Atlas and Christian finally get their HEA and it was sooo worth the wait!

This is the third book in the Whitethorn Agency trilogy, so you need to have read the two previous books - Rare Vigilance and Crooked Shadows before you dive in.

Enemies to lovers, vampire/bodyguard romance, twists and turns and double crosses, all manner of paranormal shenanigans, dark themes - I LOVED IT!

All the stars!

Having had his home invaded and narrowly escaping to Romania to find answers, Christian and his lover/bodyguard Atlas are back in the USA to finish what someone else started. With evidence of betrayal and the vampire council ready to convict Christian’s father of crimes he didn’t commit, the two must create their own subterfuge so trick the actual bad buys out into the open.

Well, what a stunning end to a superb series. This third of a three-book series was everything I hoped it would be.

The story is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Christian and Atlas. Much of the worldbuilding has evolved over the previous books. Therefore, Imitate The Dawn focuses on personalities, what drives them, and answers to questions that have been building since the beginning.

The relationship between Christian and Atlas evolves in beautiful ways, becoming equal in private, albeit their public façade is different. Altas is a rock to Christian, which allows the vampire to do what he needs to save his father. As for the more expansive cast, the arcs surrounding some characters made me smile, rage and cry.

Then the plot, and what a plot it is – bringing twists and turns that I couldn’t predict. Everyone gets involved, from leaders to the truly unfortunate featured in book one. I was treated to kick-ass action, disturbed beings, mind games, strigoli origins, and friends and family that would die for one another. And oh damn – the ending!!!!! I’m a happy bunny.

I found the story to be a masterpiece of page-turning writing. I love a book that gives all of my emotions a workout. At times, I couldn’t read quick enough in my eagerness to find out what happened next. From page one to the last page of book three, this is a paranormal series worthy of anyone’s bookshelf.

*Spoilers for previous books in the series*

What an epic conclusion to this fabulous series by M.A. Grant. I was so engrossed in the events of this book from start to finish and it was such an intense ride.

With the bombshell revelations that concluded *Crooked Shadows*, Cristian and Atlas have to come up with some quick plan if they are all to get out of this brewing mess unscathed. Heading back to the US and agreeing to pretend their relationship has gone sour, our two characters have to have all their wits about them as they try and remain a step ahead of the people who have betrayed them. This final book in the *Whitethorn Agency* was fast-paced, full of perilous moments for all our characters and also managed to wrap up all the strands of the series.

I think what I’ve enjoyed the most about this series is Atlas’s arc and how his relationship with Cristian contributed to that development. If the first book was about his reluctant confrontation with everything he had tried to bury, then the second book was about giving in to his feelings and facing fears. In that light, this final book is mainly about acceptance; an acceptance of his love for Cris, his own abilities and skills, the possibility of a future, and also to give Cris whatever he wants even when it goes against every fibre of his being. I loved watching them get even closer, even though they were apart for a distressingly long time in this book, and as always, seeing the dynamics somewhat shifted from the expected norms of a vampire/human romance was really refreshing and so well written.

The ongoing plot of this book was really intricate and also moved fast. It had just the right amount of suspense and intrigue that I love with no shortage of heart-stopping moments not to mention a scene or two where I completely lost my head and panicked. With our wonderful cast of side characters *Imitate the Dawn* was a great wrap-up, both for our MC’s HEA and for the overall arc of the story that began all the way in book 1. A 5-star conclusion to a 5-star series and congrats to MA Grant on wrapping up another one!

CW’s: descriptions of PTSD; anxiety; violence; blood; kidnapping; bodily harm; non-principal-cast death.

Atlas and Christian …. it feels like us took ages for you two to finally find peace. Worth the wait!

This is not a standalone but the three book journey is killer. I can’t seem to write more tho because I don’t want to have a single spoiler.

The third installment of this series!

I've read this book from the beginning, and I was so excited to get the final book of this trilogy! I love the paranormal aspects of this book with the vampires along with the falling for the bodyguard trope, it's just too good!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the earc in return for an honest review.

After two cliff-hanger of an endings, MA Grant’s “Whitethorn Agency” series comes to conclusion in the ultimate showdown in IMITATE THE DAWN. It’s been quite a rollercoaster for our two leading men, Cristian Slava and Atlas Kincaid through all three books roaming New York to Romania then back to New York.

I’ve read Grant’s previous “The Darkest Court” series before and there’s the similar somber, gloom-and-doom, something BAD gonna go down soon the whole time I read the book(s). This author definitely didn’t pull any punches by way of giving our MCs hard times literally and figuratively. Although, with this kind of paranormal thriller I would expect details explored and explained away. It’d be difficult to point out without being spoilery but I would love a bit insight to the enemy camp so to speak.

On the romance front, Cris and Atlas overcome the quandary that was their relationship and - OF COURSE - got their happy ever after. Personally I would recommend this trilogy to be read altogether in one sitting (instead of mixing it with other read) as readers could easily follow the thread and wouldn’t get frustrated of waiting after the blasted cliff-hanger. Heh.

The final installment of this series is high paced, filled with tension, it picks up right where the second book ends with Atlas and Cristian just back from Romania with the Vampire Council at their heels. They now face the task to counter the threat to their home and to save the life of Cristian’s father. The series was filled twists, turns, danger and betrayal and this book did a great job wrapping it up.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC of this book!

Ahhh this was so good - it was absolutely everything I was hoping for! Everything was wrapped up perfectly, and so satisfyingly. Almost all of my questions were answered, and I was very pleased with how things came together and were resolved. I loved everything about this, and am so excited to see what Marion does next (though I certainly will miss Cris and Atlas!).

This had everything that was at times missing in book 2. Great end to the trilogy.

This isn't a series that can be read with any of the books skipped - despite having read them all, I was still a little bit at odds with what was happening in book 2, because of the turns the tale took and the number of new characters who appeared, and the jump to it taking place in Romania. Book 3 picks up seamlessly where book 2 ends, with the leads about to fight for their own on their turf with allies old and new.

It's a satisfying adventure story because the (needed) romantic soppiness was done and out of the way towards the last eighth of book 2, so there were no distractions to ruin the pace of the action, which made it pretty much a perfect read. The leads' bond, new as it was and untested as it was, proved to be their strength, and yes, bonding has been done to death, but AMG managed to keep it fresh and with a little twist that got revealed right at the very end when it appeared that all was about to be doomed in the...light.

Tale 2 dragged a bit for me, and I had to force myself to read a few parts but once the double crossing and who-can-you-trust stuff was out of the way, it made me dive straight into this book, which I read in under 2 hours. I can't see that there's any scope for more tales in this series, which is a pity, as where we leave the leads and their lives, they've sold out in a way, but also not, because they're helping their own, as well as forging a life for themselves, and more would've been good. But nope, it feels like they've done a Harry and a Meghan and this is the end of the line, not that I'm doubting for a moment that AMG will soon have another series out. She may be a newish writer, but it doesn't feel like it.

ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Carina Press, for my reading pleasure.

A great conclusion to this exciting and well plotted series. I had fun, kept turning pages, and was satisfied by the end.
I recommend to read the entire series even if it can be read as a stand alone.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Happy Vampire Season! If you're looking for some queer bloodsuckers for your October TBR, check out M.A. Grant's Whitethorn Agency series. It follows a vampire and his human bodyguard across three books as they fall in love and risk everything to take down villains. There's action, danger, longing, temptation, angst, and everything else I like in a vampire story.

The series is also structured in a cool way. In Rare Vigilance (book one), the story is entirely told from Atlas' POV as he realizes the world he's unknowingly stepped into by accepting this job. It's all about his journey of overcoming past trauma and learning to trust Cristian beyond his initial fear. Then Crooked Shadows (book two) is told from Cristian's POV and we see how much his growing feelings for a human weigh on him and the risk they represent. The final book, Imitate the Dawn, is shown here and it splits the POV between them just as they're able to fully trust and rely on each other. It's so well done!

Hands down my favorite thing about this series is the way that Grant explores the dynamic between bodyguard Atlas Kinkaid and vampire Cristian Slava. So often in these stories, the vampire represents strength and power and is the protector of their fragile human. Grant flips those expectations by having Atlas, a former marine, have skillsets that Cristian's never had to develop and a drive to protect that can't be shaken.

Cristian is also often the one with hearts in his eyes at the most inopportune times, while Atlas is trying to focus on taking down their enemies. It played with so many of my expectations of a human/vampire dynamic in such a satisfying way.

What an explosive ending to an amazing series! I also have to mention that I loved the approach that M.A. Grant took to each book in the Whitethorn Agency trilogy. Although I love stories told by multiple POVs, I also understand when readers are only given a glimpse into the mind of one character. Rare Vigilance was told entirely from Atlas’ POV and it wouldn’t have worked nearly as well if readers had gotten into Cristian’s head too soon. Cristian got his turn throughout most of Crooked Shadows and in Imitate the Dawn, readers got POVs from both Cristian and Atlas.

Imitate the Dawn took up pretty much where Crooked Shadows left off. They had gained some powerful allies, but their enemies seemed to be lurking everywhere. The hardest thing that Cristian and Atlas had to do was stay away from each other, but it seemed to be the only way to end things once and for all. Even though readers, and Atlas, knew what Cristian had to do to gain the trust of the inner circle of their enemies, it was still heartbreaking – for both of them.

There was little or no down time and this one was almost impossible to put down. I don’t want to give anything away, but more than one character got what they deserved by the end of Imitate the Dawn. The ending was satisfying, but also a bit bitter sweet. I know this is the end of the Whitethorn Agency series, but I’m kind of hoping that we haven’t seen the last of Cristian, Atlas and the rest of the amazing supporting characters readers met along the way. ❤

I thoroughly enjoyed this series and this was a great ending. It hooks you into the story from the beginning. I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley, Carina Press, and the author for an eARC of this book.

Alright friends, I cannot say much about this book because it is the last in the series, but I can scream about how much I love this series.

This is one of those series that to read it with my eyes or the audiobook, this series is absolutely amazing and it will be a series that I read over and over again. The finale is no different. I don’t even know what to talk about with this book. I was so nervous for what would happen next for Atlas and Cristian and Grant really gave me exactly what I wanted even though I didn’t know what I wanted.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but I loved how this book answered so many questions that book one and two had. There were difficult moments that were tough to read and I just wanted the boys to be happy, but they did the hard work and the ending was absolutely incredible.

All I can say about this book is that you need to read this series if you like vampires and a bodyguard romance.

Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5

What a thrilling conclusion to this series!

OMG, I loved this book so much. The writing was fantastic and John Solo’s performance of the audiobook greatly enhanced my enjoyment of the story. I loved the many different voices he used for the characters.

Cristian and Atlas face terrifying threats together and separately. Bad guys eventually get what they deserved but not before Cristian and Atlas suffering many injuries. I can’t really say anything without giving away too much. If you like thrilling stories with a lot of action and also a good love story you can’t go wrong with this series.

This series was my first experience reading MA Grant’s writing but it won’t be the last.

A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book. I listened to the audiobook via Hoopla.

Grade: B+/4/5 stars

The action in Imitate the Dawn, book three in M.A. Grant’s Whitethorn Security series, moves from Romania back to the US, where Atlas Kincaid and Cristian Slava need to move fast to counter the threat to their home and to save the life of Cristian’s father, who has been arrested and is being investigated by the Vampire Council. Because the trilogy is, in effect, one story divided into three, it’s essential to have read the previous books in the series before starting this one. It also means there are spoilers in this review.

In book two, Crooked Shadows, Atlas and Cristian fled to Romania following a devastating strigoi attack at the family home in upstate New York, intent on finding out who is creating and controlling the gruesome creatures. In Romania, a bloody coup deposes the ruling vampire family – allies to Decebal Vladislavic (Cristian’s father) – and the he is now suspected by the Council of being responsible for the creation of the strigoi and the attacks which led to the coup. Christian and Atlas are sure that their arch-enemies, the Wharrams (Cristian’s late mother’s family) are involved somehow, and will have to race against time to prove Decebal’s innocence and prevent the Wharrams taking over the Council.

The romance between Atlas and Cristian developed into a lasting bond which has survived everything that has been thrown at them, including betrayal, lies and physical danger, and they’re stronger together than ever. Atlas realises the strigoi were responsible for the attack on his unit years ago from which he emerged as the sole survivor, and as the story progresses, begins to suspect the truth of what happened to him. At the end of a fast-paced and action-packed story where there was peril on all sides and Atlas and Cristian were not always sure who to trust, they were were blindsided by the discovery of a truly terrible betrayal by someone who had been part of Decebal’s inner circle and whom Cristian had regarded as a good friend.

When Imitate the Dawn opens, Cristian, Atlas and their friends Daria and Radu have survived another attack by the strigoi and learned of the overthrow and murder of the territory’s ruling family. Moves are being made to close the borders, so they have to get out quickly – but before they can leave, they’re contacted by the council’s lead investigator who informs them of Decebal’s arrest and of the accusations being made against him, intending to take them in, too. It’s only when, during the ensuing fight, she gets a taste of Cristian’s blood that she can see the truth and realises that she was an unwitting instrument in the council’s machinations and offers to help Cristian and Atlas to prove that the Wharrams are working against the council and everyone on it.

Once back in the US, Atlas and Cristian have to come up with a plan to locate and destroy any remaining strigoi nests before the creatures can be used against them, and find a way to save Decebal. Their one advantage is that Helias Casimir doesn’t know that they know he’s the traitor and what he’s been doing – and they decide the first step is to return to the house to see where things stand. Knowing Helias will be suspicious, Atlas and Cristian are going to act as though they’re at each other’s throats in order to distract him and prevent him questioning their motives for returning; he’ll want to separate Cristian and Atlas and the fact they’re fighting will give him the opportunity to do it. Neither of them is happy with the idea – Cristian especially, knowing he’s going to have to be hurtful and cruel if he’s going to be at all convincing – but Atlas reassures him, reminding how much of a pain in the arse Cristian was when they first met, and how he wasn’t able to run him off despite it. The deception works. Helias moves quickly to get Atlas out of the way and to enact his plan to dispose of Cristian; Atlas and Cristian have already agreed on what’s going to happen next, and they know pretending not to suspect Helias is incredibly risky, but it’s their only chance to find out what he is really up to.

I’ve really enjoyed the tight plotting, the worldbuilding and the vividly written action scenes in this series. Once again, the author does a great job of keeping the forward momemtum going, ramping up the tension as we barrel towards a nail-biting climax that pits our heroes against family, against the Council, and into a final showdown with the strigoi. The love story has been excellent, too, as Atlas and Cristian’s chemistry-laden slow-burn romance moves from wariness and distrust to understanding, affection and love, so that by the beginning of Imitate the Dawn, they’re a solid couple, secure in their relationship and have each other’s backs without question. But because the focus of this story is on saving Decebal and preventing mass murder by the strigoi, their romance is perhaps less prominent – although their love for each other permeates the novel. The bond they already share is strengthened here, so even when they’re physically distant they’re never really apart, and there are some moments towards the end in the aftermath of the battle which really tug at the heartstrings.

The biggest problem I had with this book is that I found it difficult to get into because it’s been nine months or so since I read Crooked Shadows. As I said earlier, the series is essentially one story broken up into three parts, which makes it essential to be able to recall a lot of detail about the other instalments – and I struggled for the first three or four chapters. I accept (to an extent) that’s on me – I don’t typically have time to re-read previous books in series – but it also shows there’s a danger when you’re essentially splitting up one story into smaller parts, of your audience losing track.

In the end, though, once I got into the story I really got into it and found it a hard book to put aside. Imitate the Dawn brings the Whitethorn Security to a thrilling close and although I can’t quite push grade for this one higher than a B+ the entire series has a place on my DIK shelf.

What an amazing conclusion to a fantastic series! This is a series for those who pine for slow burn, for intense characters, for worldbuilding and intrigue. The relationship between Atlas and Cristian is hard won, solid, and true. They're the type of couple that only gets stronger the more they're tested and I love that. This final book brought them to their limits and I was on the edge of my seat as the conspiracy that's been building since book 1 reached its climax. There's lots of action and thrills, paired with some extremely tender scenes that I had to go back and reread because the feels!!! Honestly I can't wait to go back and reread the entire series and experience it again. Come for the vampire heir x human bodyguard, stay for all heart pounding plot and the searing romance. All the stars and kudos for this expertly crafted series!

Three and a half stars.

In the thrilling conclusion to the Whitethorn Agency trilogy, vampire Cristian Slava and his human bodyguard Atlas Kincaid must rescue Cristian's father and prove his innocence, which will require them to act as if they are no longer a couple. Their investigations into who is creating Strigoi will take them to the heart of the Vampire Council and uncover a shocking betrayal close to home.

First off, don't read this without having read the previous books as I did. There is no backstory info dump to set you up and I am very hazy as to things like what happened to Radu's father in the previous books or why Cristian's father was arrested. At 5% I was totally lost and willing to throw in the towel, it was like I had jumped into a book mid-way through. But I persevered, if only to spare myself the ignominy of DNFing a book so early, and gradually the plot grabbed me and took me along for the ride. Because it was the third book I never really understood what a Strigoi, is my guessing was based on reading Vampire Academy and the follow-on series, and it gave off a similar vibe.

I definitely want to read the earlier books in this series and I realise I missed the third book in the The Darkest Court series as well!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

This book was action packed from beginning to end with very little breathing time when we could just relax, catch a breath, and enjoy some chill time.
I loved this ending and I also loved how it kept me gasping until the very last page. I was caught by surprise by many things and my heart didn't escape unscathed.
The writing as usual was easy to follow and it was very romantic, poetic and heartbreaking. Getting a punch right to the heart with just a sentence is a talent few have. I was grinning and suffering in equal measure. Swooning, too. I also remember being in pain. Fun times. Fun indeed because even in the midst of everything the characters are going through, tgere was still time for them to be themselves and who they are is amazing.
Incredible ending to a great trilogy. I'd love to see more of them, maybe in a short story about them being only happy, safe and in love??? That'd be perfect!

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

This book serves to be the conclusion of the Whitethorn Agency series by M.A. Grant. It has been a wild ride for Cristian Slava and Atlas Whitethorn. With difficult beginnings to finding a way to trust and fall for each other, Cristian and Atlas have been through the wringer. This book finds their investigation into the creation of the strigoi hitting closer to home. The story is action packed but still manages to keep the romantic subplot relevant and engaging. Cristian and Atlas are forced to make decisions that leave you on the edge of your seat and with a rollercoaster ride of an ending this is a great vampire series that takes urban fantasy in a fun and different direction.

"Cristian would guard his heart, just like he would guard Cristian’s body."

4 stars for the epic conclusion for Cristian and Atlas.