Burning Bright

Apex #3

by Vicky Walklate

“For some messed up reason, the universe has decided that a shy, innocent human is my soulmate.”

♥♥♥

After an unhappy marriage and a nasty divorce, Freya Mulholland is ready to protect her hard-won freedom with all her might. Not easy when her vengeful ex-husband stalks her every move, determined to make her new life a misery.

So when the mysterious Severin comes to her aid one night, only to become trapped in his sabertooth tiger form and adamant that she's his fated mate, Freya may need to adjust her thinking. Not only do monsters live amongst them, but this one, with his sharp teeth and intense eyes, believes that she belongs to him, even if he's not happy about it.

As for her, she's horrified - after all, she went through hell to gain her independence. But even as she tries to pull away, something about this aloof, enigmatic monster holds her spellbound.

As her ex's harassment reaches dangerous levels, she and Severin must make a decision: part ways to keep the freedom they both crave, or succumb to their fate together.

ADVISORY: This ~31k word monster romance novella features high heat scenes between a human and a monster. Please check the author's website for a full content guide.

Genres: Paranormal, Monsters, Romance, Monster Romance, Shapeshifters, Ebooks, Fantasy

137 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2023

About the author

Vicky Walklate is a romance author from Norfolk, UK. She writes full length novels about dragon gods, and spicy novellas about predator monsters. She loves all things monstrous and magical in romance.

Reviews

[Bon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"But when you run, I want to… catch you.”

HAPPY RELEASE DAY. Okay, monsterfuckers, line up, because you're gonna wanna read this one.

Huge, enormous thanks to author Vicky Walklate for an advanced copy of this awesome book to review; it hit all the uh, good spots for me as a monsterfucker and will be out on September 26th.

If I had to boil this down, it'd likely just be me yelling about Severin's excellent, accurate cat anatomy and behaviors, down to purring and his you know what having barbs. The book's also a super readable page count at just over 130, full of action and hurt\comfort. I liked every trope in here, every character, and the pacing is perfect.

Freya is a woman rebuilding her life after an abusive marriage, one which hasn't quite ended in her stalker ex's mind. Enter Severin, called by her sister Evelyn who starred in the last Apex book, who is a SABRETOOTH SHIFTER and serving as her protector to repay a debt. I mean. Need I say more? He has a hot enough human form, sure, but he has a tail, the huge overhanging fangs, and a generally grumpy demeanor.

Severin is Diego from Ice Age, but somehow even sexier.

And then they realize something is going on between them. I don't love the fated mate trope, and neither does Severin. Walklate managed to portray it in a way that there are methods around it, but also give the couple such great chemistry that I was fine with it, too. Amazing storytelling threading in all my favorite tropes and kinks.

We even get a hint at the next pairing in the series, which has me bouncing with excitement already.

Five full, furry stars.

[Rachelqueenvixen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite one out of them so far

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Burning Bright in exchange for an honest review.

I actually haven’t ready the first few books in the series yet but after this one, I’ll definitely have to!

Barbed Peen, Big Gruff Tiger, Protective, Timid female who grows as a person and gains more confidence in herself? Yes please!

This book had the things I like to read about so I was very happy with it.

I really enjoyed this book! I’ve never read a tiger shifter before and was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the ride and loved it even more when my fiancé took my kindle and started reading it aloud. 😏 That being said, we both liked it.

This book is best read by a sexy Irishman. Just saying. 😉

[Elizabeth Litch · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐

No me juzguéis, es que está mierda está bien buena y el segundo me dejó con la intriga.

Creo que ha sido el mejor de los tres que hay (y el más creativamente... Marrano?). No es muy profundo, quiero decir son a penas 100 páginas de las cuales la mitad son rollo drama de apareamiento alienígena y la otra mitad exmarido acosando a la protagonista. Pero oye, ha estado gracioso.

No puedo esperar a leer el cuarto con el maromo pulpooo

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author is hitting her stride

This book was much better organized and the plot flowed well. I was hoping Severin would get a book and Freya was a good foil for him. I would have liked more backstory on him, but she was a well fleshed out character.

Spice: 4/5

Triggers: abuse, kidnapping, violence

[TreeFlower · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I loved this installment! Each book gives so much depth to the world laid out in book 1! I loved the tension in this one and the character growth. This has spice but also has plot and I think there’s a good even amount.

On to book 4!

[Sandra Sanches · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't knew this author and i'm impressed!Freya is mistreated ,abused and stalked by her ex husband,but her sister sends an unexpected help,Severin.He's an alien who can turn into a tiger and is her fated mate.While struggling to acept they have the hottest steamy scenes.The tiger has barbs!!!Holy hotness!
I enjoyed this story very much and recomend!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Apex Series features monster demons who are very smitten and protective of their humans! These demons are not humanoid at all and by default are terrifying… but the love and tenderness they show for their mates is so sweet! This series gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!

I got the first book, All Yours, for free on a BookFunnel promo and oh my god I was immediately hooked. I instantly bought the whole series because I couldn’t get enough of the world that was built up and these demons!

There’s magic, demon portals, primal/feral demons, strong FMC’s, and some badass fighting! Also the spice is sooooo good! Who knew spicy scenes with horrifying looking demons could be so hot! 🥵

Each book intertwines with their plots and characters so I definitely recommend reading in order. For instance, the FMC’s in books 1 and 3 are sisters! I also love the set up for what might be the next book! 🦑?

[K.W. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

BURNING BRIGHT is the third novella in the Apex monster romance series by Vicky Walklate. Having read the first two books, I was excited for the third. It didn’t disappoint!

Freya has left her abusive ex-husband, but she’s far from free. As a wealthy lawyer, he has the means and connections to stalk her without consequence.
Fortunately, Freya’s sister (Evelyn from BLOOD FEATHERS) is looking out for her, and a monster named Severin owes her a favor.

A skilled mercenary who can shift into a humanoid saber-toothed tiger, Severin is the perfect beast to protect Freya from her fiend of an ex. But when he comes to her rescue, she gets hit in the head, complicating the situation. While Freya is unconscious, he abducts her, intending to look after her and keep her safe to repay his debt. Understandably, she freaks out and tries to escape, getting into more trouble. Severin takes his werecat form to get her out of it. To his surprise, he can’t shift back.

In a fated mate twist on the fuck-or-die-trope-style predicament, Severin will be stuck in his beast form forever unless he and Freya consummate the bond the universe has weaved between them.

Of course, neither one of them is looking for a relationship. Freya just gave up everything to escape a hellish marriage, and Severin abandoned his home realm to avoid living his life as destiny demands. There’s also the small (or not) matter of Severin’s anatomy. In addition to saber-tooth canines, a tail, and fur, he has a catlike cock (meaning it’s barbed 😬). Ever the gentleman, especially for a violent mercenary, he doesn’t press her to help resolve his dilemma. Though their bond makes resisting each other difficult, they agree to part ways.

But shrugging off their deep connection isn’t easy, and Severin isn’t about to take off while Freya’s ex is still a danger.

Despite the domestic violence, BURNING BRIGHT doesn’t feel heavy. The author does a great job of creating conflict and a despicable villain without dragging us to places so dark that it’s hard to enjoy the lighter parts of the story.

I loved this novella. Freya is such a realistic and relatable character whom I think many readers will identify with. She’s kind, innocent, and strong in a way you see in the real world. And Severin is just the sexy, badass protector she needs. The juxtaposition of his self-control and prey drive creates an especially tantalizing character. The chemistry between these two was scorching. Anyone searching for an excellent, spicy monster romance need look no further.

[Amy Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review
Oh. My. Goodness. This is one of the best books I've read this year! I still have to read the 1st book in the series but I did love the 2nd one, I think this one is even better and Walklate's writing has become even more amazing since then! The amount of originality here is just fantastic too.

This story is fast paced, there's nothing dull or slow here, it zooms along from one exciting and unexpected scene to the next, full of danger, action, a truly horrible villain and one extremely seductive saber tooth tiger monster! And steaminess, OMG, the spice is top tier in this book, I thought my phone would melt!

I love the characters, Freya is a divorcee trying to regain her worth and footing while dodging her creepy stalker ex, she's stronger than she knows but still sweet and kind, I was really rooting for her to feel safe and treasured and to heal.
Severin is aloof and tough but he's So protective and he's kind of scared of being in love, he's a complex character which I loved. And man, he might have the hottest dirty talk I've ever read, I was just jello at some of his lines...many of his lines. If you like hot dialogue, this is a must read!
This is very much under the "Who did this?" and "Touch her and ☠️" tropes!

The spice is there all the way through in terms of longing and various encounters before the main event, delayed because he has barbs like a real cat! And he purrs! And there's copious fluids! And his race might have a really cool, unique way of sealing the bond! And he loves a chase! I want to gush so much but I don't want to spoil it of course, but dude, these scenes are ones I've always needed and never knew it, all I'm saying is Massaging, Shower, Night Chase = Swoon, you'll agree with me later.

Immediately following the best spice is enough scary action and adventure to have your eyes wide and your pulse pounding, what a great read!

I want to say so much, but essentially, You Need to read this book, it's incredible!!! I'm so hungover from it, so sad it's done and so hungry for the next book which seems set to be just as amazing!!

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining book with fun banter and lots of sexual tension. Freya is finally free of her abusive ex-husband and trying to enjoy her new freedom. Unfortunately her ex its relentless and it’s scared her enough to finally call her sister for help. Freya definitely did not expect the sexy friend of her sisters to pretend to be her boyfriend and remove her ex husband from her front door. She also doesn't expect this sexy guy to be a monster. Severin left his people to live on earth and doesn't mind helping out the human as a way to clear a debt. What he doesn't anticipate is the instant attraction and the intense protectiveness he feels for Freya. He has no interest in a mate and Freya just found her freedom but somehow fate brought these two together. These two were an unlikely pair that just work. Freya had lost herself in an abusive relationship and is eager to be independent. There are so many things she can do now so she is very hesitant to start anything with this stranger. Reading her experience made me sad for her but I was also happy that she found someone who knew how precious she was. Severin is such a grumpy guy but he is also incredibly protective. He really does not like the idea of fate choosing the person you are meant to be with. This changes after spending time with Freya and excepting his feelings. I definitely recommend checking out this series. It’s such a fun group of characters and seeing how they all come together is great. Check out this book if you are a big fan of monster shifters, over the top protectiveness, the FMC being called "Princess", a divorcee finding her fated mate, steamy primal scenes, and some super unique anatomy.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freya, the female human lead, has been trying to restart her life away from her ex-husband, but he’s wealthy and well-connected and continues to stalk and scare her. In desperation, she calls her sister who sends Severin, the male sabretooth tiger shifter lead, who arrives in human form to return the favour and scare the ex. But, when Severin needs to shift, he finds himself stuck in his beast form because Freya is his fated mate. Now they have two problems to solve…

This novella is female lead POV, well written and edited, and a fast-paced, paranormal erotic romance. I enjoyed the banter between characters, finding myself chuckling at the situations often, which was good because the novella dealt with some heavy content and trigger warnings are accurate. I enjoyed Freya’s efforts to rebuild her life and confidence and appreciated the author’s inclusion of her struggles, making the story more realistic. I enjoyed Severin’s mortification at the situation. I enjoyed their erotic intimate scenes and Severin’s consent and pleasure focus, and his protectiveness. I enjoyed the integrated secondary characters and the bonus epilogue with its hint for the next story.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[GeeAlbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freya had escaped her abusive ex-husband, or so she thought…

After a late night encounter with him leads to a head injury, an unknown man rushes in to save the day.

You meet Severin at the end of book 2, & knowing he needs to make amends for what he did, he takes it upon himself to keep Freya safe until fate has other plans. Now stuck in his creature form due to what he sees as an inconvenience, things get just a little bit more complicated.

I loved this one probably a little more than the first 2 books. Severin is definitely a cinnamon roll character. He’s pure touch her & die vibes, & this book is also fated mates. Again this one had darker themes; DV, stalking & kidnapping, all from Freya’s abusive ex. These books are quick, easy reads but they have depth which I love, & you can’t forget the spice & barbed appendage in this one!

[Hannah Tharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Severin and Freya are honestly the most adorable pairing and a good grumpy/sunshine story. Freya is the sister of the woman from the second book and someone still dealing with domestic violence from a divorce. Severin ends up stepping in to help return a favor, only to find out that this cheerful, though reserved, little human is his fated mate. Eventually they seem to accept the bond, though I like that they still have conflicting feelings outside the bond that they try to deal with. It's different from the usual fated mate trope. Despite not having wanted a mate, he is very protective of her and it's so sweet. For a big scary tiger, he's soft as a kitten just for her.

[Jessika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a bit shorter than the books I normally read, so going in I was expecting it to not have a certain depth to the characters and story, that I was used to. I was definitely wrong. It pulled me in with interesting characters and the crazy action. The chemistry between the two characters was off the charts. I'm excited to continue this series!

[Sky Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stalking ex has Freya in a bind and her sister sends a hot mercenary to check up on her.... what they didn't expect was a fated mate bond locking him in monster form until they finish the deed. A quick and entertaining romp in the pages for monster lovers and even a little hint at more monster fated mates to come. Do I see tentacles in the next book? I'm excited to read more.

[Lady Reverie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this series! It's got unique monsters (love) and great stories! Vicky Walklate's writing is fantastic - her heroines are strong, but they also give in to wanting their monsters, which is a must in my book. These are perfect for when you're wanting quick, fast-burn monster romance with scales, feathers, fur, and fangs.

[Fae Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting a third book, but I can definitely say that I enjoyed it as much as I did the first two and now I want a fourth book featuring that tentacle monster! Spoilers Sorry!
A grumpy mean tiger who isn't interested in finding his mate, and a shy human, who is dealing with an abusive and stalkerish ex-husband. What could go wrong and what can go right? A lot of things.

[Geraldine · Rating 5 out of 5]

best one in series so far!

Loved this book. I loved the chemistry between the two main characters, together they were hot and spicy and ever so possessive.

I’ve enjoyed all of the books in this series so far, but this one was definitely my favourite.

Fated mates is one of my favourite tropes and this one didn’t disappoint at all.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, for a nice yew on a rainy night!

I liked this book more than the first two in the series. It’s still fun monster smut, but it has a little more plot and the characters actually realize that the fated-mates scenario is pretty ridiculous and they really do need to get to know each other. The face-sitting, under-a-tree, in-the-rain, scene was especially spicy.

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting and Spicy all the way through!

Loved this pair! Freya is such a worn down sad girl and I love that Severin helps to bring back who she was after a horribly abusive relationship.

It’s a great representation of healing and finding your spark after being made to snuff it out. And I love the big bad saber’s growly, possessive banter.

[SPARKYSBPS · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌶️🌶️ I enjoyed this one more than the others. Freya and Sev are HOT! And their chemistry is so good. I do love a good “don’t touch her” , protective alpha monster story. This is Fated mates with triggers for DV (not MMC).

[Kayla P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now THAT is a monster romance. Claws, teeth, unique penis, and a chase yes please. This plot is a lot more straightforward as well. The pacing is odd still, parts are a lot slower than they need to be. Otherwise this one is a lot better than the other two

[DemetraP · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is very steamy. The hero has hooks on his genitals and is sort of like a tiger.

I took off 1 star because her ex-husband keeps stalking her and is very annoying.

[Julie Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply Clawesome!!

Another brilliant monster romance- couldn’t put it down.
Barbs, boops, claws & jaws - keep them coming 😉 wonderful Wordsmith.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the last, but still too short for my tastes.

[J.J. Strand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I have to go do the laundry that I completely ignored in favor of reading this.

Repeat after me: anatomical correctness.

[Flor Machado · Rating 3 out of 5]

No es la gran cosa pero es muy entretenido

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good! Very quick novella, but it had spice, suspense and very insta-lust/connection. Glad I picked this one up!

[Karen M. Oquendo · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion this is the best out of the three books