melstylensubstance's reviews
484 reviews

This book had been talked up so much. I dont know what I was expecting, but the book wasn’t as phenomenal as I’d been led to believe. It was good, but not great. I’m not sure why. Maybe because so much of the plot focused on the music career? Maybe I was hoping for a bit more suspense in the “will Jenna find out” or awkward events where they needed to be sneaky in public.

I needed to see what the fuss was about in this series, and I felt the need for a genre change in my reading. Apparently the first few aren’t great, but I can’t not start at the beginning. Sexy vampire and
Vindictive Valkyrie. Cool cool. I cackled that Myst left him with a 5 y boner just cuz she could. Also I’m glad that the start of the book set some of the world up outside of the story itself, so the story wasn’t bogged with tons of world building.

Biggest thing I learned? Werewolves are Scottish and a prominent in Nova Scotia. Who knew?

I really enjoyed Emma discovering she wasn’t as week and timid as she thought.

I liked it! Kind of a paranormal amazing race, time travel, one sided enemies to lovers with vampires and valkyries Kaderin the cold hearted feels guilt that she caused the deaths of her 2 sisters a millennia ago in a battle with vampires. Sebastian is a vampire, turned unwillingly by his brother Nikolai in a misguided attempt by Nik to save his family. Bastian is disgusted by himself that he’s a vampire.
Kaderin shows up one day to kill him, cuz that’s what she does. But for the first time in a millennia, she hesitates. And she starts to feel emotion again. All because of Bash. She doesn’t want it - doesn’t want to feel, doesn’t want his attention. Wants to keep killing and to continue as the champion of the paranormal amazing race. As Bash follows her, he ends up joining the competition too in an effort to “help” and “save” her which she clearly needs no help.

The hottest scene in the whole damn book was when they were arguing over the quantum mechanics and if time travel was possible. He’s not just a ripped huge brooding vampire - he’s a scholar too!!! Sign me up. And she’s not just a petite pretty killer - no way, she keeps up with scientific theory!!

I liked the adventure aspect of this story. It kept me interested and put our heroes in a variety of locations and situations.

I want a Bowen. He doubles down on the protect, provide,worship. He’s so conflicted tho. Right up until he’s not. But he slowly puts it together, that she’s actually the strongest in the relationship. He lets her dominate him so she feels safe. I think this is starting to be a fave micro trope of mine.

Mari is a modern woman. 100%. Her lipstick vibe to showing Bowen is alpha bullshit is not the way to woo her. “I want you to have my litter” is not as sexy as he thinks it is, lol. Oh - and the wrong name during sex? Really dude?? She was right to leave your ass.

But the time the epic battle of sorceresses happens - Mari has embraced her strength and power and he has realized he was never mated before. He is her protector.

Each book in this series is getting better and better. There was so much adventure in this one (kinda like a road trip trope) and the plot kept moving along naturally. There was lots of side characters and additional world building but it was all easy to follow. The last act twist was very satisfying.

This was emotional and a beautiful story. Since Naomi was a ghost, she and Conrad couldn’t physically touch which put a refreshing spin on how their relationship developed. Since she wasn’t alive, he couldn’t be blooded. But if she was alive, he was pretty sure she would be his bride since he was feeling feels. Oh - and Conrad is a virgin? I love the virgin hero trope. The plot was fabulous, and it all felt very organic. She helped to bring him back from the brink of madness and he helped her reclaim her joie de vivre.

I love Cade. Never would have thought a demon could be sexy. Also - I identified so much with Holly. Nerdy girl too timid to really be herself. Then turns out to be a badass.
Another questing story. Not a lull in the whole thing. I’m on to the next book!! This series is addictive, with each book giving just enough info to draw you in to the next

After the scenes last book with Rystrand and Sabine, I NEEEEEEEEDED to know what happened! How did that turnabout happen??

It was kind of fun to watch Sabine take him apart and break him. I don’t even want to know what that says about me. But he is smart and figured his way out. But as they were released and journeying to the portal, I got tired of it real fast. He was being a real dolt about keeping her tied. I could have done without that part.

But once they are back to NOLA it all got interesting again. I love when Nix shows up.

Also - Lothaire??? Mysterious big bad. I know his book is still a bit away but I can’t wait.

I love how this series keeps building and building and the action, romance, and suspense are all so delicious.

I’d been waiting to see what was going on with Murdoch and Daniella. We knew he was blooded from the first book, that Nix knew she was in Siberia, and that M had his bride and was buying her jeweled combs but he wasn’t fessing up to anyone about it. In a way it was similar to Conrad’s story because of the “we can’t touch” element but the solution here was WAYYY easier. He just needed to drink her blood. Get some Ice Fey running in his veins so they could touch. So simple. He’s a vampire, it’s what they do. But needed to do it the first time, past the pain. And of course since it’s painful they avoided it until he lost his temper in a jealous fit and needed to claim her in front of another male.

Book was ok, but the miscommunication was starting to become tedious.

Garreth and Lucia. Or Loosha as he calls her with his Scottish brogue. I loved their “meet cute” happening during a rugby game. Good mental images there. It was very interesting to see a different side of stories that have already been told, Lachlan Nikolai and Bowen stories are all told with a different slant.
Also, Garreth is just the most loyal pup ever. He follows her all over the world for a year. While she keeps trying to shake him but not in a nice way. I kept imagining a cross of the jungle cruise with the Rock and Lost City during the Amazon boat parts. I’m pretty sure the descriptions in this book also described visuals of this movie. It’s ok, it works.
After the Amazonian adventures with lothaire randomly showing up as well as a new panther shape shifter, Lucia is finally nearing the end of her quest. Why she doesn’t just come clean with Garreth about WHY he can’t go with her to kill the evil god I don’t know. But it ends very poorly for the werewolf, descending in to madness and fully claimed by his beast. It was really sad to imagine him this way and so distraught. The last little bit was angsty. You know the kids are gonna work it out, but I think the author enjoyed torturing us just a little bit. And there book ends with a serious set up for the next book….so on to the next!!