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Familiar Mates #2
Il famiglio del vampiro
È venuto a cercare vendetta. Riuscirà a voltare le spalle all’amore?
Vent’anni prima era un sedicenne spaventato in fuga da Madison Gully, dopo aver assistito all’omicidio di sua sorella; ora Kirk Gracewell ritorna come potente vampiro energetico. Vuole trovare i puma mutaforma che l’hanno uccisa e fargliela pagare.
Ogni dieci anni i puma di Madison si riuniscono. È un momento di festa per conoscere nuovi partner, ma anche per assistere all’annuncio della veggente su chi otterrà il più grande onore immaginabile: diventare il famiglio di un mago.
Quando la veggente affida a Sage il compito di sorvegliare il vampiro comparso all’improvviso, Sage si sente offeso; è un lavoro per un puma molto più giovane. Ma poi decide di divertirsi a giocare al gatto e al topo con Kirk. Finché non scopre perché il vampiro si trova a Madison Gully. Ora Sage dovrà scegliere se proteggere la sua famiglia o aiutare Kirk a trovare chi ha ucciso la sorella.
Ma l’assassino non si fermerà davanti a nulla per dimostrare alla veggente di meritarsi l’onore di diventare un famiglio, reclamare un mago tutto per sé e seppellire il passato.
Vent’anni prima era un sedicenne spaventato in fuga da Madison Gully, dopo aver assistito all’omicidio di sua sorella; ora Kirk Gracewell ritorna come potente vampiro energetico. Vuole trovare i puma mutaforma che l’hanno uccisa e fargliela pagare.
Ogni dieci anni i puma di Madison si riuniscono. È un momento di festa per conoscere nuovi partner, ma anche per assistere all’annuncio della veggente su chi otterrà il più grande onore immaginabile: diventare il famiglio di un mago.
Quando la veggente affida a Sage il compito di sorvegliare il vampiro comparso all’improvviso, Sage si sente offeso; è un lavoro per un puma molto più giovane. Ma poi decide di divertirsi a giocare al gatto e al topo con Kirk. Finché non scopre perché il vampiro si trova a Madison Gully. Ora Sage dovrà scegliere se proteggere la sua famiglia o aiutare Kirk a trovare chi ha ucciso la sorella.
Ma l’assassino non si fermerà davanti a nulla per dimostrare alla veggente di meritarsi l’onore di diventare un famiglio, reclamare un mago tutto per sé e seppellire il passato.
211 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2020
199 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Nichols
89 books344 followersTJ Nichols (they/them) is the author of the Studies in Demonology and Familiar Mates series. They write mostly gay fantasy and paranormal romance, but sometimes gay action/horror as Toby J. Nichols.
After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.
Free gay shifter novella when you join TJ's newsletter: http://tjnichols-author.com/lp/
You can find TJ on
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TJNichols
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJNichols.au...
follow me on Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/tjnichols or Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tj-ni...
After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.
Free gay shifter novella when you join TJ's newsletter: http://tjnichols-author.com/lp/
You can find TJ on
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TJNichols
Ream: https://reamstories.com/tjnichols
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJNichols.au...
follow me on Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/tjnichols or Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tj-ni...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
March 18, 2021
3.5 stars
Just the kind of mate story I was looking for - two people drawn together by fate and working to catch a killer. It is a little on the insta-lurve end of the pool, but it oddly felt right for this particular story.
Not a bad read, though it could have done with another round of edits to catch misspellings and double words.
Just the kind of mate story I was looking for - two people drawn together by fate and working to catch a killer. It is a little on the insta-lurve end of the pool, but it oddly felt right for this particular story.
Not a bad read, though it could have done with another round of edits to catch misspellings and double words.
October 19, 2023
Meh. Barely a 3 star IMO.
We meet Kirk and Sage in this installment of the series. Kirk thinks he's an energy vampire. He's not, BTW. He returns to his home town to revenge his sister's murder. Sage is a cougar shifter who runs a local farm. I found the chemistry between the two bland at best. And Sage was kinda whiney. There are a few typos that were annoying. And at one point the the villain talks like he tortured or hurt the clan's seer, but then she shows up later, unharmed and doesn't mention a thing. So there are continuity issues too.
Spoilers past this point.
So Kirk is actually a healer witch who's power has been tainted. And when they find this out, the Coven (via Jude from book 1) offers to take him back to them and help fix his magic. But instead of saying yes. Kirk says no, to stay at the farm with Sage. And Sage AGREEs to THIS! WTF! I mean Jude is away from his familiar all the time. Why can't Sage suck it up and allow Kirk, his soul mate, to heal? It boggles my mind why the author would end things this way.
We meet Kirk and Sage in this installment of the series. Kirk thinks he's an energy vampire. He's not, BTW. He returns to his home town to revenge his sister's murder. Sage is a cougar shifter who runs a local farm. I found the chemistry between the two bland at best. And Sage was kinda whiney. There are a few typos that were annoying. And at one point the the villain talks like he tortured or hurt the clan's seer, but then she shows up later, unharmed and doesn't mention a thing. So there are continuity issues too.
Spoilers past this point.
So Kirk is actually a healer witch who's power has been tainted. And when they find this out, the Coven (via Jude from book 1) offers to take him back to them and help fix his magic. But instead of saying yes. Kirk says no, to stay at the farm with Sage. And Sage AGREEs to THIS! WTF! I mean Jude is away from his familiar all the time. Why can't Sage suck it up and allow Kirk, his soul mate, to heal? It boggles my mind why the author would end things this way.
May 28, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
The Vampire’s Familiar is the second book in T.J. Nichols’ Familiar Mates series. While it is set in the same world as The Witch’s Familiar, the story stands alone completely. We get some mentions of the Coven, and Jude makes a cameo at the end, but otherwise, this book stands apart so much from the first it doesn’t always feel like part of the same series. The tone felt different, and the first book has a darker, more intense suspense feel. But what ties things together is the world building, which continues to be one of Nichols’ strengths. I really liked this take on vampires, and over the course of the book we slowly learn more about how vampires connect with the supernatural world. It’s always fun to see a new take on a old theme, so I liked how Nichols explores vampires, as well as the world of witch/familiar pairs.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
The Vampire’s Familiar is the second book in T.J. Nichols’ Familiar Mates series. While it is set in the same world as The Witch’s Familiar, the story stands alone completely. We get some mentions of the Coven, and Jude makes a cameo at the end, but otherwise, this book stands apart so much from the first it doesn’t always feel like part of the same series. The tone felt different, and the first book has a darker, more intense suspense feel. But what ties things together is the world building, which continues to be one of Nichols’ strengths. I really liked this take on vampires, and over the course of the book we slowly learn more about how vampires connect with the supernatural world. It’s always fun to see a new take on a old theme, so I liked how Nichols explores vampires, as well as the world of witch/familiar pairs.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
January 22, 2023
The Vampire’s Familiar
Fantastic! I really enjoyed this story. It was thrilling, suspenseful, with a bit of mystery and of course sexy romance. Kirk and Sage were perfect together. I also loved the concept it was unique and refreshing!
Fantastic! I really enjoyed this story. It was thrilling, suspenseful, with a bit of mystery and of course sexy romance. Kirk and Sage were perfect together. I also loved the concept it was unique and refreshing!
November 29, 2020
Love the series
I'm really enjoying this series. Good pace and characters, and the plot is hooking, at least for me, without being a ball of angst or drama.
I'm really enjoying this series. Good pace and characters, and the plot is hooking, at least for me, without being a ball of angst or drama.
June 8, 2020
3.5 Stars for a Fantastic Continuation
Reviewed on May 28, 2020
I liked The Vampire's Familiar a lot and I think it's a great addition to the Familiar Mates series.
Recommend: Yes
Re-read: No
#ReadOn2020 #KU #GRR #Amazon #KindleFire
Reviewed on May 28, 2020
I liked The Vampire's Familiar a lot and I think it's a great addition to the Familiar Mates series.
Recommend: Yes
Re-read: No
#ReadOn2020 #KU #GRR #Amazon #KindleFire
May 28, 2020
3.5/5⭐
The Vampires familiar is the second stand-alone in TJ Nicholas Familiar Mates series. A mating bond romance between a cougar shifter and a vampire witch.
"This was his mate, and no one - not even the seer - could tell him it wasn't right."/em>
Kirk is a vampire witch who returns to his hometown to avenge the murder of his sister that happened when he was young. He witnessed her death at the hands of a cougar shifter, and he's determined to find out who. Sage is a member of the cougar pack that has accepted that he will never have a mate in will be forever alone on the family farm. When the pack seer asks him to keep an eye on the vampire in town he never expects to meet his mate. Both thought they were destined to be alone but now they have to work together to stop a killer.
"You're a forest I want to run in."
While I enjoyed the storyline of this one as much as I did the first one, I struggled a little bit with liking the characters. By the end I was routing for them to work everything out but it took me a moment to care about our cougar shifter, Sage. I found the different take on a vampire being a type of witch very interesting. It was entertaining to see Sage and Kirk be intimate without any skin on skin contact. The mystery wasn't a big shocker of a revelation but I still really enjoyed the books overall. An easy shifter mm romance read with a happily ever after and a cameo from a familiar face from the first book.
The Vampires familiar is the second stand-alone in TJ Nicholas Familiar Mates series. A mating bond romance between a cougar shifter and a vampire witch.
"This was his mate, and no one - not even the seer - could tell him it wasn't right."/em>
Kirk is a vampire witch who returns to his hometown to avenge the murder of his sister that happened when he was young. He witnessed her death at the hands of a cougar shifter, and he's determined to find out who. Sage is a member of the cougar pack that has accepted that he will never have a mate in will be forever alone on the family farm. When the pack seer asks him to keep an eye on the vampire in town he never expects to meet his mate. Both thought they were destined to be alone but now they have to work together to stop a killer.
"You're a forest I want to run in."
While I enjoyed the storyline of this one as much as I did the first one, I struggled a little bit with liking the characters. By the end I was routing for them to work everything out but it took me a moment to care about our cougar shifter, Sage. I found the different take on a vampire being a type of witch very interesting. It was entertaining to see Sage and Kirk be intimate without any skin on skin contact. The mystery wasn't a big shocker of a revelation but I still really enjoyed the books overall. An easy shifter mm romance read with a happily ever after and a cameo from a familiar face from the first book.
May 24, 2020
Oooh I liked this better than the first one and now I’m really into this series. I feel like here we got a better look at the familiar bond, and more information on all the magical people. The world building is still expanding and I am into it. The mystery in this one was a little more obvious, but I think the romance was better and for me that’s always gonna be the more important of the two lol. I loved that a vampire isn’t at all what we would expect, and how it was a completely new take. The I love you’s were a little abrupt, but I really liked Kirk and Sage, and like them even better together.
June 1, 2020
This is great continuation of this series and I loved seeing Jules at the end. Kirk has not been dealt the best hand in life but returns to at least get justice for his sister’s murder years earlier. Sage has been the odd man out for a long time and while he loves working on his family’s farm, it’s starting to drain him. These two are pushed together by fate but it goes even farther than anyone ever thought. I loved their pull to each other and even once they are accidently tied together they don’t allow it to cause issues for them.
I received a copy of this book and am giving an honest review.
I received a copy of this book and am giving an honest review.
October 28, 2024
3.5 stars
Una serie molto carina, di quelle semplici, lineari ma che è sempre un piacere leggere
Una serie molto carina, di quelle semplici, lineari ma che è sempre un piacere leggere
June 15, 2020
The Vampire’s Familiar is the second book in the Familiar Mates series by author TJ Nichols. I loved this story. I cannot get enough of this series. Each book keeps getting better and better.
Kirk in this story he is a vampire. He is a powerful magic user and has been through hell and back. He is a kind, thoughtful, and loyal person. These things have served him well, and chain him to a past that haunts him. He is a deep character with many layers.
Sage has a sad back story too. But he is a much lighter character than Kirk. I liked that he is the light to Kirk’s darker nature. He is a hard worker, loyal, and very loving. I loved his character. he is a cougar.
I loved these two men together. I liked the mystery and intrigue in this story as well. I cannot wait for more from this series in the future. Bring on the cougars and those they love.
Five Shooting Stars
Kirk in this story he is a vampire. He is a powerful magic user and has been through hell and back. He is a kind, thoughtful, and loyal person. These things have served him well, and chain him to a past that haunts him. He is a deep character with many layers.
Sage has a sad back story too. But he is a much lighter character than Kirk. I liked that he is the light to Kirk’s darker nature. He is a hard worker, loyal, and very loving. I loved his character. he is a cougar.
I loved these two men together. I liked the mystery and intrigue in this story as well. I cannot wait for more from this series in the future. Bring on the cougars and those they love.
Five Shooting Stars
June 1, 2020
*Received A Copy To Review From The Author*
Good read. You get what you expect to get. Nothing more, nothing less. It's a nice story with good characters. I liked them together and I liked their connection to each other. There were some nice surprises, I like that at one point Sage says he's glad Kirk is a bit uncomfortable by their bond because that's normal instead of him being all insecure over it. Kirk's self sacrificing martyrdom is a bit much, and I don't know why it took so long for someone to consider that maybe his "mentor" was full of it. Supporting characters are meh. There's a cameo from I'm assuming one of the main characters of book one (I haven't read that one, oops). So yeah, good read. Will probably continue the series eventually.
Good read. You get what you expect to get. Nothing more, nothing less. It's a nice story with good characters. I liked them together and I liked their connection to each other. There were some nice surprises, I like that at one point Sage says he's glad Kirk is a bit uncomfortable by their bond because that's normal instead of him being all insecure over it. Kirk's self sacrificing martyrdom is a bit much, and I don't know why it took so long for someone to consider that maybe his "mentor" was full of it. Supporting characters are meh. There's a cameo from I'm assuming one of the main characters of book one (I haven't read that one, oops). So yeah, good read. Will probably continue the series eventually.
June 1, 2020
i really liked this one.. it was well written.. good storyline.. awesome characters.. all together just alot of fun to read and action packed. i liked it a lot.
March 4, 2022
I'm really enjoying this series. This can be read as a stand-a-lone. Kirk is an energy vampire who takes from others by touch. He can't be in contact for any length of time as he could kill someone. Years ago his sister was killed and the only thing he knows is that it was a Cougar shifter. Sage is a cougar shifter and was raised by the Madison's. There are relations that are not very nice and feel that they are owed things. The clan returns every 10 years so that the Seer can name who is next to be a familiar. Sage just wants to be left alone and take care of the ranch. It was left to his mother, when it should have been left to his uncle. They paid off his share and that should have been that. But his cousins did not agree with this & they the property. The seer sends Sage off to keep and eye on Kirk. When he meets Kirk there is an instant connection. Turns out a vampire is just another form of a witch and you can see where that is going. Kirk doesn't want anything to do with a Madison cougar because of the death of his sister. But Sage, with the push from the seer, chooses to help find out who was responsible and along the way, they grow to be friends and it turns out that Sage is Kirk's familiar. They do find out what happened all those years ago and who was responsible, I was not surprised on who it was but I didn't figure out the reasonings why. I'm glad to see that Kirk & Sage get their HEA. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review
ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review
October 29, 2025
JUDE SHOWS UP IN THIS BOOK OMG!
Ahem. Sorry.
I enjoyed this one. The plot was interesting, though I knew early on who the Big Bad was. The world this series takes place in truly fascinates me. That there are magical creatures and a system in place to sort of police them and yet folks don't always understand their own natures. It's... believable in a way I wish it wasn't. Which.. maybe says something about the real world. Anyway. Sage and Kirk were interesting characters. Clay bugged me only because it felt like his character waffled a little.. sharply? I don't know. That's a nitpick, really. In any case, had a great time reading and will definitely continue with the series.
this and all future re-reads: while past-me seems to have had *opinions* about things, I can tell you this was still an enjoyable read and a fun series to revisit.
Ahem. Sorry.
I enjoyed this one. The plot was interesting, though I knew early on who the Big Bad was. The world this series takes place in truly fascinates me. That there are magical creatures and a system in place to sort of police them and yet folks don't always understand their own natures. It's... believable in a way I wish it wasn't. Which.. maybe says something about the real world. Anyway. Sage and Kirk were interesting characters. Clay bugged me only because it felt like his character waffled a little.. sharply? I don't know. That's a nitpick, really. In any case, had a great time reading and will definitely continue with the series.
this and all future re-reads: while past-me seems to have had *opinions* about things, I can tell you this was still an enjoyable read and a fun series to revisit.
August 14, 2020
I liked that one better than the first books. Both MCs were more in sync with each other and nothing was truly guaranteed until they worked hard for their HEA.
A wonderful concoction of magic and shifter genres and interesting twist on fated relationships.
A wonderful concoction of magic and shifter genres and interesting twist on fated relationships.
April 20, 2021
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
The Vampire's Familiar (Familiar Mates, 02) by T.J. Nichols
★★★★★
202 Pages
3rd person, dual character POV
Themes: shifter, fated mates, magic, redemption, vampire, family, murder
Triggers: mild violence, mentions of off-page suicide
Genre: MM, Shifter, Romance, LGBT, PNR
World-Building: ★★★★★
Heat: ★★★☆☆
Chemistry: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★★
Romance: ★★★★★
As the second book in the Familiar Mates series, The Vampire's Familiar takes an alternative look at the bond between shifters and witches. Rather than the resistance and distrust of Book 1, the shifters here find it an honour to be bound to a witch as a familiar.
I enjoyed the twist on shifters, and fated mates, within the first book, but Nichols took it even further here. Not only making it completely separate from Book 1 in tone, feeling and how the world functions, but keeping enough of a thread that it felt truly like a connected world and that opinions differed even within species. In Book 1, shifters hated witches, but that isn't the case here and that was really refreshing while showing the diversity of the world Nichols has created.
Here, rather than the shifters fearing the familiar bond, they embrace it and find it an honour to be chosen. Meaning that there's none of the push-and-pull of emotion, no fear and reluctance between the main characters, who were being led only by attraction and heat. In this book, there's a sweeter romance in that Kirk and Sage are both drawn to each other without resistance. Sage is fully accepting of the bond, finding it an honour and a benefit to his life, while Kirk is so uninformed about life and his function as a vampire that there's no reason for him to resist.
The way the familiar bond works was also different, in that Book 1 had the witch instantly recognising it and the shifter unaware – already so different and unique from the typical shifter trope – while here, the shifter was aware and the witch unaware, but in different ways and for different reasons. Yet, the bond didn't stop them from being rational and logical. One of my favourite quotes was from where Sage accepted that he trusted the bond and their magic, but didn't know enough of Kirk as a man to trust him. That alone is so different from most shifter/fated mate tropes that it was refreshing.
Again, Nichols seamlessly wove together a romance with a criminal investigation, though with a difference. This crime was personal, in that Kirk's sister had been murdered over a decade ago, and now he's back in his hometown to find out who did it and bring them to justice. There are a few crumbs littered throughout the book as to suspects and reasons for her death, Agatha Christe style, but there's a real uncertainty over who is responsible until the final reveal. I cared equally about the romance progression, the familiar bond, and the solving of the case, because neither were given prominence over the others.
While being part of a series, this is one of the few series where each book (so far) truly feels like a standalone within a connected world. Though Jude, from Book 1, makes an appearance, there is very little of him on page that would make you feel connected to, or eager to find out more about his story. Certainly nothing that makes you feel like you've missed out something vital, within his story, that would make this one and his appearance within it, have more of an impact. That's a problem I find with a lot of “standalone” series books, but this one avoids all of that complication. Here, Jude is nothing but another secondary character. Interesting, with promise, but unimportant in the grand scheme of the story, allowing the two main characters to shine as they should.
Overall, I loved how it had a hint of the familiar from Book 1, but stood on its own feet without trying too hard to be different and unconnected. It's one of a few series that, when it says each book is standalone and can hold its own as a solo novel, actually means it. Saying that, I'm very much looking forward to the rest of the books in the series and spotting all the little connecting dots that might appear. Hopefully more of Stone and Jude, at least, if not more.
~
Favourite Quotes
“He wasn't easy to kill, and he was harder to love.”
“I like the way your energy feels and tastes. Like cinnamon and musk…a fresh cookie.” He wanted to touch and to taste but couldn’t allow himself that pleasure.
“You’re a forest I want to run in.”
“He barely knew Kirk, and while he trusted the bond and the magic between him. He wasn’t sure he trusted the man. Not yet.”
The Vampire's Familiar (Familiar Mates, 02) by T.J. Nichols
★★★★★
202 Pages
3rd person, dual character POV
Themes: shifter, fated mates, magic, redemption, vampire, family, murder
Triggers: mild violence, mentions of off-page suicide
Genre: MM, Shifter, Romance, LGBT, PNR
World-Building: ★★★★★
Heat: ★★★☆☆
Chemistry: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★★
Romance: ★★★★★
As the second book in the Familiar Mates series, The Vampire's Familiar takes an alternative look at the bond between shifters and witches. Rather than the resistance and distrust of Book 1, the shifters here find it an honour to be bound to a witch as a familiar.
I enjoyed the twist on shifters, and fated mates, within the first book, but Nichols took it even further here. Not only making it completely separate from Book 1 in tone, feeling and how the world functions, but keeping enough of a thread that it felt truly like a connected world and that opinions differed even within species. In Book 1, shifters hated witches, but that isn't the case here and that was really refreshing while showing the diversity of the world Nichols has created.
Here, rather than the shifters fearing the familiar bond, they embrace it and find it an honour to be chosen. Meaning that there's none of the push-and-pull of emotion, no fear and reluctance between the main characters, who were being led only by attraction and heat. In this book, there's a sweeter romance in that Kirk and Sage are both drawn to each other without resistance. Sage is fully accepting of the bond, finding it an honour and a benefit to his life, while Kirk is so uninformed about life and his function as a vampire that there's no reason for him to resist.
The way the familiar bond works was also different, in that Book 1 had the witch instantly recognising it and the shifter unaware – already so different and unique from the typical shifter trope – while here, the shifter was aware and the witch unaware, but in different ways and for different reasons. Yet, the bond didn't stop them from being rational and logical. One of my favourite quotes was from where Sage accepted that he trusted the bond and their magic, but didn't know enough of Kirk as a man to trust him. That alone is so different from most shifter/fated mate tropes that it was refreshing.
Again, Nichols seamlessly wove together a romance with a criminal investigation, though with a difference. This crime was personal, in that Kirk's sister had been murdered over a decade ago, and now he's back in his hometown to find out who did it and bring them to justice. There are a few crumbs littered throughout the book as to suspects and reasons for her death, Agatha Christe style, but there's a real uncertainty over who is responsible until the final reveal. I cared equally about the romance progression, the familiar bond, and the solving of the case, because neither were given prominence over the others.
While being part of a series, this is one of the few series where each book (so far) truly feels like a standalone within a connected world. Though Jude, from Book 1, makes an appearance, there is very little of him on page that would make you feel connected to, or eager to find out more about his story. Certainly nothing that makes you feel like you've missed out something vital, within his story, that would make this one and his appearance within it, have more of an impact. That's a problem I find with a lot of “standalone” series books, but this one avoids all of that complication. Here, Jude is nothing but another secondary character. Interesting, with promise, but unimportant in the grand scheme of the story, allowing the two main characters to shine as they should.
Overall, I loved how it had a hint of the familiar from Book 1, but stood on its own feet without trying too hard to be different and unconnected. It's one of a few series that, when it says each book is standalone and can hold its own as a solo novel, actually means it. Saying that, I'm very much looking forward to the rest of the books in the series and spotting all the little connecting dots that might appear. Hopefully more of Stone and Jude, at least, if not more.
~
Favourite Quotes
“He wasn't easy to kill, and he was harder to love.”
“I like the way your energy feels and tastes. Like cinnamon and musk…a fresh cookie.” He wanted to touch and to taste but couldn’t allow himself that pleasure.
“You’re a forest I want to run in.”
“He barely knew Kirk, and while he trusted the bond and the magic between him. He wasn’t sure he trusted the man. Not yet.”
March 26, 2023
This is almost a cozy murder mystery series, but less cozy and more of a relaxed paced murder mystery with a romantic focus. Also be aware the focus isn’t the mystery so it’s not something with carefully crafted clues - it’s two amateurs trying to figure out what’s going on. It’s not meant to be heavy on the mystery angle.
Kirk is a 35 year old energy vampire (). He was 15 when his older sister was murdered by a cougar shifter. He was taken in by his mentor who turned him into an energy vampire. Kirk grew up and realized he couldn’t touch other people without draining their energy/life and had his first sexual experience with a guy go kind of like Rogue’s from the turn of the century X-Men movies. He killed his mentor (who was a bad dude, but no sexual abuse) and went back to his home town to find and kill his sister’s murderer.
Sage is a 30 year old cougar shifter who has been an outcast most of his life because his mother married into the prolific cougar family and his father was a seasonal worker on their property (his other siblings all had the same dad, who was the mom’s deceased husband). He’s told by the pack’s seer to help Kirk find the killer. He’s intrigued by Kirk and even likes the feeling of Kirk feeding from his energy. He flirts with him a lot. It’s cute.
I enjoyed this book quite a lot. It was an easy read and by the end I was rooting for the main two. It was nice to see them grow closer. It felt a smidge rushed like the last book, likely because it’s a longer novella. I don’t think it needed to be much longer, but some of the relationship development feels a bit abrupt at times. Still, it’s overall a very fun book. As with the first in the series, be aware there are sex scenes (one clothed, one BJ, one anal sex) that are on screen but brief and not super descriptive. It works well with the series by showing intimacy but staying without romance guidelines rather than erotica.
I like the world building in this series. The witches are cool, with the different kinds of witches and how they can be subverted or supported with their powers. I was surprised by Kirk’s choice at the end a little,
Be aware there is a HEA, but no epilogue.
I enjoyed seeing Jude from book one in a cameo at the end!
I’m looking forward to the next story!
Kirk is a 35 year old energy vampire (). He was 15 when his older sister was murdered by a cougar shifter. He was taken in by his mentor who turned him into an energy vampire. Kirk grew up and realized he couldn’t touch other people without draining their energy/life and had his first sexual experience with a guy go kind of like Rogue’s from the turn of the century X-Men movies. He killed his mentor (who was a bad dude, but no sexual abuse) and went back to his home town to find and kill his sister’s murderer.
Sage is a 30 year old cougar shifter who has been an outcast most of his life because his mother married into the prolific cougar family and his father was a seasonal worker on their property (his other siblings all had the same dad, who was the mom’s deceased husband). He’s told by the pack’s seer to help Kirk find the killer. He’s intrigued by Kirk and even likes the feeling of Kirk feeding from his energy. He flirts with him a lot. It’s cute.
I enjoyed this book quite a lot. It was an easy read and by the end I was rooting for the main two. It was nice to see them grow closer. It felt a smidge rushed like the last book, likely because it’s a longer novella. I don’t think it needed to be much longer, but some of the relationship development feels a bit abrupt at times. Still, it’s overall a very fun book. As with the first in the series, be aware there are sex scenes (one clothed, one BJ, one anal sex) that are on screen but brief and not super descriptive. It works well with the series by showing intimacy but staying without romance guidelines rather than erotica.
I like the world building in this series. The witches are cool, with the different kinds of witches and how they can be subverted or supported with their powers. I was surprised by Kirk’s choice at the end a little,
Be aware there is a HEA, but no epilogue.
I enjoyed seeing Jude from book one in a cameo at the end!
I’m looking forward to the next story!
June 11, 2020
Between taking and giving
This was another story of two men who have a place in the world, but not happiness or a home, and have the chance to find it together. With a shifter who believes he can't be a familiar being of the wrong blood and a vampire who only sees years of hopelessness ahead of him it seems there is no good way through but it supporting each other more can be done than expected.
Sage runs a ranch in a small town that has always been in his family. The problem is that the family is not his blood family. Born of another man years after the father of his siblings died, Sage carries the family name but not Madison blood. This has always made things a bit tough for him, especially at the ten year family reunion. Getting sent away on an errand to watch a vampire just seems to prove how he isn't a part of the family, but Sage finds himself attracted to the other man. When it turns out the vampire is there to kill whichever Madison killed his sister, Sage sets out to help even knowing it could make things even worse for him.
Kirk never learned about magic as a child but it found him as an adolescent. Tragically losing his family to disease, suicide, and murder, Kirk was alone at a young age. The mentor that found him trained him how to handle the magic in his body, but also showed him that the life he would love will be cursed with loneliness and loss. When Kirk feels the urge to go back to his hometown and avenge his sister he doesn't question this need. When it brings him to Sage and brings into question everything he thought he knew about magic the world shifts again. Creating a new life for himself is within reach h but it involves giving up on old problems and trusting again- both himself and others.
Another fascinating paranormal twist with this book, I look forward to what the next will bring!
This was another story of two men who have a place in the world, but not happiness or a home, and have the chance to find it together. With a shifter who believes he can't be a familiar being of the wrong blood and a vampire who only sees years of hopelessness ahead of him it seems there is no good way through but it supporting each other more can be done than expected.
Sage runs a ranch in a small town that has always been in his family. The problem is that the family is not his blood family. Born of another man years after the father of his siblings died, Sage carries the family name but not Madison blood. This has always made things a bit tough for him, especially at the ten year family reunion. Getting sent away on an errand to watch a vampire just seems to prove how he isn't a part of the family, but Sage finds himself attracted to the other man. When it turns out the vampire is there to kill whichever Madison killed his sister, Sage sets out to help even knowing it could make things even worse for him.
Kirk never learned about magic as a child but it found him as an adolescent. Tragically losing his family to disease, suicide, and murder, Kirk was alone at a young age. The mentor that found him trained him how to handle the magic in his body, but also showed him that the life he would love will be cursed with loneliness and loss. When Kirk feels the urge to go back to his hometown and avenge his sister he doesn't question this need. When it brings him to Sage and brings into question everything he thought he knew about magic the world shifts again. Creating a new life for himself is within reach h but it involves giving up on old problems and trusting again- both himself and others.
Another fascinating paranormal twist with this book, I look forward to what the next will bring!
June 1, 2020
Independent reviewer for Gay Romance Reviews, I was gifted my copy of this book.
20 years after his sister was killed, Kirk returns to get justice for her death. Sage's family is gathering, and Kirk is certain one of the Madison cougar clan killed her. The Seer sends Sage to keep an eye on Kirk, and it all spirals out from then!
I really enjoyed book one, in this series, The Witch's Familiar, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one too!
Kirk is called a vampire, but he doesn't bite, he TOUCHES. He feeds off energy. Too much, and he will kill you, so he tends to not touch deliberately. Meeting Sage, and that's ALL he wants to do: touch Sage, all the time, in all ways. An innocent touch changes it all.
And I think thats why I enjoyed this so much: everything between Sage and Kirk is not described in great detail, its glanced over, faded to grey, and I really loved that! Yes, it's hot (I mean shifters and vampires) but you don't get explained in every which way! You get all the emotions, yes, about what Kirk and Sage are feeling about each other, and the situation they find themselves, but the Main Event? Doesn't arrive til very VERY late in the book and I loved being made to wait!
Why Kirk is in town, is shocking, but Sage has to filter what he starts to feel for Kirk, to find who killed Kirk's sister. He doesn't want to believe one of his family is responsible, but he does have some idea who it might be.
LOVED that Jude from book one pops up, granted, only for a short time, but still. So long as we get those pop ups in future books, I'll be happy!
I read this in one sitting, sat in the sun, and it was a great read!
4 stars (still waiting for the one to tip me over to 5!)
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
20 years after his sister was killed, Kirk returns to get justice for her death. Sage's family is gathering, and Kirk is certain one of the Madison cougar clan killed her. The Seer sends Sage to keep an eye on Kirk, and it all spirals out from then!
I really enjoyed book one, in this series, The Witch's Familiar, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one too!
Kirk is called a vampire, but he doesn't bite, he TOUCHES. He feeds off energy. Too much, and he will kill you, so he tends to not touch deliberately. Meeting Sage, and that's ALL he wants to do: touch Sage, all the time, in all ways. An innocent touch changes it all.
And I think thats why I enjoyed this so much: everything between Sage and Kirk is not described in great detail, its glanced over, faded to grey, and I really loved that! Yes, it's hot (I mean shifters and vampires) but you don't get explained in every which way! You get all the emotions, yes, about what Kirk and Sage are feeling about each other, and the situation they find themselves, but the Main Event? Doesn't arrive til very VERY late in the book and I loved being made to wait!
Why Kirk is in town, is shocking, but Sage has to filter what he starts to feel for Kirk, to find who killed Kirk's sister. He doesn't want to believe one of his family is responsible, but he does have some idea who it might be.
LOVED that Jude from book one pops up, granted, only for a short time, but still. So long as we get those pop ups in future books, I'll be happy!
I read this in one sitting, sat in the sun, and it was a great read!
4 stars (still waiting for the one to tip me over to 5!)
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
May 28, 2020
I enjoyed this 2nd book in the Familiar Mates series as much as book 1. The world building is fabulous, and I loved the references to the first book in the series, and that one of the characters showed up. Although it does take place in the same world, this one explored shifters in more detail, including seers, and the flip side of a familiar using a witch.
I liked the concept behind energy vampires, how dark magic could warp who someone was supposed to be, and the different take on who vampires really were. I thought the idea of Kirk being able to recognise someone by the way they smelt, and not the way you’d think was very original and rather cool. The shifter mythos was interesting too. I also liked the family feel of this story, with Sage’s brothers supporting his choices, and how they helped out towards the end. I loved his mother, and Violet is an interesting character.
I loved Sage and Kirk’s growing friendship and relationship, and the unique way their familiar bond worked, especially with Kirk’s magic. I liked that their attraction wasn’t just witch and familiar but much deeper. Their personalities played off each other well, as they found their place with each other. Poor Kirk, not being able to touch because he’d feed. I loved the way Sage’s energy presents to Kirk while in human form. I thought that was very clever.
The show down with the bad guy was exciting, and I sat up very late reading as I had to find out what happens. The ending was very satisfying, although I’d love to see these characters again. I’m already hanging out for the next one in the series.
I liked the concept behind energy vampires, how dark magic could warp who someone was supposed to be, and the different take on who vampires really were. I thought the idea of Kirk being able to recognise someone by the way they smelt, and not the way you’d think was very original and rather cool. The shifter mythos was interesting too. I also liked the family feel of this story, with Sage’s brothers supporting his choices, and how they helped out towards the end. I loved his mother, and Violet is an interesting character.
I loved Sage and Kirk’s growing friendship and relationship, and the unique way their familiar bond worked, especially with Kirk’s magic. I liked that their attraction wasn’t just witch and familiar but much deeper. Their personalities played off each other well, as they found their place with each other. Poor Kirk, not being able to touch because he’d feed. I loved the way Sage’s energy presents to Kirk while in human form. I thought that was very clever.
The show down with the bad guy was exciting, and I sat up very late reading as I had to find out what happens. The ending was very satisfying, although I’d love to see these characters again. I’m already hanging out for the next one in the series.
May 31, 2020
TJ Nichols' The Vampire Familiar was a riveting mystery thriller with suspense elements and hurt/comfort. The author's excellent writing had my heart gripped with sorrow for Kirk, had my stomach in knots when I thought Kirk would be in danger, and had my whole body on pins and needles with the mystery of who done it - who killed Abby and who kidnapped Sage.
So why not 5 stars? Why only 4 stars? The book needed better editing for timeline errors. For example, The blurb stated that Kirk was sixteen years old when the murder occurred. However, when you read the book, the story placed Kirk as fifteen years old. Another error in logical flow is the ages of Sage's brothers, Stone and Clay. And one point early in the story, Sage mentioned that Stone is eight years older than he is. But Kirk mentioned that he and Stone were in the same grade so this means that Stone and Kirk were the same age hence Stone is about five to six years older than Sage since Sage was only ten years old when the murder took place. So I think it might have been a mistake: I think the author meant to say that Clay is eight years older than Sage while Stone is five years older. I love reading for the details and I love details about the characters' background. But more importantly, having the ages correct is vital because Sage and Kirk were trying to figure out who could have killed Abby and who could not based on the ages since cougars shift at a certain age.
Beside these two errors, I was not distracted how much I loved this book, how much I loved the characters - Kirk and Sage, and Clay and Stone and their mom. I hope you will too
So why not 5 stars? Why only 4 stars? The book needed better editing for timeline errors. For example, The blurb stated that Kirk was sixteen years old when the murder occurred. However, when you read the book, the story placed Kirk as fifteen years old. Another error in logical flow is the ages of Sage's brothers, Stone and Clay. And one point early in the story, Sage mentioned that Stone is eight years older than he is. But Kirk mentioned that he and Stone were in the same grade so this means that Stone and Kirk were the same age hence Stone is about five to six years older than Sage since Sage was only ten years old when the murder took place. So I think it might have been a mistake: I think the author meant to say that Clay is eight years older than Sage while Stone is five years older. I love reading for the details and I love details about the characters' background. But more importantly, having the ages correct is vital because Sage and Kirk were trying to figure out who could have killed Abby and who could not based on the ages since cougars shift at a certain age.
Beside these two errors, I was not distracted how much I loved this book, how much I loved the characters - Kirk and Sage, and Clay and Stone and their mom. I hope you will too
November 5, 2024
I was excited for another fated mate story with different paranormals. I liked Kirk and Sage, and I kind of want to read more about the vampires in this world (). It was good to see the downsides of finding out you were magical late in life, especially following on from the first book. Kirk can still eat but not too much, vampires can get energy from certain foods, but overeating causes tummy issues, and eventually he won't be able to eat.
The writing could have been better, but it wasn't so bad that I didn't still enjoy the book.
SPOILERS below this point.....
don't go lower unless you're prepared for spoilers
One thing that I did not like was that Kirk was offered the opportunity to be "fixed", i.e. the magic that turned him into a vampire unravelled, though it would take time. But he decided to stay with his mate, BUT why did he have to leave his mate to do that. Jude and Mack aren't always together, as seen by Jude travelling there for the Coven. Or why couldn't Sage have gone with his mate or to get treatment?
It just seems like Kirk is giving up everything for Sage while Sage sacrifices nothing. I know Kirk says 'he knows how to live as a vampire, not a witch', but it was such a brief mention it wasn't enough. There was mention of Kirk's magic being 'more stable' now he has a mate, but what does that mean? This book doesn't have an epilogue, and I feel like a lot of this could have been solved or answered in the epilogue
The writing could have been better, but it wasn't so bad that I didn't still enjoy the book.
SPOILERS below this point.....
don't go lower unless you're prepared for spoilers
One thing that I did not like was that Kirk was offered the opportunity to be "fixed", i.e. the magic that turned him into a vampire unravelled, though it would take time. But he decided to stay with his mate, BUT why did he have to leave his mate to do that. Jude and Mack aren't always together, as seen by Jude travelling there for the Coven. Or why couldn't Sage have gone with his mate or to get treatment?
It just seems like Kirk is giving up everything for Sage while Sage sacrifices nothing. I know Kirk says 'he knows how to live as a vampire, not a witch', but it was such a brief mention it wasn't enough. There was mention of Kirk's magic being 'more stable' now he has a mate, but what does that mean? This book doesn't have an epilogue, and I feel like a lot of this could have been solved or answered in the epilogue
October 19, 2022
The Vampire’s Familiar by TJ Nichols is the 2nd book in the Familiar Mates series which is not complete.
Tropes:
✔️ MM Romance
✔️ Fated Mates/ Familiar
✔️ Vampire / Shifter 🐈⬛
✔️ Revenge/ Family Drama
✔️ Available on KU
POV: Third Person Duel 🧑🧑
Rating: 6/10 (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
🌶/3
🌶 Starts about 30%
Quick read filled with drama and mystery… I did love this take on “vampires”, I had never read anything like that before. Definitely a lot of family drama to deal with from both of these boys. But I do love how Kirk and Sage know what the other needs even before the bond! They’re super cute 🥰 and side note poor Kirk going without touch for so long!
Also you get to see Jude (from the first book) in action as an investigator!! 🤍
✨He was in more trouble than he’d ever been in. Even though there could be nothing between them, the familiar bond had formed. Kirk was his witch. His mate.✨
He came looking for revenge. Will he walk away from love? Twenty years after fleeing Madison Gully as a scared sixteen-year-old, after witnessing his sister’s murder, Kirk Gracewell returns as a powerful energy vampire. He wants to find the cougar shifter who killed her and make them pay. When the seer gives Sage the task of watching the vampire that’s suddenly arrived, Sage feels slighted. But he comes to enjoy the games of cat and mouse he plays with Kirk. Until he learns why the vampire is in Madison Gully.
𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨
Tropes:
✔️ MM Romance
✔️ Fated Mates/ Familiar
✔️ Vampire / Shifter 🐈⬛
✔️ Revenge/ Family Drama
✔️ Available on KU
POV: Third Person Duel 🧑🧑
Rating: 6/10 (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
🌶/3
🌶 Starts about 30%
Quick read filled with drama and mystery… I did love this take on “vampires”, I had never read anything like that before. Definitely a lot of family drama to deal with from both of these boys. But I do love how Kirk and Sage know what the other needs even before the bond! They’re super cute 🥰 and side note poor Kirk going without touch for so long!
Also you get to see Jude (from the first book) in action as an investigator!! 🤍
✨He was in more trouble than he’d ever been in. Even though there could be nothing between them, the familiar bond had formed. Kirk was his witch. His mate.✨
He came looking for revenge. Will he walk away from love? Twenty years after fleeing Madison Gully as a scared sixteen-year-old, after witnessing his sister’s murder, Kirk Gracewell returns as a powerful energy vampire. He wants to find the cougar shifter who killed her and make them pay. When the seer gives Sage the task of watching the vampire that’s suddenly arrived, Sage feels slighted. But he comes to enjoy the games of cat and mouse he plays with Kirk. Until he learns why the vampire is in Madison Gully.
𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨
June 10, 2020
I enjoyed this story. Kirk considers himself a vampire (he takes people's life energy by touch) so has to avoid touching people. His sister was killed by a cougar shifter 20 years ago in their small town during the big family reunion of the big shifter clan. 20 years later he feels called back to find her killer. The family seer sets Sage the task to watch the vampire and then eventually help him find the truth.
What I liked is that while Kirk is kind of broody with a difficult background, he's quite open with Sage about why he's there and what he knows. Sometimes it's all these secrets that bog down a story or cause conflict, but he's willing to work with Sage to find the killer. I also liked that Sage is pretty much an open smiley guy who is not afraid to admit he's attracted to Kirk and tries to find ways for them to be intimate without touching skin. Of course an innocent kiss on the nose binds them as familiar and witch allowing for more.
There's drama as the killer is unveiled and what nefarious things he's been up to. You get to see Jude from book 1 at the end. So that was kind of fun. I enjoyed this one I think because it didn't belabour the "you're my enemy because you are a member of family X".
What I liked is that while Kirk is kind of broody with a difficult background, he's quite open with Sage about why he's there and what he knows. Sometimes it's all these secrets that bog down a story or cause conflict, but he's willing to work with Sage to find the killer. I also liked that Sage is pretty much an open smiley guy who is not afraid to admit he's attracted to Kirk and tries to find ways for them to be intimate without touching skin. Of course an innocent kiss on the nose binds them as familiar and witch allowing for more.
There's drama as the killer is unveiled and what nefarious things he's been up to. You get to see Jude from book 1 at the end. So that was kind of fun. I enjoyed this one I think because it didn't belabour the "you're my enemy because you are a member of family X".
March 15, 2021
2.5/5
After reading book 4 which was kind of a miss for me, I decided to check this one out because I was curious about the author's take on vampires here. I did enjoy this a bit more than the other book. My attention did wander for some of the story, but once it started to delve into the bond dynamics between an energy witch and a familiar, I was really enjoying it and found that aspect fascinating. After a certain point the whole mystery about the killer wasn't much of a mystery anymore, but I didn't mind too much.
What's usually my problem with fated mates stories is that a lot of times the relationship is just not developed enough on page since part of the connection between the characters is a given due to the magical bond. It's assumed but not realized, and the same thing was the case here. Once everything came to a head in the end, there were also love confessions that to me were way too premature and also unnecessary. I'd rather not have them in a story if they don't come naturally with the relationship's depth and progress. Overall I liked big chunks of the story and it was an interesting read.
P.S. At first glance I totally thought the cover models were the exact same guy... m/m books could definitely use some diversity. 🤦
After reading book 4 which was kind of a miss for me, I decided to check this one out because I was curious about the author's take on vampires here. I did enjoy this a bit more than the other book. My attention did wander for some of the story, but once it started to delve into the bond dynamics between an energy witch and a familiar, I was really enjoying it and found that aspect fascinating. After a certain point the whole mystery about the killer wasn't much of a mystery anymore, but I didn't mind too much.
What's usually my problem with fated mates stories is that a lot of times the relationship is just not developed enough on page since part of the connection between the characters is a given due to the magical bond. It's assumed but not realized, and the same thing was the case here. Once everything came to a head in the end, there were also love confessions that to me were way too premature and also unnecessary. I'd rather not have them in a story if they don't come naturally with the relationship's depth and progress. Overall I liked big chunks of the story and it was an interesting read.
P.S. At first glance I totally thought the cover models were the exact same guy... m/m books could definitely use some diversity. 🤦
May 31, 2020
Magic, familiars, witches, vicious plots and redeeming love are the components of this story. I enjoyed the complex plot and the family relationships that were interesting. My heart really hurt for Kirk and the loss of his family. I wanted to know more about Sage and his complex family and how what his brothers did, especially Stone. I enjoyed the plot and thought the characters really made it an enjoyable and interesting story. I read it though in one sitting and really enjoyed it.
Sage and Kirk are amazing together! You see with each man, a person who is honorable, protective and not connected to the people around him. Once they meet and connect it brings wonderful aspects of each other characters into focus and i enjoyed it immensely. There was a beautiful sensuality about these guys that i really enjoyed.
This is book two of the Familiar Mates series and can be read as a stand-alone. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out in June 2020.
I was gifted this book from Gay Romance Reviews and i freely give my honest opinion and review.
Sage and Kirk are amazing together! You see with each man, a person who is honorable, protective and not connected to the people around him. Once they meet and connect it brings wonderful aspects of each other characters into focus and i enjoyed it immensely. There was a beautiful sensuality about these guys that i really enjoyed.
This is book two of the Familiar Mates series and can be read as a stand-alone. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out in June 2020.
I was gifted this book from Gay Romance Reviews and i freely give my honest opinion and review.
August 5, 2020
Drawn back to his hometown to find out who murdered his sister, Kirk, a powerful energy vampire makes plans to infiltrate the Madison cougar family gathering, an event that happens every ten years. Kirk knows that his sister’s killer will be among those at the gathering and as he plans on how to catch them, he soon finds himself aligned with Sage, a member of the Madison clan. Will the two be able to work together and discover who the real murder is, and will they be able to stay safe while they are investigating?
“The Vampire’s Familiar” is book two of the Familiar’s Mates series and is filled with suspense, romance, and some mystery. The reader will find themselves caught up in the suspense as Kirk and Sage figure out their bond and how they can keep a relationship together. While doing this they need to keep each other safe from a killer determined to stop at nothing to get what they want.
A great read for those who like paranormal, romance and a dash of mystery in their reading. The author has a number of books planned for the series, so readers will have a lot of material to look forward to.
“The Vampire’s Familiar” is book two of the Familiar’s Mates series and is filled with suspense, romance, and some mystery. The reader will find themselves caught up in the suspense as Kirk and Sage figure out their bond and how they can keep a relationship together. While doing this they need to keep each other safe from a killer determined to stop at nothing to get what they want.
A great read for those who like paranormal, romance and a dash of mystery in their reading. The author has a number of books planned for the series, so readers will have a lot of material to look forward to.
May 25, 2020
Vampire Kirk Gracewell is travelling the path or revenge seeking justice for the violent death of his sister Abigail. The Madison cougar clan is harboring the killer and Kirk plans to enter the clan's 10-year celebration of finding a familiar to pair with a witch and discover the ID of the one person who killed her. The clan's seer Violet knows Kirk's intent and she tasks Sage with the duty of shadowing Kirk to discover his intentions. What Violet doesn't tell Sage is that he, the family outsider, will become the familiar. Sage feels it's highly unlikely that he will accomplish anything. It's not until these 2 meet face-to-face that both realize what Fate has in store for their lives. Each holds a secret that will enable the match. Will it be a match made in heaven or hell? Will justice be served? Will jealousy and greed win? Here, in this story, there is angst, hatred, loss of family for all involved, and in the end moral righteousness will win the day. This is the 2nd in this Familiar Mates series and a good read without needing to read the 1st, The Witch's Familiar though a major character from the 1st does make a critical appearance. For the GRR Arc I was given this is my voluntary review.
July 22, 2021
The Vampire's Familiar
By T.J. Nichols
When 16 year old Kirk Gracewell sees his sister and only remaining family member, Abby, murdered by a cougar shifter he runs vowing to return for vengeance.
20 years later when Kirk feels a pull telling him it's time to return and find his sister's killer he takes a trip back home and begins watching the Madison family to figure out who it is. With the help of a seer he meets Sage Madison.
Sage Madison inherited his family's ranch and there's been some bad blood with some family members ever since. When the family seer warns him there's a vampire in town and he needs to keep an eye on him they both find sparks fly, but they're determined to do their duty to their families too.
I *really* liked this story. I loved both Kirk and Sage. They had great chemistry personality wise. The story was intriguing and kept at a good pace.
I'm reading them out of order, but so far I've very much enjoyed each book in this series.
The story is in both Kirk and Sage's POV. The angst level is low/medium-ish.
By T.J. Nichols
When 16 year old Kirk Gracewell sees his sister and only remaining family member, Abby, murdered by a cougar shifter he runs vowing to return for vengeance.
20 years later when Kirk feels a pull telling him it's time to return and find his sister's killer he takes a trip back home and begins watching the Madison family to figure out who it is. With the help of a seer he meets Sage Madison.
Sage Madison inherited his family's ranch and there's been some bad blood with some family members ever since. When the family seer warns him there's a vampire in town and he needs to keep an eye on him they both find sparks fly, but they're determined to do their duty to their families too.
I *really* liked this story. I loved both Kirk and Sage. They had great chemistry personality wise. The story was intriguing and kept at a good pace.
I'm reading them out of order, but so far I've very much enjoyed each book in this series.
The story is in both Kirk and Sage's POV. The angst level is low/medium-ish.
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