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The Hellsing Siblings #1
Artemis's Brother
Kain was content with his life as a hunter, as one of the few people standing in the way of humanity finding out about the supernatural. But when Artemis, his youngest sibling and only sister, makes a run for it in response to an arranged marriage and Gabriel, the Head of the Hellsing Family, refuses to go looking for her Kain is prepared to throw it all away to keep her safe. He’s only the sixth born son after all, what problems could his disownment cause?
Vlad has lived longer than anyone has a right to and the last hundred years have gone terribly, beginning with the death of his oldest friend and culminating in a hunter trying to invade his grandson’s estate. The presence of Kain could spell disaster for his court but when he discovers that the Hellsing family had a seventh born son of a seventh born son, pointing out a flaw in his spy network, Vlad decided to keep the man with him. A decision that has absolutely nothing to do with how pretty the young hunter looks with defiance in his eyes and venom on his tongue, that would be irresponsible after all and Vlad has learned the consequences of being impulsive.
Vlad has lived longer than anyone has a right to and the last hundred years have gone terribly, beginning with the death of his oldest friend and culminating in a hunter trying to invade his grandson’s estate. The presence of Kain could spell disaster for his court but when he discovers that the Hellsing family had a seventh born son of a seventh born son, pointing out a flaw in his spy network, Vlad decided to keep the man with him. A decision that has absolutely nothing to do with how pretty the young hunter looks with defiance in his eyes and venom on his tongue, that would be irresponsible after all and Vlad has learned the consequences of being impulsive.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2023
9 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 15, 2025
Kain Helsing is the 6th son of a 7th son in a long line of hunters, he’s strong and powerful, but not the head of his family. When Gabriel, the head of his family, forbids the family to go looking for their missing sister, Artemis, Kain decides to defy him, ending up at the estate of the Vlad, the Vampire King. Vlad is old and powerful beyond measure, more than a match for Kain and yet the two men develop a deep respect for each other. Vlad has been mourning the loss of his mate for over two centuries but after an assassination attempt, Kain is left in grave danger and only Vlad has the power to save him. But why would he help his prisoner?
This supernatural romance had plenty of great ideas, superb action, and two strong main characters. I absolutely enjoyed the ride! It does have two problems that might put readers off: first, we are introduced to a bewildering array of characters and it takes a while to sort out who’s who; and second, there are huge info dumps of world building. They are helpful but it’s easy to glaze over with the sheer amount of info thrown at you. All I can say is that the story makes up for these drawbacks and it’s totally worth sticking with it—everything starts to make sense after a while. The book title, Artemis’s Brother, does the book no favours, it’s a clumsy title and it’s uninspiring, Artemis doesn’t actually appear in the story. A better title would have been “Hunter”. 🎧 Voice actor Declan Winters does a fantastic job on the audiobook, it was a real pleasure to hear him perform the story! I’ll definitely seek out more audios by this author and narrator!
This supernatural romance had plenty of great ideas, superb action, and two strong main characters. I absolutely enjoyed the ride! It does have two problems that might put readers off: first, we are introduced to a bewildering array of characters and it takes a while to sort out who’s who; and second, there are huge info dumps of world building. They are helpful but it’s easy to glaze over with the sheer amount of info thrown at you. All I can say is that the story makes up for these drawbacks and it’s totally worth sticking with it—everything starts to make sense after a while. The book title, Artemis’s Brother, does the book no favours, it’s a clumsy title and it’s uninspiring, Artemis doesn’t actually appear in the story. A better title would have been “Hunter”. 🎧 Voice actor Declan Winters does a fantastic job on the audiobook, it was a real pleasure to hear him perform the story! I’ll definitely seek out more audios by this author and narrator!
September 12, 2024
- 2nd: 12/09/2024
3,5 (audio)
Once agin, I really enjoyed this book!
A part of me is a bit puzzled by that. This book isn't the kind of usual MM Romances I enjoy because the romance only happend in the second half-I even say the last third-of the book and there was only 1 smex scene towards the end too. And yet!
- 1st: 20/09/2023
3,25/5 (audio)
Beautifully narrated by Declan Winters, the book was better than I thought it would be. To be honest, I went into it without any expectations and it ended up being quite good. In the beginning, the book was a bit confusing-it almost felt like a spin-off to me because I felt like I was missing some background informations on the characters and the worldbuilding. It wasn't a smooth introduction as other PRN romances. But I went with the flow and had a good time.
My only other "complain" is that I'm not sure about the ending. Since book 2 seems to focus on anoter brother with another corner of the paranormal world, the ending felt more like a HFN than a HEA-which I guess is fine but I am left wanting for more.
3,5 (audio)
Once agin, I really enjoyed this book!
A part of me is a bit puzzled by that. This book isn't the kind of usual MM Romances I enjoy because the romance only happend in the second half-I even say the last third-of the book and there was only 1 smex scene towards the end too. And yet!
- 1st: 20/09/2023
3,25/5 (audio)
Beautifully narrated by Declan Winters, the book was better than I thought it would be. To be honest, I went into it without any expectations and it ended up being quite good. In the beginning, the book was a bit confusing-it almost felt like a spin-off to me because I felt like I was missing some background informations on the characters and the worldbuilding. It wasn't a smooth introduction as other PRN romances. But I went with the flow and had a good time.
My only other "complain" is that I'm not sure about the ending. Since book 2 seems to focus on anoter brother with another corner of the paranormal world, the ending felt more like a HFN than a HEA-which I guess is fine but I am left wanting for more.
November 20, 2025
I've started this book quite a few times & every single time, I feel like I'm starting at the middle of the series, so I go looking for any previous book in the series, lose track, forget about the book & end up having to start it again... so I'm leaving this review almost as a bookmark so that I don't have to restart it AGAIN!
As I honestly thought that I'd started the series midway, I looked through the synopsis of the remaining books & it's curious that on Audible, Dragon Prize isn't available, however there IS a 5th book, about Artemis which isn't showing up as part of the series on here... that's odd AF!
& it's funny that Kain's book is titled Artemis's brother & Artemis's book is titled Kain's sister... that tickled my funny bone 😄
I'm trying, but still kinda struggling to follow the story as it starts halfway through a set of events that has already been set in motion, we're made aware of his twin brothers' relationship with an Incubus, however they don't actually have their own book, so I'm not sure why they're the first ones we find out about. Surely Artemis should be the first one as it (quickly) becomes a quest for HIM to find his sister & the twins aren't even the head of the family 🤔
Then there's Vlad's side of the family & again, it felt like we start his side of the story halfway through a series of events already in motion... so, it honestly feels like I'm missing a lot of the story already & feel like I'm playing catch-up rather than organically being included into a story, if what I'm saying makes any sense!
& WHY can't he take his grandson home with him?!
Also, I do like shorter books, however when it's an interlinked series & we're being introduced to a new world (especially when it's fantasy) with its own lore, (intertwined) characters, politics & different species to get acquainted with, I do prefer for the books to be slightly longer with a more natural exposition to the world building rather than massive info dumps in one go!
Yes, that does helps cut the running time, but it can also act more as a deterrent, especially if I'm dropped into the middle of an already ongoing story!
I still don't feel connected to the MCs, but I'm being told about more about their family members than themselves... it's hard to keep up!
& I'm even more confused because there are SEVEN Helsing children, with two supposedly already mated & there are FIVE books, so it should be all the siblings covered, but Gabriel, who is the youngest & the head of the family... make it make sense because that sure as hell makes no sense whatsoever, one he's a brat, (we're told in the 1st 2mns that he's still hiding behind his mother's aprons) two he's the YOUNGEST, three if their mother hadn't been able to carry all those children, WHO would've been the head of the family & on what planet does it make sense to make the YOUNGEST, the head of the family unless the older siblings have passed away?!?
He's clearly immature, useless & abusive... even if being the 7th son grants him some kind of extra powers or something, SURELY he'd only be made the head of the family once he's either come of age (if the sister is 17, he's 16 or younger) or once he's become mature enough to take the mantle... even IRL, there's a guardian of sorts, who rules until the real Monarch comes of age.... sorry, but it's nonsensical & illogical to turn a BRAT into a leader!
Also, I'm getting the sense that he's the (overarching) villain of this series, so maybe that's why he's not getting his own book, but it still means that the math ain't mathing! There's 7 siblings, 5 stories, 2 are already mated, however one sibling doesn't get his own story... so, I'm lost 🤔
So, I'm still trying to get my mind around all the characters involved... as Gabriel doesn't get his own book, that means that one of the twins who supposedly is already mated is going to get a new "fated" mate... so, I repeat my incredulity... WHY are we told at the very start of the book about an already established mated throuple when they're not really supposed to be mated?! Make it make sense!
& why is Vassily, seemingly, such a prominent character?!? Too many questions up in the air & I'm (still) only about 30mns in....
Also, I honestly find it humorous that authors pair twins with the same (sexual) partner without realising that it's STILL an incestuous pairing even if they shy away from stating it implicitly!
& WHO exactly ARE the twins?! They keep being referred to as the twins, as though they aren't individuals & unless I missed it, there was no introduction to "Tom & Jerry, the twins" for example, they're only addresses as the twins & their mate Vassily 🤷♀️
This is why I still haven't managed to finish this book... 😮💨
Hmmmm... it seems that the series is geared towards a "major" twist that also doesn't really make any sense if what I'm thinking is right & the reason why Kain is the main protagonist to start off the series 🤔
How close in age are Kain & Gabriel... I misunderstood, I thought Gabriel was THE youngest, Artemis the 2nd youngest & Kain the 3rd youngest... so if what I'm thinking is true... WHY the subterfuge & surely if that were the case then Kain should be the strongest & able to fight off the banishment 🤔
I'm still stuck on the reasoning behind the switch & seeing as they have elder brothers, how do they not know the truth & how exactly do they have a dragon sibling?!
So many questions & I'm guessing we'll only get all the answers with the last book.... hopefully 🤞🫤
Ok...I FINALLY managed to finish it.
Honestly, I'm still none the wiser about WHO the twins are... the maths still ain't mathing with the overall number of siblings & the number of books in the series, especially with the twist in mind!
There's (it became obvious quite early on) the twist which solves one question, but opened up a lot more.
When Kain gets to the mansion to rescue Artemis, he's taken away before he can see her, then we find out a bit of lore about the disownment & it's assumed that was the reason for it, only for that to be turned on its head as Vlad didn't know about the full consequences of it... so, I'm still left wondering WHY they couldn't & didn't allow Kain to see his sister or why he can't even talk to her on the phone... it made absolutely NO sense whatsoever nor was it explained!
Now that they both know about the "secret" surely it would've made more sense for them to take immediate action, seeing as they both know that Gabriel is NOT a suitable leader for their family, yet at the end they're contemplating only returning FIVE years later.
Gabriel did enough damage to their family within 12 hours... WHY are they even waiting at all?! It literally made even less sense than the stopping Kain from seeing or even speaking to Artemis!
I still don't understand why Izaiah couldn't go to the palace with Vlad, which also didn't really make sense!
Vlad would've raised his daughters at court, so the very flimsy excuse that was used becomes as illogical as the others! Especially considering that it's stated multiple times that a recently turned blood vampire is at serious risk if attacked... so, somehow I'm supposed to think that it's perfectly understandable &/or reasonable to leave him ALONE with Artemis who doesn't know WHAT she is, but without any other protection nor any other vampires around him... which is further compounded by the fact that they say that newly turned vampires NEED other vampires around them or they go crazy... again, MAKE IT MAKE SENSE 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
Vassily is still the most mentioned (aside from Artemis, naturally) member of the Hellsing clan & he's only one of their mates & I still don't get why that is!
The romance wasn't fleshed out at all, so when they DO finally get together, which happens in the last hour, maybe it was just me, but I didn't feel like it was for any other reason beyond the fated mates bond 🤷♀️
Because this was the start of the series & there was so much exposition to go through, there was barely any time for their relationship to develop in a way that made it seem like it was anything other than sex!
There were I think, overall 4 scenes of them together & there was one scene where they both wanted to kiss each other, but neither acted on it & that was about as much relationship build-up as we got... then they're bonded, there's a duel, they fuck & I'm supposed to accept that it's an all-consuming love... I didn't & couldn't as I couldn't even term it a slow burn because neither one was pining for the other beyond that one scene where in their thoughts, we're told that they wanted to kiss & that was it.
Throughout Vlad's POVs, we're shown that he's still mourning his late wife Calliope & even though it's been 2 centuries & according to him they were no longer in love when she died, he still can't think or talk about her 200 years later without crying & he's been in a deep depression since her passing... so, no I don't/can't buy that they're actually in love... in lust, definitely, but that's about it 🤷♀️
What helped to deter it even further is that out of those 4 scenes together, Vlad had glamoured himself to look like a teen & a pre-pubescent teen... 3 out of the 4 times & the only one where he wasn't a child, but a man in his 20s.
So, even when they DO get together, Kain has never actually seen the real 1000 year old Vlad's visage... I've got no idea what I'm meant to take away from that, but it was hardly romance as he was presenting like a child... I don't think that aspect added anything to the story IMO, if anything it only helped to make it borderline creepy!
I can't say that I'm enthused or enthralled with the series as there's far too much that seems illogical & more like it's some arbitrary choice that the author has made in an attempt to create some suspense, but TBPH it had the opposite effect IMO.
The author could've made logical decisions for their characters & their motivations, reasonings, etc... & still have an engaging (& logical) series, where the stakes could've been raised because of the inevitable power struggle on both sides, because by the end of this book, I wouldn't even call it a HFN... they're supposedly fated mates who barely know each other... more like fated-mates with benefits, I guess 🤷♀️
All in all, it's far too illogical a book, so I can only assume the rest of the series will be just as bad, if not worse... so, I'm tapping out 👋
As I honestly thought that I'd started the series midway, I looked through the synopsis of the remaining books & it's curious that on Audible, Dragon Prize isn't available, however there IS a 5th book, about Artemis which isn't showing up as part of the series on here... that's odd AF!
& it's funny that Kain's book is titled Artemis's brother & Artemis's book is titled Kain's sister... that tickled my funny bone 😄
I'm trying, but still kinda struggling to follow the story as it starts halfway through a set of events that has already been set in motion, we're made aware of his twin brothers' relationship with an Incubus, however they don't actually have their own book, so I'm not sure why they're the first ones we find out about. Surely Artemis should be the first one as it (quickly) becomes a quest for HIM to find his sister & the twins aren't even the head of the family 🤔
Then there's Vlad's side of the family & again, it felt like we start his side of the story halfway through a series of events already in motion... so, it honestly feels like I'm missing a lot of the story already & feel like I'm playing catch-up rather than organically being included into a story, if what I'm saying makes any sense!
& WHY can't he take his grandson home with him?!
Also, I do like shorter books, however when it's an interlinked series & we're being introduced to a new world (especially when it's fantasy) with its own lore, (intertwined) characters, politics & different species to get acquainted with, I do prefer for the books to be slightly longer with a more natural exposition to the world building rather than massive info dumps in one go!
Yes, that does helps cut the running time, but it can also act more as a deterrent, especially if I'm dropped into the middle of an already ongoing story!
I still don't feel connected to the MCs, but I'm being told about more about their family members than themselves... it's hard to keep up!
& I'm even more confused because there are SEVEN Helsing children, with two supposedly already mated & there are FIVE books, so it should be all the siblings covered, but Gabriel, who is the youngest & the head of the family... make it make sense because that sure as hell makes no sense whatsoever, one he's a brat, (we're told in the 1st 2mns that he's still hiding behind his mother's aprons) two he's the YOUNGEST, three if their mother hadn't been able to carry all those children, WHO would've been the head of the family & on what planet does it make sense to make the YOUNGEST, the head of the family unless the older siblings have passed away?!?
He's clearly immature, useless & abusive... even if being the 7th son grants him some kind of extra powers or something, SURELY he'd only be made the head of the family once he's either come of age (if the sister is 17, he's 16 or younger) or once he's become mature enough to take the mantle... even IRL, there's a guardian of sorts, who rules until the real Monarch comes of age.... sorry, but it's nonsensical & illogical to turn a BRAT into a leader!
Also, I'm getting the sense that he's the (overarching) villain of this series, so maybe that's why he's not getting his own book, but it still means that the math ain't mathing! There's 7 siblings, 5 stories, 2 are already mated, however one sibling doesn't get his own story... so, I'm lost 🤔
So, I'm still trying to get my mind around all the characters involved... as Gabriel doesn't get his own book, that means that one of the twins who supposedly is already mated is going to get a new "fated" mate... so, I repeat my incredulity... WHY are we told at the very start of the book about an already established mated throuple when they're not really supposed to be mated?! Make it make sense!
& why is Vassily, seemingly, such a prominent character?!? Too many questions up in the air & I'm (still) only about 30mns in....
Also, I honestly find it humorous that authors pair twins with the same (sexual) partner without realising that it's STILL an incestuous pairing even if they shy away from stating it implicitly!
& WHO exactly ARE the twins?! They keep being referred to as the twins, as though they aren't individuals & unless I missed it, there was no introduction to "Tom & Jerry, the twins" for example, they're only addresses as the twins & their mate Vassily 🤷♀️
This is why I still haven't managed to finish this book... 😮💨
Hmmmm... it seems that the series is geared towards a "major" twist that also doesn't really make any sense if what I'm thinking is right & the reason why Kain is the main protagonist to start off the series 🤔
How close in age are Kain & Gabriel... I misunderstood, I thought Gabriel was THE youngest, Artemis the 2nd youngest & Kain the 3rd youngest... so if what I'm thinking is true... WHY the subterfuge & surely if that were the case then Kain should be the strongest & able to fight off the banishment 🤔
I'm still stuck on the reasoning behind the switch & seeing as they have elder brothers, how do they not know the truth & how exactly do they have a dragon sibling?!
So many questions & I'm guessing we'll only get all the answers with the last book.... hopefully 🤞🫤
Ok...I FINALLY managed to finish it.
Honestly, I'm still none the wiser about WHO the twins are... the maths still ain't mathing with the overall number of siblings & the number of books in the series, especially with the twist in mind!
There's (it became obvious quite early on) the twist which solves one question, but opened up a lot more.
When Kain gets to the mansion to rescue Artemis, he's taken away before he can see her, then we find out a bit of lore about the disownment & it's assumed that was the reason for it, only for that to be turned on its head as Vlad didn't know about the full consequences of it... so, I'm still left wondering WHY they couldn't & didn't allow Kain to see his sister or why he can't even talk to her on the phone... it made absolutely NO sense whatsoever nor was it explained!
Now that they both know about the "secret" surely it would've made more sense for them to take immediate action, seeing as they both know that Gabriel is NOT a suitable leader for their family, yet at the end they're contemplating only returning FIVE years later.
Gabriel did enough damage to their family within 12 hours... WHY are they even waiting at all?! It literally made even less sense than the stopping Kain from seeing or even speaking to Artemis!
I still don't understand why Izaiah couldn't go to the palace with Vlad, which also didn't really make sense!
Vlad would've raised his daughters at court, so the very flimsy excuse that was used becomes as illogical as the others! Especially considering that it's stated multiple times that a recently turned blood vampire is at serious risk if attacked... so, somehow I'm supposed to think that it's perfectly understandable &/or reasonable to leave him ALONE with Artemis who doesn't know WHAT she is, but without any other protection nor any other vampires around him... which is further compounded by the fact that they say that newly turned vampires NEED other vampires around them or they go crazy... again, MAKE IT MAKE SENSE 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
Vassily is still the most mentioned (aside from Artemis, naturally) member of the Hellsing clan & he's only one of their mates & I still don't get why that is!
The romance wasn't fleshed out at all, so when they DO finally get together, which happens in the last hour, maybe it was just me, but I didn't feel like it was for any other reason beyond the fated mates bond 🤷♀️
Because this was the start of the series & there was so much exposition to go through, there was barely any time for their relationship to develop in a way that made it seem like it was anything other than sex!
There were I think, overall 4 scenes of them together & there was one scene where they both wanted to kiss each other, but neither acted on it & that was about as much relationship build-up as we got... then they're bonded, there's a duel, they fuck & I'm supposed to accept that it's an all-consuming love... I didn't & couldn't as I couldn't even term it a slow burn because neither one was pining for the other beyond that one scene where in their thoughts, we're told that they wanted to kiss & that was it.
Throughout Vlad's POVs, we're shown that he's still mourning his late wife Calliope & even though it's been 2 centuries & according to him they were no longer in love when she died, he still can't think or talk about her 200 years later without crying & he's been in a deep depression since her passing... so, no I don't/can't buy that they're actually in love... in lust, definitely, but that's about it 🤷♀️
What helped to deter it even further is that out of those 4 scenes together, Vlad had glamoured himself to look like a teen & a pre-pubescent teen... 3 out of the 4 times & the only one where he wasn't a child, but a man in his 20s.
So, even when they DO get together, Kain has never actually seen the real 1000 year old Vlad's visage... I've got no idea what I'm meant to take away from that, but it was hardly romance as he was presenting like a child... I don't think that aspect added anything to the story IMO, if anything it only helped to make it borderline creepy!
I can't say that I'm enthused or enthralled with the series as there's far too much that seems illogical & more like it's some arbitrary choice that the author has made in an attempt to create some suspense, but TBPH it had the opposite effect IMO.
The author could've made logical decisions for their characters & their motivations, reasonings, etc... & still have an engaging (& logical) series, where the stakes could've been raised because of the inevitable power struggle on both sides, because by the end of this book, I wouldn't even call it a HFN... they're supposedly fated mates who barely know each other... more like fated-mates with benefits, I guess 🤷♀️
All in all, it's far too illogical a book, so I can only assume the rest of the series will be just as bad, if not worse... so, I'm tapping out 👋
November 27, 2025
That was kind of good but also kind of confusing. Are you really telling me there is not a book about the twins and Vasily? (or however his name is written, bc these books have a thing for oddly spelt names). All of this lore is equally as new to everyone else? If so, that is kind of impressive, because there was quite a bit of world building.
Anyways, I guess I wished for more happening with the MCs.
Anyways, I guess I wished for more happening with the MCs.
November 17, 2025
First, I finished this as an audiobook a few days ago so I'm trying to remember things for this review since I can't take notes or screenshots like I normally would otherwise. This was the first time I'd listened to Declan Winters narrate and he did a really great job. First by this author as well.
Okay. So second: The title of this story. It's so dismissive of Kain. However, it did encompass the reasoning of where he ended up being and the premise soo... Can't complain too much, I guess. It did give the idea that Artemis herself was going to be a bigger picture here and... Well, I'm glad she wasn't. It was one of the things that made me hesitate more. It's truly my own bias in that regard. It's also a huge pet peeve of mine when a child is this huge all-powerful being so... Yep. That'll probably happen later. Wasn't surprised the tiniest bit with what was said. Buut maybe I'm wrong.
This had a lot of potential and I did enjoy it. The world was very interesting and I want to know more about it. I liked how the two interacted with each other and it was definitely fated mates through and through but... I liked how there was still the hints about Kain knowing, that something was deep down and it had been waiting. I also liked how it was handled when Vlad first found out and how that whole scene/s went.
It was at-odds or - probably more accurately - wasn't explained well about why Kain was so chill about waiting to see his siblings. His whole life was about them, everything he did was for them; even if he thought Gabriel was a POS, he still wanted to see him again, still wanted to take care of his siblings...
Speaking of Gabriel. Talk about a disappointing ending. In general, but not even getting any more about him, or the rest of the siblings. Maybe it was helpful to be able to see the twins' fated mate, the incubus (sorry, was audio so don't remember what his name was and likely wouldn't be able to spell it), show up since they probably could have interacted further if needed...? Eh.
Overall, would continue with this series out of curiosity (and the narrator did great), however, I'm disappointed that we don't continue with Vlad and Kain which is all I know about the next. I really do feel that they have a lot more to explore and continuing the plot with them would have added to the story. This first was free on Audible, the next isn't so... We'll see. I'd definitely check out the author again, though.
On my m-f shelf because of
Okay. So second: The title of this story. It's so dismissive of Kain. However, it did encompass the reasoning of where he ended up being and the premise soo... Can't complain too much, I guess. It did give the idea that Artemis herself was going to be a bigger picture here and... Well, I'm glad she wasn't. It was one of the things that made me hesitate more. It's truly my own bias in that regard. It's also a huge pet peeve of mine when a child is this huge all-powerful being so... Yep. That'll probably happen later. Wasn't surprised the tiniest bit with what was said. Buut maybe I'm wrong.
This had a lot of potential and I did enjoy it. The world was very interesting and I want to know more about it. I liked how the two interacted with each other and it was definitely fated mates through and through but... I liked how there was still the hints about Kain knowing, that something was deep down and it had been waiting. I also liked how it was handled when Vlad first found out and how that whole scene/s went.
It was at-odds or - probably more accurately - wasn't explained well about why Kain was so chill about waiting to see his siblings. His whole life was about them, everything he did was for them; even if he thought Gabriel was a POS, he still wanted to see him again, still wanted to take care of his siblings...
Speaking of Gabriel. Talk about a disappointing ending. In general, but not even getting any more about him, or the rest of the siblings. Maybe it was helpful to be able to see the twins' fated mate, the incubus (sorry, was audio so don't remember what his name was and likely wouldn't be able to spell it), show up since they probably could have interacted further if needed...? Eh.
Overall, would continue with this series out of curiosity (and the narrator did great), however, I'm disappointed that we don't continue with Vlad and Kain which is all I know about the next. I really do feel that they have a lot more to explore and continuing the plot with them would have added to the story. This first was free on Audible, the next isn't so... We'll see. I'd definitely check out the author again, though.
On my m-f shelf because of
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August 2, 20252.5 (rounded up to 3 for the narration)
Disappointed by Potential !!
I wanted to like this more than I did. The world-building has some intriguing threads and unique lore, which initially pulled me in—but unfortunately, the story doesn't make good on that promise. The pacing is frustratingly uneven: just when the world begins to unfold and things seem like they’re about to get going, the book abruptly ends. And not in a suspenseful, cliffhanger kind of way—just in a way that feels incomplete, like someone ripped the last third out of the manuscript.
The lore is dense, but instead of enhancing the plot, it often feels like noise; interesting, yes, but underutilized and poorly integrated into the story’s emotional arc. I was especially let down by how central the brother’s storyline should have been. It’s introduced with weight but never actually explored, leaving what could’ve been the emotional anchor of the book as little more than an idea that’s pushed aside.
Worse still is the main character’s passivity. He accepts every hardship, every betrayal, and every twist of fate with an almost robotic calm. There's no real resistance, no spark, no emotional reaction that made me root for him. His journey felt oddly hollow. At times, he reads like a "Gary Stu"; unrealistically adaptable and unbothered, both before and after trauma. I kept waiting for a turning point, a breaking moment, some internal conflict… but it never came.
And there is their underdeveloped relationship!!! I never truly felt anything between tye MCs; no tension, no chemistry, no stakes. I was curious, but never emotionally invested.
And the ending? Or rather, the lack of one? It left me frustrated. There’s no payoff, no resolution, no sense of closure. It doesn’t feel like Book One of a series, it feels like half a story awkwardly chopped off. If this is just the opening act of a larger arc, then frankly, it should’ve been a longer book.
📚 Unless you’re ready to commit to the full series (and possibly tolerate more slow buildup), I can’t recommend this one.
🎧 The narration, however, was solid, well-delivered and immersive, which is why I rounded up the rating.
A promising idea lost in its own setup.
Disappointed by Potential !!
I wanted to like this more than I did. The world-building has some intriguing threads and unique lore, which initially pulled me in—but unfortunately, the story doesn't make good on that promise. The pacing is frustratingly uneven: just when the world begins to unfold and things seem like they’re about to get going, the book abruptly ends. And not in a suspenseful, cliffhanger kind of way—just in a way that feels incomplete, like someone ripped the last third out of the manuscript.
The lore is dense, but instead of enhancing the plot, it often feels like noise; interesting, yes, but underutilized and poorly integrated into the story’s emotional arc. I was especially let down by how central the brother’s storyline should have been. It’s introduced with weight but never actually explored, leaving what could’ve been the emotional anchor of the book as little more than an idea that’s pushed aside.
Worse still is the main character’s passivity. He accepts every hardship, every betrayal, and every twist of fate with an almost robotic calm. There's no real resistance, no spark, no emotional reaction that made me root for him. His journey felt oddly hollow. At times, he reads like a "Gary Stu"; unrealistically adaptable and unbothered, both before and after trauma. I kept waiting for a turning point, a breaking moment, some internal conflict… but it never came.
And there is their underdeveloped relationship!!! I never truly felt anything between tye MCs; no tension, no chemistry, no stakes. I was curious, but never emotionally invested.
And the ending? Or rather, the lack of one? It left me frustrated. There’s no payoff, no resolution, no sense of closure. It doesn’t feel like Book One of a series, it feels like half a story awkwardly chopped off. If this is just the opening act of a larger arc, then frankly, it should’ve been a longer book.
📚 Unless you’re ready to commit to the full series (and possibly tolerate more slow buildup), I can’t recommend this one.
🎧 The narration, however, was solid, well-delivered and immersive, which is why I rounded up the rating.
A promising idea lost in its own setup.
September 28, 2023
4 ⭐s
This was actually really good. I'm surprised it doesn't have a lot more reviews.
One thing I will say though, is that I wished it didn't end so abruptly. I wanted some of the issues resolved. Kain's whole family is thinking he's probably dead, not knowing how powerfully he truly is. Plus, I kinda wanted to see Kain confront that little shit Gabriel. It would have been satisfying since he is the main villain in Kain's story.
Also, I didn't like the name of the book. And it might seem petty, but I went into it thinking that Artemis was this great and powerful being and her brother was either better or worse. Something to show some kind of dynamic. Hence 'Artemis's Brother'.
Only for Artemis to barely be a secondary character... and yes barely because she didn't even get any lines... the lines we did hear her speak were through a third party and over the phone.
Y'all could have just named the book 'Kain' or 'The Vampire King' or something like that.
Something that truly encompassed what the book was about.
But other than that, I did find it entertaining. And the narrator did and excellent job at bringing these characters to life.
This was actually really good. I'm surprised it doesn't have a lot more reviews.
One thing I will say though, is that I wished it didn't end so abruptly. I wanted some of the issues resolved. Kain's whole family is thinking he's probably dead, not knowing how powerfully he truly is. Plus, I kinda wanted to see Kain confront that little shit Gabriel. It would have been satisfying since he is the main villain in Kain's story.
Also, I didn't like the name of the book. And it might seem petty, but I went into it thinking that Artemis was this great and powerful being and her brother was either better or worse. Something to show some kind of dynamic. Hence 'Artemis's Brother'.
Only for Artemis to barely be a secondary character... and yes barely because she didn't even get any lines... the lines we did hear her speak were through a third party and over the phone.
Y'all could have just named the book 'Kain' or 'The Vampire King' or something like that.
Something that truly encompassed what the book was about.
But other than that, I did find it entertaining. And the narrator did and excellent job at bringing these characters to life.
May 25, 2025
I've decided to round this up to 3 stars. Unlike similar books, of which, let's be honest, there are many, I appreciate the world-building that went into this one, even if it gets confusing at times. At least it's different. Some of the lore feels unique, but there is a lot of it. That would normally be okay, but this book is quite short. I was invested in the world the author was creating, but just as things were getting started, it was over. It wasn't as though the ending was simply disappointing or subjective. There wasn't an ending. The brother's plot was the core part of the story, but it's never explored, at least not in this installment. I felt cheated. I liked the characters but I can't say I was very invested in their relationship. I wasn't a fan of how accepting the MC was of his circumstances, or how he is a bit of a Gary Stu both before and after. Overall, I don't think I can judge the book properly because I feel like I've only read half the story, which is a shame. I can only recommend this if you're willing to invest in the whole series. Good narration.
July 29, 2025
Interesting world, engaging characters and a well written plot.
Looking forwards to the next book in the series!
I listened to this with Declan Winters narrating, and he does a very good job at it.
Looking forwards to the next book in the series!
I listened to this with Declan Winters narrating, and he does a very good job at it.
Read
August 1, 2023Since I had low expectations about this book, I can say that it was better than I anticipated. I will read the next one I think.
June 25, 2025
2.5
Interesting enough world but I don’t feel super attached to the characters or it’s progression
Interesting enough world but I don’t feel super attached to the characters or it’s progression
September 30, 2025
Wasted potential.
October 24, 2025
enjoyable mostly because I liked the characters and the narrator.
November 11, 2025
Gave it a 4 due to enjoyment if the audiobook; I just kept listening.
December 20, 2025
The character dump in the beginning had other reviewers criticizing this story. That didn’t detract from the story at all. It was a great story read by Declan Winters. I’m hooked!
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