Review by Hatake

This is a realistic part fun, part frustrating story of Byrony Paige, a teacher from Florence, who in an attempt to honor her grandmother and her passion, wrote a book and went to Tennessee to present it. She met Jack Sterling, an egotistical and somehow fox who is toothachily a successful agent in the publishing industry, really accidentally got Jack's eyes, and again super accidentally became a ghostwriter for a stupid but pretty face of an author named Amelia Benedict. The paycheck of ghostwriting was awesome because she not only became independent and had her own things but also used Amelia's fame, which made her a super author whose books stayed best-selling for weeks. But in fact, after a few years, Byrony started to want things for real, not as a ghostwriter but as an actual best-selling author, Byrony Paige. The book is something not everyday I experience. First, how thoroughly the slice of life explains is fantastic. The thought of what she's been through and how she made the decision of being a ghostwriter to wanting to be more is exactly what you thought you would do. I absolutely liked the extras we have about people interacting with Bryony herself, even though it could be unnecessary, but it somehow became a must in all the life occurrences. And the unique idea of Bryony being a ghostwriter is so good I can't stop from liking her less because it's somehow illegal. And Jack, I had this "dmn fox make himself appear" kind of vibe from him. He's smart, knows what he's doing, and is unapologetic about it. He is like the most calculated and opportunistic most of the time but somehow forgot the name of the woman he was dating because he doesn't care that much about the purposes, only that the said woman has a good writing style and can make the company rich.  Honestly, the characters in the story are everything. I liked Byrony even with her clumsiness or sometimes naive projection, but it was a bonus when she admitted she did stalk Jack on social media, but it wasn't because of awe or anything else, it's just because it's a normal thing people do, and I like the story wasn't like the typical I fall In a love kind of way, Byrony and Jack have a solid two years behind their understanding of each other. That means a mature and acceptable reason to like someone, and it was a bonus for the book. I especially liked that Jack didn't hide the fox traits, and Byrony knows why, and when Jack tried to smother her with sugar-coated words about Jack being smart, it really made it sound more thumbs up, and the fact that it shows he is smart and not like most romance books, actively brooding and dark themes, but the kind of I'm smart enough to know what to tell and what to do red flag, and it's like you have to know in relation with these people that everything is a really major step.  I liked the book. The humor, even the dark ones, the feeling, and the rumbling of unsaid words are all I can say because I really liked the books and hope everyone gives this one a chance. The uniqueness of this is also a bonus, which makes me give it a solid 5, but there might not be spice in it that much, but I say the plot and development are on point of 4. I highly recommend it for a good holiday time to read this so you can enjoy it better. I received a complimentary ARC of this book.

📖 The Perfect Rom-Com 🌬 Author: Melissa Ferguson 🫧Genres: #romance 🌝Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💻Development: 🧑‍💻🧑‍💻🧑‍💻🧑‍💻

If anyone reads book one, they already know who our pretty Aileen is. devastated Aileen because of a miscalculation got pregnant, but despite her afterwards feeling and unwillingness for relationship she loved her daughter as well as all the family (the princess of the family), so for moving forward she throws an offer to her handsome and surprisingly perfect in everything neighbor Dante, "Sleep with me so I could get past my past.". In this book we have family and neighbors of Hitman, awsome sister-in-law, perfect daughter, cool neighbor who would do any ridiculous thing for you and teasing and fun time, and also Dante wouldn't miss the chance to be with the only woman she wants even. To mention a fun part, Nessa, Aileen's daughter, wished for a daddy for Christmas—not any daddy though—the kind who should be named Dante and care about her and Aileen like they were queens. Note that when reading this book, don't drink or eat anything dangerous because there is a possibility of spouting your drink or food stuck in your throat. For example, the first attempt was simple: Aileen went to visit Dante and suddenly said, "You should sleep with me." Imagine how straight forward it was, and again, imagine a guy pining on someone for so long and don't dare to say it because he's afraid he would lose the friendship, coming at him and saying, "Sleep with me.". The guy stunned speechless, and let me say we have a few of these scenes, so yeah, fun times. The story is also 2nd person pov, and all the neighborhood is former hitman or hitman, all protective of Aileen and her daughter, again fun times because all of them were okay with Dante and Aileen being together and mostly wonder why they haven't done it sooner. Also, Nessa is MVP for, from the start, stating Dante should be her father. The book is fast pace, and I mean really fast pace; no drama involved, and even the little actions in the book were so out of things; no hitman actions involved, and some man in mission part in the book actually looked like a movie acting. It's funny how it could look so ridiculous and amusing at the same time because instead of adding some cool action movies in there, it was kind of like a fun play, and it didn't even count. The Mc and fmc got together like super fast, and it was all free zone, as if I was in a hurry to end the book, no need for anything else, and so the book is a short one. The only added bonus is the funny things that happen during Christmas time.  I rate the book 2 but funny jokes 4. I read the books and liked it because it was the right recipe for a safe book, the kind you like to read after an unsatisfying book or some annoying romance. This one is purely for happy and good moments; it stays for a smile and a happy laugh, and I recommend it BIG time, even only for a small smile or chillax moments, which we all deserve. I received a complimentary ARC of this book.

📖 A Very Merry Hitman (Holiday With a Hitman Book 2) 🌬 Author: Katie Reus 🫧Genres: #romance 🌝Rating: ⭐️⭐️ 🕺Fun: 🕺🕺🕺🕺

I rate the book 4 and development 4. It was good, and I mean it, Elena deserves everything, and Atlas can be a real "I can't have enough of him" guy, except despite it being romance. I couldn't forget how real I feel about both of them; their character wasn't made of cliché occurrences; it was a real situation when I could see how it made them develop and why it was romance. I couldn't forget how real I feel about both of them; their character wasn't made of cliché occurrences; it was a real situation when I could see how it made them develop and why it is like this. It wasn't exaggerating when they talk about what happened to them; they didn't overreact about it. It was actually what it is if something the same happened to real people, and it made me just a little sour when I realized despite it being romance and being a happy place, I actually felt a lot of empathy. But overall, it was a super good book, and I definitely recommend it.

This is a dark romance book where there is an Ukrainian girl named Elena who moves to America for the sole reason of marrying a famous author. Elena was infatuated with moving out of Ukraine, and she was thrilled when Lorne, who was a tourist, met her and supposedly fell in love and asked for marriage with her. She accepted without much thought, traveled to Grimstone in America, met Atlas Covett, the hotel owner, and started to think maybe Lorne wasn't the right choice, but everything escalated when Lorne showed a toxic trait that was really wrong. It made everything more gruesome when Lorne actually did that worst trait on Elena and made her certain to cancel the engagement and leave Lorne, but the prick again did some unthinkable thing, which is unforgivable. But in all those toxic moments, Elena had Atlas, who finally saved her. This is a dual perspective of Elena Zelenska and Atlas Covett, which indicates our ML is Atlas. The story starts with a normal pace; everything seems fine, but from the start there is this abnormality: "Why would someone from America propose to some foreigner whom he only met a few times and talked so little with?" It all sounds suspicious, and it should be. Elena is a Ukrainian girl who suddenly participated in some gathering for finding a partner but met Lorne, and despite her alarms, she thought Lorne was a ticket to leave Ukraine. She accepted despite the fact that she doesn't love Lorne one bit. Though she liked Atlas and felt safe and good when she was with him. And Lorne, everything seemed off about him from the start. He has a daughter, Ivy, and there is this disdain when he talks about her, and you see that it's all sounding so wrong. He's creepy, and despite the mention of him being handsome, all the things got blurred when he acted and talked that way. It didn't give one bit of the right vibe for ML, but Atlas—I don't know why—the mention of his height and attractiveness is something. Lorne is good-looking, blue-eyed, tall, and the kind of guy who workouts enough to build something good, but Atlas is something else. It's described as a fark eyes and super tall guy, technically 7 feet and so. One tall herself, that is so. Bonus thing, not to mention his charismatic character and manner, he's like Monarch, actually, and you can't even argue with that. In my opinion, I think the book is good—the pace, the added touch of mystery, the suspense—because even though you can guess something, you wouldn't have it unless author validation. It's not predictable at the same time as predictable. It's kind of like a paradox in there, and it may be annoying, but the characters traits and how they behave can really outshine them anytime. I say even though Atlas's POVs were less than Elena's, I enjoyed that little of it, especially how in control he is. It's like a big mountain, behind you and echoing, "I'm here, and everything is in control when I'm here." Elena is a little bit too heroine; she acts unsure and wants to go accordingly to what Lorne says, and it pisses me off, especially when she's not the thing Lorne wants her to be, and she cares about LVY like a real mother, added heroine hormone, and her development was from listening to what he says to want nothing to do with him. I know this is confusing, but from the start she has a right instinct. She actually felt right about the situation, and she wasn't stupid at all, but the author decided that her being unsure would make things amusing because in the book she sees and feels when something is wrong or off, but again, like some heroine she walks in to trap. But again, I feel like I like her a lot, actually.

📖 Monarch 🌬 Author: Sophie Lark 🫧Genres: #dark #romance 🌝Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 📝Development: 🚀🚀🚀🚀

This is a complete story of the "I ruined her life, and now I want her" story. It's pucked up to some level. Calista was a former princess meant to be a queen in scorpion valley, but the kingdom goes conquered by a person known as the Death King because he could raise the dead, and in the middle of her scape she got imprisoned, sent to Arid sand to dig sand so she could find the black crystal for the said Death King, got molested to the end (all the steps were done), and got manipulated. The said king suddenly saw her talking to his dragon, got intrigued, imprisoned her, but pretended to give her a choice. Seduced her in the most unfair situation because the guy is a catch, and then the story continues as secrets unfold like their story, and... Calista admits Talon is smoking hot but can't consider him because he ruined her kingdom and future and innocence, and... Talon, after training her to be bound with a dragon and create a good army for his purpose and also serving him, found out the secret Calista refused to tell, and that was why she hated her. The story is pucked up. There is no way you couldn't feel that, especially when everything seems justified when it shouldn't be. Talon wasn't the dictator, ruthless authoritarian, and a guy without any morals, as Khazmuda said he is (he is all those things now, he's black), but everything that happened to him makes everything sound legit, and you can't really criticize him, though he did the actual thing to Calista that they've done to him. and Calista raises a glass to her for being badass enough to deny him, for how brave she is to think riding a dragon is like riding a horse (sit on the saddle and kick it). disobey Talon despite his threats of killing her (he would totally have done that; the author didn't bluff), but somehow he has a little softer edge towards her because he thinks there are similarities between them. The story was narrated in dual pov. I honestly didn't enjoy the FMC voice because it was quivering and seemed like a deep hurt lingering all the time, but the statement didn't match. Calista was fierce, unyielding, and brave, with the thought of a queen because she was raised to be one; she mostly fought and wasn't at all a coward or a rose petal, as the narrator described, and it was contrasting because, like this, she swears at someone, and it was with a delicate and shuddering voice. Calista was literally fighting and showing how cool she is, and you hear the sound like don't heart me tone. It was heroic with the wrong voice display. but pat the shoulder of Mc voice Talon matched like super cool, and with the additional of khazmuda banter with Talon, the voice actor actually did the best. Yep, the Khazmuda is a Mighty Dragon, and he is an MVP if you ask me. Please read even for this mighty black dragon, because I think it's worth it. He's likeable with the hint of a thing you can't resist. I say the tease is everything. I say I rate the book 4. I liked Talon and Khazmuda voice actors, and 3 isn't justified because I know it's an effort not everyone would put in. I appreciate the rise and fall of this and really like the hype I get. It's true it has some triggers that could make things complicated, but if you ask me, it could be ignored because the story is in another vibe and the triggers seem insignificant or completely unnecessary. I think the author just wanted to add them to make things more heated, but still, they are triggers, so please consider them, though there aren't actual graphics of them. And there we have Khazmuda, who is really worth the time to read it. He's thoughts are dragons described even about partnering. I received a complimentary ARC of this book.

📖 The Death King (Death Series Book 1) 🌬 Author: Penelope Barsetti 🫧Genres: #fantasy #paranormal 🌝Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 📝Story: 📖📖📖

So this is a prequel thing like from the Dragon King series, so if you don't know what I'm talking about, first read that. We are here to introduce you to Kora, a stubborn lady (hellhound) who miraculously survived because her cousin, uncle, and brother made a way for her so she wouldn't die, and her purpose is to get stronger enough to kill Villette. Derek , Handsome, calm, "I'm badass," a woman swoons behind me and says, "You can share my bed," with a straight face, and no one can keep up with me, guy. So he's a dragon, a powerful one that could be considered fetal to star people, but somehow (read books if you want to find out) his memories got tampered with. He now lives in a swamp and thinks Villette, the witch with B, is helping him to save the dragons from enslavement. She jokes on him about Villette using him to enslave dragons, so when he sees Kora dead, undead herself, he is intrigued by what she is, gets a good night sleep with her, and after some talks decides to help Kora enter the Stanmore so he could tag her to get to know her better and save her or some emotional setting. That's when the actual story reveals itself. Some scars bleed again when Kora finds the reason for her family's death, Derek, who got manipulated, but let me introduce you to the insane cliffhanger. Do you know Villette, who has a sister, and that certain sugar honey ice tea is the main reason why Villette has done all those ruthless things because they were planning with each other, and she is one level higher than Villette to the point where you can give the Crown of Witch with B to her? I absolutely adore this book, it's from third pov and some from Kora perspective some from Derek, there is no way without the characters telling you can guess what they are, everything were playing like a good music in motion and considering the 8 books of dragon king series, building an image from Villette, I never expected the oncoming, there is a lots of mixed feeling when you know sure dragons did sth but they all just trying to save themselves and how humans despite being the weakest could be worst beings, some hidden truths a bout a corrupted city Villette built and use the enslaved dragons to do heinous deeds and then pretend to care a bout people to where in Stanmore, people live the worst . It's all described so well that I can actually imagine the situation and also the vibe, and there's no way you can ignore two different people acting coy and interested in each other's vibe. I feel sometimes unfair. Why two arrogant and tedious people just won't leave other beings alone? It really makes me want to see the worst torture for them, and just death won't satisfy because Villette and her sister deserve something ugly, like their nature. There is a part where Kora is entrusting, and when she decided to get some help, it turned out to be the most wrong choices, Derek torture, and the fact that all happens because we thought wrong is really hit, and I shall say good job, I felt everything. Kora tried to kill Villette, and hating dragons turned to wanting to save them, and the first one is in danger of not remembering her, and it's critical, but honestly, I like her stubborn attitude to never back down; it deserves applause if only she never trusted the wrongs. I rate the book 4.5 and the adventure 4.5 too. I can't decide 5 because I need book 2 and therefore the final book on Dragon King. My expectations got really high by this rate, and I say it's worth while; no regret even with the cliffhanger. This book contains lots of information that is considered a spoiler more than the reviewer offers. I received a complimentary ARC of this book.

📖 The Bastard King (The Bastard Duology Book 1) 🌬 Author: Donna Grant 🫧Genres: #fantasy #paranormal 🌝Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 🏹Adventure: ⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️🗡

This story is about Lucy and Jax. Lucy is a physiotherapist for kids with disabilities, and Jax was a football player who got retired recently and moved to his hometown so he could open a camp for the kids who are dealing with disabilities. The idea hit Jax for various reasons, like the sense of guilt because of what happened to Ty, his best friend, and Lucy's brother due to an accident, and also because of a PR situation where some attention-crazed girl took a picture of him and his teammate at the afterparty of a win. Sure, he has some years to go and play, but he's home sick and wants the stability of it, so when it was ever put in place, he decided to buy land and work on his retirement plan. Lucy recently found the BF she meant to marry cheated on her and was single. She is a pediatric physiotherapist, and it has something to do with her brother Ty injury, which she believes was Jax's fault. She hated him to the bone even more than her cheating ex, but we will see in the story how it changed. So this is a slice of life story in the small town and the "you have no choice but dealing with me" situation. Lucy hates Jax because she believes it was his fault that Ty was injured to the point where he could have died but, by luck, survived, though it wasn't entirely Jax's fault. Ty and Jax were best friends since kindergarten and played football since they were kids, and they had a dream to make it to the NFL, but the accident left Ty nearly disabled, but Ty never considered Jax responsible for it, and they still stayed friends. There is a lot of hostility from Lucy toward Jax, and it's kind of understandable when you see how close they are in the book. On the other hand, Jax, also bothered by the feeling of guilt, made a decision to buy land in his hometown so he could do something for the kids with problems, so he could feel better. He has no idea that Lucy still hung on the accident like he is, and that's kind of turning into the hate to companion to lover" trope since Lucy only claims to do anything in the book because of Ty and the kids. It's a dual pov of Lucy and Jax. The author's description of the book is high-low pace, it's like Lucy's hatred was explained and sure it's valid, but her feeling on many occasions seems like relaxing and easy. It's like every raise of emotions only directs at Jax. and we have Jax. Who is like, "They told me it's a bad idea, but I'm a captain of my own ship" guy? He did try to explain the situation to Lucy and ease the hostility, and there are moments when you feel like "the guy needs a break," but somehow it also makes it hard to emphasize with him since every time he only decides to act on his own accord, and sometimes it goes to the left side. But sure, the relationship is hard earned, and I think the overall is good. It's not hard earned of the "knight in shining armor or villain sacrifice" earned; it's a kind where characters try to see other than their own selves and feelings and are "I need to be patient". I rate the book 3 and the development also 3. I say the point where every character tries to deal with his own issues and consider the future is really hit. I have this easy time when I enjoy Lucy or Jax making some decisions, which is critical, but they act so calm it's looked like easy. This book is surely a good choice for those who need a slice of life that looked boring but is full of events. I received a complimentary ARC of this book.

📖 Undeniable Love (Wylder Love #3) 🌬 Author: Samantha Chase 🫧Genres: #romance #sports 🌝Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💃Vibe: 👯‍♀️👯‍♀️👯‍♀️

The story is about Morgen from the Vengence. The Vengence is a pirate ship owned by former captain Ann_Marie, who was a French lady before being a pirate. Before her death by some plot from the story, Ann_Marie told Morgen that she wasn't her mother but actually her aunt, and Morgen found some so-called secret letter in Ann Marie's possession, which resulted in her deciding she wanted to go Morgen found some so-called secret letter in Ann Marie's possession, which resulted in her deciding she wanted to go and reunite with her mother despite Ann Marie warning that her mother was a monster, and we actually talk about real monsters. The book is fantasy as well. So we have the story of pirates, shapeshifters, vampires, and monsters. At first, when you start the book, you wouldn't really feel the fantasy atmosphere because the author did use some authentic reality in the book, like Ann_Marie being an actual female pirate and the famous pirate ship "Queen of Vengence" owned by French pirate Jaques, but the difference is that the story of these two figures was completely different since Jaques, the actual captain, was never Ann_Marie quartermaster. I shall say there is this vivid picture of nobility and the atmosphere before the France revolution, when the nobels were corrupted and vowed. I say it's really a good distraction for the purpose of not guessing the fantasy part, especially when it's mentioned that Morgen's mother is a monster but you don't know it's platonic or... The story is third-person and describes only Morgen's situation and feelings. Also, there is this little romance involved with Morgen and Lisette, who are supposed to be Morgen's companions when the plot ends with her meeting her father. I also feel good when everything is described in order that won't annoy you and you expected it, so overall it's a good book. I say, there is this thought of democracy mindset that Morgen has, and the story explains it's because she was raised in pirate care that she has this courage and freedom call because France is still in tight holds of useless Nobels, and there is the part where she says her thoughts are straightforward that the nobels and king and...are all trash and etc., and you see a part where she subtly acts feminism: "Women aren't just pretty dolls, and they also can do anything, especially holding weapons and lead.". I rate the book 3 and plot 3.5. There is no actual spice, it's plot and adventure adrenaline, which if you like the pirates of Caribbean movies, you will surely enjoy. I like the main point of the "I'm a pirate and stay pirate, and I like that it's sure fantasy but holds some truth about pirates being part of a community once. especially when the author used the actual name of some old story. It's kind of funny and adventurous as well. I received a complimentary ARC of this book.

📖 The Vengeance (The Vampires of Dumas) 🌬 Author: Emma Newman 🫧Genres: #fantasy #vampire #horror 🌝Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🏹Adventure: ⚔️⚔️⚔️🗡

The author's writing is third pov, but from the characters perspective, and the roundup is valid; it somehow explains each situation. In the first book, but it's really necessary that this state continues in the next book as well, because there are things that were never answered. The book deserves 4, but if the next book in the series doesn't meet the expectations the book 1 built, the story will be less than 2, so we need the story to finish. I rate Spice 2 because I feel more sad and exasperated for how Aelia's life goes on. I wasn't in a mode to appreciate love, since Caiden in the book, with his scumbag attitude and the false love Gideon gave her to lead her to her demise, really felt "the girl is alone; no one cared about her." Even her so-called friend Amolia, knowing she got poisoned, shrugged her shoulders and said, "I should have given you this," and here is Aelia being less on edge because of her😑. In all, only my man Tharan treats my girl Aelia like the queen she is, so let's wait at least the final round and see who Aelia ends up with, nah? I received a complimentary ARC of this book.

The story of Aelia, the former princess, married to an evil lord named Gideon, who tortured her crazy to the point where Aelia is collapsing. He let his subordinates hurt Aelia to the point of creating truma, and so when after some time her lover Caiden found her, she was too broken to acknowledge her love for Caiden, so she told him she never loved him ever. But after 5 years, Aelia's kingdom collapsed, all the courts were divided, and she escaped from Gideon's clutches to be a mercenary and used her telepathy to erase memories until Caiden found her and told her he found Baylis in Gideon's grasp, and due to Caiden's oath to protect the sisters, he needs help to save Baylis. In the meantime, there is super cool King Tharan, who you will be delighted to know will become Aelia's partner, and he will also save Bylis (sort of). The story is happening in some fantasy world where magus (people with some sort of specialty like power) and humans counside and live with each other. TBH, I really feel perplexed because the story says the book has similarities with Acotar, so I think the possibility is Gideon and Aelia are endgame, but the more I read, the more I understand Gideon is a really first tire A hole. First he torture Aelia to the point she can't act normal, her truma made her to have horrible reflexes in night so she shall smoke some powder to survive , he disfigured the girl and also make his people humiliate and hurt her as well to the point where she thought she is a monster ,then there is Caiden who only performs a clean lover with outmost love but got me pissed of cause from the start he only would kiss and console Amelia by " I love you but I have no choice , you should go but remember I love you" 😑 I technically thought kill this guy , he's poisoning the atmosphere,  he even has the decency to marry someone else because Aelia said I never loved you , man what about your last affection , and she already proved how she loved you at least pretend you wanna fight for your love but no he didn't and when he saw Aelia he only could say " I don't hate you" 😑 this guy is scumbag,  don't liked him from start and I thanked Author for not ending him up in Aelia bed cause the guy wore his wedding ring in front of Aelia and said I loved you I don't hate you ! It's a mix-signal total waste of emotions. And there is the most awesome guy, Tharan. Honestly, honestly, I want him to end the game even though Gideon gives a mixed vibe, but no matter what, I think he is out, and based on the plot, it seems Thran is the end game. And Baylis, the story is the scum. Caiden, instead of protecting the sisters, sends the poor girl to the forest, not trying to look after her, but due to some plot🙄, suddenly he went to rescue her and ask for Aelia. The book resolves mostly on how the rescue operations work and some tragedy reminders of Aelia. In the end, they saved her, but let me give this one spoiler: Baylis isn't the sweet little sister she used to be; she got seduced by Gideon and worked with him to do something. Wait for the next book.

📖 A Curse of Breath and Blood (The Mind Breaker Book 1) 🌬 Author: K.W. Foster 🫧Genres: #fantsy #romance 🌚Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🤤Spicy: 🌶🌶

Spoil Alert: the gods would kill Miche and tear her apart, like the thing they do to Alarus, Nyaxia's husband, and it seems like Asar is also going to take his revenge a little intense. I received a complimentary ARC of this book.

Mische Iliae was a little girl when she was chosen one by the god of sun and light, Atroxus. After years of devotion, she was sent to Obitraes to spread the light but turned into a vampire by the shadowborn heir Malach. The story of the book starts when Egertta, Malach's sister, for boot-licking her father, tries to trap Mische to offer her as a spy and the killer of the heir but doesn't succeed because Asar, the wraith warden, says he needs her for a dangerous mission. Resurrecting Alarus, the god of death, and Nyaxia's husband because she still has a little light Atroxus has given her, even though every time she uses that, the hideous scar will form on her arm. Why? Because among the six people who killed him, Atroxus was there, and he was the one who scattered Alarus and sealed him by his power. So the book is about a poor girl who is naive enough to fall in love with a guy as a god and devote herself to him to be turned down when she technically lost everything, including her humanity, and the called guy has the audacity to call her after 50 years of not talking to send her to another impossible mission because he's too chicken to face the guy he killed and afraid the mentioned dead guy would comeback at him tenfold. The story is third-person, and the author did a good job to picture a complete mess of how naivety works. It's actually mostly about a community with some immortal beings like vampires, gods, and humans; the gods community acts superior and is kind of jerkish, because even in the first time Atroxus will say, "The people who come to sacrifice and devote themselves are mostly high in standard, too beautiful, too capable, too..." and also these gods have the tendency to discard their chosen ones whenever they like, because, why not? The dark followers were most likely the other side, which followed Nyaxia. After the so-called gods killed Alarus, who apparently was Nyaxia's husband, she became mad and started a new kingdom to prepare herself both for resurrecting her husband and getting revenge on those gods. Honestly, my thoughts was the poor girl fall in love with a two faced jerk who act like " À mara , you know I loved you but you turn your back on me by becoming a wretched vampire , we can't no longer be with each other but because you love me sooo much go and kill that guy who I killed before cause if he come back to life he will slap , smack me" seriously , and also if people read historical ,there is that version where priestess even would marry themselves to God cause they are a devoted believers, so it helps that Atroxus can show himself as human form and enjoy the act of devoting body and soul wich mische has done when she was 16, yes she technically married to Atroxus and she loves him . So to some point you want to slap Michael and tell her to wake up, but everything gets more tolerable when Asar comes to view. There is this feeling that some guys aren't only beauty, and Asar, unlike Atroxus, is this definition. Atroxus is beautiful and gentle and warm, and all those compliments for a pretty guy, but Asar is oozing power and knowledge. He wasn't technically beautiful because he also has ugly scars all over himself, which fade his handsomeness, but the fact that he is different could be felt all over the book. I rate the book 3.75. The book can be predictable but also keeps you on edge. The author has done a good job of imagining the atmosphere, but sometimes you get confused because if you haven't read the other book, you might not know why some thing happens, like why Mische killed Malach. The ending also makes you expectant for the next book of series, and I also think the near-end outcome was a bit exiting because you know you can't kill the main guy and expect nothing, so I like the general. I also liked some aspects of showing emotions that weren't subtle at all but could be felt all over; it's a solid writing skill to portray different meanings without confusion. Except spice, let's say the adventure lever is 4, so I hope you enjoy it.