What do you think?
Rate this book
The Dhemon Wars #1
The Golden Rose Of Valenul
Gold can tarnish, roses can wilt, but love can last forever.
Ariadne Harlow didn’t want to be the Golden Rose. With the prestigious title comes too much attention. But when the courting Season begins, she has eyes for only one the Valenul General. He cares for her, helped her recover after being abducted, and holds the power to keep the horrible monsters of her past at bay. A perfect match.
Azriel Tenebra didn’t want to be the personal guard of the Golden Rose. Yet despite his misgivings, he ends up at her estate at the start of the Season. Before long, his struggles, and the real reason for his avoidance, a fae bond connecting him to Ariadne. She’s all he can think of, and it risks the safety of himself and everyone who gets between them.
Night after night, Ariadne can’t help but be drawn to her quiet new guard, and Azriel’s resolve to leave her slowly cracks. For when the General’s intentions become evident, she must uphold her reputation, and that of her family, by accepting his hand. Anything less and the truth would be exposed, putting Azriel’s life on the line and opening her to the scandal of the ages.
Ariadne Harlow didn’t want to be the Golden Rose. With the prestigious title comes too much attention. But when the courting Season begins, she has eyes for only one the Valenul General. He cares for her, helped her recover after being abducted, and holds the power to keep the horrible monsters of her past at bay. A perfect match.
Azriel Tenebra didn’t want to be the personal guard of the Golden Rose. Yet despite his misgivings, he ends up at her estate at the start of the Season. Before long, his struggles, and the real reason for his avoidance, a fae bond connecting him to Ariadne. She’s all he can think of, and it risks the safety of himself and everyone who gets between them.
Night after night, Ariadne can’t help but be drawn to her quiet new guard, and Azriel’s resolve to leave her slowly cracks. For when the General’s intentions become evident, she must uphold her reputation, and that of her family, by accepting his hand. Anything less and the truth would be exposed, putting Azriel’s life on the line and opening her to the scandal of the ages.
551 pages, Paperback
Published July 28, 2023
211 people are currently reading
6149 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
Want to read
August 11, 2024the mmc is called azriel tenebra.
i mean.........................
i mean.........................
April 18, 2025
Just wow. I had zero expectations, just reading this because the author is coming to a signing event I’m attending. MIND BLOWN. It’s so good!!!! One of my favorite reads this year thus far. The slow burn romance is smoldering, the plot tension is intense and the pace is steady and perfect. I never felt left behind or impatient. There were surprises lurking around every corner and the writing was so well done. I’m obsessed with so many side characters it’s just silly. I can’t wait to read the next book!!
Also, Azriel makes my top 10 fave book boyfriends. Wow.
Also, Azriel makes my top 10 fave book boyfriends. Wow.
October 27, 2023
This regency romance with vampires is everything I didn’t know that I needed. I love the sort of tension that regency romance brings with all the proprietary in courting. How one has to fight their own desires to meet social standards or expectations. The slow burn romance in this one is also making me swoon. At first, I wasn’t sold on the sort of instalove feel to the start of this book….but now, that connection is EVERYTHING!!! I never thought adding in a fantasy/supernatural element would elevate this sort of romance…..but it did and I am addicted to this sort of story. The vampire/fae aspect creates an edge to the refined society aspect of regency romance. Throw in the fact that this amazing story is a debut novel and I’m done for.
June 22, 2024
Edit: Upping my rating for this one to 4 STARS since I still think about it from time to time. And with all the books I read, that’s gotta say something for it. It’s memorable for sure! And uniquely different. ❤️
3.25 Vampy Fae Stars
Vampires, and dhemons, and fae!
Really quickly I want to say that this is a regency romance, so picture something like this,
But with a twist to include fantastical creatures and things like this,
Our story opens up with Ariadne (the FMC and a full blooded Cearsan vampire) starting her debut season over. We learn that during her previous debut, she was kidnapped by Fae dhemons and tortured until she was rescued by her now main guard. Only as you dive deeper into the tale, you learn that is not the full story and there was another individual who was vital to her being rescued, but was reluctant to take any credit for it. This is none other than the MMC, Azriel, a half fae, half vampire, and cousin to the main guard. At the start of the new season he joins his cousin to help guard the Harlow sisters from any further attacks from the dhemons. His task is made difficult, though, by the fact that his fae heritage has caused him to "bond" with the eldest Harlow sister, Ariadne, and seeing her courted by other vampire men is not only torturous, but also puts him at risk for losing control and doing something that could get him executed. As her protector, Azriel gives Ariadne something she never thought she would ever feel again: a sense of peace and a feeling of safety. This is a story of choosing love against all odds, rising above your fears, and embracing who you were truly meant to be (and be with).
Ok, so this is a debut novel and I'm always conflicted with how to go about reviewing these. The author is just getting started and of course like with all things, practice makes perfect, but since they're at the beginning of their writing journey, things are still a little bumpy. I don't want to discourage them, though, or other people from their work.
This author is a wonderful writer. I see so much potential here and I look forward to reading more from them. There are a few things that I would offer some slight criticisms on, though, with the sole purpose of trying to help from a reader's perspective.
Third person omniscient is probably the hardest perspective to write from and that's the POV that's utilized in this particular story. A recent writer's workshop I attended stressed how difficult it is to write it effectively, yet how easy it is to lose your reader when attempting it. So bearing that in mind, then coupling it with a writing style that jumps from location to location to include characters who are not presently in the current scene of the story, it can get very confusing and frustrating for a reader. Not only that, when you are very obviously shifting the story to focus from one character to another, it makes the story feel choppy and less congruent.
Also, there is a matter of figuring out what information is important to include in the story, versus information that is just "fluff" and once you do that, you want to make sure that you limit the amount of fluff. Words are important when you have an epic story to tell. You don't want to waste any on points that do not actively drive your story forward. I feel like this book could have been shorter and would have probably left me feeling more fulfilled with less, yet more concise content. I would have preferred the focus just being on the two main characters, but it periodically shifted, unnecessarily, to side characters so I was made aware of what they too were doing and/or thinking. I basically skimmed through that content when I came across it and the more it happened, the more frustrated I became. Not to mention that because of all this side stuff, I was over TWO HUNDRED pages into the book and the two main characters had barely interacted with one another, much less kissed or anything. This comes down to knowing your audience and I needed more romance.
Not to be confused with sex, either! I actually love how the sex scenes were limited, but I needed more romantic buildup between the two main characters. More development of their relationship and less information on what the villain was doing in his spare time and how the FMC's sister felt about everything. The deviations from the main story caused the pace to drag as well.
This all converges together to bring me to my last point. There are soooo many things to consider when crafting a tale, but one of the things that I feel may be the most important is to try to avoid frustrating your reader at all costs. You write a story for the reader. It's the reader that will keep coming back to read what you have to say and it's the reader that will tell other readers to read your material, as well. With that said, it will not matter how wonderful your story is, how many twists and turns you can come up with if you lead your reader to feeling like,
Because eventually you will have them going,
and you don't want your reader doing that.
Final thoughts:
The base concept of this story was original and fantastic. I think this new author probably has a lot more creative ideas that are just itching to be put down into words on paper and I look forward to reading those as well. Her writing was solid. There were no typos or grammatical errors that readily stuck out and it was 100% engaging. Like I said earlier, though, I just wish that my attention hadn't been pulled in so many different directions. I would totally recommend this book to others, however, only to those who understand that a debut novel is very different from the other books you read from authors who are spitting out their 10th+ manuscript. It requires patience and understanding, but is a very interesting story that ultimately I enjoyed despite having to power through some frustrations.
I can't remember if there were any trigger warnings because I don't read them even if they are provided, but please be aware that this story does touch on the following:
3.25 Vampy Fae Stars
“It means I breathe for you—every single part of you—until this very universe ceases to exist, and even then, the void of eternity could not keep me from you.”
Vampires, and dhemons, and fae!
Really quickly I want to say that this is a regency romance, so picture something like this,
But with a twist to include fantastical creatures and things like this,
Our story opens up with Ariadne (the FMC and a full blooded Cearsan vampire) starting her debut season over. We learn that during her previous debut, she was kidnapped by Fae dhemons and tortured until she was rescued by her now main guard. Only as you dive deeper into the tale, you learn that is not the full story and there was another individual who was vital to her being rescued, but was reluctant to take any credit for it. This is none other than the MMC, Azriel, a half fae, half vampire, and cousin to the main guard. At the start of the new season he joins his cousin to help guard the Harlow sisters from any further attacks from the dhemons. His task is made difficult, though, by the fact that his fae heritage has caused him to "bond" with the eldest Harlow sister, Ariadne, and seeing her courted by other vampire men is not only torturous, but also puts him at risk for losing control and doing something that could get him executed. As her protector, Azriel gives Ariadne something she never thought she would ever feel again: a sense of peace and a feeling of safety. This is a story of choosing love against all odds, rising above your fears, and embracing who you were truly meant to be (and be with).
"He pulled away to run his lips along her jaw and whispered, “Choose me.”"
Ok, so this is a debut novel and I'm always conflicted with how to go about reviewing these. The author is just getting started and of course like with all things, practice makes perfect, but since they're at the beginning of their writing journey, things are still a little bumpy. I don't want to discourage them, though, or other people from their work.
This author is a wonderful writer. I see so much potential here and I look forward to reading more from them. There are a few things that I would offer some slight criticisms on, though, with the sole purpose of trying to help from a reader's perspective.
Third person omniscient is probably the hardest perspective to write from and that's the POV that's utilized in this particular story. A recent writer's workshop I attended stressed how difficult it is to write it effectively, yet how easy it is to lose your reader when attempting it. So bearing that in mind, then coupling it with a writing style that jumps from location to location to include characters who are not presently in the current scene of the story, it can get very confusing and frustrating for a reader. Not only that, when you are very obviously shifting the story to focus from one character to another, it makes the story feel choppy and less congruent.
Also, there is a matter of figuring out what information is important to include in the story, versus information that is just "fluff" and once you do that, you want to make sure that you limit the amount of fluff. Words are important when you have an epic story to tell. You don't want to waste any on points that do not actively drive your story forward. I feel like this book could have been shorter and would have probably left me feeling more fulfilled with less, yet more concise content. I would have preferred the focus just being on the two main characters, but it periodically shifted, unnecessarily, to side characters so I was made aware of what they too were doing and/or thinking. I basically skimmed through that content when I came across it and the more it happened, the more frustrated I became. Not to mention that because of all this side stuff, I was over TWO HUNDRED pages into the book and the two main characters had barely interacted with one another, much less kissed or anything. This comes down to knowing your audience and I needed more romance.
Not to be confused with sex, either! I actually love how the sex scenes were limited, but I needed more romantic buildup between the two main characters. More development of their relationship and less information on what the villain was doing in his spare time and how the FMC's sister felt about everything. The deviations from the main story caused the pace to drag as well.
This all converges together to bring me to my last point. There are soooo many things to consider when crafting a tale, but one of the things that I feel may be the most important is to try to avoid frustrating your reader at all costs. You write a story for the reader. It's the reader that will keep coming back to read what you have to say and it's the reader that will tell other readers to read your material, as well. With that said, it will not matter how wonderful your story is, how many twists and turns you can come up with if you lead your reader to feeling like,
Because eventually you will have them going,
and you don't want your reader doing that.
Final thoughts:
The base concept of this story was original and fantastic. I think this new author probably has a lot more creative ideas that are just itching to be put down into words on paper and I look forward to reading those as well. Her writing was solid. There were no typos or grammatical errors that readily stuck out and it was 100% engaging. Like I said earlier, though, I just wish that my attention hadn't been pulled in so many different directions. I would totally recommend this book to others, however, only to those who understand that a debut novel is very different from the other books you read from authors who are spitting out their 10th+ manuscript. It requires patience and understanding, but is a very interesting story that ultimately I enjoyed despite having to power through some frustrations.
I can't remember if there were any trigger warnings because I don't read them even if they are provided, but please be aware that this story does touch on the following:
~Death of a loved one
~Torture
~Abduction
~Sexual Assault
~Discrimination because of race and/or status
November 23, 2023
This was an enjoyable read for me, and I loved that it was such an original story. It gave my Bridgerton meets the vampire diaries vibes and I was here for it. However, I found the writing to be a little confusing, it was hard to keep track of all the names and places and I think the referral to Ariadne's past could have been done better. I just found I had to reread sections to full understand what was going on. I also didn't love the ending, it felt like we were building to something big and I thought we might end on a good cliffhanger for book 2, but it sort of semi tied itself up, while leaving all these questions and doors open and I don't even know if there will be a book 2 to answer those questions. The last 15% lamented this as a 3 star read.
March 22, 2024
Fluffy but somewhat original. 2.5 stars?
I think the idea is interesting but not necessarily well executed. Ariadne doesn't have a lot going for her. She really just exists in the book. There's some trauma that is mostly explained by the end of the book, an abusive relationship with her father that's pretty glazed over, and then some quickly shifting romance.
Loren pissed me off from the start. He was clearly in love with the idea of her. It was weird how quickly Ariadne seemed disenchanted with him considering her adoration from the start.
The twist was obvious to me. No surprise there. I also really felt like I wanted more explanation of the world and less of the romance. Like it felt like a paranormal romance from the plot but I went into it expecting more of a romantasy. Things were mentioned briefly, like all the mage curses for the fae wolves who did "various crimes" and of course the Caersan curse, but never really explained. And a curse implies a level of attempt to break it, which was never talked about... apparently they are all just cool with being cursed.
I also found it weird that the one description of a mage is a woman in a hijab.
And why the multiple POV switches in third person omniscient? Not necessary.
It has potential to get better, but I'm underwhelmed at this point.
I think the idea is interesting but not necessarily well executed. Ariadne doesn't have a lot going for her. She really just exists in the book. There's some trauma that is mostly explained by the end of the book, an abusive relationship with her father that's pretty glazed over, and then some quickly shifting romance.
Loren pissed me off from the start. He was clearly in love with the idea of her. It was weird how quickly Ariadne seemed disenchanted with him considering her adoration from the start.
The twist was obvious to me. No surprise there. I also really felt like I wanted more explanation of the world and less of the romance. Like it felt like a paranormal romance from the plot but I went into it expecting more of a romantasy. Things were mentioned briefly, like all the mage curses for the fae wolves who did "various crimes" and of course the Caersan curse, but never really explained. And a curse implies a level of attempt to break it, which was never talked about... apparently they are all just cool with being cursed.
I also found it weird that the one description of a mage is a woman in a hijab.
And why the multiple POV switches in third person omniscient? Not necessary.
It has potential to get better, but I'm underwhelmed at this point.
August 25, 2023
AMAZING 🤩 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was recommended to me by my cousin, and i fell i love with it . The world building and characters were a chefs kiss !! I absolutely love how the MMC was written, not just as some brute , but a man with true feelings, emotions and fears. And i can not give enough praise to the author for this book !!! I was literally held captive by this story , and unlike other books there was no determining the outcome!!! I can not wait for a second book and i hope she gets the recognition she deserves. Thank you Enna for a truly amazing book !!!
This book was recommended to me by my cousin, and i fell i love with it . The world building and characters were a chefs kiss !! I absolutely love how the MMC was written, not just as some brute , but a man with true feelings, emotions and fears. And i can not give enough praise to the author for this book !!! I was literally held captive by this story , and unlike other books there was no determining the outcome!!! I can not wait for a second book and i hope she gets the recognition she deserves. Thank you Enna for a truly amazing book !!!
October 29, 2025
3.5 🌟 bridgerton but make it vampires! This was definitely unique in the romantasy genre and I had a great time, but there’s some things I’d change. First, I wish there weren’t POV changes mid chapter—it got a little confusing and would’ve been executed better with POVs alternating chapters. Secondly, this was marketed as a slow burn which it was not at all—not a bad thing but incorrect marketing can lead to some disappointment.
Okay now for the good bc there was plenty of it! I absolutely loved the unique take on vampires. The regency setting was *chefs kiss* and while I predicted the plot twists, I do still think they were done well. The politics of this world are quite interesting. The romance was good, although I wish it had more build up. This doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, so while I’m not continuing the series at the moment, I plan to in the future!
Okay now for the good bc there was plenty of it! I absolutely loved the unique take on vampires. The regency setting was *chefs kiss* and while I predicted the plot twists, I do still think they were done well. The politics of this world are quite interesting. The romance was good, although I wish it had more build up. This doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, so while I’m not continuing the series at the moment, I plan to in the future!
Read
July 8, 2025You know, I never once thought to myself, “How about Bridgerton… but make it vampires” but yet, here we are.
An interesting idea and a fairly interesting start. Nonetheless, DNF at 9% because we might be regency era and vampiric fae…but we’re also really not selling me with the language and content.
An interesting idea and a fairly interesting start. Nonetheless, DNF at 9% because we might be regency era and vampiric fae…but we’re also really not selling me with the language and content.
October 26, 2023
“Until the very end, Miss Harlow.”
Okay, where to start? This book checked so many boxes for me in terms of romance.
We have…
🥀 Forbidden love
🥀Pining (so much pining)
🥀Slow burn
🥀Spice (such good spice)
I loved so much about this story and world. The characters were so fleshed out, I loved them all (well maybe one or two I didn’t love 😤)
The world is so unique! We have a mix of vampires, fae , dhemons… but then throw all of that into a regency romance with lords and ladies and balls and class systems and politics… SO GOOD. The combination of these things was done masterfully, I’m so, so impressed.
The writing is rich and beautiful. Completely immersive. It left me daydreaming so often about what was going to happen next.
While I would say this is a character driven love story, there is action thrown in and certainly a plot that I foresee trickling into the next several books.
If you’re looking for a regency romance story with a dash of fantasy and paranormal, you must check this out! Available on KU as well!
Okay, where to start? This book checked so many boxes for me in terms of romance.
We have…
🥀 Forbidden love
🥀Pining (so much pining)
🥀Slow burn
🥀Spice (such good spice)
I loved so much about this story and world. The characters were so fleshed out, I loved them all (well maybe one or two I didn’t love 😤)
The world is so unique! We have a mix of vampires, fae , dhemons… but then throw all of that into a regency romance with lords and ladies and balls and class systems and politics… SO GOOD. The combination of these things was done masterfully, I’m so, so impressed.
The writing is rich and beautiful. Completely immersive. It left me daydreaming so often about what was going to happen next.
While I would say this is a character driven love story, there is action thrown in and certainly a plot that I foresee trickling into the next several books.
If you’re looking for a regency romance story with a dash of fantasy and paranormal, you must check this out! Available on KU as well!
July 7, 2024
If you liked the ballroom scene in Pride and Prejudice between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy and if you love the scene where Darcy flexes his hand you’ll love this book. Throughout the book there are tense ballroom scenes, hushed words behind closed doors, and plot twists you’d never see coming. If you prefer the buildup to sex rather than the scenes themselves this book is for you. There is a lot of build up and very minimal spicy scenes, but the build up is *chefs kiss*.
I loved this book if I could have read it all in one day I would have. This book is constantly intriguing and you don’t know what will happen next. All the characters in my opinion are fully fleshed out and done well. No character is one dimensional they all have depth and interesting personal story lines that I can’t wait to learn about.
#touchheryoudie #lovetriangle
October 2, 2024
First of all, I know I know I read fast… but for me to DEVOUR a book like this? You know it’s a good one.
World building: ✨✨✨✨✨
Characters: 🩶🩶🩶🩶🩶
PLOT: 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
Like is this even real? Vampires, fae, mages! My 3 favorite things existing in one world.
Ariadne is a strong female lead, and I’m very thankful for the insight of her mind. But I’m also very thankful that we get insight to EVERY main characters mind. It really brings the story together more than I ever could imagine.
Enna has such insanely beautiful writing. It’s intricate but delicate. The first chapter had me captivated within a paragraph.
I have high expectations for fantasy books… and this one really gets up there in my top 3.
World building: ✨✨✨✨✨
Characters: 🩶🩶🩶🩶🩶
PLOT: 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
Like is this even real? Vampires, fae, mages! My 3 favorite things existing in one world.
Ariadne is a strong female lead, and I’m very thankful for the insight of her mind. But I’m also very thankful that we get insight to EVERY main characters mind. It really brings the story together more than I ever could imagine.
Enna has such insanely beautiful writing. It’s intricate but delicate. The first chapter had me captivated within a paragraph.
I have high expectations for fantasy books… and this one really gets up there in my top 3.
May 18, 2025
Regency, but with vampires and fae
The Golden Rose of Valenul by Enna Hawthorn
Book one in the Dhemon Wars series
Multiple POVs, Bridgerton with vampires and fae, aristocratic vampires, LGTBQ rep, forbidden love, fated mates, dual of honor, touch her and 💀, who did this, bodyguard, slowburn, mental health rep, secrets
Please check the trigger warnings!
Ariadne has found herself enduring the beginning of another season, one that she is not ready for after enduring a horrific abduction fairly recently. But if she must go through with this, she can at least encourage the one suitor she wants- the general Loren. Azriel wants to be anywhere but here, guarding the female he is secretly bonded to who is falling for another man. But yet he can't seem to bring himself to stay away. As time goes on and Ari sees more and more of who Loren actually is, can she stand marrying him or can she figure out how to defy her father, who has told her to marry him?
Have you ever been in the mood for a regency romance, but then miss the fantasy? Look no further than this regency world, but make it vampires, fae and mages with magic, and a threatening, powerful enemy! There are definitely secrets that build tension and quite a bit of action in the form of the dhemons attacking and… other things that shall not be spoiled. There is a lot of frustration by the female characters for how powerless they are in this society, will be interesting to see if they get more rageful as the series moves on! I love Ari and Azriel together and how Azriel pays attention to Ari's tells even when she says she is fine. I also love the female friendships in this book! Now on to book 2!
The Golden Rose of Valenul by Enna Hawthorn
Book one in the Dhemon Wars series
Multiple POVs, Bridgerton with vampires and fae, aristocratic vampires, LGTBQ rep, forbidden love, fated mates, dual of honor, touch her and 💀, who did this, bodyguard, slowburn, mental health rep, secrets
Please check the trigger warnings!
Ariadne has found herself enduring the beginning of another season, one that she is not ready for after enduring a horrific abduction fairly recently. But if she must go through with this, she can at least encourage the one suitor she wants- the general Loren. Azriel wants to be anywhere but here, guarding the female he is secretly bonded to who is falling for another man. But yet he can't seem to bring himself to stay away. As time goes on and Ari sees more and more of who Loren actually is, can she stand marrying him or can she figure out how to defy her father, who has told her to marry him?
Have you ever been in the mood for a regency romance, but then miss the fantasy? Look no further than this regency world, but make it vampires, fae and mages with magic, and a threatening, powerful enemy! There are definitely secrets that build tension and quite a bit of action in the form of the dhemons attacking and… other things that shall not be spoiled. There is a lot of frustration by the female characters for how powerless they are in this society, will be interesting to see if they get more rageful as the series moves on! I love Ari and Azriel together and how Azriel pays attention to Ari's tells even when she says she is fine. I also love the female friendships in this book! Now on to book 2!
October 30, 2023
I picked this up because @lattesandlotsofbooks recommended it with a rave review, which isn't typical of her. She likes a good angst filled romance and I have to say... I agree. This one just happened to have vampires and courting.
After she was kidnapped by dhemons and their king Ehrun, Ariadne has never been the same. The dhemons who imprisoned her killed her fiance when he attempted to rescue her. She was eventually rescued, but permanently scarred in more than one way. Now, she's entering a season of courting again and has been dubbed The Golden Rose. She only has eyes for one man though, her former fiance's brother, General Loren Gard. As the General courts her and makes his intentions clear, Ariadne begins to notice her new guard, Azriel. He's half fae, half vampire, and viewed as a bastard for his mixed heritage. At first he infuriates her, but then she realizes he's the only man standing up for her in a sea of power hungry men. In this world, women are to be seen and not heard but Azriel gives Ariadne both. Can she actually be with him?
This definitely got me the angsty vibes I was looking for and the romance had me from the beginning. I am excited to see what happens in the next book!
Read if you like:
✅ Mates
✅ Forbidden love
✅ Vampires
✅ Traditional courting
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
After she was kidnapped by dhemons and their king Ehrun, Ariadne has never been the same. The dhemons who imprisoned her killed her fiance when he attempted to rescue her. She was eventually rescued, but permanently scarred in more than one way. Now, she's entering a season of courting again and has been dubbed The Golden Rose. She only has eyes for one man though, her former fiance's brother, General Loren Gard. As the General courts her and makes his intentions clear, Ariadne begins to notice her new guard, Azriel. He's half fae, half vampire, and viewed as a bastard for his mixed heritage. At first he infuriates her, but then she realizes he's the only man standing up for her in a sea of power hungry men. In this world, women are to be seen and not heard but Azriel gives Ariadne both. Can she actually be with him?
This definitely got me the angsty vibes I was looking for and the romance had me from the beginning. I am excited to see what happens in the next book!
Read if you like:
✅ Mates
✅ Forbidden love
✅ Vampires
✅ Traditional courting
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
December 30, 2023
I loved this book so much! A vampire regency romance with fae and demons too !? All of my favorite things. The writing style is definitely a little different, but I got used to it.
AND there is NO cliffhanger!... Well it's more of a subtle cliff hanger, but not like the last paragraph leaves you pissed off that you have to wait for the next book.
One thing I did not like, were some of the names 😅 . With a fantasy genre, I guess you should just expect that though.
Please read this book!!
AND there is NO cliffhanger!... Well it's more of a subtle cliff hanger, but not like the last paragraph leaves you pissed off that you have to wait for the next book.
One thing I did not like, were some of the names 😅 . With a fantasy genre, I guess you should just expect that though.
Please read this book!!
January 9, 2024
This absolutely blew me away. Vampires and regency? Sign me up. This was gorgeously written and full of twists several of which had me gasping. The chemistry was so good, the spice immaculate, and the characters all so dynamic. I immediately need the sequel and I can’t wait to see how it all develops.
January 4, 2025
Shifters, Magic, forbidden love, secret identities! What a whirlwind! Really thought this would be like a fantasy twist to Bridgerton - NOPE - it’s SO much more! Again mentally replacing the D word with “Monster” but this heavily spicy violent book was wild! It’s definitely one for the fantasy spice fan girlies. Not for the fans of milder books or fade to black scenarios.
December 1, 2023
This is as such a beautiful romance, I don’t even know where to start!
It’s bridgerton but with vampires, fae & dhemons.
It’s between a general and a guard.
It’s between trauma and healing.
It’s a story wrapped in so much tension, love, hate & undying devotion.
It’s wonderful. It’s all the things. I love this book so much.
It’s bridgerton but with vampires, fae & dhemons.
It’s between a general and a guard.
It’s between trauma and healing.
It’s a story wrapped in so much tension, love, hate & undying devotion.
It’s wonderful. It’s all the things. I love this book so much.
Read
August 24, 2024Boring af...
DNF at 65%.
DNF at 65%.
February 24, 2025
I was so impressed by this book from an indie author. I’m new to fantasy but Enna definitely captured my attention. The imagery is awesome and the action is great. There are also many different kinds of relationships which makes it a multi-dimensional story. Loved it
March 12, 2025
I think for a debut novel this book was solid and had a good plot, it could have been excellent though. Mind you , I think book 2 will give us more so I have to be patient!
Personally I wanted more of the backstory. I needed the torment that Ariadne went through to be described more. To really build on the angst. The author could have given us more of this. Although we got it during flashbacks I would have liked more.
The burn 🔥 was very good. The spicy parts were well written too. There wasn’t a lot of spice but I was fine with that as it was good quality when you did get some !😉 I would have liked the fae bond played out more when it first happened. The MMC is lush though! No doubt about that 😊
Also I kept forgetting they were Vampires! Other than going out at night to avoid the sun and the odd erotic nibble - the Vampire element was watered down somewhat!
Did any of my observations stop me enjoying it? No! Will I look out for book 2 - yes!
Will I be following this author ? - Yes for sure.
Everything was good about this book , I just think she could have giving us a bit more..
😊😊
Personally I wanted more of the backstory. I needed the torment that Ariadne went through to be described more. To really build on the angst. The author could have given us more of this. Although we got it during flashbacks I would have liked more.
The burn 🔥 was very good. The spicy parts were well written too. There wasn’t a lot of spice but I was fine with that as it was good quality when you did get some !😉 I would have liked the fae bond played out more when it first happened. The MMC is lush though! No doubt about that 😊
Also I kept forgetting they were Vampires! Other than going out at night to avoid the sun and the odd erotic nibble - the Vampire element was watered down somewhat!
Did any of my observations stop me enjoying it? No! Will I look out for book 2 - yes!
Will I be following this author ? - Yes for sure.
Everything was good about this book , I just think she could have giving us a bit more..
😊😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2024
This was a really unique fantasy novel! I loved the vampires meet bridgerton concept. I also really liked that the male MC was allowed to have emotions, and wasn't some alpha-hole. I'm so curious to see where this story goes.
April 6, 2024
SJM WHO!!!!!!
January 30, 2025
Genre: Regency Vampiric Fantasy
Theme/Tropes: Found Family, Survival, Nature/Nurture, Arranged Marriage, Mates, LGTBQ characters, Hidden Heir, Mental Rep, Slow Burn
Pace: Medium Pace
Overall Rating: 4 Stars
A regency vampire romance; not something I would have originally picked up but boy howdy I am glad I had a chance to read it! One review mentioned that this was like Vampire Diaries meets Bridgerton and I totally agree with this assessment. If you enjoy a good Season on the town and the drama that goes with it, this is going to be a book for you! The book is told in 4 separate POVs and is done extremely well. Even reading from the different perspectives the reader is still kept in the dark and does not know much more than the current character on page which I liked.
Plot Rating: 5 Stars
The plot sucked me in though I would say it is not the main driver of the story. The overarching story between Ariadne’s kidnapping, escape, and re-introduction into polite society and the past that has been buried so deeply and only a small handful of people know the truth. I was so enthralled and continued to try and figure out all the puzzle pieces on my own. There were a few surprises that I didn’t necessarily see coming and I love that for me, I like to be surprised even if I’m determined to figure it out first. My only real complaint is that I wish there was more backstory for the kidnapping and subsequent imprisonment. We get snippets here and there but never a really good look at what happened.
Character Rating: 5 Stars
The characters are the main drivers of the story and they are wonderful! I loved the good guys and loathed the bad ones. I looked forward to each perspective as it added something more to the story!
Ariadne - (4.5) I am on the fence with her at times mainly because she seems like a strong woman and then the next moment she caves without trying. While I appreciate that this plays into her past traumas it still grated. She also seems to have blinders on when it comes to the men in her life. Both love interests and her father. In some ways, I think she just wants to see the best in the men but it does her a disservice. Her character growth post-wedding is much better and I truly started to enjoy her as a character.
Azriel - (5.0) Half vampire, half fae bastard. This man is stunningly beautiful and I loved him from the start. He has his secret but I adore a man with a little bit of mystery. What truly drew me to him, is his vulnerability. Too often the male characters are depicted as big, brooding, hard-asses that have no emotions. Azriel breaks that mold without being made into a wimpy, simp of a man. His growth through the various roles he undertakes throughout the story was fascinating.
Favorite Character: Madan
Ending Rating: 2.5 Stars
The ending fell flat for me. There was a big climax; secrets discovered, decisions made, uncertainty takes root, and then just “The End”. I was rather confused when I turned the page and it was the acknowledgments. I understand there is a second book and the entire plot cannot be wrapped up. But I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop but I guess there was only ever one shoe. The ending was just so anti-climatic and it took away from the rest of the story for me. The opportunity for a heart-wrenching cliffhanger was there but the author noped her way to a nicer ending. It truly just did not match the rest of the story and both felt like it tied one piece up completely but left the other plot lines flapping in the wind, seemingly forgotten.
Fun/Enjoyment: I enjoyed the book on the whole. It wasn’t one that had me wondering what was happening between the characters when the book was closed but while I was reading I was fully invested! I will absolutely be reading the conclusion to this book at some point because I have questions that need answers!
Spice Level: Open-door spice
It takes a while for the relationship to progress to the point of physical relations. Once it hits that point, there are some open-door scenes but they aren’t extremely graphic.
Theme/Tropes: Found Family, Survival, Nature/Nurture, Arranged Marriage, Mates, LGTBQ characters, Hidden Heir, Mental Rep, Slow Burn
Pace: Medium Pace
Overall Rating: 4 Stars
A regency vampire romance; not something I would have originally picked up but boy howdy I am glad I had a chance to read it! One review mentioned that this was like Vampire Diaries meets Bridgerton and I totally agree with this assessment. If you enjoy a good Season on the town and the drama that goes with it, this is going to be a book for you! The book is told in 4 separate POVs and is done extremely well. Even reading from the different perspectives the reader is still kept in the dark and does not know much more than the current character on page which I liked.
Plot Rating: 5 Stars
The plot sucked me in though I would say it is not the main driver of the story. The overarching story between Ariadne’s kidnapping, escape, and re-introduction into polite society and the past that has been buried so deeply and only a small handful of people know the truth. I was so enthralled and continued to try and figure out all the puzzle pieces on my own. There were a few surprises that I didn’t necessarily see coming and I love that for me, I like to be surprised even if I’m determined to figure it out first. My only real complaint is that I wish there was more backstory for the kidnapping and subsequent imprisonment. We get snippets here and there but never a really good look at what happened.
Character Rating: 5 Stars
The characters are the main drivers of the story and they are wonderful! I loved the good guys and loathed the bad ones. I looked forward to each perspective as it added something more to the story!
Ariadne - (4.5) I am on the fence with her at times mainly because she seems like a strong woman and then the next moment she caves without trying. While I appreciate that this plays into her past traumas it still grated. She also seems to have blinders on when it comes to the men in her life. Both love interests and her father. In some ways, I think she just wants to see the best in the men but it does her a disservice. Her character growth post-wedding is much better and I truly started to enjoy her as a character.
Azriel - (5.0) Half vampire, half fae bastard. This man is stunningly beautiful and I loved him from the start. He has his secret but I adore a man with a little bit of mystery. What truly drew me to him, is his vulnerability. Too often the male characters are depicted as big, brooding, hard-asses that have no emotions. Azriel breaks that mold without being made into a wimpy, simp of a man. His growth through the various roles he undertakes throughout the story was fascinating.
Favorite Character: Madan
Ending Rating: 2.5 Stars
The ending fell flat for me. There was a big climax; secrets discovered, decisions made, uncertainty takes root, and then just “The End”. I was rather confused when I turned the page and it was the acknowledgments. I understand there is a second book and the entire plot cannot be wrapped up. But I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop but I guess there was only ever one shoe. The ending was just so anti-climatic and it took away from the rest of the story for me. The opportunity for a heart-wrenching cliffhanger was there but the author noped her way to a nicer ending. It truly just did not match the rest of the story and both felt like it tied one piece up completely but left the other plot lines flapping in the wind, seemingly forgotten.
Fun/Enjoyment: I enjoyed the book on the whole. It wasn’t one that had me wondering what was happening between the characters when the book was closed but while I was reading I was fully invested! I will absolutely be reading the conclusion to this book at some point because I have questions that need answers!
Spice Level: Open-door spice
It takes a while for the relationship to progress to the point of physical relations. Once it hits that point, there are some open-door scenes but they aren’t extremely graphic.
December 5, 2025
Ariadne Harlow thought she wanted the safety of the Valenul General, until her brooding new bodyguard Azriel walked in and ruined the plan. Azriel is fighting a secret fae bond that connects them, knowing that one slip-up could cost him his life and destroy Ariadne's reputation. As the pressure of the Season mounts, Ariadne finds herself torn between the perfect match she thought she wanted and the dangerous, forbidden pull she can't ignore.
• Bodyguard Romance
• Fated Mates
• Forbidden Love
• Social Class Divide
• High Society Scandal / Bridgerton Vibes
***
This is one of those unlucky books that have been sat in my KU downloads for an embarrassing amount of time. But I finally got the encouragement I needed to read it and I’m so glad I did! It for sure did not let me down on the Bridgerton meets fantasy expectations. Plus he falls first so of course I was all over it.
We follow the story of Ariadne and Azriel as they both recover from recent traumatic events at the hand of the dhemon usurper Ehrun. Ariadne was taken by the dhemons, tortured and abused to finally be saved by her unlikely heroes now turned body guards, including Azriel. But not all is as it seems. Oh no, not by a country mile.
Ariadne thinks the best, safest option is to aim for the dashing General, but as she gets to know him it goes less than smoothly. But in a society where she is held up as the Golden Rose of the season, where women are put on pedestals but given little respect. She has very few real choices. The way that Hawthorn writes Ariadne is done so well, with great sensitivity to her trauma, but with hints of her inner strength and character growth.
Azriel is tormented by his fated bond to Ariadne, forced to act as her bodyguard, watching her be courted by other men is a new form of torture. Because he hasn’t already had enough clearly. He has fallen first, and hard, and the yearning is pure deliciousness. But Hawthorn keeps you guessing and trying to piece together hints as to who he really is. This means that the twist isn’t that much of a shock, but it’s still done so very well.
This book is both slow and fast, action packed and full of meandering society moments. I fully expected to be tormented with a cliffhanger as it is book 1 in the series, but thankfully there was no such issue. There is still more than enough story to keep me hooked, but it didn’t leave me screaming and annoyed, just desperate for more.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Need society meets vampires and dhemons? Need yearning and forbidden love? This is your book.
• Bodyguard Romance
• Fated Mates
• Forbidden Love
• Social Class Divide
• High Society Scandal / Bridgerton Vibes
***
This is one of those unlucky books that have been sat in my KU downloads for an embarrassing amount of time. But I finally got the encouragement I needed to read it and I’m so glad I did! It for sure did not let me down on the Bridgerton meets fantasy expectations. Plus he falls first so of course I was all over it.
We follow the story of Ariadne and Azriel as they both recover from recent traumatic events at the hand of the dhemon usurper Ehrun. Ariadne was taken by the dhemons, tortured and abused to finally be saved by her unlikely heroes now turned body guards, including Azriel. But not all is as it seems. Oh no, not by a country mile.
Ariadne thinks the best, safest option is to aim for the dashing General, but as she gets to know him it goes less than smoothly. But in a society where she is held up as the Golden Rose of the season, where women are put on pedestals but given little respect. She has very few real choices. The way that Hawthorn writes Ariadne is done so well, with great sensitivity to her trauma, but with hints of her inner strength and character growth.
Azriel is tormented by his fated bond to Ariadne, forced to act as her bodyguard, watching her be courted by other men is a new form of torture. Because he hasn’t already had enough clearly. He has fallen first, and hard, and the yearning is pure deliciousness. But Hawthorn keeps you guessing and trying to piece together hints as to who he really is. This means that the twist isn’t that much of a shock, but it’s still done so very well.
This book is both slow and fast, action packed and full of meandering society moments. I fully expected to be tormented with a cliffhanger as it is book 1 in the series, but thankfully there was no such issue. There is still more than enough story to keep me hooked, but it didn’t leave me screaming and annoyed, just desperate for more.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Need society meets vampires and dhemons? Need yearning and forbidden love? This is your book.
did-not-finish
March 2, 2025DNF at 51%
I can't handle any more villain POV! Loren is only getting more and more vile and I have no idea why the author decided to give us so many chapters from his perspective. Nor why she included Ariadne's sister Emmilie's POV as well. Ariadne and Azriel have a potentially interesting dynamic but there are too many distractions.
Characters: Ariadne is a white Caersan vampire aristocrat. Azriel is a half-fae half-Caersan vampire bodyguard. Loren is the Valenul General and a Caersan vampire with silver hair. Ariadne's sister Emmilie is lesbian.
Content notes: past and present suicide attempts, PTSD, past abduction and rape and torture of FMC by dhemons, past murder of FMC's fiancé by dhemons, intimate partner violence (FMC's fiancé is emotionally and physically abusive), emotionally abusive father (FMC notes he hit her once), physical abuse of MMC by FMC (she hits him once; they are not together but he is her servant), murder, attempted murder, dhemon attack, whipping until near death, physical assault, duel, lacerations, past forced branding, body scars, vomit, military abuse of power (secondary character arrests and imprisons MMC for insubordination; he punishes him far above what's necessary and hopes the whipping will kill him), Caersan vampire blood purity rhetoric, bigotry, bigoted slurs , closeted lesbian and gay secondary characters, systemic homophobia, fear of coming out (FMC's sister), slut-shaming, sexism, misogyny, classism, past murder of MMC's parents and FMC's mother, past murder of FMC's father's first wife and family, past death of suitor's wife and newborn (childbirth), infidelity (secondary character), body commentary, past weight loss, fae-bond (fated mates), public sex (secondary characters), alcohol, inebriation, excessive drinking, ableist language
I can't handle any more villain POV! Loren is only getting more and more vile and I have no idea why the author decided to give us so many chapters from his perspective. Nor why she included Ariadne's sister Emmilie's POV as well. Ariadne and Azriel have a potentially interesting dynamic but there are too many distractions.
Characters: Ariadne is a white Caersan vampire aristocrat. Azriel is a half-fae half-Caersan vampire bodyguard. Loren is the Valenul General and a Caersan vampire with silver hair. Ariadne's sister Emmilie is lesbian.
Content notes: past and present suicide attempts, PTSD, past abduction and rape and torture of FMC by dhemons, past murder of FMC's fiancé by dhemons, intimate partner violence (FMC's fiancé is emotionally and physically abusive), emotionally abusive father (FMC notes he hit her once), physical abuse of MMC by FMC (she hits him once; they are not together but he is her servant), murder, attempted murder, dhemon attack, whipping until near death, physical assault, duel, lacerations, past forced branding, body scars, vomit, military abuse of power (secondary character arrests and imprisons MMC for insubordination; he punishes him far above what's necessary and hopes the whipping will kill him), Caersan vampire blood purity rhetoric, bigotry, bigoted slurs , closeted lesbian and gay secondary characters, systemic homophobia, fear of coming out (FMC's sister), slut-shaming, sexism, misogyny, classism, past murder of MMC's parents and FMC's mother, past murder of FMC's father's first wife and family, past death of suitor's wife and newborn (childbirth), infidelity (secondary character), body commentary, past weight loss, fae-bond (fated mates), public sex (secondary characters), alcohol, inebriation, excessive drinking, ableist language
April 15, 2024
S T U N N I N G!
This book has set an all new bar for the way I rank books. It is the crème de la crème, for me.
We have Original Regency Vampires that come with all of the sordid past and copious amounts of drama, not to mention the deceit, lies and corruption that comes with any high society that believes them to be superior to all other races.
We have Forbidden Personal Guard fated bonded mate, that kept it secret and hidden. Willing to go utterly stark raving mad denying the bond to allow his mate to continue on her society unaware of such, because after all he is a low life no body half breed!
We have hidden lineage, deceit, political scheme, corruption, secrets (on all sides!), found familia ties, we have angst, we have honor duels, we have tragic back stories, perseverance, repressed women finding their voices, touch her and I will burn the world vibes, mortally corrupt characters, villains, slow burn, spice that was scorching hot, groveling… it goes on.
I mean this book could not have hit every last major trope, micro trope, genre niche I have desired in a fantasy book unless I wrote it myself. How it was rejected as many times as it was it beyond me.
I am thrilled this will be a series because I am so not ready to put this world to bed. It is now my Roman Empire and I will not stop thinking about it.
The pacing of this book is fantastic, the formatting for the POVs is amazing, the plot twists gave me every human emotion, I was clutching my kindle so hard I am surprised i didn’t break it. This book snags you instantly. I knew 7% in I was utterly in love. Absolutely. For me this book is my new standard for Regency Romance with spice.
If Enna writes it - I W I L L read it. Guaranteed.
This book has set an all new bar for the way I rank books. It is the crème de la crème, for me.
We have Original Regency Vampires that come with all of the sordid past and copious amounts of drama, not to mention the deceit, lies and corruption that comes with any high society that believes them to be superior to all other races.
We have Forbidden Personal Guard fated bonded mate, that kept it secret and hidden. Willing to go utterly stark raving mad denying the bond to allow his mate to continue on her society unaware of such, because after all he is a low life no body half breed!
We have hidden lineage, deceit, political scheme, corruption, secrets (on all sides!), found familia ties, we have angst, we have honor duels, we have tragic back stories, perseverance, repressed women finding their voices, touch her and I will burn the world vibes, mortally corrupt characters, villains, slow burn, spice that was scorching hot, groveling… it goes on.
I mean this book could not have hit every last major trope, micro trope, genre niche I have desired in a fantasy book unless I wrote it myself. How it was rejected as many times as it was it beyond me.
I am thrilled this will be a series because I am so not ready to put this world to bed. It is now my Roman Empire and I will not stop thinking about it.
The pacing of this book is fantastic, the formatting for the POVs is amazing, the plot twists gave me every human emotion, I was clutching my kindle so hard I am surprised i didn’t break it. This book snags you instantly. I knew 7% in I was utterly in love. Absolutely. For me this book is my new standard for Regency Romance with spice.
If Enna writes it - I W I L L read it. Guaranteed.
April 28, 2024
WHEN IS BOOK TWO COMING OUT!?!
WOW. First off this book was nothing like how I expected it to be… I thought it’d be more adventure and fighting. It was more tea parties and parties/balls.
I’m in NO WAY complaining though! This is the first book I’ve read that doesn’t feel like a repeat of the same plot or story line which I absolutely loved!! We always get to read about how he’s obsessed with her from the beginning, but I love how we actually get to read from his POV what’s really going on in his head at the first meeting!
There are so many little things that didn’t make sense at first but once you hit chapter 29… BOOM everything starts lining up and I literally had to stop reading for a day to let myself readjust🤯😅
The only things I wish there was more of was well fighting… the fight scenes weren’t as long as I usually like, however because this book’s plot isn’t really about fighting I’m not mad about it either. The other thing was there were some characters that seem important to our main characters, but we never get to meet them… I hope this is leading up to something more if there so going to be a second book.
Overall I really enjoyed it. The tension, the longing glances, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. And the trauma…😭 my babes deserve the WORLD after everything they went through!!
WOW. First off this book was nothing like how I expected it to be… I thought it’d be more adventure and fighting. It was more tea parties and parties/balls.
I’m in NO WAY complaining though! This is the first book I’ve read that doesn’t feel like a repeat of the same plot or story line which I absolutely loved!! We always get to read about how he’s obsessed with her from the beginning, but I love how we actually get to read from his POV what’s really going on in his head at the first meeting!
There are so many little things that didn’t make sense at first but once you hit chapter 29… BOOM everything starts lining up and I literally had to stop reading for a day to let myself readjust🤯😅
The only things I wish there was more of was well fighting… the fight scenes weren’t as long as I usually like, however because this book’s plot isn’t really about fighting I’m not mad about it either. The other thing was there were some characters that seem important to our main characters, but we never get to meet them… I hope this is leading up to something more if there so going to be a second book.
Overall I really enjoyed it. The tension, the longing glances, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. And the trauma…😭 my babes deserve the WORLD after everything they went through!!
February 12, 2025
“𝓤𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓮𝓷𝓭”
Series: The Dhemon Wars || Book #1
⭐️5|| 🌶️2 || 🗣️Multi POV, 3rd Person
Read this if you like:
Touch Her and Die
Vampires, Fae, Mages, and more
Fated Mates
Bridgerton Vibes
Hidden Identity
Bodyguard
Forbidden Love
Slow Burn
Secrets
LGBTQ Rep
Forced Proximity
The Golden Rose of Valenul is a fabulous blend of Bridgerton and romantasy and I am here for it 👏
When I saw Indigo Wild Card’s character art for this I immediately added it to my TBR, no questions asked. And her art has yet to lead me astray because this was yet another 5 star read for me. I’m just a sucker for the tension in a bodyguard romance and this did not disappoint. Azriel is the sweetest, broodiest bodyguard that has graced my Kindle.
I actually loved the multi-POV here - it didnt take away from Ari and Az but instead made me love them more seeing things through the eyes of other characters and gave us a more fleshed out story seeing it from other vantage points. Especially Loren and his slightly unhinged, obsessive mind.
🗣️ “Speaking up for what is right is not a choice. It is a responsibility not all of us are ready to take on.”
🗣️ “Choose me.”
🗣️ “It means I breathe for you—every single part of you—until this very universe ceases to exist, and even then, the void of eternity could not keep me from you.”
Series: The Dhemon Wars || Book #1
⭐️5|| 🌶️2 || 🗣️Multi POV, 3rd Person
Read this if you like:
Touch Her and Die
Vampires, Fae, Mages, and more
Fated Mates
Bridgerton Vibes
Hidden Identity
Bodyguard
Forbidden Love
Slow Burn
Secrets
LGBTQ Rep
Forced Proximity
The Golden Rose of Valenul is a fabulous blend of Bridgerton and romantasy and I am here for it 👏
When I saw Indigo Wild Card’s character art for this I immediately added it to my TBR, no questions asked. And her art has yet to lead me astray because this was yet another 5 star read for me. I’m just a sucker for the tension in a bodyguard romance and this did not disappoint. Azriel is the sweetest, broodiest bodyguard that has graced my Kindle.
I actually loved the multi-POV here - it didnt take away from Ari and Az but instead made me love them more seeing things through the eyes of other characters and gave us a more fleshed out story seeing it from other vantage points. Especially Loren and his slightly unhinged, obsessive mind.
🗣️ “Speaking up for what is right is not a choice. It is a responsibility not all of us are ready to take on.”
🗣️ “Choose me.”
🗣️ “It means I breathe for you—every single part of you—until this very universe ceases to exist, and even then, the void of eternity could not keep me from you.”
November 26, 2023
After hearing so much love from a friend for this and reading the synopsis, I knew I had to pick this book up!
This story follows Ariadne and Azriel, a vampire and her personal guard. As the courting Season comes around and Ariadne is marked as the Golden Rose, she has a lot of eyes on her, including a certain General. However, Azriel and Ariadne can’t help this pull between them. Confessions and dark secrets are revealed in this regency-inspired fantasy romance that are sure to rock these characters and the reader.
I loved this book and was stunned to find out this was a debut! Like holy cow, if this is the debut, I cannot wait for what’s in store. I love a great historical setting and this one delivered on that aspect as well as executing the fantasy romance side! This story plops you right in the middle in the sense that, some big events have already happened in the past and we’re seeing the aftermath of it, which I don’t experience a lot but was totally down for it with this one. I want to see it even more of that! The characters were easy to follow, and there was just this mysterious aura about them that I wanted to learn more and more about. The plot plays a heavy hand with this mysterious atmosphere that left me gasping, trying to read faster to find out what happens next but not reading too fast because I didn’t want it to end, and genuinely loving every beat this book hit on. Overall, I had a fantastic and fun reading experience with this book and I can’t wait for more books in this series and from this author!
This story follows Ariadne and Azriel, a vampire and her personal guard. As the courting Season comes around and Ariadne is marked as the Golden Rose, she has a lot of eyes on her, including a certain General. However, Azriel and Ariadne can’t help this pull between them. Confessions and dark secrets are revealed in this regency-inspired fantasy romance that are sure to rock these characters and the reader.
I loved this book and was stunned to find out this was a debut! Like holy cow, if this is the debut, I cannot wait for what’s in store. I love a great historical setting and this one delivered on that aspect as well as executing the fantasy romance side! This story plops you right in the middle in the sense that, some big events have already happened in the past and we’re seeing the aftermath of it, which I don’t experience a lot but was totally down for it with this one. I want to see it even more of that! The characters were easy to follow, and there was just this mysterious aura about them that I wanted to learn more and more about. The plot plays a heavy hand with this mysterious atmosphere that left me gasping, trying to read faster to find out what happens next but not reading too fast because I didn’t want it to end, and genuinely loving every beat this book hit on. Overall, I had a fantastic and fun reading experience with this book and I can’t wait for more books in this series and from this author!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews