Bride

    

Title: Bride

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Published: Berkley, February 6, 2024

Pages: 410

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

Going into this, I was fully prepared for that good old Ali Hazelwood enemies to lovers. And it was and it wasn't that. It was actually a nice change of pace. I do hope that she gives us some more books in this world of Vampyres and Weres! The set up is there for sure. I loved the world building.

So this wasn't the standard Ali Hazelwood enemies to lovers. On paper, Misery and Lowe were absolutely enemies. Because Vampyres and Weres are enemies, obvs. So it does start with the enemies, but once they start working together to find Misery's missing friend, they get pretty friendly. 

This WAS, however, a "he falls first and hardest." Which is classic Hazelwood. :) But she does it so dang well! And it was even better because he was a werewolf! 

Her take on weres and vampyres was really so cool. I can think of like two or three books that I want just from the characters that we met in this one! But mostly, I'd love to see a closer look at these vampyres. Misery didn't grow up in vampyre society, so she doesn't know a ton about them. So I would be really interested to see a book from that side of the road. And I mean, I'm just throwing it out there that Misery's twin brother would be a super interesting main character.... 

Ratings

Stars: 4/5

Spice: 3/5