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Bonded Souls #2
Vameer: Bonded Souls, Book 2
Rune
Today is my thirtieth birthday. My parents mailed me a gift, like they always do, but I accidentally nick my thumb while opening the box.
A tiny drop of blood wells on my skin. And without thought, I press the tip of my thumb between my lips and close my eyes.
When I open them, I’m no longer in my apartment. I’m on the side of a mountain. Standing in the rain.
Convinced this isn’t real, I seek shelter in a cave. But I’m unable to stop myself from moving deeper into the cavern.
Where I find him. A man, lying inside a hidden chamber, sleeping atop an altar. My body is not my own as I walk closer. As I reach out to touch him. To see if he’s real.
But then a force stills my hand above his face. And my heart… stops beating. The muscle freezes inside my ribs.
While I panic, unable to move, I watch as a single drop of blood beads on my thumb. And falls. Landing perfectly between his parted lips.
He opens his eyes. My heart finally resumes beating. I stumble back, falling… And land on my apartment floor. It was a dream. A hallucination. Not real.
Except my clothes are wet. And I feel the weight of him inside my chest.
Vameer
I only meant to lie down for a little while. A few weeks to rest. Gods, I just needed to rest.
But instead of waking on my own, I’m woken by the unmistakable taste of my mate’s blood on my tongue.
We lock eyes. My solid black orbs to her human ones. But then she disappears.
When I follow her scent to the entrance of the cave, I find that the world has changed.
I don’t know where my mate went.
I don’t know how to find my brother.
But I know I must find both of them before my enemies do.
And I fear I may have slept longer than I meant to.
Today is my thirtieth birthday. My parents mailed me a gift, like they always do, but I accidentally nick my thumb while opening the box.
A tiny drop of blood wells on my skin. And without thought, I press the tip of my thumb between my lips and close my eyes.
When I open them, I’m no longer in my apartment. I’m on the side of a mountain. Standing in the rain.
Convinced this isn’t real, I seek shelter in a cave. But I’m unable to stop myself from moving deeper into the cavern.
Where I find him. A man, lying inside a hidden chamber, sleeping atop an altar. My body is not my own as I walk closer. As I reach out to touch him. To see if he’s real.
But then a force stills my hand above his face. And my heart… stops beating. The muscle freezes inside my ribs.
While I panic, unable to move, I watch as a single drop of blood beads on my thumb. And falls. Landing perfectly between his parted lips.
He opens his eyes. My heart finally resumes beating. I stumble back, falling… And land on my apartment floor. It was a dream. A hallucination. Not real.
Except my clothes are wet. And I feel the weight of him inside my chest.
Vameer
I only meant to lie down for a little while. A few weeks to rest. Gods, I just needed to rest.
But instead of waking on my own, I’m woken by the unmistakable taste of my mate’s blood on my tongue.
We lock eyes. My solid black orbs to her human ones. But then she disappears.
When I follow her scent to the entrance of the cave, I find that the world has changed.
I don’t know where my mate went.
I don’t know how to find my brother.
But I know I must find both of them before my enemies do.
And I fear I may have slept longer than I meant to.
Audible Audio
Published September 3, 2026
About the author
S.J. Tilly
36 books12.6k followersS.J. Tilly lives in Minnesota with her husband and their herd of boxers. She spends an unhealthy amount of time with her face buried in books, reading and writing. If she’s not nose deep in text, or harassing her dogs, she’s probably playing with her plants, pretending she knows how to garden.
You can find her stumbling around on Instagram @sjtillyauthor
https://www.amazon.com/S.J.-Tilly/e/B...
You can find her stumbling around on Instagram @sjtillyauthor
https://www.amazon.com/S.J.-Tilly/e/B...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 759 reviews
September 3, 2026
3.5 ⭐️🎧
Vameer woke up after a 103-year nap, discovered the internet, found his mate, acquired several terrifyingly hot friends and eventually remembered that a man called the Bearer of War should probably have a war to bear. And somehow, against all odds, this worked on me.
I enjoyed Vameer noticeably more than the first book. The world felt bigger, the characters were more entertaining and the supernatural elements finally started feeling like something I was experiencing rather than something I was sitting through orientation for. Was I fully invested? Not quite. Did I have a good time? Absolutely.
What worked for me
(aka: Vameer woke up, found his mate and accidentally built the supernatural Avengers)
Warrior outside, purring vampire inside
For someone with a terrifying reputation and enough power to make grown men reconsider their life choices, Vameer was unexpectedly funny, observant and adaptable. Watching this centuries-old warrior wake up 103 years late and speedrun modern society was genuinely entertaining. Phones, the internet, slang, human friendships - the Bearer of War was adapting beautifully.
But it was the contrast between Vameer the feared warrior and Vameer the completely besotted mate that really got me. Rune gets the purring, protective vampire whose entire operating system malfunctions in her presence; everyone else gets the nightmare who will drop from the sky and choose violence without hesitation.
And I loved that his devotion wasn't only possessive. There was plenty of "mine" but the sentiment that landed hardest for me was essentially: I am yours. That distinction matters. His my-mate syndrome was severe but underneath all the supernatural biology was a man offering himself just as completely as he wanted her.
His character arc outside the romance also quietly became one of my favourite things about the book. Vameer begins isolated and distrustful, literally hiding a sentimental friendship bracelet beneath his power and ends surrounded by his mate, his brother and an increasingly unhinged collection of supernatural friends. Watching this ancient menace discover friendship, loyalty and found family was unexpectedly adorable.
The supernatural orientation finally became a field trip
This was my biggest improvement from book 1..
I was fascinated by the wider supernatural world in Volik but too much of it felt like information being handed to me: druids exist, portals exist, shifters exist, various magical rules exist. Here, we finally get to watch that world in action.
Portals open. Druids use magic. Wolves shift. Different abilities interact. Supernatural factions collide. Rules are revealed because characters are actively breaking, testing or weaponising them rather than because somebody has decided it's time for another lore presentation.
Once Dread, Orion and the wider supernatural crew became properly involved, I was having a blast. The expanding cast brought some of my favourite dynamics in the entire book, especially the increasingly ridiculous band-of-brothers energy. Apparently the requirements for joining this alliance are supernatural violence, questionable judgement and the ability to tolerate partial nudity.
The short outside POVs also worked surprisingly well for me. I'm usually wary when interconnected series start throwing cameos around like confetti but here they made the world feel like it was moving beyond Rune and Vameer. They teased other corners of the supernatural community, created little mysteries and kept handing the narrative baton forward without turning into a textbook.
And Dread? Unfortunately for me, that man exists. Controlled, dry, absurdly powerful, mysterious forbidden magic and permanently exhausted by everyone else's nonsense? I've seen enough. Give him a mate and destroy his carefully maintained peace immediately.
Where it lost me
(aka: mate biology said happily ever after while the plot was still looking for its shoes)
The middle needed more momentum
My biggest issue wasn't that nothing happened. It was that the book took a very long time to develop sustained narrative tension.
The initial search worked for me because there was a clear objective and I enjoyed the strange connection between Rune and Vameer slowly pulling them toward each other. It took its sweet time getting them into the same room, but there was still forward movement.
The bigger problem came afterward.
Once Rune and Vameer finally connect, mate biology basically speedruns the relationship. Attraction? Sorted. Belonging? Sorted. Devotion? Severe. Physical chemistry? Extremely sorted. Acceptance of all the supernatural insanity? Surprisingly chill.
And because there wasn't enough external pressure running alongside that certainty, the story started coasting.
I don't need manufactured relationship drama, especially in a fated-mates romance. Please keep the third-act breakup far away from me. But I do need something pulling the narrative forward. A mystery. A threat. A deadline. A conflict. A reason I need to keep reading beyond simply enjoying these two being obsessed with each other.
It took roughly 70% before I felt the larger story truly hit the accelerator. Once it did, the difference was immediate. Suddenly the magic mattered. The wider supernatural world mattered. Vameer's reputation mattered. New characters weren't merely lore - they had roles to play. Separate threads finally started colliding.
Basically, the book didn't need nonstop action. It needed forward pressure much earlier.
The bond convinced them before the romance completely convinced me
This was the other thing keeping me from rating higher.
I believed Rune and Vameer's mate bond. I believed their attraction. I absolutely believed their devotion. By the end, I had zero doubt these two would walk directly into death for each other and probably complain that death was cutting into their cuddle schedule.
What I didn't always feel as strongly was the personal intimacy underneath all that biological certainty.
Their bond gives them so much so quickly that some of the actual getting-to-know-you stage comes surprisingly late. I wanted more time discovering why Rune loves Vameer, not simply why her entire supernatural nervous system has selected this particular enormous horned vampire. Likewise, I wanted more of them building a relationship alongside the bond rather than the bond doing so much of the emotional heavy lifting.
That's the strange contradiction at the centre of my reading experience: I believed they were completely in love but I wasn't always as emotionally invested in their love story as the book wanted me to be.
The book gave me certainty before it completely earned my investment.
The plot finally got CPR - and so did my attention
When the external stakes eventually arrive, the book becomes much closer to what I'd been waiting for.
The world opens up. The supernatural factions stop existing beside each other and start interacting. Magic becomes consequential. The action escalates. The found-family dynamics get better because there's finally an active objective underneath the banter.
And I had fun.
A lot of fun, actually.
But the late escalation couldn't completely erase how long I'd spent waiting for it. By that point, I also realised something slightly incriminating: some of my biggest excitement was being generated by the wider cast and the possibilities they represented. Every time another supernatural man appeared with mysterious powers and questionable emotional stability, suddenly I was seated again.
The world got bigger but my investment in the central romance didn't necessarily deepen with it.
Final thoughts
Vameer was a definite step up from Volik for me. It delivered more of the supernatural world I wanted from this series and more importantly, it finally let me experience that world rather than just hear about it. I liked Vameer, enjoyed Rune, loved his severe my-mate syndrome, laughed far more than I expected to and became increasingly attached to the chaotic supernatural found family forming around them.
The immersive narration and short chapters also made this ridiculously easy to fly through. But an easy read isn't necessarily a gripping one, and that's ultimately where the rating lands. I enjoyed the journey; I just needed the larger story to arrive sooner and the central romance to give me a little more emotional depth beyond the certainty of the mate bond.
Ironically, Vameer may have sold me harder on the expanding series than it did on its own central romance. By the end, I was looking at Orion, Dread and every suspicious supernatural man wandering through a portal like I was collecting future problems.
Final verdict
3.5 ⭐️ - It took its sweet time becoming something much bigger, weirder and more entertaining.
Why swipe right when one paper cut can summon a vampire and several future book boyfriends?
Tinder could never (ever).
Tropes and Vibes:
• Fated mates with absolutely no chill
• Ancient vampire x human heroine
• "I am yours" supremacy
• Severe my-mate syndrome
• Protective and possessive MMC
• Touch-her-and-die, but make it supernatural
• Shared heartbeats and mate-bond weirdness
• Portals, druids, shifters and expanding magical lore
• Brothers reunited / Found family
• External-threat / alliance-building energy
• Short chapters and bingeable audio
• Future-MMC bait scattered everywhere
• Hot supernatural man coalition
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
She licked a paper cut and accidentally summoned her ancient fated mate.
Tinder could never.
Why swipe right when you can summon? 🤔✨️🎧
Vameer woke up after a 103-year nap, discovered the internet, found his mate, acquired several terrifyingly hot friends and eventually remembered that a man called the Bearer of War should probably have a war to bear. And somehow, against all odds, this worked on me.
I enjoyed Vameer noticeably more than the first book. The world felt bigger, the characters were more entertaining and the supernatural elements finally started feeling like something I was experiencing rather than something I was sitting through orientation for. Was I fully invested? Not quite. Did I have a good time? Absolutely.
What worked for me
(aka: Vameer woke up, found his mate and accidentally built the supernatural Avengers)
Warrior outside, purring vampire inside
For someone with a terrifying reputation and enough power to make grown men reconsider their life choices, Vameer was unexpectedly funny, observant and adaptable. Watching this centuries-old warrior wake up 103 years late and speedrun modern society was genuinely entertaining. Phones, the internet, slang, human friendships - the Bearer of War was adapting beautifully.
But it was the contrast between Vameer the feared warrior and Vameer the completely besotted mate that really got me. Rune gets the purring, protective vampire whose entire operating system malfunctions in her presence; everyone else gets the nightmare who will drop from the sky and choose violence without hesitation.
And I loved that his devotion wasn't only possessive. There was plenty of "mine" but the sentiment that landed hardest for me was essentially: I am yours. That distinction matters. His my-mate syndrome was severe but underneath all the supernatural biology was a man offering himself just as completely as he wanted her.
His character arc outside the romance also quietly became one of my favourite things about the book. Vameer begins isolated and distrustful, literally hiding a sentimental friendship bracelet beneath his power and ends surrounded by his mate, his brother and an increasingly unhinged collection of supernatural friends. Watching this ancient menace discover friendship, loyalty and found family was unexpectedly adorable.
The supernatural orientation finally became a field trip
This was my biggest improvement from book 1..
I was fascinated by the wider supernatural world in Volik but too much of it felt like information being handed to me: druids exist, portals exist, shifters exist, various magical rules exist. Here, we finally get to watch that world in action.
Portals open. Druids use magic. Wolves shift. Different abilities interact. Supernatural factions collide. Rules are revealed because characters are actively breaking, testing or weaponising them rather than because somebody has decided it's time for another lore presentation.
Once Dread, Orion and the wider supernatural crew became properly involved, I was having a blast. The expanding cast brought some of my favourite dynamics in the entire book, especially the increasingly ridiculous band-of-brothers energy. Apparently the requirements for joining this alliance are supernatural violence, questionable judgement and the ability to tolerate partial nudity.
The short outside POVs also worked surprisingly well for me. I'm usually wary when interconnected series start throwing cameos around like confetti but here they made the world feel like it was moving beyond Rune and Vameer. They teased other corners of the supernatural community, created little mysteries and kept handing the narrative baton forward without turning into a textbook.
And Dread? Unfortunately for me, that man exists. Controlled, dry, absurdly powerful, mysterious forbidden magic and permanently exhausted by everyone else's nonsense? I've seen enough. Give him a mate and destroy his carefully maintained peace immediately.
Where it lost me
(aka: mate biology said happily ever after while the plot was still looking for its shoes)
The middle needed more momentum
My biggest issue wasn't that nothing happened. It was that the book took a very long time to develop sustained narrative tension.
The initial search worked for me because there was a clear objective and I enjoyed the strange connection between Rune and Vameer slowly pulling them toward each other. It took its sweet time getting them into the same room, but there was still forward movement.
The bigger problem came afterward.
Once Rune and Vameer finally connect, mate biology basically speedruns the relationship. Attraction? Sorted. Belonging? Sorted. Devotion? Severe. Physical chemistry? Extremely sorted. Acceptance of all the supernatural insanity? Surprisingly chill.
And because there wasn't enough external pressure running alongside that certainty, the story started coasting.
I don't need manufactured relationship drama, especially in a fated-mates romance. Please keep the third-act breakup far away from me. But I do need something pulling the narrative forward. A mystery. A threat. A deadline. A conflict. A reason I need to keep reading beyond simply enjoying these two being obsessed with each other.
It took roughly 70% before I felt the larger story truly hit the accelerator. Once it did, the difference was immediate. Suddenly the magic mattered. The wider supernatural world mattered. Vameer's reputation mattered. New characters weren't merely lore - they had roles to play. Separate threads finally started colliding.
Basically, the book didn't need nonstop action. It needed forward pressure much earlier.
The bond convinced them before the romance completely convinced me
This was the other thing keeping me from rating higher.
I believed Rune and Vameer's mate bond. I believed their attraction. I absolutely believed their devotion. By the end, I had zero doubt these two would walk directly into death for each other and probably complain that death was cutting into their cuddle schedule.
What I didn't always feel as strongly was the personal intimacy underneath all that biological certainty.
Their bond gives them so much so quickly that some of the actual getting-to-know-you stage comes surprisingly late. I wanted more time discovering why Rune loves Vameer, not simply why her entire supernatural nervous system has selected this particular enormous horned vampire. Likewise, I wanted more of them building a relationship alongside the bond rather than the bond doing so much of the emotional heavy lifting.
That's the strange contradiction at the centre of my reading experience: I believed they were completely in love but I wasn't always as emotionally invested in their love story as the book wanted me to be.
The book gave me certainty before it completely earned my investment.
The plot finally got CPR - and so did my attention
When the external stakes eventually arrive, the book becomes much closer to what I'd been waiting for.
The world opens up. The supernatural factions stop existing beside each other and start interacting. Magic becomes consequential. The action escalates. The found-family dynamics get better because there's finally an active objective underneath the banter.
And I had fun.
A lot of fun, actually.
But the late escalation couldn't completely erase how long I'd spent waiting for it. By that point, I also realised something slightly incriminating: some of my biggest excitement was being generated by the wider cast and the possibilities they represented. Every time another supernatural man appeared with mysterious powers and questionable emotional stability, suddenly I was seated again.
The world got bigger but my investment in the central romance didn't necessarily deepen with it.
Final thoughts
Vameer was a definite step up from Volik for me. It delivered more of the supernatural world I wanted from this series and more importantly, it finally let me experience that world rather than just hear about it. I liked Vameer, enjoyed Rune, loved his severe my-mate syndrome, laughed far more than I expected to and became increasingly attached to the chaotic supernatural found family forming around them.
The immersive narration and short chapters also made this ridiculously easy to fly through. But an easy read isn't necessarily a gripping one, and that's ultimately where the rating lands. I enjoyed the journey; I just needed the larger story to arrive sooner and the central romance to give me a little more emotional depth beyond the certainty of the mate bond.
Ironically, Vameer may have sold me harder on the expanding series than it did on its own central romance. By the end, I was looking at Orion, Dread and every suspicious supernatural man wandering through a portal like I was collecting future problems.
Final verdict
3.5 ⭐️ - It took its sweet time becoming something much bigger, weirder and more entertaining.
Why swipe right when one paper cut can summon a vampire and several future book boyfriends?
Tinder could never (ever).
Tropes and Vibes:
• Fated mates with absolutely no chill
• Ancient vampire x human heroine
• "I am yours" supremacy
• Severe my-mate syndrome
• Protective and possessive MMC
• Touch-her-and-die, but make it supernatural
• Shared heartbeats and mate-bond weirdness
• Portals, druids, shifters and expanding magical lore
• Brothers reunited / Found family
• External-threat / alliance-building energy
• Short chapters and bingeable audio
• Future-MMC bait scattered everywhere
• Hot supernatural man coalition
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
She licked a paper cut and accidentally summoned her ancient fated mate.
Tinder could never.
Why swipe right when you can summon? 🤔✨️🎧
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Rune Destin has always been a free spirit, but she’s never quite felt tethered to anything. Then, on her 30th birthday, a very unexpected encounter with Vameer Vadas sets her on a path toward the life she was apparently always meant to live.
I’m a sucker for instalove and fated mates, and these two were perfection. I loved how calm and easygoing they were about finding each other, almost as if they’d both just been patiently waiting for the universe to get its shit together.
Rune especially rolled with everything like it was the most normal thing in the world. Alts may be known to exist, but they’re still rare, and she was basically “Well, okay then!” about every revelation. Girl, I would have needed a minute.
I also really love all the cameos and different POVs throughout this series. They add such an interesting dimension to the overall story and make the world feel so much bigger. This one brought plenty of action, some new faces, and at least one new character who has me very intrigued.
Yes, Orion. I’m looking at you.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Action, Dark-ish, Paranormal/Fantasy, New Adult
Ending: 💕 {HFN}
Length: 📚📚📚📚📚
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual • Multiple | Present}
Emotions: 😱🫠🥹🤯🥰
Darkness: 🖤
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥1/2
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
✨ Tropes: Age Gap (30/298), Billionaire, Family Saga, Fated Mate, Found Family, Heroine in Danger
💫 Microtropes: Caretaker/Protective MMC, Curvy Woman, Size Difference, Virgin FMC, “We’ll Make It Fit”
🔆 Character: Non-Human (Vampire)
💋 Kinks: Finger Licking Good
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Unhinged MMC
⛔️ Safety Squad: There are potentially triggering elements. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: Upstate New York, 🇺🇸
📣 Type: Vameer is part of the Bonded Souls series. The couple gets their HEA/HFN, but the overarching storyline carries across the series. As such, this series will be best enjoyed when read in order.
⚠️ Warning: This sweet and steamy read will leave your panties damp and your cheeks flushed.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
I’m a sucker for instalove and fated mates, and these two were perfection. I loved how calm and easygoing they were about finding each other, almost as if they’d both just been patiently waiting for the universe to get its shit together.
Rune especially rolled with everything like it was the most normal thing in the world. Alts may be known to exist, but they’re still rare, and she was basically “Well, okay then!” about every revelation. Girl, I would have needed a minute.
I also really love all the cameos and different POVs throughout this series. They add such an interesting dimension to the overall story and make the world feel so much bigger. This one brought plenty of action, some new faces, and at least one new character who has me very intrigued.
Yes, Orion. I’m looking at you.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Action, Dark-ish, Paranormal/Fantasy, New Adult
Ending: 💕 {HFN}
Length: 📚📚📚📚📚
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual • Multiple | Present}
Emotions: 😱🫠🥹🤯🥰
Darkness: 🖤
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥1/2
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
✨ Tropes: Age Gap (30/298), Billionaire, Family Saga, Fated Mate, Found Family, Heroine in Danger
💫 Microtropes: Caretaker/Protective MMC, Curvy Woman, Size Difference, Virgin FMC, “We’ll Make It Fit”
🔆 Character: Non-Human (Vampire)
💋 Kinks: Finger Licking Good
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Unhinged MMC
⛔️ Safety Squad: There are potentially triggering elements. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: Upstate New York, 🇺🇸
📣 Type: Vameer is part of the Bonded Souls series. The couple gets their HEA/HFN, but the overarching storyline carries across the series. As such, this series will be best enjoyed when read in order.
⚠️ Warning: This sweet and steamy read will leave your panties damp and your cheeks flushed.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
September 4, 2026
When an Ancient Vampire Wakes Up for His Mate
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💚🖤
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋😉😎😮😍
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Full Cast Duet Narration
Characters and Plot Summary
Vameer is the second book in S.J. Tilly’s Bonded Souls series, and after getting a glimpse of Volik’s story, I was very curious about his mysterious older brother. Vameer is one of the oldest and most powerful vampires alive, but instead of dealing with the modern world, he has spent the last 103 years asleep in a cave in Patagonia. He originally intended to rest for only a few weeks, so waking up to discover that more than a century has passed is quite a shock.
His awakening is caused by Rune, who is magically transported into his cave on her thirtieth birthday after accidentally cutting her thumb. A single drop of her blood lands on Vameer’s lips, awakening him and revealing that she is his mate. The catch is that Rune disappears almost immediately, leaving Vameer with no idea where she went. I loved how their bond begins affecting both of them before they even properly meet. They experience the pull toward one another, see each other through glass and mirrors, and are drawn toward actions that will eventually bring them together.
Vameer is particularly fun because he is essentially a warrior from another era dropped into the twenty-first century. Vampires have publicly revealed themselves to humans, shifters have recently done the same, and Vameer suddenly has to understand electricity, computers, cell phones, and the internet. His friendship with the Irish men who run the nearby bar was one of my favorite parts because they help him navigate the modern world while he casually pays them with ancient gold coins that are now worth a fortune.
Highlights and Limitations
For me, Vameer himself was the biggest highlight. He is immensely powerful, fiercely protective, and unapologetically violent when someone threatens his mate, but I appreciated that he isn’t needlessly cruel. His warrior mentality comes from centuries of fighting, and there is something incredibly satisfying about watching all that power turn toward protecting Rune.
I also really enjoyed the humor created by Vameer’s culture shock. Seeing this ancient vampire trying to understand modern technology could have become a gimmick, but it actually adds personality to him. He learns remarkably quickly, and watching his friends introduce him to things that we take completely for granted was genuinely entertaining.
The reunion between Vameer and Volik also stood out to me. Considering how long Volik has been searching for his missing brother, their meeting carries genuine emotional weight. I liked that their relationship isn’t reduced to simply being two powerful vampires. There is history and affection underneath all the teasing and larger-than-life personalities.
The one thing I wanted more of was information about Vameer’s enemies. The story establishes that he has dangerous enemies and that the government may be violating the treaty between humans and vampires, but I found myself wanting a clearer picture of exactly who was behind it and why. Given Vameer’s history, I think more detail about his past conflicts would have made the threat feel even more personal.
Narration
The narration is a strong part of this audiobook. Samantha Brentmoor, Walker Williams, Chloe Ryan, and Sean Masters give the different perspectives enough distinction that I never felt lost when the story moved between characters. Samantha Brentmoor and Walker Williams especially work well for the central romance, giving Rune and Vameer different emotional textures while maintaining the intensity of their connection.
I also appreciated the way the narration handles the contrast between Vameer’s intimidating warrior persona and his sometimes amusing confusion with modern life. Those moments could easily lose their humor in a flatter performance, but the narration gives them personality.
At nearly twelve hours, the audiobook also gives the characters enough room to develop rather than feeling like a rushed paranormal romance. The multiple narrators add variety without making the production feel disjointed.
Final Thoughts
I had a great time with Vameer. What surprised me most was how much I enjoyed the fish-out-of-water aspect of an ancient vampire discovering a world that has changed almost beyond recognition. Vameer’s reactions to technology, his friendship with the Irish bar owners, and his emotional reunion with Volik gave the story more personality than I expected.
The romance between Vameer and Rune delivers the intense fated-mate connection I was hoping for, with plenty of attraction, possessiveness, and supernatural bonding. I particularly liked that their connection begins before their actual relationship does, making the pull between them feel almost impossible to escape.
I do wish the story had given us more detail about Vameer’s enemies and the government conspiracy, but that didn’t stop me from being invested. Vameer is powerful, protective, occasionally hilarious, and completely out of his time, which made him a fascinating hero to follow.
For fans of paranormal romance who enjoy powerful vampires, fated mates, possessive heroes, unusual supernatural lore, and plenty of heat, I think Vameer is a very entertaining addition to the Bonded Souls series. Like I said in my review of Volik, I hope a future book is about Dread the Druid. He has been a big part of this world so far. I would also love a book on the cursed man. Though it looks like the next will be Orion and Abigail (the alpha wolf and the baker), I will take it. I really like this world and the fact there is a good mix of action, romance and intimacy.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💚🖤
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋😉😎😮😍
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Full Cast Duet Narration
Characters and Plot Summary
Vameer is the second book in S.J. Tilly’s Bonded Souls series, and after getting a glimpse of Volik’s story, I was very curious about his mysterious older brother. Vameer is one of the oldest and most powerful vampires alive, but instead of dealing with the modern world, he has spent the last 103 years asleep in a cave in Patagonia. He originally intended to rest for only a few weeks, so waking up to discover that more than a century has passed is quite a shock.
His awakening is caused by Rune, who is magically transported into his cave on her thirtieth birthday after accidentally cutting her thumb. A single drop of her blood lands on Vameer’s lips, awakening him and revealing that she is his mate. The catch is that Rune disappears almost immediately, leaving Vameer with no idea where she went. I loved how their bond begins affecting both of them before they even properly meet. They experience the pull toward one another, see each other through glass and mirrors, and are drawn toward actions that will eventually bring them together.
Vameer is particularly fun because he is essentially a warrior from another era dropped into the twenty-first century. Vampires have publicly revealed themselves to humans, shifters have recently done the same, and Vameer suddenly has to understand electricity, computers, cell phones, and the internet. His friendship with the Irish men who run the nearby bar was one of my favorite parts because they help him navigate the modern world while he casually pays them with ancient gold coins that are now worth a fortune.
Highlights and Limitations
For me, Vameer himself was the biggest highlight. He is immensely powerful, fiercely protective, and unapologetically violent when someone threatens his mate, but I appreciated that he isn’t needlessly cruel. His warrior mentality comes from centuries of fighting, and there is something incredibly satisfying about watching all that power turn toward protecting Rune.
I also really enjoyed the humor created by Vameer’s culture shock. Seeing this ancient vampire trying to understand modern technology could have become a gimmick, but it actually adds personality to him. He learns remarkably quickly, and watching his friends introduce him to things that we take completely for granted was genuinely entertaining.
The reunion between Vameer and Volik also stood out to me. Considering how long Volik has been searching for his missing brother, their meeting carries genuine emotional weight. I liked that their relationship isn’t reduced to simply being two powerful vampires. There is history and affection underneath all the teasing and larger-than-life personalities.
The one thing I wanted more of was information about Vameer’s enemies. The story establishes that he has dangerous enemies and that the government may be violating the treaty between humans and vampires, but I found myself wanting a clearer picture of exactly who was behind it and why. Given Vameer’s history, I think more detail about his past conflicts would have made the threat feel even more personal.
Narration
The narration is a strong part of this audiobook. Samantha Brentmoor, Walker Williams, Chloe Ryan, and Sean Masters give the different perspectives enough distinction that I never felt lost when the story moved between characters. Samantha Brentmoor and Walker Williams especially work well for the central romance, giving Rune and Vameer different emotional textures while maintaining the intensity of their connection.
I also appreciated the way the narration handles the contrast between Vameer’s intimidating warrior persona and his sometimes amusing confusion with modern life. Those moments could easily lose their humor in a flatter performance, but the narration gives them personality.
At nearly twelve hours, the audiobook also gives the characters enough room to develop rather than feeling like a rushed paranormal romance. The multiple narrators add variety without making the production feel disjointed.
Final Thoughts
I had a great time with Vameer. What surprised me most was how much I enjoyed the fish-out-of-water aspect of an ancient vampire discovering a world that has changed almost beyond recognition. Vameer’s reactions to technology, his friendship with the Irish bar owners, and his emotional reunion with Volik gave the story more personality than I expected.
The romance between Vameer and Rune delivers the intense fated-mate connection I was hoping for, with plenty of attraction, possessiveness, and supernatural bonding. I particularly liked that their connection begins before their actual relationship does, making the pull between them feel almost impossible to escape.
I do wish the story had given us more detail about Vameer’s enemies and the government conspiracy, but that didn’t stop me from being invested. Vameer is powerful, protective, occasionally hilarious, and completely out of his time, which made him a fascinating hero to follow.
For fans of paranormal romance who enjoy powerful vampires, fated mates, possessive heroes, unusual supernatural lore, and plenty of heat, I think Vameer is a very entertaining addition to the Bonded Souls series. Like I said in my review of Volik, I hope a future book is about Dread the Druid. He has been a big part of this world so far. I would also love a book on the cursed man. Though it looks like the next will be Orion and Abigail (the alpha wolf and the baker), I will take it. I really like this world and the fact there is a good mix of action, romance and intimacy.
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September 18, 2026
Can I say i loved Vam more then the last book he was more entertaining to me lol. I love the world Sj build and the friendship that came along.
Thats what sold me!! As a couple these two were just perfect for one another Vam was possessive but also 💦💦💦 the way he treated Rune was everything!
But I did struggle near the middle. But that was a me thing.
The brotherhood between Vam and Volik ❤️❤️❤️ brothers. Enough said lol.
No ow/om drama, slight secondary character, Drama, sexy times, virgin gal no manwhore
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slowinsta
Prologue
Age gap
Vampirexhuman
No condom
Violence
Praise kink
Size kink
Hea
Epilogue
Thats what sold me!! As a couple these two were just perfect for one another Vam was possessive but also 💦💦💦 the way he treated Rune was everything!
But I did struggle near the middle. But that was a me thing.
The brotherhood between Vam and Volik ❤️❤️❤️ brothers. Enough said lol.
No ow/om drama, slight secondary character, Drama, sexy times, virgin gal no manwhore
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slowinsta
Prologue
Age gap
Vampirexhuman
No condom
Violence
Praise kink
Size kink
Hea
Epilogue
August 28, 2026
I think an SJ Tilly book could bring me back from the dead. Her writing is just so addictive and the pace is so perfect. I just love it.
Once again I was hooked from page one! This different spin on paranormal is super fun without feeling too overwhelming if you know what I mean? Like I’m learning a new world but it’s not so heavy that I can’t keep up - she calls it contemporary fated mates I think as opposed to straight up paranormal and that resonates.
Vameer decided to take nap, like a month max, and wakes up over a hundred years later starting into the eyes of his fated mate.. but then she disappears so he has to spend a bit of time finding her, and finding out more about this modern world he’s woken up in.
Rune is a woman who has constantly been on the go without ever really having a destination in mind… until her 30th birthday when she suddenly finds herself face to face with a giant vampire.
These two are super cute and of course very steamy, sue me but I love instalove ESPECIALLY when it’s fated mates so this was everything I ever wanted.
And then the found family vibes going on? I am so here for this merry band of Alts. ALSO, PART IV!? I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE!!
So so so excited for what comes next in this world!
Huge shout out to SJ Tilly and team for the opportunity to read Vameer early, yall are the greatest, thank you!
Once again I was hooked from page one! This different spin on paranormal is super fun without feeling too overwhelming if you know what I mean? Like I’m learning a new world but it’s not so heavy that I can’t keep up - she calls it contemporary fated mates I think as opposed to straight up paranormal and that resonates.
Vameer decided to take nap, like a month max, and wakes up over a hundred years later starting into the eyes of his fated mate.. but then she disappears so he has to spend a bit of time finding her, and finding out more about this modern world he’s woken up in.
Rune is a woman who has constantly been on the go without ever really having a destination in mind… until her 30th birthday when she suddenly finds herself face to face with a giant vampire.
These two are super cute and of course very steamy, sue me but I love instalove ESPECIALLY when it’s fated mates so this was everything I ever wanted.
And then the found family vibes going on? I am so here for this merry band of Alts. ALSO, PART IV!? I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE!!
So so so excited for what comes next in this world!
Huge shout out to SJ Tilly and team for the opportunity to read Vameer early, yall are the greatest, thank you!
September 11, 2026
There were two chapters written in this book from the point of view of a whale and a tiger shark.
Let that set the tone for this book. I don't want anyone going into it, thinking that it will be some profound, meaningful love story about a human and a vampire with an existential crisis. That's not what this book is about. Like, have you seen that cover? Be real.
It's a campy book. Take it with a grain of salt; fun OTT romance with fuck ton of smut.
With that said though, it got too repetitive for me. The sweetness. If you're wanting a safe read, then this it. It offers nothing but a safe romance. I just wanted more from it. The romance and the plot needed to be balanced for me to enjoy the whole story. As it is, it was very weak attempt at a compelling love story.
Let that set the tone for this book. I don't want anyone going into it, thinking that it will be some profound, meaningful love story about a human and a vampire with an existential crisis. That's not what this book is about. Like, have you seen that cover? Be real.
It's a campy book. Take it with a grain of salt; fun OTT romance with fuck ton of smut.
With that said though, it got too repetitive for me. The sweetness. If you're wanting a safe read, then this it. It offers nothing but a safe romance. I just wanted more from it. The romance and the plot needed to be balanced for me to enjoy the whole story. As it is, it was very weak attempt at a compelling love story.
September 7, 2026
↑ That pretty much sums up my attitude and the FMC’s.
I liked this book way more than Volik , but I can’t fully pinpoint why. It’s just as over the top and insta as the first, but I rolled my eyes about 80% less 🤷♀️.
This was like the book equivalent of a (good) big-budget popcorn movie. I didn’t think much, but it was a fun ride.
That said, I have three words for S.J. Tilly:
What. The. Hell.
I’d bet good money that our FMC Rune is the least traumatized character she’s written.
Actually, she may have the sunniest backstory in all of Romancelandia:
- She had a good childhood
- She has good parents, who are still alive
- And they’re actually still together and happy.
A functional family? In this economy‽
No heartbreak. No tragedy. No major struggles. Her emotional baggage would fit in a coin purse with room to spare.
I mean… will somebody check her paperwork? Who let this emotionally well-adjusted woman into a romance novel‽
───────⬥🧛♂️♥👩⬥───────
Bonded Souls series
⬥ 1 Volik ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.25)
⬥ 2 Vameer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)
⬥ 3 Orion (nyp)
⬥ 4 Dread (nyp)
⬥ 5 TBA (nyp)
───────⬥🧛♂️♥🧛♀️⬥───────
𝙱𝚕𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𖹭
September 20, 2026
DNF 60%. I’m so sad. I usually love SJ Tilly books and I loved the first book in this series. This one, however, is just cringy. The FMC appears almost brainless and Vameer is just a huge ‘scary’ vampire with no real personality. At 60%, there’s no depth to either of them.
It feels like the author turned up the dial on every aspect of this story and it resulted in a story that is almost unreadable for me. Too many chapters from inconsequential characters, the insta is too easy, the gravito business is annoying when the author uses it every other sentence, and the FMC calling him “honey” made my teeth grind.
Vameer 🧛 Rune
Vameer wakes up from a hundred year nap after Rune accidentally cuts herself, somehow visits him thru her bathroom mirror (?) and drops her blood in his mouth. He awakens and sets off across the globe to find her. She’s like “yay, my vampire!” And then they’re traveling around w a druid through magical portals for some reason that is not at all clear to me.
So, in short - cringy dialogue, disjointed meandering plot, and boring characters.
I absolutely adore SJ Tilly and I will read whatever comes next in this series, but this wasn’t for me. 😔
It feels like the author turned up the dial on every aspect of this story and it resulted in a story that is almost unreadable for me. Too many chapters from inconsequential characters, the insta is too easy, the gravito business is annoying when the author uses it every other sentence, and the FMC calling him “honey” made my teeth grind.
Vameer 🧛 Rune
Vameer wakes up from a hundred year nap after Rune accidentally cuts herself, somehow visits him thru her bathroom mirror (?) and drops her blood in his mouth. He awakens and sets off across the globe to find her. She’s like “yay, my vampire!” And then they’re traveling around w a druid through magical portals for some reason that is not at all clear to me.
So, in short - cringy dialogue, disjointed meandering plot, and boring characters.
I absolutely adore SJ Tilly and I will read whatever comes next in this series, but this wasn’t for me. 😔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2026
Brilliant just like the first
KU Read
450 ish Pages
Bonded Souls Book 2
Paranormal Romance
Vampire x Human
Fated Mates
Oversized MMC (8 ft Tall)
Curvy Virgin FMC
Age Gap (duh)
Touch her & D!£
Just like Book 1 I really enjoyed this story and the now established world that SJ Tilly has created. This series is now one of my fave and I am already looking forward to book 3 and the next pairing. After all who doesn't love a fierce curvy heroine with her obsessed 8ft powerful warrior mate who doesn't hesitate to slaughter anyone who puts her in danger? It's a sure recipe for swooning.
Vameer has awoken from 103 years of sleep to claim his mate and reunite with his brother Volik. But the human government is not happy with such a powerful being walking around unchecked and tries to capture him before word gets out about a new vampire existing and once again the alts (paranormal community) band together to protect their own.
KU Read
450 ish Pages
Bonded Souls Book 2
Paranormal Romance
Vampire x Human
Fated Mates
Oversized MMC (8 ft Tall)
Curvy Virgin FMC
Age Gap (duh)
Touch her & D!£
Just like Book 1 I really enjoyed this story and the now established world that SJ Tilly has created. This series is now one of my fave and I am already looking forward to book 3 and the next pairing. After all who doesn't love a fierce curvy heroine with her obsessed 8ft powerful warrior mate who doesn't hesitate to slaughter anyone who puts her in danger? It's a sure recipe for swooning.
Vameer has awoken from 103 years of sleep to claim his mate and reunite with his brother Volik. But the human government is not happy with such a powerful being walking around unchecked and tries to capture him before word gets out about a new vampire existing and once again the alts (paranormal community) band together to protect their own.
September 5, 2026
I received an E-Book of Vameer as an ARC reader
This book was… okay.
And sometimes okay is just okay. 😂
I didn’t dislike Vameer, and there were definitely some cute and funny moments. The ongoing wardrobe malfunction joke got me, I liked Vameer’s interactions with Rune, and their relationship had some genuinely sweet moments.
But something was missing.
The story felt pretty predictable, some moments crossed over into cringey territory for me, and I kept waiting for the plot to develop into something more than what I was getting.
The chapters were also SHORT. And listen, I normally love a short chapter because nothing makes me feel more productive than telling myself “just one more” seventeen times. But these almost felt too short. 😂
The POV/chapter distribution also felt a little strange. Some moments got their own chapters that didn’t really need them, while other parts felt like they could’ve used more time and development. There was quite a bit of filler that I don’t think added much to the actual story.
Overall?
I didn’t hate it. I had some fun with it. Vameer and Rune were cute.
But would I read it again?
Nah.
This book was… okay.
And sometimes okay is just okay. 😂
I didn’t dislike Vameer, and there were definitely some cute and funny moments. The ongoing wardrobe malfunction joke got me, I liked Vameer’s interactions with Rune, and their relationship had some genuinely sweet moments.
But something was missing.
The story felt pretty predictable, some moments crossed over into cringey territory for me, and I kept waiting for the plot to develop into something more than what I was getting.
The chapters were also SHORT. And listen, I normally love a short chapter because nothing makes me feel more productive than telling myself “just one more” seventeen times. But these almost felt too short. 😂
The POV/chapter distribution also felt a little strange. Some moments got their own chapters that didn’t really need them, while other parts felt like they could’ve used more time and development. There was quite a bit of filler that I don’t think added much to the actual story.
Overall?
I didn’t hate it. I had some fun with it. Vameer and Rune were cute.
But would I read it again?
Nah.
August 31, 2026
Vameer by S.J. Tilly
★★★★★/★★★★★
This book was INCREDIBLE. There is something so immersive about the way S.J. Tilly writes and I truly can’t even describe how much I adore it. I am so grateful that we get to read her books because my life would not be complete without them, truly.
Vameer is just the biggest cuddle bug and I adore him. I want a giant vampire mate to cuddle….please. He loves loud and proud and gods do I just eat it up. The details of the friendship bracelets…swoooon. I literally want to bottle him up and keep him forever.
RUNE!!! My GIRL. She is quite literally one of my favorite FMCs of all time. She is thrown into her new life and goes…well ok! And I live. for . that. Rune also sticking up to her giant vampire when he isn’t listening 😩. I am truly just in love with her.
Putting those two together? Their communication, chemistry, and connections??? off. the. charts. Equally possessive characters? Check. The laugh out loud moments of getting him up to date with the times? Check. A plot that just gets better every page? Check. I’m truly obsessed. I loved this book so much, you must go read it. It is now OFFICIALLY vampire summer.
S.J. Tilly is truly the author of my heart and soul. I devoured, DEVOURED, Vameer. The plot, the chemistry, the wit and humor…literal perfection.
I’m so so sorry Volik…I do in fact think I am picking the older brother 🤭 (He is also, still, very perfect)
Tropes: (all will make sense once you pick this delightful bad boy up 😏)
* Overprotective vampire
* Interfector Mali
* Plus size heroine
* Fated mates
* Swords and sea creatures
* Accidentally slept for 100 years
* In the alternate Tilly verse
I am so so so so so (is that too many so’s?) excited for the rest of The Bonded Souls series. I’m literally so excited. YOU are going to be so excited. Now, go re-read Volik, read Vameer, and come gush with me about how incredible this series is.
Thank you so much to S.J. and Kerissa. I adore you so much. Thank you for the arc and the privilege to read and gush about these incredible books. So much love to you all.
★★★★★/★★★★★
This book was INCREDIBLE. There is something so immersive about the way S.J. Tilly writes and I truly can’t even describe how much I adore it. I am so grateful that we get to read her books because my life would not be complete without them, truly.
Vameer is just the biggest cuddle bug and I adore him. I want a giant vampire mate to cuddle….please. He loves loud and proud and gods do I just eat it up. The details of the friendship bracelets…swoooon. I literally want to bottle him up and keep him forever.
RUNE!!! My GIRL. She is quite literally one of my favorite FMCs of all time. She is thrown into her new life and goes…well ok! And I live. for . that. Rune also sticking up to her giant vampire when he isn’t listening 😩. I am truly just in love with her.
Putting those two together? Their communication, chemistry, and connections??? off. the. charts. Equally possessive characters? Check. The laugh out loud moments of getting him up to date with the times? Check. A plot that just gets better every page? Check. I’m truly obsessed. I loved this book so much, you must go read it. It is now OFFICIALLY vampire summer.
S.J. Tilly is truly the author of my heart and soul. I devoured, DEVOURED, Vameer. The plot, the chemistry, the wit and humor…literal perfection.
I’m so so sorry Volik…I do in fact think I am picking the older brother 🤭 (He is also, still, very perfect)
Tropes: (all will make sense once you pick this delightful bad boy up 😏)
* Overprotective vampire
* Interfector Mali
* Plus size heroine
* Fated mates
* Swords and sea creatures
* Accidentally slept for 100 years
* In the alternate Tilly verse
I am so so so so so (is that too many so’s?) excited for the rest of The Bonded Souls series. I’m literally so excited. YOU are going to be so excited. Now, go re-read Volik, read Vameer, and come gush with me about how incredible this series is.
Thank you so much to S.J. and Kerissa. I adore you so much. Thank you for the arc and the privilege to read and gush about these incredible books. So much love to you all.
Read
August 30, 2026🩸🧛🏻♂️ VAMEER — S.J. TILLY 🧛🏻♂️🩸
Well… you all know I’m a sucker for a vampire. 😂
I am OG Buffy generation. Angel was my sweet boy, but let’s be honest… Spike. If you know, you know. 😏🩸
So when S.J. Tilly announced she was writing a vampire series, I was basically…
WHERE DO I SIGN? 🩸😂
I loved Volik, but his big brother Vameer?
Sweet baby Jesus in a basket… if I was religious. 😂🔥
SJ… WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!
We pick up where Volik left us, with Rune finding Vameer in that cave, and from there we’re thrown into the wonderfully chaotic reality of a centuries-old warrior waking up after accidentally sleeping for 103 YEARS.
And watching Vameer navigate this completely unfamiliar world was honestly one of my favourite parts.
The man wakes up to phones, the internet, modern life… and basically decides, Right. Where is my mate? 😂
Because once Vameer knows Rune exists, there is absolutely NO messing about.
This man is possessive, protective, bossy and completely feral for his woman… and I ate up every single second of it. 🫠🔥
But here’s the thing I wasn’t expecting…
Vameer is a giant softy!!!
A terrifying, centuries-old warrior marshmallow, obviously. 😂
Rune is everything I love in an S.J. Tilly FMC. Strong, independent, plus-size and absolutely not someone who needs rescuing. And the relationship between these two? MAGIC.
You can feel the yearning, the pull, the devotion and that fierce touch her and die energy from both of them.
And the spice?
CHEF’S KISS. 🫠🔥
Then we get the Vadas brothers together and OH MY GOD.
Their reunion was everything. The love is obvious, but so is the sibling instinct to immediately start winding each other up. 😂 Their banter had me laughing out loud, and after everything they’ve been through, seeing that brotherly bond was genuinely another favourite part.
And then there’s Dread.
Listen… I need answers.
I need his story.
I need to know EVERYTHING.
The Tillyverse is getting bigger, the friendships are growing, the secondary characters are becoming impossible not to obsess over, and I am HERE FOR IT.
This series just keeps getting better.
SJ, you absolute genius. 🖤
And now we need to discuss something VERY important…
I already know Samantha Brentmoor is going to be perfect as Rune, and after reading Vameer, my audiobook-girlie brain is already imagining what she and Walker Williams are going to sound like in my headphones.
THE AUDIO ISN’T EVEN OUT YET.
And I NEED IT.
Like…
Vameer needed his mate.
I need this audiobook.
September 3rd cannot come quickly enough. 🎧🩸🔥
Five stars from this vampire-loving, Buffy-raised, Spike-appreciating Novellaworm. 🩸🖤
Vameer has officially joined the vampire obsession.
And SJ… I’m already waiting for Dread. 👀
Well… you all know I’m a sucker for a vampire. 😂
I am OG Buffy generation. Angel was my sweet boy, but let’s be honest… Spike. If you know, you know. 😏🩸
So when S.J. Tilly announced she was writing a vampire series, I was basically…
WHERE DO I SIGN? 🩸😂
I loved Volik, but his big brother Vameer?
Sweet baby Jesus in a basket… if I was religious. 😂🔥
SJ… WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!
We pick up where Volik left us, with Rune finding Vameer in that cave, and from there we’re thrown into the wonderfully chaotic reality of a centuries-old warrior waking up after accidentally sleeping for 103 YEARS.
And watching Vameer navigate this completely unfamiliar world was honestly one of my favourite parts.
The man wakes up to phones, the internet, modern life… and basically decides, Right. Where is my mate? 😂
Because once Vameer knows Rune exists, there is absolutely NO messing about.
This man is possessive, protective, bossy and completely feral for his woman… and I ate up every single second of it. 🫠🔥
But here’s the thing I wasn’t expecting…
Vameer is a giant softy!!!
A terrifying, centuries-old warrior marshmallow, obviously. 😂
Rune is everything I love in an S.J. Tilly FMC. Strong, independent, plus-size and absolutely not someone who needs rescuing. And the relationship between these two? MAGIC.
You can feel the yearning, the pull, the devotion and that fierce touch her and die energy from both of them.
And the spice?
CHEF’S KISS. 🫠🔥
Then we get the Vadas brothers together and OH MY GOD.
Their reunion was everything. The love is obvious, but so is the sibling instinct to immediately start winding each other up. 😂 Their banter had me laughing out loud, and after everything they’ve been through, seeing that brotherly bond was genuinely another favourite part.
And then there’s Dread.
Listen… I need answers.
I need his story.
I need to know EVERYTHING.
The Tillyverse is getting bigger, the friendships are growing, the secondary characters are becoming impossible not to obsess over, and I am HERE FOR IT.
This series just keeps getting better.
SJ, you absolute genius. 🖤
And now we need to discuss something VERY important…
I already know Samantha Brentmoor is going to be perfect as Rune, and after reading Vameer, my audiobook-girlie brain is already imagining what she and Walker Williams are going to sound like in my headphones.
THE AUDIO ISN’T EVEN OUT YET.
And I NEED IT.
Like…
Vameer needed his mate.
I need this audiobook.
September 3rd cannot come quickly enough. 🎧🩸🔥
Five stars from this vampire-loving, Buffy-raised, Spike-appreciating Novellaworm. 🩸🖤
Vameer has officially joined the vampire obsession.
And SJ… I’m already waiting for Dread. 👀
September 6, 2026
VAMEER — 3.5 ⭐️
I was absolutely ecstatic when I saw that I was accepted to S.J. Tilly’s ARC Team for this book as she is an auto buy author for me. I loved Volik & knew I’d love his brother’s story too but it unfortunately felt a little dragging to me. There were tons of swoon worthy moments & Vameer’s love for his fated mate Rune was so adorable but it did feel lacking, like something was missing. My favorite thing about this book was seeing Volik & Vameer reunite after Vameer’s 100 year accidental hibernation. They made me so happy reading about them together & just Vameer’s sentimentality with everyone in his life was just so good. We got to see a lot more of the other supernatural beings in this alternate Tilly-verse & I cannot wait for the rest of the books in the series!!!
I was absolutely ecstatic when I saw that I was accepted to S.J. Tilly’s ARC Team for this book as she is an auto buy author for me. I loved Volik & knew I’d love his brother’s story too but it unfortunately felt a little dragging to me. There were tons of swoon worthy moments & Vameer’s love for his fated mate Rune was so adorable but it did feel lacking, like something was missing. My favorite thing about this book was seeing Volik & Vameer reunite after Vameer’s 100 year accidental hibernation. They made me so happy reading about them together & just Vameer’s sentimentality with everyone in his life was just so good. We got to see a lot more of the other supernatural beings in this alternate Tilly-verse & I cannot wait for the rest of the books in the series!!!
September 9, 2026
Too many POVs.
I love all things S.J. Tilly but I had a hard time keeping up and being interested in all of the lesser characters POVs.
I love all things S.J. Tilly but I had a hard time keeping up and being interested in all of the lesser characters POVs.
September 4, 2026
the first book was better , this one .. i didn't like much
i would've liked to keep Vameer ignorant about the modern world a little bit longer , but the worst of it all is that the next book is NOT about Dread.
i would've liked to keep Vameer ignorant about the modern world a little bit longer , but the worst of it all is that the next book is NOT about Dread.
September 3, 2026
Having read my very first read by this author back in June, I was definitely ready to explore more books, so when I spotted that the second Bonded Souls book was already heading our way, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and dive right in.
I loved reading the first book, Volik and hadn't fully put two and two together when he mentions his long lost brother, but here we find said brother as he wakes and this links the two books perfectly, flowing on from one another.
I'd say that this story would still read ok as a first read - but there's a lot more background in book 1 and the prelude to what is to come in this next book, so I'd still recommend reading the books in order - and hey, who doesn't love a good vampire read!?
I absolutely love a fated mates story and especially one where our MMC, Vameer, is awakened after what he thinks is a short rest, but actually, over a century has passed him by.
As he opens his eyes, he sees Rune and knows she's his mate, but when she disappears, his search begins.
Rune obviously thinks she's going crazy and that her strange trip to the cave is a fever dream, but as things begin to change, she finds herself navigating life with an obsessed vampire on her trail.
We do get a little backstory within this book and we see how the world has changed and that vampires are known to live among humans now.
Vameer befriends Jack who is a source of information and also knows that Volik has also found his mate in a human.
It was great to see the brothers reunited and to see the girls develop a relationship that helps Rune get to grips with her new life.
These character dynamics worked so well and the development of the relationship between Vameer and Rune was brilliant, their chemistry was so hot.
I enjoyed the other threads of the storyline and the extra danger that the enemies added - but this is also balanced out with the fun vibes that the pair had together.
Another great read and I can't wait to see how this series plays out next.
I loved reading the first book, Volik and hadn't fully put two and two together when he mentions his long lost brother, but here we find said brother as he wakes and this links the two books perfectly, flowing on from one another.
I'd say that this story would still read ok as a first read - but there's a lot more background in book 1 and the prelude to what is to come in this next book, so I'd still recommend reading the books in order - and hey, who doesn't love a good vampire read!?
I absolutely love a fated mates story and especially one where our MMC, Vameer, is awakened after what he thinks is a short rest, but actually, over a century has passed him by.
As he opens his eyes, he sees Rune and knows she's his mate, but when she disappears, his search begins.
Rune obviously thinks she's going crazy and that her strange trip to the cave is a fever dream, but as things begin to change, she finds herself navigating life with an obsessed vampire on her trail.
We do get a little backstory within this book and we see how the world has changed and that vampires are known to live among humans now.
Vameer befriends Jack who is a source of information and also knows that Volik has also found his mate in a human.
It was great to see the brothers reunited and to see the girls develop a relationship that helps Rune get to grips with her new life.
These character dynamics worked so well and the development of the relationship between Vameer and Rune was brilliant, their chemistry was so hot.
I enjoyed the other threads of the storyline and the extra danger that the enemies added - but this is also balanced out with the fun vibes that the pair had together.
Another great read and I can't wait to see how this series plays out next.
September 3, 2026
✨️Thanks to @sjtillyauthor and @thesmuthood for the ARC.
🔥 “My Little Human. My Mate. My Heart.”
On her thirtieth birthday, Rune Destin accidentally cuts herself opening a gift from her parents. She brings the injured finger to her mouth and is suddenly transported to a mysterious cave where she finds a man asleep on an altar. The man suddenly awakens when a drop of her blood lands in his mouth and she finds herself back in her apartment. Vameer Vadas only meant to rest for a few weeks and is surprised to be awakened by the blood of his Mate who suddenly disappears. Unfortunately, more time than expected has elapsed since he initially went into the cave. Now he must find his mate, and brother, before his enemies discover he is finally awake.
As I am getting back into my vampire era, this has been a fun world to explore. Vameer is such a sentimental sweetheart. I was swooning just picturing this fierce warrior wearing his mate's bracelet. While I loved the connection between Rune and Vameer, my favorite aspect of this story was the brotherly bonding. Vameer and Volik are a great pair and that drunk vampire scene was so fun. The action scenes were cool to see play out and really showcased all the characters. I am really enjoying this alternate universe and excited to see the next pairing.
🩸 Overprotective Vampire
🖤 Interfector Mali
🩸 Plus Size Heroine
🖤 Fated Mates
🩸 Swords and Sea Creatures
🖤 Accidentally Slept for 100 Years
🩸 In the Alternate Tilly Verse
🔥 “My Little Human. My Mate. My Heart.”
On her thirtieth birthday, Rune Destin accidentally cuts herself opening a gift from her parents. She brings the injured finger to her mouth and is suddenly transported to a mysterious cave where she finds a man asleep on an altar. The man suddenly awakens when a drop of her blood lands in his mouth and she finds herself back in her apartment. Vameer Vadas only meant to rest for a few weeks and is surprised to be awakened by the blood of his Mate who suddenly disappears. Unfortunately, more time than expected has elapsed since he initially went into the cave. Now he must find his mate, and brother, before his enemies discover he is finally awake.
As I am getting back into my vampire era, this has been a fun world to explore. Vameer is such a sentimental sweetheart. I was swooning just picturing this fierce warrior wearing his mate's bracelet. While I loved the connection between Rune and Vameer, my favorite aspect of this story was the brotherly bonding. Vameer and Volik are a great pair and that drunk vampire scene was so fun. The action scenes were cool to see play out and really showcased all the characters. I am really enjoying this alternate universe and excited to see the next pairing.
🩸 Overprotective Vampire
🖤 Interfector Mali
🩸 Plus Size Heroine
🖤 Fated Mates
🩸 Swords and Sea Creatures
🖤 Accidentally Slept for 100 Years
🩸 In the Alternate Tilly Verse
September 3, 2026
Vameer was such a fun read and absolutely lived up to my high expectations!! The humor throughout the book was amazing as always, and having a few different POV in it was really entertaining. This actually gives very found family vibes with the side characters and I enjoyed to many interactions, one in particular towards the end of the book when they are talking about bees (iykyk) has me absolutely cackling and also gave all the warm fuzzies. I feel like it moved at a really good pace, and I loved that the world was expanded a bit more.
Vameer, our MMC, was a big old teddy bear who was also scary as anything to his enemies, he was a total warrior and a fierce protector. I loved his interactions with Volik and Dread, their banter was so much fun. I adored his caring side he had with Rune and was so happy when they find each other, that scene was spicy, spicy, hot!
Rune, our FMC, seemed like a bit of a lone wolf to start with, but once Vameer finds her footing. I loved her interactions with Nix in this. I loved how trusting she was with Vameer and how she wanted to protect him as well. There were so many sweet moments between them
I am so excited to continue this series with book three! I am loving the bonded souls series!!
5 ⭐️
3 🔥
Vameer, our MMC, was a big old teddy bear who was also scary as anything to his enemies, he was a total warrior and a fierce protector. I loved his interactions with Volik and Dread, their banter was so much fun. I adored his caring side he had with Rune and was so happy when they find each other, that scene was spicy, spicy, hot!
Rune, our FMC, seemed like a bit of a lone wolf to start with, but once Vameer finds her footing. I loved her interactions with Nix in this. I loved how trusting she was with Vameer and how she wanted to protect him as well. There were so many sweet moments between them
I am so excited to continue this series with book three! I am loving the bonded souls series!!
5 ⭐️
3 🔥
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is the second book in the Bonded Souls series which features Vameer, Volik's big brother. I feel like this could be read as a standalone if someone was picking up this world for the first time, but it was also extremely enjoyable already knowing the background of vampires and shifters within the Tillyverse so I could walk the path right along with Rune and also share in the inside humor as Vameer awakens to a brand new world.
We first meet Vameer as an extremely tired warrior vampire who just wants to take a nap. I could totally sympathize with this vamp in search of a nice, quiet place to lay his head for just a few moments of shut-eye. Vameer never expected to sleep like Rip Van Winkle, for a hundred and three years, and wake to a completely different age. Cell phones, the internet, speeding cars-not that he needs one since he can super sonic jump, but there have been so many advances that have come about since he went to sleep.
The entire book is sweet, it's funny, and quite adventurous all while we come to find out that Vameer, the crusted ol' warrior, is just a big teddy bear. That's right I said it. Now, would I want to meet him in an alleyway, no. But do I love him for Rune, hell yes!! When Vameer awakens that is his primary focus, his one objective...to find his mate. Forever and for the end of time he will protect and love Rune and it's the best thing ever. 😍 He protects her and fights anyone who will harm his woman. It's all very hot and I'm not going to say more. 😏🥵
Rune, upon her thirtieth birthday, has quite the experience. I won't give it away, but that is when everything in her life changes and she meets Vameer, her mate. She goes from quiet shop keeper to vampire mate and pretty much running for her life after that, but if you would ask her, she wouldn't trade it for the world. Yeah, Vameer has that kind of effect on a girl. 💜
I mean for Vameer he is locked in on Rune 110% and then after Rune, his only order of business was his brother and their reunion reunion, which was just as sweet. To have that kind of dedication and focus was kind of nice to read. For two huge vampires it's quite adorable to see the brotherly bond that Vameer and Volik shared. Nix and Rune instantly bonded as well, which was also super sweet as their sisterhood meant a lot, especially since they both didn't have a lot of family in their lives. However, some of my favorite parts involved Dread. I cannot wait for his story and to unlock all his mysterious magic and origin story. Dread is really coming to light more, along with some other secondary characters who are quite intriguing. I'm very excited that this world is growing and everything, literally everything about it, is fantastic!!
Vameer is another wonderful story about finding your person, whether that means you had to take a nap for over a hundred years in order to wait for her, or you didn't know what direction your life was taking when you met your soulmate through a bonded connection that didn't always make sense. However, your soul mate is meant to come into your life, it will make sense to both of you and that is the most important part of any story as true love will always prevail. Lastly, I can't wait to return and read more from this amazing universe.
We first meet Vameer as an extremely tired warrior vampire who just wants to take a nap. I could totally sympathize with this vamp in search of a nice, quiet place to lay his head for just a few moments of shut-eye. Vameer never expected to sleep like Rip Van Winkle, for a hundred and three years, and wake to a completely different age. Cell phones, the internet, speeding cars-not that he needs one since he can super sonic jump, but there have been so many advances that have come about since he went to sleep.
The entire book is sweet, it's funny, and quite adventurous all while we come to find out that Vameer, the crusted ol' warrior, is just a big teddy bear. That's right I said it. Now, would I want to meet him in an alleyway, no. But do I love him for Rune, hell yes!! When Vameer awakens that is his primary focus, his one objective...to find his mate. Forever and for the end of time he will protect and love Rune and it's the best thing ever. 😍 He protects her and fights anyone who will harm his woman. It's all very hot and I'm not going to say more. 😏🥵
Rune, upon her thirtieth birthday, has quite the experience. I won't give it away, but that is when everything in her life changes and she meets Vameer, her mate. She goes from quiet shop keeper to vampire mate and pretty much running for her life after that, but if you would ask her, she wouldn't trade it for the world. Yeah, Vameer has that kind of effect on a girl. 💜
I mean for Vameer he is locked in on Rune 110% and then after Rune, his only order of business was his brother and their reunion reunion, which was just as sweet. To have that kind of dedication and focus was kind of nice to read. For two huge vampires it's quite adorable to see the brotherly bond that Vameer and Volik shared. Nix and Rune instantly bonded as well, which was also super sweet as their sisterhood meant a lot, especially since they both didn't have a lot of family in their lives. However, some of my favorite parts involved Dread. I cannot wait for his story and to unlock all his mysterious magic and origin story. Dread is really coming to light more, along with some other secondary characters who are quite intriguing. I'm very excited that this world is growing and everything, literally everything about it, is fantastic!!
Vameer is another wonderful story about finding your person, whether that means you had to take a nap for over a hundred years in order to wait for her, or you didn't know what direction your life was taking when you met your soulmate through a bonded connection that didn't always make sense. However, your soul mate is meant to come into your life, it will make sense to both of you and that is the most important part of any story as true love will always prevail. Lastly, I can't wait to return and read more from this amazing universe.
September 7, 2026
I. Ate. This. Up! I fell in love with Vameer and Rune so fast. Rune being Vameers mate, and a cut on the thumb, a quick jaunt to where Vameer is sleeping, and here we go. Vameers nap wasn’t as short as he thought it was. A month turned into a century. When he walked out of that cave and saw how much things had changed, I giggled. But he was determined to find Rune. And when he did, he was obsessed. This man held a protectiveness over her like no other. Seeing these two navigate things was awesome. I loved the intensity, the spice, the humor. This book was so addicting. Absolutely loved this story.
September 29, 2026
5/5⭐️
3.5/5🌶️
This was SUCH a ride, and I was vibing the entire time. This book was thicc but I couldn’t put it down, flying through it in record time. The dynamics of fated mates and insta love is always a slam dunk for me, and add in vampires, shifters and a whole history for our vampire brothers and I simply couldn’t be invested. Plus all of that delicious SJ Tilly spice?! GORL. This was incredible. I need to go back and read Volik’s book now! I highly recommend!!!
3.5/5🌶️
This was SUCH a ride, and I was vibing the entire time. This book was thicc but I couldn’t put it down, flying through it in record time. The dynamics of fated mates and insta love is always a slam dunk for me, and add in vampires, shifters and a whole history for our vampire brothers and I simply couldn’t be invested. Plus all of that delicious SJ Tilly spice?! GORL. This was incredible. I need to go back and read Volik’s book now! I highly recommend!!!
September 3, 2026
"friends show friends their bees" 🤣🤣
SJ just writes stories so different! Yes this story is about Vameer & Rune and their story is so good! But the side characters are so hilarious and add so much to the story!
The audiobook is so good! But Samantha Brentmoor can do no wrong! 🥰
SJ just writes stories so different! Yes this story is about Vameer & Rune and their story is so good! But the side characters are so hilarious and add so much to the story!
The audiobook is so good! But Samantha Brentmoor can do no wrong! 🥰
October 6, 2026
I give Tilly all the credit in the world. Fantasy is a tough world to wrote, and she does a great job of explaining it without going into too many details. She also writes some great smut 🥰. Cannot wait for Dread's story.
October 9, 2026
Falling asleep in a cave in Patagonia for 103 years IN THIS ECONOMY?
September 14, 2026
3.75⭐️ 3.5🌶️ being back in SJ Tilly's alternate universe where the paranormal run amuck and humans are finding their sexy nearly-immortal mates was a lot of fun! i think i liked this a smidge more than book 1, but i have a hunch that the most interesting main characters are still yet to come.
Vameer had all the same ingredients as the first book in this series: insta love/lust, fated mates, a curvy FMC, a down BAD MMC, short chapters, some mystery, and a few POV chapters from random side characters to help expand the world - but there were a few new things in this one that definitely had me more intrigued than i was with Volik.
for example; we were introduced to a couple more characters (one of which i'm seriously hoping will pop up again in future books, and hopefully stay for longer this time), we got more insight into some human factions who were more than displeased with the presence and strength of the Alts, and we got more insight into some other Alt races like the wolves and druids!
i think SJ Tilly is building a fun world with her typical tropes and writing style, and i will for sure be continuing the series as it's fun and doesn't take too much brain power to figure out all of the paranormal activities that take place. if you're looking for a vampire book to read this fall that is fast paced and easy to follow along with, i'd recommend picking this up as long as you're not expecting a literary masterpiece;)
Vameer had all the same ingredients as the first book in this series: insta love/lust, fated mates, a curvy FMC, a down BAD MMC, short chapters, some mystery, and a few POV chapters from random side characters to help expand the world - but there were a few new things in this one that definitely had me more intrigued than i was with Volik.
for example; we were introduced to a couple more characters (one of which i'm seriously hoping will pop up again in future books, and hopefully stay for longer this time), we got more insight into some human factions who were more than displeased with the presence and strength of the Alts, and we got more insight into some other Alt races like the wolves and druids!
i think SJ Tilly is building a fun world with her typical tropes and writing style, and i will for sure be continuing the series as it's fun and doesn't take too much brain power to figure out all of the paranormal activities that take place. if you're looking for a vampire book to read this fall that is fast paced and easy to follow along with, i'd recommend picking this up as long as you're not expecting a literary masterpiece;)
September 15, 2026
Well so glad we're done with that and can get to stoleman now 😂
September 17, 2026
I have rewritten this review a few times now, and this is probably going to sound like a rant, which it really isn't, but this audiobook was all over the place and I don't want to sugar-coat it. And all of this sucks because, on paper, this should have been catnip for me. I love paranormal romance. I love vampires. I love fated mates. I love S.J. Tilly. I love Samantha Brentmoor narrating. And yet I had to drag myself through this. This has some spoilers please read accordingly!
The first third was probably where I struggled most. I understand mating frenzy. I understand that these two have been supernaturally shoved into the world's most aggressive case of yearning. But for a surprisingly large portion of the beginning, Rune is overwhelmingly aroused, Vameer is overwhelmingly aroused, they sense each other, glimpse each other through mirrors, desperately want to find each other, and somehow spend a very long time not actually finding each other.
And I think this is where the book missed its biggest opportunity for me. The problem wasn't the horniness. I am absolutely not going to sit here and complain that my vampire romance contains too much lust. The problem was that the lust became a substitute for narrative momentum and, more importantly, character development. If you're going to spend almost 30% of a nearly 500-page book keeping your main characters apart, that time needs to accomplish something beyond establishing how desperately their bodies want each other. This could have been where I really got to know Rune and Vameer as individuals. Instead, so much of their internal narration is consumed by the frenzy itself. Rune is aroused, finds temporary relief, and is immediately overwhelmed again. Vameer wants his mate, fights his body, reminds himself that he's a warrior and that he has discipline, and then wants his mate some more. That's a lot of page time devoted to essentially the same emotional and physical state, and I kept wondering what I was actually learning about these people. For that first 30%, Rune in particular barely seems to exist outside this physical want.
I also wish Rune had been allowed more psychological resistance. To be clear, I'm not talking about resistance to Vameer because she secretly senses that he's dangerous to her. I mean resistance to herself. She's experiencing impossible, weird things. Her body is behaving in ways she cannot explain. She's seeing and hearing a man through mirrors. Her perception is changing. Her desire has become almost completely uncontrollable. Even if some instinctive part of her feels safe with him, why doesn't the rational part of her brain occasionally go, *What the actual fuck is happening to me?*
That tension could have been fantastic because the reader already knows the answer. We know they're mates. We know why she's drawn to this stranger. The suspense doesn't have to come from making Rune stupidly oblivious to something obvious. It could come from the gap between what her body instinctively knows and what her conscious mind can reasonably accept.
Instead, the book frequently collapses that gap before it has a chance to create any tension. By the time they physically meet, Rune is already thinking of him as “my vampire” before she's even properly seen him, and when he touches her, she explicitly recognises that she shouldn't allow an unseen stranger that kind of intimacy but immediately resolves the contradiction with, “But he's not a stranger. He's my vampire.” That's basically the entire potential internal conflict solved in two sentences.
And this is where, narratively speaking, the foreshadowing started feeling less like foreshadowing and more like telegraphing. Good foreshadowing plants information whose significance becomes clear later. It creates anticipation or dramatic irony. Here, the narrative repeatedly interprets its own clues for us. Rune feels inexplicably safe? Mate. Rune is inexplicably aroused? Mate. Her body is changing? Mate. She feels that Vameer belongs to her before she knows him? Mate. We already understand the governing mechanism, so repeatedly reinforcing it doesn't deepen the mystery. It kills it.
I would have loved more subtext and less self-explanation. Let Rune notice that what is happening to her should frighten her while being disturbed by the fact that it doesn't. Let her wonder whether that absence of fear is itself something she should fear. Let Vameer's century of isolation actually complicate who he is beyond making him desperately horny for his mate. Let their separate chapters establish fears, habits, histories, contradictions and vulnerabilities that have nothing to do with wanting each other. Then every glimpse through a mirror could reveal a little more of the person on the other side rather than primarily escalating the mating frenzy.
What ultimately wore me down, though, was how little the book seems to trust its reader to understand any of this without having it explained, reiterated and then sometimes explained again. Vameer ended up being far too long for the story it was telling, and I genuinely think you could remove a hundred pages without losing anything essential. Scenes linger, information gets reiterated, conversations recap things we already know, and more and more POVs are introduced until the whole thing starts to feel artificially inflated.
Some of those additional POVs make sense. Volik is Vameer's brother and obviously important to the larger series. Tosa and Dread I can get behind, although even there I sometimes felt their POVs existed primarily to explain things the story had already made clear. But others left me wondering what they were actually adding. Nix doesn't need her own POV here. Neither does May, nor half of the government-adjacent characters. At one point we get a Blue Whale and a Tiger Shark POV. Now, the Tiger Shark I can understand, but the whale? Is this secretly an homage to Douglas Adams? Because if not, I have questions.
The same thing happens with the larger plot. We get exposition explaining the government conspiracy, only for other characters to later discuss and interpret those same elements again. It creates this strange combination where the book is constantly doing too much while somehow progressing too slowly. And that's such a shame because there really is a fun paranormal romance buried in here.
*Thank you to the author and MLA for the ALC. Receiving the ALC did not influence my rating or review in any way. I was not paid, nor will I ever be paid, to review a book.
The first third was probably where I struggled most. I understand mating frenzy. I understand that these two have been supernaturally shoved into the world's most aggressive case of yearning. But for a surprisingly large portion of the beginning, Rune is overwhelmingly aroused, Vameer is overwhelmingly aroused, they sense each other, glimpse each other through mirrors, desperately want to find each other, and somehow spend a very long time not actually finding each other.
And I think this is where the book missed its biggest opportunity for me. The problem wasn't the horniness. I am absolutely not going to sit here and complain that my vampire romance contains too much lust. The problem was that the lust became a substitute for narrative momentum and, more importantly, character development. If you're going to spend almost 30% of a nearly 500-page book keeping your main characters apart, that time needs to accomplish something beyond establishing how desperately their bodies want each other. This could have been where I really got to know Rune and Vameer as individuals. Instead, so much of their internal narration is consumed by the frenzy itself. Rune is aroused, finds temporary relief, and is immediately overwhelmed again. Vameer wants his mate, fights his body, reminds himself that he's a warrior and that he has discipline, and then wants his mate some more. That's a lot of page time devoted to essentially the same emotional and physical state, and I kept wondering what I was actually learning about these people. For that first 30%, Rune in particular barely seems to exist outside this physical want.
I also wish Rune had been allowed more psychological resistance. To be clear, I'm not talking about resistance to Vameer because she secretly senses that he's dangerous to her. I mean resistance to herself. She's experiencing impossible, weird things. Her body is behaving in ways she cannot explain. She's seeing and hearing a man through mirrors. Her perception is changing. Her desire has become almost completely uncontrollable. Even if some instinctive part of her feels safe with him, why doesn't the rational part of her brain occasionally go, *What the actual fuck is happening to me?*
That tension could have been fantastic because the reader already knows the answer. We know they're mates. We know why she's drawn to this stranger. The suspense doesn't have to come from making Rune stupidly oblivious to something obvious. It could come from the gap between what her body instinctively knows and what her conscious mind can reasonably accept.
Instead, the book frequently collapses that gap before it has a chance to create any tension. By the time they physically meet, Rune is already thinking of him as “my vampire” before she's even properly seen him, and when he touches her, she explicitly recognises that she shouldn't allow an unseen stranger that kind of intimacy but immediately resolves the contradiction with, “But he's not a stranger. He's my vampire.” That's basically the entire potential internal conflict solved in two sentences.
And this is where, narratively speaking, the foreshadowing started feeling less like foreshadowing and more like telegraphing. Good foreshadowing plants information whose significance becomes clear later. It creates anticipation or dramatic irony. Here, the narrative repeatedly interprets its own clues for us. Rune feels inexplicably safe? Mate. Rune is inexplicably aroused? Mate. Her body is changing? Mate. She feels that Vameer belongs to her before she knows him? Mate. We already understand the governing mechanism, so repeatedly reinforcing it doesn't deepen the mystery. It kills it.
I would have loved more subtext and less self-explanation. Let Rune notice that what is happening to her should frighten her while being disturbed by the fact that it doesn't. Let her wonder whether that absence of fear is itself something she should fear. Let Vameer's century of isolation actually complicate who he is beyond making him desperately horny for his mate. Let their separate chapters establish fears, habits, histories, contradictions and vulnerabilities that have nothing to do with wanting each other. Then every glimpse through a mirror could reveal a little more of the person on the other side rather than primarily escalating the mating frenzy.
What ultimately wore me down, though, was how little the book seems to trust its reader to understand any of this without having it explained, reiterated and then sometimes explained again. Vameer ended up being far too long for the story it was telling, and I genuinely think you could remove a hundred pages without losing anything essential. Scenes linger, information gets reiterated, conversations recap things we already know, and more and more POVs are introduced until the whole thing starts to feel artificially inflated.
Some of those additional POVs make sense. Volik is Vameer's brother and obviously important to the larger series. Tosa and Dread I can get behind, although even there I sometimes felt their POVs existed primarily to explain things the story had already made clear. But others left me wondering what they were actually adding. Nix doesn't need her own POV here. Neither does May, nor half of the government-adjacent characters. At one point we get a Blue Whale and a Tiger Shark POV. Now, the Tiger Shark I can understand, but the whale? Is this secretly an homage to Douglas Adams? Because if not, I have questions.
The same thing happens with the larger plot. We get exposition explaining the government conspiracy, only for other characters to later discuss and interpret those same elements again. It creates this strange combination where the book is constantly doing too much while somehow progressing too slowly. And that's such a shame because there really is a fun paranormal romance buried in here.
*Thank you to the author and MLA for the ALC. Receiving the ALC did not influence my rating or review in any way. I was not paid, nor will I ever be paid, to review a book.
September 6, 2026
Vameer. BIG, terrifying, centuries-old warrior vampire Vameer. I fear S.J. Tilly has once again created a man who has completely ruined me for everyone else. I devoured this book. The humor, the banter, the found family, the expanding lore, the action, the spice…ALL OF IT. And because I am absolutely a sucker for instalove when it comes to fated mates, Rune and Vameer were basically designed to make me swoon..
We pick up after Volik with Rune stepping into a whole new reality on her 30th birthday, and somehow ending up face-to-face with a vampire who has been asleep for 103 YEARS. Vameer went down expecting a little rest and woke up in a world of phones, internet, speeding cars, and technology that makes absolutely no sense to a man who has spent the last century unconscious. Watching him try to figure out modern life was one of my favorite parts and so fun.
But the second Vameer realizes Rune is his mate, there is no confusion, hesitation, or existential crisis. The man has ONE priority. Find his woman. And OH MY GOD does he love her. Vameer is possessive, protective, powerful, ridiculously intimidating, and completely gone for his little human. He is the kind of warrior who could probably terrify an entire room without saying a word, yet with Rune he is basically a gigantic vampire teddy bear. A centuries-old killer marshmallow. With swords (in more ways than one, wink wink). The tenderness underneath all that strength absolutely melted me. The devotion, the protectiveness, the little sentimental details, the way he wears her bracelet…SIR.
And Rune! I adored her. She has spent her life moving without really knowing where she was going, and then suddenly fate drops a giant vampire into her lap and completely rearranges her existence. Her reaction to basically every insane revelation is some variation of “okay then," which means this moves at a great pace. No resistance here lol. She trusts herself. She trusts Vameer. She isn't sitting around waiting for someone to rescue her, and she isn't intimidated by her enormous, overprotective mate. When Vameer gets a little too bossy or protective, Rune gives it right back to him. Watching this tiny human stand her ground with this absolutely massive vampire had me smiling SO hard.
Together, these two are just FUN. The connection is immediate because, well, INSTALOVE FATED MATES, but it never felt emotionally empty to me. There is so much warmth, humor, attraction, and genuine affection between them. They communicate, they tease each other, they protect each other, and the chemistry is fire. I love when instalove actually feels like two people recognizing something that was already waiting for them, and that is exactly what this felt like. Love comes first, but the connect evolves.
And then there is the rest of this wonderfully chaotic little universe. I LOVE the way S.J. Tilly is building this world. The returning characters, the additional POVs, the cameos, the little pieces of lore, the friendships and family connections…it makes everything feel so much larger than just the couple whose story we're currently reading. Getting more of Volik and Nix was such a treat, and Vameer and Volik together? Their brotherly dynamic had me laughing. Two giant vampires who clearly love each other deeply but also cannot resist giving each other constant sh*t. Rune and Nix also clicked so naturally, and I loved watching that relationship develop. There is something really special about seeing these characters find people who become family when neither of them had much of that to begin with. And DREAD. I NEED MORE. And then we have Orion casually lurking around making me suspicious and intrigued at the same time.
One of my favorite things about this series is how approachable the paranormal elements feel. SJ introduces the lore in a way that doesn't make me feel like I need a textbook beside me or like I need to be taking notes. It feels like we're discovering everything alongside the characters in a very digestible way, which makes the whole thing incredibly easy to sink into. And I love that it still feels VERY contemporary in vibes.
Samantha Brentmoor and Walker Williams were SO GOOD as Rune and Vameer. Their performances captured the sweetness, humor, intensity, and heat of these characters beautifully. Walker's Vameer voice had me absolutely swooning. That accent + giant protective vampire energy? DEEEELICIOUS. Samantha was fantastic as Rune too, bringing exactly the right mix of warmth, confidence, humor, and emotional depth. I loved how naturally their voices worked together, especially during the banter and more intimate moments. And getting Chloe Ryan and Sean Masters popping in as additional voices was such a fun bonus. The full-cast/duet experience added another layer to the story and made the whole thing even more immersive. The audio brought so much personality to the characters and made an already addictive story even harder to put down.
What to Expect
🩸 Contemporary Paranormal Romance
🩸 Fated Mates
🩸 Instalove
🩸 Overprotective / Possessive Vampire
🩸 XL / Giant Hero
🩸 Plus-Size Heroine
🩸 Age Gap
🩸 Touch Her and Die
🩸 Cinnamon Roll Warrior
🩸 Found Family
🩸 Brotherly Bond
🩸 LOL Banter
🩸 Swords & Sea Creatures
🩸 Action & Adventure
🩸 Expanding Paranormal Lore
🩸 Multiple POVs
🩸 Alternate Tillyverse
🩸 Accidental 103-Year Nap 😂
We pick up after Volik with Rune stepping into a whole new reality on her 30th birthday, and somehow ending up face-to-face with a vampire who has been asleep for 103 YEARS. Vameer went down expecting a little rest and woke up in a world of phones, internet, speeding cars, and technology that makes absolutely no sense to a man who has spent the last century unconscious. Watching him try to figure out modern life was one of my favorite parts and so fun.
But the second Vameer realizes Rune is his mate, there is no confusion, hesitation, or existential crisis. The man has ONE priority. Find his woman. And OH MY GOD does he love her. Vameer is possessive, protective, powerful, ridiculously intimidating, and completely gone for his little human. He is the kind of warrior who could probably terrify an entire room without saying a word, yet with Rune he is basically a gigantic vampire teddy bear. A centuries-old killer marshmallow. With swords (in more ways than one, wink wink). The tenderness underneath all that strength absolutely melted me. The devotion, the protectiveness, the little sentimental details, the way he wears her bracelet…SIR.
And Rune! I adored her. She has spent her life moving without really knowing where she was going, and then suddenly fate drops a giant vampire into her lap and completely rearranges her existence. Her reaction to basically every insane revelation is some variation of “okay then," which means this moves at a great pace. No resistance here lol. She trusts herself. She trusts Vameer. She isn't sitting around waiting for someone to rescue her, and she isn't intimidated by her enormous, overprotective mate. When Vameer gets a little too bossy or protective, Rune gives it right back to him. Watching this tiny human stand her ground with this absolutely massive vampire had me smiling SO hard.
Together, these two are just FUN. The connection is immediate because, well, INSTALOVE FATED MATES, but it never felt emotionally empty to me. There is so much warmth, humor, attraction, and genuine affection between them. They communicate, they tease each other, they protect each other, and the chemistry is fire. I love when instalove actually feels like two people recognizing something that was already waiting for them, and that is exactly what this felt like. Love comes first, but the connect evolves.
And then there is the rest of this wonderfully chaotic little universe. I LOVE the way S.J. Tilly is building this world. The returning characters, the additional POVs, the cameos, the little pieces of lore, the friendships and family connections…it makes everything feel so much larger than just the couple whose story we're currently reading. Getting more of Volik and Nix was such a treat, and Vameer and Volik together? Their brotherly dynamic had me laughing. Two giant vampires who clearly love each other deeply but also cannot resist giving each other constant sh*t. Rune and Nix also clicked so naturally, and I loved watching that relationship develop. There is something really special about seeing these characters find people who become family when neither of them had much of that to begin with. And DREAD. I NEED MORE. And then we have Orion casually lurking around making me suspicious and intrigued at the same time.
One of my favorite things about this series is how approachable the paranormal elements feel. SJ introduces the lore in a way that doesn't make me feel like I need a textbook beside me or like I need to be taking notes. It feels like we're discovering everything alongside the characters in a very digestible way, which makes the whole thing incredibly easy to sink into. And I love that it still feels VERY contemporary in vibes.
Samantha Brentmoor and Walker Williams were SO GOOD as Rune and Vameer. Their performances captured the sweetness, humor, intensity, and heat of these characters beautifully. Walker's Vameer voice had me absolutely swooning. That accent + giant protective vampire energy? DEEEELICIOUS. Samantha was fantastic as Rune too, bringing exactly the right mix of warmth, confidence, humor, and emotional depth. I loved how naturally their voices worked together, especially during the banter and more intimate moments. And getting Chloe Ryan and Sean Masters popping in as additional voices was such a fun bonus. The full-cast/duet experience added another layer to the story and made the whole thing even more immersive. The audio brought so much personality to the characters and made an already addictive story even harder to put down.
What to Expect
🩸 Contemporary Paranormal Romance
🩸 Fated Mates
🩸 Instalove
🩸 Overprotective / Possessive Vampire
🩸 XL / Giant Hero
🩸 Plus-Size Heroine
🩸 Age Gap
🩸 Touch Her and Die
🩸 Cinnamon Roll Warrior
🩸 Found Family
🩸 Brotherly Bond
🩸 LOL Banter
🩸 Swords & Sea Creatures
🩸 Action & Adventure
🩸 Expanding Paranormal Lore
🩸 Multiple POVs
🩸 Alternate Tillyverse
🩸 Accidental 103-Year Nap 😂
September 9, 2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 Stars) — An epic vampire romance featuring a 103-year nap, a teleporting meet-cute, and the ultimate OTT possessive MMC! 🦇🩸
S.J. Tilly is one of my absolute favorite authors. From The Alliance series, to the Mountain Men series, to The Love Letters series, I absolutely love everything she writes. She has such a unique style—her characters, her humor, the spice, the storytelling, the world-building, and even her chapter setups and titles. Everything she does just works for me. So, of course, it was no surprise that I read this book in one sitting and rated it 5 stars!!
The Setup & Characters: 👥
• Vameer (MMC): We heard him mentioned in the first book of this series as Volik's older brother. He is a 200+ year-old vampire warrior who decided to take a little catnap in a mountain cave in Patagonia. He figured he'd just sleep for a couple of weeks, maybe a month, just to relax because being a warrior is exhausting. Except... surprise! He overslept by a little bit. Like, 103 years. 🦇💤
• Rune (FMC): She is living life in a NYC apartment above an art gallery. She is happy, down to earth, and just turned thirty, but she always has this need to move. She can never settle in one place for too long. She's a nomad, a restless spirit, who has this inner urge to keep moving and keep searching for... something. 🏙️
The Inciting Incident: 🏔️
On her 30th birthday, Rune is in her apartment opening a package from her parents when she cuts her thumb. As she presses her thumb to her mouth, she blinks and suddenly she is on the side of a mountain! It's freezing cold, raining, she's in shorts and a tank top, and oh yeah, SHE IS RANDOMLY ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN! Understandably freaking out, she finds an opening to a cave to get out of the elements.
Deep inside, she finds a man laying on a stone slab. Is he dangerous? Dead? Just having a catnap that should have ended 103 years ago? She doesn't know, but she leans over to get a better look at his face. A drop of blood lands in the man's mouth, his eyes snap open, and then she snaps back to her apartment. It had to have been in her head, right?? Except... her clothes and hair are still wet. 🤯🌧️
What Worked: ✅
Honestly, I loved this book. I loved Rune and Vameer, I loved the cameos from previous characters, I loved the fated mates trope (and that Rune didn't fight it!), I loved the humor, and I loved the seemingly chaotic chapter POVs. The story was just fantastic!
One Minor Gripe: 📉
I do wish Vameer's enemies didn't just come out of the blue. I would have loved some more backstory for that plotline. But honestly, the whole book was so great that I didn't even care that the enemy from his past came in so late in the story.
Final Thoughts: 💭
If you haven't read any S.J. Tilly, what are you doing?! She is the queen of OTT, jealous, possessive men and relatable curvy women. Go read something from her right now!! 📚🏃♀️💨
S.J. Tilly is one of my absolute favorite authors. From The Alliance series, to the Mountain Men series, to The Love Letters series, I absolutely love everything she writes. She has such a unique style—her characters, her humor, the spice, the storytelling, the world-building, and even her chapter setups and titles. Everything she does just works for me. So, of course, it was no surprise that I read this book in one sitting and rated it 5 stars!!
The Setup & Characters: 👥
• Vameer (MMC): We heard him mentioned in the first book of this series as Volik's older brother. He is a 200+ year-old vampire warrior who decided to take a little catnap in a mountain cave in Patagonia. He figured he'd just sleep for a couple of weeks, maybe a month, just to relax because being a warrior is exhausting. Except... surprise! He overslept by a little bit. Like, 103 years. 🦇💤
• Rune (FMC): She is living life in a NYC apartment above an art gallery. She is happy, down to earth, and just turned thirty, but she always has this need to move. She can never settle in one place for too long. She's a nomad, a restless spirit, who has this inner urge to keep moving and keep searching for... something. 🏙️
The Inciting Incident: 🏔️
On her 30th birthday, Rune is in her apartment opening a package from her parents when she cuts her thumb. As she presses her thumb to her mouth, she blinks and suddenly she is on the side of a mountain! It's freezing cold, raining, she's in shorts and a tank top, and oh yeah, SHE IS RANDOMLY ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN! Understandably freaking out, she finds an opening to a cave to get out of the elements.
Deep inside, she finds a man laying on a stone slab. Is he dangerous? Dead? Just having a catnap that should have ended 103 years ago? She doesn't know, but she leans over to get a better look at his face. A drop of blood lands in the man's mouth, his eyes snap open, and then she snaps back to her apartment. It had to have been in her head, right?? Except... her clothes and hair are still wet. 🤯🌧️
What Worked: ✅
Honestly, I loved this book. I loved Rune and Vameer, I loved the cameos from previous characters, I loved the fated mates trope (and that Rune didn't fight it!), I loved the humor, and I loved the seemingly chaotic chapter POVs. The story was just fantastic!
One Minor Gripe: 📉
I do wish Vameer's enemies didn't just come out of the blue. I would have loved some more backstory for that plotline. But honestly, the whole book was so great that I didn't even care that the enemy from his past came in so late in the story.
Final Thoughts: 💭
If you haven't read any S.J. Tilly, what are you doing?! She is the queen of OTT, jealous, possessive men and relatable curvy women. Go read something from her right now!! 📚🏃♀️💨
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