August

Review

✨✨✨✨ ✨ Well, how should this start? My emotions and thoughts are scattered everywhere.

This book is a standalone, but it takes place in the same universe as Echo and the characters of each book are related to one another, so it is best enjoyed if you have already read Echo first. Another thing to keep in mind is that this book, like Echo, is a Dark Romance, so there is a list of content warnings that I don't recommend being ignored.

That said, I proceed with my review, I'll do my best to make it organized, but don't blame me if it's not… it's Kelevra's fault 🥰

The story begins with Kelevra Diar, Imperial Prince, Third in line for the throne of Vitality, as he watches a performance test for sophomore year cadets, where he first sees Rin Varun.

From that moment on, Kel becomes obsessed with Rin, among other things, because he realizes that Rin hides a lot of secrets that Kel wants to discover out of his boredom. And what was supposed to be a game to kill boredom and a one-night stand suddenly becomes an imperial decree of an arranged betrothal.

But there is a problem, well… a lot of problems really.😅

One of them being the fact that both Rin and his identical twin brother, Sila, want to keep a low profile and live without attracting attention, which they can't do if Rin is involved with His Imperial Highness… Kelevra Diar doesn't do disguises.

Why should he? He is:

Sexy

Arrogant

He always gets what he wants without having to ask for it.

Impulsive

He doesn't know the meaning of the word NO

Possessive

A bad boy in every sense of the word with a tragic past included 😉

The story kept me on the verge of a collapse from beginning to end, whether it was the interactions and relationship development between Kel and Rin or the discovery of the secrets of the Varun twins, the hunt for clues to discover the “murderer” on campus. And just when I thought there were no more secrets or plot twists… I was proven wrong… over and over and over again.

What I liked the most is that Kel fell first, and he fell harder. And in his weird and twisted way, he always has Rin's welfare and best interests in mind, being his top priority.

So of course a fell for Kel, how was I supposed not to… I'm not that strong, for Christ’s sake!! Ok, I'm calm down.

I hope the next book (because I'm sure will be more) will be about Sila, as there are many unanswered questions regarding him and his whereabouts, I'm curious.

Review

😵‍💫🤯😳 OMG! I can't believe I had to wait for 98% of the book to get what you're looking for in this book 😅.

Jesus Christ! What a wild ride.

The first 32% of the book was slow and somewhat boring, but this is because it focuses on the construction of the world, giving some details, explanations, and the background of the characters. Once that's over, the real story begins.

Something that kept me on edge throughout the reading is that in many moments the characters first act and then give the reasons, if they give them at all.

I got quite angry with Dante for not admitting who he is even though everyone already knew… Then I realized that it was not about hiding his identity from others, rather it was about him not knowing himself and much less accepting or recognizing himself.

John is a hard-headed Priest 😅 that will do what is necessary to help the townspeople and protect Dante.

The best character in the whole book is Basque and I loved him 🥰

The only thing I can say I didn't like was the list of books that are/will be part of this series, which means I'll have to read them all (Cough, cough… notice the sarcasm 🤭).

Review

✨✨✨✨✨ I don't know what to say… this book was a wild ride, to say the least.

Plot twists that I didn't see coming in each chapter, complex characters with hidden motivations and who will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.

You can not trust anyone…

Of course, there is a love triangle between the main characters. It is quite complicated not only because of the love interest, but also because of the political implications and the relationship between them outside of passion, lust, and love/hate.

“My blood calls for yours, and yours mine.”

We have Acheron, prince of vampires, the epitome of the bad boy concept, he's everything that's wrong with a man, but you're still going to fall for him. There's no way around, Malachy falls, I fell, everyone they will fall for him, it is an undeniable fact.

Malachy is a human, not so human, who wakes up alone and badly injured in a cell with his captor trying to get him out and escape the people who are attacking his house, which he fails to do. Malachy is forced to walk out of a cell alone to end in another. Not only that, but Malachy is unknowingly caught in the middle of a sociopolitical conflict between the Vampire Court and the Clanless.

“Between Scylla and Charybdis.” 👈🏻 That sentence is the best way to exemplify the situation Malachy finds himself in… out of options, most of the time, and everyone around him wants something from him, everyone lies and wants to take advantage of Malachy.

Finally, there is Marcellus, leader of the Clanless, a group of rogue vampires who are against the Vampire Court form of government. He is Malachy's captor and creator, and apparently, the only one who knows about Malachy's true origin and abilities that go beyond what any other dhampir can do and that he obviously has hidden plans for Malachy and his extraordinary abilities. That's not to mention his complicated relationship with Acheron…

Malachy is trying to figure out whom he really is, gain control over his abilities, learn about the complicated relationships of the vampire court, fight his undeniable passion and lust for Acheron, and to top it all off, he's forced to fight and choose sides in a battle that is not his and whose implications he does not understand.

Like I said, it was a wild and unexpected ride, which I totally enjoyed, and I can't wait for the continuation of the story, hopefully and in the next book I have answers to all my questions.