A review by katemc7
After Dark by Kira Bates

dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This one had so much potential. Vampires. Cowboys. Small town. Taboo romance. But it just fell flat for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Though it was a shorter book and that pace is usually fast this felt too fast for me. I felt like I was scratching my head like when did that happen or what exactly is happening. The big bad was defeated too easily. There were a lot of hints that Rowan, our FMC, had some kind of special magic but we never saw it. Just overall fell very flat for me as much as I didn't want it to. 

We are introduced to Rowan in this one. Her and her bestie are at the carnival when something weird happens. But oh well they go home together. But Rowan gets invited out on a date so she leaves her BF. When she comes back her friend is dead. Rowan finds herself going to her best friend's boyfriend's ranch to see if he knows what happened. Only to find out that Sylas and his two brother's are now vampires. There is supposedly someone going around town changing people. Eating people. Left and right. Rowan doesn't know what to think now that she is also a vampire. She has a mental crisis and runs away a few times only to find herself back with Sylas. There is this energy between them. A sexual energy that neither of them wants to address. But then they do and now apparently they are together until the end. Sylas and his brother's offer to help Rowan fight the big bad. Apparently Rowan's family who were murdered were also vampires but the good kind. Now a battle is going to ensure to determine if good will be able to trump the evil. 

Thank you Grey's Promotions and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!