This is a story of a woman, Tori, kidnapped and brutally tortured to a point where after some incidence, she turned into a vampire. Basically, the book centers on Tori’s agony into transformation. Since being turned, she has spent her life meting out punishment to the evils of the world, never once letting herself feel helpless again. In walks Ronan, a PI hired to track Tori-who by now has turned into a vampire. Their universes collide as they go against human and otherworldly enemies, adding in a potent attraction that just may turn out to be their strength or their conflict. The novel well navigates the thin line between survival and power, with moral ambiguity maintained throughout, all while keeping the tension between the two leads romantically charged.

Tori is an amazingly complex lead. She was subjected to a position wherein she became completely helpless at the very start of the novel: unspeakable torments by a sadistic captor, turning her into a vampire was representative of physical and psychological rebirth. The morality of the new life leaves her torn between avenging and yearning for human companionship. Her various scars, both real and emotional, shape her relationships with Ronan and other people. Her motivational point is to not be victimized again, and she thus wants control. The inner conflicts that she struggles with-guilt, power, and morality-add up to her character, creating a richly layered one.

Ronan is brought on stage as a man of duty, a private investigator with an acute sense of moral judgment. His attraction to Tori complicates his mission, and thus he must grapple with questions of trust, loyalty, and morality. He feels decadent inside between his developing emotions for Tori and his duty’s call. His character graduates from being strictly mission-driven to one that would go that extra inch against the rules for the sake of love. His psychological dimension unravels with the afterthoughts of his past mistakes, and thereby Ronan is a realistic and likable character.

The relationship between Tori and Ronan is strong and multi-dimensional. Right from the very beginning, this equation is unevenly balanced, where Tori is a newly-turned vampire with great power, while Ronan is human and trying to maneuver his uncontrollable emotions. Still, in due time their emotional attachment becomes stronger and so does the shift in the equation. Tori’s vulnerability is exposed in her growing feelings for Ronan; Ronan’s strength is tested in his willingness to protect Tori. It is the mutual growth dynamic where one character leads another through facing fears or moral dilemmas.

Supporting Characters: Edgar Brannon is crucial to Ronan’s investigation and hence weaves mystery into the plot, yet a lot of his true motives throughout the story remain shadowy. Tori’s younger sister Lizzie, even not being a central character, represents much of Tori’s lost humanity and the life she could have lived. The relationship complicates the central romance and pushes up layers of emotional and moral conflict.

Tori’s turning into a vampire symbolizes her emotional rebirth, but at what cost? The novel explores how embracing one’s dark side may mean survival but at what cost to one’s humanity?
Tori tries to punish those who hurt the innocent. Empowering and gray, the novel will ask how far does justice go before vengeance begins?
Power and control are related in both the relationship and the supernatural world. First, most of all, the dynamic between Ronan and Tori undergirds how power can shift and reshape action and identity; so does the full-scale battle between vampires and humans.
These themes interrelate in a way that further enriches the novel in its exploration of morality, power, and love. Together, these themes set up a backdrop for understanding both Tori’s internal struggle and her relationship with Ronan.

Carla Swafford writes with vivid intensity. Perhaps the most powerful use of her figurative language is against Tori’s transformation and ensuing inner struggle, which is hauntingly beautifully written. The storyline toggles between Tori and Ronan; such toggling between them gives deep insights into their emotional and psychological states, true to the dual perspective that works well in storytelling.

It works well, balancing suspense with more reflective emotional moments. Swafford does especially well in ratcheting up the tension, be that in the supernatural action scenes or romantic moments between Tori and Ronan. The tone of the novel is very dark and atmospheric, managing to merge well with the themes of survival and power. The language is direct and poetic at times, especially in moments of high tension or emotional depth.

Savage Champion is an emotionally deep romance and a supernatural suspense novel with the deepest analysis of character. The main themes are well-developed: to survive, the question of power, and moral ambiguity; the characters have so many depths. What is most impressive about the book, however, is how it will have the reader experience not only the terror of what Tori has gone through but also the strength of this new power she now has. Even though it gets too graphic at times for some readers, the lovers of tales with dark and morally ambiguous nuances find Savage Champion thrilling and a plethora of food for thought.

In a series of paranormal romance novels, the psychologies of Savage Champion probably are explored deeper than most; for that matter, into darkness itself. Fans of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward or the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost will love many of the same themes: power, redemption, and romance.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
Savage Champion holds up as a strong entry into the paranormal romance genre. The story is rich in character development and an interesting plot that really keeps one on their toes. It does, however, contain extreme graphic violence that does not sit well with sensitive readers.

Star Rating: Writing Style ★★★★☆
It is intense and atmospheric, though there can be an off-putting weight toward violence and darkness at times that may alienate some readers.

Characters: ★★★★★
Tori and Ronan were just so multifaceted, and the emotional story arcs made them brilliant to read as the lead. The supporting cast added mystery but fleshed out second to the core relationship.

World-Building: ★★☆☆☆
The concept with the vampire lore was really intriguing, but I think in areas, it could have been fleshed out just that little bit more.

Trigger Warnings:
Torture
Graphic violence
Kidnapping
Blood and gore
Sexual assault (implied)
Psychological trauma

Recommended for Lovers of darker paranormal romance with multi-dimensional characters and situation-mandated moral ambiguity on a frequent occasion. Fans of series by J.R. Ward, Nalini Singh, or Laurell K. Hamilton will find just the right dose of suspense, supernatural creatures, and romance they love.