I got to 23% in (2 of the stories)
I love dark romance usually but I just didn’t connect with this story unfortunately
Dry anal is just not comfortable for either party and so not hot at all
There is a lot of sex scenes which is fine if I found any hot but I just didn’t and I wasn’t sold by either character as well
My heart wasn’t racing for any reason
Wasn’t badly written characters were believable

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. 3.75 stars and 5 chili peppers for spice. I read this book as a standalone. This book is almost entirely non con, which I enjoyed. I really liked the dynamic and contrast between the personalities of the two MMCs. I wish there was a bit more background on their friendship before they became enemies, what history we did get was brief. The ending was a bit confusing to me and that’s all I can say without adding spoilers to this review. It is a HEA but just a confusing one. In the end it was an enjoyable read.

A sweet (probably not the right word!) standalone novella og King Henrikk and Asher. And by sweet I defently also mean DARK! This is high dark romance with MM and spicy vampires...
Darcy Fayton defently knows her smutty writting and mixed feelings!

A Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, and to Fayton of the story!

3,5 spicy stars!

If you like your books spicy, like super spicy, this dark vampire romance just might be the book for you. Please be sure to read the author notes/content warnings at the beginning of the story to determine if this book is a good fit for you because there is a lot going on within these pages.

If you love vampires, newly conquered kingdoms, and MM sex… check this one out.

I enjoyed this book, it was a big change of pace from my usual reading, but sometimes that is a good thing.

This is the villain origin story which leads in to the other books written by the author, but this can be written independently.

Henrikk is a lot to take in, and the last part of the book is surprising in ways. I still question Asher’s loyalty to Henrikk, even after finishing the book. Still, I’m glad I got to experience this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of the book.

It was ok. Funny and hot enough. Not a lot of plot to it though, would have preferred less smut and more of the story itself

*Punished by the Vampire King* by Darcy Fayton is an enthralling dark vampire romance that plunges readers into a world of power struggles, court intrigue, and intense emotions. The novel masterfully explores the complexities of love, betrayal, and redemption, all set within the confines of a royal castle where nothing is as it seems.

General Asher and Vampire King Henrikk's relationship is at the heart of the story, and it is anything but straightforward. Their initial dynamic is toxic and fraught with tension, but this sets the stage for a gripping exploration of how love can emerge from the most unexpected places. The power struggle between them keeps the plot moving at a brisk pace, and the emotional rollercoaster they experience is both intense and addictive.

Fayton doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of their relationship, making this book a perfect fit for readers who enjoy a bit of edge in their romance. The scenes of punishment are raw and impactful, underscoring the deep-seated emotions both characters are grappling with. However, as the story progresses, the development of their relationship becomes more nuanced, revealing layers of affection and longing that have been buried beneath their roles as king and general.

While the novel delivers on its promise of being dark, spicy, and fast-paced, it does require readers to be comfortable with themes of power imbalance and toxicity, especially in the beginning. This may not be for everyone, but those who enjoy a story that pushes boundaries will find themselves captivated by the world Fayton has created.

Overall, *Punished by the Vampire King* is a compelling read that offers a unique take on the vampire romance genre. It's a story that lingers with you long after the final page, leaving you eager to explore more of the world Fayton has crafted. A solid 4-star read for fans of dark, emotional romances.

Overall, I thought this book was super entertaining. The first half of the book is made up of several short stories, while the latter half is basically one novella. I was definitely more of a fan of the latter half of this book, as it featured more of a fantasy plot. I did have a hard time following some of the plot points, but that is probably more my fault for being bad at paying attention than it is the book’s fault. I'm usually more of a character-driven person, so I wish the characters were more memorable to me. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in it, it's a very fast and easy read. My only other minor complaint is that I wish there was more vampire content - the vampires in this book breathe and eat human food, and there is little mention of any other “vampire” traits. I just wish the vampire content was more central to the story.

Thanks to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

This is the first time I've read a book with CNC. Since looking up online at people's reasons for liking such themes (for curiosity, so I can understand further), I now totally get it! I actually downloaded this book without reading the TWs properly... oops. But I'm so thankful you accepted my request so I could read this wonderfully heart wrenching book.

My gosh, what a rollercoaster of emotions! I have so much empathy for the main characters, and others. Especially the Vampire King, Henrikk, despite how evil he portrays himself to be. And of course, Asher. The toxic dance and games the Vampire King plays, are completely despicable and Asher has EVERY right to abandon his loyalty to Henrikk, but he doesn't ever want to give up on him, because he knows a kindhearted side to him is still there. Henrikk puts Asher through physical and psychological torture, to make him loathe him. Because why wouldn't he? This is a heartbreaking story of two broken men who want to openly love each other but that scares Henrikk to death, and Asher is struggling to get to that side of him. I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this book, seeing how the main character's inner struggles are complicated and twisted. What a story... that eventually becomes a love story. I'll be reading more of this author's books! I am excited to learn more within the universe, and even more of Henrikk.

Thank you for accepting my request to read this book, I really appreciate it a lot! It has introduced me to the author's work and I am excited to read more!

<i>I would like to thank Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.</i>

Oooof throughout the first half of this book my face was in such a state because of how brutally Henrikk treated Asher. this was some intense "punishment" (at least for me) that may trigger some people, so please be gentle with yourselves, loves!

Truthfully, I think Asher's yearning interiority didn't have enough emotional backstory to support it when it showed up, so when the ilys started flowing i was still unclear how that was supposed to make me feel about Henrikk abusing him.

And then the second half rolled around and it was almost like a completely different book. Henrikk's characterization did a 180, the plot went in a direction that the opening sequence did not really feed, and i dunno, i guess i was expecting more than what actually manifested in the second half of the story.

I did enjoy the second half more than the first, though. I felt like there was enough emotional availability in the narrative to support the evolution of Henrikk & Asher's relationship. I liked the bit of action we got at the end there, and the HFN gave me the closure i needed to wish Henrikk & Asher well on their adventures!

I have read a few books by this author now and she is becoming one to watch for me - I have enjoyed all the books read so far

I really enjoyed this story, it was a great dark romance that I found to be a page turner.

The book is set amongst royalty and vampires and there are some great characters.

I thought that the book was well written, it was brutal, romantic and sexy.

It is 4 stars from me for this one - highly recommended!

Punished by the Vampire King by Darcy Fayton was a dark, spicy, twisted and quite amazing.
This intriguing M/M vampire love story was so good. I couldn’t stop reading once I started.

This was fun to read for the vibes and the couple, a vampire King and his general and their dark twisted story. Really enjoyed it 4 stars

Pleasantly surprised by this read from a “new to me” author. The title did not lie - there was punishment and things got dark, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Heavy on cnc/sa - so if that is not for you, think twice. I am trigger free and thoroughly enjoyed - so much so I ate this book up in one day Not quite a HEA, but I’m ok with that.