Bound and Unbound: A paranormal novella duology
Ali Hazelwood
Bride of Brutal Hearts: A Dark Fantasy Villain Romance (Bloodborne Court Book 1)
by Kate Stevens
About this book
Two vicious kings. One reluctant bride. Their magic should have destroyed me.
Instead, it made them mine.
When my sister’s name is called for the vampires’ harvest, I step forward. It’s a death sentence, but she has a family, a future. All I have is a dusty bookshop, an ailing body, and a fate that always ends in fangs.
As the only volunteer, I’m chosen as the newest Mortal Bride—a living sacrifice to their two wicked kings.
The Conqueror, ruthless and imposing, his icy demeanor concealing his fiery intensity.
The Butcher, charming and capricious, his divine beauty disguising his cruel impulses.
The kings intend to drain my lifeforce to fuel the spell securing their reign. But when the ceremony goes awry, we’re all ensnared in an overwhelming bond… one not even death can break.
The Conqueror and the Butcher now hunger for more than my blood. They want all of me, forever.
I should resist them. I should hate them. They are the monsters who devour my people.
But no matter how brutal their hearts, I need them just as fiercely.
Bride of Brutal Hearts is a dark fantasy villain romance and the first book in the Bloodborne Court series. It features a slow burn romance between two morally black vampires and their bookworm bride. This book contains dark elements, graphic violence, and themes some may find disturbing. Readers can find more information in the Author’s Note and a detailed list on the author's website.
Please note that Bride of Brutal Hearts is the first book in a planned quartet and some storylines will remain unresolved until the finale. While the series will end with a happily-ever-after, there will be plenty of trauma and death beforehand.
TROPES: slow burn romance, morally black characters, touch her and die, forced proximity, villain gets the girl, only soft for her, shared senses, he falls first, found family
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2026
- ASIN
- B0DX9N5SWV
Reader Reviews
May 22, 2026
This is the second book I’ve read in a row that’s made me question my morals because why was I so invested in this relationship between a human girl who gets soul-bonded to two powerful vampires that are cruel and have absolutely no empathy for humans (except her)? It’s like I know I should despise the vampires for their brutality(and I did at times), but I still found myself obsessed with this story and these characters. Jules and Luc are cruel yet they also showed moments of kindness and...
January 17, 2026
Note: I gave this 4 stars because it felt honest, but I want to be super clear that I did love this book. I read this on the Kindle and immediately went to buy the hardcover edition. Bride of Brutal Hearts by Kate Stevens is vampire court depravity at maximum volume, with enough lore and emotional whiplash to keep you hooked even when you’re screaming, “I should not be into this.” This is dark romantasy / vampire villain romance through and through. The world is violent, twisted, and...
May 23, 2026
I cannot express in words how amazing this book was. The world building was sensational- I really felt like I was in the story, seeing the world as they saw it. The twists and turns kept me constantly on the edge of my seat and I was constantly gasping in shock, blushing profusely, or kicking my feet and squealing in delight. I felt so in tune with the character’s emotions it was as if they were my own. Not telling any spoilers- The relationships between the FMC and the MMCs was so beautifully...
June 20, 2025
Definitely spicy, I liked the world building and the story. Along with the mystery if whats going to happen and how its all going to play out. It kept me interested and the spice is very spicy but it just felt soooo long. And I got tired of the fmc saying how her life sucks and its never getting better over and over. I felt like it was pages of that then a little story then spice and then more pages of that. I get that you want us to see it sucks but I felt like there were definitly hints from...
January 20, 2026
Wow, and I mean WOW. I devoured this book so fast—I’m a HUGE fan of vampire romance, and I LOVED this take on it! The world-building, the magic system, the cultural and social structures, all of it was just so fascinating to learn about, and these villains! They earned their titles of Conqueror and Butcher in spades, and I loved seeing these truly morally black men start their journey towards falling for their human bride—and learn how to express the love they feel for each other 💚 The howl of...
