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looseleafellie's review
I’ve read a few Ali Hazelwood books, but Bride is my favorite. Unlike Hazelwood’s contemporary romance novels, this is a paranormal romance, feat. vampires, werewolves, and … a sprinkling of Omegaverse? (If you don’t know what omegaverse is, Google it 😅)
Bride is about a vampire called Misery who marries a werewolf pack alpha to defuse tensions between their species. But Misery has her own agenda to find her missing friend, who she thinks has been kidnapped by werewolves — and as she investigates the disappearance, she unravels a political conspiracy that could result in all-out war. And she might be falling for her new werewolf husband.
Ali Hazelwood books often have quirky, lighthearted narration, and I think it worked well in this story because the concept is inherently goofy. I mean, it’s about a vampire hacker called Misery. Once I got used to the premise and tone, it was a fun time!
The mystery and politics kept my interest, even if the supernatural elements weren’t ultimately all that important. The omegaverse-adjacent stuff was also not that important, which is just as well because I think it would have weirded me out if it was more prominent (not to yuck anyone’s yum, I just don’t think it would be my thing).
If you want to get into Ali Hazelwood books and haven’t tried this one yet, I would definitely give it a go, especially for something light and goofy! I also think it’s good for fantasy readers who want to try romance but find it hard to stay invested in a fully contemporary story.
Bride is about a vampire called Misery who marries a werewolf pack alpha to defuse tensions between their species. But Misery has her own agenda to find her missing friend, who she thinks has been kidnapped by werewolves — and as she investigates the disappearance, she unravels a political conspiracy that could result in all-out war. And she might be falling for her new werewolf husband.
Ali Hazelwood books often have quirky, lighthearted narration, and I think it worked well in this story because the concept is inherently goofy. I mean, it’s about a vampire hacker called Misery. Once I got used to the premise and tone, it was a fun time!
The mystery and politics kept my interest, even if the supernatural elements weren’t ultimately all that important. The omegaverse-adjacent stuff was also not that important, which is just as well because I think it would have weirded me out if it was more prominent (not to yuck anyone’s yum, I just don’t think it would be my thing).
If you want to get into Ali Hazelwood books and haven’t tried this one yet, I would definitely give it a go, especially for something light and goofy! I also think it’s good for fantasy readers who want to try romance but find it hard to stay invested in a fully contemporary story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Kidnapping
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and War
jennh96's review
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Blood, and Death of parent
julianacosta_01's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
swolds's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Bride was very different from Ali’s previous books and I struggled getting into it and was on the thought train I would DNF it. I am so happy I did in fact finish it.
Bride is a book about Misery and Lowe. The further into the book I got, the more enjoyable it was. I love how creative Ali gets with comebacks - especially in this book. The very last page gave me butterflies and a massive grin and I will definitely reread it in the future. It is a new take on the Vampire-Were trope, made in Ali-style.
Misery is the typical naive girl. You’ll definitely notice that as you read and be like «Girl, see what is right in front of you please», you join her on a journey of friendship, belonging, feelings, different relationships, betrayals and finding finding who you are meant to be. I loved the character building and how the friendships developed through the book. It was a ride of emotions. Many different emotions.
It is a great read for those wanting a new fantasy adventure with a little mystery, character development/building and a little bit of spice.
Bride is a book about Misery and Lowe. The further into the book I got, the more enjoyable it was. I love how creative Ali gets with comebacks - especially in this book. The very last page gave me butterflies and a massive grin and I will definitely reread it in the future. It is a new take on the Vampire-Were trope, made in Ali-style.
Misery is the typical naive girl. You’ll definitely notice that as you read and be like «Girl, see what is right in front of you please», you join her on a journey of friendship, belonging, feelings, different relationships, betrayals and finding finding who you are meant to be. I loved the character building and how the friendships developed through the book. It was a ride of emotions. Many different emotions.
It is a great read for those wanting a new fantasy adventure with a little mystery, character development/building and a little bit of spice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Kidnapping, Car accident, and Death of parent
littlewishling's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
Hazelwood really is the master of enemies to lovers. I love how she mixed her love of science into a more fantastical world. Plus the chemistry between Misery & Lowe was off the charts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
lindsaymck's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.75
Okay, Ali, my he-falls-first and he falls harder QUEEN! She cooked this paranormal romance up and the teeny tiny Vampyre bride with her very big, very broad, secret-softie Werewolf Alpha kept giving us delicious crumbs until the meal was SERVED.
Misery - an incredible name choice for the FMC - agrees to an arranged marriage to Lowe, a Were alpha, in a move that appears to be “taking one for the team” for her species in an attempt to maintain peace. In truth, she is used to being used as collateral and Misery thinks getting closer to Lowe means getting closer to the truth behind her best friend’s disappearance.
Misery and Lowe’s marriage of convenience obviously brings about some forced proximity, but the choreography of their shift from enemies to lovers alongside the delicate dance around the identity of Lowe’s mate is *delicious.*
Lowe’s mix of strength and softness is the brand of MMC I love to love from Ali Hazelwood and hearing love described through a mating bond just makes me wish they existed even more than I already did.
A mate feels “new, but timeless” and finding them is “like discovering new colors. Like the rainbow had gained a few stripes.” Stunning.
Misery’s found family (first in Serena and then in Lowe, Ana, and the pack) is beautifully developed, as is the focus on belonging. The mystery of Serena’s disappearance and Lowe helping Misery investigate reminded me of Crescent City - Bryce and Hunt trying to avenge Danika. Thank goodness this had a happy ending for ALL 😅. I am praaaaaying for a sequel about Serena and Koen and maybe another one about Owen, too…
Oh, and the littlest tastes of Lowe’s POV at the start of every chapter? What a clever way to sprinkle his perspective without taking away Misery’s voice. I swear every one had me swooning over her not knowing the true depth of his feelings yet.
How could you not love this possessive Alpha Werewolf architect who is amazing with kids, a dedicated and trusted pack leader, and so down bad for Misery he is drawing her and keeping the temperature warmer so she isn’t chilly and letting her feed on him?!
“I would take anything she chose to give me—the tiniest fraction or her entire world. I would take her for a single night knowing that I’ll lose her by morning, and I would hold on to her and never let go. I would take her healthy, or sick, or tired, or angry, or strong, and it would be my fucking privilege. I would take her problems, her gifts, her moods, her passions, her jokes, her body—I would take every last thing, if she chose to give it to me.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Kidnapping
Minor: Death of parent
yilliun's review
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit and Car accident
bergha1998's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
I binged this book so hard. It is exactly what my brain wanted right now. I loved the characters and watching their feeling unfurl. A win to say the least. Also, her smuttiest book yet!
Fantasy Romance, Fated Mates, Opposites Attract, 4 🔥
Fantasy Romance, Fated Mates, Opposites Attract, 4 🔥
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
literatefox76's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
idk_indigo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? Yes
5.0
So it's not that I wasn't expecting to like this book. It's that I was expecting to like this book in, like, a way that I also disliked it. If that makes sense. But holy fuck, I loved this book. It was so perfect and I loved it in every way. I loved the sex scenes. I loved the vampire/werewolf sex. I loved the angst. I loved the edward-smelling-bella cameo. I loved the side characters. I loved the fact that they are mates and all the steamy sex that came from that . I loved the vampire biting her man's neck and drinking his blood and the hot sex that they had .
It was so much fun and lightly funny, but not too funny where you can't quite take it seriously. I loved it. Sorry not sorry.
It was so much fun and lightly funny, but not too funny where you can't quite take it seriously. I loved it. Sorry not sorry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Blood
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Death and Death of parent