What do you think?
Rate this book
Belle Morte #1
Belle Morte
There’s only one way out
Belle Morte. One of five houses where vampires reside as celebrities and humans are paid to be their living donors. While others came here seeking fortune, I came in search of my sister who walked into Belle Morte five months ago . . . and never walked back out.
Now that I’m here, the secrets about this world have proven to be much bigger than I ever anticipated. And lurking around every corner are shocking insinuations of what happened to my sister.
There’s only one person who might have the answers I need, and the undeniable pull I feel toward him is terrifying: Edmond Dantès―a vampire, and my mortal enemy.
The harder I try to resist him, the further I fall under his spell. And in one instant my life is irrevocably changed. My past becomes prologue and my fate becomes sealed behind these doors.
Belle Morte has spoken. And it may never let me go.
Belle Morte. One of five houses where vampires reside as celebrities and humans are paid to be their living donors. While others came here seeking fortune, I came in search of my sister who walked into Belle Morte five months ago . . . and never walked back out.
Now that I’m here, the secrets about this world have proven to be much bigger than I ever anticipated. And lurking around every corner are shocking insinuations of what happened to my sister.
There’s only one person who might have the answers I need, and the undeniable pull I feel toward him is terrifying: Edmond Dantès―a vampire, and my mortal enemy.
The harder I try to resist him, the further I fall under his spell. And in one instant my life is irrevocably changed. My past becomes prologue and my fate becomes sealed behind these doors.
Belle Morte has spoken. And it may never let me go.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2022
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 848 reviews
Want to read
September 21, 2021Book about vampires: *exists*
Me: *seductively raises eyebrow*
Me: *seductively raises eyebrow*
October 1, 2022
Es una historia que ha ido de menos a más, debo confesar que cuando la empecé no me llamaba tanto la atención como cuando la he terminado, el final merece mucho la pena. A habido cosas bastante predecibles, mucho cliché, la mayoría de las cosas que suceden las vemos en otros libros de vampiros (enemies to lovers, vampiros guapísimos y poderosos, gente queriendo que les muerdan…) pero al final merece mucho la pena, ha llegado a sorprenderme a pesar de haber intuido algunas cosas.
La protagonista me ha gustado, ya que a pesar de lo que va sucediendo en su estancia en Belle Morte, es fiel a su misión, encontrar y recuperar a su hermana.
También me ha gustado conocer el pasado de algunos vampiros, un poco también sus miedos y fortalezas. Además parece haber como una sociedad secreta o algo… la cosa es que termina muy interesante el libro.
Es un libro que se lee sólo, la forma de narrar de la autora me ha gustado y sin duda leeré el siguiente 🤩.
Tengo que confesar que en este libro le falta un poco de corrección, ya que hay palabras que se repiten en la misma frase y hay cosas en la traducción que no terminan de encajar.
No tiene escenas +18, pero no puedo decir nada de los siguientes libros de la saga.
La protagonista me ha gustado, ya que a pesar de lo que va sucediendo en su estancia en Belle Morte, es fiel a su misión, encontrar y recuperar a su hermana.
También me ha gustado conocer el pasado de algunos vampiros, un poco también sus miedos y fortalezas. Además parece haber como una sociedad secreta o algo… la cosa es que termina muy interesante el libro.
Es un libro que se lee sólo, la forma de narrar de la autora me ha gustado y sin duda leeré el siguiente 🤩.
Tengo que confesar que en este libro le falta un poco de corrección, ya que hay palabras que se repiten en la misma frase y hay cosas en la traducción que no terminan de encajar.
No tiene escenas +18, pero no puedo decir nada de los siguientes libros de la saga.
May 1, 2022
Say what you want about vampires in books, but one thing that's certain is that they'll hardly go out of style.
Belle Morte is probably one of the few ARCs I've read during these years that I ended up liking, and if you consider the fact that it first saw the light as a Wattpad story, that's even more impressing.
I really liked the take of Higgin on vampires being reality show stars with their own screaming fans and their Houses (although this reminded me a little too much of the whole exaggeratedly and unreasonably famous TikTok crews) where human donors are provided with fashion clothes and a place under the spotlight in exchange for a few bites here and there.
I wasn't exactly a fan of Renie but I appreciated her efforts in trying to find out what happened to her sister June, even though most of the time her lack of self-control got her in trouble she could have easily avoided by thinking things through a little more.
I also really liked the mystery surrounding June's disappearance in the first half of the book and all the tales about Edmond past.
What I could have done without were the superficial romance, the huge amount of names to remember and the brutally rushed ending. I felt like it erased most of the book's main plot in favor of a forced happpily ever after.
ARC requested on and provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review
Belle Morte is probably one of the few ARCs I've read during these years that I ended up liking, and if you consider the fact that it first saw the light as a Wattpad story, that's even more impressing.
I really liked the take of Higgin on vampires being reality show stars with their own screaming fans and their Houses (although this reminded me a little too much of the whole exaggeratedly and unreasonably famous TikTok crews) where human donors are provided with fashion clothes and a place under the spotlight in exchange for a few bites here and there.
I wasn't exactly a fan of Renie but I appreciated her efforts in trying to find out what happened to her sister June, even though most of the time her lack of self-control got her in trouble she could have easily avoided by thinking things through a little more.
I also really liked the mystery surrounding June's disappearance in the first half of the book and all the tales about Edmond past.
What I could have done without were the superficial romance, the huge amount of names to remember and the brutally rushed ending. I felt like it erased most of the book's main plot in favor of a forced happpily ever after.
ARC requested on and provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review
May 16, 2022
Listen—it’s vampires; it’s tropey. It’s Wattpad. It’s basically a Big Brother vampire boarding house for adults, dodging the questionable ‘should a teenager be dating a 158 year old man who died during the American Civil War but still looks 20’ stuff that plagues the genre.
Ten years ago, vampires revealed themselves for the first time to the human world, subsequently replacing Hollywood actors and pop stars as the biggest celebrities in the world. They have blogs and fandoms devoted to each vampire and House, which is just as insane as it sounds. They’re called ‘Vladdicts’, which is, objectively, amazing.
The plot is initially driven by the mystery surrounding what happened to Renie Mayfield’s sister, June, who disappeared into the same House months before and dropped all contact. Later, it evolves into an exploration of the world’s vampire lore and biology, accompanied by some vamp politicking. The final act is pure chaos, mostly in a good way, and positions the story for an intriguing sequel. The romance, though predictable, is still earned throughout their time together. (If you’re wondering whether the love interest does that suddenly-appearing-next-to-human-girl-without-warning thing……yes he does)
My biggest issue ended up being something discussed pretty early on, but I’ll still put it under spoiler tags:
Belle Morte isn’t going to blow anyone’s mind, but I’ve read a lot worse recently. Is the writing great? Not particularly. Is it original? Other than the online communities and reality show influences, not so much. Are half the characters in inexplicably French in this British vampire House because the author wanted to give it a cool-sounding French title? Most definitely. But I don’t think it deserves quite so many lower ratings, so I’m gonna give it four stars and probably read the second one.
**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!
Ten years ago, vampires revealed themselves for the first time to the human world, subsequently replacing Hollywood actors and pop stars as the biggest celebrities in the world. They have blogs and fandoms devoted to each vampire and House, which is just as insane as it sounds. They’re called ‘Vladdicts’, which is, objectively, amazing.
The plot is initially driven by the mystery surrounding what happened to Renie Mayfield’s sister, June, who disappeared into the same House months before and dropped all contact. Later, it evolves into an exploration of the world’s vampire lore and biology, accompanied by some vamp politicking. The final act is pure chaos, mostly in a good way, and positions the story for an intriguing sequel. The romance, though predictable, is still earned throughout their time together. (If you’re wondering whether the love interest does that suddenly-appearing-next-to-human-girl-without-warning thing……yes he does)
My biggest issue ended up being something discussed pretty early on, but I’ll still put it under spoiler tags:
Belle Morte isn’t going to blow anyone’s mind, but I’ve read a lot worse recently. Is the writing great? Not particularly. Is it original? Other than the online communities and reality show influences, not so much. Are half the characters in inexplicably French in this British vampire House because the author wanted to give it a cool-sounding French title? Most definitely. But I don’t think it deserves quite so many lower ratings, so I’m gonna give it four stars and probably read the second one.
**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!
November 16, 2021
It was a very basic plot and not much to be honest happened during the book that really had me wanting to keep reading. I scanned a lot of it cause I was bored and wasn’t gonna miss much. I did like how it was two POVs I do like when authors do that.
May 22, 2023
the plot twists were predictable and the romance was rushed but i really liked the friendship development
thank you netgalley & wattpad books for the arc!
thank you netgalley & wattpad books for the arc!
December 19, 2022
Edmond?? SERIOUSLY??
I really wasn’t sure what to rate this because I honestly DID have a good time. The story was promising and the idea was there and it did keep me interested till the end but the writing and some of the pacing was just…weird. I haven’t read many books where you switch from 1st to 3rd person but it just felt really jankey to me? It just made it feel really disjointed and hard to switch POV’s when the writing changed.
The writing in general felt a bit week if I’m honest. Like a lot of “we’re doing this, now this” vibes and it moved a little too quickly for the story tbh. Like we solved the main “mystery” half way through then just kinda sat around till there was 50 pages left and like 3 things happened all at once. The ending was honestly overwhelming and just came out of nowhere?
Also can we talk about the insta love?? Listen…after like 2 days of meeting “Edmond” the MC was like right yep vampires aren’t that bad he’s sexy wow I’m in love with him and just kinda changed her entire principles?? It was kinda annoying af but if I ignore the insta lovey part the pining romance wasn’t terrible?? I just didn’t like how it got there?
Anyway despite my brain imaging Edmond close to Edward Cullen bc the name threw me for a loop, I might actually read the sequel when it comes out bc I did have fun reading it despite the flaws? I think the best way I can describe this is “Early 2010’s paranormal fiction” vibes, writing and all.
I really wasn’t sure what to rate this because I honestly DID have a good time. The story was promising and the idea was there and it did keep me interested till the end but the writing and some of the pacing was just…weird. I haven’t read many books where you switch from 1st to 3rd person but it just felt really jankey to me? It just made it feel really disjointed and hard to switch POV’s when the writing changed.
The writing in general felt a bit week if I’m honest. Like a lot of “we’re doing this, now this” vibes and it moved a little too quickly for the story tbh. Like we solved the main “mystery” half way through then just kinda sat around till there was 50 pages left and like 3 things happened all at once. The ending was honestly overwhelming and just came out of nowhere?
Also can we talk about the insta love?? Listen…after like 2 days of meeting “Edmond” the MC was like right yep vampires aren’t that bad he’s sexy wow I’m in love with him and just kinda changed her entire principles?? It was kinda annoying af but if I ignore the insta lovey part the pining romance wasn’t terrible?? I just didn’t like how it got there?
Anyway despite my brain imaging Edmond close to Edward Cullen bc the name threw me for a loop, I might actually read the sequel when it comes out bc I did have fun reading it despite the flaws? I think the best way I can describe this is “Early 2010’s paranormal fiction” vibes, writing and all.
January 14, 2022
DNF at 10%
This really seems like something I should like, but unfortunately I just didn't. Futuristic vampire stories (the kind where vampires live openly and require willing donors) often don't work for me, but it's been a long time since I read a good vampire book, so I really wanted to try this one. The world and characters both felt really bland and weak. There were tons of detailed descriptions of the house and outfits, but I kind of lost focus while reading them. I ended up not being interested in Renie's quest to find her sister. Also, Renie read a lot like a Mary Sue. Of course she's the only one who doesn't care about vampire celebrities!
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review!
This really seems like something I should like, but unfortunately I just didn't. Futuristic vampire stories (the kind where vampires live openly and require willing donors) often don't work for me, but it's been a long time since I read a good vampire book, so I really wanted to try this one. The world and characters both felt really bland and weak. There were tons of detailed descriptions of the house and outfits, but I kind of lost focus while reading them. I ended up not being interested in Renie's quest to find her sister. Also, Renie read a lot like a Mary Sue. Of course she's the only one who doesn't care about vampire celebrities!
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review!
Want to read
May 21, 2022i bought this book immediately because i thought it was sapphic, but my heart sank realizing that it wasn't.
Let's hope it's as good as any sapphic book!
Let's hope it's as good as any sapphic book!
January 31, 2022
"You can, mon ange. If you fall apart, I will help put you back together."
Another case of being lured by the cover, and staying for the characters!!! This book was so good, I honestly don't understand the low-ish rating on Goodreads.
What I liked about the book:
1. As reality shows are kinda my guilty pleasure (don't you judge me!), I really liked the idea of a vampire celebrity house that would bring regular people in to be donors. That is a super interesting concept, and I loved how it wasn't a large part of the plot where they had to mind how they were in front of cameras a lot. I feel that could have gotten convoluted really fast, and we were spared from that.
2. Short, dual POV chapters!!! This is my crack!!!
3. I love that there are mystery components, swoony moments, action-packed scenes, and unadulterated happiness even in the lowest of times. This book is definitely one hell of a paranormal rollercoaster. Those last couple chapters were something else!!!
4. The characters:
Renie - I honestly did not think I would like Renie as much as I did. This girl is stubborn as sh*t and I'm here for it! Especially at the end of the book in some of the final scenes, she really just drives right into the chaos, but then still has realistic thoughts about why she's even doing it. I very much relate to this as a stubborn person who acts before she thinks a lot.
Edmond - Hot vampire dude who speaks French, loves to read, and is willing to throw down and be punished to save his girl? Ummmmm yes please! I don't know what it is, but the idea of a good looking man calling me terms of endearment in a foreign language does something otherworldly to me.
Ysanne - I did not want to like you, but I'm definitely falling for you, you alpha-female. I love the complexity of your character and how you are willing to open up to Renie because you are smart enough to see her value.
Etienne - All I'm going to say is
Jason - You are hilarious! Definitely the comedic relief in this book. I love that you are pining hard for Gideon, and I really think he is feeling you too. Hopefully we see more come of this in the second book!
Roux - Roux, Roux, Roux, you beautiful little badass. You are bestie goals and literally an angel!!! Daphne and Velma don't need no Fred!!!
Ludovic - I love how you know things can't happen, but you're such a good friend that you don't care about the rules. You seem like a total badass, and you BETTER end up with Roux in the second book!
5. THAT COVER IS GORGEOUS!
Why it didn't get 5 stars:
1. I felt the way the story was told was a little odd. It was dual POV, but Renie's sections were in first person, while Edmond's were in third person. I love the dual POV, I just wish they were both in first person. The consistency nerd in me was inwardly cringing every time it shifted.
2. A bit predictable, but I'm not reading vampire romance because it's groundbreaking
Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad for the opportunity to read this ARC. The honest opinions above are being given voluntarily.
4 belle stars! Check it out April 5th!
Another case of being lured by the cover, and staying for the characters!!! This book was so good, I honestly don't understand the low-ish rating on Goodreads.
What I liked about the book:
1. As reality shows are kinda my guilty pleasure (don't you judge me!), I really liked the idea of a vampire celebrity house that would bring regular people in to be donors. That is a super interesting concept, and I loved how it wasn't a large part of the plot where they had to mind how they were in front of cameras a lot. I feel that could have gotten convoluted really fast, and we were spared from that.
2. Short, dual POV chapters!!! This is my crack!!!
3. I love that there are mystery components, swoony moments, action-packed scenes, and unadulterated happiness even in the lowest of times. This book is definitely one hell of a paranormal rollercoaster. Those last couple chapters were something else!!!
4. The characters:
Renie - I honestly did not think I would like Renie as much as I did. This girl is stubborn as sh*t and I'm here for it! Especially at the end of the book in some of the final scenes, she really just drives right into the chaos, but then still has realistic thoughts about why she's even doing it. I very much relate to this as a stubborn person who acts before she thinks a lot.
Edmond - Hot vampire dude who speaks French, loves to read, and is willing to throw down and be punished to save his girl? Ummmmm yes please! I don't know what it is, but the idea of a good looking man calling me terms of endearment in a foreign language does something otherworldly to me.
Ysanne - I did not want to like you, but I'm definitely falling for you, you alpha-female. I love the complexity of your character and how you are willing to open up to Renie because you are smart enough to see her value.
Etienne - All I'm going to say is
Jason - You are hilarious! Definitely the comedic relief in this book. I love that you are pining hard for Gideon, and I really think he is feeling you too. Hopefully we see more come of this in the second book!
Roux - Roux, Roux, Roux, you beautiful little badass. You are bestie goals and literally an angel!!! Daphne and Velma don't need no Fred!!!
Ludovic - I love how you know things can't happen, but you're such a good friend that you don't care about the rules. You seem like a total badass, and you BETTER end up with Roux in the second book!
5. THAT COVER IS GORGEOUS!
Why it didn't get 5 stars:
1. I felt the way the story was told was a little odd. It was dual POV, but Renie's sections were in first person, while Edmond's were in third person. I love the dual POV, I just wish they were both in first person. The consistency nerd in me was inwardly cringing every time it shifted.
2. A bit predictable, but I'm not reading vampire romance because it's groundbreaking
Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad for the opportunity to read this ARC. The honest opinions above are being given voluntarily.
4 belle stars! Check it out April 5th!
April 21, 2022
Belle Morte is a young adult vampire romance with thrills and espionage thrown into the mix. Renie Mayfield is an eighteen-year-old girl living in a world where vampires are not only known about, but are basically celebrities. Renie’s sister was selected to become a blood donor and moved into one of the UK vampire mansions months ago, and Renie hasn’t heard from her in months. Desperate to find her sister, Renie applies to become a donor and go undercover at Belle Morte.
This book is told from two points of view. Renie’s POV is first person and dominates the narrative, but we also occasionally get the third=person point of view of Edmond, one of Belle Morte’s handsome vampires. While I enjoyed knowing what Edmond is thinking, and we find out right away that he’s keeping secrets, I would have preferred to have had only Renie’s POV, as that would have increased the suspense. Knowing that Edmond–and the other vampires–aren’t terrible monsters right away muted some of the story’s suspense.
The romance between Renie and Edmond is sweet and slow-burn, and I could definitely see a heavy influence from Twilight in the nature of the story. That said, the author is a fan of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and I was delighted to spot some references to the horror classic. I’m not sure if it was intentional, but Renie Mayfield sure sounds a lot like Renfield! (Why else would you shorten “Irene” to “Renie”?) Fortunately, Renie is completely different from Renfield in personality and she isn’t doomed the same fate fate as that Stoker character. (Otherwise this wouldn’t be a romance!)
I loved the world-building in this book. While the majority of the story is set inside Belle Morte, we get a taste of what the world is like outside of it. Their world is like ours, but different, as everyone knows that vampires exist. They either love them, fear them, or despise them. Little bits of world building, such as the existence of “Vladdicts”–people who are obsessed with vampires–adds a flare of creativity and ingenuity to the book.
This book has a lot of talking, particularly in the beginning, but the storyline picks up pace towards the end of the book. While most of the plot points are quite predictable, you read these types of stories for the suspense and the forbidden love, and on these fronts, Higgins definitely delivers.
While this hasn’t been touted as being the start of a series, I got strong series vibes when reading this book–particularly with the way it ends. It’s not quite a cliffhanger, but there is a lot left unsaid, and this could easily be sequels.
*Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the ebook to review*
This review appeared first on https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/
Book Blog | Instagram | TikTok | Website | Twitter
My 2022 Reading Challenge
This book is told from two points of view. Renie’s POV is first person and dominates the narrative, but we also occasionally get the third=person point of view of Edmond, one of Belle Morte’s handsome vampires. While I enjoyed knowing what Edmond is thinking, and we find out right away that he’s keeping secrets, I would have preferred to have had only Renie’s POV, as that would have increased the suspense. Knowing that Edmond–and the other vampires–aren’t terrible monsters right away muted some of the story’s suspense.
The romance between Renie and Edmond is sweet and slow-burn, and I could definitely see a heavy influence from Twilight in the nature of the story. That said, the author is a fan of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and I was delighted to spot some references to the horror classic. I’m not sure if it was intentional, but Renie Mayfield sure sounds a lot like Renfield! (Why else would you shorten “Irene” to “Renie”?) Fortunately, Renie is completely different from Renfield in personality and she isn’t doomed the same fate fate as that Stoker character. (Otherwise this wouldn’t be a romance!)
I loved the world-building in this book. While the majority of the story is set inside Belle Morte, we get a taste of what the world is like outside of it. Their world is like ours, but different, as everyone knows that vampires exist. They either love them, fear them, or despise them. Little bits of world building, such as the existence of “Vladdicts”–people who are obsessed with vampires–adds a flare of creativity and ingenuity to the book.
This book has a lot of talking, particularly in the beginning, but the storyline picks up pace towards the end of the book. While most of the plot points are quite predictable, you read these types of stories for the suspense and the forbidden love, and on these fronts, Higgins definitely delivers.
While this hasn’t been touted as being the start of a series, I got strong series vibes when reading this book–particularly with the way it ends. It’s not quite a cliffhanger, but there is a lot left unsaid, and this could easily be sequels.
*Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the ebook to review*
This review appeared first on https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/
Book Blog | Instagram | TikTok | Website | Twitter
My 2022 Reading Challenge
July 25, 2022
3.5 stars
This has a house vibe, a trapped cat-and-mouse vibe, AND a vampire romance. Say no more. I definitely read the heck out of this and had a fun time.
Concept: ★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★ 1/2
Enjoyment: ★★★
It's current-day. Vampires have replaced the world of human celebrities and rich people with their emergence unto the world stage in their unworldly beauty. With a global fanbase, reality TV shows, and world news turned toward them, the five official vampire houses exist at the very top of society.
Naturally, humans are a part of this capitalist/celebrity food chain—literally.
To accommodate the vampires' need for blood and to satisfy the masses of humans obsessed with their allure, the five vampire houses have a system in place for blood donors. You can submit to become a blood donor, get paid for your time, and spend a set amount of time inside the vampire house. The catch? You sign a contract, you can't leave until they let you, and sometimes people don't come back out...
Renie Mayfield has just been accepted as a blood donor for the house of Belle Morte. But she's not the typical groupie looking for a blood fix and some dangerous sex. She's looking for her missing sister, June. June disappeared in Belle Morte's house several months ago. And Renie is going to find her.
The only problem is, one of the vampires has a special interest in Renie. And Renie can't help but notice him back...
Cue the angst, the forbidden romance, and the drama of a locked-house atmosphere...
Belle Morte is something you need to have on your radar if you're a fan of the late 2000s and early 2010s vampire teen romance fiction. This book is clearly a love letter to that type of story, and it definitely attracted the right audience—I was a sucker for those then, and I had a nostalgically good time with this one too.
Was this amazingly written? Not really. Was this an original plot? Almost no. But did this give vampire fans something fun to read in the current era where vampire romances are harder to come by? Oh heck yes.
Come for the fun, not the literary value. Belle Morte is waiting.
Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
This has a house vibe, a trapped cat-and-mouse vibe, AND a vampire romance. Say no more. I definitely read the heck out of this and had a fun time.
Concept: ★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★ 1/2
Enjoyment: ★★★
It's current-day. Vampires have replaced the world of human celebrities and rich people with their emergence unto the world stage in their unworldly beauty. With a global fanbase, reality TV shows, and world news turned toward them, the five official vampire houses exist at the very top of society.
Naturally, humans are a part of this capitalist/celebrity food chain—literally.
To accommodate the vampires' need for blood and to satisfy the masses of humans obsessed with their allure, the five vampire houses have a system in place for blood donors. You can submit to become a blood donor, get paid for your time, and spend a set amount of time inside the vampire house. The catch? You sign a contract, you can't leave until they let you, and sometimes people don't come back out...
Renie Mayfield has just been accepted as a blood donor for the house of Belle Morte. But she's not the typical groupie looking for a blood fix and some dangerous sex. She's looking for her missing sister, June. June disappeared in Belle Morte's house several months ago. And Renie is going to find her.
The only problem is, one of the vampires has a special interest in Renie. And Renie can't help but notice him back...
Cue the angst, the forbidden romance, and the drama of a locked-house atmosphere...
Belle Morte is something you need to have on your radar if you're a fan of the late 2000s and early 2010s vampire teen romance fiction. This book is clearly a love letter to that type of story, and it definitely attracted the right audience—I was a sucker for those then, and I had a nostalgically good time with this one too.
Was this amazingly written? Not really. Was this an original plot? Almost no. But did this give vampire fans something fun to read in the current era where vampire romances are harder to come by? Oh heck yes.
Come for the fun, not the literary value. Belle Morte is waiting.
Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
Read
September 26, 2022Terminado. Es entretenido y engancha.
Es juvenil y con clichés como amor a primera vista. Hay repeticiones y es un poco predecible.
Pero tiene un elemento nuevo que me ha gustado. Aparte de los aires de sociedad secreta, que eso es muy guay.
Ya necesito la segunda parte porque ese final si que es estupendo.
Si te gustan los vampiros seguro que lo disfrutas a pesar de lo juvenil de la historia. La autora escribe muy bien pero hay repeticiones que yo modificaría un poco.
Es juvenil y con clichés como amor a primera vista. Hay repeticiones y es un poco predecible.
Pero tiene un elemento nuevo que me ha gustado. Aparte de los aires de sociedad secreta, que eso es muy guay.
Ya necesito la segunda parte porque ese final si que es estupendo.
Si te gustan los vampiros seguro que lo disfrutas a pesar de lo juvenil de la historia. La autora escribe muy bien pero hay repeticiones que yo modificaría un poco.
February 13, 2022
In fair warning, Belle Morte definitely reads like a debut (in terms of pacing, characterization, writing style, the love triangle, the twists and the scenes very reminiscent of other popular books), but it was still a really easy to read and fun fantasy romance. The premise reminded me of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, which I love, and the plot was quite enjoyable and easy to follow. The romance, although not the enemies to lovers it was advertised to be, was pretty cute (the guys falls first/guy loves her more trope is always really cute, regardless of execution). I've been getting back into fantasy after reading a ton of contemporary romances recently, and this was a really good transition book. I'd recommend it to anyone just getting into or getting back into fantasy. If the author continues the story with more books, I'm not sure if I'll pick them up, but I'm glad I read this when I did. It's not perfect, but pretty damn fun.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2023
“There’s not a thing more lonely than immortality.”
Well, this was an experience for sure. This was my first Wattpad read, and tbh it’s exactly what you would expect. Insta-love, a main character that it’s not like other girls, a love interest that likes her because she is in fact not like other girls, and so much more things that I hate in books. This is of course my personal preference, if you think this is your kind of read go for it, you’ll have a lot of fun with it.
The premise was interesting, specially if you like vampire stories; but the execution wasn’t for me.
That scene of Jason and Gideon had me on my knees tho.
Well, this was an experience for sure. This was my first Wattpad read, and tbh it’s exactly what you would expect. Insta-love, a main character that it’s not like other girls, a love interest that likes her because she is in fact not like other girls, and so much more things that I hate in books. This is of course my personal preference, if you think this is your kind of read go for it, you’ll have a lot of fun with it.
The premise was interesting, specially if you like vampire stories; but the execution wasn’t for me.
That scene of Jason and Gideon had me on my knees tho.
April 28, 2024
This was an interesting start to the series. The whole donor system was intriguing and honestly I could see how it was tempting to join. Renie is so impulsive that it caused most if not all of her issues throughout the book. Edmond is a pretty stereotypical vampire love interest. But all in all they work together. Roux and Jason are true ride or dies, I'm glad they were included in various ways. The ending left a huge cliffhanger that segways nicely to the second book.
Would recommend.
Would recommend.
August 20, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Belle Morte is what happens when you mix Blade and True Blood together, but tone it down for a younger audience. Add a pinch of Twilight and you're there. Vampires are "out of the coffin" and reside within chapter houses all around the world. They hire Donors(basically familiars) to live with them and feed any vampire who requests blood from them. It can be pleasurable to be bitten, but for Renie it's pure pain. Also, Vampires are gross.... except the one she can't seem to stay away from.
While this story has its good and original moments, it feels a bit too troupy for this reader. Another off-putting portion was how Renie would go from having a conversation to making out, then suddenly back to her conversation. She was a bit all over the place, and either had a very overactive libido or ADHD with how much her mind would wander to sex at inappropriate times.
Not a great read, not a terrible one either with a predictable ending. Recommended for Vampire lovers who can't get enough of their favorites. Age range 16+ as there is some sexual content.
Belle Morte is what happens when you mix Blade and True Blood together, but tone it down for a younger audience. Add a pinch of Twilight and you're there. Vampires are "out of the coffin" and reside within chapter houses all around the world. They hire Donors(basically familiars) to live with them and feed any vampire who requests blood from them. It can be pleasurable to be bitten, but for Renie it's pure pain. Also, Vampires are gross.... except the one she can't seem to stay away from.
While this story has its good and original moments, it feels a bit too troupy for this reader. Another off-putting portion was how Renie would go from having a conversation to making out, then suddenly back to her conversation. She was a bit all over the place, and either had a very overactive libido or ADHD with how much her mind would wander to sex at inappropriate times.
Not a great read, not a terrible one either with a predictable ending. Recommended for Vampire lovers who can't get enough of their favorites. Age range 16+ as there is some sexual content.
Want to read
January 24, 2022This is at least the second time “irrevocably” has appeared in the blurb of a book about vampires.
This is at least the second time a mortal and vampire look to be romantically linked in a story.
This is at least the second time “Ed-something” has been the name of the leading vampire in a story.
Belle/Bella???
It all seems so silly. I would even say surreal, really, that the two could be so similar.
Perhaps it is a fanfic, but can they be published in book format? I’m quite ignorant in the subject of fan fiction.
Yet, I wanna see what originality this book brings.
This is at least the second time a mortal and vampire look to be romantically linked in a story.
This is at least the second time “Ed-something” has been the name of the leading vampire in a story.
Belle/Bella???
It all seems so silly. I would even say surreal, really, that the two could be so similar.
Perhaps it is a fanfic, but can they be published in book format? I’m quite ignorant in the subject of fan fiction.
Yet, I wanna see what originality this book brings.
September 20, 2022
I was super intrigued by the synopsis of this book. I will always love vampire romances and the thought of a dark dormitory of glamour for donors got me to pick this one up. I was curious to see how things would play out and what happened to her sister.
I stayed intrigued until this started to get repetitive and drag out. It was always a push and pull between Renie and Edmond and it got tiring. I thought they had good chemistry and kept waiting for them to cross the line completely. However, we weren’t even rewarded with any spice. That was a letdown.
Along with that, once we found out what happened to her sister, the story went even more downhill. Some parts were quite predictable here and so was the ending.
Overall, you can tell it was a debut and it was kind of a letdown. As far as reading the next book that comes out next year, I’m a bit uncertain. I will have to read the synopsis when they release it before I make up my mind.
I stayed intrigued until this started to get repetitive and drag out. It was always a push and pull between Renie and Edmond and it got tiring. I thought they had good chemistry and kept waiting for them to cross the line completely. However, we weren’t even rewarded with any spice. That was a letdown.
Along with that, once we found out what happened to her sister, the story went even more downhill. Some parts were quite predictable here and so was the ending.
Overall, you can tell it was a debut and it was kind of a letdown. As far as reading the next book that comes out next year, I’m a bit uncertain. I will have to read the synopsis when they release it before I make up my mind.
July 18, 2022
15yo me would have loved this book.
October 7, 2022
Uff, solo puedo decir que me alegro de que haya terminado. No creo que siga con el próximo.
October 14, 2022
La construcción de su contexto, no tan común en la literatura, y su transformación a versiones más modernas, llama la atención de un lector experimentado que, disfruta simplemente de una leve variación como esta. Su reformulación sin embargo, se escuda pronto en ese tradicionalismo del género, sin apenas riesgo o experimentación, puesto que esos grandes elementos literarios característico, disfrutan de un protagonismo excesivo dentro del propio relato.
Sus personajes, por otra parte, poseen una visual que pronto llama la atención, aun cuando su evolución personal apenas experimenta grandes cambios sobre el papel. Puede llegar a afirmarse que es acentuada, su falta de complejidad dentro de una narración, con apenas giros argumentales que, mantengan en vilo al lector.
Bella Higgin posee un estilo que trata de resultar rompedor, una pluma literaria cargada de elegancia que, sin embargo, se pierde entre una excesiva sencillez. Su apuesta por todos aquellos aspectos que mejor definen a la temática vampírica, le hace perder color a una historia que perpetua los viejos clásicos y que se desprende de una madurez en su relato que, se echa de menos desde sus primeras páginas.
Reseña completa: https://aeternamdea.blogspot.com/2022...
Sus personajes, por otra parte, poseen una visual que pronto llama la atención, aun cuando su evolución personal apenas experimenta grandes cambios sobre el papel. Puede llegar a afirmarse que es acentuada, su falta de complejidad dentro de una narración, con apenas giros argumentales que, mantengan en vilo al lector.
Bella Higgin posee un estilo que trata de resultar rompedor, una pluma literaria cargada de elegancia que, sin embargo, se pierde entre una excesiva sencillez. Su apuesta por todos aquellos aspectos que mejor definen a la temática vampírica, le hace perder color a una historia que perpetua los viejos clásicos y que se desprende de una madurez en su relato que, se echa de menos desde sus primeras páginas.
Reseña completa: https://aeternamdea.blogspot.com/2022...
December 28, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley, Bella Higgin and Wattpad Books for letting me have a free ARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Belle Morte is the name of a house vampires run, where donors volunteer to have the vampires feed on them. Vampires are like celebrities and donors remain at the house for as long as the vampires want them there, so you could be a donor for a month or six years. After Renie's sister June stops writing letters from one of the houses, she decides she needs to make sure she is alright. That's where this book begins.
Belle Morte is an emotional book fueled by love - both sisterly and romantic. Though I found some of the plot twists predictable, that didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book. The second half of the book was more gripping and tumultuous than the first half, but I liked both halves of the story.
There is a romance between a vampire and a donor in this book -- forbidden love, my favourite romantic trope. I thought that the love interests liked each other a little too quickly, but I still felt all of their emotions and almost cried towards the end.
The note that this book ended on was shocking and left me flipping the pages hoping for more, so I would definitely read the sequel!
In terms of characters, my favourites were Melissa and Roux. They were more developed than the other characters -- though I have a soft spot for Ysanne as well. I felt that Edmond wasn't a very developed character and thus it was sometimes hard for him to be as believable as the others. I did like the reference to The Count of Monte Cristo though!
The one thing I would say about the use of French in this book was that occasionally it took me out of the conversations for a moment, but it wasn't enough to detract me from enjoying the novel!
2.5 stars -- I enjoyed the setting and some characters, but the main characters fell flat for me and I found the first half a bit overlong. The instalove wasn't my cup of tea either. Despite this, I would still read the sequel and enjoyed the ending of the book. The idea behind the entire story gripped me to keep reading this book!
Belle Morte is the name of a house vampires run, where donors volunteer to have the vampires feed on them. Vampires are like celebrities and donors remain at the house for as long as the vampires want them there, so you could be a donor for a month or six years. After Renie's sister June stops writing letters from one of the houses, she decides she needs to make sure she is alright. That's where this book begins.
Belle Morte is an emotional book fueled by love - both sisterly and romantic. Though I found some of the plot twists predictable, that didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book. The second half of the book was more gripping and tumultuous than the first half, but I liked both halves of the story.
There is a romance between a vampire and a donor in this book -- forbidden love, my favourite romantic trope. I thought that the love interests liked each other a little too quickly, but I still felt all of their emotions and almost cried towards the end.
The note that this book ended on was shocking and left me flipping the pages hoping for more, so I would definitely read the sequel!
In terms of characters, my favourites were Melissa and Roux. They were more developed than the other characters -- though I have a soft spot for Ysanne as well. I felt that Edmond wasn't a very developed character and thus it was sometimes hard for him to be as believable as the others. I did like the reference to The Count of Monte Cristo though!
The one thing I would say about the use of French in this book was that occasionally it took me out of the conversations for a moment, but it wasn't enough to detract me from enjoying the novel!
2.5 stars -- I enjoyed the setting and some characters, but the main characters fell flat for me and I found the first half a bit overlong. The instalove wasn't my cup of tea either. Despite this, I would still read the sequel and enjoyed the ending of the book. The idea behind the entire story gripped me to keep reading this book!
![Profile Image for julia ☆ [owls reads].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1636739475i/5520447._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
February 25, 2022
Belle Morte had a really interesting premise. I loved the concept of vampires as celebrities and Vampire Houses spread throughout the world. The donor system and how that gave people status and money was also super intriguing and the way that tied with Renie's sister did make me curious about what was going to happen in the book. Too bad the execution of those elements here was incredibly poor and killed any sort of enjoyment I might have had for the story.
The writing here really wasn't for me. I disliked the shifts in perspective when they happened inside the same chapter, especially when the snippets from one character's POV were so short that before I had time to get used to them they had changed again. There was little emotion to the writing as well and most of what were supposed to be tense or action packed scenes fell flat to me.
Regarding the characters, Renie came across to me as very immature and righteous to the point of stupidity during some chapters. Edmond and his connection to The Count of Monte Cristo was super duper out of place with the overall tone of the novel and, personally, I didn't find him a well developed character. I don't think any of the other characters had enough of a personality for me to be able to comment on them.
The plot was also very predictable. I guessed what was going to happen during the first few chapters and the way Higgin developed and set up some of the twists didn't manage to catch my interest after that. Because of that, to say the ending was underwhelming would be an understatement. Really not the book for me.
*
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The writing here really wasn't for me. I disliked the shifts in perspective when they happened inside the same chapter, especially when the snippets from one character's POV were so short that before I had time to get used to them they had changed again. There was little emotion to the writing as well and most of what were supposed to be tense or action packed scenes fell flat to me.
Regarding the characters, Renie came across to me as very immature and righteous to the point of stupidity during some chapters. Edmond and his connection to The Count of Monte Cristo was super duper out of place with the overall tone of the novel and, personally, I didn't find him a well developed character. I don't think any of the other characters had enough of a personality for me to be able to comment on them.
The plot was also very predictable. I guessed what was going to happen during the first few chapters and the way Higgin developed and set up some of the twists didn't manage to catch my interest after that. Because of that, to say the ending was underwhelming would be an understatement. Really not the book for me.
*
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2022
This is a 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆 novel with a splash of 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 and a twist of mystery.
In a world obsessed with Vampires, Renie could care less. That is until her sister June volunteers to be a blood donor for a vampire house and suddenly ceases all communication. Now the only way Renie can fine out what happened to her sister is to go into the house as well… and let the vampires of Belle Morte feed off her.
I loved the 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 and pacing of this story. You are introduced to a brand new world where vampires came out of the closet a decade before. Now, Vampires live in houses throughout the world and mostly keep themselves separate from humans but allow the press and media to see the parts of them that they want. The pacing was steady throughout.
The 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 and hush hush surrounding June’s disappearance was intriguing and had me hooked throughout the story as Renie tried to unravel the secret.
The budding 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 between Renie and Edmond was tantalizing and seductive. Not only was it prohibited by vampires, as no vampires and donors could form a relationship, it was also taboo in both of their hearts. Renie hates vampires and everything they are, especially with her sister missing. Edmond has trusted a human with his heart before and it didn’t end well.
This story was amazing. It ended on a cliffhanger which I won’t spoil for you, but I’m already dying to read the next one. There better be a next one!
In a world obsessed with Vampires, Renie could care less. That is until her sister June volunteers to be a blood donor for a vampire house and suddenly ceases all communication. Now the only way Renie can fine out what happened to her sister is to go into the house as well… and let the vampires of Belle Morte feed off her.
I loved the 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 and pacing of this story. You are introduced to a brand new world where vampires came out of the closet a decade before. Now, Vampires live in houses throughout the world and mostly keep themselves separate from humans but allow the press and media to see the parts of them that they want. The pacing was steady throughout.
The 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 and hush hush surrounding June’s disappearance was intriguing and had me hooked throughout the story as Renie tried to unravel the secret.
The budding 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 between Renie and Edmond was tantalizing and seductive. Not only was it prohibited by vampires, as no vampires and donors could form a relationship, it was also taboo in both of their hearts. Renie hates vampires and everything they are, especially with her sister missing. Edmond has trusted a human with his heart before and it didn’t end well.
This story was amazing. It ended on a cliffhanger which I won’t spoil for you, but I’m already dying to read the next one. There better be a next one!
November 7, 2021
Belle Morte had an intriguing plot. Some parts of the story fell a little flat for me and there wasn’t much character building. As a French speaker, I found some of the French to be not necessarily wrong but worded strangely as if someone used Google Translate so that did take away from the book for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad Books for this arc. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad Books for this arc. All opinions are my own.
September 22, 2022
1,5⭐️
Puntuación: 4/10
Ya sabía lo que podía esperar de una historia sacada de Wattpad. Pero es sobre vampiros, tenía que intentarlo.
No es que esté mal escrita, he leído cosas mucho peores, pero es una historia muy muy plana y predecible.
La idea original de los vampiros como estrellas y los humanos encerrados voluntariamente para alimentarles es muy buena, pero la autora no ha sabido sacarle partido.
Los personajes son muy sosos.La protagonista Renie entra a formar parte de un grupo para alimentar a los vampiros de Belle Morte, una de las casas donde estos viven rodeados de lujos. Ella entrega su sangre y a cambio vive rodeada de excesos, fiesta y tíos buenos. Pero ella no entra por ese motivo, sino porque su hermana ha estado en esa casa previamente y ha desaparecido. Su intención es encontrarla. Pero lo cierto es que lleva a cabo su “misión” de la forma más estúpida posible. No se ciñe a su papel, se enfrenta a todo el mundo, se comporta como una cría malcriada y encima se salta las 4 normas de la casa delante de todos. Es como un elefante en una cacharrería. La verdad que me cae bastante mal, y me parece poco inteligente. Creo que podría haber sacado muuuuucho mas partido a este personaje.
Edmond es el vampiro buenorro, el pobre es como un pan sin sal. Y en el capítulo dos ya se plantea que no quiere enamorarse de Renie (pero vamos a ver, que la acabas de conocer) se pasea por la casa como un alma en pena, como una acelga mustia, coincidiendo casualmente en todas partes con Renie y apareciendo siempre en el momento oportuno. Cero química entre ellos por cierto.
En cuanto al resto de personajes, son tan cliché y faltos de historia que no merece la pena mencionarlos.
Por supuesto los plow twist que hay en la trama son totalmente predecibles, y el final, como no podía ser menos, también. Así que como parte buena solo tengo que decir que se lee rápido porque es ágil, juvenil y corto. Pero por lo demás podéis prescindir de él si tenéis muchos pendientes en vuestro TBR.
January 28, 2022
This was so good!! I can't believe this book doesn't release until April because I so want the sequel already.
In a world where vampires are given celebrity statuses, Belle Morte follows the story of eighteen-year-old Renie who follows her path to Belle Morte, a house of vampires, as a blood donor with an ulterior motive to find out what happened to her sister who went missing five months ago. There she meets the alluring vampire Edmond Dantes (*cough* *cough* sounds familiar?) and everything heats up.
This was such a brilliant journey and the writing was so thrilling and sensual. I fell in love from the first page itself and couldn't help but keep reading. The history of the vampires was so richly written, the world-building was brilliant and the romance was just *chef's kiss*. Like seriously, Edmond Dantes is not at all like cliché vampire guys. The amount of respect I have for him is immense.
I am so sad I finished reading this in one go even though I wanted to savour it for days because of how beautiful this book was. The friendships were so real, felt practical and all the characters had me wishing to be a part of their lives. Such an adventure!
The ending has me so on edge. I really hope the sequel is released because I can't get enough of Edmond and Renie.
Verict: Must Read!!
Special thanks to Wattpad Books and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc for this novel.
In a world where vampires are given celebrity statuses, Belle Morte follows the story of eighteen-year-old Renie who follows her path to Belle Morte, a house of vampires, as a blood donor with an ulterior motive to find out what happened to her sister who went missing five months ago. There she meets the alluring vampire Edmond Dantes (*cough* *cough* sounds familiar?) and everything heats up.
This was such a brilliant journey and the writing was so thrilling and sensual. I fell in love from the first page itself and couldn't help but keep reading. The history of the vampires was so richly written, the world-building was brilliant and the romance was just *chef's kiss*. Like seriously, Edmond Dantes is not at all like cliché vampire guys. The amount of respect I have for him is immense.
I am so sad I finished reading this in one go even though I wanted to savour it for days because of how beautiful this book was. The friendships were so real, felt practical and all the characters had me wishing to be a part of their lives. Such an adventure!
The ending has me so on edge. I really hope the sequel is released because I can't get enough of Edmond and Renie.
Verict: Must Read!!
Special thanks to Wattpad Books and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc for this novel.
May 24, 2023
Objectively, this book is 2 stars at best. However, I enjoyed the f*ck out of it. I felt 12 years old again reading a shitty wattpad book and loved every second. It reminds me of Crave by Tracy Wolff because it’s so bad but so good. If you want to read a fun, fast-paced, vampire book that is clearly from Wattpad, this is the one for you.
December 21, 2022
Just no.
Lo siento si te gustó este libro. Para mí fue una pesadilla sin editar, con una trama pobre, personajes planos y leerlo fue una tortura interminable.
Esa es mi reseña.
Lo siento si te gustó este libro. Para mí fue una pesadilla sin editar, con una trama pobre, personajes planos y leerlo fue una tortura interminable.
Esa es mi reseña.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 848 reviews