Bride
By: Ali Hazelwood
Format: Kindle
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
**My review below may contain spoilers.**
Good Reads Summary
A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.
Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again…
Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….
Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she’s ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.
Positives:
Negatives:
- Relationships: There were so many great relationships in this book. First, Misery and Lowe started in an arranged, political marriage, but the way that their relationship developed was **chef’s kiss**. I also loved the relationship between Lowe and his little sister, Ana, as well as Misery’s relationship with Ana. Nothing like when a 7 year old worms her way into a cold heart. The friendship between Serena and Misery was heartwarming. I love reading about a strong female friendship. Lastly, Lowe and Koen also had a great friendship.
- Plot Twists: There were some great plot twists in this book. I felt like it kept me hanging on every word just to see what would happen next. The last few chapters had me completely enthralled and on the edge of my seat waiting to see how everything would play out.
- World Building: The description of the three species (Weres, Vampyres, and Humans) and the dynamics between each was very well done. It was easy to understand and picture.
- Knotting…: Oh boy I could have done without this. The relationship between Lowe and Misery was interspecies (Were and Vampyre) and I think that including this in their spicy scenes was a bit cringey and didn’t add anything to the romance. Luckily it didn’t come into play until the end of the book.
- Lackluster Character Development: I didn’t find myself getting attached to any of the characters. I feel like some of them were starting to get development, but even Lowe and Misery left me wanting more. Misery had a rough upbringing, a terrible dad, and is lacking in her knowledge of her Vampyre culture, but other than that I don’t really know much about her. Lowe was better, but I didn’t really find myself invested in him either. The side characters had next to nothing in terms of development, so I didn’t care what happened to them either. The only one I found myself invested in was Ana.
Review Synopsis
I devoured this book. I had a hard time putting it down because the twists kept twisting and the chapters would end on mini cliffhangers. The slow burn, enemies to lovers, arranged marriage between Lowe and Misery was great to read and I found myself invested in their love story. There were lots of fun side characters that I would have really loved to have known more about (maybe a sequel???). Misery showed growth and I would like to know how she really develops and comes into her own as a result of the ending (don’t want to spoil it!).
Below is an affiliate link to Amazon if you are interested in reading Bride, leave a comment to let me know what you think if you give them a try!
Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3Rv063p