I always thought Asher Winston was my forever. That’s why cutting him out of my life was like cutting off a limb. But it had to be done. If I’d stayed, we would have killed each other. For ten years I avoided him. Going through the motions. Empty and alone. And then that chance meeting on the street. Now I’m caught in his web again. I know where this will lead, but I don’t have the strength to end it. Because as much as I hate it, the only time I can breathe is when he’s near me.
This is book 1 of a duology. Book 2 to be released December 2025.
Aside from being an avid reader, I also write urban fantasy and dark romance books under the names A.J. Church and Aesyn Cravery.
My current projects include the urban fantasy series, The Sacrifice (written under the pen name Aesyn Cravery), and a number of dark romance standalones.
I got this book as an ARC from BookSirens. I honestly wasn’t completely sure what I was diving into when I started this book but oh boy am I glad I did.
This book is a m/m vampire romance book. I am an absolute sucker for a good m/m book and this one was a good one. I wouldn’t call it the best or a favorite but it was good nonetheless.
It did take me a bit longer to read, not because it was bad or anything but just because of how busy I was lately. But this book kept me hooked and entertained for the majority of it.
What I didn’t expect was for it to be a part of a series. It is the first book (i’m like 99% sure at least) so nothing to worry about on that part. But the cliffhanger it ended on was absolutely brutal. And dear lord I need the next book right this instant.
Totally recommend giving this book a try, although you will have to suffer while waiting for the next book.
This book is not my usual read due to the M/M romance but I really enjoyed it! The push and pull between Cord and Asher with a dual POV was great. I loved their dynamic and having both POVs made me sympathetic to both sides! I was rooting for them since the beginning. Mix in the vampire mafia and it had me hooked! The pace of the book was really good, I finished it in a couple of days. It felt like it lacked much of a plot at the beginning as all they seemed to do was have sex, but then it soon picked up and I was fully invested in the story. I look forward to seeing where book 2 takes us. Would definitely recommend!
*Free ARC copy provided to me. All opinions are my own*
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a mob vampire love story, and surprisingly, it works. We have Cord and Asher, two long time ex-lovers who broke up ten years before the beginning of the story. Asher is a businessman whose ambition drove Cord away. Cord works as a killer for the vampire Crimson Clan, which keeps tabs on the vampires in New York City and polices their behavior so as not to expose them to humans.
They had been friends since childhood. It was only after they were “transitioned” into vampires did they become lovers. Ash was being mentored by one of the most successful vampires in the city and Cord was working for the head of the Crimson Clan. The Clan isn’t a bunch of good guys. It’s basically the mob with fangs. Ash didn’t like how influential the Clan’s boss was over Cord and Cord didn’t like Ash’s ambition. Their relationship ended.
They accidentally ran into each other one day after ten years. Lots and lots of unresolved feelings. Ash was upfront with his feelings, but it took Cord a while to accept that he was still in love with Ash. They were coming to terms with their emotions while a threat to the Clan was emerging. There was a player on the scene who threatened the Clan’s control of the city.
As the Clan head’s right-hand man, Cord was in the middle of everything. Ash was able to help him with his own connections. He has a hacker on staff who gives Cord information on the new player and their organization.
I don’t want to give away too much. The book does end on a cliffhanger, which I generally hate, but it didn’t surprise me. I have to recommend this. It’s extremely spicy. The plot is interesting enough to hold my attention. The character development leaves a little bit to be desired, but at least we get a clear picture of everyone’s backstory. Go get the book. Enjoy it and wait for the second one to come out.
I received this book as an ARC from BookSirens. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect but I'm so glad I picked it up. This m/m vampire romance was an enjoyable read. I wouldn't call it a new favorite, but it definitely delivered a solid, engaging story that kept me hooked whenever I had time to read. I didn't realize it was part of a series, and that cliffhanger? Absolutely brutal. Now I'm desperate for book two! Highly recommend giving this one a try. Just be prepared to suffer while you wait for the sequel.
This M/M dark romance with a fantasy twist — vampires, danger, and desire — had a lot of potential. While I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the connection between the characters, I did find my attention drifting in parts where the pacing slowed. However, the cliffhanger ending definitely caught my interest and has me curious to see what happens next in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Overall I really enjoyed this! It had an intriguing plot and I love a good second chance romance. I love the idea of a secret vampire mafia and how there are different vampire guilds. I also really adored Asher and how caring and thoughtful he was towards Cord.
This book does end on a cliffhanger so I'm excited to see how Cord and Asher's story concludes in the next book!
Taste of Blood is the first book in the new Cord & Asher series by AJ Church. AJ Church is a new author for me and this was a great introduction. Cord and Asher who had a relationship but broke up for 10 years. They meet again and things go from there. I loved that this was a dual POV story as I was able to understand both guys better. Be prepared for some intense descriptions of torture and bloodshed because this is a vampire Mafia story. I really enjoyed the whole book but it does end in a cliffhanger. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book.
Where do I even begin! A massive thank you to A.J Church and BookSirens for giving me the chance to read Taste of Blood, Cord & Asher: Book 1.
First of all A.J Church this book consumed me. I am so glad I managed to get an ARC of Taste of Blood, the last few pages had me pacing the living room as I read it, I NEEEEED Book 2, yesterday, ASAP. I've already been recommending Taste of Blood to friends and will be raving about it from the roof tops. There are so many variables in the book that you really have no clue what's coming next, you may think you do, but that's just your brain tricking you into thinking you're clever....trust me!
I don't want to spoil anything, but I think I'm in love with Cord and Asher. Their story is so heart-felt, how they started out had a lump in my throat, I can't believe how much I enjoyed reading about them. The spice as well....YAASS QUEEN....I cannot recommend Taste of Blood enough. If you love MM, Vamps, and spice with a little violence thrown in this book is 100% for you. This book needs to sell out, because it's fantastic.
I received this book for free in exchange for a review.
The Taste of Blood by A.J. Church is an action-packed, paranormal romance about two vampires who clearly don’t understand they’ve already got a room to make sinful love.
Cord McAllister is the prized, vampiric henchman of one Grandfatherly Dante. After getting a call from a former friend, Cord decides to investigate a series of disappearances from said friend’s workplace. What starts as a regular off-the-block serial killer becomes more dire when he suddenly finds himself in the middle of an all-out gang war between Dante and a powerful vampire called the Python. Things get more twisted when his former lover, Asher Winston, decides to get involved, gleefully screwing up Cord’s professional identity and sex life.
To be quite honest, I’d rather read about Armand. It’s clear he came from a hard life, and while he’s okay with getting scraps from the vampires, he’s also got a lot of potential. He understands his place in a world full of parasites, but he still gives it his all. Well, all but his heart, of course. Same thing as Elaine. An incredibly competent hacker who knows what she’s doing but works herself to death trying to prove herself is yet another story I would’ve loved to devour. I feel that the reason why these humans are so much more interesting is that they accept change readily. They don’t have a lot of time, so they’re trying to make the best of what they have.
Unlike these two idiots.
I don’t like how high school-ish Cord and Asher get around each other; it’s like I’m reading the gay, R-rated version of Twilight. Yes, I get that you guys are obsessed with one another, but I wish the obsession were more fleshed out. I wish Cord were able to share his violent side with Asher, or that Asher somehow fills a void in Cord that allows him to indulge in his darkest fantasies. They were high school friends for crying out loud. They’ve spent decades together; at this point, they should know each other every which way. Then again, they are vampires; the trauma that they’ve gone through when they were human, coupled with the possible abandonment issues they’ve developed as vampires, kept them frozen in time. Even so, you’d expect seventy-something-year-old creatures to act more mature than they do. Moreover, although Asher sells himself as this ruthless, sociopathic CEO, he’s shown me anything but. Some of the dialogue between the characters is pretty cheesy, and their development could definitely use a lot of work, but they’re okay overall.
There are some important themes that Church clearly wants to explore, such as how to love someone after years of betrayal and mistakes, but the way she writes her characters doesn’t illustrate this very well. I feel that half the time Church tells you rather than shows you, so it’s like whiplash whenever any of the characters are together; it seems like there’s no authenticity. Even Cord’s somewhat “rebellion” against Dante and his questioning of him is hollow.
I would like to know the characters’ mindsets and what makes their interactions and their relationship so special. Why am I fighting for you? Why should I fight for you? What’s so special about you that I can’t find someone else? All that.
So, for right now, I would give this book a 2.5 out of 5 stars.
4.25 stars - This is an interesting world. Vampires here live by certain rules and standards and are governed by certain Clans. Some humans are aware, but not all and some are donors, although it is basically illegal for vampires to actually bite humans to feed. In this book, there are two storylines. One is the relationship or rekindling of the relationship between Cord and Asher. The other is the mystery of who is trying to take over the Clan territory and is wreaking havoc in an attempt to do so.
Cord and Asher have been friends since they were kids, before either transitioned into vampires. They were best friends to lovers, but they were on separate tracks. Cord led a more violent life and was taken in by the leader of the Clan, Dante (basically a vampire mafia). He is the muscle/enforcer for Dante. Asher, on the other hand, was mentored by Carlyle, a successful business vamp who led Asher down a very successful business road. Ten years later, Asher is determined to right his wrongs and put Cord first.
Before they can really get on the same page, things heat up with the mysterious happenings that send Dante and his men, including Cord, on a wild chase to solve the mystery before they lose the City altogether. Asher is determined to use his resources to help and to keep Cord safe in the process. Just when things really heat up, and Asher and Cord seem to have a plan for their future, things take a turn and we are left hanging.
I really enjoyed this story. Cord and Asher have undeniable chemistry and it becomes clear that, try as they might, they are unable to deny it, especially Cord who is the big holdout at this point. I have a feeling that will change as the next story unfolds and they will each be forced to face their true feelings for each other (again, Cord is the likely target here), but regardless, I can’t wait to see it all unfold and hope we don’t have to wait too long to see it happen. This isn’t the typical fluffy vamp romance, so if that’s not your thing, be sure to give this one a try.
This was my first book by A.J. Church and it didn’t disappoint.
I am a sucker for a good Vampire romance and I must admit I love a good MM romance as well and this book intertwined the two beautifully.
The world building in this book is excellent and her explanation of the different Vampire Guilds is top notch. The way the human world and the Vampire world blends so seamlessly is amazing.
I must say, I am obsessed with Asher and Cord!!!! These two men are the vision of Vampires…tough, smart, aggressive, controlling, and sexy.
Asher is everything you would expect in a businessman. He is smart, cunning, assertive, and in charge. We learn how he came from nothing and has built his empire, but at a cost…and that cost was Cord.
Cord is your sexy, tattooed, muscled vampire. He comes across as a brute….tough, in control, and an enforcer for Crimson Guild. Yet, for Asher, he is submissive and likes to be controlled.
The back story of these two is gut wrenching. Together since they were in foster care, we see how they have always been there for one another…both as humans and now as Vampires. But we see how even though they have always looked out for one another, at one time, they let outside influences separate them and keep them apart.
The angst and pain that we see at the beginning between Asher and Cord will break you. You see the pain, the betrayal, the hurt but their love still shines through. I understand why Cord was so slow to let Asher back in but there were times I was yelling at him through my Kindle. The passion and chemistry of these two is so evident.
I was not prepared for the cliffhanger that A.J. leaves us with. I am shook! I NEED Book 2 like now!
Please, Please go read this book! You will not be disappointed!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book combines two of my absolute favorite things—M/M romance and vampires. Add in a second-chance love story, stir in a dash of mystery, a heaping dose of danger, and top it all off with some seriously good spice? Yes, please—sign me up!
When I first read the blurb, I thought it sounded interesting, but honestly, it doesn’t do the story justice. The world building here is fantastic. Between the Clan, the Guilds, the Outliers, and the humans, there’s a rich and complex world that the author brings to life beautifully—without ever making it feel confusing or overwhelming.
The main characters, Cord and Asher, have known each other for most of their lives. They started as best friends, transitioned together, and eventually fell in love. But after their transition, life took them down very different paths—Cord became an enforcer for the Clan, while Asher pursued wealth and business. Resentment grew, and Cord ended things. Ten long years later, fate throws them back together. Asher is determined to win Cord back, but Cord’s afraid of repeating the past. One thing’s clear though—neither of them has ever really moved on.
Cord’s inner turmoil was written so well. You can feel his resistance, his vulnerability, and the pull he can’t seem to fight when it comes to Asher. And Asher’s persistence? Chef’s kiss. The emotional push and pull between them is addictive.
The secondary characters add even more depth to the story. I’m fascinated by Armand and absolutely adore Elaine—her snark and the way she keeps Asher in check are perfection.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It ends on a cliffhanger, and I’m already counting down the days until the next installment. I need to know where Cord and Asher go from here!
First of all, I adored both the main characters and the side characters. Each one had depth and complexity to their history and personality that genuinely intrigued me. Enter Cord and Asher—childhood friends and former lovers whose paths collide again, with so much simmering beneath the surface.
Not only are they vampires, but in this incredible world-building, they’re tied to underground vampire networks—some of which operate very much like the mafia. They may be broken up, but their chemistry is undeniable from their very first run-in.
Cord and Asher made me nuts—I could not put this book down. They’re both incredibly perceptive when it comes to each other, yet completely blind to themselves. This book does end on a cliffhanger, but fear not—book two is coming 12/19/25.
Another thing I really enjoyed was the way this story subtly diverges from typical vampire lore. The world-building choices—like their need for rest, hydration, and exercise in addition to blood—added a layer of humanity that made the characters feel more relatable. Those details, paired with the darker elements, worked beautifully.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes & Themes: 🩸 Second Chance 🖤 Paranormal Romance 🧛 Vampire Mafia 💰 Criminal Empires 💞 Fated Mates 🔥 Erotic bondage 🔪 Unhinged Violence ❤️🔥 MM extra spice ⚠️ Touch him and die
Please note, I did receive this advanced copy ahead of publication; I am writing this honest review voluntarily and appreciate the opportunity provided by the author to review this book.
This is the first book by A.J. Church that I have read and the premise sounded fascinating. I would say that because Cord and Asher were lovers in the past, the author threw us straight into the meat of the story, with the romance/relationship playing out against the background of a new threat to the vampires of the Crimson Guild. It’s difficult to tell which people we are meant to be rooting for – Dante is an arrogant user, Cord is confusing in the way he pushes and pulls with Asher, and Asher – I can’t put my finger on it. I understand that he loves Cord and wants to be with him, but I don’t understand why he didn’t try to fix things over the ten years that they have been estranged.
There were some pretty heavy descriptions of torture and bloodshed above the whole vampire thing meant that I was taken by surprise a few times – normally, such things aren’t quite as graphic. I’m very glad I knew that this ended on a cliffhanger otherwise I would be seriously ticked off. I am looking forward to part two and hope that it fulfils the promise in this.
Possibly too much ‘filler’ in this book – sometimes it felt like things were very stalled in the investigations, but I would also say that it made it easy to appreciate Cord’s frustration with how things were going. The cliffhanger itself did it’s job – I definitely want to know what happens next! I received an ARC from BookSirens.
If you're craving a gritty vampire tale with emotional depth and blood-soaked intrigue, this story delivers in spades. Set in a city teetering on the edge of chaos, Cord—an enforcer for the formidable vampire lord Dante—is the kind of brooding antihero who commands attention. His world is brutal, governed by loyalty and violence. Enter Asher, Cord’s ex-lover, whose return is anything but simple. Determined to rekindle their fractured bond, Asher finds himself pulled into Cord’s dangerous orbit as they investigate a rogue faction of vampires wreaking havoc by killing and turning humans. Told through both Cord and Asher’s perspectives, the dual POV adds emotional complexity and tension. Cord’s stoic exterior hides a storm of conflicted feelings, while Asher’s vulnerability and determination make him a compelling counterpoint. Their dynamic is electric—equal parts longing, resentment, and undeniable chemistry. This isn’t your polished vampire romance. The story leans into the horror of vampirism: visceral fight scenes, grotesque transformations, and the moral ambiguity of survival in a world ruled by predators. The rogue vampires are terrifying, and the investigation unfolds with a noir-like intensity. Well-written and emotionally resonant, this book blends romance, horror, and mystery with finesse. If you love tortured love stories, morally gray characters, and vampire lore with bite, this one’s for you.
Vampire meets mafia dark paranormal romance with plenty of MM action.
Contained everything you would want in a dark smutty read. Underground clubs, vamps, black Chevelle coupes, penthouses, bondage, muscular tattooed men.
Taste of Blood successfully manages to combine dark romance with a developed storyline and flawed characters that are recognisable with issues that reflect real life. Enter loving the potential of someone…
Cord, the tall, dark, tattooed MMC works for Dante who is lording it over the vamps of New York. Asher, his ex, created his own business empire away from the violence of Dante's world, the same Dante that drove them apart.
Asher shows a single handed determination to win Cord back. Cord, it appears, has zero will power and begrudgingly succumbs to Asher's charms, over and over again… spoiler. It's hot.
As the Python moves in on Dante's territory and starts dismantling his hold over the city, Asher and Cord find themselves (along with a fabulously sassy Elaine) racing to uncover who this mystery wrecking ball is before the Black Guild move in.
Taste of Blood has everything that I love in a dark paranormal romance and the 'action' scenes were there is spades with enough variety to avoid being repetitive. The characters were relatable and easy to enjoy with back stories that provided context.
Would I have liked a little bit more emphasis on the vampire element? Yes. It was there certainly but mostly around some rather polite feeding practices rather than it feeling like a major part of the storyline. Could I have also done with fewer references to Cord's fabulous blue eyes? Also, yes. Having said this I really enjoyed the storyline, love a good cliff hanger and am now eagerly awaiting publication of this along with book two!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I don't like the blurb. It's such a disservice to this book. From the opening chapter I knew this wasn't some wispy, angst ridden second chance story. There's angst. Yes. Almost as much as there's bedroom/alley/couch action. Usually, right after said action. There's also a very solid, gripping the edge of seat, mystery here. Sadly, it includes a rather major cliffhanger. Through much of the story, Cord is on a yo-yo. Hooks up with Asher, bemoans the fact and hates himself, than returns to him. Yeah, if that nonsense was all this story was about, I'd be sending this off to my DNF list. No matter how much steam Cord and Asher generate to ignite my kindle. The worldbuilding is excellent. Dante need a story to smooth those rough, gangsta vibes. Mob boss and innocent opponent/prey is one of my favorite tropes. And Elaine. She needs to join the vampire club. The mystery is twisty and far more involved than appears at the start. It's a strong plot arc and will keep the series edgy into book three at least. NONE of this is in that inadequate blurb. Taste of Blood deserves something better. Maybe book two's blurb will be better. And I'm very much looking forward to it. I received an advanced copy of the book from GRR and this is my review.
Taste of Blood is the first book in A.J. Church’s Cord & Asher series, and it instantly grabbed my attention. As someone who is always eager for new vampire novels to dive into, I went into this one with fingers crossed for a new series I would be following. Unfortunately, I struggled with Taste of Blood from the start.
My biggest problem was that I could not connect with the author’s writing style. I can see many enjoying it, yet it was lacking the necessary spark to allow me to feel a connection to the characters. Due to this, I felt like I was constantly told things instead of being shown. This was especially true of their relationship. With their being so much history, I felt like I was being told about it rather than feeling anything linked to it. It made it difficult to care about them in the present, which left me struggling to be sucked into what was happening. This was disappointing because there were some interesting elements within the rest of the story that I wanted to explore, but I never felt invested enough to want to power through the book.
All in all, I am labelling this one of those cases where I was not the right reader for the book.
I received an Advanced Reader copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is my very first A. J. Church and it was a great and amazing read of three of my very favorite things: Vampires, M/M and of course a mafia romance.
Cord and Asher have been through everything together; childhood getting turned and later becoming lovers who separate and randomly running each other 10 years later. They live two very different paths. One a mob boss/ right hand man with fangs: Cord and the other a successful businessman with fangs: Asher. Asher has very strong ambition that drove Cord away. Asher hated how influential Cords boss was and that brings them to their end until 10 years later. They come to terms with their feelings just as trouble blooms on the horizon with the Clan’ mob of Cords. I’m so glad that the two were able to meet again and help each other out in the end.
I can’t wait to read the next book. Even if cliffhangers birth a whole other form of hate for me. This one didn’t make me regret it and that surprised me. I can’t decide on a favorite character but I hope that their personality’s don’t change too much per book.
Cord and Asher are the two main characters in this book, but there are a lot of other interesting characters as well. I will warn you that this book ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to find out what happens. The book is a bit slow to warm up as it brings together many different story lines, but once it (and Cord and Asher! Hint hint) gets going the action hardly ever stops. There is a lot of bedroom action going on and it’s a big part of what is interesting to read about these two guys because of the relationship they had before and how it develops during the book. I have read a lot of vampire romance novels and I almost gave up on this book because it didn’t seem very different than many others that I have read. I’m glad I didn’t because the story changes and becomes more about what is going on in the vampire world than focusing solely on the relationship and it gets very interesting. Book two will hopefully be out soon and I will be watching out for it.
I was sadly quite underwhelmed by this story, which felt very average.
I didn’t really enjoy the authors writing style, so I struggled to make it through the book, and neither the characters or the plot were exciting enough to override this.
I didn’t feel Asher & Cord’s connection through the writing which was maybe the biggest disappointment to me. I also didn’t find any of the plot twists exciting.
All that said, the author did a good job with her individual character building. The characters all had good depth - especially the main two - sadly the book was just missing the spark for me!
Themes/Tropes: Paranormal Romance, Workplace, Mafia, Dark, Emotional Scars, Second Chance, Afraid to Commit, Billionaire, Opposites Attract, Friends to Lovers, Morally Grey, Vampires, LGBTQIA+, MM & Multi POV.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story jumps straight into the action with barely any worldbuilding and a run-of-the-mill vampire. It must be my personal preference, but I like different takes of writers on paranormal elements.
The story moves quickly, which can be fun, but it also means there’s little time to connect with the characters. For a first book, it strangely feels like we’re dropping into the middle of an established couple’s story rather than watching one unfold. Both MMCs felt a bit too similar, which made it hard to care deeply about either of them or the romance itself.
The thriller subplot had potential, but it ended up being too predictable to build any real tension or surprise. I didn't care for it; the tension wasn't enough to keep me intrigued.
All in all, it’s a quick read with decent pacing but not enough emotional depth or intrigue to leave a lasting impact. I just wanted more — more world, more heart, and a little less rush.
10 years ago Cord walked out of Asher's life. Asher is a successful businessman who is not afraid to get what he wants, Cord still works as an enforcer for Dante's organisation. So opposite but perfect for each other. I loved this mafia style world, with the city ran by Clans. Vampires walk among the humans, not everyone knows about them, there are rules to follow. Whilst we follow Asher and Cord rekindle their relationship, we slowly learn what torn them apart. Asher who was not afraid to get what he wanted and Cord whose loyalty was still to Dante. But this was not the only story, there is a mystery that Asher and Cord get thrust in the middle of, someone is targeting the clans in the city. This story was full of action and violence blended with tender moments and I was drawn in and even though I knew that the story continues I was still shocked when I got to the end. December cannot come quick enough
For ten years, Cord McCallister ignored Asher Winston, the man he was sure would be his everything. They were taking divergent paths and Cord was sure they would kill each other if he stayed. Then a chance meeting brought Asher back into his orbit. Now he is all he can think about. Asher has the same problem but is determined to keep Cord in his life.
Asher tried so hard to break through. He was so sweet with him and Cord was responding. But there are so many issues going on. The plot was intriguing and kept your interest with surprises and twists on many pages. Cord had a dark side and so did the story at times. I am very curious to see how this goes. It left us on quite the cliffhanger. The next book cannot come fast enough. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I went into this book really excited because the premise sounded amazing, and I can see the care and creativity the author put into building this story. The writing has some beautiful moments, and I think a lot of readers will connect with the atmosphere and themes.
That said, I had a hard time fully getting into it. The pacing and style just didn’t quite match my personal reading taste, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged. I truly believe this comes down to preference rather than any flaw in the author’s work—it’s more about me as a reader than the story itself.
I still appreciate the experience, and I know this book will resonate with the right audience. I’ll definitely be watching to see what this author does next, because their voice has a lot of promise.
Seeing the inevitable push and pull between Cord and Asher felt like injecting myself with a highly addictive and obsessive love drug.
I love the fact that both MMCs are aware of their past selves and what didn't work for them as lovers. Asher really is yearning like no other to get back into Cord's life !
The vampire - Mafia war like background was deep enough that I keep asking myself more questions about their past, their links between each guilds and struggle to think who is the true menace behind the curtains.
We end with a plethora of guilty guys to pick from on who is behind this cliffhanger ending.
I'm hooked and would definitely like to read book 2 !
Thank you to Book Sirens for giving me the opportunity to get an ARC of this book 🙏
Holy cliffhanger batman. What might not be clear from the blurb is that this is very much part 1 of 2 and there is almost not resolution to anything. Just some more answer but also more mysteries. No HFN and a cliffhanger that puts one of the MCs in major peril.
I did like the concept of two immortal lovers that find their way back to eachother. Cord and Asher know they are inevitable but that did cause tension in their relationship a decade ago. Now they have to work their way back together. Too bad there's a vampire war brewing.
I would recommend this to fans of mafia romances and vampire romances. Cord is basically in the vampire mafia so its the main genre. The paranormal are overall minor but I hope there will be more world building in part 2.
I love me some good MM romance, throw in vampires and a bit of mafia intrigue, and I’m sold!
This book follows Asher and Cord, two vampires who were once lovers. The push and pull between them is constant throughout the story, and honestly, it’s fantastic. At first, I wasn’t sure there would be much of a plot, but there absolutely is and I loved how it unfolded.
There are quite a few steamy scenes (with plenty of detail, if you catch my drift), and they fit perfectly with the chemistry between the main characters.
The book does end on a cliffhanger, so if that’s not your thing, you might want to wait for the next instalment. Personally, I don’t mind, I’ll happily reread this one when the series continues!
Not the vampire setting we are used to which make me loveee it!, a very original vampire story the entire political system around the vampire community, the vampire system, it’s just great to read a totally different story of the vampire/human world, the feeding rules everything was just perfect.
At the moment am a little bit crazy with MM books so this one it was so delicious 🥵 you can say it’s a little bit slow burn, but the tension man!!! It could cut glass!! The spice was written soooo fuckn good, the story was also very intriguing I love suspense and not knowing whom to trust and this one definitely delivered!
CAN’T WAIT for book 2!! I need to know what happens next
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'm usually not a fantasy girlie but vampires don't count.
I went through this book so fast. The writing style was fast paced and it was a super exciting storyline I actually didn't expect.
Our two MMC's were completely sweet. The way Asher waited every day for 10 years for Cord to come back made me so sad. These two belong together!!! Yeah in the beginning it was mainly lust and sex but the further you go into the storyline the more you see the emotional side of their relationship.
I'm so excited for the second book. The cliffhanger was mean, I need to know what happens next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.