Welcome to VAMPS, an elite school where only the elite can attend... then there is Dillon

Dillon has no real knowledge of the vampire world, and being half vampire he is only there due to a promise his father made to his mother.

Dillion is thrown right in at the Deep end with a lot of people who have a lifetime of knowledge and experience, and a reason to hold a grudge against someone who doesn't getting a place there

As his stay continues, his power grows and secrets are uncovered... but at what cost...

I really liked the concept of this, but something about it just didn't quite hit the mark with me. Read it through, on audio, and enjoyed the story well enough but not in a rush to pick up the res too the series, maybe one day!

THank you Netgalley for this arc

This gives me Twilight vibes and I felt like this book was way too long. I do wish the author all the best for her future books!

Fun take on vampires. I really liked the story and can’t wait for a sequel. Too many unanswered questions left.

Thank you so much for letting me read this book. It was okay while I was reading it but it was just so forgettable. I can't remember what happened in this story.

Vamps: Fresh Blood is an exciting, thrilling novel set in the mysterious world of the Swiss Alps. It tells the story of Dillon, a dhampir, sent to VAMPS to learn how to embrace his vampire side. Through a mixture of compelling characters and fascinating descriptions of the magical landscape, readers are transported to a world where the night sky hides secrets and the blood has special powers.

Nicole Arend crafts a story of the classic battle between good and evil, one in which Dillon must navigate his identity and navigate the hidden secrets of his lineage. There are a number of twists and turns throughout the book that make for a captivating read and Arend creates an enchanting atmosphere with vivid imagery that brings VAMPS and its inhabitants to life.

The suspense in Vamps: Fresh Blood keeps readers engaged and invested until the final pages and the ending leaves a powerful message about identity, friendship, and finding a place in a new world. This is a truly unique story that deserves to be read.

There's no nice way to say that these are trash but in the best way? They are the exact same essence as vampire academy, twilight, house of night etc and I live for it. The writing was a little bit jarring at times and maybe could have done with an extra edit but at the same time I was living for it so I didn't mind too much. I know this book would frustrate a lot of people and even me if I wasn't in the mood for this kind of read but I really was in the need for a fun easy trashy read and that's exactly what I got! Would recommend!

A school for vampires is not a new concept, but Vamps – Fresh Blood from Nicole Arend is a fun, high octane book that presents some fun new concepts to vampire lore. It’s a full on fun read definitely for fans of The Vampire Diaries and Crave.

Unfortunately this was very poorly written. Way too cliché teenager vampires. the dialogues between the characters felt not natural and unbelievable. But I fear I was not the target group. Probably way more suitable for YA readers of Twilight or Vampire Diaries.
sadly not for me.

I really enjoyed this book, and I liked the spin on the usual vampire lore. It’s well written, the characters are starting to grow and become more fleshed out - which I’d like to see more of in any follow up books, same with the world building.

If you like magical, mysterious boarding schools with big chosen one and heroes journey vibes then I think you’ll enjoy this one.

My review:⭐⭐⭐

VAMPS: Fresh Blood by Nicole Arend is the first in a planned series set at a vampire finishing school. 

This is a fantasy story complete with a character who didn't know he was a vampire, those who have been brought up knowing, some with ancient vampire pedigrees, and as you can tell, lots of tropes!

It felt a bit confusing with some of the characters at the beginning, and it has dramatic teenage vampires.

I found it to be an entertaining read, but I don't plan to read any more of the series.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster.

this didnt work for me. I was promise so much intrique and adventure. I wanted harry potter meats vampires.. or paranormal high school for only vamps. it was quite under done and cheesy. There were some great moments but they were highly overshadowed

I had so much fun reading this book - it was like a fun cross between Vampire Academy and Gossip Girl!

The only thing I would say is that I did find myself getting mixed up between the characters as we were introduced to so many and found that because of this the third person did get confusing.

If you know anything about me is that one thing I have a soft spot for is trashy dramatic teen vampire fiction. The vamps are vamp stereotypes to a T, it is very fun, very sexy and just a good time. I love the characters, aka CHAOTIC BISEXUALS causing chaos. Honestly I enjoyed this so much and so happy I got to experience this. I came for a fun vampy time and that is exactly what I got

Hogwarts for Vampires
This was a fabulous book to read during the spooky months and I devoured it in a weekend. Kept me gripped even though now and again I felt like it was a bit over written

Dillon is quite the outsider when he arrives at VAMPS Academy. He has to learn the ways of the vampires quickly if he wants to blend in with the rest.

This was fun. Predictable, ordinary, but so fun.
When you pick up a book titled "Vamps", you know exactly what you are getting into.
This book is everything you expect it to be: vampires who are way too gorgeous, filled with lust (for blood and for each other).

There are so many tropes in this one: the chosen one, trials, love triangle (or even square), school setting, absent parent, parents who know "what is good for you, but are mysterious because they cannot tell you the truth or else you would know the entire plot already".

Look, if you are in the mood for a YA book, filled with tropes, but with vampires, and you are looking for a good time? Absolutely pick this one up.
Do it for the rivalry between rich people, do it for the trials, do it for the lust of it all. Just do not do it for the gorgeous prose.

I would struggle to be able to review this book due to issues with the file/download. The issues stopped the flow of the book. The issues are:
- Missing words in the middle of sentences
- Stop/start sentences on different lines
- No clear definition of chapters.

I’m not sure if it was a file/download issue but there were lots of gaps and stops/starts which really ruined the flow. I would love the chance to read a better version as the description of the book appeals to me.

This was a good, easy read that provided exactly what I expected. It was a sexy, dramatic YA romp through Hogwarts for vampires.

It was a little over written and overwrought but I didn’t expect quality writing from this.

An enjoyable Halloween read that was fun for a wimp that doesn’t like anything too scary (like me! 🙈)

AD - this copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Wow, I really enjoyed this one!

I was surprised by how bloody it was, but the wealthy rich kids dynamic and their relationships was done super well. The writing was sharp and witty. I liked our main character Dillon, and his hopes for the future. Overall, a quick, fun read that I would recommend!

“Welcome to VAMPS, an elite academy in the Swiss Alps for the children of the wealthiest and most powerful vampire families.”

My thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Vamps: Fresh Blood’ by Nicole Arend.

The protagonist of ‘Vamps’ is Dillon, a dhampir - half vampire, half human - who has been sent to VAMPS (Vampire Academiae ad Meritum, Peritia et Scientia) so that he can learn to nurture his vampire side. He’s clearly out of his depth, finding himself very much the outsider compared to his sophisticated, entitled classmates.

Naturally it turns out that there’s something super special about Dillon, lacking in the full blooded vampires. As his power grows, he not only becomes the target of their envy but of more sinister forces….

While I felt that the premise was promising, I soon realised that while not designated as Teen/YA, ‘Vamps’ definitely came across as written for a younger audience, though with steamier scenes.

Aside from Dillon, I found the other characters rather bland and unmemorable though naturally (or rather preternaturally) all gorgeous. I also felt that the plot was predictable. Despite this, once I adjusted my expectations, I carried on reading and found it entertaining in the same way that USA telly teen melodramas can be.

Given that there are many enthusiastic reviews for ‘Vamps’, I expect that it just wasn’t a good fit for me.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

Welcome to VAMPS, an elite academy in the Swiss Alps for the children of the wealthiest and most powerful vampire families.

Dillon is an outsider, a dhampir – half vampire, half human – sent to VAMPS to learn to nurture his vampire side. Thrown in at the deep end, he must embrace his fangs if he is to survive. But blood never lies and there is something special in Dillon’s veins that the others do not have. And as his power grows, so does the target on his back . . .
⭐️⭐️⭐️