Genres: Adult Fiction, Romance, Paranormal / Supernatural, Urban Fantasy

Tropes: Fated Mates, Forced Proximity, Magic, Marriage of Convenience, Shapeshifters, Vampires, Omegaverse

I didn’t find this book to be all that similar to Hazelwood’s other books, and that may or may not be a good thing to other readers. I found it very reminiscent of urban fantasy books from ten years ago or so, just with much more romance than the genre typically features. And I am a huge urban fantasy fan, so that probably explains a little why I adored this book.

Misery and Lowe are hilarious. Lowe is a well-developed and nuanced hero. Misery is pretty calculating, and I actually wouldn’t have minded seeing her get even more ruthless/bloodthirsty, but I suppose Hazelwood wanted to be careful to keep her likable, especially since this leans more paranormal romance than urban fantasy.

I do feel like the book would have actually benefited from being a dual POV in this case. The third act breakup is basically out of nowhere, and it honestly doesn’t make sense. It gets resolved fairly quickly, thankfully, but a dual POV would have helped explain Lowe’s reasoning. 

I’ve seen some complaints that the couple spends too much time apart or there isn’t enough romance, but I didn’t get that vibe at all. I guess it depends on what you’re comparing it to. The first sex scene is at

50%

and

there’s four scenes total,

so the second half is very spicy. The first half is mostly the couple getting to know each other, which IMO makes sense in the context of them initially being enemies.

Safety Stats:

Ages:

Misery is 25, Lowe is also mid-20s. I can’t remember if they specify his exact age.

Cheating:

None.

Other OM/OW:

None.

Separation:

Unfortunately, the third act breakup comes out of left field. Lowe denies that they are fated mates when Misery confronts him about it, and the couple is apart for a few weeks. Neither is with anyone else, and the conflict is resolved fairly quickly. That being said, I don’t feel like this added anything to the book and if anything, it detracted from it.

Triggers:

Misery’s dad is pretty cold toward his daughter, borderline toxic. Otherwise none.

HEA/HFN?:

Somewhere in between. Misery and Lowe are married and fated mates, so nobody is going anywhere, but for some reason, the book doesn’t actually depict the mating ceremony. Lowe and Misery are planning it at the end of the book. I feel like the mating ceremony should have been included to make it a full HEA.