Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Last True Vampire #2

The Warrior Vampire (Last True Vampire series) by Baxter, Kate(December 1, 2015) Mass Market Paperback

Rate this book
The vampire was built for sin, every inch of him tight and bulky with corded muscle. A killer, that much was apparent, and she couldn't help but wonder if his appetite for violence would rival his appetites for other...things.

A WOMAN SEDUCED

Naya Morales is no ordinary mortal. Born with a shaman's power, she has devoted her life to tracking down stolen magic—and punishing those who take it. But one fateful night, she follows the alluring call of a sensual magic that is too glorious to be true—and finds herself face to face with a stunningly handsome thief who is too magnificent to resist...

A VAMPIRE ENSLAVED

From the moment he sees her, Ronan knows Naya is his mate. Driven by a deep, almost mystical connection, he aches for her body, hungers for her blood, and swears their souls are anchored together. Naya refuses to believe the words of a vampire—or risk the wrath of her tribe. But when she tries to make Ronan her prisoner, neither chains of silver nor fires of hell can help her escape the truth: she is the one who's been captured...

Unknown Binding

First published December 1, 2015

73 people are currently reading
954 people want to read

About the author

Kate Baxter

32 books326 followers
Kate Baxter is a die-hard romantic with a thing for Shakespeare. She lives in the great northwest where she hides away to write about all things fanged, furry, and undead.
http://facebook.com/AuthorKateBaxter

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
162 (29%)
4 stars
218 (39%)
3 stars
133 (23%)
2 stars
32 (5%)
1 star
11 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
Profile Image for Christie«SHBBblogger».
988 reviews1,303 followers
December 3, 2015



Title: The Warrior Vampire
Series: The Last True Vampire #2
Author: Kate Baxter
Release date: December 1, 2015
Cliffhanger: No
HEA



I'm a new follower of this author, but judging from what I've read this year, I don't see that changing anytime soon. Kate Baxter is one of those authors that has an innate skill for creating a variety of well developed supernatural creatures and world that they live in. The Dhampirs, Vampires, Witches, and Shifters that she's introduced so far each have their own culture, distinct personalities and mannerisms that make them fly off the pages and come to life. PNR world building is not an easy task and I really feel as if she has a natural ability as a storyteller in this genre. The storyline in this series is a continuing one that has spanned both books without feeling as if it's stretched too thin or lacking imagination. And that's why I can comfortably say that she's firmly hooked me for the long haul until the end of the Last True Vampire series.

In this book, we have newly turned Vampire, Ronan's story. I knew there would be a certain amount of a forbidden quality to this couple after reading book one. In The Last True Vampire, we know that he gave his oath to be tied to Siobhan-a Dhampir who is against regenerating the vampire race. Because of his tie to her, he isn't able to physically be with another woman...or else he will burn from the inside out.

(Side note: this would be so useful if it were possible in real life. Cheating would be banished forever. You've got to appreciate this concept.)

This isn't the greatest vow to be bound to when you come across your true mate. The one who you're "tethered to". When a vampire finds his mate, he immediately feels the connection through this tether. There is no doubt, hesitation, or debate. She is the one, perfectly made for him in every way. This is the only time instalove works for me...because supernatural. That's why. It's magic, souls reconnecting, fate. It's paranormal so anything is possible.

It wasn't normal to want someone so badly. This went beyond obsession. It was a need that couldn't be sated.

I loved Ronan's complete surrender to her and his determination to convince her that she belonged to him. If she were a vampire, she'd be unable to deny the connection they have. But Ronan went and tethered himself to a witch.



She's part of a tribe of shifters. The men shift into animal form, and the women have magical powers and abilities. I have to say, this heroine really was another hit for me. Judging by these two books I've read, it seems like this author likes to write exceptional strong heroines which is a must for me as a reader. Naya is confident in herself and her power as a woman and a witch. In fact, Ronan is in awe of her abilities and even refers to her as a "goddess" a time or two. What's not to like about that?



Her tribe is like a family, one that wanders the globe, has a lifespan like immortals, and are very controlling and outdated with their traditions. Naya must find the courage to go against everything she was raised to believe in: to obey her elders. They would never sanctify a union between her and someone outside of her kind. But she's always been a bit of a rebel, and not afraid to judge for herself what is right and wrong. Even though she isn't convinced of their tether, she wouldn't mind taking him for a test drive.

The vampire was built for sin, every inch of him tight and bulky with corded muscle. A killer, that much was apparent, and she couldn't help but wonder if his appetite for violence would rival his appetites for other...things.

The main focus of this book was Ronan's race to find his sister who is very possibly in danger, solve the mystery of the evil that is entering humans and overtaking their bodies, and find out where the missing chunk of memory went in his mind. Because there's something very wrong about that time that he can't remember. I noticed that the conflict between the H/h came primarily from outside sources rather than between the two of them. Outside influences and the mysterious evil that they had to find and overcome.



I felt like this book was action packed, especially the beginning and the end. The middle slowed down in pace for me somewhat. I'm not sure if it was because it was lacking in any way, but it failed to capture my complete attention such as in the previous book. I enjoyed both characters, the chemistry was off the charts, though more of a slow burn for me than I had anticipated. Also, I felt that the conflict with Siobhan was stressed several times throughout the book and the resolution ended up being somewhat anticlimactic.

If you're looking for a great PNR series to get started on to really whet your appetite for more, I highly recommend this one. You have romance, action, suspense, and writing that is locked tight with no holes or discrepancies. Even though I still think TLTV holds the top spot for me, this one was well done and I can't wait to read the next installment.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:

TwitterGoogle PlusBlogEmailGoodreadsPinteresttsūFacebook




Profile Image for Claire.
2,324 reviews739 followers
June 6, 2016
4.5 - "I'm not an all-you-can-drink dinner buffet. Got it?" Stars!

Kate Baxter continues on with the Last True Vampire series with absolutely stunning story-telling in The Warrior Vampire we met Ronan Daly in the previous book as Michael Aristov’s right hand man, a lot happened in that book and some of the changes directly involved Ronan, especially towards the end.



The Warrior Vampire is Ronan’s story, and boy was it a good one. I was pulled in from the beginning, and I liked that the author took us away from Los Angeles for most of this one and gave Ronan his story in a different setting, you are given an indication that this may be the case at the end of the last book as Ronan sets out to find his sister Chelle.

I really like that the author gives us really strong female leads in this series as well, Claire in the previous book and now Naya in this one. Both were strong and assured in themselves, and although there is vulnerability there it is not played upon and it added to the characterizations in a positive light rather than making either women seem weak or clingy.

”I fucking love a female with a violent streak.”

Naya gives as good as she gets, the verbal sparring in the early stages of the book between her and Ronan is really enjoyable, and the dirty-sexy chemistry between them from the get-go positively vibrates through your Kindle.

”Whats it like?”
“Whats, what like?”
”Drinking my blood.”
“It’s Everything”.


There is a bit of a slow burn going with this one, but I liked that, Ronan’s past allegiances really do rear up and affect his present connections, and Naya is dealing with a whole set of issues herself in that her Pod and the rules that she is governed by do not leave room for a relationship in any way, shape or form with a Vampire. Magic is being used and for nefarious purposes and it is very much something that she needs to be dealing with. I found it refreshing that the author worked through everything at a steady pace rather than finding a quick resolution to some of the more important tropes and moving on, the suspense, the romance and the character development all worked in-line with the overall pacing of the book and the development of the rest of the story-line going on around them.

”It’s like finding peace after centuries of restlessness.
I don’t want to want you…
I can’t afford to need you.
Especially now.”


The story does continue to play out back in Los Angeles and we are given snippets of it through Claire, Michael and Jenner to name but a few. This is my only small niggle in that due to quite a large time lapse since reading The Last true Vampire my mind is a tad fuzzy on the whole Sortiari element of the story now. It didn’t really impact my enjoyment of this one though, but I did at points wish I could remember the relevance of them especially in the latter stages of this book.

”I’m lost to you… Addicted. I don’t have any control when it comes to you.”

From the snippet we are given at the end of this instalment, The Dark Vampire is due in May 2016, and it is Jenner’s book, the guy pops up quite a bit in this one, and from what you see it is evident that he is struggling with his newly turned Vampire status and the uncontrollable urges that come with it, I think the author may have another hit on her hands if she offers up another strong female (and from the blurb it sounds like it) to take him on!

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was my pleasure to provide the above honest review.
Profile Image for Ivy Deluca.
2,372 reviews333 followers
April 18, 2016
[2.5 stars]
description
I was left with an overwhelming sense of Meh when I finished this book. Nothing wrong with the characters, other than a lack of spark in the beginning and a dependency on the “tethering” to explain a connection, instead of really taking the time to build it on the page. There are only so many threats that can be dished out between the leads before you start to lose interest.

Mythology builds up a little but felt isolated from the main conflict of vampires and sortiari which is what I was interested in seeing more of when I picked this up. I think as far as the writing itself, it’s a well edited book and I have enjoyed some of the interactions between Ronan and Naya in later chapters, but that first half was too slow going. The world itself is worth an extra look, so I’m hopeful that the series is better balanced going forward.

description
[2.5 stars]
It was ok, I had hoped for more in this book, but I struggled to connect with either Naya or Ronan. That said, the teaser for the next book has me intrigued so I’m willing to stick it out and see where this series goes.

**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**

For more reviews, visit
description
description description description description description description
Profile Image for Cassandra.
1,188 reviews110 followers
December 7, 2015
My Thoughts - 5 out of 5 Unicorns - I loved it!!!
***Received a copy of the ebook for an honest review

The cover is definitely a work of steamy art :)

This is book 2 in the series and is for adults only due to the steamy scenes and violence. While it is not mandatory to read the series in order, I highly recommend it because you will know the histories and references made from book 1, and it just makes it so much more together!

I loved reading this one as much as the first. You get pulled right into Ronan and Naya’s story. I don’t want to give anything away, so it is hard to decide what to say. I really love Naya’s feistiness and warrior nature. She definitely has personal issues that you have no problem seeing and even relating to. Ronan is a cocky male, but he has his own issues to work through too. They both had moments where you wanted to yell at them and tell them to stop overanalyzing, but love them both!

Kate Baxter has created an amazing world where you are never sure what will happen along the way, but you will enjoy every minute of it. I didn’t want to put it down. Can’t wait to see what Kate cooks up next!!!

I highly recommend this series to all the PNR fans who love a great vampire romance 
Profile Image for Emily (Mrs B's Books).
1,727 reviews83 followers
October 24, 2017
This book continues the building world and story started in the first book, however it could be read as a stand a lone book.

In this book we have newly turned Ronan Daly, the second in command for the king of the Vampires. He has left his coven in search of his sister who contacted him at the end of the previous book saying that she needed him.

Ronan has missing memory, but waking up in Naya's bedroom he immediately knows that he has been tethered (mated) and that the woman is his mate. He only has to convince her that they are mated and to help him find his sister.

Naya is a mother strong female with smarts and skills of her own. It's good to see strong women who can stand up to their men and show strength and that they could look after themselves if required.

This is a brilliant book in the series and i look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Sarah.
3,356 reviews1,234 followers
May 10, 2016
3.5 stars

Ronan has waited centuries for Michael to turn him into a vampire and now all he wants is the chance to help his king rebuild their race. When his twin sister Chelle calls asking for his help with an ancient vampire relic that she has finally uncovered he drops everything to go to her aid. Unfortunately for him he wakes up almost 2 weeks later with absolutely no memory of where he has been or what has happened to his sister. Naya is a powerful witch with the ability to sense stolen and corrupted magic, her tribe's sacred duty is to track that magic and to kill those who have been damaged by trying to use it. She is drawn to Ronan because she can sense the dangerous magic inside him but at the same time there is something about him that resonates with the very heart of her and she can't bring herself to hurt him. Unfortunately someone or something has left Ronan's magic corrupted and unless Naya can find a way to remove it before it turns him into a monster she might be forced to kill him before he can destroy the people she cares about most.

Although I liked the first book in this series I did have a few problems with both of the main characters, the world was interesting enough that I was willing to give it another try though and I'm very happy to say that Kate Baxter has definitely upped the ante in The Vampire Warrior. Not only has she expanded her world building to include witches and shapeshifters alongside the vampires and dhampirs but she also gave us two main characters who were likeable from the beginning. Naya is a powerful woman in her own right but she is sick of being treated like a possession by the male members of her tribe.

The Bororo culture is very male orientated even though it's only women who have the skills to detect and reclaim magic like Naya does. The males instead have the ability to shift into jaguars which makes them powerful in a different way and they hold this power over the women's heads. Naya is one of the few females left with her abilities and because of that her tribe want to see her mated as quickly as possible so that she can start giving birth to a new generation of witches. Unfortunately for Naya they aren't happy about her independent streak but she is equally unhappy about the idea of being forced into mating a man she doesn't love and having to give up her hunting duties.

Ronan never expected to find his mate but he becomes tethered the moment he sets eyes on Naya and that proves she is the only woman for him. Unfortunately, he was so convinced that he wouldn't find his mate that he has already made a blood vow to another woman and now if he acts on his feelings for Naya it could be the death of him. Now Ronan not only has to figure out a way to handle the dark and dangerous magic inside him, he also has to track down his missing sister and find a way to get Siobhan to release him from his vow. Naya has a lot of trouble accepting that Ronan is her mate, she is reluctant to escape one forced mating by being pulled into another and she is determined to fight Ronan every step of the way. She does agree to help him find Chelle along with a way to get rid of the magic though, especially since it quickly becomes clear everything is linked to a surge in magical demons in the area.

I really enjoyed the push and pull between these two. It can be hard to pull off a romance when characters are fated mates with an immediate bond but I thought the way things progressed by Ronan and Naya were believable. I understood her reluctance but enjoyed the seeing her come around to the idea as she spent more time with Ronan and realised that he was proud to fight at her side and didn't want to lock her away in cotton wool. Ronan was the right amount of possessive and growly alpha without veering too far into controlling and over the top territory. He was protective of Naya but in a way that didn't stifle her and he appreciated the strength he could see in her.

My slight complaints about the story were that it was a little too easy to guess who the mastermind behind everything was. I also could do without seeing the hero from the next book screwing around with women that aren't his mate. We had to watch Ronan with Siobhan in The Last Vampire (in scenes that quite frankly turned my stomach!) and in this book we got to watch Jenner (the hero of The Dark Vampire) working his way through a whole bevy of dhampirs. I like getting to know future characters but would rather do it outside of the bedroom please. I also thought the plot with Ronan's blood vow to Siobhan fell a little flat, I would have loved to see her character brought down a peg or two since she's been such a nasty piece of work since the beginning of the series and I didn't like the way they gave her such a brilliant gift for his freedom. I had been looking forward to seeing Naya go in there, prove that she was much more powerful and make Siobhan back off so that was a little disappointing.

Overall I enjoyed this book much more than the first though, this series is really starting to come into it's own and I'm looking forward to reading the next one.

Source: Received from Headline Eternal in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Annie .
2,505 reviews940 followers
December 5, 2015


In the second installment to the Last True Vampire series, Kate Baxter introduces readers to Naya Morales, a woman with special powers tasked with tracking down others with stolen magic. When she is lured by a magic so different and powerful, she comes face to face with a man that somehow knows her name. He claims that he is going to protect her before passing out. Freaked out, Naya straps him to a chair, intending to question him once he wakes. But the stranger becomes all too impossible to resist.

I didn’t fully warm up to Naya’s character. She acts like a tough cookie and I will admit, sometimes she is. But other times she acts without really thinking about it first. As with the reader, she is kept in the dark and when Ronan wakes, not able to remember anything that happened apart from that he is Naya’s mate and must protect her, Naya reacts like a child. Instead of having both characters sit down and try to communicate, they simply argue, creating a greater divide between them. Naturally, I could understand why Naya was a little bit freaked out, but the entire situation doesn’t really make for a very romantic interlude. It was hard to believe in the romance when Ronan is practically throwing himself on Naya and she’s batting him off like he’s a disgusting bug.

I will say that I enjoyed Ronan’s character. He’s a charmer but boy does he seem clingy. As the book goes on, however, Baxter is able to rein them both in and create an action-packed story that does eventually amp up the romance. I’m looking forward to see what Baxter has in store for her readers next!
Profile Image for Lover of Romance.
3,711 reviews1,118 followers
September 13, 2017
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

In The Warrior Vampire  we have a stunning and vibrant romance that pulls me quickly into the story and I didn't want to let go. I will admit, I wasn't sure if I would be in the mood for this story, but honestly with Kate Baxter at the helm...you never need to be in the mood. You just know that you will enter her world of magic, of vampires, of danger and spirited heroes and heroines and become captivated and thus it was for myself while reading The Warrior Vampire. 

This wonderful story starts out with our heroine, who finds those using magic in a depraved form and binding them. But while out hunting one night, she comes across a man, who sees her across a vampire, and a man who comes at her, claims her as his and passes out. So Naya has no clue what she needs to do with Ronan, only that she feels some sort of connection with him. Naya thought that vampires were extinct, until now. Apparently, in Naya's mind, all the males of her association have gone crazy wanting her as their mate. But Ronan is quite different, even while in chains, he has a tender and protect regard for Naya. As Ronan and Naya join forces, trying to figure out the location of his missing sister, the reason why her clan are so crazy in their intentions...they discover a binding love and become a fighting force their enemies won't see coming.

This book truly was a whirlwind for me to read and I just couldn't get enough of it. I honestly just wanted more of these two, because they both pack quite a punch together. So what makes Ronan and Naya so great together? Well let me tell you what impressed me most about these two. First their mating bond. When a vampire first exists, their souls are taken away until they find their mate who tethers their soul back to them. We see that Ronan isn't the typical alpha male who just "claims" Naya. He sees her as his salvation, his peace and the reason to fight for what is right. I love how he views her as a partner, he is always insistent on craving a passionate and a woman who fights and stands on her own.
I fucking love a female with a violent streak
Naya has her own self worth, she is strong and a fighter. She doesn't see what is the appeal of being a "mate" until she meets Ronan. She sees the important and strength behind a bond of love and respect and passion. Seeing these two together is unique and simply wonderful.

Overall The Warrior Vampire is a sexy filled romance that is packed with action, magic, a villain you won't suspect and a love story that is vibrant and memorable!!
My soul was returned to me the moment I laid eyes on you. The only thing I know with certainty right now is that you are mine. 

What do you love most about a kick ass couple fighting and falling in love?

Have you read this series yet? What do you love most about it?


[foogallery id="44075"]



 photo Addicted To Romance Reviews 2_zpsplp8m0tb.png

Profile Image for  B.E.Love.
1,382 reviews132 followers
January 16, 2016
Naya was born from a long line of Shaman's, all the woman in her pod have the ability to hear magic that has been taken. And it is their jobs to get it back and take care of the person who stole it. The only other thing important is that the woman who are the only ones born with this gift find mates and make the next generation. Naya has been faithful to the cause but it has been getting hard and she has no desire to be mated and breed off. After a night of retrieval Naya hears power like none other.

Ronan has had a long and not always easy life. A vampire is without his soul till he finds his true and destined mate and she brings it back to him. Ronan wakes chained which tries to bring back memories from the past he would rather forget, only to realize he has not only found his mate and should but he doesn't know who she is. Only that she isn't human or vampire. Add to that he is already bound to the Dhampir Queen(which we learn about in a previous book).
*Thank you NetGallery and St. Martin's Press for this ARC
This isn't a usual or easy situation for either Ronan or Naya and the things they have in their lives seem to do everything to keep them apart and want them apart including the plans and expectations that are placed on Naya's life. And if thats not enough more is added that just might make it too hard for Naya and Ronan to find their happy ending together.

This is a great vampire PR series that stands out among so many. I loved the previous book and the prequel and this one fits right in with the previous two. This author does a great job creating this world as well as creating characters that have depth and are so easy to love and hate. There are so many stories to tell in the world Kate Baxter created, and she continues to just build upon each book. With each PR or vampire book there are some constants but Ms. Baxter does a great job at making them fresh as well as adding some great new twists.
Profile Image for L.E.Olteano  .
514 reviews70 followers
April 6, 2016
Review originally posted at Butterfly-o-Meter Books on Nov 18 2015 :

In a Flutter: Rich world & witty style!
Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: If in the first novel of the series, Last True Vampire, I thought the world was rich, in The Warrior Vampire things got even more yummy. The Bororo tribe with all their unique features were kickass! Plus ofc all the world elements from the first novel = paranormal galore!
Characters: Naya was a really fun female lead, because she was independent yet allowed traditions to rule her where she shouldn’t have (imo), and following her eye-opening process was super fun. She was kickass, funny, passionate – what’s not to love?
Ronan was as delicious as you’d expect him, all smexy and determined and loyal to his mate *love-struck*
Their couple was charming and charismatic, and their one on one moments were uber-hot xD
Plot: The romance arc was really fun, the odds-against-the-couple thing came with awesome tension and the action outside the romance was interesting too, with Chelle and the artifact and…lots of fun, in short.
Writing: Third person, past tense narrative, his/her POV (with minor inserts from another character’s POV). I liked the style, the snarky tone of Naya and the way her voice came through.
Curb Appeal: Cool cover, hooking blurb, cool series – impulsive buy material for sure for my PNR moods!

All in all, I recommend The Warrior Vampire to lovers od vampire romance, mates-trope fans, and also to fans of diverse worldbuilding. The Last True Vampire is a series that promises a lot, I’ll for sure keep an eye on it!
Profile Image for Sportochick.
623 reviews13 followers
November 29, 2015
This book is uniquely interesting and will cause the reader to not want to stop reading. It has well thought out descriptions, full of forward movement in the plot and incorporates a series of linked events that brings in the shifter and vampires stories.

Naya is my type of women; strong, fearless, faithful to her beliefs and a kickass fighter. The author does an astounding job of incorporating all these attributes while keeping her femininity in tact. There is a vulnerability in Naya that makes you like her as the heroine and want to help her fight her cause.

I love how the storyline introduced Ronan causing me to laugh and want to know how he came to be in that position. This vampire is not the common vampire you read about in most vampire books. Instead there is a uniqueness to the authors take on vampires and how she tells their story.

This book is a good read for all people 18+ and I give it 4 STARS.

An ARC copy was gifted in exchange for an honest opinion via Netgalley.

VISIT MY BLOG FOR MORE REVIEWS: SPORTOCHICK'S MUSINGS
Profile Image for PepperP0t .
5,108 reviews86 followers
February 20, 2022
While avoiding her pod leader, Boroo enforcer Naya works her obligatory task, siphoning ‘stolen’ magic but is distracted by the sharpest magic to ever to call her and follows it to handsome, sexy, muscled, freshy turned vampire, Ronan Daly. In the area to find his missing twin, Ronan searches for her while accompanying Naya as she works through the areas influx of ‘stolen’ magics.

Ronan’s aware Naya could be Sortairi but he can’t kill or ignore her, he’s equally aware Naya’s called to him as only his mate can and he’s bound to protect her! Unable to avoid her pod leader, Naya's informed she’s being retired and will be mated shortly, but her secret romance with Ronan has certainly given her divided loyalties.

Meanwhile, Siobhan, Mikhail and the Sortiari fruitlessly search for answers and Jenner slowly adjusts to his new normal. To this reader’s taste the secondary characters brought enough attitude to share with everybody in this outing, kudos to cousin Luz, Also, the teasers to what/who was behind the infection brought fun to the elusive villain piece.
Rating: 4.25stars
Profile Image for Sandy S.
8,210 reviews206 followers
December 1, 2015

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 1, 2015

The vampire was built for sin, every inch of him tight and bulky with corded muscle. A killer, that much was apparent, and she couldn't help but wonder if his appetite for violence would rival his appetites for other...things.

A WOMAN SEDUCED

Naya Morales is no ordinary mortal. Born with a shaman's power, she has devoted her life to tracking down stolen magic—and punishing those who take it. But one fateful night, she follows the alluring call of a sensual magic that is too glorious to be true—and finds herself face to face with a stunningly handsome thief who is too magnificent to resist...

A VAMPIRE ENSLAVED

From the moment he sees her, Ronan knows Naya is his mate. Driven by a deep, almost mystical connection, he aches for her body, hungers for her blood, and swears their souls are anchored together. Naya refuses to believe the words of a vampire—or risk the wrath of her tribe. But when she tries to make Ronan her prisoner, neither chains of silver nor fires of hell can help her escape the truth: she is the one who's been captured...

•••••

REVIEW: 3.75 stars--THE WARRIOR VAMPIRE is the second full-length installment in Kate Baxter’s adult, contemporary LAST TRUE VAMPIRE paranormal, romance series. This is vampire Ronan, and enforcer/demon hunter Naya Morales’s storyline. We were first introduced to Ronan in book one-THE LAST TRUE VAMPIRE. Ronan was a bit of a ‘manwhore’ who trothed himself to wicked female in order to save the life of Mikhail-the king of the vampires and the last known ‘Ancient One’. THE WARRIOR VAMPIRE can be read as a stand alone but for cohesion and back story, I recommend reading the series in order as there is quite a bit of detailed information revealed in each successive story.

Told from several third person perspectives THE WARRIOR VAMPIRE focuses on the building relationship between Naya and Ronan, and their hunt for legendary ‘mapinguari’. Naya is an enforcer-she tracks the ‘mapinguari-a host (human or otherwise) infected with malicious, dark magic and destroys the demon that evolves from the stolen magic. But an increase and infestation of mapinguari finds our heroine face to face with a species once long thought to be extinct-the vampire- and the vampire’s declaration that Naya is his mate, finds our heroine caught between what it is she has to do, and losing her heart to her ‘tethered’ male.

THE WARRIOR VAMPIRE follows several building plotlines including the development of future storylines and a revisit to previous couples and characters. Kate Baxter adds, vampires, witches, demons, shifters and an assortment of supernatural beings that all play secondary and supporting roles throughout the story and series. Naya is an ‘enforcer’ from the South American tribe of the Bororo, made up of male feline shifters, and female shamans and witches. The premise is a slow build as many different and intersecting plotlines are revealed and addressed, as well as some of the history of Naya’s people and their responsibility of policing magic; and the vampire’s struggle to survive in a world that believes they no longer exist.

The relationship between Naya and Ronan focuses on Ronan’s attempts to convince his mate that what she feels is real but Naya is a strong, independent female who is slowly pulling away from the people in control. As an enforcer, she goes above and beyond, but as a female ‘Bororo’, she is expected to mate with one of her own. Ronan’s declaration of Naya as his mate has thrown a few problems into the already frigid waters of the Bororo hierarchy. Naya’s personality is aggressive and sometimes unforgiving but her attraction to, and need for Ronan, slowly calms her angry façade. Ronan is a male vampire who literally falls into Naya’s life as he searches for his missing sister-the twin who has gone in search of an ancient vampire relic. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense.


There are several intersecting conflicts including Ronan’s troth to another female and the darkness that continues to encroach upon his soul. We also look at the men who control Naya’s life-their demands, their punishments, their patriarchal society of men in charge; and the hunger for power that begins to corrupt the people in charge.

THE WARRIOR VAMPIRE is an entertaining and intriguing storyline with engaging characters and a passionate romance. The requisite evil comes in many forms but all with a singular vessel of control. The writing style flows smoothly with a number of introspective thoughts from our leading characters that let the reader get up close and personal in the minds of Ronan and Naya.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.
Profile Image for Jo ReadsRomance.
512 reviews35 followers
February 25, 2016
For someone who is not yet a fully fledged and paid up member of the paranormal fan club, I sure am loving this series. "The Warrior Vampire" was a brilliant and addictive read. It was so fantastic that I could not turn the pages quick enough, desperate for more of Ronan and Naya's story. I was consumed by the exciting world of vampires, witches and magic. Not once was there a dull moment or a time where my mind wondered to some place else. The story was fast-paced, thrilling and contained the most hottest couple I have ever come across from the this genre. Kate Baxter sure can create some steamy scenes. I am surprised that my kindle didn't catch fire during some parts of the book. Sucking someone else's blood has never been so hot! No wonder I was hooked! Lol.

"You're my family, Naya. My tribe. My pod. My coven. Whatever you want to call it.
I don't give my vows lightly. And I've given mine to you."

Together Naya and Ronan made a dazzling couple, all fiery heat and sexiness. The chemistry between the two was palpable from their very first moments together and they just became more intense as the story progressed. I fell for Ronan, just as hard as I'd fallen for Michael in "The Last True Vampire", if not harder. I know that I've said it before but I do love a bloodthirsty vampire. They are all so damn erotic, so deliciously passionate and one hundred percent alpha. Ronan encompassed all of these gorgeous qualities so it was a given that he would be a vampire for me to lust over. I also loved Naya. She was a strong and feisty heroine, not essentially needing a hot-blooded male in her life, but it certainly improved things for her. Naya made a kick-ass character, ideal for the dark world in which they both belonged to, and that in turn made them the most perfect couple.

"Your blood is life. It gives me breath. Makes my heart beat.
And your body...
your body is an alter at which I pray. There is no greater power than that."

Please don't think that this series is all about the sex though, because it really wasn't. There was a gripping plot that kept me on my toes throughout. The writing was fantastic, keeping me engrossed and entertained through every single chapter. I really feel that the series is now beginning to open up, with the introduction of new characters and the beginnings of their own stories that have piqued my interest. I also loved catching up with Claire and Michael again and I am already excited for the next book which is Jenner's story. He appeared to be the one who was the most troubled of the underworld so I can't wait to discover how his book will play out.

If you haven't yet picked this series up and you love a passionate read to sweep you away to another world, I strongly recommend one-clicking this book, but be sure to read "The Last True Vampire" first, you don't want to miss out on Michael and Claire's story. It's equally as good as this one.

"He was the air she needed to breathe. Water. Food.
Ronan was everything."
Profile Image for Tanya Davis.
544 reviews60 followers
April 28, 2016
I liked Ronan in the first book. He was so loyal to Mikhail, and even played on the fringes of the vampire life to get what he needed. After he made his bed with that blood vow, I thought we were screwed and were not going to get a story from him at all. This little tidbit stayed in the back of my head the whole book. I was wondering, even if Naya and Ronan were able to get together, how were they going to get past his little pact back home?

Naya's power leads her to Ronan and it's not in a good way. But yet, she can't kill him. He seems to have two sides and the magical side she needs to deal with is only their part of the time. The times he is himself, he is just too much for her to resist. She tries to keep her distance, knowing she may need to kill him, but he's just so damn charming! Naya's magic is strong, which is useful for her "family" and she's been fighting against them and their demands for awhile. She may be pushing it too far with Ronan. I liked that she had that rebellious streak against the family where she just wanted to be left alone. I completely got that. These idiots she had to work for would have driven her into the ground with their demands! Keeping Ronan a secret came to be pretty hard with her trainee, and that caused a lot of fun.

Ronan needs to find his sister, but he gets wrapped up in this magic stuff pretty much from the time he hits town. I really like Ronan, and he was so charming in trying to win Naya over. However, I felt like he turned to working more with Naya than trying to find his sister. I think he thought it might lead him to her, but the lack of mention of her made me wonder if she was even on his mind. His world revolved around Naya.

When the storyline rolls out, the bad guys are kind of obvious. Some of their deeds though, surprised me. Overall, I was more interested in the relationship between Ronan and Naya. All the other stuff kind of felt obvious. Except for the sister part. I was really curious about her and kept wanting that part to fit in somewhere a little sooner.

Near the end, we see a Naya that was stronger than I even thought. Her whole world is going to change now and I really hope we get to see her grow in this new environment. Definitely a fun, conflicting couple. Naya's resistance to Ronan was a lot of fun to watch. Not overly frustrating as you sometimes find. I will definitely be continuing. We still have interesting facts from book one, that worked its way into The Warrior Vampire. I can't wait to see how they continue. I really enjoyed this book.This review was originally posted on Rantings of a Reading Addict
Profile Image for bookaholic ge.
798 reviews12 followers
January 5, 2016
Naya Morales is not a regular human she goes out every night and tracks down stolen magic-and punishing those who take it. On a night that should have been like every other night something crazy happens....she feels a surge of power...runs to investigate and sees a man consumed by power who says her name right before he crumbles at her feet.

What's a girl to do when a man who should know nothing about her knows her name but is unable to tell her how or why? Take him hostage of course!

I received this book as an ARC from Net Galley for my honest review

Kate Baxter did a great job creating the characters in this book. You will find yourself laughing and thoroughly enjoying the funnier interactions between Naya and Ronan. When it came to intensity; both characters gave the other a run for their money, fighting not only each other but their enemies in a way that you can't help but cover your mouth and stare at the pages in awe waiting to see how things would turn out.

Overall the book was good, this is the first book that I have read in this series and I found it to be very interesting. It is very easy to see that this series could be a hit. But I had moments where I wished things would speed up.

Now to be fair Kate Baxter was creating a world with a lot of characters involved and there needed to be time to develop each character and the roles they played in Naya and Ronan's life... but I found myself wishing it would all just move along and give me more of Naya and Ronan.

In closing... is this book good? Yes! Is this book filled with passion, action packed, funny and interesting? Yes
Profile Image for Douglas Meeks.
893 reviews238 followers
November 27, 2015
I am still wrestling with myself on how to rate this book, the story was addicting (I usually got to bed around 10-11PM, I stayed up until almost 2 AM finishing the book) BUT (huge BUT) this is a book of 382 pages and for the second time in a week I am given a really good story surrounded by MAJOR pages of sex filler and just plain old filler/fluff. I scanned/skipped huge portions of this book and lost nothing of the great story. Almost a 5 Star story but maybe it is just my mood but I am getting a bit p$$ed with these doorstops. This book was 383 pages and it would still have been a great story with 250-280ish pages, the sex was hugely overdone (I could almost use this same rant to describe Sweet Ruin) and then there were just pages of "I could look at him/her all day/forever/etc" and pages of nothing but pages. I gave Sweet Ruin 4 Stars for the story, maybe I should do the same to be fair but in my present mood I want to give it 3. If you don't mind scanning and skipping, these a BOTH great stories but you are paying for those extra pages.

Bottom Line: I gave it 4 Stars because if I did less I would have to back up and give every other doorstop with a great story 3 Stars, I have to say if a book keeps me awake into the wee hours to finish it, it must be doing something VERY right since I love my sleep :)
Profile Image for ☆Angel☆.
441 reviews38 followers
December 7, 2015
Ronan caught my eye in the first book, The Last True Vampire. He was steadfastly loyal to Mikhail and went to great lengths to help his king be with his mate, Claire. I was excited to read Ronan's story and it certainly wasn't a let down!

I am really liking this paranormal world Kate Baxter has created. In this book we are introduced to Naya, who is tethered to Ronan, and also a powerful witch. She belongs to a "pod" where all the males are jaguar shifters and the females are few and far between. Which is why she finds herself promised to the son of the chieftan, although Ronan has a thing or two to say about that.

Naya was one tough cookie. I enjoyed her fierceness and protectiveness when it came to those she cared about. It was quite fun watching her and Ronan try to combat their desires. Ronan was willing to face death in order to be with her. That must be some tether holding them together.

This book can be read as a standalone, but I would suggest reading the first one before this one for a little bit of background information. Recommended to paranormal romance fans!

ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
December 17, 2015
I loved the start of this series in The Last True Vampire. The characters were so real that the story just sucked me in.
This book, not so much. I'm not a great one for reading witch/magic stories, and this was full of it. It's a great, involved story, where we follow Ronan, Michael's right hand man who we met in part one, as he meets Naya Morales, his true love.
Naya is a witch, very powerful and independent, it takes a bit for her to accept that her and Ronan are tethered, as she has no intention of being tied to ANY male, including the one Joaquin has chosen for her.

Our couple need to work together in order for Ronan to find his sister, so there is a lot going on,and a lot of magic.

A really good continuation to the story, but unfortunately for me, just not my thing!
So my rating is a personal one, ....probably not really what the book deserves, as it is as well written as TWV, and as enjoyable.

Next up is Jenner, so looking forward to that.
Profile Image for Patricia.
1,955 reviews5 followers
December 7, 2015
Welcome to a world of magick with with witches (bruja) vampires, shape shifters and more.

In this second book dark magick is causing havoc and its Naya's job as the bruja to get it under control. While out on patrol she senses a creature who she believes is using corrupt magician but this time things aren't what they seem. This is where Roman comes in to play.

We have tethered soul mates, male chauvinistic shape shifters, a missing vampire along with a sassy bruja to make for one entertaining, and smooth moving story.
I'm looking forward to the next book " The Dark Vampire", Jenner's story. After reading the teaser I know this author has me hooked and looking forward to so much more.
Profile Image for Lisa.
1,426 reviews21 followers
December 14, 2015
THE WARRIOR VAMPIRE has all the elements of a good book--a seemingly insurmountable plot, mystery, and suspense. The characters are likable.

What put me off the book was an improbability in the beginning , and the cardboard villain.

However, don't let me dissuade you from reading the book if you're interested. These are only my personal pet peeves.

ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Sarah Berry.
40 reviews
September 18, 2024
Plot 2/5
To put it bluntly, half of this book is just the characters being horny for each other. Even in very inappropriate moments such as Naya talking on the phone to her cousin, dealing with life-threatening situations, rescuing Ronan's sister, etc. The characters are constantly having naughty thoughts and we have to hear about it. Like I get it: they want to sleep with each other. Who cares? The pacing of the narration is an incredible slog to read, because the vast majority is just detailing about how the characters are feeling. Whether it's their emotions, their desires, it's all telling and very little showing. Instead of using descriptions that appeal to the senses and create a good sense of scenery, it's nothing but subjective, abstract words used to fill space on the pages. If we were to cut all of that useless clutter out, the book would be significantly shorter. We are told of interesting things happening around the characters, but they're too busy being horny for each other for us to actually get immersed into the action. Whereas what little action there is to drive the plot forward, is poorly worded to a point where it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It makes the characters seem incompetent in their abilities and knowledge. Especially considering that they're supposedly 'warriors'. I would've been fine if the perspective had only switched between Naya and Ronan, as it makes sense for a romance novel. However, it kept randomly switching to the point of view of other less interesting characters I didn't really know or care to get to know, because they were even more shallow and horny than the two mains. I feel the plot would have been decent had they cut out a lot of the inappropriate thoughts and the useless, vague, abstract clutter.

Characters 1/5
I didn't find myself caring about any of the characters. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I did not respect them, I did not find myself cheering for them, and I would much rather the "romance" had ended or been non-existent in the story than turning out the way it did. Ronan was charming enough at first, but the more he got to know Naya, the more possessive, obsessive, and toxic he became which made him unlikable as a love interest or 'hero'. Naya is described as your typical strong female protagonist, however, when push comes to shove, she usually fails to live up to those expectations. In all the action scenes she's a part of, she feels very incompetent not knowing how to handle herself. For example being 'immobilized' by a simple wrist grab or when Ronan gets in a fight with Naya's intended fiance instead of stepping in and saying "no one gets to decide how I'm going to live my life but me" she just stands there and watches like a typical damsel in distress, despite supposedly being a demon hunter belonging to a tribe of warriors. The whole 'tethering' nonsense is one of the most uninteresting approaches to romance I've heard of. It's clearly used as a plot device to give Ronan and Naya an excuse for being horny and drawn to one another from day 1 despite being strangers. As opposed to falling in love at a more natural and relatable rate. As a result the 'romance' feels rushed, forced, and incredibly shallow. I was hoping by the end of the story Ronan would ease up on the possessiveness, but it didn't get better, in fact it got worse, because Naya was doing it as well. Their relationship is already so toxic and unhealthy. They're clingy, needy, prone to jealousy, willing to throw away friends, family, jobs, lives ... just to be together despite only having known for each for two weeks. There's no evidence or reasoning behind them caring for one another other than the author made them do it. On top of this, the odd choice of wording, such as frequently using male/female in place of man/woman and 'mate' even among human characters I found an odd and unsettling choice. Made it feel as though they were trying to dehumanize everyone, not just the non-human characters.

Setting 3/5
In terms of scenery it is very lacking. Bare bones descriptions at best. A house. A street. A city. That's pretty much all that we're given in terms of location descriptions. However, the only somewhat redeeming aspect of this story is I thought the lore was interesting. For example, the way they associate magic with having a distinct sound. The whole demon hunter tribal aspect. Ronan's origin story. The process of a human being turned into a demon. These I found to be the most interesting aspects of the story even if they take a back seat to the whole 'lust is love' vibes. However, the descriptions of the setting is practically non-existent. As the writing is hyperfixated on the characters themselves. So even the lore isn't enough to really immerse me. It doesn't make up for all the other aspects that are incredibly lacking.

Overall 2/3
This is clearly meant to be less of a romance and more of a 'horny for each other' story. Yet even in that regard, I found it more silly, toxic, and disturbing than sexy. Die hard vampire fans might get some appeal from the detailings of 'taking each others veins' and vampire sex if that's where their personal interests lie. As for me personally, I feel there are better representations of supernatural romance out there. While I appreciate the thought that was put into the lore, it's not enough to make up for the more obvious shortcomings. Would not recommend this one personally.
Profile Image for Kim.
1,501 reviews35 followers
Read
December 8, 2015
After 3 attempts to get into this story I never made it beyond 25%. I liked the first book in the series and enjoyed Ronan's character, but Naya just annoyed me and I felt like the story went nowhere in that first 25%. DNF
Profile Image for Book Review Diva.
165 reviews33 followers
May 21, 2017
Book Review of “The Warrior Vampire” By Kate Baxter
Naya Morales is a very powerful witch, and she uses her powers to track down stolen magic and punish those who take it. Naya also realizes that her elders are all men and they do not understand Naya’s powers, nor do they believe that a women should be considered an elder.

One evening, while Naya is out trying to catch a mapinguari (a human who’s body is possessed by evil magic), she encounters a vampire who tackles her to the ground and ends up passing out on top of her. Naya is wondering why a vampire would be in her town since they were all dead until, that is until this very minute when a vampire lands on top of her.

Naya shortly captures herself one sexy vampire who she now has chained to her bed. She plans on finding out why he tackled her to the ground and has passed out. Before Naya can figure out what to do with this vampire she must first hide him from her elders and try to calm her hormones down before she ends up doing something she just might regret.

Ronan is an agent vampire who has been cursed by a very sick witch and is also being consumed by evil magic. Lucky for Ronan he has found his mate the light of his life, but he almost lost her when she got herself killed by some possessed demon. Ronan has also gone and got himself captured by the feisty witch, and now has found himself chained to her bed. Is that a bad thing? Ronan must try and convince his feisty witch that she is his mate and that they share something in common.

Ronan is going to have one heck of a time trying to convince Naya that she is indeed his mate, since her elders have gone and mated her to one of their own. Naya in no way wants to be mated to a man. Ronan also must figure out why he is in her town and how he lost his memories, and just where the heck his sister is! Poor Ronan, will he be able to convince Naya that she is his mate, and will he regain enough of his memories to find his sister or will the evil magic inside consume him once and for all?

Steamy and Sizzling is just what Kate Baxter deliveries up in this wonderful novel of a sexy Vampire and feisty Witch.



Book Review Diva
Profile Image for Lauren Cline.
95 reviews3 followers
November 14, 2017
Not worth the price

This is the second book in this series so far. I didn’t really mind that the first one ended without being entirely resolved as I assumed the information would filter in through the other books. This wasn’t really the case. Although we get a tiny mention of Gregor and the Sortiarti, Mikhail and Claire are barely mentioned and their story remains cut off. The same abrupt ending is hurriedly written with these characters as well- even more so. There’s a lot left to be desired and explained about the heaps of loose ends left unexplained and I was left wanting when it came to the conclusion of their story. The events are just choppy and I was really hoping that more information would be provided other than the vague continuing storyline. Even though the relationship is steamy and ripe with their own adventure , it seems too unfinished.
I’d probably get through this whole series pretty quickly if this was on KU but for the price of almost 8 bucks a book, the series simply isn’t captivating enough for me to justify the cost.
5 reviews
February 13, 2019
This second installment on the series,Last True Vampire,was every bit as enriching as the first one; though it did seem to have lost some of the initial impact the first book had. The main characters, Naya and Ronan, had a great chemistry and amusing banter now and again; but lacked any serious ties to the plot or each other. While the story did flow overall, I think there were many times, were you were left with too little information, or forced to jump from one point to the next. The conclusion of Ronan's "infection" left a lot to be desired in explanations; just simply providing a "fix" seems to derail or lessen the value of the characters initial problems.

With all that said, I would recommend it to anyone, who has an interest in PNR. It meets all qualifications as an easy read, steamy scenes, and coherent themes; as well as for anyone is like me, the book is attached to a series, giving you a glimpse into another world.
Profile Image for Vicki.
1,701 reviews
July 16, 2018
This book took me off tangent a bit. Bought a witches group and panther shifters in to the story. Naya turned out to be Ronan's mate. Too much time was spent on dealing with that. Naya finds magic that has been stolen and it eventually corrupts the thief. She kills the thief and takes control of the corrupted magic. It was ok but in the end Ronan yet again takes control and uses a magic item that should be controlled by Mikail and gives it to Siobhan. It ends there. I was glad it was over and hope the next one "The Dark Vampire" will be better. I like the series and am hopeful.
Author 6 books20 followers
January 27, 2019
I enjoyed this quite a bit. Ronan and Naya make for an interesting pair. I found a couple of typos, the most notable when Ronan's name changed to Roan for a second. Oops. None were enough to disrupt the storyline. I will say that the occasional change of POV between Ronan, Jenner and Christian had me checking prior pages to see who'd been talking. The first switch to Christian had me wondering - who the hell is Christian and why is he in what's supposed to be Ronan's story? So those POV changes were a bit of a trip up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.