really good

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy of this ebook.

I really liked it and look forward to the next part. The storyline is really good. We get both MCs POVs, which I love. The story did take me a little to get into and be able to keep up with at the beginning but things started falling into place and man it got good! I love morally gray mmcs and bada$$ fmcs. While they need each other and make their agreement to help each other, the marriage of convenience and forced proximity of it all makes them fall for each other. Also witches and vampires… love love love.

The premise of this book interested me immediately. I mean, an urban fantasy in a world run by vampires, witches, and fae? Sign me up! I'm a vampire lover at heart, so this sounded right up my alley.

Let's start with the pros. The first thing I noticed was how detailed the world building was! The different types of vampires, the feuds between the supernatural creatures, and the way they all related with humans was instantly intriguing. The first chapter sucked me right in, especially with the angsty setting and immediate action. It definitely had me wanting more right from the get-go!

I really love Aidan as a character. Very different from a "typical vampire," but very interesting nonetheless. I think that had to do with his additional abilities as a vampire that can influence the minds of others. He also had a "reluctant hero" vibe about him, which I really enjoyed.

Now for the cons. While I was initially intrigued by the story, the further I got into the book the more I found myself getting a bit bored. After the first few chapters, the action slows down considerably, and the intense scenes that do happen are over in a blink. The pacing felt off and it left me feeling like I was missing something. I also feel like the world building, while cool, wasn't given enough on-page time. With the glossary at the front of the book, it seemed like the author expected the reader to have studied the glossary beforehand and have an intimate knowledge of certain things ahead of time. Because of this, there were times while reading that the characters had a conversation about something that I knew nothing about, but it was written in a way that made me feel like I should already know it.

Also, the characters never really grabbed my attention in a meaningful way. Aidan and Rae were interesting enough, but they felt very surface-level to me and I wasn't able to connect with them like I wanted to. By the time the slow burn paid off, I wasn't really even that invested in their relationship. Rae was a bit hard to like as well. I love a sarcastic, strong FMC as much as the next girl, but I felt like that was as deep as her character got.

Overall, not a bad read! I do hope that the next book adds some more depth to the characters and the world, and that we get some more action!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital review copy.

I went into this book blind, not really knowinf what to expect at all. It was an awesome Urban Fantasy/Romantasy full of Witches, Vampires, Fae and humans in different orders. I immediately liked the outlining of the orders and their abilities as well as a map.

I had a mini slump after I finished an amazing series recently, something that hasn't happened to me before but this was so easy to get involved with right away, thrown straight into the action I just couldn't put it down. I bought into the characters and their motives. I felt their highs and lows. I was rooting for the side characters too.

There were twists and turns, well fleshed out characters, a storyline that grabbed you and that ending... well, I cannot wait for the second book!! I feel like we are still going to learn so much more about the main characters and I can't wait to see where they go next!

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.

Such a great story! With twists you can guess at but still surprises you.
Rae is a strong, stubborn, determined woman, who makes a deal with the vampire lord. Close proximity and some steamy scenes.
Can't wait to read the next book!

Witch thief + vampire lord = explosive chemistry. This urban fantasy romance delivers enemies-to-lovers tension, forced proximity, and a marriage of convenience that actually works. Rae and Aidan's banter is sharp, the magic is fun, and Rae’s friendship with Baelin stole my heart. Fast-paced, flirty, and full of supernatural drama—loved it!

Never Run From An Immortal by Victoria J. Price no was a fantastic romantasy story.
The perfect enemies-to-lovers read with outstanding characters.
The amazingly detailed world building and layers are deep.
I cannot wait for book two and continuing to explore this rich world!

I really enjoyed this dark urban Romantasy.! Was expecting a good time and this book gave me so much more! It was fast paced and drew me in from the start. The plot twists were twisting, okay!!!

slow burn
enemies to lovers
marriage of convenience
forced proximity
morally grey mcs

This was delicious! And I will definitely be stocking in my shop .

What?! That ending!! I need the next book right now! 😫
Great story, it sucked me right from the start! The worldbuilding was fascinating, without being overly complicated.
The plot twist near the end had my jaw dropping, so good!
My emotions ran the gauntlet with this book, from grinning to crying, and everything in between. Loved the spicy scenes! 🌶️🌶️
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the amazing read!

This is exactly what Romantasy readers NEED and WANT! More of this please! We had enemies to lovers, vampires, witches and some PLOT TWISTS. I will be recommending this book at our next book club meet up! I devoured each and every fantasy romance trope and it was so well done. I cannot wait to read more from Victoria J Price!

4⭐️ - This was SO GOOD!!! A new dark urban romantasy obsession—vampires, faes, AND witches? Yes, please! I am completely hooked on the world Victoria J. Price has crafted. The magic system is both refreshing and corrupted, blending technology, deceit, and an intricate hierarchy of vampires. We also get these fascinating fae factions, the rare witches, and the humans just trying to survive it all.

This book checks so many boxes: slow burn, enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, and forced proximity with two morally grey main characters. Enter Rae, our FMC—a thief, a creator, and just an all-around badass. Feisty, fierce, and with a mouth to match her attitude, she’s always flown under the radar, stealing from unsuspecting vampires. But everything changes when she targets Aidan Vale, a Vampire Lord with immense power. He’s feared, respected, and definitely not someone she should mess with… or should she?

They strike a dangerous yet necessary bargain—one that could either benefit them both or lead to total destruction. The banter between Rae and Aidan? Delicious. The chemistry? Off. The. Charts. And the tension? So palpable you could practically cut it with a knife. The heat between them just from being in close proximity? Absolutely insane. And don’t even get me started on that cliffhanger—JAIL. I need book two yesterday.

If you’re looking for a new dark urban romantasy to obsess over and lose sleep reading, you need to pick this up. Like, now.

Favorite quote:
“Eyes on me.” 😌

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Reviewed on Fable and Goodreads!

I was excited about this book the moment that I realised the title was a reference to my favourite childhood film, The Last Unicorn. "You must never run from anything immortal," she warns Schemendrick the Magician, "it attracts their attention."

Rae is declining to follow her own advice when she attracts the interest of the leader of the vampire council, Aidan Vale. She agrees to pose as his Odalik, his wife, in order to investigate the disappearance of her best friend and others in Demeria.

This book was marketed as urban fantasy, but it reminded me more of a very film noir. By necessity, most of the vampire action happens at night, and Rae is the perfect femme fatale. I half expected Aidan to pop on a fedora, because it really does perfectly feel like a throwback thriller. The mystery at the core of the novel is interesting and really allows Price to show off the world she developed.

I did find the world building a little overwhelming at the beginning of the novel. So much information is thrown at the reader, some of it not strictly relevant, that the simplicity of the mystery and the romance becomes a little cluttered. I wish some of the information had been released as the story developed or saved for the next in the series.

I think this book would appeal to fans of KA Linde and KA Tucker.

Ultimately I decided to stop reading this around the 60 page mark. I couldn’t get into it. Not rating it low because I didn’t finish. It has potential.

Strong, sarcastic characters + marriage of convenience + slow burn tension = yes please. I loved the dual POV and getting inside both characters’ heads. The setting—fae, vampires, and humans all crammed into one tense city—was super cool without being too complicated. Rae (the FMC) is a total badass and can hold her own, which I loved. The slow burn was chef’s kiss and the tension? So good. Definitely a fun urban fantasy with great vibes.

“Humans, Vampires… the rest of the Orders. It’s as if everyone has forgotten that there’s life outside of fighting. That Demesia… Mazyr… could be something wholly different without it.” He took a long drag, and then said, “Something better.”
“I knew you were lying when you said you don’t dream.”
******

This book is a masterfully woven urban fantasy that throws strong, sarcastic characters into a marriage of convenience…and then turns their unlikely partnership entirely on its head. I absolutely loved becoming acquainted with this world, and while the romance will leave you begging for more, the twists and turns will leave you breathless.

From the world’s history and lore, to the independently powerful main characters, absolutely iconic side characters, and scorchingly slow burn romance, this book is a CANNOT MISS for urban fantasy lovers and anyone else looking to dip their toes in the genre. An instant favorite!!

“𝑫𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔, 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚”

Enemies to lovers? ✔️ Forced Proximity? ✔️ Marriage of Convenience? ✔️ Magic? ✔️
Spice? ✔️
Vampires, Witches, Fae, and Humans? ✔️

This book gave everything it said it would. The plot was tight, fast-paced, and action-packed from one chapter to the next. I just finished the book and I can’t think of anything not to make it a 5-star. It’s definitely on my list of favorite reads of 2025! Also, please, I need Book 2 as soon as possible 😭✨

Thank you, Netgalley!

This is my first book by Victoria and I have to say it was very well written and thought out. I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between the characters and storytelling. I'm really looking forward to discovering more books by Victoria.

𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐧 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐥
𝐛𝐲 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖

- - -
Read this book if you like:
□ marriage of convenience
□ enemies to lovers
□ vampires, witches, humans, fae, etc.
□ Both main characters are morally gray

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC.

I was really struggling with this book. I really wanted to like this one. The title and the blurb sounded very promising, but after 44 % in the book, I decided to DNF.

I was waiting for something exciting to happen, something shocking, but it never came. There is just a lot of banter, sexual tension between the main characters, and some violence. I thought the FMC was a tad annoying. I love books about vampires, but I expected more. So sadly, this book isn't for me.

I received this book from NetGalley and Victory Publishing.
This book pulled me out of my reading slump, and I can’t wait to see what Rae and Aiden’s story will bring in book 2. Demesis is a city divided between the fae and vampires with humans stuck in the middle. I love the dynamic between Aiden and Rae, but I really love the friendship that developed between Rae, Baelin and his daemon, Quinn. Rae is such a fun, badass fmc, who was constantly making me laugh with her witty comebacks. This book has everything you could ask for from a fantasy romance: magic, vampires, fae, shifters, witches, cute cuddly pets, and an enemies to lovers storyline.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC copy! This book pulled me out of my reading slump, It was so good and I enjoyed every second of it. It has vampires, humans, fae, witches, shifters - LITERALLY EVERYTHING. The MMC is everything VERY morally grey. I love that Rae the FMC is a badass and can hold her own. It is a dual POV and I absolutely loved getting both sides throughout the book. The world building was also amazing all while keeping the action going. From start to finish this book had me absolutely hooked. I can’t wait for the next one.