bangiebangs's review against another edition
I dont even really know why I stopped... another book that I was waiting for came out and I read that and now I really don't care to come back to this one. The story just never really hooked me, see my review of book 1. Not for me, too on the nose maybe, and the writing is not great.
maddydactyl's review against another edition
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
acourtoffantasies's review against another edition
5.0
ALINA!! I devoured this book as the stakes keep rising! Book 2 is intriguing and full of mystery! Nothing is as it seems and Alina is working through her emotions while tackling a new world head on. I can’t wait to see what the next moves on the chessboard are as I have a feeling they are going to be the catalyst to ushering in a new Sanguis
ashleyluvsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
5.0
conmeows's review against another edition
The bland smut could not entice me to finish it. Extremely predictable story and barely any depth to the characters.
shaythomas's review against another edition
2.0
Am I invested in this series? Yes. Has anything actually happened? No. Genuinely, I do not understand how I just read 300 pages and everything took place in a week. Literally nothing at all happened, but I want to know what’s going to happen so I have to keep reading which is very annoying.