Blood Orange

Dracula Duet, Book 1

By: Karina Halle

Narrated by: Arthur Russell, Carolyn Eve

From New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle comes a dark and delicious Dracula retelling filled with secrets and lies, dangerous liaisons, and a forbidden, student-teacher, second chance love story with a twist.

Dahlia Abernathy has only known revenge. When her parents were killed at an early age by vampires, Dahlia spent the rest of her life under the thumb of the Witch's Guild being trained to kill them. Her latest mission sends her undercover to a prestigious music academy in Venice, Italy. Her goal? To kill Professor Valtu Aminoff, her teacher and the notorious vampire who inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula.

But getting close to a dangerous vampire like Professor Aminoff is one thing. Falling for him is another. With Dahlia's appearance disguised under a glamor spell, Valtu has no idea that the woman who has become his new dark obsession is actually the reincarnation of the woman he loved and lost twice before.

And Dahlia doesn't remember that the very man she has been sent to kill is the love of her life.

Will their love come through and transcend time once again? Or are the fated lovers destined to let history repeat itself?

Contains mature themes.

©2022 Karina Halle (P)2024 Tantor

I'm shaking, cry, etc...

I had to restart this review because what can I even say about this book? I have read a few of Karina Halle's contemporary novels and I quite enjoyed them, so I wasn't sure I would like her fantasy books as I have a track record of being disappointed by the recent books in this genre... ALLL THAT SAID.... Listen, I actually screamed, I actually paused and stared at the wall, I am shaking by my reaction. I love books that deliver what they promise. It's a Dracula adaption, for sure, but it's also so much more.

I also will add that I usually have issues when there's too much smut, but not here. Nope, the smut never took away from the plot but rather added to their tremulous relationship. Which is admittedly a weird thing to add, but I promise you this book is worth it.

super

pretty well written, excellent performance. predictable at times, but the ending had me dying, I always love a
something tragic, not your typical ending, and the second to last chapter did it for me. I did enjoy the ride, the origin story of vampires was fun and not typical, the storyline was good and kept me interested, the sex was steamy and plentiful without being over done

The male narrator, perfection.

On one hand I was hooked and entertained, but I am not sure I want to continue with the sequel. My biggest issue was with the FMC. She was lying through her teeth, and I didn’t get the justification for it.

The male narrator, perfection. The accent and intonation, it felt like I was in a theater.

Blood sucking good time!

I really love this retelling of Dracula! This is more of a love story and how love conquers all. I believe that with all my heart and in every life. This book is beautifully written with oh so much spice and the story is Gooooooood!

cliff hanger in the worse way

I like how it ended but don't like how they completely left the main story just drop and then continued the romantic one without hinting or picking up the main story again.