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Bound
A reluctant con artist and a professor with too many secrets are bound together in Ali Hazelwood’s intoxicating new dark academia romance—available only in audio!
Veronica “Vero” Mercer grew up with grifters for parents, and she knows her way around a con. When grad school bills pile up and her friends are in trouble, she turns her art history skills into a forgery side hustle.
It’s supposed to be a short term deal, but her work draws the attention of Dr. Viktor Ashworth, a reserved, very British professor. Instead of turning her in, Ashworth kidnaps her—politely—and makes an unusual forge a mysterious ancient manuscript for him.
Soon Vero finds herself spending long nights with Viktor, bent over rare vellum samples and obscure inks. But as the con grows riskier, Vero has to what does Viktor really want, and why can’t she stay away?
Veronica “Vero” Mercer grew up with grifters for parents, and she knows her way around a con. When grad school bills pile up and her friends are in trouble, she turns her art history skills into a forgery side hustle.
It’s supposed to be a short term deal, but her work draws the attention of Dr. Viktor Ashworth, a reserved, very British professor. Instead of turning her in, Ashworth kidnaps her—politely—and makes an unusual forge a mysterious ancient manuscript for him.
Soon Vero finds herself spending long nights with Viktor, bent over rare vellum samples and obscure inks. But as the con grows riskier, Vero has to what does Viktor really want, and why can’t she stay away?
8 pages, Audible Audio
First published November 11, 2025
26 people are currently reading
10256 people want to read
About the author
Ali Hazelwood
26 books170k followersI'm Ali, and I write contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia. I love cats, Nutella, and side ponytails. I'm also currently learning to crochet, so as you can tell I'm a super busy gal with an intense and exciting life!
I only use Goodreads as a reader, to review and hype books that I've loved (many of these book are ARCs received from fellow authors).
I only use Goodreads as a reader, to review and hype books that I've loved (many of these book are ARCs received from fellow authors).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
Want to read
September 27, 2025ali I'M BEGGING YOU, you have to release both the audiobook and the paperback version 😭🙏🏻
Read
September 27, 2025ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Does this woman ever rest?? Not complaining tho because I’ll be devouring it ofc 🤭
November 9, 2025
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an alc!
4.5 stars — HOORAY MY ALI HAZELWOOD CURSE IS OVER!! i’m so relieved omg
this was much better than problematic summer romance and whatever the mess mate was…
while bound still had the trademark ali hazelwood cringey millennial humor, the plot for bound was her best in a while! this novel gave early 2000s YA paranormal romance but in the best way — young woman has a skill that intrigues a man that hasn’t been human in many, many years. plus that cliffhanger teased another novel… and i’m actually not that mad!
as for the audio, there was a duet narration, which i absolutely loved! i think duet narrations are better than duel, because the narrators are speaking to one another
——
beyond shocked i got approved for the alc!! manifesting it’s better than mate…
4.5 stars — HOORAY MY ALI HAZELWOOD CURSE IS OVER!! i’m so relieved omg
this was much better than problematic summer romance and whatever the mess mate was…
while bound still had the trademark ali hazelwood cringey millennial humor, the plot for bound was her best in a while! this novel gave early 2000s YA paranormal romance but in the best way — young woman has a skill that intrigues a man that hasn’t been human in many, many years. plus that cliffhanger teased another novel… and i’m actually not that mad!
as for the audio, there was a duet narration, which i absolutely loved! i think duet narrations are better than duel, because the narrators are speaking to one another
——
beyond shocked i got approved for the alc!! manifesting it’s better than mate…
November 12, 2025
Thoughts
At this point I think it's clear that Ali Hazelwood is an all time favourite author of mine -- biased level (?) Yes maybe 😂 but seriously paranormal and dark academia in ONE? Easily sold as they my favourite genres especially dark academia! So needless to say I loved every second of this! The characters and plot development - I didn't want the audiobook to end! This is something completely different for Ali and she DELIVERED! Best 7hrs spent on a Spotify audio and the easiest five stars!
Plot Summary
Veronica “Vero” Mercer, an art history grad student with a grifter’s upbringing, starts forging artwork to cover her debts. But when her talent attracts the attention of the enigmatic Dr. Viktor Ashworth, he doesn’t expose her—he politely kidnaps her and offers a deal: forge a lost manuscript for him.
Working side by side in secret, their partnership turns dangerously magnetic. Yet as the job grows riskier, Vero realises Viktor’s interest in her—and the manuscript—runs far deeper than he’s admitting
My Bookstagram
At this point I think it's clear that Ali Hazelwood is an all time favourite author of mine -- biased level (?) Yes maybe 😂 but seriously paranormal and dark academia in ONE? Easily sold as they my favourite genres especially dark academia! So needless to say I loved every second of this! The characters and plot development - I didn't want the audiobook to end! This is something completely different for Ali and she DELIVERED! Best 7hrs spent on a Spotify audio and the easiest five stars!
Plot Summary
Veronica “Vero” Mercer, an art history grad student with a grifter’s upbringing, starts forging artwork to cover her debts. But when her talent attracts the attention of the enigmatic Dr. Viktor Ashworth, he doesn’t expose her—he politely kidnaps her and offers a deal: forge a lost manuscript for him.
Working side by side in secret, their partnership turns dangerously magnetic. Yet as the job grows riskier, Vero realises Viktor’s interest in her—and the manuscript—runs far deeper than he’s admitting
My Bookstagram
November 3, 2025
this is nowhere near dark academia i’m not sure why it’s promoted as such.
i had fun reading this and i do think it was a cute book but i felt like it took forever to get to the plot. this is a novella so i think things should’ve moved faster because in the beginning it felt like it took way too long for the love interest to show up. i also think the romance was just meh, it felt kinda insta love to me. i feel like the author should’ve taken out some of the nonsense in the beginning and then focused on giving us some type of romance dynamic. i’ve read enough of ali hazelwood and this moves exactly like her other romances, which i think just move too quickly. i did like the plot though and like i said was fun, i actually do wish this was a bit longer because i think the whole kidnapping and trying to convince her to work with them just moved too quickly.
i had fun reading this and i do think it was a cute book but i felt like it took forever to get to the plot. this is a novella so i think things should’ve moved faster because in the beginning it felt like it took way too long for the love interest to show up. i also think the romance was just meh, it felt kinda insta love to me. i feel like the author should’ve taken out some of the nonsense in the beginning and then focused on giving us some type of romance dynamic. i’ve read enough of ali hazelwood and this moves exactly like her other romances, which i think just move too quickly. i did like the plot though and like i said was fun, i actually do wish this was a bit longer because i think the whole kidnapping and trying to convince her to work with them just moved too quickly.
Currently reading
November 11, 2025What Ali Hazelwood writes, I read (or in this case, listen to 🐈⬛)
Want to read
October 14, 2025₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞:
DAMN ALI IS A BEAST!! book after book— she’s like a machine…🤭
the cover is STUNNING and i can’t wait for this to come out!!
DAMN ALI IS A BEAST!! book after book— she’s like a machine…🤭
the cover is STUNNING and i can’t wait for this to come out!!
Want to read
October 3, 2025just fell to my knees cause wdym only available on audio....that better change or ELSE!
November 9, 2025
*** spoiler free review ***
I rarely read anything “dark,” but if Ali writes it, I’m always here for it! 🙌🏼
Thank you Spotify Audiobooks for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
I haven’t read any dark academia before, but I would say this is more dark-ish - darker themes, but the tone was light (the way it was narrated + the added Ali-humor)
✦ tropes & stuff:
🖤 dark(ish) academia (but not like, dark)
🖤 morally grey MCs - con artist fmc + a professor mmc with secrets
🖤 kidnapping (a polite one)
🖤 workplace/forced proximity
🖤 secrets + suspense
🖤 opposites attract
🖤 slow burn
🖤 single/1st person pov + duet narration (audio-only)
•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•
🎧 audio-only | ⭐️: 4.5 | 🌶️: 3 |
“I tried not to want you. It didn’t work.” 🥹
I simply adore all men written by Ali, and Viktor was no different! Veronica was also another fun FMC, one that I want to be when I grow up 🙃
🎙 Brittany Pressley & William Macleod were phenomenal in their narration of this story!
They both flawlessly switched between their main characters & all the side characters, never pulling me out of the story & keeping me completely immersed.
“Ms. Mercer, let me assure you I’m an admirer of yours.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I struggle to be anything but, I’m afraid”
I loved the banter & dynamic between Veronica & Viktor, how they were opposites in many ways but also had many similarities.
So many of the side characters in this story were so interesting, mostly those who worked with Viktor, and added so much to the story.
The mystery/suspense elements had me hooked & wanting to know more!
My lack of 5 stars on this one was just wanting more from the romance, wanting to see it more developed. The story was so interesting/intriguing, but the romance felt a little out of nowhere for me. Though I did love their connection, I didn’t fully understand how we actually got there.
also the chapters were super long, like 45-60 mins - there were some stopping points but I would have rather had it broken it up a little more.
** I’d recommend being careful which reviews you read for this one, because many are giving away pieces of this story that weren’t in the blurb
📖 Bound by Ali Hazelwood
🎙 narrated by: Brittany Pressley & William Macleod
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
I rarely read anything “dark,” but if Ali writes it, I’m always here for it! 🙌🏼
Thank you Spotify Audiobooks for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
I haven’t read any dark academia before, but I would say this is more dark-ish - darker themes, but the tone was light (the way it was narrated + the added Ali-humor)
✦ tropes & stuff:
🖤 dark(ish) academia (but not like, dark)
🖤 morally grey MCs - con artist fmc + a professor mmc with secrets
🖤 kidnapping (a polite one)
🖤 workplace/forced proximity
🖤 secrets + suspense
🖤 opposites attract
🖤 slow burn
🖤 single/1st person pov + duet narration (audio-only)
•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•
🎧 audio-only | ⭐️: 4.5 | 🌶️: 3 |
“I tried not to want you. It didn’t work.” 🥹
I simply adore all men written by Ali, and Viktor was no different! Veronica was also another fun FMC, one that I want to be when I grow up 🙃
🎙 Brittany Pressley & William Macleod were phenomenal in their narration of this story!
They both flawlessly switched between their main characters & all the side characters, never pulling me out of the story & keeping me completely immersed.
“Ms. Mercer, let me assure you I’m an admirer of yours.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I struggle to be anything but, I’m afraid”
I loved the banter & dynamic between Veronica & Viktor, how they were opposites in many ways but also had many similarities.
So many of the side characters in this story were so interesting, mostly those who worked with Viktor, and added so much to the story.
The mystery/suspense elements had me hooked & wanting to know more!
My lack of 5 stars on this one was just wanting more from the romance, wanting to see it more developed. The story was so interesting/intriguing, but the romance felt a little out of nowhere for me. Though I did love their connection, I didn’t fully understand how we actually got there.
also the chapters were super long, like 45-60 mins - there were some stopping points but I would have rather had it broken it up a little more.
** I’d recommend being careful which reviews you read for this one, because many are giving away pieces of this story that weren’t in the blurb
📖 Bound by Ali Hazelwood
🎙 narrated by: Brittany Pressley & William Macleod
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
October 27, 2025
This was SO different for Ali and I gobbled up every second of it!!!!!!
November 10, 2025
"I cannot help but imagine that anything originating in your mind would be a sight to behold."
Listen. LISTENNNN. Ali gave us a SUPPOSEDLY stoic man, WHO BLUSHES?!?? I screamed. This would have been all I needed, to absolutely know I was going to love this. (I am a simple gal truly) I will try to make a coherent review, but it will probably just be me screaming about how much fun I had with this one.
Out of all the Ali Hazelwood novellas I have read, THIS. THISSSS is by far my favorite one. The narrators did an absolute phenomenal job. I LOVED how the mmc's narrators voice changed throughout the story (I wont say too much, but if you pay attention you'll see what I mean). And the fmc narrator was just so much fun. She captured Vero's personality so well, and she did a phenomenal job voicing the other female characters and making each character have their own distinct voice.
I already want to listen to this audiobook all over again. And the way I absolutely NEED a physical of this book made. PLEASEEEEE. I am on my knees begging. There were so many good lines in here that make me squeal and gasp. I loved this story so so much. And I just absolutely love Ali Hazelwood's humor. She's just so naturally funny, and it really showed in this novella.
I don't think I need to get into what this story is about (I always think it's best to go in blind anyways), so avoid blurbs if you can! If you love Ali Hazelwood, you're going to love this one. There will be humor, there will be tension and even a little bit of yearning, and you will absolutely love the characters she wrote for this one. I loved every single one of them!!! And I just didn't want this one to end 😭 I was so engrossed into the book that when they started saying the credits at the end I screamed in despair. Because WHAT DO YOU MEANNN the end?!?!
I am so beyond grateful that I got to listen to this early. This was my first Ali Hazelwood approval, and I SCREAMED when I saw the notification. Thank you so much netgalley for this alc! <3
___________________________________________
NOOOOOOO I WANTED MOREEEE WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE ENDDDDD
Listen. LISTENNNN. Ali gave us a SUPPOSEDLY stoic man, WHO BLUSHES?!?? I screamed. This would have been all I needed, to absolutely know I was going to love this. (I am a simple gal truly) I will try to make a coherent review, but it will probably just be me screaming about how much fun I had with this one.
Out of all the Ali Hazelwood novellas I have read, THIS. THISSSS is by far my favorite one. The narrators did an absolute phenomenal job. I LOVED how the mmc's narrators voice changed throughout the story (I wont say too much, but if you pay attention you'll see what I mean). And the fmc narrator was just so much fun. She captured Vero's personality so well, and she did a phenomenal job voicing the other female characters and making each character have their own distinct voice.
I already want to listen to this audiobook all over again. And the way I absolutely NEED a physical of this book made. PLEASEEEEE. I am on my knees begging. There were so many good lines in here that make me squeal and gasp. I loved this story so so much. And I just absolutely love Ali Hazelwood's humor. She's just so naturally funny, and it really showed in this novella.
I don't think I need to get into what this story is about (I always think it's best to go in blind anyways), so avoid blurbs if you can! If you love Ali Hazelwood, you're going to love this one. There will be humor, there will be tension and even a little bit of yearning, and you will absolutely love the characters she wrote for this one. I loved every single one of them!!! And I just didn't want this one to end 😭 I was so engrossed into the book that when they started saying the credits at the end I screamed in despair. Because WHAT DO YOU MEANNN the end?!?!
I am so beyond grateful that I got to listen to this early. This was my first Ali Hazelwood approval, and I SCREAMED when I saw the notification. Thank you so much netgalley for this alc! <3
___________________________________________
NOOOOOOO I WANTED MOREEEE WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE ENDDDDD
Want to read
September 27, 2025Ali is spoiling us this year 🙌🫶
November 10, 2025
What to expect in Bound:
-single pov
-duet narration
-academia dark(ish) romance
-twists and turns
-forced proximity
-morally gray characters (she's a con artist and he kidnaps her to help him with some shady work)
-humor (I was l.o.l. A LOT)
I will literally read any and everything that Ali Hazelwood decides to publish - so I was ecstatic to get an opportunity to listen to an early copy of Bound. I felt like this book was a totally different type of romance that we have gotten from Ali Hazelwood. The characters were so nuanced and I loved getting to know them all...including Mortimer 😂
I loved the slow build between Veronica and Viktor. Their interactions always felt so natural and their progression from acquaintances to something more was gradual and I honestly never felt like it was insta-love. The way the plot built up slowly kept me intrigued and parts of the book had me questioning -wtf just happened? Which is always so much fun lol! I don't want to share too many more details about the book because I don't want to give away the plot - but I LOVED it.
I did not want this audiobook to end and savored it for as long as I could. The audiobook was perfect and the duet narration by Brittany Pressley and William Macleod kept me immersed in the story. Both narrators switched so seamlessly between different characters. Mortimer was so whiny but then Viktor was so British posh and I loved that!
Overall, such a fantastic read!! Loved Bound. I would highly suggest going into this one blind to get the full experience.
Thank you kindly to Ali Hazelwood for the complimentary copy of the audiobook 💕
-single pov
-duet narration
-academia dark(ish) romance
-twists and turns
-forced proximity
-morally gray characters (she's a con artist and he kidnaps her to help him with some shady work)
-humor (I was l.o.l. A LOT)
I will literally read any and everything that Ali Hazelwood decides to publish - so I was ecstatic to get an opportunity to listen to an early copy of Bound. I felt like this book was a totally different type of romance that we have gotten from Ali Hazelwood. The characters were so nuanced and I loved getting to know them all...including Mortimer 😂
I loved the slow build between Veronica and Viktor. Their interactions always felt so natural and their progression from acquaintances to something more was gradual and I honestly never felt like it was insta-love. The way the plot built up slowly kept me intrigued and parts of the book had me questioning -wtf just happened? Which is always so much fun lol! I don't want to share too many more details about the book because I don't want to give away the plot - but I LOVED it.
I did not want this audiobook to end and savored it for as long as I could. The audiobook was perfect and the duet narration by Brittany Pressley and William Macleod kept me immersed in the story. Both narrators switched so seamlessly between different characters. Mortimer was so whiny but then Viktor was so British posh and I loved that!
Overall, such a fantastic read!! Loved Bound. I would highly suggest going into this one blind to get the full experience.
Thank you kindly to Ali Hazelwood for the complimentary copy of the audiobook 💕
Want to read
September 27, 2025Ali Hazelwood is like...the most popular trad pub romance novelist in the world, but moves like the most hustling indie author in the world. Bless.
November 12, 2025
4.5/5⭐️ 1.5/5🌶️🎧
I wish this was longer 😭 I loved this and the plot could have benefited from a little more length.
I wish this was longer 😭 I loved this and the plot could have benefited from a little more length.
November 6, 2025
my favorite Ali Hazelwood novella yet. this is SO Discovery of Witches coded!!!! i imagined Matthew Goode and Teresa Palmer the entire time
Want to read
September 26, 2025ANOTHER ALI BOOK?! Life is worth living😭
This woman does not sleep, MY QUEEN keeping us fed😩🧡
Can’t wait to obsess over another Ali man🙂↕️
This woman does not sleep, MY QUEEN keeping us fed😩🧡
Can’t wait to obsess over another Ali man🙂↕️
Want to read
October 29, 2025Ali x dark academia romance??? ohhh you don't understand I'm SO READY
Want to read
September 27, 2025im so desperate for anything ali hazelwood writes
November 11, 2025
4.5/5 stars
This is an audio exclusive with duet narration. The audiobook is performed by Brittany Pressley and William Macleod.
This is listed as a novella. However it’s 60k words (7+ hours) and to me it felt like a full length novel.
This book is told from the female POV. The main character is Veronica/Vero. She is a graduate student who excels at book forgeries. She meets a rich British professor who wants her to work for him.
I love that Ali does duet narration for her female POV stories. Because it’s duet narration we get a lot of the male characters. The main male character is British professor Viktor Ashworth.
I really enjoyed the female audiobook reader (Brittany Pressley ). She is so snarky and sassy as Vero. So perfect for the role. And the male audiobook reader (William Macleod) is also really good. Together their banter is fun. I am so happy that this is duet narration.
This story is not what I expected. I love that Ali is writing all kinds of genres and stories. There is a mysterious aspect to Viktor Ashworth (the British professor). This becomes a big part of the story.
I went into this audiobook blind. It is listed as a dark academia romance. It is darkish. But it’s not super dark. He is a professor and she is a graduate student. However these professions are not really the main part of the story. The book focuses a lot on rare books and forgeries.
The romance aspect is slow burn. It is a workplace romance with forced proximity. But wow by the end I was obsessed with Vero and Viktor.
This book features a villain. The end will have you on the edge of your seat. It is riveting and action packed. And so good! Overall if you are an Ali fan this is a must listen.
Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks and netgalley for allowing me to listen to this book.
This is an audio exclusive with duet narration. The audiobook is performed by Brittany Pressley and William Macleod.
This is listed as a novella. However it’s 60k words (7+ hours) and to me it felt like a full length novel.
This book is told from the female POV. The main character is Veronica/Vero. She is a graduate student who excels at book forgeries. She meets a rich British professor who wants her to work for him.
I love that Ali does duet narration for her female POV stories. Because it’s duet narration we get a lot of the male characters. The main male character is British professor Viktor Ashworth.
I really enjoyed the female audiobook reader (Brittany Pressley ). She is so snarky and sassy as Vero. So perfect for the role. And the male audiobook reader (William Macleod) is also really good. Together their banter is fun. I am so happy that this is duet narration.
This story is not what I expected. I love that Ali is writing all kinds of genres and stories. There is a mysterious aspect to Viktor Ashworth (the British professor). This becomes a big part of the story.
I went into this audiobook blind. It is listed as a dark academia romance. It is darkish. But it’s not super dark. He is a professor and she is a graduate student. However these professions are not really the main part of the story. The book focuses a lot on rare books and forgeries.
The romance aspect is slow burn. It is a workplace romance with forced proximity. But wow by the end I was obsessed with Vero and Viktor.
This book features a villain. The end will have you on the edge of your seat. It is riveting and action packed. And so good! Overall if you are an Ali fan this is a must listen.
Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks and netgalley for allowing me to listen to this book.
October 25, 2025
Oh this was everything!!!
I fear I need a sequel IMMEDIATELY!!! This drew me in from the very start and I loved the mysterious elements throughout. I went in pretty blind and the synopsis really doesn't give anything away, which I LOVED. It made for the best reading experience and I was so shook!!!
I'm not giving anything away because I want everyone to have the same experience that I had, but this was utterly fantastic!!!
Thank you Spotify and Ali Hazelwood for this eALC in exchange for my honest review.
I fear I need a sequel IMMEDIATELY!!! This drew me in from the very start and I loved the mysterious elements throughout. I went in pretty blind and the synopsis really doesn't give anything away, which I LOVED. It made for the best reading experience and I was so shook!!!
I'm not giving anything away because I want everyone to have the same experience that I had, but this was utterly fantastic!!!
Thank you Spotify and Ali Hazelwood for this eALC in exchange for my honest review.
November 7, 2025
this was okey, I guess...
Conflicted with how i should review it since there isn't much to say. I went into it blind, just expecting some good time and ultimately it delivered, it was short and fun. The beginning was a little slow, but later this novella did surprise me and from that it got better. The ending and the whole relationship felt rushed, but since it's a novella it was predictable. Still had a lot of typical Ali Hazelwood humour that had me smiling and badass looking main character also didn't hurt.
just don't expect "dark academia" and you'll be fine
Very thanks Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
Conflicted with how i should review it since there isn't much to say. I went into it blind, just expecting some good time and ultimately it delivered, it was short and fun. The beginning was a little slow, but later this novella did surprise me and from that it got better. The ending and the whole relationship felt rushed, but since it's a novella it was predictable. Still had a lot of typical Ali Hazelwood humour that had me smiling and badass looking main character also didn't hurt.
just don't expect "dark academia" and you'll be fine
Very thanks Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
October 26, 2025
Now THIS is how you write a novella!! *chefs kiss*
Read
October 29, 2025call me a horse with blinders on but at this point ali could publish her tax documents and i would still find it charming and interesting because that’s just the kind of person i am.
anyways this was a veeeeery fun premise and a true slow burn (or as much as something can be a slow burn in a novella?). I don’t care for audio, generally, but I did actually find myself immersed by the halfway point and not having to rewind quite so much because i was distracted. possibly my favorite of her novellas this year??
anyways this was a veeeeery fun premise and a true slow burn (or as much as something can be a slow burn in a novella?). I don’t care for audio, generally, but I did actually find myself immersed by the halfway point and not having to rewind quite so much because i was distracted. possibly my favorite of her novellas this year??
November 12, 2025
4 because 4+4 = ATEEEE. Need a second serving of Viktor pls
November 11, 2025
This was so good!!! The dark academia vibes with a paranorm-ish twist were everything 🤌
November 8, 2025
*4.5
Desperately need to know Ali Hazelwood’s thoughts on A Discovery of Witches.
Without a doubt, this is my favorite Ali Hazelwood novella. It was so beyond perfect and I never wanted it to end.
I will say that I had a little bit of a hard time getting into it. The first 20% had me fearing that I wasn’t going to like the rest of the novella and I contemplated quitting it right there. But I’m so glad I stuck it out because what followed was one of the most romantic books I’ve ever read. I was quite literally going feral over the angst, the suspenseful moments, and the supernatural elements of it all. I would really love to see more books set in this world.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ALC.
Desperately need to know Ali Hazelwood’s thoughts on A Discovery of Witches.
Without a doubt, this is my favorite Ali Hazelwood novella. It was so beyond perfect and I never wanted it to end.
I will say that I had a little bit of a hard time getting into it. The first 20% had me fearing that I wasn’t going to like the rest of the novella and I contemplated quitting it right there. But I’m so glad I stuck it out because what followed was one of the most romantic books I’ve ever read. I was quite literally going feral over the angst, the suspenseful moments, and the supernatural elements of it all. I would really love to see more books set in this world.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ALC.
November 12, 2025
ALI HAZELWOOD MAY YOUR REIGN AS THE QUEEN OF ROMANCE NEVER END
Seriously though, this was great! One of my favorites from Ali thus far (I know I say that about every book of hers but I really mean it this time). Vincent is one of my favorite MMCs from Ali, and Vero is probably my favorite FMC (like what a badass queen I literally love her??). And the plot twists??? So good. Holy shit. If Bride and Mate are sisters, Bound is definitely their weird but brilliant cousin. I loved this.
Pre-Reading Updates:
WHEN DOES SHE SLEEP. OMG ALIIIII.
Seriously though, this was great! One of my favorites from Ali thus far (I know I say that about every book of hers but I really mean it this time). Vincent is one of my favorite MMCs from Ali, and Vero is probably my favorite FMC (like what a badass queen I literally love her??). And the plot twists??? So good. Holy shit. If Bride and Mate are sisters, Bound is definitely their weird but brilliant cousin. I loved this.
Pre-Reading Updates:
WHEN DOES SHE SLEEP. OMG ALIIIII.
November 10, 2025
This is a bit of a departure from Ms. Hazelwood’s usual STEM girlies doing STEM shit. But do not fear, this time our girl is in her art history doctorate era and it slaps equally hard. You can take the girl out of hyper competent academic superstar but you can’t take the hyper competent academic superstar out of the girl, or something to that effect. The romance portion of this book doesn’t truly start until about halfway through the book, but it’s for good reason considering our dude’s shall we say, background. And it’s like Ms. Ali just always knows what a story really needs. Meanwhile there’s a lot of plot happening, what with felonies and forgeries of rare books and ancient villains and all.
Vero was raised by con artist parents, and is somewhat morally flexible herself. But she generally uses her powers for good, and keeps her scamming restricted to wealthy assholes. She’s pierced and edgy and a rule breaker. Professor Viktor Ashworth on the other hand, is principled and punctual and buttoned up, and needs her skills for a thing, so what can one do except some light kidnapping and extortion. But it’s all good because he has Reasons. And thus begins the acquaintance of these two opposites, which gradually progresses to a sweet, somewhat old fashioned romance. Victor too, is old fashioned after all. I loved the lil nods to media like Twilight and The Good Place, and of course the simp that is Victor for Veronica. Ali has previously written two different kinds of vampires and now this vampire adjacent species, and every single iteration has been delightful. The lore and world is so well wrought I want to know all the things about this world and would do anything for a full length book.
The duet narration is incredible, and both the male and female narrators do an amazing job with the plethora of accents, since both Vero and Viktor surround themselves with quite the eclectic cast of characters.
*I received an arc from the publisher, and voluntarily chose to read and provide a review. All opinions are my own*
Vero was raised by con artist parents, and is somewhat morally flexible herself. But she generally uses her powers for good, and keeps her scamming restricted to wealthy assholes. She’s pierced and edgy and a rule breaker. Professor Viktor Ashworth on the other hand, is principled and punctual and buttoned up, and needs her skills for a thing, so what can one do except some light kidnapping and extortion. But it’s all good because he has Reasons. And thus begins the acquaintance of these two opposites, which gradually progresses to a sweet, somewhat old fashioned romance. Victor too, is old fashioned after all. I loved the lil nods to media like Twilight and The Good Place, and of course the simp that is Victor for Veronica. Ali has previously written two different kinds of vampires and now this vampire adjacent species, and every single iteration has been delightful. The lore and world is so well wrought I want to know all the things about this world and would do anything for a full length book.
The duet narration is incredible, and both the male and female narrators do an amazing job with the plethora of accents, since both Vero and Viktor surround themselves with quite the eclectic cast of characters.
*I received an arc from the publisher, and voluntarily chose to read and provide a review. All opinions are my own*
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