Rating: 4 Stars

I love me a fake dating and one bed trope!

This book reminded me a lot of A shadow in the Ember mixed with King of battle and blood. If you’re a fan of these books, I highly recommend reading this book!

I fucking love Sebastian. He’s so fine, charismatic, and his character is really interesting. Olivia, however, was very annoying something and also very slow. Sometime I just sat there thinking how she can be so stupid. However, the tension between them was so fucking hot! I need to see how their relationship develops in the next book!

Through I feel like the world building could have used a little more work, this book was addicting to say the least. I could not put it down and I finished it in less than a day. I cannot wait for the next book!!!

This book is awesome the tension between Olivia and Sebastian hot. Vampires,mortals , love betrayal, lust and learning to trust each other makes for a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat to see what will happen next. The world is very well written with badass characters you will love. I can't wait to see what happens in book 2.

Shadow kissed is a new and refreshing take on a vampire novel. I really enjoyed reading this and it sucked me in from the very start. While there are some typical traits expected from old vampire tales, there’s also some different attributes the author gives that doesn’t make this like every other vampire novel out there. I also liked that even though there are unique words and kingdoms in this, everything is explained well and I was never once left feeling confused. I thought the information was spread out nicely throughout the novel through different scenes and conversations and none of the explanations felt like long info dumps. The drama and conflict starts off during the first few chapters and completely hooked me in. There’s a nice flow to the story. It moves forward at a good pace. It’s never too fasted paced where you can’t grasp or understand what’s going on, but it’s also quick enough where I never felt there was a boring moment. It keep me interested and intrigued from beginning to end. I liked the characters, they take time to trust and connect with each other, and that also helped me the reader get to know them and feel connected to them as well. Over all I really enjoyed this book and didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait for the next one in this series and I definitely recommend this read.

*(I received a free e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changed or influenced my views or opinions.)

1 ⭐️ DNF 22%.

I don’t normally like to give books one star, even when I DNF they normally get 2, but this was shocking – it was a blatant rip off of ACOTAR and From Blood and Ash and the ‘ancient lore’ has been taken from the vampire diaries TV show. Not only is that awful and shocking – it didn’t even do it better. This book needed a lot more developmental editing to sort out:
— pacing
— info dumping
— characterisation

and a lot more.

Here’s a break down of how it rips off ACOTAR/FBAA/TVD - spoilers ahead for those series:

TVD - Silas/Qetsiyah/Amara’s story is the same as Salenia creating immortality and then cursing the guy when he picked another girl. Then Salenia created an afterlife for immortals to trap and torture the girl – this is literally the same as the otherside in the vampire diaries.

FBAA – girl has been misled by her people and told the vampires are the bad guys but by all accounts that seems to be sort of false (same as Atlantians versus Ascended), the girl can sense emotions (just like poppy) and she’s shocked by the intense pain coming from Sebastian emotionally (Poppy & Cas have this exact moment too)

ACOMAF – the Vampire court is clearly supposed to be like the night court, Sebastian is the misunderstood baddie and the girl has been misled by her people to think that they’re murderers and monsters etc. Sebastian also has all these dark tattoos but she’s kinda attracted to him even though he’s the ‘bad guy’.

These are just some of the similarities I noticed in the first 20% of the book 🥴

There are other similarities too that can be put down to tropes, like inner circle, girl wanting to charge head first into danger recklessly etc. but some of the other similarities are just too close IMO and this just wasn’t written well. It needed slowing down and developing a lot, it didn’t feel unique at all. It’s a shame because I’d seen teasers for this book and thought it seemed interesting but honestly I found the MC annoying and everything from characters to world building was very surface level.

OH MY GOSH I adored this book. I loved the writing, the storyline was good and I loved the worldbuilding. I thought the characters were well developed and I found myself liking them even more throughout the book. It was gripping and fast paced and I didn't want it to end. i cannot wait to read more. Also the cover is stunning

The book was fast paced and had a good vampire world set up. The pacing at times went a bit too fast, and some details were not as fleshed out. I would've liked to learn a bit more about this world, because it was intriguing.

As for the characters, I was not able to connect with the characters as well as I usually would. The characters could've used a bit more development.

With that being said I'm intrigued by any future books in the series. I recommend checking this one out if you are into vampire stories!

Okay, so literally 2 words:
In love.
That's it.
Five stars
Will not rest until I read the 2nd book.

Oh and also thank you, Rebecca, for letting me receive a copy of this book via NetGalley as an ARC (and thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op). All thoughts and opinions are my own.

~

I will try my best to write this with no spoilers but wow. At first, I was kind of iffy about the book, especially with the beginning because it reminded me of "Everything, Everything" (which I loved but I didn't understand the world, and it was all kind of confusing) but I pulled through. And now I'm so glad I didn't put this down.
It literally has everything you could want in a fantasy book. All the best tropes, like:

- Vampires (THEY FLY??? that was literally so cool, though I did have a hard time imagining it LOL)
- Sorcerors (I am so so so happy the main character is not like the greatest magician known to man, because it adds so much character and I love it!)
- Fake Engagement (do I even have to say anything? cliche but five stars because I'm living for it)
- Found Family (i can't even choose which character I like more at this point)
- Royalty (literally the best trope and best ending, I cannot wait for book 2)

If you're a fan of the Cruel Prince or love the fake-dating fantasy trope, this one's for you! It's such an easy read, and though it might be a little cliche, it's the type that is super cute and will get you to continue. You literally will not regret it, and if you make it all the way to the end, you'll be hooked. Just warning you. Cannot wait for the next one,

Thank you again for letting me receive an opportunity to read an ARC :) Can't wait to read more of the author's books!

Thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing for the opportunity to read and review this title before publishing!

This was a super fast, fun, entertaining read. I think it was exactly what I was looking for.

Olivia is a sorceress in Baldoria, and her mother works alongside the guild to protect humans from vampires in the neighboring kingdom. One night, the vampires become bolder than ever and infiltrate not only her kingdom but the guild itself, leaving her and her loved ones vulnerable. She is abducted by another vampire who claims to have good intentions for her, but she cannot keep herself from her suspicions. From here, Olivia enters a world of secrets, lies and betrayal, and learns that there is much more to who she is than she ever knew.

Let’s start with the good. This was so I credibly easy to blow through. It’s compulsively readable, and filled with the most well loved tropes: only one bed, fake dating, forced proximity, a reluctant hero. Sebastian is the exact king of fantasy man that we all love noawdays, and his snark and charm are so fun to read. The one bed trip was carried out particularly well, and the tension during the fake dating portions is really palpable. The rest of the cast of characters are lovable and distinct from one another in a way that I really appreciate. Olivia’s magic has a lot of potential for growth. I finished this book in about 3 sittings.

The not so good: this book isn’t really doing anything we haven’t seen before, and I found the ending to be underwhelming. I know where the climax was supposed to be, but I felt nothing about it. The world building and magic system also leaves much to be desired, as we don’t learn anything at all about sorcery or forms of magic. We don’t know anything about the world or the other kingdoms. Olivia goes through some character growth for sure, but much of it is told rather than shown. This is all fine dependent on what you’re looking for, I think I just would have liked to see some more explanation of Olivia and her Mother’s powers, the dynamics of the different kingdoms, and more evidence of the kings described character traits. Id like to see examples of Olivia coming into her own through her behaviors, beyond being told in her own stream of consciousness how much she believes herself to have changed.

I overall really enjoyed this read, but I think you have to go into it knowing what you’ll get. This is good for escapism, tension and banter. It’s fun to learn about a world that isn’t very complicated but still has a lot of the magic, fantasy and intrigue that we all so love. Olivia’s outburst at the end with her powers was fun and exciting, and I am completely interested to read more about her in future installments, just like I’m excited to read about she and Sebastian’s relationship going forward after his decisions in the end. I’d recommend this to readers who want some incredibly light, fun fantasy reading in lieu of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Thorns and Roses, but with less development and complexity. At the end of the day, I’m rating this 3.5 stars.

Olivia has spent her life locked away in a not-so-ivory tower. Her mom leads The Guild, a militia created to protect mortals from the vampires in the neighboring kingdom. When the vampires break into her home and begin destroying everyone she loves, she manages to flee. Right into the arms of another vampire who swears he can protect her. She's then catapulted into a life of secrecy and political intrigue, trying to free those who have been taken captive by the bloodthirsty auctioneers and royals. She knows her "protector" is hiding something, but his charm and lingering touches cause her to question everything she thought she knew about vampires.

One thing readers will really enjoy about Shadow Kissed is how fast-paced it is. The introduction to the characters is short and sweet, and then we hop right into the action. There are no slow moments throughout the novel, and something intense is always happening. Readers will jump from one heartwrenching reveal to another. Our girl Olivia does not get a break, and neither do we.

An issue readers may have is that while the overall plotline is easy to follow, several scenes are lacking in clarity. For example, when there are three or four characters in a room, sometimes it's unclear who is speaking, leaving the reader a little lost. And readers might find the chemistry between the main characters a little lackluster. The snarky banter is there, but it feels like something is missing, and it just falls a little flat.

Let me be clear, even with the above issues, I still really enjoyed reading it, and I will happily continue reading the series. So with all that said, 3.5 out of 5 stars.

It bears mentioning that there are necessary trigger warnings, mostly about suicidal ideation/thoughts. There are also themes of human trafficking, slavery, and all the things that come with them. It's all fairly mild, with no graphic details about what goes on behind closed doors.

To wrap it all up, I'll say this: if you love vampires, slow-burn romances, found families, and political intrigue, Shadow Kissed is a really great combination of all of them, with just enough heat to leave readers desperately wanting more.

Darkness has come to the mortal kingdom. When the guild protecting them is attacked by vampires, Olivia is swept away from the safety of her home when her mom and best friend are taken. Before she can get away, she’s captured by a vampire, Sebastian, who insists he’s protecting her. But when she’s taken to the City of Nightmares, the most dangerous place in the vampire kingdom she realizes she’s been made prisoner.
As she fights to survive in a world where mortals are nothing more than things to be fed on or traded, Olivia must use her wits and place her trust in the handsome, but deadly Sebastian, if she’s going to figure out a way to save her loved ones...

Sebastian and Olivia make quite a pair. They are exciting and romantic together. The plot is very suspenseful. Olivia is a terrific character and one of my favorite heroine now. The only so-called bad thing is that it ends on a cliffihanger... I am so looking forward to see what happens...

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

I have been given the honor of beta reading this book, and what an honor it truly was!

I don't know how it was done but Rebecca L. Garcia somehow managed to write the exact kind of story I have been craving for a long time. I mean it when I say I struggled to put it down, I couldn't wait to get home from work so I could continue reading! Garcia have taken everything I love in books and put it into this one beautiful, gorgeous, emotional, and sexy story.

Olivia is relatable and I want to hug her mom so much. Sebastian is just *chef's kiss* gorgeous, inside and out. The emotions were conveyed strongly and I ran the gamut – anger, sorrow, joy, and I love feeling all the emotions when I read.

I loved it so much! I cannot wait to read to read the second one because I was practically screaming at the end!

I was selected to be an ARC for this book and omg it was incredible it is everything that I could wish for in a story all in one. I won't leave any spoilers but i will post my full review of this book on my Instagram and tiktok profiles on release day April 15th. I am so excited it was an incredible book I will definitely be purchasing it in hardback for my shelf

Shadow Kissed
Rebecca L Garcia
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. It's been a while since I read anything with vampires but the synopsis really made me curious.

The world building was great, with enough detail about the history of the characters, the lore/mythology of the vampires in this world, their gods etc without it being an info dump or an overload. There are a few tropes thrown in such as fake dating, only one bed and more.

It was a little predictable in certain places but it didn't spoil anything for me and I loved how we get to discover more and more layers to various characters as we progress.

My only complaint would be the ending. It was a cliffhanger but also very sudden. That being said, I look forward to reading the next installment.

*Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers @victoryeditingngc for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Wow! Excuse me while I go scream into my pillow cause I need book 2!!!

Rebecca has created yet another outstanding world! Something I found particularly interesting was that these vampires can fly! I have never heard of such a thing so kudos to you Rebecca! This book has so many badass characters that the whole I was just like dam! I'd also like to address that Sebastian is my man, love him! 😍 I highly recommend that you read this book not because it has flying vampires (but I mean that's also great too😄) but because Rebecca has written yet another outstanding series you won't regret reading!

Thank You Rebecca for the eARC!!!!

And this is why I love reading about vampires! Because every once in awhile a Author will come along and write something that will make me fall completely in love with this world. One of my most favorite tropes and this author comes in and writes this brilliant, adventurous, must-read story. That completely made me forget what time of day it was.
Rebecca L. Garcia does that here with Shadow Kissed.
I can't wait to read book two already and book one hasn't even been released yet!
I love how fully fleshed out this world here.
Our characters are complex and and compelling. I couldn't get enough of them.

I read this book in one sitting because I was just spellbound.
Gotta read book two.... Please!

Victory Editing NetGalley,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review closer to pub date.

Olivia lives as a sheltered sorceress who can't use her powers very well until one day there's an attack and she is taken by a vampire. In the city of Vampires, Olivia will learn there's so much more to everything she thought she knew about not only herself, but the monsters around her.

4.5 Stars! Got a lot of good tropes here, it's slow burn, enemies to lovers in a way, fake dating, ball dancing, politics and more! I really enjoyed this book. It's got an interesting premise and a female lead who grows throughout the book. I definitely enjoyed Olivia's character more towards the end of the book and can't wait to see her strengthen in the second one.

Sebastian is positively swoon worthy. A vampire with a dark past, tattoos and dreams? Love it. I need more of him. All of the side characters were captivating, which doesn't always happen. Even the ones I disliked I enjoyed their 'screen' time.

I truly enjoyed this world and the vampire lore woven into it. The whole backstory is really interesting, a take a quite enjoy. Highly recommend this book to vampire lovers!

Thank you Net Galley and Victory Editing Co-op for the opportunity to read this arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for allowing me to read the ​E-ARC of Shadow Kissed.

I was super excited to read Shadow Kissed (Marked by Blood#1), and boy, it did not let me down!
There's so much I want to say but I can't because then I'd spoil it! So all I can say is the Olivia and Sebastian, will they? Won't they? The twists and turns throughout just kept me wanting to read more.
I feel so conflicted with Sebastian (you need to read the book to know what I mean). The way Rebecca wrote him is fantastic, and the feels you get are so real like.
I loved how it's been written and how it flowed. Oh, and all the characters I love each one.
Of course, it ended on a cliffhanger, but that's OK because I can't wait to read the next instalment.
I loved everything about this story.

I must say when I read the blurb for Shadow Kissed I was very intrigued.
Once I started reading this I couldn't put it down. I loved it!

Olivia and Sebastian were great and I found myself throughout the novel thinking will they, won't they?
I loved how all the characters were vital to the development of the story and the way the writing drew you in was outstanding. I was really rooting for them all.

The little twists and turns were very well placed. Certain revelations left me sat staring in disbelief and had me turning the pages for more!

The ending... Well what can I say about that ending? 😂 Whaatt?!! It ended on a cliff hanger - haha I *need* to know what happens, Does Olivia get what she wants? Do the others make it out alive?!
I don't know 😂 So it's safe to say I need book 2 - I'll patiently sit waiting in anticipation 😁

This is the first novel I've read by Rebecca L Garcia and it definitely isn't going to be my last.

I really recommend this book to everyone that loves a good vampire/mortal adventure with a purpose, that doesn't have the normal "I fell in love with a sparkly vampire" trope