This book was, unfortunately, not for me. The writing style and character development felt very young, and I think the book in general could have used a lot of tightening and editing. I was interested in the premise of the book, and I had never heard of this author before except that she had written a popular werewolf series. I loved vampire/werewolf stories, so I jumped right in.

The book starts off with the main character talking about her small shitty life in her small shitty apartment and how she hides behind her friends. Unfortunately, her friends are just as shitty, so I immediately wasn't loving the book. Aileen is boring and then when she becomes a vampire, she very suddenly changes with no explanation about why, if being a vampire gave her some overconfidence or what.

The romance was also a mess with no real tension and things happening too quickly.

The twist at the end was unexpected but also not enough to bring me back for book two.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This book was really twisty... There are so many thing happening that you are easily hooked and keep diving in for more. However, there is a huge part of this storyline missing because we never really learn about Aileen's past. We learn bits and pieces, but there isn't anything that really explains what happened or how her beliefs apply to the rest of the story or even the world of Vampires.

The world of Vampires is underground, which makes sense. You learn that the things you might know for vampires are all fake. Garlic, mirrors, stakes to the heart.. all fake in this story. Basically the only change addressed in this book for turning from human to vampire, is that the water in your body turns to blood. So you now need to drink blood instead of water. There are multiple different leagues for each vampire to live under, which would be cool if you could pick and choose which one you wanted, but that is not what is given off in this book.. I am not sure you can leave the one you are sent to... So that should be explained a little more I think. There is also a part where she is captured by someone else who knows of Vampires, but yet they aren't human either.. only that isn't explained at all. Then there is the part about how the giving of lifeblood stays with the person for a certain amount of time.. That needs to be explained more.

I was left with a lot of questions for this book, however, it was also really good. She was angry at him for turning her, but yet their chemistry is undeniable, and once they both accept that the story just gets better.

A timid girl, our MFC Aileen likes to stay in the shadows, not wanting to draw attention to herself...

So when she wakes up a vampire this would seem to be a perfect outcome, right?

Jokes aside, this book absolutely took me on a journey.

Did I have questions? Yes. Was it a good read? Yes.

The concepts and premise of the book are solid, well executed, I was engaged the whole way through

To realise this series has a second one out very soon is so exciting! Nothing better than finding a decent series to read that you have just found. This book captivated me from the very first page, not your usual vampire story either which is brilliant! I can’t wait for book two!

“Because I couldn’t fucking control myself!” he bit out, face utterly furious as he grabbed my fisted hands. “Because I saw your pretty hazel eyes, and any and all rational thoughts left me!”

Strangers to enemies to lovers
Vampires

TW: physical abuse, blood play, kidnapping, bullying, nonconsent, parental sexual abuse

It’s really rare to find a book in the vampire genre with its own spin, but this one definitely has it! Instead of your typical vampire lore, lords turn, trade, buy, and sell their creations.

Without spoilers, the ending is so unexpected and will leave you anxiously waiting for more.

I don't think this one was for me. I wasn't a fan of the main relationship or hiw the world operated. It wasn't bad, it just did not appeal to me on a personal level.

I recently finished reading "Cloak of the Vampire" by Sapir A. Englard, and I was thoroughly captivated by the dark and intense world that the author has created. The story follows Aileen Henderson, whose life takes a dramatic turn as she awakens to a new reality after her death. Transformed into a vampire and driven by a desire for revenge, Aileen navigates a world filled with brutality, bloodlust, and betrayal.

Englard skillfully weaves together elements of fantasy, suspense, and romance to create a gripping and multi-layered narrative. Aileen's journey of self-discovery and her quest for vengeance against the vampire who cursed her with immortality kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book.

The complex dynamics between the characters, particularly Aileen and Ragnor Rayne, add depth to the story and create a sense of suspense and anticipation. The author's vivid descriptions and evocative writing style brought the supernatural world of vampires and demons to life, immersing me in a thrilling and atmospheric reading experience.

"Cloak of the Vampire" is a compelling and engrossing novel that will appeal to fans of dark fantasy and paranormal romance. Englard's masterful storytelling and the enthralling plot make this book a must-read for anyone seeking a captivating and immersive tale of revenge, survival, and the supernatural.

This book was not what I expected, but I still enjoyed most of it.

The story itself was interesting and filled with mystery. I hope most questions will be answered in the 2nd volume. The characters are okay, but I think they could have more depth.

What could really be improved is the dialogue. When that super bad vamp kept calling people noobs I felt really weird. Do people really use "noob" outside of the internet?

Anyway, it was a pleasant experience and I will read the next book as well. It's the type of book you read for the vibe and that's okay if that's what you're looking for

“Cloak of the Vampire,” by Sapir A. Englard

Aileen is hiding a dark past and tries to stay out of the limelight, until the day she dies. When she awakens it’s in the dark and dangerous world of vampires. Ragnor is the one who imprinted her and turned her into a vampire. She needs to survive the Auction and temptation of his attractiveness in order to get her revenge.

I loved this book. It was seriously dark and sexy, with a true gray to black MMC. It was super-fast paced, and I was interested the entire book. There was a lot of mystery behind the FMC’s past that I’m excited to learn more about in book 2 of the series. I’m still pretty conflicted if I want the two main love interest to be end game or not because it is so messy and complicated which I actually kinda like. 5 out of 5 stars, so worth it.

-Vampires
-Enemies To Lovers
-Morally Grey To Black MMC

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

Please, I just want vampires to be real, is that too much to ask? Oh well, I guess I'll just bury myself in vampire stories then. Might even hide in the Cloak of the Vampire. See what I did there?
Of course I loved this story!

I enjoyed this read! Was fast paced and it did feel like a wattpad/ fanfic but that’s probably why I read it so fast. I would recommend to someone just looking for a vampire enemies to lovers book!

Oh boy, this was not what I had hoped for or expected. I really thought this started out strong but then took a turn for the worse really fast. I really wanted to dnf this at the 70% mark but finished it because of how much I have read. This was a vampire academy/house of night rip-off but with more sex scenes in it than was necessary. I understand this might have been one of those books you maybe read for vibes or just for the tropes of this teacher/student relationship and definitely not something you take seriously but this was just no. The language used in this was awful, the dialogue so repetitive. You can't make me believe that this big bad mean girl vampire that the MC clashes with often was calling everyone a noob in every line of her dialogue. This was the cringiest, most wattpad fanfiction, thing I have ever read.

Cloak of the Vampire by Sapir A. Englard
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
🔥Supernatural
🔥Enemies to Lovers
🔥Hidden Identity
🔥Forced Proximity
🔥Grumpy x Grumpy

I love vampires and have been consuming vampire books and TV shows since my teens so of course I had to read Cloak of the Vampire!

This book has a very interesting take on the vampire world that I really enjoyed. Think vampires meet Hogwarts and then sprinkle in dark romance. It genuinely caught me off guard how much I liked this book and I need book two!

I recommend Cloak of the Vampire to all vampire lovers out there!

Sapir A. Englard's *Cloak of the Vampire* weaves a tale of dark romance and supernatural intrigue, immersing readers in a world where secrets, vengeance, and forbidden desires collide.

The story centers on Aileen Henderson, whose ordinary life takes a sinister turn when she is transformed into a vampire by Ragnor Rayne, a powerful and enigmatic Lord of the League of vampires. Suddenly thrust into a world of brutality and bloodlust, Aileen's sole focus becomes revenge against the vampire who cursed her with immortality and bound her to him through the Imprint—a mystical bond she struggles to break.

Englard masterfully portrays Aileen's descent into darkness and her quest for vengeance, blending elements of horror, romance, and supernatural suspense. Aileen's journey is fraught with peril as she navigates the treacherous world of the League, where alliances are fragile and betrayal lurks at every turn. Her determination to defy Ragnor Rayne's control and reclaim her autonomy drives the narrative forward, compelling readers to root for her against insurmountable odds.

Central to *Cloak of the Vampire* is the complex relationship between Aileen and Ragnor Rayne. Theirs is a dynamic fueled by mutual distrust and a haunting connection that transcends mere animosity. As Aileen grapples with conflicting emotions—anger, desire, and a burgeoning sense of forbidden attraction towards Ragnor—Englard explores themes of power dynamics and the blurred lines between predator and prey.

The novel's atmospheric prose immerses readers in a shadowy world where danger and seduction coalesce. From the suspenseful Auction where vampires bid on human thralls to the clandestine machinations of vampire politics, Englard crafts a vivid backdrop that enhances the tension and intrigue of Aileen's journey.

Thematically, *Cloak of the Vampire* delves into themes of identity, sacrifice, and the consequences of embracing darkness in pursuit of justice. Aileen's transformation from a reluctant victim to a formidable adversary is compelling, underscored by Englard's nuanced portrayal of her internal struggles and external challenges.

In conclusion, *Cloak of the Vampire* is a gripping tale of vengeance and redemption set against a backdrop of supernatural danger and simmering passion. Sapir A. Englard's narrative prowess shines through in this darkly romantic exploration of love and betrayal in the realm of the undead. For readers captivated by paranormal romance and thrilling escapades into the occult, this novel promises an enthralling and immersive experience from start to finish.

*Cloak of the Vampire* by Sapir A. Englard is a compelling blend of supernatural intrigue and forbidden romance, showcasing the author's skill in crafting a suspenseful narrative with memorable characters and evocative world-building. Dive into the shadows and discover the allure of Aileen's quest for vengeance amidst the secrets of the vampire League.

This book is every vampire lovers dream! I loved it so much I need it for my shelf! I was captivated from page 1 and I can’t wait to read more from
This author!

Aileen Henderson is perfectly happy with her life as a wallflower. Her small apartment, steady job at a grocery store, and two friends are an easy shield to hide her from her dark past. But when she finds herself in the wrong place at the right time trying to help her best friend, Aileen’s comfortable life is ripped away by Ragnor Rayne, a powerful vampire lord. Forced to become a vampire herself and join his league, Aileen must fight to regain her freedom, even if it means resisting her growing attraction to the man she’s sworn to kill.

“So, yes, my free life was a poor, stinky one, but it was mine.
And in less than one minute, Ragnor Rayne had stolen it from me.”

This was a rough book to get through. It was very quickly apparent that the writing style and character voices would be better suited for a wattpad fanfiction (and not in a good way). Aileen’s characterization was confusingly random- she was described as ditzy, clueless, a passionate artist, and then simultaneously aggressive, insanely good at martial arts, strategic, but impulsively combatant. I’m not saying multifaceted characters can’t exist, or that these descriptions are an impossible combination to pull off, but it definitely didn’t work in this context. Her character didn’t feel cohesive, more dictated by what the plot needed from her or what the author thought would be cool for a one off scene. These traits were also explicitly told to the reader and rarely earned by Aileen’s actions. She vows to bid her time and exact revenge on Ragnor, but then doesn’t do anything to progress this for the entire book. She was a pretty paper doll to be posed around the plot, without ever making an important decision or actually having a purpose. Ragnor was written similarly, unable to move beyond the “dark and brooding love interest” shadow cast by much better characters in much better books.

The plot, again reminiscent of wattpad, felt episodic without a clear through line, causing strange pacing that either lagged or raced through events. The beginning was particularly bad (which explains the high number of DNF reviews I’ve seen that sit around the 15-20% mark), stumbling through an honestly unnecessary prologue and boring first couple chapters that are wasted establishing a setting/characters that immediately become irrelevant to the rest of the story. The middle really struggled with meandering, making it hard to stay focused on the already weak plot. Each time something interesting was introduced- combat training, visiting the other leagues, vampire lore, Aileen’s past, Ragnor’s past- the story was too scattered to actually sit in these moments and make something of them. Instead, these scenes were used to reiterate that Aileen was cool and mysterious and not like other girls, and Ragnor was also cool and mysterious and wearing a trench coat. The end was abrupt and anticlimactic. The Auction, the major event that will decide Aileen’s fate, isn’t given enough weight to feel real or threatening. It’s kept intentionally vague, but then revealed to be a very lackluster talent show and, self-explanatorily, just a regular auction.

I would excuse the messy plot if this book was committed to being a romance. I get it, not all readers care about the page padding between erotic scenes, but this isn’t that kind of book, despite its half-baked attempt to be. Neither main character was likable. They barely liked each other, and not in a tension filled, clouded-by-revenge, sworn enemies kind of way. Aileen and Ragnor settled for a room temperature FWB relationship pretty quickly, which bumbled along as a sleepy B story and amounted to nothing. Communication between them was nonexistent. This was acknowledged by them and other characters. Every time they almost actually spoke to one another, the scene devolved into hooking up or hollow disagreements that could be solved by, you know, talking to each other. Personally, I enjoyed reading about her conflicted relationship with (what are the odds) her former human boyfriend, Logan, now turned superpowered vampire, who is also a member of Ragnor’s league and conveniently responsible for training Aileen in combat.

I think a lot of the clunky issues with both plot and romance can be explained by a misplaced desire to hook readers into continuing the series. While cliff hangers can be exciting, intentionally teasing only the smallest bits of backstory and larger story lines didn’t entice me to pick up the next book, it made this one dissatisfying and boring. Who will Aileen end up with? What actually happened in Aileen’s dark past? What will happen with the randomly introduced gods that are lore dumped at the 90% mark? I don’t know, and I really don’t care.

To cap it off, here’s my collection of miscellaneous sins that will haunt me if I don’t mention them here. Newly made vampires are unironically called “noobs,” a bold and incorrect choice, which landed horribly every time and made me cringe so hard I nearly DNF-ed for that reason alone. Ragnor Rayne has midnight blue eyes. Have I mentioned he has midnight blue eyes? Don’t worry, if you forget, it’s mentioned 22 times. For the life altering, super important talent show, one vampire chooses to juggle and no one even questions it. The juggling is later performed to the Macarena song. Cassidy, Aileen’s best friend and catalyst for the entire plot who also becomes a vampire, is forgotten about and doesn’t matter at all. Ragnor goes to dinner and orders THREE steaks and a bowl of pasta for himself (vampires don’t need red meat or any special food, this is just his insane order). Vampire powers are influenced by skills developed when human- Logan was a soccer prodigy and has SOCCER SUPERPOWERS. When visiting Las Vegas, Nevada, Aileen is kidnapped and taken to the very real forest that definitely makes sense geographically to exist in the middle of the massive desert that Las Vegas is famous for. Ragnor, the rich, immortal vampire, uses all-in-one shampoo and conditioner.

“‘You still don’t understand how things work here, do you?’ he said in a low, rumbling tone.
Blood rushed up to my face. ‘I already told you,’ I said tautly. ‘You should’ve killed me.’”

Cloak of the Vampire was a bit of a goofy, lukewarm ramble. While not for me, I would recommend this for readers who prefer Kindle Unlimited style writing or who are just looking for a fun, turn-off-your-brain read.

1.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 out of 5 stars ⭐️

Wait! The book is over??? When are we getting book 2! Please hurry! This book was absolutely fantastic in every way possible. Alpha hole who pretends he doesn’t care and is in denial… absolutely mouth watering at that. Who doesn’t want someone they can’t have. Vampire. Strong female lead which is a complete bad &$@.. you know the word I’m trying to use. I’m absolutely obsessed with the brackets of vampires as well. This isn’t a regular vampire book there is so much depth and the slow burn is so good. It will have you on the edge of your seat. It’s spicy but not too spicy. I literally felt I was with the FMC the entire time in every single flashback. 2 povs. Would absolutely recommend reading this story. That cliffhanger though. The ending was not at all what I was expecting. I loved it- Kerin

Absolutely loved it! Finished it in one day and now I need more!! Can November be here already!?

The audio performance was absolutely breathtaking and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time!

Well then. This book is Hella hard to get into. The characters supposedly have in dept back grounds but feel very 2d. Two if the characters aren't even likable in the slightest. And nit a single thing in 50 pages makes me want to keep reading.