From the first chapter, this book is spicy, given that it starts during an orgy. And it does not stop until the end of the book. There is a very interesting plot that is mixed into the interludes of erotica, But I think that it, unfortunately, takes a strong back seat to the relationship drama that goes on between Lucien and Phobe. The communication gaffs just took up too many parts of this book for me. And there were a lot of times that Lucien's possessive mate nature came off far more offputting than sexy.

Also, the book brings up a lot of BDSM and Kink talk but has...none. There is a little bit of perhaps dominance and submission. But the sex is all pretty standard stuff, even when it's supposed to be extra spicy it really misses the mark.

I was a bit unsure with this one to begin with, opening a book with an orgy is a bold choice! Overall I quite enjoyed this, the main characters were likeable (as were the side characters) and the romance was good. There was a little bit of world building which piqued my interest and actually I could have done with more of that. I wasn't too fussed by the copious amount of flashbacks and at time the pacing was a bit slow. The end hints at the possibility of a book about one of the other characters which, if there is, i would definitely read.


Thank you to the publisher who provided a copy in exchange for an honest review

The description is actually pretty accurate and, combined with a sweet title and an intriguing cover, is bound to attract anyone who loves paranormal romance with a fair bit of spice. The beginning of the book (an orgy party for bored immortals in a secret fairy realm) had me checking for the book category-yep, erotica was listed among them, so, fair enough...This is the place where our protagonist King Lucien meets his fated mate Phoebe without realising it-of course, where would be fun in that? Once he is clued in by his loyal friend Erik, Lucien hunts high and low to find his enchantress, who happens to be on the run from the Witch Council.

These parts of the book were quite fast-paced and there was subtle humour, which I absolutely adored. Then there's also the issue of chemistry, which is truly abundant between the two protagonists. At times I thought it was almost as if it is two stories- one of unexpected, powerful, all-encompassing attraction and sexual fulfiment, which is really well-done (again refering you to the book category), and the paranormal storyline of a witch with a bounty on her head who needs to find her stolen grimoirs and discover her real origins, and a bored vampire king.

Phoebe's story had a lot more developments in it, although there is a cliffhanger at the end which promises more of Lucien's story as well. The pace was a bit uneven. I was hooked at the beginning and in the first third of the book and then the pace slowed down considerably. Things picked up and there was more action in the final third .

This is a double POV book with lovely icons to show whose narration we are following. There are also some flashbacks from Phoebe's past that give us a glimpse into her complex story. This way we are getting a good insight into Phoebe and Lucien's personalities- talk about sunshine and grumpy- and also see what exactly they are not telling each other, wittingly or unwittingly.

I did enjoy the fantasy world created by the author and would like to read the continuation of the story. Can't wait to find out more about Erik who was one of the most likeable characters in the first book.

This is the first book in the series, and I had trouble getting into it. A personal challenge for me, as I'm not a fan of stories with the FC as a witch (I do not know why). It is only until Lucien encounters Phoebe at one of these "sex parties" that Lucien is not interested in the "play" that is taking on. But then Phoebe enters into the room. The rules Phoebe has followed for so long have kept her alive, and she doesn't want to break them. This was a decent read that was difficult to get into.
**I was given this arc for a honest rear from net galley**

A solid paranormal romance full of magic, danger, and spice. The chemistry between the two main characters was fairly typical to me, however. I would have liked to feel the love more than lust.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked that the female main character was a strong fighter and had a quick wit. The banter between the main couple was fun and the sex scenes were good and steamy. I will definitely read anything else this author puts out and I am excited to read the next book in this series.

Pulls you in from the shocking opening. Loved the fantasy world created by Jeanette. Thinking perhaps we will have not seen all there is of this world will be looking for more from this author. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

thank you net galley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

this book was low key a banger i would recommend if you are missing the ACOTAR world

This novel was far more detailed than I expected and I'm so pleased about it. I enjoy reading about the different mythical creatures and how they fit together (or apart). It is a series I would very much like to follow. This book's main characters were interesting. I liked Phoebe's strength, and appreciated Lucien's determination to keep her. My only critique is the amount of inner dialogue, especially when characters were conversing. There also could have been a bit more talking, even if not between the main couple. The inner 'monologues' aside, the story is rich and I'd like to read more.

I LOVED this book. Such a great story and the cliffhanger has me so excited to read what’s next. Phoebe is so strong and just as stubborn. The only reason I went with 4 stars is because I felt some parts of the story were slightly rushed. The Regina bloodline is so important, but it felt like it wasn’t given enough detail. I can’t wai5 to read what comes next. Excellent start.

This was such a fun read! I’m from the Twilight Generation so am always looking for more adult vampire fiction (now that I’m not 12 and to fill the hole that twilight left by giving us like a KISS IN ALL 4 BOOKS) and this did not disappoint! (This is not comparable to twilight that is just where my vampire love came from pls don’t judge) It was an easy to read, quick vampire romance, which I am a slut for. There was a good level of spice in it with steamy foreplay which is usually my favourite part of spicy scenes 💀I LOVE books with strong female leads so I was please, this book also had other things I LOVE such as forced proximity, fated mates and not necessarily enemies to lovers but there is a lack of trust in the beginning, Lucien and Pheobe are very likeable characters with good growth throughout the story. Very happy I got to read this!

n e-ARC was provided by the author/publisher but all thoughts and opinions remain my own.

+writing style reminded me of Mary E Pearson (reminent chronicles/dance of thieves)-world emersive and descriptive
+unique characters and plot - Originals (vampire diaries spin off) meets Sabrina the teenage witch (Netflix version but not with a teenager)
+strong heroine
+characters were not perfect but grew as book progressed
+I like any alpha male who falls for a strength of the heroine
+great new series of stand-alones - I like how Eric was introduced to lead to the next stand alone
+medium spice- even with the opening being an orgy- there is great passion/lust but nothing too over the top wild


Posted on goodreads

So this is more of a 3.7 star kind of rating than a full 4. I thoroughly enjoyed it overall, though the ending felt a bit rushed and I feel like there were dramatic moments that were pushed simply because of lack of communication. Lack of trust was the issue for both Phoebe and Lucien, and that was fed from previous negative experiences on both of their parts, so I get it, but if they would have talked just a tiny bit more, most of what occurred could have been at least mostly avoided.
I’m curious to see if and how the ending is tied up in the next book. The ominous mentioning of Lucien’s father, and what happened to Alaric are all ends that I need tied up pronto.
As far as smut goes, it’s decent. I think it’s much better in the beginning and middle of the book, where it’s pretty much a bunch of foreplay. There’s all this buildup to them having actual penis in vagina sex and Lucien “claiming” Phoebe, but the scene itself was a little lackluster. All scenes prior were way better, in my opinion.

That being said, if I’m in the mood for an easy vampire romance with a fated mates trope, I’ll pick it up again. I liked it.

ALMOST FORGOT, I need a book where Erik, (Lycan King,) finds his mate. I need that overgrown chia pet to find love desperately. He actually might be my favorite character in the book, (outside of maybe Cassandra, the only character who seems to fully use her brain, despite being a bit insane because seeing the future apparently drives you mad.)

4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/5🌶🌶🌶
Book Troupes
* paranormal romance
* forced proximity
* pinning
* fated mates
* cliff hanger

Phoebe is on the run from persecution and after a decade of running, she has made a few rules for herself. Rule number one: trust no one, not even the insanely hot vampire that she had a night of passion with. After a night of passion with a beautiful enchantress Lucien Silvano the vampire king realizes he let his fated mate slip from his fingers. Going on the hunt to find his fated mate may be hard but convincing the stubborn woman that he can protect her from her demons may be the most challenging battle that he has ever faced. But with the demons of the past coming back to bite Phoebe in the ass, will she allow herself to fall for the vampire king and enlist his help?

What I liked
I loved that in the story we got flashbacks from Phoebe's past. It really created a sense of suspense around this life-changing event she went through. I liked Phoebe's character and that she was strong with her powers, but also just strong mentally. I felt like even though she is on the run and had all of these tragedies that happened in her past she still found a way to prevail. Lucien and Phoebe's relationship was so cute 😍 and I loved that Lucian fell for her first and was trying to convince her that he would be there for her. Also, I liked that Lucian's character wasn’t just a possessive vampire king, we got to see different sides of him. My favorite side of Lucian was seeing him vulnerable and his fear that Phoebe would leave him because his character didn’t seem one-sided. Also, the spice scenes were sooooo good😮‍💨😮‍💨 . Even though they waited to actually have sex I liked that they would do other things and try different positions and they had such great sexual tension. ALSO LUCIAN'S PET NAME for PHOEBE AND SOOTHING HER WHEN SHE HAD NIGHTMARES JUST MADE MY HEART MELT😭

What I didn't like
There were a few moments in the book that I thought was corny and when they were professing their love for each other I felt like it could have been written a little bit better. I wanted them to go in a little bit deeper on why they love each other.

Phobe and Lucian are mates. Lucian has searched for his mate for 10,000 years. He had given up. He spies Phobe at an immortal orgy. She blew him away. He was hooked, but she disappeared without a trace. Phobe is accused of crimes she did not commit. Her grimoires were stolen by a boyfriend. The witches council is determined to kill her. However, fate has a way of making things happen.

This books is fantastic. It was hard to put it down.

This book gives exactly what it promises! It has all the fun tropes and elements you know and love in a fantasy romance, with a engaging world, fun cast of characters, and classic plot. While it wasn’t incredibly unique, it was a solid start to a series and I’m interested to see how the world and story develops after this book (especially with that cliffhanger). This book has an enjoyable amount of spice. It has some steamy scenes at key moments, but the smut never overshadows the story or character.

This was definitely a character focused story. There was some action at the beginning and end of it, but the bulk of the story was dedicated to the characters growing individually and together. That being said, I read through the book very quickly and never found myself bored or distracted. It was rather predictable, but that’s not always a bad thing. I found the predictable nature made it a very comfortable read because I was never stressed that they wouldn’t work through the conflicts. However, that did take away some of the excitement of the story.

The characters in this book were lovable and compelling. I really enjoyed the relationship of the main love interests. The sweet moments between them were great and I love how Lucien was quickly enamored with Phoebe. I sometimes worry with mate stories that the relationship won’t feel as genuine because it feels forced on the characters, but this book did a good job emphasizing that this was not the case. I especially enjoyed the vampire and witch dynamic of their relationship. Furthermore, the side characters in this story were also a highlight. I am hoping to see more from Tatiana and Cassandra as well as Erik and his werewolf group in later books. I am really hoping we get Erik’s love story next.

One issue I had with this story was that the main characters could be somewhat redundant and obvious about the issues they were working through. The reader is able to grasp where their trauma stemmed from and see how it was impacting them without being explicitly reminded so often. However, I did enjoy how they were able to work through their trauma and grow together as characters.

A small thing I really enjoyed was getting the short snippets of Phoebe’s past at the start of each chapter. I appreciated getting that context without the story getting interrupted by lengthy flashbacks. I thought they were really effective.

This would be great for readers of Elise Kova and Ella Fields. They’re not exactly a match in tone, but the characters and dynamics felt reminiscent of their stories.

This review was also posted on Goodreads and Amazon.

This book dives straight in! You’d be amazed at how an orgy full of immortal beings can very quickly give you an insight into a lead character and the universe they are inhabiting. The first chapter brilliantly introduces us to Lucien our MMC. Needless to say the ‘meet cute’ between Lucien and our FMC – Phoebe – is incredibly steamy. You can viscerally feel the draw/connection between the two of them.

The development of both our lead characters throughout is fantastic. The short snippets of memories featured at the beginning of each of Phoebe’s chapters drip feed us details of the past she is running from, whilst the main bulk of her chapters introduce us to the woman recovering from those mysterious events. She’s intelligent, powerful and real, but she has some substantial weaknesses in her isolation, loneliness and inability to trust. She works hard to maintain these traits, believing them necessary to her survival whilst knowing they bring her no joy.

Lucien begins with a similar loneliness, however his is born of the boredom that comes from living for thousands of years. He’s lacking purpose. Until he finds his mate, although that is of course not quite as straight forward as he was led to believe it would be. Harbouring some intense abandonment and trust issues leaves him and Phoebe at odds with one another early on.

I found the fated mates narrative was explored in a slightly different and more entertaining way to how I have seen it in the past. Although Lucien is overjoyed at finding his mate and the possibility that eternity won’t be quite so bleak anymore. He also finds it almost… annoying? Which I thought was fantastic. In reality being so connected to someone that you fear for their safety and well being constantly when they are away from you, only feeling truly content when they are by your side would be maddening! Particularly if that relationship wasn’t running smoothly and one of you needed space.
As a reader you really felt this ‘hair tearing’ frustration alongside Lucien, partnered with the all consuming love and relief he felt when Phoebe was by his side.

Having a fated mate sounds brilliantly exhausting.

The development of their romantic relationship is both swoon worthy and very steamy. I felt so wrapped up in them that I was desperately hoping for nothing to go wrong, even though I knew something must at some point. The obstacles they faced together and independently felt genuine, as their trust and abandonment issues had been introduced and successfully built upon from page one.

The pacing throughout is fantastic, but It was particularly fantastic during the ‘grand finale’ sequence. I found myself reading quickly, matching the frantic pace of events within the council’s chambers.

The ending was the cherry on top for me. The author successfully wraps up the narrative leaving you content with Phoebe and Lucien’s story, whilst also leaving the world open on a cliffhanger. This cliffhanger has me very excited for the next installment of this universe and so pleased to have discovered this new to me author.

I like to end on quotes that stood out to me for a multitude of reasons. Below are two that stuck with me.

‘Some of the most dangerous words in the English language were: we’ve always done it that way.’

‘Her eyes blazed with anger and pain so poignant I almost fell back a step.’

*****

I’ll be sharing this review to my Storygraph account at the same time as it is shared here on Netgalley.
https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/katierose_reads

And a shortened version, with an illustrated image to my Instagram in the coming months.
https://www.instagram.com/katierose_reads/


Footnote:

I’m not sure if this is the platform for grammatical feedback but there were two lines I noticed in which the person perspective was off. I wanted to mention it just in case the author wanted to change it for future/digital copies – apologies if this is considered rude, I just want to be helpful.

Chapter XV:

‘Even if it was true and I felt protected for the first time in a decade, even if I imagined staying, it gave him a major advantage in their constant battle of wills.’

- I believe ‘their’ should be ‘our.

(Apologies, I didn’t note down the chapter number for this next one)

‘My finger snagged on a black leather-bound tome with silver writing etched on the side, pulling me from her musings.’

- I believe ‘her’ should be ‘my’.

This book just didn’t do it for me, and unfortunately I DNF’d at about 20% in.

It’s written well however I just didn’t feel connected to the characters and the plot.

A fun and spicy read that, once I got into it, I raced through. I enjoyed the backstory and building surrounding this lore. It's a fun read that, if you like vampires and fated mates, you'll love. Do recommend.

Well written vampire story. I enjoyed the world building and characters in this story. I am definitely glad I picked this one up. Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.