Duet Review: Collared by the Vampire Prince & Groomed by the Vampire Prince
By: Darcy Fayton @darcyfaytonauthor
⭐️: 4/5
🌶️: 5/5

You may enjoy this if you like:
🖤 Dark Fantasy Romance / Romantasy
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Age Gap (10 years)
🖤 Steamy Vampire Romances
🖤 D/s & BD$M Dynamics

Kira is a wolf shifter who has been in hiding from the vampires, trying to live amongst the humans. She was supposed to go to Volmasque Academy, one year ago… but she finally is taken in by Nathanial (the Vampire Prince) on her 19th birthday. She soon finds that her beliefs about vampires, wolves, and even witches isn’t exactly like she was brought up to believe.

Collared by the Vampire Prince is the first book and it does a good job with the world building and setting the stage for what is to come in the second book. It sets the stage of Kira being “owned” by Nathanial and is used as his “pet” in a sexy BDSM way. It also has quite the twist at the end!

Groomed by the Vampire Prince shows how both Kira and Nathanial really evolved in the series and the spice (even in dreams) was extra spicy. It does have higher triggers I’d think, so be warned and read them if you need to.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @netgalley for this copy! All opinions are my own and I reviewed this voluntarily.

4🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book is a dark, twisted, and addictive take on the enemies-to-lovers trope, blending vampire and werewolf lore with an intense power dynamic. It’s not for the faint of heart, diving deep into themes of submission, possession, and the battle for control. The tension between the characters is palpable, and once you start reading, it’s hard to stop. The darkness seeps into you, wrapping around your senses like a spell you can’t escape, leaving you craving more by the end.

Nathaniel, the male lead, is a fascinating blend of dangerous and charming. He’s the kind of monster you find yourself wanting to trust, even when you know better. He carries himself with the confidence of a prince but reveals glimpses of vulnerability that make his character feel real and captivating. It's refreshing to see a male character who doesn't hide his growing affection but instead leans into it, showing both the harsh and soft sides of his nature. Kira, the female protagonist, is complex—full of rage and determination, yet ultimately drawn to Nathaniel despite her resistance. Her struggle to hold her ground only to find herself melting under his touch brings a compelling emotional dynamic to the story.

3.75⭐️ What a ride! I had some ideas on what to expect when reading this book but Darcy Fayton exceeded my expectations. This book had all the anticipated spice and even more of a plot. And that cliffhanger!! I need to read Book 2 right away to see how this ends.

Please note that there are elements to this book that are certainly not for everyone. Be sure to check the trigger warnings before jumping in to this world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the opportunity to read this eARC for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book took me for a spin. Was it the best thing I've ever read? No. But did it leave me wanting more heated exchanges between the MCs? Absolutely. Damn was this spicy. I loved the dom/submission and the Vampires versus Werewolves.

This is dark. Many triggers. Not for the faint hearted. I loved it.

A big thanks to NetGalley for this ARC

This was a good and interesting read! I loved this different perspective of vampires, werewolves, and witches, and I loved getting to know our FMC Kira.

Kira and Nathaniel's relationship was interesting - maybe it's just me, but I felt like their dynamic was forced in order for there to be spice. Nathaniel loves her, but on her end it feels forced and out of character.
I'd love to see what the next book has in store for Kira and the rest of the Academy, as well as for Nathaniel and his storyline!

This is the second book that I have read in this series but so far it is my favorite. I love the tension between Prince Nathaniel and Kira, and premise of the story is such a nice break from the traditional Vampire vs. Wolf rivalry stories I am used to reading. Darcy’s writing style is so captivating and really draws you in to the story with her characters as well as the plot. If you love spicy books and a well written story with a gut wrenching cliffhanger ending then you need to pick up this book.

First off, thank you net galley and author Darcy Dayton for a chance to read this book.

Collared by the vampire prince is an enemies to enemies with benefits story that is heavy on the sex and sexual tension between the two main characters to push the story along. The plot and world building is minimal and it is much more character focused, but the book is well written and made sense.

This was a hard read, due to the triggers that were included such as non-consensual sex. I definitely had to push myself to finish. The spice was spicy and the twists twisty though!

I feel torn and divided between liking and disliking this book. This was my first true dark romantasy novel and went into it with an open mind. I am finding the BDSM thing is not really my thing, but that’s ok. It’s not for everyone.

Why I truly toggle between like/dislike stems more from the fact that I think the story has potential but felt like it was second class to the sex scenes/BDSM aspect. I felt like I spent a good chunk of the story over the span of just one weekend for the characters spent entirely in the bedroom. Towards the end of the book I felt maybe we may get more towards a good plot and obviously the book ends on a cliffhanger.

Overall, I thought the story had potential, but just didn’t end up being my cup of tea.

This was exactly what I wanted it to be! So damn spicy and I was hooked instantly! This book got me out of a reading slump!

"Revenge only needed one color."

Collared by the Vampire Prince - Darcy Fayton
Pub date:
★★★☆☆

Collared by the Vampire Prince is a paranormal spicy romance surrounding wolf, vampire, and witch in a twisted society led by the vampires. Kira is a female wolf who is supposed to get revenge for the slaugther of her kin, and instead of hating and fighting the enemy—the vampires—she's fighting something else growing in her heart, a forbidden feeling and affection towards Nathaniel the Vampire Prince.

The story has potential and i actually enjoy the plot and how its driven. It indeed brings you the heavy air of tension between the main characters with how their fate and past collided them. But maybe for me, even though i like their dynamic, i couldn't connect to the characters. If you look closely, they are barely interacted with each other and once they did, it spent for minimum 4 chapters from each of their POVs. Not to mention that i sense inconsistency in their personality and it made me confused at some point.

Despite of all that, the plot is pretty much good to me. The mystery behind the dark past and the cliffhanger at the end was a good addition to keep reader alert until the end. It's a 3 star read for me 👍🏼

Collared by the Vampire Prince by Darcy Fayton is perfect book for a dark twisted romance reader. This book previously known as Plug and Claim which I’ve also read and reviewed.

This book have a high sexual tension, paranormal romance, BDSM, plenty of explicit spicy scenes, family enemy, enemy to lover, suspense, angst, plot twist, heart breaking moments and tears. This book really hooked me up. It is a hate and love at the same time, slow burn but intense, hard and soft romance. I love everything about the BDSM scenes in this book. It got dom and sub, praise and toys, which really make this book more spicy. I almost got a heart attack when it's come to the end of book 1. The last scene are major cliffhanger which make me really desperate to read book 2.

I'll definitely be waiting for more books from Darcy Fayton and I'm really need to read book 2 or else I'm gonna die in a heart attack.

Kira has fought against her fate for so long and now the vampires have come for her. She realises that she will need to be better to win. But she wasn’t expecting Nathaniel. He is the thing that she hates the most as they killed her whole family. But the vampire had taken a liking to her. Nathaniel doesn’t normally get involved with wolves but Kira interests him and before he knows it she is under his protection. Kira has stopped fighting and has accepted her fate for now but the will to fight is very much alive. Just when she thought that she had it all figured out the worst happens. Can she ever forgive Nathaniel for what he is about to do?
A battle of wills. Kira has accepted that Nathaniel owns her for now but she won’t be broken he has made her stronger for the fight is about to come. Nathaniel knows that he is playing a dangerous game with Kira especially as he is to marry soon but he can’t get enough of her but how far is he willing to go?
A good read dark in places. Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the copy. This is my voluntary review.

Collared by the Vampire Prince takes place in a world where, almost 20 years ago, vampires overthrew their mortal enemies the werewolves and became the big people in charge. Part of this involved subjugating the werewolves, so now all werewolves are brought to a school with the vampires where they are educated and taught to mind their place. Kira is a werewolf on the run. After being pulled from the burning nursery of the palace as a young pup and raised by a pair of fugitive werewolves, she is finally ready to put their plan into action. Go to the academy. Radicalize the other wolves. End the tyranny of vampires.
However her convictions immediately fail and she is revealed to be just a whiny girl who can't actually follow through on any of these plans and gets attached to a dangerous vampire prince instead. I could not stand her.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t hit the mark for me. While I understand that every reader’s experience is different, I personally struggled to connect with the characters, particularly the female main character (FMC). She felt a bit two-dimensional, and I found it hard to sympathise with her journey. Her inner monologues seemed disconnected from her supposed ambitions and desires, which made her motivations feel unrealistic. For someone with such big goals, her thought processes just didn’t ring true or carry the weight they should have.

As for the spice? Oh, it’s definitely there. If you’re after heat, the book certainly delivers. But even though it’s steamy, it wasn’t my favourite example of smut. It was graphic, yes, but lacked the emotional depth and connection that I think really makes those scenes hit home. In a genre that often balances intensity with deeper feelings, this one focused heavily on the physical without offering enough of the vulnerability or intimacy I was looking for.

Since this is a dark romance, I went in expecting a gritty, maybe even uncomfortable exploration of power dynamics. I’m usually quite okay with these themes, and I’ve enjoyed other dark romances that push boundaries. However, because I couldn’t connect with the characters, the dominant behaviour of the male main character (MMC) came across as forced—almost bordering on abusive, rather than the consensual dominance you’d typically expect in these stories.

Now, I’m no expert on writing or storytelling, so my opinion is purely subjective. That said, I’ve read a lot of dark romance, and I’ve never felt quite this uncomfortable before. Other books have made me uncomfortable, but in a way that felt intentional and well-executed. Here, it felt unbalanced and, ultimately, unsatisfying.

In the end, this book wasn’t for me, but I know every reader looks for something different in dark romance. For those who prefer a more physical, less emotional take on power dynamics, this might be more your cup of tea.

thank you @netgalley for the arc!

DNF @ 30%

I wanted to love this book so bad but I don't think my head is in it currently. Do I love the idea of this book? Absolutely! Vampires and wolf shifters is an interesting concept and I definitely want to pick this back up at a later date. I didn't get immediately hooked and that's usually how I gauge how much I connect with a book.
I am usually all for a feisty fmc but I felt that she was more on the annoying/quirky side (I hate that I even feel that way but I do, I'm sorry). And I don't think I read long enough to get a good feel for Nathaniel before DNFing.

I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this book, since I haven't read paranormal erotica before, but I have to say, this book surprised me. There's a smattering of a plot line which is actually rather interesting, and the smut is pretty sizzling! I liked the snarky banter between Nathaniel and Kira, and also the fact that some of the side characters like Victoria and Susie make a little more than just a passing appearance in the book. And that cliffhanger of an ending, wow! I'm hoping the story will take on a bit more complexity, along with more of the sizzling smut!

Holy enemies-to-lovers Batman. That being said let me ensure I'm clear when I tell you that this book is very much erotica. If you're looking for plot heavy world building with little spice this read is NOT for you.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way let me say that this book was a tantalizing read. Each bit of spice was well punctuated by both plot development and character growth. From a spice perspective definitely read the trigger warnings because while it was well written it is also a variety of kinky and it may not be to your taste.

Wow! I did not expect this spiceee but wow just wow! I loveee ittt!!

This is the first book in Kira and Nathaniel’s Duet. Its follows the spicyy relationship between wolf and vampire in a world where Vampires are superior and wolves are seen as second class and are forced to attend Volmasque Academy where there lives are pretty much dictated by the Vampires.

Kira is a head strong Wolf set on bringing on a revolution for the Wolves against the Vampires but must fight her inner turmoil of feelings for Nathaniel, a Vampire set on claiming her as his own and making her his pet!

I could not put this book down, it had m gripped very quickly! I only wished there was more of the plot in this but knowing now that there is a second book I'm hopeful for more of that in there!!

I highly recommend this to anyone who love a dark romance with a very dominanting relationship between the two MC!

Cannot wait to get started on the next one!!

So freaking good! Isaw a couple of twists coming but they were more twisty than expected!

I love Kira, how ferocious and strong she is. And Nathaniel's behaviour towards her, starting from the middle of the book is amazing. Their enemies to lovers arc is incredible to read.

And do we need to talk about the spice? There's none at the beginning, but when it starts... wow, just wow!