Ali Hazelwood dips her pen into the paranormal romance genre and pulls out a winner with Bride. This Vampyre-Werewolf romance has everything from an arranged marriage to plenty of suspense and twists. Come see why I loved this and hope we get more stories from this world.
I enjoyed Hazelwood's stem romances and was curious to see what she would create in the paranormal genre. She did not disappoint. We have a world with three controlling factions divided into territories. The humans, vampyres and werewolves. The three have been at war and, while currently at peace, things remain volatile. An arrangement was made for each to send one of their young to live in the other's territory. A trade to ensure peace.
Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, spent ten years as a child with the humans. This is where she met her best friend, Serena. She now lives with Serna in the human territory and knows very little about vampyre ways. When her friend goes missing, she is desperate to find her, but all that is cut short when her father demands her return.
Her father has arranged a peace treaty marriage with the weres. Misery will marry and remain with the weres for one year. She will marry their Alpha, Lowe Moreland. Misery agrees to the marriage as a clue to her friend's vanishing pointed towards an individual with the initials L M.
I loved this story from the mystery to the romance. Hazelwood's storytelling skillfully combines world-building, unexpected twists, political intrigue, and a constant sense of danger. Combine that with complex & compelling characters and you have the makings of a great series. Hazelwood pulled me in and held me captive until the end.
Having read a lot of paranormal and urban fantasies, the romance and its elements did not surprise me, but I love how it slowly unfolded. Having been raised in the human world, Misery doesn't know much about her own vampyre instincts and romantic inclinations. In fact, she has never really been attracted to someone until now. She knows nothing about the weres, outside of the horror stories of battles, and I loved learning it all with her.
The romantic tension, trust issues, character growth, and building sexual tension were divine. Lowe, the Alpha, is complex and caring. We learn about the pack, his struggles and the secrets he protects. I became caught up in their struggles and watching them skirt the chemistry.
The pacing was well done and the suspenseful threads and mystery added to the story. While this is currently a standalone and events wrapped up, there were hints of stories yet to be told and I want them. I hope we return to this world soon.
Perfect for fan of paranormal and urban fantasy. This may be the perfect book for contemporary romance readers to dip their toe into the genre.
Amazon | Audible
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