"You don’t know anything about what it’s like to find your other half, I would take anything she chose to give me—the tiniest fraction or her entire world. I would take her for a single night knowing that I’ll lose her by morning, and I would hold on to her and never let go. I would take her healthy, or sick, or tired, or angry, or strong, and it would be my fucking privilege. I would take her problems, her gifts, her moods, her passions, her jokes, her body—I would take every last thing, if she chose to give it to me."
Thanks to @penguinrandomhouse for providing me with a finished copy in exchange for an honest review
✩🐺🪢Review:
Hazelwood’s paranormal debut is addictive and all-consuming!
Bride follows Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman, who agrees to uphold a Vampyre-Werewolf alliance by marrying Alpha Lowe Moreland after discovering that her future husband may be linked to her missing friend.
It was really fun to see Hazelwood branch out into the paranormal romance genre! I enjoyed her world-building and thought the history surrounding Vampyres, Werewolf, and human relations was very digestible.
I love how Hazelwood incorporated the mystery of Serena’s disappearance into the storyline. The breadcrumbs sprinkled throughout paired with the novel’s paranormal elements kept me fully engaged and on my toes.
While “Bride” is quintessential Ali Hazelwood with women in STEM, a big male love interest, galaxy apparel, and palpable love for cats, I think that Misery as a female protagonist ultimately sets this book apart from her contemporary romance novels. I found myself laughing out loud at Misery’s sense of humor and really admired her strength and perseverance. Despite all she goes through having been cast out from Vampyre society, she still remains inherently kind and is fiercely protective of her found family.
Lowe and Misery’s development as a couple is well-paced and her slowest burning romance yet! It takes a while for the characters to give into their attraction to each other given that they are supposed to be mortal enemies, but once they do, Hazelwood delivers on the spice! I couldn’t get enough of the caretaking while injured and “that’s my wife” moments as well as the snippets of Lowe’s internal thoughts at the beginning of each chapter!
This book ends with the potential for a sequel and I hope she’ll move forward with it full steam ahead!
Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph
I'm working towards opening a Patreon on the end of the month, the plan for opening is that I will have one page per week of a spicy Elriel comic, and one page of a bonus Bride comic every other week until they are complete.
it's not up yet, but starting May 1st, it will be patreon.com/whatisamettafor
Misery: Get your head out of your ass, Lowe!
Lowe: Is that the way to talk to your Alpha?
Misery: My apologies, Alpha. *curtsies sarcastically*
Lowe: ...
Misery: *looks back up at Lowe* Get your head out of your ass, Alpha!