I love Harlow and Aurelias!!! This is such an easy book to get sucked into. I do wish that the author developed the relationship more and used other terms of endearment since the same pet names feel repetitive. It gives an amateur teenage feel.
However, I still feel like this book is worth the read and I love it!! :)

In this enthralling audiobook, narrated by the talented Ramona Master and Michael Ferraiuolo, I was swept into a dark and mesmerizing world where duty collides with desire. Tasked with kidnapping Princess Rolfe, an unexpected passion throws the protagonist's plans into chaos. The depth of their performances brought to life a tale of forbidden love, loyalty, and the haunting choices between duty and heart. The rich fantasy setting, filled with vampires, dragons, and paranormal intrigue, was vividly painted through their captivating narration. Master and Ferraiuolo navigated the complex emotions and tense plot, making this audiobook an unforgettable journey into a world where love battles against dark fates.

So much more that I wanted to know. The book was too short. I had a hard time putting this book down. There wasn’t much connection between the last book and this book. Hoping that the next book will tell more and tie things together.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! The narrators were amazing and really brought the story alive. The played the characters perfectly! Love the story and how it was all put together! Can't wait for the next one!

I have to start this review off by saying, I didn't realize it was the 4th book in a series 🤦🏼‍♀️

That being said, there were parts of the story where you could tell I was missing a little information, but overall I felt fine listening to this book.

Now it should also be mentioned, this is a book with 4 Different POVs! The audibook only uses 2 narrators, so I definitely found myself lost sometimes on whose point of view it was supposed to be.

Without having read the first 3 books, this book almost felt like filler book to get characters introduced or to have there story expanded upon. There is, what I would call, a side story of the main FMC's uncle that we could probably live completely without. Buuuut I enjoyed the story between the main FMC and MMC. Even though, at times the FMC did feel like a teenager, so I wasn't a huge fan of hers.

I felt like the story kept me entertained and I think I'd enjoy going back and reading the first 3 books. If there is more Multi POVs though, I won't be doing audiobooks!!

Important things to note about this book:

• Yes there is a dragon in the cover, no dragons are not a large part of this book. They are in the story but not a major part.

• There are TWs that are not listed that stuck out to me the most.
- Cheating
- Divorce
- Lost of a child, miscarriage.
- SA (hinted at, does not occur)

My thoughts:
This one is really the story of three different couples:
• King Huntley and his wife Ivory (who I loved).
• Their daughter Harlow a who is seduced and kidnapped by Aurelias, a sexy vampire.
• And the king's brother, Ian and his wife, Avice.

There was a lot happening in this relatively short book.

I loved that we got to peek into the lives of two middle aged couples. Huntley and Ivory are amazing as rulers, as respectful spouses, and as parents. I loved their story.

The lead story here is really about Harlow and Aurelias. There initial meeting is smoking hot, but then things get confusing. Aurelias thoughts seem to be changeable. He's thinking and saying one thing at the beginning and something completely different by the end. Certainly an unreliable narrator. Still I want to see what happens next with them.

And then the Ian and Avice's story gave me the ick... especially when everyone was victim blaming Avice, who went through a major trauma, for her Ian's unfaithful actions. I really didn't understand this side plot at all and made me dislike Huntly and Ivory a little.

This one is a mixed bag and lacked some much needed depth. There was a lot of "almost," kind of like a sampling of a few chapters from a larger book. Not bad, but it just needed more.

Narration by both performers was excellent.

Another - Absolutely awful VO quality. But better than the Mia Sheridan's "Cage". The female narrator was better again this time too, but the male character still soppily miscast. GET an actual romance lover to cast these because you are ruining these books. I COULDNT LISTEN but if it was a book I would have kept reading i think. The quality of the actual recording is again very robotic. it is so far from the casting of the book character. its UNLISTENABLE - again I like this author although this series is really a let down for Penelope, though I am not a fan of fantasy.

I think would have preferred this to be a dual POV read, with it being Harlow and Aurelias' story. I enjoyed their story line.

There is a side plot with a scene where a man discusses how a female character handled losing a child. Assigning some blame to her for her husband's infidelity. Had this not been a Netgalley book I would have DNF'd it right then and there.

3.5 stars.

I didn't notice this was book 4, so that's on me. I also didn't realize this until after I finished the book and went to add it as read on Goodreads. It wasn't confusing or anything but I'm also not sure the other books in the series sound like something I'd enjoy but this one was pretty good so I guess I'm glad I didn't notice it was book 4 ahead of time. Very short audiobook. I enjoyed the narration. The world and story was entertaining.

Huge thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read this ARC and for allowing me to give my honest opinion. I will say to take my review with a grain of salt because when I requested this book I was unaware that this was book 4 in a series and I have not read nor heard of the first 3 books prior to listening to this audiobook.
There’s a vampire, Aurelius, that was sent to kidnap the king’s daughter and to bring her to the teeth. Only the two meet and start having lots of sexy time so his kidnapping is delayed. Then he finally gets her to the teeth and he breaks her out? Like why you gonna kidnap someone and then free them? You ok bro? The princess, Harlow, love that name by the way… she’s supposed to be future queen and she’s out banging all the dudes and partying and gets herself kidnapped. Where is her security? Surely she has security right? There were just so many issues I had reading this and the first half of the book is almost entirely smut and I need an emotional connection to handle spice and it just wasn’t there. There were too many POV’s, the king is problematic with the blaming a woman for her husband cheating. Maybe if I’d read the others I would feel differently. Maybe.

"The Forsaken Vampire" by Penelope Barsetti offers a thrilling dive into a world of intrigue, danger, and forbidden desire. As a newcomer to the series, I found myself quickly captivated by the intricate plot and dynamic characters, despite the challenge of navigating multiple points of view in the audiobook format. Barsetti's writing shines with vivid imagery and palpable tension, drawing readers into a whirlwind romance fraught with moral dilemmas and high stakes. While the multiple POVs in the audiobook occasionally made the narrative hard to follow as someone with no previous knowledge of the series, the strength of the storytelling and the sizzling chemistry between the protagonists more than made up for it. Overall, "The Forsaken Vampire" is a compelling read that will leave readers eager to delve deeper into the series.

This was the first book I have read by this author. I am writing this as a reviewer who has not read this author's previous works, so please take what I say with a grain of salt. Personally, I couldn't get into this book. Its plot seems promising, but the way the characters talk to one another was off putting. I think if the dialogue had been edited a little more, with better, refined words that fit the royal/aristocratic world it would have elevated the piece. That was the only reason I stopped reading after chapter three. The storyline is promising, and interesting. I do hope that this book succeeds and finds its target audience. I wish the author the very best in her writing journey!

This is the first book in the series that I've read. The writing felt like a teenager was finally able to put pen to paper and tell their sexual fantasies. The "love" story of Harlow is ridiculous. She's a spoiled brat who does who and what she wants. The king can by hung for all I care. The moment he opened his mouth to tell his sister in law it was her fault her husband cheated on her I was done. Maybe the book should come with an a-hole trigger warning. The dialog is so modern that it felt wrong.

Can i have book 5 TODAY pleaseeeee! The first half of this book is ALL spice!
I've decided I'm in love with all of the brothers now... ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Publisher's summary
My task is simple: kidnap Princess Rolfe. But the second I lay eyes on her I realize she’s anything but simple.
Rancor, Leader of the Teeth, has commanded I fetch her in exchange for the Golden Serpent venom. But my plan is immediately derailed when I feel it.
When I feel how much she wants me… I’ve had many lovers in my lifetime, but her passion puts them all to shame. One night turns into two…and then three…and then it becomes clear all my nights will be reserved for this woman.
But I gave Rancor my word—and I have to keep it.
She’s too ferocious to take by force so I drug her before I steal her from Delacroix. I escort her all the way to the Teeth and leave her there until Rancor tells me his plans.
“We’ll play with her for a bit…and then we’ll eat her. And once her father comes for her, we’ll eat him too.”
With my obligation fulfilled, I’m free to go. But can I leave such a beautiful woman to a horrible fate?

Thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ALC of The Forsaken Vampire!

The Forsaken Vampire
By: Penelope Barsetti
Narrated by: Ramona Master, Michael Ferraiuolo
Series: Dirty Blood, Book 4
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Release date: 04-23-24

I am so invested in this series! I cannot wait until the next installment. The writing moves so seamlessly between multiple POVs and multiple different groups of people/monsters. It was spicy and fun - I mean, there are dragons! The start of Aurelius and Harlow’s story was a total win and the narration was on point.

I binged the entire series over the weekend, and while they are catchy there is no character development, and the women in the stories go crawling back to the man that wronged them or lied to them. Overall the story was good and easy to follow and the narrator was okay. The book is heavy on the spice

🔹multiple POV

Overall, The Forsaken Vampire by Penelope Barsetti is an interesting story. I didn’t realize it was the fourth book in the series. You don’t really get into the plot/ description of the book until about 40-50% of the way in, I liked the narrators, but so many POVs (5-6?) got a little confusing (maybe that’s just my neurospicy brain).

The title and cover image seem a little confusing for this book. Don’t really find out that our male MC is a vampire until late in the book, but it seems the main plot given the title and description. There are dragons but they’re not a main feature of the book either.

Overall, it was spicy, tension, and good banter. A little more backstory or world building may have helped in this book, but I’m not going to discount it because I haven’t read the first three.

Right off the bat the dialogue took me out. It made the characters unbelievable and the setting confusing.

Second, I find that so many POVs don't work for me. I usually can't invest in the plot or character relationships if they're constantly bouncing around.

Last, it ended so abruptly I thought my audio file was corrupt.

I liked the idea of this book but it's not for me. I received this audiobook as an ARC and am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.

Though this is the fourth book in the series, we have started following around a different lot of MC’s for this part of the story. I was excited to see what this brother had been up to while the others were fighting a war far away.

I enjoyed the two MC’s and their banter. There was plenty of heat and I liked the dynamic between the royal family and their attitude towards their children. There wasn’t as much fighting action in this one as the last few, but I have a feeling that’s coming. Guess I’ll just have to wait for book number five now…

Thanks to #NetGallery and publisher for a copy of this book.

Genre: Romance/fantasy
Format: Audio
POV: Multiple
Tropes: strangers to lovers to enemies, dragons, FMC who can kick your ass
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 /5
Age suggestion: 18+

I enjoyed the audiobook of The Forsaken Vampire quite a bit. I was pulled into the world and characters immediately. My favorite part of this book was the main characters, Harlow and Aurelius. Harlow is a strong, self-sufficient, fierce warrior who knows what she wants in life, as well as, what and who, she doesn't want. I loved her confidence and self-awareness. Aurelius is an intriguing stranger and the two have amazing chemistry together. I was rooting for them right away, despite the deception that begins their relationship.

I was surprised at first by the number of POV characters since most fantasy and paranormal romances I’ve read are told from two POVs, not five. It was fun to hear the other voices, but I found myself waiting for more of Harlow and Aurelius since I was most invested in their story. Overall, the balance of action, intrigue, and relationship-building was solid, but I still wanted more focus on the two main characters.

The Forsaken Vampire is Book 4 in the Dirty Blood series and can be enjoyed without reading the prior books first. But it is not a standalone in that Harlow and Aurelius’s story continues in Book 5 and 6. The narrators, Ramona Master and Michael Ferraiuolo, did a good job of voicing several characters and making them distinct. I recommend this audiobook for fans of paranormal and romantasy novels, but even more so for pure fantasy lovers since The Forsaken Vampire reads like fantasy most of all.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 1/2