I absolutely loved this! I'm so bad at talking about my favorite books and what makes them special to me, but I'm really going to give it my all, because I want people to know how special Karla's writing is, how special this story is, and that it deserves all the love in the world~
Thomas's book isn't necessarily a prequel since it takes place both before and after the first two Vampires of Eden books, so it should probably be read after those just in case of spoilers. That said, it can be read as a stand alone.
We follow Thomas and Cameron as Thomas is essentially sold off for marriage. As per Karla's specialty, this book is filled with intense emphasis on the emotional healing journey of our hero and his growth in self love and his romance along the way. This book is a slow burn and open-door (not spicy, but still graphic). I am asexual and read mostly romance novels. I enjoy the tension and longing and yearning. This book delivers on all that - fulfils my romance-reader-heart - and also incorporates characters on the ace spectrum which brought so much love and joy to my heart. We still got spicy scenes, but with the spectrum of asexuality being mentioned and addressed in this story, I felt so unbelievably heard and respected! Karla's romances will always be close to my heart just for the level of communication and understanding that goes into the relationships of these characters, but I absolutely adored that we had discussion of this here.
As we know from previous books, Thomas has a history of trauma and abuse, but I feel like of the three VOE books, this one is the least detailed in the traumatic experience. For me personally, it didn't feel as triggering, at least. I also just absolutely LOVE Thomas as a character! Karla is so phenomenal in her writing and something I've enjoyed of most of her leading men is their open sensitivity and emotional maturity. Thomas is presented as the eldest brother in the Blakeley lineup of children; he is educated, willful, smart and a bit sassy. Despite so much of his story focusing on healing and recovery, he maintains this level of confidence (which obviously he's lost a lot of, and has insecurities, but there's this determination that feels like confidence) that just adds so much to his character. I love how we have this character that is from a powerful family and has privilege, but has been put into a situation in which he is powerless, and still he strives to live and to heal. What I mostly wanted to say about his character is that although he has this intense aura around him, Thomas is very sensitive and it doesn't make him weak or lesser, or infantisized. There are plenty of moments in which he cries or is reliving traumatic moments and they aren't written in a way that makes him feel weak and hopeless. He understands he's been dealt a difficult hand and is just trying to pull himself out of the after effects of it. He still has this energy about him, this power, and his level of emotional maturity and sensitivity gives strength to. Thomas is probably one of my favorites of Karla's leading men! Although I love all her vampire books, this one hit especially hard. Will definitely be rereading the series in whole very soon!