This book started out really strong for me. The trauma behind the Egyptian Queen and then the connection to the mfc. The mental heath (MH) aspect of this book and mfc really had me captivated. After the park run though the book started to get really confusing. Jumping between time lines and lifetimes i did understand, but I felt it didn't flow and chapters were starting with what felt like too big a jump and I was lost. I unfortunately did not finish this book. It has real potential and maybe I will dive back in at a later date, but for now I just couldn't understand the storyline.

I love vampire novels! So I was very excited to get started on Mortal End, and it did not disappoint. Maddie Rose Andry's hauntingly beautiful debut blends Gothic romance, otherworldly horror, and tremendous emotional intensity.

I was drawn into Dr. Phenice Jones's journey from the first page, including her heartache, nightmares, and perilous transition from mortal to vampire. Her metamorphosis, which combines former incarnations, heavenly curses, and an epic, fated love that transcends time, is unlike anything I've ever read. Every scene is full with tension and unfiltered emotion, the writing is vibrant, and the worldbuilding is complex.

The story explores fate, free will, sacrifice, and the strength of the soul in addition to vampires. I began to wonder what it really meant to be immortal or human. I experienced everything of Phenice's suffering, desire, and tenacity, and by the end, I was completely broken in the best manner imaginable.

Tragic and beautiful. empowering. crushing of the soul. Restoring. I am already hankering after the next book in the series because Mortal End is all I could possibly want in a dark romance. This is a must-read for everyone who enjoys vampire novels that pierce the heart and delve beyond the surface.

If you’re into twilight books then this book is for you.

When Phenice tries to have a normal life after a childhood full of PTSD, she finds herself having dreams about ancient Egypt and a woman who was cursed for her sins. Little does she know, her life has been fated since she was born. She goes through a lot of past revelations and grossly event which also leads her to find her mate.

I got mix feelings for this book. Not for the whole mixing past and present together but for the fact that she was all over the place. Her emotions were never stable and accepting she is a vampire so quickly was like “oh… that’s it?” There wasn’t a plots twist since it was mostly just past events being revealed. Not so much spice. Only one scene. It was full of gore and I love that. It does end on a cliffhanger. Hope book 2 is better. Really hope for more action and spice. Now for the Q&A. Would I recommend this book? For a vampire/ fantasy ready who also wants some gore, yes. Was the plot twisting? Not really. Was the spice SPICY? No. Needs more.

Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️

Mortal End: An Opera of Cursed and Fated Vampires – 3.5⭐️

Mortal End is a gothic romance that immediately draws you in with its unique take on vampires, asking an intriguing question: What if vampires had souls?

The story follows Dr. Phenice Jones, a psychologist plagued by recurring dreams of a cursed Egyptian queen. She fights to maintain control over her life despite a traumatic past, struggling with cPTSD. As someone who also experiences cPTSD, I found myself deeply understanding her inner turmoil—her doubts, her hesitations, and her need for control. At times, I wished she would embrace love and help rather than push it away, but her journey is one of slow and painful healing.

It isn’t until she meets her mortal end that she truly begins to live, discovering her fated mate, experiencing love, and realizing her own worth. Alongside this, she is chosen to break an ancient curse, though she must also confront the wounds of her human life.

Ms. Andry weaves a compelling world, seamlessly blending Egyptian and Greek mythology with gothic horror. Her descriptions are vivid, pulling the reader into a supernatural setting that feels both haunting and immersive.

That said, while I found aspects of the story intriguing, I didn’t feel strongly about it one way or the other. I didn’t love it, but I also didn’t dislike it. The ending leaves several unanswered questions, setting up for book two, and I’m curious to see where the story goes next.

If you enjoy gothic horror, mythology, supernatural beings, fated mates, slow burns, and flawed but strong heroines, Mortal End might be worth picking up.

"Mortal End" by Maddie Rose Andry is a debut novel that intertwines gothic romance with urban fantasy elements. The novel delves into themes of trauma, healing, and the essence of the soul, offering a fresh perspective on vampire lore. This book had rich character development, immersive world-building, and a seamless blend of horror, romance, and fantasy.

“Mortal End” embraces a lot of amazing concepts, from paranormal to romance to even some horror/gothic elements. The back-and-forth between present and past, showcasing Dr. Phenice and Emil’s past lives and their connection to an ancient Egyptian queen, works amazingly well in the novel. 

The first part of the book is amazing; Dr. Phenice tries to make sense of her job as a psychiatrist and one of her patients who believes to be after his soulmate. She also tries to deal with her PTSD and while Emil finds her outside of the office, she finds herself attracted to him. After an incident turned Phenice into a vampire, Emil and her best friend Alina helped her navigate the challenges of her new reality. While this first part works great because we are shown Phenice’s past lives and how her fate occurred, the second part is a little less intense. She too quickly accepts her love for Emil, and I couldn’t fully immerse myself in their relationship until Dr. Phenice explained her unusual capacity for love and romance. And I guess that inability also translated to me. While she admits to some feelings, I cannot find myself believing she had those. It was like she was convincing me of one thing while holding back what she was truly feeling. When she’s turned, we understand her emotions and especially when she’s dealing with the PTSD, but with Emil everything felt too soft. I believed Emil liked her, although not sure why since they admit they feel a “pull” towards each other. Also Alina accepted her role really fast. Because this is a first-person perspective, we only know how other characters feel if they tell us; Phenice’s perspective shapes our understanding, and she spent time at home after her transformation, avoiding people so they wouldn’t think she was ill. So during that time we don’t get to see how Emil and Alina reacted to her change.

Since this is the first book of the series, more of some of these themes will be explored in the future. I am curious about the worldbuild and how the author will further explore and engage the reader with the different species and the “prophecies” everyone is making around Phenice. However, as a stand-alone book, I feel like we have room for improvement in the romance aspect. That is not a bad thing! It’s expected and understandable that a series has room for improvement; this first installment still made me very curious about the future and how Phenice and Emil’s story will unfold.

“Mortal End” has a little of everything: an ancient curse, paranormal elements, some spice (not a lot), and Maddie Rose Andry created a world that begs further exploration in the following books; so if you enjoy these things, “Mortal End” is the book for you!

the thoughts of the main character really captivated me. I couldn't put it down. there were some gruesome parts in the book but overall, I think they added to the storyline.

the very beginning of the book was very sad. the Egyptian Queen really wanted a baby but bad things always happened during labor. her story foreshadows what will happen later in the book.

quotes:

"so...why don't you tell me some of your intriguing love stories? maybe you can inspire me."

"I wanted love badly, but all I could remember was how everyone left, and I kept collecting baggage. the storage closet in my heart was filled with enough brokenhearted moments that I truly didn't think I could close the door anymore. that made it difficult to keep trying."

This was a really lovely and we'll written book! It may seem crazy to say that about a vampire story but it truly is poetic.

The prologue of this book has you hooked from the start. You have no idea who the character is yet you feel so much empathy towards them. You find yourself waiting with bated breath to find out what fate has in store for them. The twists and turns in just the prologue gives you whiplash as just when you think you are done with the twists, another appears from nowhere and I am here for it. This book has amazing world building and stunning imagery. The first chapter lets you get to know the FMC a bit and I love the analogies and the way the author describes C-PTSD, as someone who suffers with it, it made the FMC very relatable. She is strong even if she doesn't always see it and she is very realistic which I loved as even though it is a book filled with fantasy, it is always nice to have an FMC you can relate to and who even though she has faced so much and continues to do so, still gets back up after being knocked down. The MMC is just perfection, is he morally grey? Yes but he is portrayed in a way you cannot help but like him. I do wish there was a bit more of him but as this is part of a series, I am hoping there will be more of him in the next part. The FMC's best friend is such an amazing addition to the story, she helps keep the FMC relatively sane and is very straight talking and I love that, she is such a loveable character. Some plot twists have you completely baffled until they are explained which I loved because it has you really thinking. The ending is not where I saw it going at all and I am looking forward to having it explained hopefully in the next book as I was rather confused. Overall a great debut from this author and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

Thank you netgalley for this arc!

Mortal End follows Phenice in her journey of becoming a vampire, her past lives and her soul mate. I think this story started out strong, the premise was interesting and it definitely had potential. I appreciated that the author wanted to explore multiple aspects of mental health within the story and I really felt for Phenice and her struggles.

I do think that there were too many internal monologues and not enough character interactions for my taste. It was hard for me to feel invested in their relationships when they don’t interact much throughout the story. I just didn’t feel connected to any of them and we don’t really get to know them apart from Phenice. The pacing was a bit off for me as well, the visions of the past made it a bit choppy. I also felt like Phenice just accepted everything as fact too easily. Her decision at the end felt a little random as well.

Overall the writing was done well, I just wish there was a little more emphasis on the plot development and character interactions. This has the potential to be a wonderful found family dynamic as well as an overarching good vs evil plot.

Also check TW, I’m not a sensitive reader but some of the gore was a lot.

This book was not a favorite of mine, but could be a good fit for the right reader. We follow Dr. Jones, a psychiatrist, as she struggles with what she believes to be PTSD. She has recently begun to have recurrent nightmares of horrible scenes that end in terror, horror and blood. We follow her journey and metamorphosis as she discovers her true calling in the world and the meaning of these absurd visions. Along the way, she has help from Alina and Emil. In the end, she must trust her heart and the Fates to defeat the evil queen who set all these events in motion.

I felt that the concept of the book was intriguing. The tale of reincarnation has been told before, but to combine that with medical knowledge was an interesting twist. However. I felt that much of the exposition was wordy with excessive adjective use. This detracted from the overall flow and story of the book. I did however like the revelation at the end because it is so different from other paranormal stories I’ve read. I also liked that we were able to see different lives/POVs throughout the tale; however some of the transitions between characters were a little jarring. I did like that the story was constantly introducing new characters, elements and lore to add to the world building.

Overall, I think this book is a good fit for those who enjoy medical/paranormal books, As a pediatrician, I found the medical process and references to diagnosis codes described spot-on and greatly enjoyed that aspect of the book.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

This is the first instalment of the Cursed and Fated Vampires series by Maddie Rose Andrey.
A fantastical Gothic Romance with modern day properties. An intriguing and uniquely Immersive debut novel.
A beautiful enchanting and atmospheric fantasy romance that you will be unable to put down.
A entirely brilliant and unique concept that will have you on the edge of your seat for the duration of your read. And for a debut novel the author really has pulled out all the stops and created something truly special with this spectacular storyline and beautifully depicted characters.
We are transported and taken on a journey to a spectacular and magical world which is intensely complex, immersive and beautifully vivid. The plot line is delicately weave through a meticulous narrative. Entirely thought provoking at times and deeply emotional.
The narrative is laced with the mythical beings, ancient gods and vampires mixed with a modern day theme set within a varied plot line with creative twists and turns. Vividly depicted world building that transports the reader into this intoxicating and heart stopping drama which is incredibly moving and emotionally challenging.
Beautifully written and well crafted characters that have an immense well of depth and magnificent yet heartbreaking back stories that will have you feeling all of the feels...
We have it all... fantastic banter, empathy and tension. Past and present. Perseverance, self acceptance and discovery. Soulmates and an epic love story. Unescapable fate, vampires, super hot guys and spicy scenes galore.
A book that you will want to read time and again!

Thank you, Maddie Rose Andry and NetGalley for this ARC!

I really enjoyed the first few chapters of story as it was super intriguing both in build up of the plot and the characters. However as the story went on, I didn't stay as hooked.

I felt the dialogue didn't seem natural at times, and I didn't feel some of the characters' actions (Alina being okay right away with all the bombshells being dropped on her for the sake of 'it's her fate') to be believable. There were also a lot of characters, names of past-life characters, and past-life events to keep track of.

Overall this book was not for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Pleiades Publishing for the ARC of the book.

I was so excited to read this book as it had all the things I would normally love: fated star crossed lovers, vampires, ancient Egypt, mythology. It fell flat for me and I struggled to even finish it. The issue wasn’t necessarily with the story because it was great but the execution made it hard to follow and read. The two biggest issues were one: not always knowing if chapters where part of the past, present, future or some sort of vision / nightmare. The book needs some sort of indications at the start of chapters that aren’t set in the present. The second issue was it read like there was a word count minimum you are trying to reach on a school paper so instead of smooth sentences you make everything an I statement. Example instead of “Wanting some coffee I went and made some” the author would write it like “ I wanted some coffee so I went and made some”. There were some paragraphs that were nothing but I ‘blank” sentences.

I won’t be reading book two but the story was intriguing enough that if it was edited again I would give it another go because of its potential.

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Let me start by saying that out of the 306 books I read in 2024, I am SO glad that this was my last read of the year because what a way to finish! I was BLOWN AWAY by the fact that Maddie Rose Andry is making her author debut with Mortal End, and this story easily falls into my top 5 reads of the year!

🖤Reluctant Heroine
🌸Chosen One
🖤Ancient Curse
🌸Fated Mates/Star-Crossed Lovers
🖤Morally Gray Characters
🌸Who Hurt You?
🖤Vampires, Demons, Gods/Goddesses
🌸Shifters
🖤Spicy Slow Burn
🌸Feminine Rage
🖤Fantasy Traumance
🌸Mental Health Rep

Mortal End is the most unique storyline I have encountered recently, and I was instantly immersed into Phenice’s world. Maddie Rose Andry’s writing style is rich in descriptive language, brimming with vivid imagery, and portrays an intensity necessary for the complex situations surrounding life-altering decisions and the concept of morality. Andry captivated me with her central question: What if vampires had a soul?, and the notion that the soul carries the memories and awareness of each previous life/incarnation.

The journey you embark on starts in the present with Dr. Phenice Jones, who is plagued by gruesome nightmares of a cursed Egyptian Queen. When these nightmares bleed into Phenice’s waking hours, her past trauma threatens to overwhelm her and the carefully constructed life she has made for herself starts to fracture.

Phenice’s life takes a drastic turn when she goes for a late-night run and is attacked by a group of supernatural hunters. Everything that Phenice thought she knew about her existence changes, and her fate unfolds as she undergoes a transformation from a mortal woman to a vampire. In doing so, all of Phenice’s past human incarnations merge into her immortal body, giving her powers she thought only existed in myths.

With her memories of her soul intact, Phenice must deal with her past, come to terms with her destiny outlined by The Fates, and cope with rediscovering her fated mate.

Will Phenice be able to overcome her pain, trust in The Fates, and open her heart? Or, will sacrifices have to be made that could change the trajectory of everything?

If you are looking for a distinctive and enthralling story that will immerse you into the world of vampires, gods, goddesses, and ancient and powerful magic, then look no further!

Thank you Maddie Rose Andry & NetGalley for the ARC opportunity, the pleasure was all mine! I am voluntarily leaving a review and all thoughts are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️

This was such a quick and easy read for me! The first half of the book was drew me with the different approach taken by the author on vampire/divine lore but also the different genres all mixed in. I liked the fact that the book was fast paced and the story was capturing.

There were times for me where I lost the emotional connection to Phenice. However I do feel the characters were well developed and they each had their own voice.

I did feel like the fast pace I was enjoying slowed down a bit in the second half of the book and I slightly missed that when we were reaching towards the cliff hanger.

I had to take some time after reading this to fully process it because it was SO FREAKING GOOD
The pacing of this was perfect and held my attention throughout the entire story. I didn’t want to put it down! The way Maddie wrote about the world, the characters and the plot itself made you feel like you were in it and along for the ride.
Maddie’s writing is so good and fully pulls you into the story. This one includes some flashback type scenes that really added to the main character’s storylines. These flashbacks were so immersive and well done that when they ended and went back to the ‘present’ storyline, I had forgotten about it because I was so immersed in the past.
These flashbacks journey that the main character, Phenice, goes through is heartbreaking and will have you feeling all of the same emotions that she is going through. Her story is one of loss, grief and healing that is a perfect representation of what trauma does to a person. Maddie wrote this so well that I was in tears many many times.
This story has aspects of a few different times periods, a one of them being ancient Egypt, which I am obsessed with. The way the beginning of the timeline ties into the story as a whole, and comes full circle at the end, was a masterpiece that was truly amazing to follow.
Of course there’s love in this story; one that transcends time and different lives. I loved this aspect and how it all came together. The spice is here and I was 100% there for it!! The different character relationships were really dynamic and the characters all have distinct personalities and were easy to keep track of. I loved every single one, even the bad ones, they were so well written.
The last few chapters were so heartbreaking and emotional - and I felt every single blow as if I was experiencing it myself. The writing really is THAT good yall.
And the ending literally blew my mind! I had to take a break and read it again because it was so so good!!
I can’t wait to read more of this story and literally ANYTHING else that Maddie writes!!

I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have received an advanced copy of Mortal End from the author and NetGalley! 🫶

“What if Vampires had a soul?” 🧛🧛‍♀️

Mortal End is simply a masterpiece! 🥹🖤 My words to describe how I feel about this book will not serve it justice because it is truly such a beautiful, evocative, and incredible story that is going to remain forever in my heart! 💕 I have never read anything like this in my life and I loved everything about it. The world-building and character development is masterclass level. I felt so deeply for Phenice as I was reading this and I was able to feel all of the emotions and the pain that she was going through and it brought me through such a rollercoaster of emotions. This story went so far as to make me ugly cry and have my heart broken multiple times throughout my reading experience! 😭💔

I highlighted so many quotes while reading this story because Maddie Rose Andry’s writing style gave me goosebumps. The combo of vampires, fated mates, gods/goddesses, ancient curses, mystery, slow burn romance, and the power of writing and art have created this beautiful piece of literature that I will be recommending to everyone I know! ❤️

The whole time I was reading felt like I was peeling a potato because there was so much mystery that had me captivated and I just wanted to know everything. Lastly, don’t even get me started with that ending because it made me go through all of the emotions and I’m still processing what happened! 😱😱😱😱😱

Thank you so much Maddie Rose Andry for writing this beautiful and incredible story that is unlike anything I have ever read. You are officially an autobuy author for me and I can’t wait to read all of your future works. If you love vampires, demons, gods/goddesses, psychology, who hurt you, fated mates, star crossed lovers, chosen one, morally grey characters, ancient curse, mental health rep, and slow burn be sure to pick it up and read because it’s an absolute must-read! 🫶

I really wanted to love this, as the premise sounded right up my alley. I really enjoyed the intro to the book, but found myself lost in subsequent chapters. I couldn’t keep track of the timeline, and found the jumps to be a bit confusing.

This is a fantastic debut novel that captivated me with the descriptive world building, the well developed characters and the intense emotions throughout the story. I loved how it was unique, a real world with fantasy elements, past lives with diverse backgrounds and a PTSD rep that hit me in all the feels.
I can't wait to see how the story continues!