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!

I’d like to thank NetGalley for this ARC. The idea of this book seemed so promising and the first part of the book captured my attention, however the second half fell flat. In this book you will have, Egyptian lore, vampires, mystical powers, fate and more.

The first chapter started off very strong. We learn of the trauma of the Egyptian Queen who only wanted a family. Her heart breaking tale foreshadows into what’ll become later on in the book. Then we meet Phenice, a psychologist who struggles with her own PTSD trauma from her childhood, and her best friend Alina, fellow psychology student. Phenice struggles with her one patient Emil, where she feels too strongly towards him and needs to cut ties being his psychologist. However, as fate likes to play it, their lives will forever be entwined.

I really enjoyed the concept of the book, however it just was not for me. The first few chapters were great, then I began to be immensely confused with the start of subsequent chapters. I wish there were notes of past, present, or future in the chapter titles. I think having more of a guide as to what time we’re reading would have been more helpful. I also did not believe in Phenice when her transition phase happened, and she was talking of how confident she was but yet kept bringing up her PTSD over and over and over again. She second guessed every single decision made and I felt Alina was more suited to be the powerful one than Phenice ever was. I ended up skimming the end of the book because I struggled to stay interested in it. The ending of the book also left me a bit confused based on what the beginning of the book stated - it didn’t seem to match up at all based on talk of how souls were bonded. This book is left on a cliffhanger, but I don’t believe I will continue on to book two.

*Mortal End* by Maddie Rose Andry is a captivating dark romance and supernatural tale. Dr. Phenice Jones's life unravels, revealing ancient curses, haunting memories, and forbidden love. Her transformation from mortal to vampire is a thrilling journey through gods, demons, and her fated soulmate, blending vivid imagery with emotional depth.

I just finished reading as let’s just say wow. This book is different than all my other books I’ve read and I’m so glad I read it. I was entertained yet confused. I would sit there phone in had coffee in the other learning and connecting with the characters. I was not prepared for the end it was definitely worth the read.

This book was a little too real at the beginning, which I loved. You really get into the FMC's head and see her mental health spiral, especially with the nightmares bleeding into her reality. It was a lot and I could not put it down because of it. About halfway through though, the story started to draw out and slow for me, but that could just be a me thing. I enjoyed the story and the characters overall though, it was an interesting read.

“ By ‘tiny’ I was implying you are the type of woman a man could toss around and do the most devious and delicious things to.”

I’m still reeling from reading this book. What an emotional ride! Maddie takes you through all the feels with her incredible writing. Of all the books I’ve read, this one has truly wrecked my heart like no other. I experienced physical reactions to this story—it's that powerful. It tore me apart and then put me back together.
Phenice's journey through trauma, heartache, violence, change, and healing is a testament to Maddie's skill. Despite not having this kind of trauma in my life, I felt every moment with Phenice, thanks to the immersive storytelling. The constant state of fear I felt while reading this book, fearing the rug would be pulled out from under me, was intense yet compelling. It’s so good.
This is a captivating tale of self-discovery, empathy, perseverance, and remaining true to oneself and one's convictions. And let's not forget the really hot guys and spicy romance that add to the allure. The characters are incredibly well-developed, each with their own unique backstories that shape their identities. Maddie's world-building is so immersive that you feel as though you're a part of the story.
Phenice and Emil's relationship is an epic love story that transcends time. Their relationship develops naturally, with a perfect blend of tension, banter, and unforgettable moments. I appreciate how Emil wants to protect Phenice without smothering her.
Maddie's take on vampires is particularly refreshing, especially the exploration of whether they have souls. The fact that all the vampires have distinct personalities and motivations adds a new dimension to the narrative, making it an engaging and thought-provoking read.

“What if Vampires had a soul?”

This book is filled with emotional depth, descriptive world building, a unique take on vampires, and well-developed characters. I was enraptured reading about Dr. Phenice and her past life revelations, and I’m a sucker for an emotional rollercoaster of a story. I have a degree in psychology and teach it at a high school level, so I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the journey of trauma and healing from a therapists POV. I felt all the feels throughout this book, and can’t wait to read more!

ℝ𝔼𝔸𝔻 𝕀𝔽 𝕐𝕆𝕌 𝕃𝕆𝕍𝔼:
✨ Gothic Romance Turned Urban Fantasy
✨ Star-Crossed Lovers
✨ Slow Burn
✨ Fated Mates
✨ Tragic Backstory
✨ Mental Health Rep
✨ Morally Gray
✨ Ancient Curse
✨ Who Hurt You?

𝔽𝔸𝕍𝕆ℝ𝕀𝕋𝔼 ℚ𝕌𝕆𝕋𝔼𝕊:
“I wanted to be a carefree optimist. I wanted love, and he made me want to risk everything to have it. This morning he had made me feel like the Grinch whose heart had grown three sizes listening to his love and passion for this woman. I longed to be loved the way he loved her.”

“Maybe he and I were star-crossed lovers, soulmates designed only to find each other briefly, to love fiercely, then be torn apart, again and again. It seemed cruel but not as cruel as never loving at all.”