Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me an ALC for this book! I was intrigued by the synopsis and love reading historical fiction books. TDO fit that caliber alone with a firm POC FMC in Jerusalem, a former slave seeking vengeance on the masters who kept and destroyed her family. She is known as a Saint, someone who aids in the war among the lands and seeking deep liberation. Alongside her is 3,000 year old Alexei, a vampire but not by his want or desire. What I loved about this book was the interspersed timelines of present time and the time before the war where you look into how both Jerusalem and Alexei had their own 'bouts of confinement and end up having much more in common than they realize despite the fact that Jerusalem is vehement that she hates Alexei's kind and therefore does not trust him. What fell apart for me was the modern speech in the timeline for the 1800's, though I appreciated some of the jargon used it took me out of where the story was supposed to take place and got a little hairy in terms of figuring out would this have been accurate enough for the times? Overall, a very solid listen.

I loved this so much I could die. I was listening to this the same weekend I was reading We Refuse by Kellie Carter Jackson which was the perfect pairing for this gorgeous/genius book. This was also fun because the male narrator already narrates my favorite vampire smut. I can tell that the author did her research into the time period. I felt that pain as our protagonist lived through it. I was so angry right along with her and I celebrated when she got all ehr revenge. Plus I loved the way she educated her vamp bestie on how his male enslaver acted nice to manipulate him and keep him in line.
This was magic. I was so swept away.
Also omg the narration was amazing! Listen to this! I was enthralled!

Thanks to Net Galley for providing an ARC for review in exchange for an honest review.

I will say that I enjoyed this book. I see why others may not have enjoyed it. But, I try to take a book as just that - a fictional, imaginative story. Do I think there were issues with the linguistics - probably - some of the language used would have been more appropriate in a modern setting and I doubt they spoke that way. However, I found the concept interesting. I did enjoy the MFC, though I wonder if that is a rub with some people - would they have allowed a female to fight along side them in war? Given the time period I seriously doubt we would find women and leaders, captians, trainers, and soldiers - much less a marginalized group that was currently fighting for the abolishment of slavery.

All this said - if you read the story as purely a fictional narrative then I think it comes off fine and is enjoyable. I received an audible copy of this book for review (which I normally don't do) and that may have made all the difference. All in all I'd most likely pick up a print copy and give this a go - it's fun, enjoyable and easy to read.

Thanks for the review opportunity.

Thank you MacMillan audio for the gifted audio-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fine read. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat ever, but the story kept me engaged most of the time. With a little bit of tweaking to the pace I think could be bumped up another star for sure.

This novel is set in the 1800s and follows a black fmc who escapes slavery. We learn early on that she has very strong magical powers and could’ve used them during her time as a slave, but held back for the safety of her family.

This story also involves vampires. Our fmc absolutely loathes them. But somehow our mmc and love interest is a white vampire.

Throughout the story I fully believed in our mmc’s feelings towards the fmc, but not once did I believe that she would’ve fallen in love with him as quickly as she did, even if you consider the year long friendship they had leading up to it.

I did, however, love the Twilight reference, whether it was intentional or not. It made me laugh out loud.

Big thanks to Netgalley and Lauren Blackwood for the audio ARC in exchange for a review.

This has the save vibe as the Sookie Stackhouse series combined with Buffy. There's your Vamps, your strong independent woman, a hell of a lot of vengeance, your forbidden love and mass amounts of murder. I loved it.

This book delves into the horrible treatment of slaves in North America, not holding back the gruesome details, and one girls eventual uprising against her white ensavers.

5 stars and I'll be looking for Lauren's other books!

I am not usually into this type of book but I actually enjoyed this. I would definitely read a second one if this became a series. It had vampires, romance, war, historical fiction, and so many moving pieces. There were moments where I found it kind of strange. Vampires in the underground rail road just felt odd at moments but overall I enjoyed this one!

I had the ability to both read and listen to the audiobook of The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood. As a historical horror/fantasy based during the Civil War, the premise had me hooked.
The narration on The Dangerous Ones was extremely well done and kept me interested when I probably would have stopped reading this book.
Though the concept was new and the story easy to read, the biggest issue that I had was the use of modern day slang being used during the Civil War. The use of these slang terms took me out of the story, and in some cases actually made me reread to verify what I saw. I wished that the story was a little more streamlined, and at about 3/4 of the way through didn't introduce more 'creatures' that didn't necessarily add anything to the story; it just felt more like a creature feature at that point.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
3/5 stars

"The Dangerous Ones" by Lauren Blackwood is a captivating novel that seamlessly weaves romance, suspense, and mystery against a dark and atmospheric setting. This book takes readers on a thrilling journey filled with unexpected twists and turns while also exploring complex themes of trust, redemption, and the power of love.

Absolutely loved this unique take on the civil war combined with vampires and more. It was fabulously written and I enjoyed the mix of fantasy with history. It was a lovely take about humanity, and love, and never giving up. Just wonderful.

**Review ⭐⭐⭐/5 (3-3.5)**
*The Dangerous Ones* is an adventurous fantasy romance set in an alternate historical United States during the Civil War. I am always looking for stand-alone fantasy’s, and as this isn’t marketed as a series (though I could potentially see one developing with where the book left off), I was excited to dive into this book.

>> ❤️ What I loved: There were many elements I enjoyed throughout *The Dangerous Ones—*I always love a romance involving a vampire, the concept of the demigod-like Saints were unique and interesting, and the characters are strongly written. The ideas of rage and fear are thoughtfully explored throughout the novel through our MCs, Jerusalem and Alexi, as well as some of the supporting characters. The audiobook narration I also think did a great job of capturing the spirit of the writing and characters.

>> 💔 What I didn’t love: There were two somewhat large misses for me in *The Dangerous Ones.* Unfortunately for me, the romance didn’t work—while there were good reasons for it, I don’t think Jerusalem ever comes around to actually trusting Alexi in a way that made their relationship feel real or satisfying. The writing style and dialect of this book also didn’t quite land for me—the mix of historical setting with modern expressions doesn’t always bother me, but in this case felt jarring.

While *The Dangerous Ones* wasn’t one of my favorite reads this year, I could see it finding a home among readers who enjoyed books like T*his Poison Heart* by Kalynn Baron. I did enjoy the overall story and world in this book, and would also read more from this author in this future.

**Acknowledgments & Disclaimers**
✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Lauren Blackwood, and Macmillan Audio, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book.
✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

I think this one could have used a bit more world building. I was confused with how the characters all knew each other and how she ended up where she did. It was a bit too jumpy and hard to follow. Other than that it was quite entertaining and a unique adventure fantasy.

Thank you so much to the publisher for my advanced copy of the audiobook. The quality was good and I had no issues with any technical problems. The narrators also helped bring the characters to life.

I listened to about 25% of the book and then decided to DNF it. I really wanted to love the book as the cover is stunning and the premise sounded unique- historical fiction meets a Twilight type fantasy. But I had such a hard time getting into the story. Jerusalem had a lot of righteous anger and bravery, but she hated everyone with a vengeance and it was hard to root for her. I wasn't dying to find out all about Alexi's background either. Ultimately, I just wasn't invested in finding out what happens. I definitely think this is a me problem and I think this will be a popular YA title publishing in May 2024.

Thank you @macmillan.audio #partner for the free audiobook!

I was very curious to have a mix of genres of historical fiction, vampires, fantasy and young adult! And bonus….a new author! In this book we follow Jerusalem, a girl who has joined the war after her family was murdered. She’s looking to even the score and teams up with a vampire to get the job done.

I liked the mix of genres in this one however struggled a bit with the banter and language. I am not sure if it was a little too over the top but I had a hard time becoming invested in this one. Jerusalem’s relationship towards Alexi didn’t seem playful it seemed a little hurtful which lead to me getting frustrated with her as a character.

As far as the audio goes, the narrator did a wonderful job engaging the story and I do think enhanced the overall experience reading this book. Unfortunately, this one was a little bit of a miss for me but as always I appreciate the opportunity to listen and find new authors!

Set during the height of the Civil War, this is a novel hell-bent on revenge. And perhaps love. Jerusalem is a Saint, a person w/ demi-god powers perfectly honed to killing vampires. She escapes captivity to help the Union Army fight off the South. But her aims are bigger than just winning a war. Jerusalem is set on killing the horrible, vampiric mistress she escaped from. And avenging her family.
Alexi is a 300 year-old vampire who has been helping the Union Army for the past 2 years. He helps to train Jerusalem and falls more in love with her each day. Even though she hates vampires, Jerusalem has a soft spot for Alexi. Her laser-focus on revenge doesn't stop her from falling for him, either. Alexi and Jerusalem don't realize that their aim is the same; to destroy the ancient vampire responsible for turning Alexi and killing Jerusalem's family.
I enjoyed this novel thoroughly, however, I would have liked a less abrupt ending. It almost makes me think there could be a sequel. ;)

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

Vampires, saints, romance and a battle! This book has it all! This was a great boo I could not stop listening. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the advanced copy.

I recently had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook of “The Dangerous Ones” by Lauren Blackwood, and it was an experience I won’t soon forget. The story’s blend of historical drama and supernatural elements is brought to life through the exceptional narration, which adds depth and emotion to the already thrilling tale. Set in an alternate Civil War-era America, the journey of Jerusalem, a Saint with demigod-like abilities, and Alexei, a vampire ally, is both heart-pounding and heartwarming. Their quest for revenge and freedom is a powerful narrative that speaks to themes of survival, agency, and liberation1. The audiobook format only enhances the connection to the characters, making their struggles and triumphs even more palpable. If you’re a fan of genre-bending stories with strong protagonists and rich historical settings, I highly recommend you give this audiobook a listen

Dude, this was fun. A little campy, a little over-the-top, but so entertaining. Honestly, if you liked the fantastical style and Black Girl Magic of any of Blackwood's previous books, this one will be right up your alley. It's like ... Twilight, but Jasper's story during the Civil War. But he's a Russian vampire, not racist, and in love with a Black girl a literal foot and a half shorter than him who can whoop his ass.

Well…I was really excited about this book based on the premise. And it was….ok. It really is a bit of a disappointment. The stories of our FMC and MMC were far more interesting than their forced upon us romance. It was flat. This would have read better without that aspect. The worldbuilding also could have been developed better so we have a clearer understanding of the supernatural beings and how it works. This was promising - just not executed the best. The audiobook was produced well.

Oh boy, I'm a bit conflicted reviewing this book. On the one hand, the storyline itself was really entertaining and kept me interested. Especially Jerusalem's story. On the other hand, the relationship between her and Alexei was not at all convincing and seemed so forced that it almost became annoying. I rolled my eyes way too many times every time Alexei said he loved her. Even near toward the end when Jerusalem was coming around about their love (not really a spoiler), it was a bit cringey. I get it, it took some time for her to realize she could love someone or to accept any form of love because she never felt any except from her family. But really, the way she treated Alexei wasn't convicting to where he would continue to say all of those things to her.

If the book kept to their own storyline (Jerusalem's and Alexei's) and what they went through, this would have been a much better read. Perhaps have Alexei pine over her, allowing her to become her own as he continued to be intrigued by her (instead of telling her every chance he could that he loved her), this would have sat better. Because their ultimate stories were so great to read, and that should have been the main draw to the book.

Side note: the audiobook was great except...every time the narrator for Jerusalem talked, you could hear her take a breath before speaking. Every single time! It was extremely distracting.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

A free slave, turned Saint. An ancient vampire, with a abusive past. Both fighting for the Union Army during the Civil War to take revenge on those whom had enslaved them.

I am sorry, this novel was not for me. It was okay, but a few things didn't fit for me.
1) I feel like some of the language was not appropriate for Civil War era, like "dumbass," which is used rather often. If I look at the use over time graph on Google it says Dumbass didn't really start being used until the 1970s or so. Not to say it wasn't used before that, but I am guessing most likely not.
2) Jerusalem and Alexei relationship is toxic. She verbally assaults him when all he wants to do is love her and take care of her. I really don't like the idea of hating an entire group of people (in this case vampires) because a person or two in that group treated you wrongly.
3) The whole "I cannot love him because he's White." This is said numerous times, yes, we know Alexei is White because he descends from eastern Europe. Then Jerusalem is totally fine with it after he pleasures her (no more Mr. White guy), but still calls him dumbass pretty often.
4) This book didn't feel like a novel for my high school students, maybe early college age, so the young adult label is accurate. I am not sure if it's one my high schoolers would enjoy though.
5) If vampires are so fast, why would they think they could make it to the plantation before the vampires made it there first? Especially through the underground railroad.

I love the cover though, and honestly, the premise of the book is promising and I was really interested in hearing it. Also.... haha.. Jasper Whitlock... hahaha... Twilight reference! John Carter as well. I like those little nods at the beginning. That gave me a chuckle because it fits perfectly!

For the narrators, they were good. Nothing spectacular, but I didn't dislike them. I think the writing was only okay, so the narration was only okay. You can only do so much, as a narrator, to make a story sound good, if the writing is not up to par.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook. It just wasn't for me. Maybe my students will like it more. The cover will definitely draw them in.