VAMPS: Fresh Blood was an intriguing book. The characters are interesting, and the author does an excellent job of developing their various personalities and relationships. Dillon is especially well written. The story is engrossing as Dillon tries to come to terms with his status as a dhampir and an outsider to the elite vampire world, all while learning as much as he can and trying to survive. Overlaying it all is the mystery of just who is his mother? It's action packed and kept me up reading until the early hours of the morning. I highly recommend this book for fans of vampires and academy stories.

This has been on my radar for some time and I'm disappointed I didn't read this as soon as I got it. We have Dylan, who has no idea what he's in for, at this "vampire academy" in the middle of a mountain range. He's gobsmacked by the truth of his parentage (mom's a vamp -and a powerful one at that) and now he has to navigate threats from BOTH his classmates AND the outside. Add in the intertwined sub-plot of "what's so special about Dylan?", and we have a really intriguing storyline. I like the honesty of Dylan's character and it plays out through his journey of self-discovery. He's not morally grey, just a normally-flawed teenager who was thrown the curveball of his life lol.

This was a unique representation within a genre that has been well-saturated for decades. The writing style is atypical to me due to Arend being British, but I enjoyed the flow as it -now that I think about it- reminds me somewhat of how Harry Potter was written. The way she writes teenage emotions is spot-on and very tactile. If American readers charge into this with an open reader's eye, and get through the 'intro chapters', I think they'd really enjoy it and it'd be a standout series.

I would give this a solid 3.5, but I round it up to 4 Stars because it was an engaging/immersive, easy read, and the worldbuilding was well thought out and clever. While somethings are very clear from the get-go as to how things will play out, there are a few twists that will have you guessing to nearly the very end. That ending...DANG!

Thank you, NetGalley and Attria Books, for allowing me to read this proof. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book reminded me a bit of crave but i thought it was a good ambiance. I love everything to do with vampires so it was an easy sell for me.

Meh, just meh. It was fast-paced. The characters are obnoxious. The school felt like many stories we have heard before. Overall, just meh. I saw someone say Horny Harry Potter and that tracks completely with this!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

OMG!!! This book was exactly what I wanted it to be! I loved it. I will make sure to check out other books by this author. When I requested this I was just intrigued by the concept of it and I loved how it turned out. This story had a great plot and if you have read this and enjoyed it, This was so much. It was such a great story. I would say give this one a try. I will continue to follow this author. Way to go to this author for not letting me down.

I highly enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook. Kept me listening.

This was a fun start to, hopefully, a series! I was intrigued by the magic system and learning about how these vampires operated. It didn't feel redundant of other vampire novels, but something fresh. I loved the school and seeing relationships build between each of the characters. Hopefully, I will get my hands on the second one and get answers to all of my questions!

The world-building is fantastic. Learning alongside our protagonist, Dillon, how the secret vampire world in the mountains runs allows the reader to immerse themselves into this new fantasy world without being too slow or too overwhelming. There are a lot of characters and world-building details, however, that are important to the plot but it does take some time to keep track of them all. They're all introduced roughly around the same time at the beginning, and it does take a few chapters to remember who plays what role in Dillon's life. I thought this took me away from the story at the start, but I pushed through it and was rewarded with an action-heavy plot with a perfect balance of twists and character development. And that cliffhanger at the end? Pure genius!

"Vamps: Fresh Blood" – A Riveting Tale of Power, Intrigue, and Fangs

Nicole Arend's "Vamps: Fresh Blood" invites readers into a world of opulence, intrigue, and dark secrets, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Swiss Alps. In this compelling supernatural tale, the prestigious VAMPS academy becomes the stage for a unique protagonist, Dillon, who, as a dhampir—half human, half vampire—must navigate the treacherous waters of vampire society.

The narrative unfolds with Dillon, an outsider in a school catering to the offspring of the most powerful and wealthy vampire families. His dhampir status places him on the fringes, a position he must confront if he wishes to survive the intrigues of VAMPS. Arend skillfully weaves together elements of social hierarchy, supernatural identity, and self-discovery as Dillon grapples with his unique heritage.

The Swiss Alps, with their majestic and chilling beauty, serve as the perfect setting for a school that harbors not just the secrets of its students but the dark history of vampiric lineage. Arend's descriptive prowess immerses readers in this atmospheric world, where the air is thick with tension, and every whispered secret holds the potential for danger.

Dillon's journey of self-acceptance becomes the heart of the narrative, and as he grapples with the choice of embracing his fangs, the story takes unexpected turns. The exploration of identity and power is cleverly entwined with the supernatural, creating a narrative that is not only thrilling but also thought-provoking.

The novel excels in building suspense, especially as Dillon's unique bloodline emerges as a force to be reckoned with. As his powers grow, so does the intrigue surrounding him, turning him into both a target and a potential game-changer in the complex power dynamics of the vampire elite.

"Vamps: Fresh Blood" is a captivating read that seamlessly blends elements of the paranormal with a coming-of-age narrative. Arend's writing style is engaging, and her ability to craft a world where every character holds a secret adds layers of complexity to the plot. For fans of vampire lore, supernatural drama, and tales of self-discovery, this book promises an exhilarating journey into the shadows, where blood carries not only life but also the weight of destiny. With "Vamps: Fresh Blood," Nicole Arend establishes herself as a noteworthy voice in the genre, offering a fresh and enthralling take on the age-old mythos of vampires and their intricate societal dynamics.

This book was so good and I was in love with the world. The beginning was interesting and learning with the main character was a great idea. Dillion is lovely and interesting. I can't wait for more of the series especially at the end

I love vampire books, so I was excited to read this one. Overall I thought it was a solid read. The story had interesting moments and storylines. I think Dillon is an good character that grew a lot throughout the book. There were some slow moments that made me skim a bit just so I could return to the exciting parts, but I definitely want to reread the whole book to get the whole picture. Solid vampire book with an interesting story.

This book made me feel like I was getting to read Vampire Academy all over again. That series was one of my favorites as a teen and was the first books my husband bought me. For a new book to make me feel like that again says a lot. Cant wait to see more!

VAMPS: Fresh Blood by Nicole Arend - 3.5/5
General fiction - Sci Fi & Fantasy - Teen & YA

Vamps: Fresh Blood is a fast paced read that fills in any vampire tropes you could want.
Attending the academy of VAMPS is a dream for the wealthy and powerful, so when the academy opens its doors for Dillon, an outside, things become intense.

Dillon is a half vamp, half human trying to find where he fits in, leaving him at the mercy of other power vamps who think he doesn't belong. I enjoyed the storyline and could empathize with the struggles Dillon faced. There are tons of different creatures throughout the story, so it makes it harder to see if there are others at the academy, why does Dillon being a dhampir matter. Not my favorite read, but one I could see myself reading the next book to see where Dillon's life goes.

Available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, BookShop
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC.

If you like vampire books based in the academy check this book out.

I love vampire books, but this one didn't meet my expectations. In the beginning, too many characters were introduced at once and it got confusing, especially with it being in the third person.

But the story was interesting and it got better as I read.

This series is incomplete.

I DNFed this at 15%. I didn’t connect with the writing style and felt there was so much info dump at the start that I just couldn’t stay in true story. I also tried to read the audiobook after and the narrator was not good so I will not complete this book.

Is this book going to be referenced as a masterclass in writing the next great novel? No, not at all. Was it good? Yes. This is one of those books that you thoroughly enjoy because it is fun, interesting, and hard to put down. It has nothing to do with it being the most well written story and that is perfectly fine because it is for enjoyment.

I want to be clear that the writing is bad, pretty bad, but just like a low budget fantasy show, you keep watching, or rather reading. There are mistakes that are so glaringly obvious that I would have to stop and laugh. I also think the author straddles the line of insulting Ireland very closely (its possible she officially crosses it and I was unable to pick up on it).

I would like to think that some of the errors have been fixed prior to publishing, but even so, this book its a fun trashy novel. If a trashy novel is up your alley, go ahead and read.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
-Rating 3.5 stars-
This was probably up there on my list for anticipated adult reads this year. The cover, synopsis, and likeness to a young adult series Vampire Academy that I’d read in my early teen years and hold a fondness for you’d think this would’ve been a stellar set up for adult me having the next best thing?
It’s about a group of high class vampires and a dhampir joining into a “school” type setting all are around college age so a bit of romance , betrayal, friendships and power shifting. But the writing style in which it was written sometimes I felt often a distraction or disconnect with it so I’d constantly reread passages or a whole chapter thinking I missed or read something wrong. This grew to be frustrating so I had to set it down and change novels for w but to sorta get back into the reading groove.
Which that i don’t know if it was helpful? Or maybe this was just one I’d picked up started and wasn’t quite ready to indulge in.
But it’s got sooo much potential, the storyline and characters are really well plotted and created. I’m curious where it’ll continue next within the story..With maybe the right niche of readers this’ll go over super well.

I love pretty much any vampire book that is sent my way. I will always have a soft spot for vampires and the new and interesting ways authors can bring new life to them. I want to start off by saying that the environment and setting of this book is by far my favorite aspect of it. I thought it was so interesting to put a setting there and I haven't read any books like that before so it was a plus. I think my main issue was just that I liked the setting more than many of the characters? I don't know. I think maybe this could have been a bit longer for everything this book was trying to do. Overall, it's not my favorite vampire story ever told, but it's also not bad!

A fantasy horror story that throws in a coming to age premise. The main character is Dillion, who begins his journey at an elite school. Dillion is having trouble fitting in, he just happens to be half human and half vampire. Being a normal teenager is hard enough. A creative start to a new series and great world building skills with exciting characters,

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thankfully, VAMPS isn't being considered for any literary awards. I figured they'd be like trashy teen literature that manages to be both irritating and fascinating. I liked how the vampires were shown to be bloodsuckers with ravenous appetites and a taste for hard banging. They stick to the standard vampire clichés and literary conventions without adding nuance or complexity, and it works better. Even though this book is almost an exact copy of every other piece of trash media in which rich kids are portrayed as little theater nightmares, the fact that it is mostly about vampires makes it an exciting vampire story with good world-building. Many things, including a fact checker, are lacking in the book, but you have to shut up and go with it because many of the things said and scenes depicted are false or laughable. While the writing was shaky and occasionally terrible, overall it was serviceable and online with a trashy novel (assuming the basic grammatical and proofreading errors like duplicated words get ironed out by publication). The book's portrayal of Ireland was the single major flaw for me; it was consistently funny but also very close to becoming disrespectful. I'm not sure if I will be interested in picking up the next one.

Thank you for this advanced reader's copy from #netgalley for an honest review.

The author paints a picture. I love the academy winter setting. I do feel like the ending was a bit rushed but it’s got to have another book. I have so many questions. Dillion is a great main character and this book has romance and hook ups.