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After Dark
Nothing good happens after dark...
Nice one, Rowan. Couldn’t stay home for one night...and now my best friend’s dead.
Not just dead. She looks like she had the life sucked out of her. And the puzzle pieces are starting to come together in a way that looks all sorts of dangerous.
To top it off, I’m pretty sure I’m fired — and I may be going insane. Who in their right mind starts to think their parents were killed by vampires?
So, when I rescue a hunky cowboy with a taste for the jugular, it’s kind of the least of my troubles. Except Sylas Loughty is my best friend’s boyfriend.
And not even he can protect me from an age-old vendetta that’s about to come down on my head.
Turns out the bloodlust is...catching.
This is book 1 in the paranormal dark romance Georgetown Vampires trilogy by Kira Bates. Featuring murder, magic and a love that was meant-to-be, this is a slice of steam you’ll want to sink your teeth into.
Click ‘buy now’ to find out what happens in Georgetown after dark!
Nice one, Rowan. Couldn’t stay home for one night...and now my best friend’s dead.
Not just dead. She looks like she had the life sucked out of her. And the puzzle pieces are starting to come together in a way that looks all sorts of dangerous.
To top it off, I’m pretty sure I’m fired — and I may be going insane. Who in their right mind starts to think their parents were killed by vampires?
So, when I rescue a hunky cowboy with a taste for the jugular, it’s kind of the least of my troubles. Except Sylas Loughty is my best friend’s boyfriend.
And not even he can protect me from an age-old vendetta that’s about to come down on my head.
Turns out the bloodlust is...catching.
This is book 1 in the paranormal dark romance Georgetown Vampires trilogy by Kira Bates. Featuring murder, magic and a love that was meant-to-be, this is a slice of steam you’ll want to sink your teeth into.
Click ‘buy now’ to find out what happens in Georgetown after dark!
- GenresParanormalDark Romance
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 21, 2025
6 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
January 28, 2025
This one had so much potential. Vampires. Cowboys. Small town. Taboo romance. But it just fell flat for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Though it was a shorter book and that pace is usually fast this felt too fast for me. I felt like I was scratching my head like when did that happen or what exactly is happening. The big bad was defeated too easily. There were a lot of hints that Rowan, our FMC, had some kind of special magic but we never saw it. Just overall fell very flat for me as much as I didn't want it to.
We are introduced to Rowan in this one. Her and her bestie are at the carnival when something weird happens. But oh well they go home together. But Rowan gets invited out on a date so she leaves her BF. When she comes back her friend is dead. Rowan finds herself going to her best friend's boyfriend's ranch to see if he knows what happened. Only to find out that Sylas and his two brother's are now vampires. There is supposedly someone going around town changing people. Eating people. Left and right. Rowan doesn't know what to think now that she is also a vampire. She has a mental crisis and runs away a few times only to find herself back with Sylas. There is this energy between them. A sexual energy that neither of them wants to address. But then they do and now apparently they are together until the end. Sylas and his brother's offer to help Rowan fight the big bad. Apparently Rowan's family who were murdered were also vampires but the good kind. Now a battle is going to ensure to determine if good will be able to trump the evil.
Thank you Grey's Promotions and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
We are introduced to Rowan in this one. Her and her bestie are at the carnival when something weird happens. But oh well they go home together. But Rowan gets invited out on a date so she leaves her BF. When she comes back her friend is dead. Rowan finds herself going to her best friend's boyfriend's ranch to see if he knows what happened. Only to find out that Sylas and his two brother's are now vampires. There is supposedly someone going around town changing people. Eating people. Left and right. Rowan doesn't know what to think now that she is also a vampire. She has a mental crisis and runs away a few times only to find herself back with Sylas. There is this energy between them. A sexual energy that neither of them wants to address. But then they do and now apparently they are together until the end. Sylas and his brother's offer to help Rowan fight the big bad. Apparently Rowan's family who were murdered were also vampires but the good kind. Now a battle is going to ensure to determine if good will be able to trump the evil.
Thank you Grey's Promotions and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
January 22, 2025
This paranormal dark romance packed in so many fun elements—vampires, cowboys, a murder mystery, magic, romance, and plenty of spice. The blend of genres kept things exciting and unique.
However, the timeline felt a bit rushed at times, which left me wishing for a little more development in certain areas. That said, the story's twists and intriguing characters had me hooked, and I look forward to reading book 2 in the series!
ARC provided for honest review.
However, the timeline felt a bit rushed at times, which left me wishing for a little more development in certain areas. That said, the story's twists and intriguing characters had me hooked, and I look forward to reading book 2 in the series!
ARC provided for honest review.
January 18, 2025
I was initially intrigued by the vampire-cowboy combination because that was something new, and I really wanted to like this book. However, it didn't exactly work for me. I understand that it's a debut novel and there were some elements that did interest me, but there were quite a few plot holes that I couldn't ignore.
Things kept progressing too quickly and not quickly enough simultaneously. The romance didn't work for me, especially given that
The plot revolving around the murder mystery and revenge had inconsistencies and was left with unanswered questions. The timeline of certain events was also not adding up, which left me confused. The plotline was sort of weak in my opinion because it didn't seem believable how Rowan and the Vampire Queen faced off. I also felt like random elements kept being added to build up to that moment of showdown between them. Rowan didn't even know her own capabilities and had to be told by the vampire queen herself for her to even realize she had certain abilities. It made no sense that the enemy would educate Rowan about her own powers so she can use said powers to fight her. She literally gave her the tools and the guidance to show her what needs to be done to fight her.
The mystery behind the queen's identity wasn't even a mystery, and she basically handed Rowan the book to figure everything out. Also, I truly didn't get why the vampire queen kept letting Rowan go again and again if her goal had been to find Rowan for years. Why did she just keep telling Rowan to run and that she couldn't escape because the queen knew exactly where Rowan was at all times... while Rowan was right in front of her????
Sylas's character was a bit more interesting even if we didn't really get much into his life exactly. The bond that was built between him and Rowan wasn't too believable for me because their initial impressions of each other kept changing as the book progressed to maybe make the readers think that there was always some pull between them. That wasn't how the characters described their impression of each other at first.
I didn't get an understanding of the town or its people. Travis randomly deciding that he wanted Rowan also wasn't explained. They were vampires, which was supposedly a myth, and yet no one in town they encountered was the least bit surprised.
Thank you to Grey's Promotions and Kira Bates for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Things kept progressing too quickly and not quickly enough simultaneously. The romance didn't work for me, especially given that
The plot revolving around the murder mystery and revenge had inconsistencies and was left with unanswered questions. The timeline of certain events was also not adding up, which left me confused. The plotline was sort of weak in my opinion because it didn't seem believable how Rowan and the Vampire Queen faced off. I also felt like random elements kept being added to build up to that moment of showdown between them. Rowan didn't even know her own capabilities and had to be told by the vampire queen herself for her to even realize she had certain abilities. It made no sense that the enemy would educate Rowan about her own powers so she can use said powers to fight her. She literally gave her the tools and the guidance to show her what needs to be done to fight her.
The mystery behind the queen's identity wasn't even a mystery, and she basically handed Rowan the book to figure everything out. Also, I truly didn't get why the vampire queen kept letting Rowan go again and again if her goal had been to find Rowan for years. Why did she just keep telling Rowan to run and that she couldn't escape because the queen knew exactly where Rowan was at all times... while Rowan was right in front of her????
Sylas's character was a bit more interesting even if we didn't really get much into his life exactly. The bond that was built between him and Rowan wasn't too believable for me because their initial impressions of each other kept changing as the book progressed to maybe make the readers think that there was always some pull between them. That wasn't how the characters described their impression of each other at first.
I didn't get an understanding of the town or its people. Travis randomly deciding that he wanted Rowan also wasn't explained. They were vampires, which was supposedly a myth, and yet no one in town they encountered was the least bit surprised.
Thank you to Grey's Promotions and Kira Bates for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2025
I wanted to try a new, debut author and here we are😅 I think the concept of the book was interesting, however, the execution left a lot to be desired😕 The storytelling was kind of choppy and I felt like I was always missing some kind of knowledge when it came to like her parents’ “plan” for her and what not🫠 The romance had potential, but drew out the guilt wayyy too long while also still progressing their physical relationship which gave me the ick crazy😭 Also, the big bad was super obvious from the jump and not one but TWO characters coming back as ghosts to forgive and guide the main characters felt like such a wild cop out for any kind of character development they should have had when these characters passed😐 All in all, I wasn’t a bad book, but definitely could’ve cooked a bit longer🤷♀️
February 5, 2025
Dark romance ✅
Cowboys ✅
Vampires ✅
Murder Mystery ✅
No I'm not naming off all of my favorite genres, I'm listing themes of this ONE book!
This one was a bit to unpack, but really was fun. Suspend all belief, be willing to ignore some plot holes and don't worry about pacing- just enjoy that this book was written for our entertainment!
Rowan and Libby, best friends, have been obsessed with vampires their whole lives. Tracks with me so far..
The morning after a night out Libby is rather unalive, and Rowan finds herself in the middle of a cowboy vampire murder mystery.
Definitely worth the read, I look forward to more from the author- this is considered 1 in a series- I'll be interested in seeing where it goes!
Cowboys ✅
Vampires ✅
Murder Mystery ✅
No I'm not naming off all of my favorite genres, I'm listing themes of this ONE book!
This one was a bit to unpack, but really was fun. Suspend all belief, be willing to ignore some plot holes and don't worry about pacing- just enjoy that this book was written for our entertainment!
Rowan and Libby, best friends, have been obsessed with vampires their whole lives. Tracks with me so far..
The morning after a night out Libby is rather unalive, and Rowan finds herself in the middle of a cowboy vampire murder mystery.
Definitely worth the read, I look forward to more from the author- this is considered 1 in a series- I'll be interested in seeing where it goes!
January 28, 2025
Rating: 2.5 stars rounded up
A dark romance and murder mystery featuring vampires and cowboys? That’s something I never expected to see on my 2025 Bingo TBR card!
This is Kira's debut novel and the first book in the Georgetown Vampires trilogy. I noticed some plot holes that I hope will be addressed in the second book of the series. At times, the story felt overwhelming with all its different elements. I wish more time had been spent developing some of the characters' emotions, as it would have made me feel more connected to them. I wasn’t a fan of the main romance; it honestly made me cringe on several occasions. Overall, though, it wasn’t a bad read, and with some adjustments, I believe this series has the potential to be great.
A dark romance and murder mystery featuring vampires and cowboys? That’s something I never expected to see on my 2025 Bingo TBR card!
This is Kira's debut novel and the first book in the Georgetown Vampires trilogy. I noticed some plot holes that I hope will be addressed in the second book of the series. At times, the story felt overwhelming with all its different elements. I wish more time had been spent developing some of the characters' emotions, as it would have made me feel more connected to them. I wasn’t a fan of the main romance; it honestly made me cringe on several occasions. Overall, though, it wasn’t a bad read, and with some adjustments, I believe this series has the potential to be great.
January 17, 2025
This was great, I wasn't sure what was going to happen really at any point so points for the unpredictability. Rowan and Sylas meet when he is dating her best friend Liddy. But one very unfortunate night ends with Liddy being murdered, Sylas chained to a fence and both him and Rowan are vampires. They spend the whole bok trying to figure out who is doing this in their small town, taking down an evil vampire queen but also coming to terms with grief and their own attraction to one another. It was a great story and a great version of vampire lore. Defintely recommend!
January 21, 2025
Review to come closer to release!
Update: Its release Day!!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️🌶️/5
📚 1/3
My review rating reflects the potential I see in this trilogy. There are a few places where the story falls flat, or there are holes in the plot that leave the reader guessing [not in the best of ways]. This is a debut novel, I can see where these things can easily be fixed moving forward.
I did enjoy the story, and the vampire x cowboy trope is not something that I knew I needed but apparently do, and I definitely think a well placed "Darling" is now going to be my favorite 🫠
Rowan and Sylas's love was a bit much for me though, and I think that it could have been remedied by giving the book more breathing room. It wasnt necessarily insta love, but the circumstances surrounding them being together was rushed and gave me some ick since Sylas was the bf of her best friend. There should have been more slow burn imo to give credibility to the feelings since we are not dealing with "Fated mates". In the same vein, I think with more breathing room we could have had more mystery applied to who the Queen was, instead of a straightforward rushed reveal.
I am looking forward to seeing how book two will pick up where we left off with book 1, as there was no cliffhanger in book 1. Looking forward to read more by Kira.
Update: Its release Day!!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️🌶️/5
📚 1/3
My review rating reflects the potential I see in this trilogy. There are a few places where the story falls flat, or there are holes in the plot that leave the reader guessing [not in the best of ways]. This is a debut novel, I can see where these things can easily be fixed moving forward.
I did enjoy the story, and the vampire x cowboy trope is not something that I knew I needed but apparently do, and I definitely think a well placed "Darling" is now going to be my favorite 🫠
Rowan and Sylas's love was a bit much for me though, and I think that it could have been remedied by giving the book more breathing room. It wasnt necessarily insta love, but the circumstances surrounding them being together was rushed and gave me some ick since Sylas was the bf of her best friend. There should have been more slow burn imo to give credibility to the feelings since we are not dealing with "Fated mates". In the same vein, I think with more breathing room we could have had more mystery applied to who the Queen was, instead of a straightforward rushed reveal.
I am looking forward to seeing how book two will pick up where we left off with book 1, as there was no cliffhanger in book 1. Looking forward to read more by Kira.
January 14, 2025
I happened to really find this book interesting and intriguing. My main experience with vampire books is the Twilight Saga, so I don’t have much to compare it to but I thought this was a super fun, creepy, mysterious, spicy story - with an interesting back story and fun characters. I’m hoping to see more back story and character development in the other books since it is a trilogy. Overall I really enjoyed it! Thank you Grey’s Promotions and Kira for sending me an early copy!
January 9, 2025
After Dark is a vampire romance set in a small town in the Carolinas. Rowan and her best friend, Liddy, have always been obsessed with vampires, her more so. One night at the carnival, a tragic accident happens and no one knows who caused it. The next morning, Liddy is found unalived in her home, Rowan tries to figure out what's going on. She runs into some vampires and gets turned herself, along with Sylas, Liddy's boyfriend. They team up to solve the town mystery but learn it runs way deeper than they expected. Rowan and Sylas also start to have feelings for each other. Can they save the town? Will they ever get over their feelings of guilt about Liddy being gone and choose happiness together?
January 9, 2025
Plot:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Romance:♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️/5
Spicy Vampire Cowboy romance?! YES please! 🖤🩸
Wow wow wow wow Kira Bates has me hooked. The plot immediately drew me in, I devoured this book in one night. I’m so excited to see how she grows this universe. While it seems like there’s a lot more of Rowan and Silas’s story to be told I kind of hope we get some of the ensemble character’s stories.
Sylas “you take me so well Darling” “tell me how I taste” Loughty is the cowboy I didn’t know I so desperate needed 🫠♥️ Rowan is an easy to love FMC with a beautiful written journey through love, pain, and coming into her own power.
This is a MUST read. I took a chance with this ARC as it’s not my typical genre (dark romance girly here) but I’m so glad I did. After Dark had me kicking my feet and giggling like a fool the entire time. I was literally blushing. Mark your calendars for January 21st 🖤🩸
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Romance:♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️/5
Spicy Vampire Cowboy romance?! YES please! 🖤🩸
Wow wow wow wow Kira Bates has me hooked. The plot immediately drew me in, I devoured this book in one night. I’m so excited to see how she grows this universe. While it seems like there’s a lot more of Rowan and Silas’s story to be told I kind of hope we get some of the ensemble character’s stories.
Sylas “you take me so well Darling” “tell me how I taste” Loughty is the cowboy I didn’t know I so desperate needed 🫠♥️ Rowan is an easy to love FMC with a beautiful written journey through love, pain, and coming into her own power.
This is a MUST read. I took a chance with this ARC as it’s not my typical genre (dark romance girly here) but I’m so glad I did. After Dark had me kicking my feet and giggling like a fool the entire time. I was literally blushing. Mark your calendars for January 21st 🖤🩸
January 14, 2025
🩸AFTER DARK🩸
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Release Date: 1.21.2025 🗓️
One thing about me, I love discovering new authors and then immediately shouting about how much I love their book. Prepare for me to shout:
I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. Let me convince you to pick it up in a few bullet points:
🩸vampires
🩸cowboys (yes the cowboys are vampires)
🩸major vampire diaries/mystic falls vibes!!!
🩸an epic vampire battle (i mean duh)
🩸vampire queen (and king???) 👑
🩸TENSIONNNNNNN
sylas and rowan, i love you my little vampire cowboy/girl demon angel babies 🥰
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Release Date: 1.21.2025 🗓️
One thing about me, I love discovering new authors and then immediately shouting about how much I love their book. Prepare for me to shout:
I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. Let me convince you to pick it up in a few bullet points:
🩸vampires
🩸cowboys (yes the cowboys are vampires)
🩸major vampire diaries/mystic falls vibes!!!
🩸an epic vampire battle (i mean duh)
🩸vampire queen (and king???) 👑
🩸TENSIONNNNNNN
sylas and rowan, i love you my little vampire cowboy/girl demon angel babies 🥰
Read
January 26, 2025DNF at 32%
Thank you Grey’s Promotions and Kira Bates for the arc of After Dark.
This is my honest review.
After Dark is a vampire/paranormal romance set in the early 2000s following Rowan. One night at the small town fair an accident happens. Rowan and her best friend Liddy are both shaken by the tragic accident. The next day Liddy is found dead in her home with unexplainable marks on her body, neck especially, which Rowan is determined to find the truth about. After doing some research she happens to find vampires (which herself and Liddy have been obsessed with) and from this point, everything changes.
This book is the debut novel of author Kira Bates. It’s a murder mystery with paranormal elements. Unfortunately for me this felt both rushed and slow. It also felt underdeveloped and I couldn’t find a flow when I was reading. The murder mystery didn’t captivate me and I couldn’t connect to the characters. I also felt like the world building was lacking and the vampire/paranormal lore was unexplained.
All of this lead to me not finishing this book.
Thank you Grey’s Promotions and Kira Bates for the arc of After Dark.
This is my honest review.
After Dark is a vampire/paranormal romance set in the early 2000s following Rowan. One night at the small town fair an accident happens. Rowan and her best friend Liddy are both shaken by the tragic accident. The next day Liddy is found dead in her home with unexplainable marks on her body, neck especially, which Rowan is determined to find the truth about. After doing some research she happens to find vampires (which herself and Liddy have been obsessed with) and from this point, everything changes.
This book is the debut novel of author Kira Bates. It’s a murder mystery with paranormal elements. Unfortunately for me this felt both rushed and slow. It also felt underdeveloped and I couldn’t find a flow when I was reading. The murder mystery didn’t captivate me and I couldn’t connect to the characters. I also felt like the world building was lacking and the vampire/paranormal lore was unexplained.
All of this lead to me not finishing this book.
January 20, 2025
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much, Kira Bates and Grey's Promotions!
This book follows Rowan, a 26-year-old girl in a small town who sees her life turned upside down overnight (literally) when her best friend is brutally killed. And she discovers that the vampire stories she loved as a teenager weren't such legends after all.
First and foremost, I know this is the author's debut novel, and while I struggled to finish it, as an ARC reader, I always like to give debut authors the benefit of the doubt. That said, my review reflects both the potential I see in her work and, if I may, the areas I think could be improved.
What disappoints me the most is that I was genuinely enjoying the story and its potential! The book seems to rely on setting up mysteries and sparking curiosity, but everything unfolds in a way that's too straightforward, without much anticipation. Unfortunately, the payoff feels disappointing. Some plot lines felt overly predictable. At times, the story felt forced. It felt like the story was like, 'I need X to happen, so Y has to come first.' But Y would happen out of nowhere, without any build-up or context.
Despite its slow beginning, it got me engaged and curious about what would happen next and also had me on the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, it failed to maintain that intrigue throughout. In addition to some plot holes, I was also bothered by how straightforward the writing was. I struggled to connect with the story due to the way it was told, you know? I missed more descriptive writing, which I believe would have improved the flow of the narrative.
Full disclosure, I didn’t realize at first that this book was the first in a trilogy. In fact, one of my criticisms was that it might work better if it had more room to breathe, perhaps as a duology or even a longer standalone, to avoid feeling so rushed. Because, honestly, the way the story flowed, I was convinced it was a standalone. Imagine my surprise when I found out it’s actually a trilogy! The story needs much more time to properly develop the lore and relationships. So I really don’t understand why, given it’s a trilogy, everything felt so rushed!
Also, I felt that the overlapping tropes were a bit too much—especially the cowboy and vampire combination. I only realized it also had a ‘Western’ element after signing up for the ARC, and at first, I thought it might be an issue. Surprisingly, it worked for a while—until it didn’t anymore.
About the romance… I know there’s a taboo aspect to their relationship, with him being her late best friend’s boyfriend. If you know me, you know I’m totally fine with that kind of taboo! My issue is how quickly—and madly—they fell in love with each other. And I mean crazy in love! Because of that forbidden aspect, I expected more reluctance, more tension, you know? Their relationship actually pulled me out of the story, and I had to almost force myself to finish it. I even skipped a spicy scene for the first time, just to give you an idea.
It didn’t help that I didn’t like Rowan at all. She was so frustratingly stupid, that I couldn’t handle it. She took the naïve FMC cliché to the next level. I liked Sylas though, way better than I did Rowan. His chapters were a breath of fresh air, unfortunately, there weren’t enough of them compared to Rowan’s.
That ending was just absurd. There’s no way that could’ve happened. It really felt like the cherry on top of all the chaos this book turned out to be.
This book follows Rowan, a 26-year-old girl in a small town who sees her life turned upside down overnight (literally) when her best friend is brutally killed. And she discovers that the vampire stories she loved as a teenager weren't such legends after all.
First and foremost, I know this is the author's debut novel, and while I struggled to finish it, as an ARC reader, I always like to give debut authors the benefit of the doubt. That said, my review reflects both the potential I see in her work and, if I may, the areas I think could be improved.
What disappoints me the most is that I was genuinely enjoying the story and its potential! The book seems to rely on setting up mysteries and sparking curiosity, but everything unfolds in a way that's too straightforward, without much anticipation. Unfortunately, the payoff feels disappointing. Some plot lines felt overly predictable. At times, the story felt forced. It felt like the story was like, 'I need X to happen, so Y has to come first.' But Y would happen out of nowhere, without any build-up or context.
Despite its slow beginning, it got me engaged and curious about what would happen next and also had me on the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, it failed to maintain that intrigue throughout. In addition to some plot holes, I was also bothered by how straightforward the writing was. I struggled to connect with the story due to the way it was told, you know? I missed more descriptive writing, which I believe would have improved the flow of the narrative.
Full disclosure, I didn’t realize at first that this book was the first in a trilogy. In fact, one of my criticisms was that it might work better if it had more room to breathe, perhaps as a duology or even a longer standalone, to avoid feeling so rushed. Because, honestly, the way the story flowed, I was convinced it was a standalone. Imagine my surprise when I found out it’s actually a trilogy! The story needs much more time to properly develop the lore and relationships. So I really don’t understand why, given it’s a trilogy, everything felt so rushed!
Also, I felt that the overlapping tropes were a bit too much—especially the cowboy and vampire combination. I only realized it also had a ‘Western’ element after signing up for the ARC, and at first, I thought it might be an issue. Surprisingly, it worked for a while—until it didn’t anymore.
About the romance… I know there’s a taboo aspect to their relationship, with him being her late best friend’s boyfriend. If you know me, you know I’m totally fine with that kind of taboo! My issue is how quickly—and madly—they fell in love with each other. And I mean crazy in love! Because of that forbidden aspect, I expected more reluctance, more tension, you know? Their relationship actually pulled me out of the story, and I had to almost force myself to finish it. I even skipped a spicy scene for the first time, just to give you an idea.
It didn’t help that I didn’t like Rowan at all. She was so frustratingly stupid, that I couldn’t handle it. She took the naïve FMC cliché to the next level. I liked Sylas though, way better than I did Rowan. His chapters were a breath of fresh air, unfortunately, there weren’t enough of them compared to Rowan’s.
That ending was just absurd. There’s no way that could’ve happened. It really felt like the cherry on top of all the chaos this book turned out to be.
January 12, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Stars!
When Rowan’s parents die in a mysterious way, there’s always doubt and wonder floating around in her mind as to what truly happened to her parents. Was it a house fire? An animal attack?
Years later as Rowan and her best friend Liddy are having fun at a local carnival in their town of Georgetown, Rowan notices a man with red eyes running to the woods. Shortly before, something terribly wrong happens on the Ferris wheel where someone was taken away in an ambulance. No one is sure what happened, but panic ensues and Rowan and Liddy head home…all while Rowan can’t stop thinking about the red
eyed man.
Once the girls make it to Liddy’s home, they fall into their routine of Buffy and hanging out. Liddy falls asleep early, and Rowan decides to head out on a quick date with an old crush from high school. Certain that Liddy is fine, she heads out. What happens while Rowan is out on her date, is something she never could have imagined. Liddy has the same look as her parents did when they died…she’s pale,she has sunken in eyes, and there’s no life left in her body…
All the questions and uncertainty from her parents deaths come rushing back, and all Rowan wants is the truth, even if the truth reveals something she never knew was possible - vampires are real, and they’re killing the people she loves.
With the help of Sylas, Liddy’s boyfriend, and his hunky cowboy brothers, they all begin to find more information on vampires and realize they have more and more wreaking havoc in their town. They must come together to find those who want to bring evil and death. Spending more and more time together, Rowan and Sylas can’t stop their attraction together, all while feeling a pull that is stronger than they push aside.
Will Georgetown be able to be saved from the evil that’s taking over? Will Sylas and Rowan overcome their guilt to find love? Who is leading the vampires in the woods, and what happens in Rowan is turned in to a vampire herself? Why were Rowan’s parents murdered?
This book is full of battle between good and evil, supernatural powers, magic, mystery, romantic suspense, and so much more. If you love Twilight, Vampire Diaries, cowboys, and a good mystery, definitely give this a read.
• • • • • •
Final thoughts:
Looking back after reading, I have so many questions. I thought I would really love this, but it had some plot holes and questions that weren’t answered. I found myself a little confused at some parts, and lost a little interest in the beginning. I’d love to know more about the brothers. Also, Rowan’s upbringing and more about her family. I’m hoping to see the questions answered in book two as this does end with more to come in Rowan and Sylas’ vampire world with a slight cliffhanger.
When Rowan’s parents die in a mysterious way, there’s always doubt and wonder floating around in her mind as to what truly happened to her parents. Was it a house fire? An animal attack?
Years later as Rowan and her best friend Liddy are having fun at a local carnival in their town of Georgetown, Rowan notices a man with red eyes running to the woods. Shortly before, something terribly wrong happens on the Ferris wheel where someone was taken away in an ambulance. No one is sure what happened, but panic ensues and Rowan and Liddy head home…all while Rowan can’t stop thinking about the red
eyed man.
Once the girls make it to Liddy’s home, they fall into their routine of Buffy and hanging out. Liddy falls asleep early, and Rowan decides to head out on a quick date with an old crush from high school. Certain that Liddy is fine, she heads out. What happens while Rowan is out on her date, is something she never could have imagined. Liddy has the same look as her parents did when they died…she’s pale,she has sunken in eyes, and there’s no life left in her body…
All the questions and uncertainty from her parents deaths come rushing back, and all Rowan wants is the truth, even if the truth reveals something she never knew was possible - vampires are real, and they’re killing the people she loves.
With the help of Sylas, Liddy’s boyfriend, and his hunky cowboy brothers, they all begin to find more information on vampires and realize they have more and more wreaking havoc in their town. They must come together to find those who want to bring evil and death. Spending more and more time together, Rowan and Sylas can’t stop their attraction together, all while feeling a pull that is stronger than they push aside.
Will Georgetown be able to be saved from the evil that’s taking over? Will Sylas and Rowan overcome their guilt to find love? Who is leading the vampires in the woods, and what happens in Rowan is turned in to a vampire herself? Why were Rowan’s parents murdered?
This book is full of battle between good and evil, supernatural powers, magic, mystery, romantic suspense, and so much more. If you love Twilight, Vampire Diaries, cowboys, and a good mystery, definitely give this a read.
• • • • • •
Final thoughts:
Looking back after reading, I have so many questions. I thought I would really love this, but it had some plot holes and questions that weren’t answered. I found myself a little confused at some parts, and lost a little interest in the beginning. I’d love to know more about the brothers. Also, Rowan’s upbringing and more about her family. I’m hoping to see the questions answered in book two as this does end with more to come in Rowan and Sylas’ vampire world with a slight cliffhanger.
January 24, 2025
This story was so nostalgic for me! I haven't read a vamp story since Twilight sparked my reading obsession. So many details in this book made me happy and squeal. It was heartbreaking, steamy, suspenseful and just a great time.
The only note I would have was that some scenes felt a little rushed or lacked conversations that I feel were needed between the characters. Like at some points I had to go back and reread because "when did they agree on that?" or "when was that discussed?" happened a few times with me.
This is Kira Bates first novel and she has left so many spaces for this world to open up to so many different stories and adventures. I cannot wait to continue and see where she goes with this world she has created.
SPOILER: My absolute favorite scene was actually when Rowan and Sylas ate the S.O. and got high off his blood. AND THE BARN?? YES PLEASE. Hahaha I love a good chaotic moment.
Also, the acknowledgment?! "I hope I made your Edward and Damon hearts full". Sold. You have me as a lifelong fan now.
Cover art? *Chef's Kiss*
The only note I would have was that some scenes felt a little rushed or lacked conversations that I feel were needed between the characters. Like at some points I had to go back and reread because "when did they agree on that?" or "when was that discussed?" happened a few times with me.
This is Kira Bates first novel and she has left so many spaces for this world to open up to so many different stories and adventures. I cannot wait to continue and see where she goes with this world she has created.
SPOILER: My absolute favorite scene was actually when Rowan and Sylas ate the S.O. and got high off his blood. AND THE BARN?? YES PLEASE. Hahaha I love a good chaotic moment.
Also, the acknowledgment?! "I hope I made your Edward and Damon hearts full". Sold. You have me as a lifelong fan now.
Cover art? *Chef's Kiss*
January 9, 2025
Spicy vampire cowboy paranormal romance…. Sign me the f*** up!
This was a FUN read. I have never read a book like this before and it did not disappoint. It’s everything you want in a paranormal romance and when you add sexy cowboys brothers into the mix… WOW! This is a very spicy book but don’t let that fool you it did have some very emotional parts that has me tearing up. I won’t give spoilers. So you will have to just get it and read it for yourself!
Blurb
Nothing good happens after dark...
Nice one, Rowan. Couldn't stay home for one night...and now my best friend's dead.
Not just dead. She looks like she had the life sucked out of her. And the puzzle pieces are starting to come together in a way that looks all sorts of dangerous.
To top it off, I'm pretty sure I'm fired - and I may be going insane. Who in their right mind starts to think their parents were killed by vampires?
So, when I rescue a hunky cowboy with a taste for the jugular, it's kind of the least of my troubles. Except Sylas Loughty is my best friend's boyfriend.
And not even he can protect me from an age-old vendetta that's about to come down on my head.
Turns out the bloodlust is...catching.
This is book 1 in the paranormal dark romance Georgetown Vampires trilogy by Kira Bates. Featuring murder, magic, and a love that was meant-to-be, this is a slice of steam you'll want to sink your teeth into.
This was a FUN read. I have never read a book like this before and it did not disappoint. It’s everything you want in a paranormal romance and when you add sexy cowboys brothers into the mix… WOW! This is a very spicy book but don’t let that fool you it did have some very emotional parts that has me tearing up. I won’t give spoilers. So you will have to just get it and read it for yourself!
Blurb
Nothing good happens after dark...
Nice one, Rowan. Couldn't stay home for one night...and now my best friend's dead.
Not just dead. She looks like she had the life sucked out of her. And the puzzle pieces are starting to come together in a way that looks all sorts of dangerous.
To top it off, I'm pretty sure I'm fired - and I may be going insane. Who in their right mind starts to think their parents were killed by vampires?
So, when I rescue a hunky cowboy with a taste for the jugular, it's kind of the least of my troubles. Except Sylas Loughty is my best friend's boyfriend.
And not even he can protect me from an age-old vendetta that's about to come down on my head.
Turns out the bloodlust is...catching.
This is book 1 in the paranormal dark romance Georgetown Vampires trilogy by Kira Bates. Featuring murder, magic, and a love that was meant-to-be, this is a slice of steam you'll want to sink your teeth into.
January 11, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.7
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Rowan loses her best friend Liddy, the night she goes on a date with Tyler, who used to be the popular guy in high school.
She finds Liddy’s body empty of blood and two bite marks on her neck.
Nobody wants to believe her when she says there is someone with red eyes running around and k!lling people.
Liddy’s boyfriend, Sylas has his own issues. Both he and his brothers were attacked and now have a hankering for blood.
When he doesn’t show up to Liddy’s funeral, Rowan goes and investigates.
This story takes place in 2005 (if my math is mathing). Rowan is 26 and Sylas is 32. Neither seem to know how to “do life” and needed Liddy to tell them what to do. A twist was added for filler reasons and the last 20% felt rushed and some things weren’t explained and were just there/happening. It ends in an open ending, so more to come in book two.
All in all it was a fun and enjoyable read. I’m hoping that book two will explain the vampires in Georgetown a bit more and how the power/magic works.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Rowan loses her best friend Liddy, the night she goes on a date with Tyler, who used to be the popular guy in high school.
She finds Liddy’s body empty of blood and two bite marks on her neck.
Nobody wants to believe her when she says there is someone with red eyes running around and k!lling people.
Liddy’s boyfriend, Sylas has his own issues. Both he and his brothers were attacked and now have a hankering for blood.
When he doesn’t show up to Liddy’s funeral, Rowan goes and investigates.
This story takes place in 2005 (if my math is mathing). Rowan is 26 and Sylas is 32. Neither seem to know how to “do life” and needed Liddy to tell them what to do. A twist was added for filler reasons and the last 20% felt rushed and some things weren’t explained and were just there/happening. It ends in an open ending, so more to come in book two.
All in all it was a fun and enjoyable read. I’m hoping that book two will explain the vampires in Georgetown a bit more and how the power/magic works.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 18, 2025
Thank you to Grey's Promotions and Kira Bates for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I DNFed this at about 20%. The combination of vampires, cowboys, and mystery really had me intrigued. But in that first 20% there were already so many plot holes. Like seriously, something mysteriously happened to a guy on the ferris wheel and you saw someone with red glowing eyes run away from the scene, but you still choose to go out on a date and leave your best friend home alone? While they still haven't caught the person who hurt the guy at the carnival? And then on top of that, you walk to the date?! Just no. The FMC is supposed to be smart, and that's just not.
I see the potential for this though. Though with a lot of developmental editing. It seems like the ending needs a good bit of editing as well, based on other reviews. If you're gong into this for purely vibes, it might be a good read though.
I DNFed this at about 20%. The combination of vampires, cowboys, and mystery really had me intrigued. But in that first 20% there were already so many plot holes. Like seriously, something mysteriously happened to a guy on the ferris wheel and you saw someone with red glowing eyes run away from the scene, but you still choose to go out on a date and leave your best friend home alone? While they still haven't caught the person who hurt the guy at the carnival? And then on top of that, you walk to the date?! Just no. The FMC is supposed to be smart, and that's just not.
I see the potential for this though. Though with a lot of developmental editing. It seems like the ending needs a good bit of editing as well, based on other reviews. If you're gong into this for purely vibes, it might be a good read though.
Read
January 21, 2025𐕣 ARC REVIEW 𐕣
Happy release day authorkirabates ! 🩸 thank you to you and @greyspromo for my early copy of After Dark.
This was a super fun ride to be on. I’m telling you if Twilight and The Vampire Diaries had a baby, this book would be the result. I felt so nostalgic reading this but also the different take on how vampires exist is super interesting. I also love that Rowan was such a Buffy fan, as I watched that show from childhood, until now 😈 way to break my heart about three quarters of the way in Kira 😭
Release day is today and inside you’ll find:
🩸dark paranormal romance
🖤small town
🩸forced proximity
🖤tragic past
🩸no third act breakup
🖤 vampire cowboy romance (yup you read that right).
+much much more
*as always, check the triggers as there may be subjects discussed that could be triggering to some.
Happy release day authorkirabates ! 🩸 thank you to you and @greyspromo for my early copy of After Dark.
This was a super fun ride to be on. I’m telling you if Twilight and The Vampire Diaries had a baby, this book would be the result. I felt so nostalgic reading this but also the different take on how vampires exist is super interesting. I also love that Rowan was such a Buffy fan, as I watched that show from childhood, until now 😈 way to break my heart about three quarters of the way in Kira 😭
Release day is today and inside you’ll find:
🩸dark paranormal romance
🖤small town
🩸forced proximity
🖤tragic past
🩸no third act breakup
🖤 vampire cowboy romance (yup you read that right).
+much much more
*as always, check the triggers as there may be subjects discussed that could be triggering to some.
January 29, 2025
After Dark is what I would consider a mash up of a paranormal romance, mystery, vampire novel. It’s a tale of mystery and revenge.
The story follows an orphan girl named Rowan, and her best friend Liddy. When something goes wrong at the town carnival, Rowan tries to solve the mystery herself. The next day something else goes horribly wrong Liddy’s dead. She and her friend Liddy’s boyfriend end up turning into vampires themselves. They try to solve the mystery of the town to save it and everyone they love before it’s too late. Meanwhile they’re getting a little too close, and very very comfortable.
The book is really intriguing but feels super fast paced and I had to do a re-read to pick up some of the pieces I missed the first read through. This is an excellent read if you like the Vampire Diaries and Supernatural.❤️🔥
The story follows an orphan girl named Rowan, and her best friend Liddy. When something goes wrong at the town carnival, Rowan tries to solve the mystery herself. The next day something else goes horribly wrong Liddy’s dead. She and her friend Liddy’s boyfriend end up turning into vampires themselves. They try to solve the mystery of the town to save it and everyone they love before it’s too late. Meanwhile they’re getting a little too close, and very very comfortable.
The book is really intriguing but feels super fast paced and I had to do a re-read to pick up some of the pieces I missed the first read through. This is an excellent read if you like the Vampire Diaries and Supernatural.❤️🔥
January 23, 2025
Arc review for After Dark: A Paranormal Dark Romance (Georgetown Vampires trilogy Book 1) by Kira bates.
If you are a fun of vampires and cowboys this is the book for you. This is the first book from this author and I love every second of it. ROWAN And SYLAS are so perfect together 😍😍.
Overall? I had a lot of fun!
I love vampire books , and this one hit the spot perfectly. It’s full of vampires, mystery, romance, spice, heartbreak, and adventure and FORBIDDEN LOVE!
Highly recommend to read this 💙
If you are a fun of vampires and cowboys this is the book for you. This is the first book from this author and I love every second of it. ROWAN And SYLAS are so perfect together 😍😍.
Overall? I had a lot of fun!
I love vampire books , and this one hit the spot perfectly. It’s full of vampires, mystery, romance, spice, heartbreak, and adventure and FORBIDDEN LOVE!
Highly recommend to read this 💙
January 23, 2025
Kira Bates debut novel
AFTER DARK
This book follows Rowan Watson and Sylas Loughty through a journey of grief and finding themselves as new vampires.
They face many obstacles while finding their power and fighting the evil forces upon their small town.
This is a Paranormal Dark Romance with open-door spice, gore, and death.
As a new author, I thank you for taking your chances on me!
AFTER DARK
This book follows Rowan Watson and Sylas Loughty through a journey of grief and finding themselves as new vampires.
They face many obstacles while finding their power and fighting the evil forces upon their small town.
This is a Paranormal Dark Romance with open-door spice, gore, and death.
As a new author, I thank you for taking your chances on me!
January 13, 2025
A fun paranormal romance, with a carnival gone wrong, small town secrets, lots of vampires, murders and spice for days! Rowan and Sylas will take you for a ride (for real)! If you were a fan of the Salvatore brothers, you may wanna pick this one up!
🩸Paranormal romance
🩸Small town
🩸Cowboy vampires
🩸Mystic falls vibes (but way darker)
🩸Lots of blood!
The first book in the dark paranormal romance - Georgetown Vampires Trilogy. I ADORE the cover!
Thank you Kira Bates and Grey’s promotion for the advanced copy!
🩸Paranormal romance
🩸Small town
🩸Cowboy vampires
🩸Mystic falls vibes (but way darker)
🩸Lots of blood!
The first book in the dark paranormal romance - Georgetown Vampires Trilogy. I ADORE the cover!
Thank you Kira Bates and Grey’s promotion for the advanced copy!
Read
January 11, 2025DNF @ 70
Review to come …
January 22, 2025
Good paranormal romance with some cozy moments. I loved so many of the elements/tropes within this story: small town, found family vibes, cowboys. I feel like I needed more to really get sucked into the book so I'm excited for the future of the series!
February 2, 2025
Hola, hoy les traigo esta reseña de un libro corto de fantasía
Nos narra la historia de Rowan, que tras estar afuera de su casa una noche es mordida y transformada a vampiro...literal pasa bien rápido, no hay suspenso o cosas misteriosas, ya que se sabe luego luego que las criaturas culpables de los fallecimientos recientes son vampiros
La verdad es que esperaba mas del libro, no entendí cual fue el propósito si al 10% ya sabemos que es vampiro, no encontré un trama
Nos narra la historia de Rowan, que tras estar afuera de su casa una noche es mordida y transformada a vampiro...literal pasa bien rápido, no hay suspenso o cosas misteriosas, ya que se sabe luego luego que las criaturas culpables de los fallecimientos recientes son vampiros
La verdad es que esperaba mas del libro, no entendí cual fue el propósito si al 10% ya sabemos que es vampiro, no encontré un trama
February 3, 2025
The setup had me intrigued…murder, vampires, and a hunky cowboy with a taste for blood? Yes, please. But as the story unfolded, it felt like the pieces didn’t always fit together as smoothly as I’d hoped.
Rowan’s world gets turned upside down when her best friend is brutally murdered, and suddenly, she’s questioning everything, including whether vampires exist and if she’s next. The premise had so much potential, but the pacing felt uneven, and some plot points seemed rushed while others dragged.
That said, the atmosphere was great…dark, mysterious, and definitely giving small-town vampire chaos.
Thank you to the author and grey’s promotions for providing me with a gifted copy of this book! Please note, all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own and are in no way influenced by receiving the book.
A moody, suspenseful vampire romance with murder, magic, and a touch of forbidden love. If you love paranormal drama with a dark edge, this one’s worth a read!
Rowan’s world gets turned upside down when her best friend is brutally murdered, and suddenly, she’s questioning everything, including whether vampires exist and if she’s next. The premise had so much potential, but the pacing felt uneven, and some plot points seemed rushed while others dragged.
That said, the atmosphere was great…dark, mysterious, and definitely giving small-town vampire chaos.
Thank you to the author and grey’s promotions for providing me with a gifted copy of this book! Please note, all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own and are in no way influenced by receiving the book.
A moody, suspenseful vampire romance with murder, magic, and a touch of forbidden love. If you love paranormal drama with a dark edge, this one’s worth a read!
April 12, 2025
This one was definitely unusual to the vampire stories I've read and certainly kept my interest.
It is a Dark Horror Vampire book with shades of paranormal and a romantic angle that comes out of unusual circumstances and need and support of each other.
So we have Rowan whose entire world turns upside down in the span of a night when she's unaware of what happens after she sneaks out to meet an old friend.
Not only does the guilt of losing her bestie eats at her but now she has to deal with a new reality that she's a new being, a creature she'd once been obsessed with and read about and that has become her reality now.
We follow Rowan as tries to decipher what's happened to her town and somehow fate puts her and her bestie's boyfriend together. Sylas and his brothers and Rowan are now tasked to not only figure out the real culprits behind who changed them but also ensure that their town and everyone is safe.
I really liked this one as it gives us a fresh take and a story that's rooted in reality, in the what if of if vampires would suddenly appear and the mayhem they would cause.
I just felt a lot of the story was stretched out where it wasn't needed and also certain scenes that didn't feel had any relation to what was happening.
Sylas and Rowan have a roller coaster of emotions and feelings they have to face before accepting the fact that things have changed between them now.
We do have some spicy times that were definitely 🔥.
The final battle was action packed and had me wide eyed. But again I feel there are a lot of things that felt unanswered and certain things that didn't really make sense.
All that being said, even though I liked certain things about this book and some I didn't, I'm certainly looking forward to the next book because color me intrigued to wanting to know where we'll be taken next in the story. This one was definitely unusual to the vampire stories I've read and certainly kept my interest.
It is a Dark Horror Vampire book with shades of paranormal and a romantic angle that comes out of unusual circumstances and need and support of each other.
So we have Rowan whose entire world turns upside down in the span of a night when she's unaware of what happens after she sneaks out to meet an old friend.
Not only does the guilt of losing her bestie eats at her but now she has to deal with a new reality that she's a new being, a creature she'd once been obsessed with and read about and that has become her reality now.
We follow Rowan as tries to decipher what's happened to her town and somehow fate puts her and her bestie's boyfriend together. Sylas and his brothers and Rowan are now tasked to not only figure out the real culprits behind who changed them but also ensure that their town and everyone is safe.
I really liked this one as it gives us a fresh take and a story that's rooted in reality, in the what if of if vampires would suddenly appear and the mayhem they would cause.
I just felt a lot of the story was stretched out where it wasn't needed and also certain scenes that didn't feel had any relation to what was happening.
Sylas and Rowan have a roller coaster of emotions and feelings they have to face before accepting the fact that things have changed between them now.
We do have some spicy times that were definitely 🔥.
The final battle was action packed and had me wide eyed. But again I feel there are a lot of things that felt unanswered and certain things that didn't really make sense.
All that being said, even though I liked certain things about this book and some I didn't, I'm certainly looking forward to the next book because color me intrigued to wanting to know where we'll be taken next in the story.
It is a Dark Horror Vampire book with shades of paranormal and a romantic angle that comes out of unusual circumstances and need and support of each other.
So we have Rowan whose entire world turns upside down in the span of a night when she's unaware of what happens after she sneaks out to meet an old friend.
Not only does the guilt of losing her bestie eats at her but now she has to deal with a new reality that she's a new being, a creature she'd once been obsessed with and read about and that has become her reality now.
We follow Rowan as tries to decipher what's happened to her town and somehow fate puts her and her bestie's boyfriend together. Sylas and his brothers and Rowan are now tasked to not only figure out the real culprits behind who changed them but also ensure that their town and everyone is safe.
I really liked this one as it gives us a fresh take and a story that's rooted in reality, in the what if of if vampires would suddenly appear and the mayhem they would cause.
I just felt a lot of the story was stretched out where it wasn't needed and also certain scenes that didn't feel had any relation to what was happening.
Sylas and Rowan have a roller coaster of emotions and feelings they have to face before accepting the fact that things have changed between them now.
We do have some spicy times that were definitely 🔥.
The final battle was action packed and had me wide eyed. But again I feel there are a lot of things that felt unanswered and certain things that didn't really make sense.
All that being said, even though I liked certain things about this book and some I didn't, I'm certainly looking forward to the next book because color me intrigued to wanting to know where we'll be taken next in the story. This one was definitely unusual to the vampire stories I've read and certainly kept my interest.
It is a Dark Horror Vampire book with shades of paranormal and a romantic angle that comes out of unusual circumstances and need and support of each other.
So we have Rowan whose entire world turns upside down in the span of a night when she's unaware of what happens after she sneaks out to meet an old friend.
Not only does the guilt of losing her bestie eats at her but now she has to deal with a new reality that she's a new being, a creature she'd once been obsessed with and read about and that has become her reality now.
We follow Rowan as tries to decipher what's happened to her town and somehow fate puts her and her bestie's boyfriend together. Sylas and his brothers and Rowan are now tasked to not only figure out the real culprits behind who changed them but also ensure that their town and everyone is safe.
I really liked this one as it gives us a fresh take and a story that's rooted in reality, in the what if of if vampires would suddenly appear and the mayhem they would cause.
I just felt a lot of the story was stretched out where it wasn't needed and also certain scenes that didn't feel had any relation to what was happening.
Sylas and Rowan have a roller coaster of emotions and feelings they have to face before accepting the fact that things have changed between them now.
We do have some spicy times that were definitely 🔥.
The final battle was action packed and had me wide eyed. But again I feel there are a lot of things that felt unanswered and certain things that didn't really make sense.
All that being said, even though I liked certain things about this book and some I didn't, I'm certainly looking forward to the next book because color me intrigued to wanting to know where we'll be taken next in the story.
January 27, 2025
2.5 ⭐ I loved the cover of this book so much that I signed up for this ARC because of how interesting it looked. From the cover and the blurb, of course I knew there would be vampires in this. However, the twist towards the end really confused me, and not in a good way.
⭐ Rating Criteria ⭐
❤️ Plot:
The story started off really well, and it actually kept my attention for the most part. But, I couldn't help but notice particular things with the way this was written. There were certain points in this story when there would too much going on, and also times when there just wasn't enough to support the on-going plotline. Simply said, the plot didn't flow as well as I hoped it would.
As I mentioned, the chapters approaching the end were what confused me. I don't want to spoil anything, but the addition of what felt like random "features" (not the magic because that was included in the blurb) was so out of left field. I simply do not understand where they came from.
There were also random plot holes/ info dumps throughout the story, and that also messed up the storyline for me. I think at least the plot would have been more cohesive had those pieces of information been introduced before the midpoint.
❤️ Characters:
As much as the plot confused me, the way the characters were written confused me even more. I'm not sure if it was intentional, but the author wrote the characters' - mainly Sylas and Rowan - actions/moods in a way that gave me whiplash. They were hot one moment, and then cold the next. And that's fine and all, but there wasn't even a few chapters to transition between those moods. They just happened as quick as a snap of a finger.
The romance in this was also not for me. The author was trying to write it off as Sylas already caring - too much or not, it's up to your discretion - for Rowan even when Libby was still around. No matter, it seemed a bit rushed for me, and although it wasn't an out-of-nowhere attraction objectively speaking, it did seem like it.
❤️ Writing Style:
I have to point out that even with a couple of emotional moments in this story, I couldn't feel any emotions come out of the pages. The way it was written didn't resonate enough with me, and I wasn't able to feel the emotions that the characters were trying to convey.
❤️ Overall:
The premise of the story really caught my eye, and I was expecting to like it. Unfortunately, it was already disappointing not even halfway through, but I pushed forward in hopes that it would get better. I was also genuinely interested in the plot, so I kept my hopes up for a turning point that sadly did not happen.
Thank you to Grey's Promotions and the author for allowing me to share my honest review of this ARC.
⭐ Rating Criteria ⭐
❤️ Plot:
The story started off really well, and it actually kept my attention for the most part. But, I couldn't help but notice particular things with the way this was written. There were certain points in this story when there would too much going on, and also times when there just wasn't enough to support the on-going plotline. Simply said, the plot didn't flow as well as I hoped it would.
As I mentioned, the chapters approaching the end were what confused me. I don't want to spoil anything, but the addition of what felt like random "features" (not the magic because that was included in the blurb) was so out of left field. I simply do not understand where they came from.
There were also random plot holes/ info dumps throughout the story, and that also messed up the storyline for me. I think at least the plot would have been more cohesive had those pieces of information been introduced before the midpoint.
❤️ Characters:
As much as the plot confused me, the way the characters were written confused me even more. I'm not sure if it was intentional, but the author wrote the characters' - mainly Sylas and Rowan - actions/moods in a way that gave me whiplash. They were hot one moment, and then cold the next. And that's fine and all, but there wasn't even a few chapters to transition between those moods. They just happened as quick as a snap of a finger.
The romance in this was also not for me. The author was trying to write it off as Sylas already caring - too much or not, it's up to your discretion - for Rowan even when Libby was still around. No matter, it seemed a bit rushed for me, and although it wasn't an out-of-nowhere attraction objectively speaking, it did seem like it.
❤️ Writing Style:
I have to point out that even with a couple of emotional moments in this story, I couldn't feel any emotions come out of the pages. The way it was written didn't resonate enough with me, and I wasn't able to feel the emotions that the characters were trying to convey.
❤️ Overall:
The premise of the story really caught my eye, and I was expecting to like it. Unfortunately, it was already disappointing not even halfway through, but I pushed forward in hopes that it would get better. I was also genuinely interested in the plot, so I kept my hopes up for a turning point that sadly did not happen.
Thank you to Grey's Promotions and the author for allowing me to share my honest review of this ARC.
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