Praise

Nicala, A Vampire Story is an intriguing slow-burn novel that painstakingly establishes a world like ours, but one in which vampires are a known quantity in society. Nicala struggles to find her place in the world, navigating the challenges that her new vampire status throws at her, approaching the moral and emotional quandaries from a relatable perspective, bringing humanity to her no longer quite human existence. The novel sets up fascinating future of conflicts that I am excited to read about as additional novels are published.

A refreshing change from the typical vampire novel. I generally struggle to stay focused on a book, but I read the whole thing in 2 days, and then read it again. It's always interesting to think about what it would be like if vampires existed in our world, and this story felt jarringly real. You can feel the connection to our daily lives, and how they would be viewed and treated if they showed up on our doorstep. Just enough drama to keep it interesting, enough romance to keep it steamy. Nicala may be the protagonist, but every character in the story had their own to tell. Now I'm just waiting for the second part!

I like to be surprised, and Nicala sure did that. This is not the romantasy I was expecting—you know, the trope-heavy style you usually expect from a vampire novel. This was different. This was fun. This was gritty, and it felt more like a memoir (and I mean that in the best way).

The writing was easy to read, and I found that Nicole Zele handled tension really well. I really, really want to read the next book in this series now. If you like Vampire origin stories, then this Is a fresh take on it.

This book is action packed. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't read it fast enough. Thank you Nicole for letting be an ARC for you. You are a great writer. This story flows together so seamlessly. I look forward to reading more of your books.

Nicala a vampire story is an enjoyable & different take on a vampire tale.

Brilliantly written, I was pulled in from the first paragraph & its action packed too! No issues with pacing either, the story flowed beautifully & truth be told I'm already hankering for my next Nicala fix & to see what's next for Nicala.
Highly recommended

This book was quite the read. It started off interesting, and here I was thinking, "Oh, we are going to get a vampire/Lycan triangle similar to Twilight," based off the tags. Let me spoil it now, just a little: this is NOT that type of vampire story.

The protagonist, Nicala, is so relatable. The things that happen to her and her reactions are exactly how I think I would react in the situations she is in.

My only thing is that you can tell that this author has been working on this novel for a long time through different age ranges, as the writing definitely evolves throughout the first half of the book.

All in all, I can't wait to read the second one.

This book was bittersweet. When everything seems to becoming to an end Nicala meets Jin. Jin is a sweet vampire that trys to make everything better for Nicala. Nicala still finds herself in hot water and having to deal with the consequences of her own choices. Just when you think everything is going to be OK this author rips that away and adds a new twist. This book was amazing in my opinion. You dont get a HEA in the way you would think but all in all I think it was a pretty nice ending. I cannot wait to read more by this author.

Nicole Zele does a great job of creating a world that feels real with a modern twist on vampire lore. The way vampirism causes problems, not just cool powers, makes the struggles feel relatable.
It was engaging to watch Nicala navigate the moral and emotional struggles of her new existence. The slow-burn tension and dynamic with her enigmatic Maker, Jin, kept the pages turning, as I was invested in seeing if they would move past the "Maker" dynamic.
The story moves at a steady pace, focusing heavily on Nicala's training and finding her place after a brutal attack changes her life. The plot sets up a fascinating future of conflicts between humans, vampires, and other species, leaving me excited for the next book in the series, Nicala, Cursed Blood.

If you love fierce heroines, emotional depth, and romance wrapped in darkness and power—Nicala is waiting for you.

The characters drove the storyline and they were very compelling and complex and complicated. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was excellent and impressive. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

I liked this book because you don’t really get what you’ll expect.

The author adds a good twist to the story.

The book is morally grey, bitter-sweet, hot and cold. But very good in its own way!!!

What a wild ride!! Nicala is a fierce fighter. She will do anything to protect herself and those she cares about! She has a kind heart and not everyone likes that. Leo and Smokey are great. I really enjoyed this book!

This one was really intriguing. Nicala running a massage parlor was a pretty different take, but it worked and I loved it. And I really loved what she was learning about Jin along the way. I loved how much is weaved throughout this story. Witches, vampires, and more. And this one digs deep into her hearing note about Jin. Filled with danger and chaos. This was a seriously intense read and I loved it. Can’t wait for the next one.

A Vampire Story With a Fresh Twist
What caught my attention about Nicala, Cursed Blood was the unusual setup. A vampire running a massage parlor is definitely not the kind of premise you come across every day, and I enjoyed seeing how that business became part of the larger supernatural world. Nicala feels like a character who is trying to build something for herself while constantly being pulled back into problems she never asked for.
The story gets much more intriguing once she starts uncovering the truth about Jin and the power hidden in her blood. I especially liked the combination of mystery, supernatural politics, and the question of whether Nicala will allow other people to decide what she becomes. It has plenty of potential for readers who enjoy vampire fiction with something different mixed into it

We are in an era dominated by dark romance novels that use sex to carry a story. This book keeps the romance alive, but rather than it being the whole show, it's a complement to a larger, more immersive plot.
The second entry in the Nicala series builds on the development and maturing of the FMC who is learning to embrace and expand her new power. The foil brings a slow-burn romance that builds along the main arc, and acts as a conduit between her and the antagonist. The characters are relatable and bring a sense of reality to the story. There's a theme of familiar world issues that we face daily weaved through comedy, action, and drama.
I am on my second read of this one, and I am not-so-patiently waiting for the final installment.
Keep it coming!

I was attracted to Nicala’s tale because the author combined the typical vampiric setting with quite an unconventional plot line. The idea of having a massage parlor where vampires are served is already rather innovative; however, the tale becomes even more interesting when Nicala begins to discover secrets about Jin and the mysterious power that is hidden within her blood. I was fascinated with the way in which her mundane attempt to create a life for herself turns into involvement in the dangerous world of immortals, deception, and power games. Nicala is a character that is faced with difficult decisions to make in the future.

I really like the direction of Nicala's character. She's not simply trying to survive vampires or hunt humans—she's actually trying to create a life and run a business in a world where powerful people can manipulate almost everything around her. That gave the story a more interesting foundation than a straightforward vampire-versus-human plot.
The discovery that something powerful is connected to her blood adds another level of suspense. I enjoyed the idea of Nicala having to figure out whether she's being treated as a person, a weapon, or a pawn. The rich and powerful immortal characters also make the world feel much bigger than the small business where the story begins.

It is a fun and creative urban fantasy sequel that trades typical gloomy vampire tropes for a fresh business-owning, rule-breaking protagonist
Nicala just wants a peaceful start running a vampire massage parlor. She employs three wild, young vampires and handles a mix of human and supernatural clients. Things get complicated when she investigates her maker, Jin. She finds a hidden power in her blood and captures the attention of an ancient, dangerous entity. Soon, she faces elite immortal politics that threaten everyone she loves
This is an entertaining read for fans of modern vampire fiction who want a break from standard formulas. It offers good humor, rising stakes, and a likable misfit cast

I found myself captivated and pulled into this otherworldly realm of supernatural beings. Frequently, my heart was racing with anticipation. The characters were complex and multifaceted, and the story kept me wanting to read more. I can't wait to read the next book. And, I'm happy to have the hardcover book signed by the author.