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vixenreader's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
It’s like if “Underworld” was a Rom-Com, with less leather and more peanut butter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Blood, Racism, Sexual content, War, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, and Medical content
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Confinement, Animal death, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Murder, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, and Pregnancy
Minor: Police brutality, Alcohol, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Car accident, Kidnapping, Outing, and Racial slurs
Be aware that there is assassination attempts, allergy alerts, arranged marriages, political intrigue, and parental neglect/abuse.diana_raquel's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism
Moderate: Kidnapping, Cursing, and Confinement
Minor: War and Death of parent
sam_malaika's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Blood, and Racism
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Death
annabananadel's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
“You're not a problem, Misery. You're a privilege.“
Ali’s first paranormal romance book, which I immediately saw once I was in a bookstore and didn’t even bother thinking if I should buy or not. Ali really is one of my must-buy author so when she came out with this book, the internet exploded. People were buying it immediately and rating it so high. Sadly, it was not that much for me. Maybe it was hyped-up but for me, maybe it was just not my type of book. I love Twilight growing up, that's for sure. I thought I'd love this too since it's more of that type of book. But to be honest, I was just lost. I think you have to know a bit of the "omega-verse" or what it's called to understand what the hell are they talking about. I needed to research and browse through reddit to understand what knotting is because they don't explain it in the book. So when I came to that page, I was just....lost. I was like...why just not get together? What really is the problem? I thought they'd be explaining it in the next few chapters but sadly, not. But don't worry, I did love the connection between the two main characters and the other side characters. Plot-wise, it's okay, could have been better. I was just there to see what happens between the main characters. The ending was a meh for me as well. What really elevated my rating was simply the get-together of the main characters and the funny/witty lines.
Overall, it's okay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
Minor: Kidnapping
aprilj_1202's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I’m normally not one for fantasy type books but got this on a recommendation in a smut lovers group. It’s spicy-lite but I did love the characters and plot development. It was easy to suspend disbelief and live in a human/vampyre/werewolf world for a few hours.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexism, Racism, Kidnapping, Blood, Violence, Dysphoria, and Confinement
jennireadsmaybe's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with and E-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Bride demonstrates Ali Hazelwood's innate ability to create fmcs that are entirely too relatable to the average reader. Misery is a blunt, black cat adjacent, dark humor loving badass. Being in her head was both unlike anything I've ever experienced and so similar to Hazelwood's previous fmcs. I found her backstory extremely intriguing, because though it's similar to other characters in Hazelwood's backlist, it's also so separate because of the fantasy element.
The first 40% is a slog to get through, but once you do it picks up quite quickly. When the plot picked up, I was thoroughly invested to the point that I read 200+ pages before going to bed. The dynamics between vampyres, werewolves, and humans were interesting especially with the addition of a collateral and the political heavy nature of the relationships.
Ali Hazelwood sat down and wrote the horniest scenting scene I've ever read. It truly unlocked a part of my lizard brain. Then throw in the sexual nature of vampyre feeding, I was a freaking mess. Also, I would be remiss if I didn't scream from rooftops about the fated mates twist in here. I thought it was such a unique way to combat the different species understanding of both romance and desire. I'm genuinely so excited to see if she will continue with other standalones in this universe she's created.
Bride demonstrates Ali Hazelwood's innate ability to create fmcs that are entirely too relatable to the average reader. Misery is a blunt, black cat adjacent, dark humor loving badass. Being in her head was both unlike anything I've ever experienced and so similar to Hazelwood's previous fmcs. I found her backstory extremely intriguing, because though it's similar to other characters in Hazelwood's backlist, it's also so separate because of the fantasy element.
The first 40% is a slog to get through, but once you do it picks up quite quickly. When the plot picked up, I was thoroughly invested to the point that I read 200+ pages before going to bed. The dynamics between vampyres, werewolves, and humans were interesting especially with the addition of a collateral and the political heavy nature of the relationships.
Ali Hazelwood sat down and wrote the horniest scenting scene I've ever read. It truly unlocked a part of my lizard brain. Then throw in the sexual nature of vampyre feeding, I was a freaking mess. Also, I would be remiss if I didn't scream from rooftops about the fated mates twist in here. I thought it was such a unique way to combat the different species understanding of both romance and desire. I'm genuinely so excited to see if she will continue with other standalones in this universe she's created.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, and Racism
Minor: Death and Grief
bookishmillennial's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Writing an honest review on my own accord after reading an ARC 🤎
Writing an honest review on my own accord after reading an ARC 🤎
We’re a seesaw, Lowe and I. Constantly pushing and pulling for a precarious balance on the brink of this . . . whatever this is that we are always about to fall into. Alternating in chaos.
I cannot believe I am about to say this about an alpha shifter romance (because any time a cishet man IRL says the word “alpha,” & especially in a podcast dudebro setting, I vomit a little), but ……. holy shit, this really worked for me!
It’s that tone again. The Alpha one. The one that makes me want to say yes to him, over and over again.
Wtf is this?! The corniest shit I’ve ever read and yet, I am hot & mf bothered over it…
Before we dive into the sizzling hot chemistry that Misery Lark has with Lowe Moreland, let me just say that this may be AH’s best work purely based on the banter and apathetic humor. The banter between Misery and *everyone* in this book is so delightfully goofy and delectable. Misery’s general malaise with life speaks to my existential-crisis-millennial soul and her glib nature was perfect. And she has a right to be! She spent ~15 years in Human territory as a hostage, and after a tiny taste a reclusive life away from the Weres and Vampyres, she is whisked away to marry the Alpha Werewolf, again acting as a peace offering amongst Weres and Vamps. I’d be resigned to a fate bound to service and lost autonomy too.
Before we dive into the sizzling hot chemistry that Misery Lark has with Lowe Moreland, let me just say that this may be AH’s best work purely based on the banter and apathetic humor. The banter between Misery and *everyone* in this book is so delightfully goofy and delectable. Misery’s general malaise with life speaks to my existential-crisis-millennial soul and her glib nature was perfect. And she has a right to be! She spent ~15 years in Human territory as a hostage, and after a tiny taste a reclusive life away from the Weres and Vampyres, she is whisked away to marry the Alpha Werewolf, again acting as a peace offering amongst Weres and Vamps. I’d be resigned to a fate bound to service and lost autonomy too.
“Your cat is welcome among us,” Lowe says. If that’s not a jab, nothing else is.
“Wonder how that feels,” I say breezily, and slip out of the room without glancing at him again.
The mystery element of her best Human friend Serena Paris going missing was intriguing enough to keep my attention, and I was very satisfied with the investigation and unraveling! If AH makes this an interconnected series of standalone romances, Serena’s romance is next👀
The hazard, I guess, of being alone in the world: no one to care that she was safe, and healthy, and alive. No one but me, and I didn’t count. I shouldn’t have been surprised, and I wasn’t. But apparently I still had the capacity to feel hurt. Because no one cared whether I was safe, or healthy, or alive. No one but Serena. The sister of my heart, if not of my blood. And even though I’d been plenty alone, I’d never felt so lonely as after she was gone.
The buildup between Lowe and Misery is explosive yet staggering. I was pulled in slowly and then all at once! I can’t describe how enamored I was with their connection. Lowe is your typical broody, mysterious love interest, but Misery peels back those layers of defense slowly and surely. She does so with her straightforward and unimpressed questioning and tone, but also with the way Misery cares for his younger sister, Ana, whose parentage is a major puzzle piece of this story.
There is something disarming about the way she leans against me, soft and trusting, as though our people haven’t been hunting each other for sport in the last couple of centuries.
Like this^???? So fucking precious and as someone with an ideal, hopeful heart for the state of the world, that shit *touched* me🥹
I have been SO over the “fated mates” trope but I may have been locked back in. I have no idea who is writing this review because only yesterday, I said, “couldn’t be me!” 😅😂 The third-act breakup is a bit rough, *but* very obvious if you’re a seasoned romance reader so just enjoy the ride!
I have been SO over the “fated mates” trope but I may have been locked back in. I have no idea who is writing this review because only yesterday, I said, “couldn’t be me!” 😅😂 The third-act breakup is a bit rough, *but* very obvious if you’re a seasoned romance reader so just enjoy the ride!
“You’re not a problem, Misery. You’re a privilege.”
If this series of standalone romances continues, you can guarantee I will be eating it the fuck up like I did with Bride!
steam rating: 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ at first, I blew a raspberry and whispered, “this is SO CRINGE” when Lowe said he had to *lick* Misery on the plane scene. I was not prepared for how AH turned this seemingly goofy scene into a super hot one. Anyway, from 50% on, it ramps up and it is fantastic. Again, I think her best work.
side note for AH author lore: AH continues her EXTREMELY BIG MUSCULAR HUMONGOUS MAN trope in this — Lowe wears a size 14 in men’s shoes.
read if:
-you were a twilight, true blood, or vampire diaries fan
-you enjoy shifter romance
-you’re curious what “knotting” is in werewolf/mating sex hahaha
-you enjoy unraveling a missing persons mystery
-you are a fan of fated mates, forced proximity, marriage of convenience, found family, paranormal romance, or “my wife” moments hehehehehe
see content warnings below!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, Sexual content, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, and Confinement
Minor: Death and Grief
readwithria's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I’m not going to lie, when I heard that Ali Hazelwood was writing omegaverse paranormal romance I was a little skeptical. But Bride surprised me in a really good way.
The first ~13% of the book definitely felt a little fanfic-y, but once I got to the meat of the story the writing significantly improved. I’m hoping that that’s the section that got the most work between ARC distribution and publication.
The little bits of species science stuff was pretty interesting, the steam and the spice were WORKING for me, and the cultural differences between species were pretty well developed. I also really liked the characters, and (hopefully) look forward to seeing more of them in potential future books.
Despite the beginning feeling a little silly, I read this book in one sitting. I will never doubt Ali Hazelwood again. 4.5 stars
Thank you the Berkley Romance for the ARC and the opportunity to leave a voluntary, honest review. All thoughts are my own.
The first ~13% of the book definitely felt a little fanfic-y, but once I got to the meat of the story the writing significantly improved. I’m hoping that that’s the section that got the most work between ARC distribution and publication.
The little bits of species science stuff was pretty interesting, the steam and the spice were WORKING for me, and the cultural differences between species were pretty well developed. I also really liked the characters, and (hopefully) look forward to seeing more of them in potential future books.
Despite the beginning feeling a little silly, I read this book in one sitting. I will never doubt Ali Hazelwood again. 4.5 stars
Thank you the Berkley Romance for the ARC and the opportunity to leave a voluntary, honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, and Cursing
Moderate: Kidnapping, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Murder
indieandajean's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Bride is, in a word, sensational! Ali Hazelwood's grasp of character and world building is unmatched, and there is no denying her skill in Bride which does not suffer for being her first book in the paranormal romance space.
I had long since given up on vampire novels as a reader (being the right age at the right time for the vampire YA craze of the late 00's and early 10's made me avoid vampires for a time) but Bride doesn't really come across as a vampire novel and it doesn't rely on the paranormal to give depth to the plot. This novel is, at its core, amazing enemies to lovers content with just the right amount of spice.
Lowe is magnetic and Hazelwood's decision to include his perspective in snippets at the start of each chapter not only added to his like-ability, but was a fresh take on the two POV romance. Misery is easy to feel a kinship with and her snappy one-liners and intelligence makes her a fun character to read.
I would highly recommend Bride to Hazelwood fans, and also to those who read paranormal romance.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley for the e-ARC of Bride by Ali Hazelwood in exchange for an honest review!
I had long since given up on vampire novels as a reader (being the right age at the right time for the vampire YA craze of the late 00's and early 10's made me avoid vampires for a time) but Bride doesn't really come across as a vampire novel and it doesn't rely on the paranormal to give depth to the plot. This novel is, at its core, amazing enemies to lovers content with just the right amount of spice.
Lowe is magnetic and Hazelwood's decision to include his perspective in snippets at the start of each chapter not only added to his like-ability, but was a fresh take on the two POV romance. Misery is easy to feel a kinship with and her snappy one-liners and intelligence makes her a fun character to read.
I would highly recommend Bride to Hazelwood fans, and also to those who read paranormal romance.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley for the e-ARC of Bride by Ali Hazelwood in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Confinement
Minor: Racism and Death of parent
uranaishi's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Kidnapping, and Racism
Minor: Death of parent, Child abuse, Violence, Murder, Death, Infertility, Ableism, Bullying, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Car accident, and Classism
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