Breakaway Books

Authored by Ali Hazelwood; Published February 2024; Romance

⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🏖️🏖️🏖️🏖️🏖️

As you may have noticed, I love romance novels. I tear through them, usually making my way through in two days or less. But, I like a solidly medium level of spice in my romance novels and Bride was just a tad too hot for my taste.

That being said, how could I not find the novel appealing? The concept of werewolves, vampires, and humans in an uneasy truce, exchanging hostages to maintain the peace—it’s an excellent backdrop, tension building from the very first page. I could have done with a little more on the political intrigue front, particularly when it came to the internal dealings of the vampires. I hope there is more to come in the series, and that it comes with more Machiavellian scheming.

The heroine, Misery, was so appealing to me. The way that she struggled with belonging, never feeling accepted in any group among which she lived: it felt true in a way that most people can relate to. I loved her devotion to her best friend, the specter of whom hung over the whole novel. My kind of romance novel: where the heroine’s first love is her best friend, not her boyfriend.

Among the most charming characters is a child with whom Misery bonds, Annabelle, and she too is a highlight. She is sweet and bright and fun, and brings levity to a book that sometimes risked taking itself too seriously. She was just the right touch.

I was not quite as taken with the male lead, Lowe. Whereas Misery felt real, leaping off the page, Lowe felt flat and one-dimensional. Of course, as the story is told from Misery’s perspective, an amount of that is to be expected. I would have like a little more quirkiness, something more to grab on to beyond his being a great leader for his pact. Well, that, and the very spicy (and frequent) encounters between him and Misery.

But, when it comes down to it, there’s nothing like romantasy for a novel to transport you. If you want to lose yourself for a few hours, Bride is an excellent choice.