Eternal Reign

Age of Vampires, Book 1

By: Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

Narrated by: Michelle Sparks

Length: 14 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

The vampire prince has never claimed a human. Until now.

My whole life I’ve been nothing but a means to an end; livestock kept caged for the production of blood. I’ve stared through fences at the promise of freedom countless times, but the only way anyone escapes this hell is in the hands of a bloodsucker.

The annual testing is about to begin, and those who pass are never seen again. So f--k that. My twin and I decided to risk it all. To run before the royals could claim us.

Turns out, that dream expired fast. Because when an original vampire decides to own you, there’s nowhere in this ruined world left to escape to.

I’m at his mercy now, trapped in his castle, destined to become his creature, and forced into a dangerous game of rivalry between the seductive vampire princes.

His beauty is a weapon I wasn’t prepared for, his cruelty a bane that strikes fear in the hearts of all, and his company a sin I’m going to spend my life repenting.

I need to get back to my sister, but she’s caught in a trap of her own, tangled up with the last slayer to walk this earth and following his path towards vengeance. She’s at his mercy too, the man with violence tattooed across his skin, death trailing his footsteps as he stalks his prey - who just so happen to be the royal vampires who hold me captive.

The gods are toying with us all, placing my twin and I on opposite sides of an ancient war. And in the end, I fear there won’t be any victors left standing.

So I’m going to play a game of my own, let my captor use me as his puppet until I find my moment to strike.

Let this hell-born ritual of lust, lies and blood begin.

This is a dark, fantasy romance series by the authors of Zodiac Academy with all the enemies to lovers vibes – don’t go expecting a sweet vampire with sparkling skin and a tendency to watch you sleeping. These vampires are savage and bloodthirsty, and the slayer who hunts them will stab first and ask questions later.

This war-torn fantasy world is a brutal bi*ch and only those 18+ have a chance at surviving the darkness lurking in the audio. There’s no well-meaning vampires snacking on Bambies instead of babies, and if they get their teeth into you, you’ll be damn lucky to escape with your life and panties intact. So grab hold of your slayer blade (wooden stakes have too many splinters) and get ready to defy the gods, because this is going to be one helluva ride.

©2023 Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti (P)2023 Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

Love this story!!!

This book was well written and great. t he only reason I decreased a star for performance is I felt they were speaking slow so I upped the speed. It is a great book with an original story. The relationship between the sisters is so sweet and makes me envious of their closeness. I cannot wait for the sequel

Family torn apart

Family torn apart, one sister to become a vampire slayer. Is the other sister going to become a vampire or does she fall in love and remain human? On to the next book. This book has more of a serious tone to it and different from others written by this fantastic duo. The performance has me more interested in reading the book for myself and forming my own character voices in my head, not the best I've heard. Her voice is nice to listen too.

Binge worthy

I like the development of their characters and there's a slow burn where it's not to a point where you're ashamed to listen to it.

Great first book

I was a little bit torn on whether or not to start this series. The only experience I have with this writing duo is the Zodiac Academy series, and it seems like I am the ONLY person in the entire world that did not like that series. Well, truthfully, I can't even say that I didn't like the series because I couldn't make it past the first book (I DNF'd somewhere around 30% or so). So, you can understand my reticence.

Regardless, the premise sounded good so I thought, "why not?" And I am actually very pleased that I decided to jump in. Apparently (and I did not find this out until the very end - during the Author's Acknowledgements) This was the very first book that these two decided to write. And I have no idea when it initially came out, but they did a complete re-write of the entire series a few years later - spiced it up and added content - so what we are getting now is kind of brand new.

Needless to say - I did enjoy this first book. The premise is interesting - even if we do not get the entire story in the first book. The world has gone through a world ending nuclear war from the humans and when almost all was lost, the vampires stepped in and took over to basically save the humans that were left (food source, remember?). But all is not well because the vampires could not really care less how the humans live and they are living in walled off compounds without basic necessities, they have to donate blood often and are barely given enough food rations to live.

We meet our FMC's - twins Montana and Callie - who are 21 years old and only know life as it is. They live with their father who has told them stories about the "before". Then, there is some test that the vampires do regularly, where certain people are picked to be "tested" - which means they have to give blood that goes through some type of test. If they pass - they are taken and never seen again.

The twins father somehow knows that when the girls are chosen, that they are going to be taken and the family decides to run. It is a decision that really does not have good odds and once they get past the walls, the are discovered. During the craziness, the two girls are separated - Montana and her father are captured and Callie is recued by an unknown man.

This starts the story. The two girls are each going through quite different experiences and they are both discovering that things are not what they have been told. And EACH girl is learning unbelievable but very different information.

I really did enjoy this book. Of course, you can not stop at the end and have to continue onward because the story is just getting good, so onward I go.......

Great world-building and character building

Review Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Heat Index: 🌶/5

✨Vampires
✨Dystopian
✨World building
✨Dual POV - twin sisters
✨Slow burn (not a lot of spice to start, but looks promising)

I'll preface this by saying, if Caroline and Susanne write it, I will read it. Love me some twisted sisters. I listened to this only almost fully on audible. This is the first book in the series and it laid the foundation for what will come. The world-building and character-building were there, and I can see the glimmer of spice on the horizon.

The series kicks off with twin sisters Montana and Callie, born in a world ruled by vampires after their takeover. Vampires treat humans like cattle, locking them up without a glimpse of the outside world. Every year, there is blood testing, and those who pass vanish into thin air. Trying to dodge this testing, the twins make a break for it, but end up separated. One gets tangled up with a vampire prince, and the other ends up with a vampire slayer.

Overall, enjoyed the book! I will definitely read the next one. Lots of world-building here, laying down the groundwork for what's coming next!

Strong Females for the Win!

Michelle Sparks did great bringing these characters to life! The twin sisters are both strong female main characters that want nothing more than to protect their family and to get back to one another after being torn apart on two different sides of a war. I can’t wait for the next audio to be released!

Such a good/new story; unpredictable

Completely kept my interested, I couldn’t stop listening! The book just kept getting better as the story went on.

Twisted sisters for the win once again!

I’ve read a pretty much everything they’ve ever written, and I was waiting on this series to be re-VAMPED. The only complaint I have, is that it is missing the usual humor and wit we’ve all come to expect from the sisters.
The narrator is fantastic. I have listened to some of her other work, and she is def becoming one of my favs. I’m so excited to continue on with this series. (hopefully it will be added to Audible soon.)

Worth the Credit! Loved it!

The narrator has a nice voice and did a great job reading.

The story is a little slow paced but overall I liked it. It was unique for a vampire story and had all of the best things I enjoy in a female protagonist.
The story is read from two twin sisters points of view alternating between them each chapter.

It did take me a minute to adjust to favoring both characters as the main characters but I managed and enjoyed both characters almost equally. Though I actually wish the two had switched roles/story lines once their paths split.

The romances are slow burning which I find appropriate and fitting for the situations. I do wish there was a little more action, but I am eager to read the next book and this kept me hooked the whole way through.

Better than expected

Got me through a 10 hour plane flight . I usually don’t like vampire novels but this was fun. Mostly about people.