DNFed about 40% of the way through. This was just not for me, but I'm still giving it 3 stars because I'm new to the dark romance genre and still iffy on it, so I don't think it's fair to rate this book lower because of my own preferences getting in the way.

Now, I will say that I do love vampires and female anti-heroes and morally gray characters, and that's what hooked me about this premise in the beginning. That being said, I am not a fan of on-page SA or over the top torture in my books, and if they're going to be there, I prefer them to be accompanied with a lot of depth of character and a nuanced narrative. Unfortunately, that was not the case here. The characters felt a bit shallow to me, and it felt like the dark elements were present more for shock value and the expectations of dark romance readers than to contribute to complex plot and character development. The world building was underdeveloped as well, and because of these things, the spice also didn't hit as hard for me.

I think the right reader will enjoy this book, but it was not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Carla Swafford for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Female vampire vigilante - that says it all! Vampires, psychopaths, betrayals, secrets, and an evil villain that just keeps on turning up. Action, tension, and a lot of spice, and yea, blood. A must read for vampire fans.

⭐ - 1.5/5 - ⭐

A badass vampire, Tori, becomes an antihero, killing bad men after she was kidnapped and tortured while being a human. Along comes Ronan, a PI, hired by a man claiming to be Tori's brother. Now Tori and Ronan are in this together as secrets come to light.

Ok, so I am a fiend for vampires, paranormal romance, dark romance, etc, and while this book held all those promises, it didn't deliver. The characters were shallow and confusing, I had no idea what was going on most of the time outside of 'he was driving', 'she walked into the house', etc. World building was basically non existent. The automatic stiff dick, and 'I can't resist him' was a little eye roll worthy. The spice was there, but really lackluster. There was little to no tension either. The big bad was petulant and not intimidating at all, so it overall left a blah feeling for me.

I don't know. I hate pooping all over a book, but this just did not do it for me.

⚠️ - Murder, abuse, SA, etc
🌶️ - 3/5
💕 - 1.5/5
👥 - 2/5
🌎 - 1/5
🗡️ - 3/5
💀 - 4/5

Thank you #netgalley and #CarlaSwafford for the ARC of this book and giving me the chance to read and review it with my own thoughts and opinions

This is a story of a woman, Tori, kidnapped and brutally tortured to a point where after some incidence, she turned into a vampire. Basically, the book centers on Tori's agony into transformation. Since being turned, she has spent her life meting out punishment to the evils of the world, never once letting herself feel helpless again. In walks Ronan, a PI hired to track Tori-who by now has turned into a vampire. Their universes collide as they go against human and otherworldly enemies, adding in a potent attraction that just may turn out to be their strength or their conflict. The novel well navigates the thin line between survival and power, with moral ambiguity maintained throughout, all while keeping the tension between the two leads romantically charged.

Tori is an amazingly complex lead. She was subjected to a position wherein she became completely helpless at the very start of the novel: unspeakable torments by a sadistic captor, turning her into a vampire was representative of physical and psychological rebirth. The morality of the new life leaves her torn between avenging and yearning for human companionship. Her various scars, both real and emotional, shape her relationships with Ronan and other people. Her motivational point is to not be victimized again, and she thus wants control. The inner conflicts that she struggles with-guilt, power, and morality-add up to her character, creating a richly layered one.

Ronan is brought on stage as a man of duty, a private investigator with an acute sense of moral judgment. His attraction to Tori complicates his mission, and thus he must grapple with questions of trust, loyalty, and morality. He feels decadent inside between his developing emotions for Tori and his duty's call. His character graduates from being strictly mission-driven to one that would go that extra inch against the rules for the sake of love. His psychological dimension unravels with the afterthoughts of his past mistakes, and thereby Ronan is a realistic and likable character.

The relationship between Tori and Ronan is strong and multi-dimensional. Right from the very beginning, this equation is unevenly balanced, where Tori is a newly-turned vampire with great power, while Ronan is human and trying to maneuver his uncontrollable emotions. Still, in due time their emotional attachment becomes stronger and so does the shift in the equation. Tori's vulnerability is exposed in her growing feelings for Ronan; Ronan's strength is tested in his willingness to protect Tori. It is the mutual growth dynamic where one character leads another through facing fears or moral dilemmas.

Supporting Characters: Edgar Brannon is crucial to Ronan's investigation and hence weaves mystery into the plot, yet a lot of his true motives throughout the story remain shadowy. Tori's younger sister Lizzie, even not being a central character, represents much of Tori's lost humanity and the life she could have lived. The relationship complicates the central romance and pushes up layers of emotional and moral conflict.

Tori's turning into a vampire symbolizes her emotional rebirth, but at what cost? The novel explores how embracing one's dark side may mean survival but at what cost to one's humanity?
Tori tries to punish those who hurt the innocent. Empowering and gray, the novel will ask how far does justice go before vengeance begins?
Power and control are related in both the relationship and the supernatural world. First, most of all, the dynamic between Ronan and Tori undergirds how power can shift and reshape action and identity; so does the full-scale battle between vampires and humans.
These themes interrelate in a way that further enriches the novel in its exploration of morality, power, and love. Together, these themes set up a backdrop for understanding both Tori's internal struggle and her relationship with Ronan.

Carla Swafford writes with vivid intensity. Perhaps the most powerful use of her figurative language is against Tori's transformation and ensuing inner struggle, which is hauntingly beautifully written. The storyline toggles between Tori and Ronan; such toggling between them gives deep insights into their emotional and psychological states, true to the dual perspective that works well in storytelling.

It works well, balancing suspense with more reflective emotional moments. Swafford does especially well in ratcheting up the tension, be that in the supernatural action scenes or romantic moments between Tori and Ronan. The tone of the novel is very dark and atmospheric, managing to merge well with the themes of survival and power. The language is direct and poetic at times, especially in moments of high tension or emotional depth.

Savage Champion is an emotionally deep romance and a supernatural suspense novel with the deepest analysis of character. The main themes are well-developed: to survive, the question of power, and moral ambiguity; the characters have so many depths. What is most impressive about the book, however, is how it will have the reader experience not only the terror of what Tori has gone through but also the strength of this new power she now has. Even though it gets too graphic at times for some readers, the lovers of tales with dark and morally ambiguous nuances find Savage Champion thrilling and a plethora of food for thought.

In a series of paranormal romance novels, the psychologies of Savage Champion probably are explored deeper than most; for that matter, into darkness itself. Fans of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward or the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost will love many of the same themes: power, redemption, and romance.

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Savage Champion holds up as a strong entry into the paranormal romance genre. The story is rich in character development and an interesting plot that really keeps one on their toes. It does, however, contain extreme graphic violence that does not sit well with sensitive readers.

Star Rating: Writing Style ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It is intense and atmospheric, though there can be an off-putting weight toward violence and darkness at times that may alienate some readers.

Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tori and Ronan were just so multifaceted, and the emotional story arcs made them brilliant to read as the lead. The supporting cast added mystery but fleshed out second to the core relationship.

World-Building: ⭐⭐
The concept with the vampire lore was really intriguing, but I think in areas, it could have been fleshed out just that little bit more.

Trigger Warnings:
Torture
Graphic violence
Kidnapping
Blood and gore
Sexual assault (implied)
Psychological trauma

Recommended for Lovers of darker paranormal romance with multi-dimensional characters and situation-mandated moral ambiguity on a frequent occasion. Fans of series by J.R. Ward, Nalini Singh, or Laurell K. Hamilton will find just the right dose of suspense, supernatural creatures, and romance they love.

My Fave Quotes

“If only I was stronger, smarter. If only I had been more careful, more observant.”
“The man will not see a new day.”
“You can escape the pain and feel immense pleasure if I take a little or all of it. Wouldn’t you rather die in pleasure?”
“It’s not just revenge. It’s survival. I won’t be helpless again.”
“Ronan, I’m not the woman you’re searching for. I’m something else now.”