The Vampires Spell (Taken By The Night)

In this book Caroline is living with a family since her family was killed in front of her at three years old by vampires. She has been told how awful they are since she was three. She Clay, and David go to a Vampire Hunter School to train how to kill vampires. On a break from school the three go out and Caroline gets taken by a vampire. She wakes up in a cell and Nicholas wants to see her. He is intrigued by her psychic abilities. The more she sees and talks to him she wonders if sh has been lead to believe wrong things. There is a fight and Nicholas is as violence as ever but not to her. Now she feels she is fighting for the wrong side. Caroline wants to know the whole truth, not what she's been told but the whole truth. She hopes Nicholas will help as her feels for him increase.

The novel gained *STARS* for these items:

* gained for: "The book caught my interest in first five pages."

* gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."

The novel failed to gain stars for these items:

NO STAR gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."

NO STAR gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I want more!"

NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author I will automatically buy anything s/he writes."

This is an outstanding story! Carolyn becomes part of a group that is vampire hunters. Her parents killed by one while she watched at the age of three. She was taken under the wing of a family part of the vampire hunting group whose son became like a brother to her. She loved him and she thought he felt the same. During her first time at a beach with her foster brother David, she is kidnapped by her enemy, a vampire. She meets the Lord of the vampires, Nicholas and through him and his followers, she learns a painful truth. Not all vampires are the evil monsters she was taught they were. Not all of her friends in the vampire hunter group are what she thought they were either. She finds herself so drawn to Nicholas her feeling confused at first but the more she gets to know him, the more she understands she was misled in how she viewed all vampires. There is a very strong attraction between her and the vampire lord. He kept her safe and healed her wounds when she received them. He pleaded with her to let him heal her and for whatever reason, she trusted him enough to let him. Read the story as you see Carolyn learn and grow, she has special powers that start to become stronger just as her feelings for Nicholas become stronger. Is she actually a traitor to start to give her heart to a vampire lord or is she learning that nothing is as black and white as she thought? Read the book and experience her coming into her own, learning to trust her heart more than her mind. You won't be disappointed!

This is a quick, interesting read that keep you wondering what the outcome will be. The characters were well written and the story flows nicely. Caroline is a strong, brave, powerful young woman who is determined to protect those she cares for at all costs. She is quiet, except with her friends, and tries to stay out of the limelight. She struggles with feelings for her foster brother, David, and does her best to try to keep him and their other friend Clay in line along with trying to understand the new psychic powers growing inside her and her confusing feeling towards Nicholas, the Master vampire.

Her world is shattered at the young age of 3 when her family is brutally murdered by a vampire and she is taken in by a foster family and becomes the ward of the Venatores lamiae. She is raised and trained in their ways, and taught their beliefs about vampires along with her foster brother, David and their friend Clay; all three being at the top of their classes, striving to graduate to become full Venatores.

Away on a vacation, the three of them let loose enjoying their time away from the school. Out for dinner, with a few new friends, tension rises between David and Caroline and harsh words are spoken causing Caroline to abruptly leave; feeling angry at her friend and hurt by his words and actions. Too wrapped up in her emotional state she wanders off alone and gets kidnapped by a vampire and wakes up in a dark, cold cell. Her world shifts again when she learns she is to be a gift for the Master vampire, Nicholas.

A new world opens up before her eyes as she learns the training she has received thus far is ineffective on the powerful vampires around her and the stories she was raised to believe may not in fact be true. With these new revelations she is more determined than ever to survive and seek the truth once and for all.

This is a great read that keeps your interest but does end with a cliffhanger. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Caroline and what choice she will make in the end. Will she stay with the hunters that raised and trained her or open herself up to the possibility of a different future with Nicholas? I received this Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for my honest review.

voluntary review of arc
The Vampire’s Spell: Taken by the Night, 1 by Lucy Lyons is a confusing read that lost me in places. First person dialogue was nice allowed me to really be in Caroline’s shoes. But this book suffered from some editing problems that just made this a confusing read.
One minute the heroine was in heels and a skirt then next pants. Her clothes mysteriously change at will. She also has some interesting location problems. I think perhaps and editor or beta reader was in order here.
I found Nicholas interesting and arrogant. He does come off as likeable eventually.
Over all with the editing the way I saw it, I found this a difficult read. I would not want to read more unless they were edited much better than what I saw.
I did think there is a story worth saving in here. I found I wanted to follow it, how ever again was hard to do when the story suffered from inconsistencies that should have been fixed.

Three Red Stars

Great opening sequence that had me pulled in right away. I can't help but compare this to Discovery Channel's shark week right now because Caroline is so obviously stuck in a certain mindset of how things should be, but the more time she spends in the vampire world the more she realizes that our world is not black and white but a rainbow of vague grey lines, just like how sharks have always been feared but now that more research has been conducted it is postulated that they do not attack for the sake of it, rather they are complex creatures concerned with their own longevity. I really enjoyed this story, and I think it's worthy the 3 or so hours it takes to read. I'm looking forward to reading the next in series to see how Caroline's power develops. I also think it would be interesting to see more of the characters who have only brushed the surface here. I can't wait to see what becomes of David after learning his secret to wooing women.

What a truly riveting story and gives Caroline a great deal to think about now that this piece has come to an end. Just like humans there are bad vampires in the nest. This is proven when Nicolas' brother Victorio shows his true colors once Nicholas wakens. Still....it is a bit macabre in how things work in what they call their coven. They also refer to Caroline as a little witch. So many questions, and still answers yet to come, but now Caroline is privy to David's true colors as well. Once a foster brother she cared for and now ... not so much. This is definitely a cliffhanger. So many full bodied characters here and all continue to feature throughout the book.

I voluntarily read this ARC and would do it again, but instead I bought the next book in line to this series. I'm loving Lucy Lyons and her vivid imagination from both sides of this fence. Kudos!

*I voluntary read this story.(but secretly? I would have gotten on my hands and knees and begged if I was told no)
This could be read as a stand-alone. Buy trust me you are going to want more.
I requested to read and review Lucy Lyons story. I love reading paranormal/fantasy books. If i could i would live, breath, eat, and sleep in that world i would. It was the discription of her story that drew me in and when i opened to the first page to read by the end of the chapter i fell hook line and sinker. I did not stop reading till i got to the end. Thats when i realise i wanted more. I want to know where Lucy Lyons is going to take me in the world she created for Caroline. I love a good story that makes feel like I am the character thats being written about. And that is what Lucy Lyons did for me.
GREAT JOB! ????

I really enjoyed the story. I liked how the author offered developed characters and built the relationship. It leaves you eager to read more.

Caroline is a character I really like from the start. She is young but very intelligent and strong. She was raised to believe vampires are all evil and trained to kill vampires. When she has the opportunity to meet some, including the master vampire Nicholas, she began to realize that there were both good and bad vampires. Caroline develops strong feelings for Nicholas and it really complicates her life. She has to make tough choices and realizes that some of the people she loved are not worthy of her trust.

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received.

Carolines family was slaughtered in front of her at 3 years old by vampires. She is now in a school for hunters. Her and her closest friends go on a vacation and gets jealous of the girls hanging on her best friend David. She feels that he's picked getting lucky over her. So she leaves the bar and ends up being kidnapped by a vampire. Everything she thought was true of these monsters, aren't what she's been taught her whole life.

WHAT AN AWESOME SERIES!!!. It's worth the loss of sleep.. great job,,,Lucy Lyons!!!!! HIGHLY recommend to YA to Adults.

This was a great non-sexual book. Caroline is learning to be a vampire hunter and is on break with her friends when she kidnapped by vampires. She finds out that everything that she has learned so far in regards to vampires that is not accurate. She meets Nicholas who has just been waken from a fifty year sleep. He teaches her that not all vampires are monsters.
The thing that I really liked about this book was that you could not guess what was going to happen next. I cannot wait to read the second book in this series.

This is a very addictive start to the series. The main character Caroline is a very strong female character and it is written so we see her coming into her own and questioning what she originally believed was the truth about the evil enemy that she is training to hunt. By the end of the book you just want to know more about her growing powers. The relationship between her and Nick is so minor in the book. I do like her relationship with the other vampires like Rachael.

I was seriously looking for another great series to "sink my teeth into" so to speak and I have found it. It's so easy to read you don't have to stop and figure out who's who and what's going on. It's all right there and it sucks you in as you continue to read. The characters are super relatable and are even more complex when you get to know what's going on. There's betrayal, romance, alliances forming, fighting action as well. A great combination that fits really great together.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book and have opted to provide this honest review.

I love vampires. Books, movies, stories...there is so much history, drama, and allure to them. I was a little skeptical when I first began and it was anti-vampire, vampire hunters, and 'vampires are evil'. But, that didn't last long.
A fun, fast-paced story. I can't wait for the next chapter...

Read in less than 2 hours

Book 1 vampire story nothing like the usual ones, it actually makes you think and realize thier blood for life is no different than our eatting animals.
Both are gross, sadly we are the real predators...great story, ignoremy opinions im tired, bc I couldn't put this book down til I devoured it completely.

Young Caroline is taught to b a vampire hunter she knows nothing of the real world or the vampire world till the first night of their vacation she is kidnapped by vampires. That's when she starts to realize what she was taught is nothing compared to what she is finding out I can't wait to read the next book as Caroline gets older and see which world she will choose will she follow her heart or her fear? You will not b disappointed

*voluntarily and honestly reviewed the ARC I received from Persia Publishing*

I really liked this one. Even though it was a bit shorter than what I'm used to, I seriously engaged in the story the second it started. Hooking intro, likable characters and a light-hearted sense of humor with both dark and hot themes. Fast-paced and to the point, with a lot of shocking reveals of some characters. Recommended for vampire fans.

Vampires killed her parents and she is taken in by vampire hunters but her hatred changes when she gives herself to a vampire group and she learns so much but when her best friend and brother is taken by another she has to save him.Will she be able to save him and keep her vampire lover. A wonderful tale about what you would do for your loved ones

Caroline, orphaned as a toddler when vampires kill her parents, trains to be a hunter. While on vacation with other hunter students, she is taken by a vampire to feed the awakening City Master.
Caroline learns even vampires can be good or bad. That just maybe the hunter school she is attending doesn't tell the whole story.
It has a steady pace and enough romance to keep me reading and wanting more.

The description of the book made me look forward to reading it. I didn't care for the main character who is whinny and supposed to have some training protecting herself. The characters need more developing. In all honesty I couldn't finish the book. I read 75% and was so bored I couldn't bring myself to finish it. I think the author could have done so much more with this book. I really wanted to like this book and finish it. Nothing got my attention. I put it down then picked it up again hoping it would get better. I think she just moved to fast and develop the story enough. Better luck on the next one. I wish you well.

Book 1 vampire story nothing like the usual ones, it actually makes you think and realize thier blood for life is no different than our eatting animals.
Both are gross, sadly we are the real predators...great story, ignoremy opinions im tired, bc I couldn't put this book down til I devoured it completely.

Young Caroline is taught to b a vampire hunter she knows nothing of the real world or the vampire world till the first night of their vacation she is kidnapped by vampires. That's when she starts to realize what she was taught is nothing compared to what she is finding out I can't wait to read the next book as Caroline gets older and see which world she will choose will she follow her heart or her fear? You will not b disappointed

*voluntarily and honestly reviewed the ARC I received from Persia Publishing*

I really liked this one. Even though it was a bit shorter than what I'm used to, I seriously engaged in the story the second it started. Hooking intro, likable characters and a light-hearted sense of humor with both dark and hot themes. Fast-paced and to the point, with a lot of shocking reveals of some characters. Recommended for vampire fans.

Vampires killed her parents and she is taken in by vampire hunters but her hatred changes when she gives herself to a vampire group and she learns so much but when her best friend and brother is taken by another she has to save him.Will she be able to save him and keep her vampire lover. A wonderful tale about what you would do for your loved ones

I originally received this first book as an ARC for an honest review then I just decided to buy the entire series because I was sucked in. I LOVED it & I can't wait to read more of Caroline & Nicolas' story. A young girl taught to fear the monsters in the night who maybe aren't the monsters after all. And is she really falling for one of them?
I'm excited to read more.

I am an independent reviewer and was delighted with this first book of the series. The author draws you in to the storyline by adding a depth to the characters, sometimes missing in other paranormal novels. Unexpectedly, by the end of the book, I was more empathetic to Nicholas and his coven than to the hunters, and cant wait to read the rest of The Vampire's Spell

Caroline, orphaned as a toddler when vampires kill her parents, trains to be a hunter. While on vacation with other hunter students, she is taken by a vampire to feed the awakening City Master.
Caroline learns even vampires can be good or bad. That just maybe the hunter school she is attending doesn't tell the whole story.
It has a steady pace and enough romance to keep me reading and wanting more.

The description of the book made me look forward to reading it. I didn't care for the main character who is whinny and supposed to have some training protecting herself. The characters need more developing. In all honesty I couldn't finish the book. I read 75% and was so bored I couldn't bring myself to finish it. I think the author could have done so much more with this book. I really wanted to like this book and finish it. Nothing got my attention. I put it down then picked it up again hoping it would get better. I think she just moved to fast and develop the story enough. Better luck on the next one. I wish you well.

The story was better than I expected. The beginning gave a good introduction into the story and the topics. I think that Caroline's character could have been better developed, and the story would have been better if we learned more about how she thinks. The beginning was great, it had a good timeline. However, the middle was very slow and not the best. The story picks back up at the end and has many surprises that I didn't see coming. Overall a good book to read.

Really enjoyed this story,I so disappointed that David is turning out to be the way he is...Want her to grow up some,an get back to the vampires , with her being able to be a stronger kick ass women!!

Not very long, but enjoyable enough to read it through in one sitting. Engaging, makes you wonder what will happen next to Caroline after she sees the world of her sworn enemy, and it's not what she was taught.

the storyline was great, but have a issue with minors being used. have noticed this in a couple of Lucy Lyons books. granted they are in training and trainees are more likely to get into trouble. look forward to see how these stories progress or change.