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A review by bookishvicky
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Hmm. So.
I’ve never read an Ali Hazelwood book, and I know there’s always a risk reading a speculative title from someone who’s only written romance. HOWEVER— I did enjoy this. It was a fun take on the “vampires vs werewolves” trope, the pacing was surprisingly done well, and the smut was spicyyyy.
But, some things. 1. The dialogue felt so unrealistic. Like I could NOT get a grasp on Misery; she’s stoic and bitchy one moment and then cracking jokes and being quirky the next? Also why is her name Misery?! The explanation provided just did not cover it, I’m sorry.
Also- I didn’t see any of the plot twists coming. and I don’t mean that in a good way. Some, yeah, okay, I can see how they came about. But a lot felt like they were just being thrown at you and you had to roll with it because we’re onto the next Big Reveal!
I also found the “main villain” to be unpredictable yet so predictable, and the climax felt so so rushed. Like it was “evil bad guy speech” and then “oh ok he’s dead now lol!”
Lowe is such an interesting character and I WISH we knew more about him. Like he still felt like a mystery at the end! A good romance, especially first person, usually makes you feel like you understand why the MC loves them, you get their chemistry, their spice scenes are as wholesome as they are erotic. But these scenes were Just sex. Tropey, knotty sex.
I now know this is a setup in a duology/ series bc of the epilogue, so I’m edited to see Hazelwood explore the world and flesh out some characters more. Such ashow is a half wolf half human creature also half human. Huh. So are dhampirs a thing too?! I’m so confused. So so much of the lore was a mystery and still is
But, as a vampire lover, I’m giving this a solid 3.5. Not bad, not the best, I did enjoy it, and I’ll definitely be picking up the next book set in this world.
I’ve never read an Ali Hazelwood book, and I know there’s always a risk reading a speculative title from someone who’s only written romance. HOWEVER— I did enjoy this. It was a fun take on the “vampires vs werewolves” trope, the pacing was surprisingly done well, and the smut was spicyyyy.
But, some things. 1. The dialogue felt so unrealistic. Like I could NOT get a grasp on Misery; she’s stoic and bitchy one moment and then cracking jokes and being quirky the next? Also why is her name Misery?! The explanation provided just did not cover it, I’m sorry.
Also- I didn’t see any of the plot twists coming. and I don’t mean that in a good way. Some, yeah, okay, I can see how they came about. But a lot felt like they were just being thrown at you and you had to roll with it because we’re onto the next Big Reveal!
I also found the “main villain” to be unpredictable yet so predictable, and the climax felt so so rushed. Like it was “evil bad guy speech” and then “oh ok he’s dead now lol!”
Lowe is such an interesting character and I WISH we knew more about him. Like he still felt like a mystery at the end! A good romance, especially first person, usually makes you feel like you understand why the MC loves them, you get their chemistry, their spice scenes are as wholesome as they are erotic. But these scenes were Just sex. Tropey, knotty sex.
I now know this is a setup in a duology/ series bc of the epilogue, so I’m edited to see Hazelwood explore the world and flesh out some characters more. Such as
But, as a vampire lover, I’m giving this a solid 3.5. Not bad, not the best, I did enjoy it, and I’ll definitely be picking up the next book set in this world.