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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this gifted review copy!
A compelling reinterpretation of traditional vampire lore set against the backdrop of the American Civil War. The narrative explores dark themes and depicts the cruel torments people can inflict upon each other. The central characters, Alexei and Jerusalem, share a deep bond forged through shared trials, providing an emotional depth to the story. The book stands as a testament to human endurance, the power of love, and the spirit that allows us to rise above our circumstances.
A compelling reinterpretation of traditional vampire lore set against the backdrop of the American Civil War. The narrative explores dark themes and depicts the cruel torments people can inflict upon each other. The central characters, Alexei and Jerusalem, share a deep bond forged through shared trials, providing an emotional depth to the story. The book stands as a testament to human endurance, the power of love, and the spirit that allows us to rise above our circumstances.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Gore, Racial slurs, War
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
This was intense. Jerusalem finally escaped her master and found the Saints, a group of people who seem to be designed to hunt vampires. She believes she has nothing left, and learns to fight to make a difference in this war.
Alexei is a 300 year old vampire who has fought hard not to lose his humanity. His choices aren't as apparent as people think, and he's been working with the Saints. He is training Jerusalem himself, teaching her how to use her deadly passion with a spear.
As they work together towards a common goal, they realize they've been betrayed by someone close, and work together to try and save who they can. Alexei has loved her from the moment he met her. But will she ever love him back?
There was a lot of heavy material in this. Civil war era, plantations, and fighting to free people from their owners. Finding hope in those who didn't fit he mold, and fought for what was right.
Alexei is a 300 year old vampire who has fought hard not to lose his humanity. His choices aren't as apparent as people think, and he's been working with the Saints. He is training Jerusalem himself, teaching her how to use her deadly passion with a spear.
As they work together towards a common goal, they realize they've been betrayed by someone close, and work together to try and save who they can. Alexei has loved her from the moment he met her. But will she ever love him back?
There was a lot of heavy material in this. Civil war era, plantations, and fighting to free people from their owners. Finding hope in those who didn't fit he mold, and fought for what was right.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
(One thing I do give a TW/CW for is for on-page animal death, and that happens right in the beginning of the book; however, it is done as an act of self-defense and the time period in which the book occurs should be taken into consideration. Any other on-page animal death takes place during a battle scene, which is par for the course in a novel about war).
I love Lauren Blackwood’s books. Her last book, Wildblood, was an absolutely standout novel that I felt a lot of people slept on for how brilliant it is. Wildblood was mainly about black pain and magic (according to Blackwood), but The Dangerous Ones lets Blackwood not only write about black pain but to also indulge in many of the romantic fantasy impulses she usually has to curb in her more serious and focused novels.
So, I guess what I’m saying is that The Dangerous Ones may not be as brilliant as Wildblood, but it’s a whole lot of fun and a smash of a read in a lot of ways.
The centerpiece of The Dangerous Ones are our two protagonists: Jerusalem (a runaway slave girl who was also born a Saint, which is somewhat akin to a demi-god), and Alexei (an Ancient Vampire who traveled specifically from Europe to America to fight on the side of the Union Army). They live in the same encampment, training together every day, and fight advance battles for the Union Army because their encampment is made up of other Saints like Jerusalem. They’re so deadly and prolific the newspapers have given all the Saints nicknames.
Jerusalem and Alexei are also fighting another battle: attraction and love of the star-crossed kind. Not only crossing ethnic lines, but also that of being Saint and Vampire. In the everyday moments and the heat of battle neither matter seems to bother either party, but in the small, silent moments the disparities between them seem to stretch like an ocean. Their chemistry on the page is absolute fire, and Blackwood has written them some of the best dialogue I’ve read in a romantasy in a long while.
The Dangerous Ones is violent, fiery, angry, romantic, magnetic, and even though there are pacing issues in the latter half of the book I really enjoyed it.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Romantasy/Historical Fantasy/Standalone Novel/Vampire Fiction/YA Fantasy/YA Romantasy
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
THE DANGEROUS ONES was delightfully entertaining. After a run of reading some only decent books, this stood out for its interesting and engaging story, its characters, and the complex ideas it put forth. This ended up being a favorite of mine, and I think it is well worth the read.
The premise of this book is what makes it so interesting: what if vampires were real, were slavers, and were part of the Civil War and Saints, superhumans, worked to stop them to win the war. This concept made the story interesting and unique, something that is worth the read because it is done well and engages the reader from start to finish.
The characters, and by extension, the ideas the book put forth actually made me think. The story is told through Jerusalem, a Saint and a former slave, and Alexei, a 300 year old vampire. Each character is rich and complex, especially Jerusalem, who is grappling with the traumas that slavery entails and her freedom. Their interactions were great and their inner conflicts and struggles, and how they negotiated that, was well done.
Now, I will say, if you are looking for a methodically researched Civil War book or a complex, world building science fiction novel, this is not it. BUT this book is not trying to be either. There are questions that I had about this world that were left unanswered, and we only get a brief history of it through flashbacks and inner thoughts. And, to some, the modern words may very much drive you crazy. However, if you set your expectations knowing this book is not meant to be expansive (it’s only 368 pages), you’ve got a special story on your hands.
Overall, I definitely think this book is worth the read. It’s interesting, unique, and as a YA novel, the characters and concepts it brings up makes it one you will think about for a long time after.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
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 This 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.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Dangerous Ones intertwines historical fiction and fantasy. We meet Jerusalem, a young girl who had been enslaved by a vampire. She’s a Saint, with demi-god skills and manages to escape to the North where she joins the Union army. There she meets Alexei, a vampire who is on the Union’s side. Jerusalem doesn’t trust Alexei, or any other vampires at first, but as they work together they realize they have romantic feelings for each other.
It was really interesting to see the ways fantasy intertwined with history in this book. The language is used is pretty modern, which makes it a bit of an easier read, but doesn’t really match the historical setting. Jerusalem is a feisty and strong main character. She was justified in her anger towards and mistrust of vampires, but she was also often reckless in her quest for vengeance. Alexei was more thoughtful in his actions, as he should be after existing for several hundred years. There was mostly bickering, rather than banter, between Jerusalem and Alexei which made the romance feel a bit unrealistic.
I listened to the audio as well and loved the dual narrators. They were able to really bring Jerusalem and Alexei's characters to life and embodied the emotions each character was feeling.
Thank you to the publisher and MacMillan Audio for the advance copies!
It was really interesting to see the ways fantasy intertwined with history in this book. The language is used is pretty modern, which makes it a bit of an easier read, but doesn’t really match the historical setting. Jerusalem is a feisty and strong main character. She was justified in her anger towards and mistrust of vampires, but she was also often reckless in her quest for vengeance. Alexei was more thoughtful in his actions, as he should be after existing for several hundred years. There was mostly bickering, rather than banter, between Jerusalem and Alexei which made the romance feel a bit unrealistic.
I listened to the audio as well and loved the dual narrators. They were able to really bring Jerusalem and Alexei's characters to life and embodied the emotions each character was feeling.
Thank you to the publisher and MacMillan Audio for the advance copies!
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
tense
This was a great book! I loved the story telling! It sucked me in from page one!
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.