[REVIEW] SHADOW KISSED - REBECCA L. GARCIA (ENGLISH REVIEW)

All reviews here are purely personal opinions and do not intend to degrade or glorify the work of others. Everyone has their own reading tastes. Thank you.

source: goodreads

Title: Shadow Kissed (Marked by Blood #1)

Author: Rebecca L. Garcia

Publication: 8 March 2022

Pages: 393 pages

ISBN: 9798422643318

Language: English

 

BLURB

Some fates belong to the shadows...

Olivia knows everyone at the guild is on high alert, but no one will tell her why. She’s certain the death of her boyfriend is behind it, but the truth is far worse. Darkness has come to the mortal kingdom. When the guild protecting them is attacked by vampires, Olivia is swept away from the safety of her home when her mom and best friend are taken.

Before she can get away, she’s captured by a vampire, Sebastian, who insists he’s protecting her. But when she’s taken to the City of Nightmares, the most dangerous place in the vampire kingdom she realizes she’s been made prisoner.

As she fights to survive in a world where mortals are nothing more than things to be fed on or traded, Olivia must use her wits and place her trust in the handsome, but deadly Sebastian, if she’s going to figure out a way to save her loved ones.

However, some of the world's most vicious vampires want her dead. Others want her for themselves.

When the truth comes out, Olivia realizes the ones she loves have been shielding her from a fate worse than death. Can she escape the clutches of her bloody destiny, or will she succumb to the shadows?

ALSO READ: [REVIEW] THE CITY INSIDE - SAMIT BASU (ENGLISH REVIEW)

REVIEW

Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC!

I think I’m in the mood for vampire that’s why I choose this book to read even tough I must begin a new series.

This book has a fast plot at the beginning, because at the beginning we immediately found a big intrigue between vampires and humans which led to Olivia being brought to the city where the vampires lived. And after that the plot slowed down a bit but it didn't make you bored when reading because little by little secrets were being uncovered about Olivia's own identity.

In this first book, we are introduced more to the characters who will become important during this series. There are also many important events that have been described so that we can know from the start what the problem is and where this book will take us.

The author is also able to explain the world in this book well. Most of the setting in this first book is in the vampire area, we are given a good overview of their world, how the system they follow and even a complete history of how vampires exist and their enmity between humans is also explained here so there will not be many questions that arise about the world and systems in this book. I also like how author can explain the back story of these characters, from Olivia, her mother and also Sebastian. How he turned into a vampire, what happen to his family and how he endures everything.

How about the characters?

Olivia is a sorcerer (and has a secret you will find later in the book). She is not as good as her mother (or she think) so she never really uses her power at all. From here we know that for now she is not a strong character and she also mentally broken with how her boyfriend died 🤦‍♀️, her mother and best friend captured. Moreover, she could only rely on the vampires who saved her, but she couldn't fully trust him. But I like how Olivia doesn't give up on her situation. She can still think clearly and try to save her family. But Olivia doesn’t have a great development in her character.

Sebastian oh Sebastian, winged vampire with a power. One of king’s favourite. He’s the bad boy but still care to our FL too much. Well, he has his own purpose with Olivia so we can see why Olivia didn’t trust him at all. I like him because he is true to his intention with Olivia, care to his friends and Olivia. Oh, and his friends is the best! I love their combo although we don't see it often.

 I may be many things, but I'm not a monster 

Olivia and Seb is one of the couple you will find almost always arguing in every chance. Well, I don’t know they will be end game or not because we can see there are more than one man in Olivia life. But I like to see how they always arguing but need to act in love because they fake engagement. Yeah, I can say we didn’t see much romance between them in this book. But, with how this book end I hope the second book will have much more portion of romance between Olivia and Seb.

The thing I dislike in this book?

I can not say for sure what I dislike because the story is part of series. I believe the author still have so many things to tell us. So I will say I dislike nothing and excitedly waiting for the next book!

I give this book 4/5 ⭐! If you love Acotar series I think you will like this book too! Vampire, royalty, fake dating is all in this book!

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