
The deceptive summary is a relatively minor issue compared to everything else but still worth mentioning. The Vampires Never Say Die summary references to Hollywood preferring certain body types and being judged for her looks. And there is a trigger warning inside the book about how Carrie is pressured to conform to beauty standards her journey may be triggering.
This implies the story is going to be about fatphobia and/or eating disorders and Carrie suddenly becoming buff will allow the book to highlight how body-based discrimination works in Hollywood.
But no, Carrie is a thin blonde white girl who just wasn’t thin enough or pretty enough for Hollywood. To Duke’s credit, one of the few things the book shows is how being buff causes problems for Carrie.
Whether she has an eating disorder is unclear. She does make references to weighing herself everyday and counting her calories and doesn’t drink alcohol often because it’ll dry out her skin but none of that is ever challenged in the narrative. It’s brought up as flavor text and there’s no moment where Carrie decides that beauty standards are bullshit and who cares if she puts on a little weight? If she had an eating disorder, it hopefully wouldn’t be glossed over.
There were some redeeming features but not many. Carrie had a personality, however flimsy, which went a long way towards making the book bearable. Other romance novels are clearly written so the female readers can project themselves onto the main character and the romances are incredibly boring as a result.
Nick was a decent guy and he asks for consent multiple times when he’s with Carrie, which was nice.
But overall, this book is a huge, poorly written mess and could’ve used a better editor. Its characters are flat and the attempt to tackle racism is cringeworthy at best. There’s nothing to this book. Watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer instead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2024
Vampires Never Say Die by Gloria Duke offers a fresh and entertaining twist on the classic vampire versus slayer trope. The novel introduces us to Carrie Adams, an aspiring actress whose life takes an unexpected turn when she is thrust into the supernatural world as the newest Slayer, tasked with eliminating LA’s latest vampire, Nick Stokes. What makes this story stand out is its clever balance of humor, relatable characters, and a plotline that feels both familiar and innovative.
Carrie is a compelling protagonist—serious, disciplined, and focused, yet grappling with the frustrations of an industry that judges her more on appearance than talent. This theme of feeling powerless resonates deeply until her transformation into a Slayer, which flips the script on her circumstances, giving her a newfound physical strength and abilities that are both exhilarating and challenging. The dynamic between Carrie and Nick, the attractive musician-turned-vampire, forms the heart of the story. Their relationship evolves from antagonistic to something more nuanced, with Nick's sad yet endearing backstory adding layers to his character that make him more than just a typical vampire villain.
One of the highlights of the book is the cast of supporting characters, reminiscent of the "Scooby Gang" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Carrie's friends provide comic relief and genuine camaraderie, adding depth and warmth to the narrative. Their interactions often had me laughing out loud, which is a testament to Duke’s sharp and witty writing.
However, the book is not without its flaws. While Carrie’s physical transformation is an interesting plot device, the narrative sometimes becomes overly fixated on her new, hyper-masculine body. The frequent references to her physique can feel repetitive and detract from the story’s momentum. Additionally, the miscommunication trope is used heavily throughout the novel, particularly in Carrie’s interactions with Nick. This often led to frustration, as many conflicts could have been easily resolved with a simple conversation, making certain parts of the story feel unnecessarily prolonged.
I also felt there was a missed opportunity regarding the significance of biting as an intimate act. Early in the story, there’s a mention of how biting in the vampire world is a deeply intimate experience. However, this theme is never fully explored or utilised in Carrie and Nick’s relationship. Given that the book revolves around a vampire and his Slayer, this felt like a missed opportunity!
Despite these drawbacks, Vampires Never Say Die is an engaging read that brings a fresh perspective to vampire lore. It’s funny, with excellent character development and a plotline that, while not without its clichés, offers something new in a genre that can often feel overdone. If you’re a fan of supernatural tales with a side of humour and a touch of romance, this book is definitely worth a read.
Carrie is a compelling protagonist—serious, disciplined, and focused, yet grappling with the frustrations of an industry that judges her more on appearance than talent. This theme of feeling powerless resonates deeply until her transformation into a Slayer, which flips the script on her circumstances, giving her a newfound physical strength and abilities that are both exhilarating and challenging. The dynamic between Carrie and Nick, the attractive musician-turned-vampire, forms the heart of the story. Their relationship evolves from antagonistic to something more nuanced, with Nick's sad yet endearing backstory adding layers to his character that make him more than just a typical vampire villain.
One of the highlights of the book is the cast of supporting characters, reminiscent of the "Scooby Gang" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Carrie's friends provide comic relief and genuine camaraderie, adding depth and warmth to the narrative. Their interactions often had me laughing out loud, which is a testament to Duke’s sharp and witty writing.
However, the book is not without its flaws. While Carrie’s physical transformation is an interesting plot device, the narrative sometimes becomes overly fixated on her new, hyper-masculine body. The frequent references to her physique can feel repetitive and detract from the story’s momentum. Additionally, the miscommunication trope is used heavily throughout the novel, particularly in Carrie’s interactions with Nick. This often led to frustration, as many conflicts could have been easily resolved with a simple conversation, making certain parts of the story feel unnecessarily prolonged.
I also felt there was a missed opportunity regarding the significance of biting as an intimate act. Early in the story, there’s a mention of how biting in the vampire world is a deeply intimate experience. However, this theme is never fully explored or utilised in Carrie and Nick’s relationship. Given that the book revolves around a vampire and his Slayer, this felt like a missed opportunity!
Despite these drawbacks, Vampires Never Say Die is an engaging read that brings a fresh perspective to vampire lore. It’s funny, with excellent character development and a plotline that, while not without its clichés, offers something new in a genre that can often feel overdone. If you’re a fan of supernatural tales with a side of humour and a touch of romance, this book is definitely worth a read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2024
Title: Vampires Never Say Die by Gloria Duke
Release Date: August, 20th, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars
"Vampires Never Say Die" by Gloria Duke is a delightful romp through the supernatural world, with a fresh twist that combines the glitz and glamour of Hollywood with the dark and dangerous realm of vampires.
Carrie Adams, our protagonist, is an aspiring actress who's more likely to be cast as a vampire's next meal than as the leading lady. But when she's thrust into the role of a vampire slayer, her life takes a turn for the fantastical, and not just because she's suddenly sporting a superhero physique and wielding a flaming sword.
The novel is a perfect blend of humour, romance, and action, with a touch of self-discovery thrown in for good measure. Carrie's journey from struggling actress to badass slayer is both entertaining and inspiring. Her interactions with Nick, the obnoxiously attractive coworker-turned-vampire, are a highlight of the book.
Their banter is witty and their chemistry is undeniable, making their evolving relationship one of the most engaging aspects of the story.
Gloria Duke has crafted a world where the supernatural and the mundane collide, and the result is a series that's both unique and utterly captivating. "Vampires Never Say Die" is the second book in the "Slaying It" series, but it stands alone beautifully. Newcomers to the series will find themselves immediately drawn into Carrie's world, while fans will revel in the continuation of her adventures.
The pacing of the book is excellent, with just enough action to keep the pages turning and enough character development to make the story feel substantial.
The supporting cast, including Carrie's roommates and other supernatural beings, adds depth and humour to the narrative. They're more than just sidekicks; they're fully fleshed-out characters with their own dreams and demons.
One of the strengths of "Vampires Never Say Die" is its ability to tackle serious themes with a light touch. Carrie's struggles with self-doubt and the pressures of the entertainment industry are relatable, and her journey to find her place in the world is both heartwarming and empowering.
"Vampires Never Say Die" is a must-read for fans of supernatural rom-coms. It's a fun, fast-paced, and engaging story that will leave you laughing, cheering, and maybe even shedding a tear or two.
Gloria Duke has created a world that's both wildly imaginative and deeply human, and Carrie Adams is a heroine you'll be rooting for from the first page to the last.
Whether you're a fan of the genre or just looking for a good time, this book is sure to deliver.
Thank you to The Publisher SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca | Sourcebooks Casablanca ,The Author Gloria Duke & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
Release Date: August, 20th, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars
"Vampires Never Say Die" by Gloria Duke is a delightful romp through the supernatural world, with a fresh twist that combines the glitz and glamour of Hollywood with the dark and dangerous realm of vampires.
Carrie Adams, our protagonist, is an aspiring actress who's more likely to be cast as a vampire's next meal than as the leading lady. But when she's thrust into the role of a vampire slayer, her life takes a turn for the fantastical, and not just because she's suddenly sporting a superhero physique and wielding a flaming sword.
The novel is a perfect blend of humour, romance, and action, with a touch of self-discovery thrown in for good measure. Carrie's journey from struggling actress to badass slayer is both entertaining and inspiring. Her interactions with Nick, the obnoxiously attractive coworker-turned-vampire, are a highlight of the book.
Their banter is witty and their chemistry is undeniable, making their evolving relationship one of the most engaging aspects of the story.
Gloria Duke has crafted a world where the supernatural and the mundane collide, and the result is a series that's both unique and utterly captivating. "Vampires Never Say Die" is the second book in the "Slaying It" series, but it stands alone beautifully. Newcomers to the series will find themselves immediately drawn into Carrie's world, while fans will revel in the continuation of her adventures.
The pacing of the book is excellent, with just enough action to keep the pages turning and enough character development to make the story feel substantial.
The supporting cast, including Carrie's roommates and other supernatural beings, adds depth and humour to the narrative. They're more than just sidekicks; they're fully fleshed-out characters with their own dreams and demons.
One of the strengths of "Vampires Never Say Die" is its ability to tackle serious themes with a light touch. Carrie's struggles with self-doubt and the pressures of the entertainment industry are relatable, and her journey to find her place in the world is both heartwarming and empowering.
"Vampires Never Say Die" is a must-read for fans of supernatural rom-coms. It's a fun, fast-paced, and engaging story that will leave you laughing, cheering, and maybe even shedding a tear or two.
Gloria Duke has created a world that's both wildly imaginative and deeply human, and Carrie Adams is a heroine you'll be rooting for from the first page to the last.
Whether you're a fan of the genre or just looking for a good time, this book is sure to deliver.
Thank you to The Publisher SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca | Sourcebooks Casablanca ,The Author Gloria Duke & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
July 10, 2024
One girl in all the world is given the power to kill vampires alone with only one person for support. This generation the slayer is Buffy. Oops, wrong legend. “Vampires Never Say Die” takes what we know of slayers from that popular cult favorite Buffy and completely turns it on its head. Let’s face it for me when I chose this book, I immediately pictured Buffy and Angel, but Carrie and Nick are a different breed of slayer and vampire. Some very subtle similarities exist but this is a unique story and Carrie becomes a powerful slayer by doing things a different way.
We are thrown into the deep end in this story with Carrie’s live changes so completely when she is picked to be a slayer because of her contentious relationship with a vampire. She wakes up buff and freaked out. Her friends jump into help her understand what is happening and oddly enough one wild theory turns out to be true. From there we get a story of Carrie learning to control her power while immersing herself in the presence of a vampire she hates. But you know what they say about a fine line between love and hate, well that applies to Carrie and Nick. Love and hate both play a large role in the vampire\slayer legend in this story.
Along the way, we meet other vampires who will judge Carrie’s right to be alive. We also meet a slayer that reminded me more of Faith as she just wants to get the slay on and move on as all vamps are bad. Therein lies the lesson we get in the story about indiscriminate hate. Along the way to the lesson and the big fight, Carrie learns a valuable lesson of her own. The lesson serves her well. While fighting her inner slayer, she learns to embrace her inner strength and become the Carrie she was meant to be. All she needed was a kick in the pants or in her case a voice in her head with the power to control a flaming sword.
We get a lovely happily ever after where all our heroines dreams come true. Who would have guessed turning into a buff version of herself would lead Carrie to happiness. This is my first book by Gloria Duke but not her first written. It was a fun story so I went back to get book 1. The book is standalone so no worries about reading book 1 first. Truth be told if book 1 is as much fun as this one, you should read book 1 and this book. Enjoy
Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
We are thrown into the deep end in this story with Carrie’s live changes so completely when she is picked to be a slayer because of her contentious relationship with a vampire. She wakes up buff and freaked out. Her friends jump into help her understand what is happening and oddly enough one wild theory turns out to be true. From there we get a story of Carrie learning to control her power while immersing herself in the presence of a vampire she hates. But you know what they say about a fine line between love and hate, well that applies to Carrie and Nick. Love and hate both play a large role in the vampire\slayer legend in this story.
Along the way, we meet other vampires who will judge Carrie’s right to be alive. We also meet a slayer that reminded me more of Faith as she just wants to get the slay on and move on as all vamps are bad. Therein lies the lesson we get in the story about indiscriminate hate. Along the way to the lesson and the big fight, Carrie learns a valuable lesson of her own. The lesson serves her well. While fighting her inner slayer, she learns to embrace her inner strength and become the Carrie she was meant to be. All she needed was a kick in the pants or in her case a voice in her head with the power to control a flaming sword.
We get a lovely happily ever after where all our heroines dreams come true. Who would have guessed turning into a buff version of herself would lead Carrie to happiness. This is my first book by Gloria Duke but not her first written. It was a fun story so I went back to get book 1. The book is standalone so no worries about reading book 1 first. Truth be told if book 1 is as much fun as this one, you should read book 1 and this book. Enjoy
Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 31, 2024
3.5stars-VAMPIRES NEVER SAY DIE is the second instalment in Gloria Duke’s contemporary, adult SLAYING IT paranormal, romance series. This is twenty-four year old, bartender/Slayer/ struggling actor Carrie Adams, and bartender/musician Nick Stokes’ story line. VAMPIRES NEVER SAY DIE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.
Told from first person perspective (Carrie Adams) VAMPIRES NEVER SAY DIE focuses on the relationship between Carrie Adams and Nick Stokes. Carrie Adams and Nick Stokes are co-workers but have never gotten along but things go from bad to worse when, one morning, Carrie Adams wakes up, jacked with new muscles and supernatural powers, and her target is our hero Nick Stokes. Nick is a recently turned vampire and his presence has turned Carrie into a vampire slayer, a slayer who wants nothing to do with killing our story line hero. What ensues is the building but tempestuous relationship between Nick and Carrie, and the potential fall-out when Carrie meets another Slayer who is determined to take down the man with whom Carrie is falling in love.
The world building focuses on the vampire/ slayer relationship; Carrie’s overwhelming need to kill that which she doesn’t understand, issues of body image and Hollywood’s expectations, and Nick’s need to prove not all vampires are evil or dark.
The relationship between Carrie and Nick is an enemies to frenemies to lovers in which Carrie is battling that which comes naturally, and Nick struggles to keep his vampire in check. Working side by side proves easier as time passes by but someone else is targeting our story line couple. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.
We are introduced to Carrie’s friends Liv and Heather, slayer Jenn Muldoon, as well as Nick’s bandmates and fellow vampires Quentin and Zach.
VAMPIRES NEVER SAY DIE is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, vampires and slayers, acceptance and love. The premise is entertaining but dry -touted as a rom-com, the laughable moments were missing. The characters are energetic ; the romance is tepid, I didn’t feel the palpable sexual attraction.
On a side note, I am not a fan of the cover, just no.
copy supplied for review
www.thereadingcafe.com
Told from first person perspective (Carrie Adams) VAMPIRES NEVER SAY DIE focuses on the relationship between Carrie Adams and Nick Stokes. Carrie Adams and Nick Stokes are co-workers but have never gotten along but things go from bad to worse when, one morning, Carrie Adams wakes up, jacked with new muscles and supernatural powers, and her target is our hero Nick Stokes. Nick is a recently turned vampire and his presence has turned Carrie into a vampire slayer, a slayer who wants nothing to do with killing our story line hero. What ensues is the building but tempestuous relationship between Nick and Carrie, and the potential fall-out when Carrie meets another Slayer who is determined to take down the man with whom Carrie is falling in love.
The world building focuses on the vampire/ slayer relationship; Carrie’s overwhelming need to kill that which she doesn’t understand, issues of body image and Hollywood’s expectations, and Nick’s need to prove not all vampires are evil or dark.
The relationship between Carrie and Nick is an enemies to frenemies to lovers in which Carrie is battling that which comes naturally, and Nick struggles to keep his vampire in check. Working side by side proves easier as time passes by but someone else is targeting our story line couple. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.
We are introduced to Carrie’s friends Liv and Heather, slayer Jenn Muldoon, as well as Nick’s bandmates and fellow vampires Quentin and Zach.
VAMPIRES NEVER SAY DIE is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, vampires and slayers, acceptance and love. The premise is entertaining but dry -touted as a rom-com, the laughable moments were missing. The characters are energetic ; the romance is tepid, I didn’t feel the palpable sexual attraction.
On a side note, I am not a fan of the cover, just no.
copy supplied for review
www.thereadingcafe.com
June 11, 2024
When it comes to romance books I tend to be pretty picky and this one checked a lot of boxes for me. While some of the scenarios were written in a way that I would probably describe as cheesy, I understand that this is meant to be a different sort of vampire romance novel than I may have been craving at the start. At the end of the day this is a supernatural romance to read when you want to have fun and there's nothing wrong with that. The stakes are neither too high or too low and feel right where I want them to be for a romance novel of this category and style.
At a few points when it came to romance the plot felt like it moved a little fast. I love a good enemies to lovers and, while it gave that sort of feeling at the start, I wouldn't really classify it as 'enemies to lovers' overall. There is pining and when its time for that pining to take center stage the payoff feels good. Additionally, there are female besties that are truly there for each other and function as real friends. Sometimes they come off a bit like yes-men but I think its possible to ignore that.
The main character Carrie undergoes a drastic change in her life and body due to vampiric nonsense and I feel that he response to this change was very human and very realistic for the society that we live in today with its expectations on women. Also, keeping in mind, that Carries is an aspiring actor who may need to rely on type-casting to break into the industry. Carrie and her love interest Nick were extremely cute and I felt that their romance was believable. Nick himself is a good guy and when it came time to explore his backstory I felt that it was grounded in reality and added to the plot. Several of these characters feel like I could know them in real life despite the vampires and slayers.
Overall, this book could use a few tweaks but otherwise I've already started reccommending it to friends who enjoy a good romance and telling them about the coming release date. I look forward to reading it again after its published!
At a few points when it came to romance the plot felt like it moved a little fast. I love a good enemies to lovers and, while it gave that sort of feeling at the start, I wouldn't really classify it as 'enemies to lovers' overall. There is pining and when its time for that pining to take center stage the payoff feels good. Additionally, there are female besties that are truly there for each other and function as real friends. Sometimes they come off a bit like yes-men but I think its possible to ignore that.
The main character Carrie undergoes a drastic change in her life and body due to vampiric nonsense and I feel that he response to this change was very human and very realistic for the society that we live in today with its expectations on women. Also, keeping in mind, that Carries is an aspiring actor who may need to rely on type-casting to break into the industry. Carrie and her love interest Nick were extremely cute and I felt that their romance was believable. Nick himself is a good guy and when it came time to explore his backstory I felt that it was grounded in reality and added to the plot. Several of these characters feel like I could know them in real life despite the vampires and slayers.
Overall, this book could use a few tweaks but otherwise I've already started reccommending it to friends who enjoy a good romance and telling them about the coming release date. I look forward to reading it again after its published!
August 19, 2024
🎧 Vampires Never Say Die (Slaying It Book #2)
* I didn't read book 1, but had no issues following story. Can be read as a standalone*
✍️ By: Gloria Duke-new to me author
🗣️ Narrator: Fiona Aarington voices all characters. The narrator's voice fit the characters with standouts from Carrie and Nick. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along with the E-book and audiobook.
📃 Page Count: 287
🏃🏾♀️Run Time: 8:19
🗓️ Publication Date: 8-20-24 | Read: 8-18-24
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casblanca, and Dreamscape Media for this ARC and ALC ❤️! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Genre: Paranormal Romance
🌏Setting: LA
Tropes:
❤️vampires vs. vampire slayers
❤️workplace romance
❤️body image
❤️typecasting in Hollywood
❤️3rd act break-up
POV: single, 1st person
🦸🏽♀️Heroine: Carrie Adams-24, a bartender and actress looking for her big break. Discovers she's a vampire slayer.
🦸🏽♂️Hero: Nick Stokes-a bartender and musician, works at Pete's with Carrie. He's also a recently turned vampire.
🎭Side cast: Liv-Carrie's roommate and BFF; Heather-Carrie's BFF; Quentin and Zack-Nick's bandmates in Dracula's Army, both vampires; Arlo: vampire politician; Jenn-a slayer
🤔My Thoughts: I definitely got Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes from Carrie and Nick. Carrie had some body image issues, especially being an actress, but becoming a slayer gave her confidence along with Nick's acceptance. Carrie did a lot to prove she meant Nick and his friends no harm, but her association with Jenn, another slayer, caused some problems. I loved Quentin and Arlo and can't wait to see if they will have stories too!
Range of emotions: 😬🤔🙄
🌶️: Spice 3/5
🎧: Narration 4 /5
😭: Emotion 3/5
❤️: Couple 4/5
⭐: Rating 4/5
* I didn't read book 1, but had no issues following story. Can be read as a standalone*
✍️ By: Gloria Duke-new to me author
🗣️ Narrator: Fiona Aarington voices all characters. The narrator's voice fit the characters with standouts from Carrie and Nick. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along with the E-book and audiobook.
📃 Page Count: 287
🏃🏾♀️Run Time: 8:19
🗓️ Publication Date: 8-20-24 | Read: 8-18-24
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casblanca, and Dreamscape Media for this ARC and ALC ❤️! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Genre: Paranormal Romance
🌏Setting: LA
Tropes:
❤️vampires vs. vampire slayers
❤️workplace romance
❤️body image
❤️typecasting in Hollywood
❤️3rd act break-up
POV: single, 1st person
🦸🏽♀️Heroine: Carrie Adams-24, a bartender and actress looking for her big break. Discovers she's a vampire slayer.
🦸🏽♂️Hero: Nick Stokes-a bartender and musician, works at Pete's with Carrie. He's also a recently turned vampire.
🎭Side cast: Liv-Carrie's roommate and BFF; Heather-Carrie's BFF; Quentin and Zack-Nick's bandmates in Dracula's Army, both vampires; Arlo: vampire politician; Jenn-a slayer
🤔My Thoughts: I definitely got Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes from Carrie and Nick. Carrie had some body image issues, especially being an actress, but becoming a slayer gave her confidence along with Nick's acceptance. Carrie did a lot to prove she meant Nick and his friends no harm, but her association with Jenn, another slayer, caused some problems. I loved Quentin and Arlo and can't wait to see if they will have stories too!
Range of emotions: 😬🤔🙄
🌶️: Spice 3/5
🎧: Narration 4 /5
😭: Emotion 3/5
❤️: Couple 4/5
⭐: Rating 4/5
June 9, 2024
When Life Gives You Vampires is one of my favourite books, so I knew that Gloria Duke’s writing worked well for me, but this book completely sucked me in even more than I expected. While I didn’t love this one quite as much as WLGYV, it was still a great read.
I am surprised that this is listed as book 2 in a series, when the only connection between the books (as far as I noticed) is the mention of the vampire council. Since I love WLGYV, even though I expected this to be a companion novel with new characters, it would have been lovely to see Tristan and Lily included in some way. But I do understand why they weren’t, especially since this takes place on LA instead of New York.
Carrie and Nick are both great characters. I do think the timeline of this book (and their relationship) was a bit rushed though. I liked Carrie’s personal growth, and the way she really gained confidence in who she was as a person and learned to defend herself and her choices. The side characters were good too, but I feel like the main focus and development in this book was definitely Carrie.
There were some parts of the typical romance ‘third act conflict’ that I didn’t love, however I did think that it fit with the story and was handled well. And honestly, that’s all I can really ask for. It stretched out a bit long, but I think that worked with Carrie working on her personal development.
I already have a physical copy of this preordered so that I can have a copy on my shelves when it officially releases, and I’m really hoping that this has the same narrator as WLGYV. She did such a good job on that one, although even if it’s a different narrator I wouldn’t be surprised if my rating goes up when I reread this via audiobook. I think it will translate really well to audio.
Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am surprised that this is listed as book 2 in a series, when the only connection between the books (as far as I noticed) is the mention of the vampire council. Since I love WLGYV, even though I expected this to be a companion novel with new characters, it would have been lovely to see Tristan and Lily included in some way. But I do understand why they weren’t, especially since this takes place on LA instead of New York.
Carrie and Nick are both great characters. I do think the timeline of this book (and their relationship) was a bit rushed though. I liked Carrie’s personal growth, and the way she really gained confidence in who she was as a person and learned to defend herself and her choices. The side characters were good too, but I feel like the main focus and development in this book was definitely Carrie.
There were some parts of the typical romance ‘third act conflict’ that I didn’t love, however I did think that it fit with the story and was handled well. And honestly, that’s all I can really ask for. It stretched out a bit long, but I think that worked with Carrie working on her personal development.
I already have a physical copy of this preordered so that I can have a copy on my shelves when it officially releases, and I’m really hoping that this has the same narrator as WLGYV. She did such a good job on that one, although even if it’s a different narrator I wouldn’t be surprised if my rating goes up when I reread this via audiobook. I think it will translate really well to audio.
Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 24, 2024
“vampires never say die” unfortunately reads like a poorly made wattpad story. i’m thankful that it wasn’t much longer, as i likely would have DNF-ed it. the book had very clichéd writing, with stereotypical phrases like “i released the breath i didn’t realize i was holding”. there was a whole lot of telling and not a lot of showing, and it’s important for there to be a balance of both.
i didn’t feel like the romantic pairing of the book, carrie and nick, had much chemistry at all. as someone who grew up on “buffy the vampire slayer”, my expectations were high from buffy and angel. “vampires never say die” missed the mark with the story’s couple, though. what didn’t help is i didn’t feel connected to any of the characters whatsoever. the “steamy scene” between nick and carrie wasn’t the most enjoyable to read… it felt extremely awkward. nick quite literally asked for consent with every. single. move. he made. consent is important, but this was too much. the last minute breakup scene with only 5% of the book left felt messily thrown in. this made carrie and nick “make up” way too quickly.
the portrayal of vampire slayers was certainly creative, but i didn’t love it. i’ve never seen slayers have pyrokinesis or the ability to fly. while slayers do generally possess a substantial amount of strength, these additional abilities just felt weird and out of place. additionally, in this reality, a slayer’s job would be extremely easy, considering vampires actually sleep during the night???
carrie’s gig she landed on the tv show (and her acting career as a whole) felt like it was put on the back-burner toward the end of the book. it was an important, pivotal moment in her character arc, and then it was abandoned for basically the rest of the story.
thank you to netgalley and dreamscape media for the ALC!
tropes:
- slayer x vampire
- forbidden love
- curvy FMC
i didn’t feel like the romantic pairing of the book, carrie and nick, had much chemistry at all. as someone who grew up on “buffy the vampire slayer”, my expectations were high from buffy and angel. “vampires never say die” missed the mark with the story’s couple, though. what didn’t help is i didn’t feel connected to any of the characters whatsoever. the “steamy scene” between nick and carrie wasn’t the most enjoyable to read… it felt extremely awkward. nick quite literally asked for consent with every. single. move. he made. consent is important, but this was too much. the last minute breakup scene with only 5% of the book left felt messily thrown in. this made carrie and nick “make up” way too quickly.
the portrayal of vampire slayers was certainly creative, but i didn’t love it. i’ve never seen slayers have pyrokinesis or the ability to fly. while slayers do generally possess a substantial amount of strength, these additional abilities just felt weird and out of place. additionally, in this reality, a slayer’s job would be extremely easy, considering vampires actually sleep during the night???
carrie’s gig she landed on the tv show (and her acting career as a whole) felt like it was put on the back-burner toward the end of the book. it was an important, pivotal moment in her character arc, and then it was abandoned for basically the rest of the story.
thank you to netgalley and dreamscape media for the ALC!
tropes:
- slayer x vampire
- forbidden love
- curvy FMC
July 3, 2024
An aspiring actress and a musician walk into a bar. (where they both tend bar.) and end the night becoming mortal enemies. You see Nick is a vampire and Carrie just got the amazing unwanted task of becoming his slayer.
Carrie has always felt like an oddball. She chose to go against her parent's wishes of becoming a lawyer and pursue the competitive career of becoming an actor. But that's her dream and she is willing to chase her dreams. Nick is a charming and smooth musician who tends bar with Carrie. She has always thought that he is arrogant and does whatever he pleases and that has led to her minor hate towards him. Well, that hate turned into becoming a vampire slayer...in particular Nick's slayer. She finds this out when she wakes up with a new, muscular body. Nick lets her in on his secret, he is a vampire. She may have thought hate is a strong word/feeling, but now she is doing her best not to kill Nick..
Nick is helping her control her slayer because there are other vampires that see her as a threat. Along the way, Nick and Carrie build a friendship that runs into something more. He falls first and Carrie thinks she may feel the same way but is questioning everything. Does Nick really like her? Does he have an ulterior motive? Can a slayer and a vampire ever be together?
Vampires Never Say Die is a cute and sassy rom-com about a vampire and his slayer learning to take charge of their lives. I adored Carrie's personal growth. In the beginning, Carrie could easily be swayed to act in certain ways to appease her parents but by the end, she is putting her foot down and standing up for herself. Nick is team Carrie and is helping her every step of the way. He is open with her and puts everything on the table. They are supposed to be together, let alone like each other, but it just makes sense.
Carrie has always felt like an oddball. She chose to go against her parent's wishes of becoming a lawyer and pursue the competitive career of becoming an actor. But that's her dream and she is willing to chase her dreams. Nick is a charming and smooth musician who tends bar with Carrie. She has always thought that he is arrogant and does whatever he pleases and that has led to her minor hate towards him. Well, that hate turned into becoming a vampire slayer...in particular Nick's slayer. She finds this out when she wakes up with a new, muscular body. Nick lets her in on his secret, he is a vampire. She may have thought hate is a strong word/feeling, but now she is doing her best not to kill Nick..
Nick is helping her control her slayer because there are other vampires that see her as a threat. Along the way, Nick and Carrie build a friendship that runs into something more. He falls first and Carrie thinks she may feel the same way but is questioning everything. Does Nick really like her? Does he have an ulterior motive? Can a slayer and a vampire ever be together?
Vampires Never Say Die is a cute and sassy rom-com about a vampire and his slayer learning to take charge of their lives. I adored Carrie's personal growth. In the beginning, Carrie could easily be swayed to act in certain ways to appease her parents but by the end, she is putting her foot down and standing up for herself. Nick is team Carrie and is helping her every step of the way. He is open with her and puts everything on the table. They are supposed to be together, let alone like each other, but it just makes sense.
August 19, 2024
Vampires Never Say Die is book 2 in the “Slaying It” series of body positive supernatural romcoms that I have totally become addicted to. The first book, When Life Gives You Vampires, was a favorite read of 2022. So, I was beyond pumped to read this follow up…
Carrie, bartender and hopeful, but non-working actress, is struggling to survive in Hollywood. One morning she wakes up completely buff and with new found power, both in strength and…..fire. Naturally she calls her besties and they figure out that she’s actually now a vampire slayer. For any elder (I swear to God do not call us geriatric pls) millennials out there- the Buffy vibes are *immaculate*. Turns out, the cute bartender at her work just became a vampire, and the cosmos or whatever force is at work requires balance. Her job is to kill the vampire, but how can she when she’s maybe, kinda, falling for him?!
Ok. So. It’s a solid 3 star read. It has a great set up, a quirky endearing girl-gang, body positivity. A hot vampire bartender. Unfortunately it goes hard with the miscommunication trope which got annoying after a while. Further, while our FMC, Carrie, is written really relatable in the beginning, with her body self consciousness, so, although I’m happy to have seen her grow confident, I felt like the author really was hyper fixated on reminding us that her new “slayer body” was masculine. Specifically masculine. Not just ripped, shredded, toned etc. I think this description really takes away from what the goal was here. The point is supposed to be that a woman’s body comes in many shapes and sizes, so it tripped me up to reference masculinity. 3 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the advanced copy, in exchange for my unbiased review!
Carrie, bartender and hopeful, but non-working actress, is struggling to survive in Hollywood. One morning she wakes up completely buff and with new found power, both in strength and…..fire. Naturally she calls her besties and they figure out that she’s actually now a vampire slayer. For any elder (I swear to God do not call us geriatric pls) millennials out there- the Buffy vibes are *immaculate*. Turns out, the cute bartender at her work just became a vampire, and the cosmos or whatever force is at work requires balance. Her job is to kill the vampire, but how can she when she’s maybe, kinda, falling for him?!
Ok. So. It’s a solid 3 star read. It has a great set up, a quirky endearing girl-gang, body positivity. A hot vampire bartender. Unfortunately it goes hard with the miscommunication trope which got annoying after a while. Further, while our FMC, Carrie, is written really relatable in the beginning, with her body self consciousness, so, although I’m happy to have seen her grow confident, I felt like the author really was hyper fixated on reminding us that her new “slayer body” was masculine. Specifically masculine. Not just ripped, shredded, toned etc. I think this description really takes away from what the goal was here. The point is supposed to be that a woman’s body comes in many shapes and sizes, so it tripped me up to reference masculinity. 3 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the advanced copy, in exchange for my unbiased review!
August 20, 2024
Who knew vampire romance can be so much fun? Vampires Never Say Die by Gloria Duke was so entertaining and witty and adorable with some strong heartaching moments too. What happens when a vampire is created from a human? The universe turns his enemy into a vampire slayer! Only..Carrie never thought herself to be that kind of enemy to her irritating coworker Nick. This story is about finding love in an awkward and unexpected situation!
Carrie has the dream of becoming a successful actor and bartender is just her temporary job. She is struggling hard against her rich, snobby and judgmental family. It's a big shock when she wakes up with a super muscled body. The appearance is very important for her career. And it's not only the appearance. She suddenly finds herself in possession of some superhuman powers like a fire sword. She is lost and confused and distraught. The puzzle is solved by her very charming, annoyingly sexy and ridiculously cute coworker Nick. Nick was just turned into a vampire and due to their animosity at work, she was turned into a vampire slayer. Now she has to control the urge to kill him else her secret will be revealed and she will be hunted by other vampires. Nick wants to help her but things get complicated due to their insane chemistry.
Carrie is an awesome character. She could have followed her family's path and live a cozy life. But she wants to follow her dreams. She is witty and sassy and determined. She was off balance with the sudden changes but she fought bravely to get the control back. She has a big heart. She didn't like Nick's womanizer ways and may be a little bit of jealousy played a role. But when Nick offered to help her in the crisis, risking his own life, she slowly realises that he is a good guy actually. Now he is a real charmer. He is also a musician. He is a bit arrogant and c0cky and whole lot of sexy. He was very protective of Carrie even when it was putting his own life at jeopardy. It was an entertaining journey specially with Carrie's colorful best friends. I feel the vampire slayer part opened a suppressed side in Carrie. She became stronger and bolder. She became more assertive. She really went for what she wanted. It was touch and go for a moment as Carrie almost got taken out by the vampires but she proved that she isn't here to just kill vampires indiscriminately. Nick and Carrie's enemies to lovers transition was beautiful. It was full of banter and fun and scorching hot chemistry. The ending was beautiful.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
Carrie has the dream of becoming a successful actor and bartender is just her temporary job. She is struggling hard against her rich, snobby and judgmental family. It's a big shock when she wakes up with a super muscled body. The appearance is very important for her career. And it's not only the appearance. She suddenly finds herself in possession of some superhuman powers like a fire sword. She is lost and confused and distraught. The puzzle is solved by her very charming, annoyingly sexy and ridiculously cute coworker Nick. Nick was just turned into a vampire and due to their animosity at work, she was turned into a vampire slayer. Now she has to control the urge to kill him else her secret will be revealed and she will be hunted by other vampires. Nick wants to help her but things get complicated due to their insane chemistry.
Carrie is an awesome character. She could have followed her family's path and live a cozy life. But she wants to follow her dreams. She is witty and sassy and determined. She was off balance with the sudden changes but she fought bravely to get the control back. She has a big heart. She didn't like Nick's womanizer ways and may be a little bit of jealousy played a role. But when Nick offered to help her in the crisis, risking his own life, she slowly realises that he is a good guy actually. Now he is a real charmer. He is also a musician. He is a bit arrogant and c0cky and whole lot of sexy. He was very protective of Carrie even when it was putting his own life at jeopardy. It was an entertaining journey specially with Carrie's colorful best friends. I feel the vampire slayer part opened a suppressed side in Carrie. She became stronger and bolder. She became more assertive. She really went for what she wanted. It was touch and go for a moment as Carrie almost got taken out by the vampires but she proved that she isn't here to just kill vampires indiscriminately. Nick and Carrie's enemies to lovers transition was beautiful. It was full of banter and fun and scorching hot chemistry. The ending was beautiful.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
August 15, 2024
I received an advanced copy of the audiobook for review. This is my own opinion.
This is giving modern Buffy, but with a new LI that's not Spike or Angel. (Spuffy 4lyfe!)
I finished the first book in this series (series feels incorrect--they're like stand alones set in the same world) about a month ago, and when I discovered there were more books set in this world, I was really excited. I think I like this one even more than the first?
Carrie is an actor moonlighting as a bartender, and her coworker Nick is constantly under her skin. When Nick is turned into a vampire, Carrie as his "enemy" is turned into his slayer to keep balance. But Nick's vampire bandmates plan to get rid of Carrie and the threat she poses. Nick suggests they work together to help get her new inner slayer under control, and they closer they work, the more Carrie realizes maybe her feelings were never hate.
I was worried about the way the ending was going to go, with the potential for whole 'woman gives up power for man' thing. I was prepared to be outraged and was pleasantly surprised not to go in that direction. I won't spoil things, but there's even a really good explanation about Carrie's power.
This is a really cute supernatural romance! It definitely has a summery feel with the beach/California setting, so it's a great summer read if you're looking for something different than a romcom!
Thanks to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Gloria Duke for the ALC!
This is giving modern Buffy, but with a new LI that's not Spike or Angel. (Spuffy 4lyfe!)
I finished the first book in this series (series feels incorrect--they're like stand alones set in the same world) about a month ago, and when I discovered there were more books set in this world, I was really excited. I think I like this one even more than the first?
Carrie is an actor moonlighting as a bartender, and her coworker Nick is constantly under her skin. When Nick is turned into a vampire, Carrie as his "enemy" is turned into his slayer to keep balance. But Nick's vampire bandmates plan to get rid of Carrie and the threat she poses. Nick suggests they work together to help get her new inner slayer under control, and they closer they work, the more Carrie realizes maybe her feelings were never hate.
I was worried about the way the ending was going to go, with the potential for whole 'woman gives up power for man' thing. I was prepared to be outraged and was pleasantly surprised not to go in that direction. I won't spoil things, but there's even a really good explanation about Carrie's power.
This is a really cute supernatural romance! It definitely has a summery feel with the beach/California setting, so it's a great summer read if you're looking for something different than a romcom!
Thanks to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Gloria Duke for the ALC!
August 21, 2024
𝐀𝐑𝐂: Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️ - I liked that there were vampires…
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: 🌶 - If I am being nice
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: August 20, 2024
….
….
Let me first by saying thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this. I love being able to review ARCs because I know not everyone is approved.
I had high hopes for this because who doesn’t love a good vampire book?
When I saw this I was intrigued I was thinking Romeo and Juliet but vampire edition… which it was but there were quite a few things that I wish were better. For example, I wish the 25-year-old MCs were better at talking. Considering that the MMC grew up in the foster care system you would think that he would have a better communication system and that the FMC who was going to be a lawyer would be good with words.
On top of that there were so many plot holes while I was reading and I was just sad… to be a slayer you have to meet some specific requirements and then the FMC specifically states that she doesn’t necessarily meet them so then I'm thinking how is she a slayer.
I was able to listen to this on the audio and while it was nice I wasn't the biggest fine, the person who did it I felt like wasn't able to portray the people very well they were either not very different or majorly different and not how I would have pictured. I think I would have enjoyed reading this more.
This book has:
🌑 Vampire/Slayer
🌑 Actress
🌑 Bartender
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️ - I liked that there were vampires…
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: 🌶 - If I am being nice
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: August 20, 2024
….
….
Let me first by saying thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this. I love being able to review ARCs because I know not everyone is approved.
I had high hopes for this because who doesn’t love a good vampire book?
When I saw this I was intrigued I was thinking Romeo and Juliet but vampire edition… which it was but there were quite a few things that I wish were better. For example, I wish the 25-year-old MCs were better at talking. Considering that the MMC grew up in the foster care system you would think that he would have a better communication system and that the FMC who was going to be a lawyer would be good with words.
On top of that there were so many plot holes while I was reading and I was just sad… to be a slayer you have to meet some specific requirements and then the FMC specifically states that she doesn’t necessarily meet them so then I'm thinking how is she a slayer.
I was able to listen to this on the audio and while it was nice I wasn't the biggest fine, the person who did it I felt like wasn't able to portray the people very well they were either not very different or majorly different and not how I would have pictured. I think I would have enjoyed reading this more.
This book has:
🌑 Vampire/Slayer
🌑 Actress
🌑 Bartender
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews