What do you think?
The Last Bride: Tales of Blood Reign
For centuries, the treaty between the living and the dead has hinged on a singular, brutal law: a human queen must always sit atop the throne by the Vampyr King’s side. King Vastion has outlived six such queens, his reign a weary cycle of grief and duty.
As the latest crown falls, the territories of Devana prepare for the next Season, each paying tribute in a ceremony called the Harvest. Four human females will be considered for the throne, but only one will be chosen. The fringe territory of Leto has watched Seasons come and go from afar—until now. Esiree’s family is intent on her claiming the throne as part of a plot to bring the Vampyr to their knees.
But as the foundations of the monarchy begin to crack, a darker hunger stirs. The Forlorn—monstrous remnants of the Blood Reign—are threatening to destroy humans and Vampyr alike.
Forced to live in the Vampyr city, isolated from humans, will Esiree uncover truths she’s never imagined, or will her hate for their kind grow with each passing day? The balance between monsters and mortals rests in their joined hands.
What you'll find in this
From the author of the Tales of Forgotten Fae series comes The Last Bride, a standalone romantasy with a fresh take on vampire lore. Esiree's mission is to destroy the Vampyr—if she can first marry their king and win both his trust and his heart. Amused by her defiance and captivated by her razor-sharp wit, Vastion never expects her to become his greatest weakness. As secrets unravel, Esiree must decide whether to fulfill her mission or risk everything for a truth she never saw coming.
This first-person dual POV romantasy is perfect for readers who crave an immersive fantasy world, slow-burning tension, and the kind of romance that has you screaming, "Just kiss already!"
For fans of books King of Battle and Blood, The Poison Daughter and A Duel With The Vampire Lord
Tropes
-Hate to Love
-Marriage of Convenience
-Pride & Prejudice Vibes
-Banter & Tension
-Down Bad MMC
-Feisty FMC
-Touch Her and Die
-He Falls First
-Slow Burn-Worth the Wait
As the latest crown falls, the territories of Devana prepare for the next Season, each paying tribute in a ceremony called the Harvest. Four human females will be considered for the throne, but only one will be chosen. The fringe territory of Leto has watched Seasons come and go from afar—until now. Esiree’s family is intent on her claiming the throne as part of a plot to bring the Vampyr to their knees.
But as the foundations of the monarchy begin to crack, a darker hunger stirs. The Forlorn—monstrous remnants of the Blood Reign—are threatening to destroy humans and Vampyr alike.
Forced to live in the Vampyr city, isolated from humans, will Esiree uncover truths she’s never imagined, or will her hate for their kind grow with each passing day? The balance between monsters and mortals rests in their joined hands.
What you'll find in this
From the author of the Tales of Forgotten Fae series comes The Last Bride, a standalone romantasy with a fresh take on vampire lore. Esiree's mission is to destroy the Vampyr—if she can first marry their king and win both his trust and his heart. Amused by her defiance and captivated by her razor-sharp wit, Vastion never expects her to become his greatest weakness. As secrets unravel, Esiree must decide whether to fulfill her mission or risk everything for a truth she never saw coming.
This first-person dual POV romantasy is perfect for readers who crave an immersive fantasy world, slow-burning tension, and the kind of romance that has you screaming, "Just kiss already!"
For fans of books King of Battle and Blood, The Poison Daughter and A Duel With The Vampire Lord
Tropes
-Hate to Love
-Marriage of Convenience
-Pride & Prejudice Vibes
-Banter & Tension
-Down Bad MMC
-Feisty FMC
-Touch Her and Die
-He Falls First
-Slow Burn-Worth the Wait
378 pages, Paperback
Published September 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
September 30, 2026
3.25 ⭐️
Give me an ancient Vampyr King, a bride plotting his downfall, an arranged marriage held together by mutual distrust, and I'm here to watch good judgement die screaming.
Then Vastion committed the unforgivable crime of being patient, perceptive and emotionally intelligent while Esiree remained committed to the hater lifestyle.
Well. I'd chosen a side.
Sorry to the assassination plot. Your target is my favourite character now.
What worked for me
(aka: proof I was not delusional about the potential)
Treason’s Natural Predator: Vastion
Vastion had every excuse to be an emotionally unavailable immortal nightmare: six dead queens, centuries of grief and enough betrayal baggage to make trust basically a controlled substance. Instead, he was patient, emotionally intelligent and acutely aware that marrying him meant a human woman sacrificing an entire life.
I fear I liked the alleged monster immediately.
Then Esiree arrived smiling through her hatred and Vastion clocked her almost immediately. “Brave. Little. Liar.” Sir. She thought she was carefully infiltrating his kingdom while this centuries-old vampyr knew she couldn’t stand him and found the whole thing entertaining.
Nothing humbles a hater faster than the target enjoying the hate.
Generational Beef. Now with Footnotes
I loved that the history refused to pick a convenient villain. Humans had reasons for their hatred. Vampyr had receipts. The Forlorn made everything worse. Meanwhile Esiree’s worldview was getting mugged by new information every few chapters. As it should.
The eventual cure reveal was my kind of audacity.
Once everything connected, I had to give the book its flowers because the irony was beautiful.
My only complaint: LET ME ENJOY IT.
Signs of Romantic life
Calling this a slow burn feels generous to fire.
For a while, Esiree and Vastion were simply two attractive people with a marriage certificate and scheduling difficulties. Then came the hair brushing, dancing, teasing, vulnerability and actual quiet intimacy.
FINALLY. The marriage developed a pulse.
I especially loved that choice stayed at the heart of their relationship. Esiree spent so much of her life having her future decided for her, so watching want slowly replace gave those later moments real weight. And Vastion continuing to respect her agency even when the stakes went nuclear?
Consent king. Crown secured.
Forever Could Never
I wasn't prepared for how much I would enjoy the book's exploration of mortality.
Vastion begins surrounded by death despite being immortal himself and that contradiction follows him throughout the story. The later shift in how the book treats a finite human life - not simply as something fragile or inferior but as something full of sensations and experiences immortality has taken away - was genuinely wholesome.
Some of my favourite late-book moments were ridiculously ordinary: warmth, food, dreaming, the possibility of growing older beside someone. After all the crowns, blood, ancient grudges and supernatural politics, the story hit hardest when it made an ordinary lifetime feel extraordinary.
Centuries of immortality defeated by snacks, naps and growing old together. I hate it here.
Where it lost me
(aka: unfortunately, I wasn't delusional about the problems either)
New Information. Same Hater
Esiree was difficult for me to connect with for a large chunk of this book.
I understood Esiree before I liked her. Grief, family history and a lifetime of anti-Vampyr beliefs don't disappear because the king is hot, and I didn't want them to.
I just needed the evidence to STICK.
Because Esiree kept learning things that should've rattled her worldview and then returning to the hater agenda with impressive stamina. Eventually the growth landed and I genuinely liked watching her claim the role of queen on her own terms.
Eventually, I stopped arguing with her in my head. Growth for both of us.
Information: Plenty. Attachment: Pending
Plenty happened in this book. The problem was that the good stuff kept happening somewhere ELSE. Political threats, family conspiracies, dangerous confrontations, a marriage desperately needing several conversations - we had material.
But every time something started cooking, the book seemed determined to remove it from the heat. Vastion and Esiree finally together? Separate them. Big confrontation? Somewhere else. Important emotional revelation? Please see another character for details.
I was receiving information faster than I was building attachment, which made the middle feel much slower than the amount of actual plot should have allowed.
Somehow, this book was busy AND making me wait. That takes talent.
A Little Late To Be This Cute
Herein lies the source of my romantic suffering. Because Esiree and Vastion eventually got me. Fully. Chemistry, vulnerability, tenderness, beautiful declarations - the feelings were FEELING.
But why did I have to wait so long to watch them become familiar with each other?
I wanted the nonsense. The private jokes. The harmless conversations. The tiny habits and discoveries nobody puts in a declaration of love but somehow make the relationship feel more real than one.
Then the teasing arrived. The quiet future talk arrived. The comfortable married energy arrived.
AND I LOVED IT.
Which was frankly terrible news because now I knew exactly what I'd been missing.
The romance worked. I just wanted more time with the relationship.
All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Angst
This one BAFFLED me.
Vastion had enough betrayal trauma to make trust practically sacred. Esiree entered the marriage carrying secrets with their own gravitational pull.
Naturally, I spent the book preparing for emotional WAR.
Helmet on. Snacks packed. READY.
And then...where was my reckoning?
I believed Esiree had genuinely changed. But changing your intentions and confessing what those intentions WERE are two different things, and with trust this central to Vastion?
I needed that conversation.
Panic at the Page-Count
The last stretch apparently discovered a secret storage cupboard containing EVERYTHING.
Romance! Conflict! Revelations! Consequences! Life-changing discoveries!
HELLO?! This was back here the whole time?
I was finally FED and the restaurant started putting the chairs on tables.
And then the epilogue handed me Orin.
Respectfully, I would like to exchange him for the married couple I JUST got attached to.
Final Thoughts
My rating feels weirdly rude considering how much I genuinely liked here.
Vastion was a standout, the world had teeth, Esiree's growth eventually got me there, and once the book stopped interrupting the marriage, I LOVED them together.
The pieces worked. The timing kept picking fights with me.
Final Verdict
3.25 ⭐️ - I liked this. I could've LOVED this. But the execution kept getting in its own way.
Justice for the version of me who packed snacks for the angst.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Immortal Vampyr King × human bride with extremely questionable intentions
• Arranged political marriage / bride selection
• “I hate you” × “You’re adorable when you’re hostile”
• Secret assassination plot + family conspiracy
• Verbal sparring + provocative flirting
• Consent-conscious intimacy
• Mortality vs. immortality
• Late-blooming domestic softness
• HEA-ish with rebuilding very much in progress
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
Every Season, four human women are offered to an immortal Vampyr King and one becomes his queen.
Esiree enters this year’s Harvest with ✨treason✨ as her plus-one.
Anyway. Rooting for the assassination plot to experience unforeseen romantic difficulties 🤞🏼✨️
Give me an ancient Vampyr King, a bride plotting his downfall, an arranged marriage held together by mutual distrust, and I'm here to watch good judgement die screaming.
Then Vastion committed the unforgivable crime of being patient, perceptive and emotionally intelligent while Esiree remained committed to the hater lifestyle.
Well. I'd chosen a side.
Sorry to the assassination plot. Your target is my favourite character now.
What worked for me
(aka: proof I was not delusional about the potential)
Treason’s Natural Predator: Vastion
Vastion had every excuse to be an emotionally unavailable immortal nightmare: six dead queens, centuries of grief and enough betrayal baggage to make trust basically a controlled substance. Instead, he was patient, emotionally intelligent and acutely aware that marrying him meant a human woman sacrificing an entire life.
I fear I liked the alleged monster immediately.
Then Esiree arrived smiling through her hatred and Vastion clocked her almost immediately. “Brave. Little. Liar.” Sir. She thought she was carefully infiltrating his kingdom while this centuries-old vampyr knew she couldn’t stand him and found the whole thing entertaining.
Nothing humbles a hater faster than the target enjoying the hate.
Generational Beef. Now with Footnotes
I loved that the history refused to pick a convenient villain. Humans had reasons for their hatred. Vampyr had receipts. The Forlorn made everything worse. Meanwhile Esiree’s worldview was getting mugged by new information every few chapters. As it should.
The eventual cure reveal was my kind of audacity.
Once everything connected, I had to give the book its flowers because the irony was beautiful.
My only complaint: LET ME ENJOY IT.
Signs of Romantic life
Calling this a slow burn feels generous to fire.
For a while, Esiree and Vastion were simply two attractive people with a marriage certificate and scheduling difficulties. Then came the hair brushing, dancing, teasing, vulnerability and actual quiet intimacy.
FINALLY. The marriage developed a pulse.
I especially loved that choice stayed at the heart of their relationship. Esiree spent so much of her life having her future decided for her, so watching want slowly replace gave those later moments real weight. And Vastion continuing to respect her agency even when the stakes went nuclear?
Consent king. Crown secured.
Forever Could Never
I wasn't prepared for how much I would enjoy the book's exploration of mortality.
Vastion begins surrounded by death despite being immortal himself and that contradiction follows him throughout the story. The later shift in how the book treats a finite human life - not simply as something fragile or inferior but as something full of sensations and experiences immortality has taken away - was genuinely wholesome.
Some of my favourite late-book moments were ridiculously ordinary: warmth, food, dreaming, the possibility of growing older beside someone. After all the crowns, blood, ancient grudges and supernatural politics, the story hit hardest when it made an ordinary lifetime feel extraordinary.
Centuries of immortality defeated by snacks, naps and growing old together. I hate it here.
Where it lost me
(aka: unfortunately, I wasn't delusional about the problems either)
New Information. Same Hater
Esiree was difficult for me to connect with for a large chunk of this book.
I understood Esiree before I liked her. Grief, family history and a lifetime of anti-Vampyr beliefs don't disappear because the king is hot, and I didn't want them to.
I just needed the evidence to STICK.
Because Esiree kept learning things that should've rattled her worldview and then returning to the hater agenda with impressive stamina. Eventually the growth landed and I genuinely liked watching her claim the role of queen on her own terms.
Eventually, I stopped arguing with her in my head. Growth for both of us.
Information: Plenty. Attachment: Pending
Plenty happened in this book. The problem was that the good stuff kept happening somewhere ELSE. Political threats, family conspiracies, dangerous confrontations, a marriage desperately needing several conversations - we had material.
But every time something started cooking, the book seemed determined to remove it from the heat. Vastion and Esiree finally together? Separate them. Big confrontation? Somewhere else. Important emotional revelation? Please see another character for details.
I was receiving information faster than I was building attachment, which made the middle feel much slower than the amount of actual plot should have allowed.
Somehow, this book was busy AND making me wait. That takes talent.
A Little Late To Be This Cute
Herein lies the source of my romantic suffering. Because Esiree and Vastion eventually got me. Fully. Chemistry, vulnerability, tenderness, beautiful declarations - the feelings were FEELING.
But why did I have to wait so long to watch them become familiar with each other?
I wanted the nonsense. The private jokes. The harmless conversations. The tiny habits and discoveries nobody puts in a declaration of love but somehow make the relationship feel more real than one.
Then the teasing arrived. The quiet future talk arrived. The comfortable married energy arrived.
AND I LOVED IT.
Which was frankly terrible news because now I knew exactly what I'd been missing.
The romance worked. I just wanted more time with the relationship.
All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Angst
This one BAFFLED me.
Vastion had enough betrayal trauma to make trust practically sacred. Esiree entered the marriage carrying secrets with their own gravitational pull.
Naturally, I spent the book preparing for emotional WAR.
Helmet on. Snacks packed. READY.
And then...where was my reckoning?
I believed Esiree had genuinely changed. But changing your intentions and confessing what those intentions WERE are two different things, and with trust this central to Vastion?
I needed that conversation.
Panic at the Page-Count
The last stretch apparently discovered a secret storage cupboard containing EVERYTHING.
Romance! Conflict! Revelations! Consequences! Life-changing discoveries!
HELLO?! This was back here the whole time?
I was finally FED and the restaurant started putting the chairs on tables.
And then the epilogue handed me Orin.
Respectfully, I would like to exchange him for the married couple I JUST got attached to.
Final Thoughts
My rating feels weirdly rude considering how much I genuinely liked here.
Vastion was a standout, the world had teeth, Esiree's growth eventually got me there, and once the book stopped interrupting the marriage, I LOVED them together.
The pieces worked. The timing kept picking fights with me.
Final Verdict
3.25 ⭐️ - I liked this. I could've LOVED this. But the execution kept getting in its own way.
Justice for the version of me who packed snacks for the angst.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Immortal Vampyr King × human bride with extremely questionable intentions
• Arranged political marriage / bride selection
• “I hate you” × “You’re adorable when you’re hostile”
• Secret assassination plot + family conspiracy
• Verbal sparring + provocative flirting
• Consent-conscious intimacy
• Mortality vs. immortality
• Late-blooming domestic softness
• HEA-ish with rebuilding very much in progress
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
Every Season, four human women are offered to an immortal Vampyr King and one becomes his queen.
Esiree enters this year’s Harvest with ✨treason✨ as her plus-one.
Anyway. Rooting for the assassination plot to experience unforeseen romantic difficulties 🤞🏼✨️
Review of advance copy received from Author
"The sound of your heartbeat when you desire me is perhaps my favorite sound of all."
Did I devour this book or did this book devour me?
Excuse me Lexy Night??? What was this!!!! The Last Bride had absolutely no business being this addicting. From the very beginning, I was completely pulled into this story. One of those stories where you keep telling yourself, "Just one more chapter" and then next thing you know you've lost all concept of time, it's 2am, and you finished the entire book.
The main concept is that humans and vampires must coexist through a centuries old treaty requiring the union of a human queen with the Vampyr King, Vastion. Esiree was named tribute for her territory in the ceremony called the Harvest, where Vastion will pick his seventh human queen. There has never been a tribute from her territory of Leto, and that alone piques Vastion's interest. Full of sassy remarks, unmatched beauty, and eyes that capture the Vampyr King, Esiree is determined to steal his heart and become the human queen. With her father and brother's help she not only plans on gaining the King's trust but also becoming his weakness and bringing him to his knees with the intent of destroying the vampyr.
The chemistry in this story was absolutely insane. The tension and buildup had me practically begging for the characters to give me what I wanted. It wasn't just attraction, it was the smaller interactions, the tension underneath the conversations, and the moments where you could feel the pull between them. Lexy night completely edged me to the point I was screaming inside. The atmosphere pulled me in; the mystery kept me curious and the buildup was chef's kiss. I fell in love with the characters. Esiree's snarky remarks made me smile every time she challenged Vastion's patience, and I swooned every time Vastions powerful demeanor became soft for Esiree. I loved how they challenged not only each other but each other's beliefs throughout this whole story and in true Lexy fashion she comes in with that twist you don't see coming.
WHAT TO EXPECT
🩸Vampire x Human
🖤Hate to Love
🩸Dual POV
🖤He Falls First
🩸Pride and Prejudice Vibes
🖤Slow Burn
🩸Marriage of Convenience
🖤Down Bad MMC
🩸Sassy FMC
🖤Touch her and 💀
"You Know...I've been holding out on you, dear wife."
"I thought you had promised worship?"
"I am intensely devout...but are you certain you want to hear my prayers?'
"Confess to me"
"I thought you'd grown weary of the years. Haven't you seen enough of forever?"
"I used to think so...Now, I'm not sure a thousand lifetimes will ever be enough."
Thank you to Lexy Night for an early copy of The Last Bride in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2026
I absolutely inhaled this book! The banter between Esiree and Vastion was so much fun, but it was the way their relationship slowly unfolded that really won me over. Vastion was such a fantastic MMC. He was powerful and protective, yet incredibly thoughtful and respectful of Esiree. I loved watching her begin to question everything she had been taught about vampires as she discovered who he truly was.
The dual POV added so much to their chemistry, especially because we got to see what was happening beneath all those sharp exchanges. Add in a forced marriage, a human-vampire treaty, fascinating vampire lore, and an FMC who arrives fully intending to kill her new husband, and I was completely hooked. This was such a fun, fast-paced romantasy, and I didn’t want to put it down!
The dual POV added so much to their chemistry, especially because we got to see what was happening beneath all those sharp exchanges. Add in a forced marriage, a human-vampire treaty, fascinating vampire lore, and an FMC who arrives fully intending to kill her new husband, and I was completely hooked. This was such a fun, fast-paced romantasy, and I didn’t want to put it down!
September 11, 2026
Lexy will always and forever be an auto everything author for me! I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to ARC The Last Bride - and let me tell you, Lexy did it again! This book was everything!
Vastion is officially my new fav book boyfriend! Are you joking - where can I find one? And Esiree is such a sassy little bada** I love her so much. You get the two of these together and the banter is unputdownable delicious!
This is a vampy tale of a Vampyr that must take a human wife to fulfill the treaty in Devana and Esiree enters the Harvest with her own plans, but do they work out?
I seriously never wanted this to end and can read these characters forever… also secretly hoping we get another book with 2 specific characters 😉 I would not be bad about it!
Get this on your TBR - read it! 10/10 love love love.. oh and the spicy scenes ::perfection::
Vastion is officially my new fav book boyfriend! Are you joking - where can I find one? And Esiree is such a sassy little bada** I love her so much. You get the two of these together and the banter is unputdownable delicious!
This is a vampy tale of a Vampyr that must take a human wife to fulfill the treaty in Devana and Esiree enters the Harvest with her own plans, but do they work out?
I seriously never wanted this to end and can read these characters forever… also secretly hoping we get another book with 2 specific characters 😉 I would not be bad about it!
Get this on your TBR - read it! 10/10 love love love.. oh and the spicy scenes ::perfection::
September 29, 2026
The Last Bride by Lexy Night 🩸
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Okay, Vastion. I can see how he would complicate a girl’s plans. 😂🖤
Esiree goes into the Harvest determined to become the Vampire King’s next queen, earn his trust and use it against him. I loved the conflict built into that setup because getting close to him is the entire point, but actually caring about him? That’s where everything gets messy.
Esiree and Vastion’s dynamic was the highlight for me. She has plenty to say and I enjoyed that she doesn’t suddenly lose that edge just because she’s dealing with a king. Their back-and-forth gives the romance so much personality. And seeing Vastion become vulnerable with someone who poses such a threat to him makes their relationship even more interesting.
The slow burn works because there’s more for them to figure out than whether they’re attracted to each other. There’s distrust, duty and everything Esiree has been raised to believe. Letting someone get close is difficult enough without having to question your whole purpose in the process. I came for the vampires, but the struggle between what Esiree believes she should do and what she begins to feel is what makes this romance stand out. Also, a powerful vampire king falling first will always get my attention. 🖤
🩸 Human × vampire
🖤 Marriage of convenience
🩸 Hate to love
🖤 Slow burn
🩸 He falls first
🖤 Dual POV
Thank you to then Literary (ARC)hive Collective and Lexy Night for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Stay bookish. Keep it wicked. 🖤
Yours between the pages,
Kayla
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Okay, Vastion. I can see how he would complicate a girl’s plans. 😂🖤
Esiree goes into the Harvest determined to become the Vampire King’s next queen, earn his trust and use it against him. I loved the conflict built into that setup because getting close to him is the entire point, but actually caring about him? That’s where everything gets messy.
Esiree and Vastion’s dynamic was the highlight for me. She has plenty to say and I enjoyed that she doesn’t suddenly lose that edge just because she’s dealing with a king. Their back-and-forth gives the romance so much personality. And seeing Vastion become vulnerable with someone who poses such a threat to him makes their relationship even more interesting.
The slow burn works because there’s more for them to figure out than whether they’re attracted to each other. There’s distrust, duty and everything Esiree has been raised to believe. Letting someone get close is difficult enough without having to question your whole purpose in the process. I came for the vampires, but the struggle between what Esiree believes she should do and what she begins to feel is what makes this romance stand out. Also, a powerful vampire king falling first will always get my attention. 🖤
🩸 Human × vampire
🖤 Marriage of convenience
🩸 Hate to love
🖤 Slow burn
🩸 He falls first
🖤 Dual POV
Thank you to then Literary (ARC)hive Collective and Lexy Night for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Stay bookish. Keep it wicked. 🖤
Yours between the pages,
Kayla
September 28, 2026
🚨 A STANDALONE! 🚨
This is not a drill!
In a world of waiting YEARS for series to be completed, we get amazing standalone!
I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for vampires (no pun intended 😂) and anything Lexy Night writes, but The Last Bride is perfection. I enjoyed it from start to finish!
The entire time I was reading, I was constantly wondering how our FMC, Esiree, would become “The Last Bride.” It was so much fun coming up with theories in my head and then seeing how everything actually played out!
Per usual, I adored our MMC, Vastion. It was truly a breath of fresh air to have him be so incredibly wise and selfless. My highlights were almost solely his explanations for his ways of thinking and his actions. I just loved getting to understand why he made the choices he did over his many years of life. It is something that truly makes sense and I’d enjoy seeing more of in books where our MMC has been around for hundreds of years.
While this is a standalone, Lexy does leave us with the possibility of another book focusing on a different person or couple! And I am absolutely keeping my fingers crossed for that! 🤞🏼
The Last Bride is the perfect fall read, in my opinion. As we get closer to spooky season, it’s so fun to squeeze in some vampire reads! 🖤
This is not a drill!
In a world of waiting YEARS for series to be completed, we get amazing standalone!
I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for vampires (no pun intended 😂) and anything Lexy Night writes, but The Last Bride is perfection. I enjoyed it from start to finish!
The entire time I was reading, I was constantly wondering how our FMC, Esiree, would become “The Last Bride.” It was so much fun coming up with theories in my head and then seeing how everything actually played out!
Per usual, I adored our MMC, Vastion. It was truly a breath of fresh air to have him be so incredibly wise and selfless. My highlights were almost solely his explanations for his ways of thinking and his actions. I just loved getting to understand why he made the choices he did over his many years of life. It is something that truly makes sense and I’d enjoy seeing more of in books where our MMC has been around for hundreds of years.
While this is a standalone, Lexy does leave us with the possibility of another book focusing on a different person or couple! And I am absolutely keeping my fingers crossed for that! 🤞🏼
The Last Bride is the perfect fall read, in my opinion. As we get closer to spooky season, it’s so fun to squeeze in some vampire reads! 🖤
September 5, 2026
ARC REVIEW: For me, “The Last Bride” is another (what I like to call) “unputdownable” novel. A book you simply shouldn’t wait to start, and can’t seem to put down until you’ve read through to the final page. I was elated that this would be a stand alone, because some times you just want to not question or worry about what comes next?, and then have to wait too long for the answers. That being said, as read page after page knowing this was all I would get, (I’m really trying to figure out how to review this without any spoilers, so…), I didn’t want it to…end (?). Not that I wanted there to be more, but it reminded me of some of my favorite movies. Those that tell a beautiful story, that end, and you as the one watching can be at peace with the end or imagine what may come next. Phew, with that out of the way… Lexy Night has given her fans (and soon to be more, I hope!), a reason to root for both sides of a tormented story where you will find both the hero and the villain fighting a reign of terror, torment, intrigue, passion, compassion, banter, yearning, betrayal, trusts, and dare I say, thrusts?… yes, there’s “spice”, but I digress, ha! It’s definitely a book that I will also be purchasing to add to my physical library of treasured stories that allow me to escape into its pages again and again.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I LOVED this book. 🖤🧛♀️
From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The combination of vampires, a marriage of convenience, secrets, banter, and so much tension had me completely invested.
Vastion and Esiree were EVERYTHING. The way he immediately saw that she was hiding something, the banter, the slow burn, the fact that he falls first… I ate it all up. And Esiree stepping into her power throughout the story? Loved watching her become more confident and embrace who she really is.
There were also so many moments where I was sitting there like WHAT IS GOING ON?!? The mystery surrounding Kesna, Vastion's brother, the cure, and eventually the truth about Esiree's blood kept me guessing.
And the romance… 🥵 The tension was SO good. The Falls scene? Yeah. No notes. And that birthday present??? HOT DAMN.
I also loved the payoff with Vastion experiencing the world again after the curse was lifted. His quote about Esiree having “eclipsed my heart entirely” absolutely got me. 🥹
Overall, this had pretty much everything I want in a romantasy: vampires, hate-to-love, marriage of convenience, banter, a feisty FMC, he falls first and a deliciously slow burn.
Five stars from me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The combination of vampires, a marriage of convenience, secrets, banter, and so much tension had me completely invested.
Vastion and Esiree were EVERYTHING. The way he immediately saw that she was hiding something, the banter, the slow burn, the fact that he falls first… I ate it all up. And Esiree stepping into her power throughout the story? Loved watching her become more confident and embrace who she really is.
There were also so many moments where I was sitting there like WHAT IS GOING ON?!? The mystery surrounding Kesna, Vastion's brother, the cure, and eventually the truth about Esiree's blood kept me guessing.
And the romance… 🥵 The tension was SO good. The Falls scene? Yeah. No notes. And that birthday present??? HOT DAMN.
I also loved the payoff with Vastion experiencing the world again after the curse was lifted. His quote about Esiree having “eclipsed my heart entirely” absolutely got me. 🥹
Overall, this had pretty much everything I want in a romantasy: vampires, hate-to-love, marriage of convenience, banter, a feisty FMC, he falls first and a deliciously slow burn.
Five stars from me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 29, 2026
This is such a different take on a vampire romance and I loved it. The action starts immediately. We meet our FMC, she's feisty, strong and determined. The land is being overrun with "rabids" or diseased vampyrs that ravage and kill. There are ruling vampyrs who only drink donated blood and there has been a treaty for centuries. The vampyr queen has died and now the king must choose a new wife who are tributes from each district. Esiree is the tribute from her territory and she had her family have a plan to fix all the issues, so she must be chosen. Vastien is our vampyr MMC. He cares deeply about both the vampyrs and humans and upholding the treaty. He is immediately intrigued by Esiree as she does not cower from him and banters with him. Of course she hates vampyrs at first, but once she gets to know Vastien and discovers his kindness and deep devotion to saving all Devana's people, she changes her mind quickly.
Enemies to Lovers
Vampire x Human
One Horse
He Falls First
Forced Marriage
Banter & Tension
Down Bad MMC
Feisty FMC
Enemies to Lovers
Vampire x Human
One Horse
He Falls First
Forced Marriage
Banter & Tension
Down Bad MMC
Feisty FMC
September 19, 2026
I received an ARC of The Last Bride.
I’m a big fan of Lexy’s since her initial duology, Tales of Forgotten Fae. In The Last Bride, I was immediately immersed into a world where humans and Vampyrs must coexist through a centuries-old treaty requiring the union of a human queen and a Vampyr king.
The new queen, Esiree, is both bold and tender hearted. Vastion, the king, is stoic, melancholic and altruistic — aching for experiences he’s long stopped pining for in his Vampyr age.
Together, they are MAGIC. Great banter, dual POV structure, and fast-but-appropriate pacing made this book unputdownable for me. There are also some intriguing side characters who I hope we get more of someday!
Thanks for my advanced copy. I can’t wait for the next Lexy Night release!
I’m a big fan of Lexy’s since her initial duology, Tales of Forgotten Fae. In The Last Bride, I was immediately immersed into a world where humans and Vampyrs must coexist through a centuries-old treaty requiring the union of a human queen and a Vampyr king.
The new queen, Esiree, is both bold and tender hearted. Vastion, the king, is stoic, melancholic and altruistic — aching for experiences he’s long stopped pining for in his Vampyr age.
Together, they are MAGIC. Great banter, dual POV structure, and fast-but-appropriate pacing made this book unputdownable for me. There are also some intriguing side characters who I hope we get more of someday!
Thanks for my advanced copy. I can’t wait for the next Lexy Night release!
October 4, 2026
Such a unique vampire love story! It kept me investing and wanting to read on to see what happens next! I also love this is a stand alone as I feel we don’t get that often in the genre.
September 14, 2026
Thank you to the Literary Collective and Lexy Night for an ARC of The Last Bride. I love a good vampire book and I really enjoyed my time reading this! I thought the plot was interesting, the treaty between the humans and Vampyr smart negotiation, and honestly I thought all the tropes (forced marriage, enemies to lovers, he falls first, touch her and die, etc.) were actually done well so it didn’t feel corny.
Esiree enters as a tribute to become the bride of the Vampyr King, knowing only 2 things: she hates all Vampyr and she wants to kill him. She’s cunning in how she gets selected, and once whisked away as his bride she wants nothing to do with him. She stands her ground (which he respects), and takes no shit from those who don’t want her there. What I really liked is that she saw past her prejudices and acknowledged that what she had been taught her whole life was inaccurate and was happy to learn truths. I love how she spoke up and told Vastion that she was more than a pretty face, wanting to be useful as Queen.
I, shockingly, thought that Vastion was a great guy. He actually communicates well, be it knowledge or his feelings, unlike most broody immortals I’ve read about in the past. What a refreshing feeling! He is not a creep despite his age and situation, and truly wants the brides to feel at home in the Heart, even those he had no romantic connection to.
The plot was paced very nicely and I never found myself bored by what was going on. I liked being fed crumbs of truth and having the whole story revealed later, and how the characters and the plot played off of each other (versus being driven solely by one or the other). The ending was very clever, and not exactly what I expected. I would love to see a sequel or a novella on how the rest of the situation unfolds but from different POV’s other than Esiree and Vastion.
Esiree enters as a tribute to become the bride of the Vampyr King, knowing only 2 things: she hates all Vampyr and she wants to kill him. She’s cunning in how she gets selected, and once whisked away as his bride she wants nothing to do with him. She stands her ground (which he respects), and takes no shit from those who don’t want her there. What I really liked is that she saw past her prejudices and acknowledged that what she had been taught her whole life was inaccurate and was happy to learn truths. I love how she spoke up and told Vastion that she was more than a pretty face, wanting to be useful as Queen.
I, shockingly, thought that Vastion was a great guy. He actually communicates well, be it knowledge or his feelings, unlike most broody immortals I’ve read about in the past. What a refreshing feeling! He is not a creep despite his age and situation, and truly wants the brides to feel at home in the Heart, even those he had no romantic connection to.
The plot was paced very nicely and I never found myself bored by what was going on. I liked being fed crumbs of truth and having the whole story revealed later, and how the characters and the plot played off of each other (versus being driven solely by one or the other). The ending was very clever, and not exactly what I expected. I would love to see a sequel or a novella on how the rest of the situation unfolds but from different POV’s other than Esiree and Vastion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC copy of TLB, and by the Gods of Devana, everything in my statement below is true, or may I be tossed to the Forlorn for my sins.
I do not recommend this book if any of the following are true:
*You have obligations.
*You have a spouse who loves your undivided attention.
*You need sleep or sustenance to survive.
*You cannot stand being completely and utterly distraught that you CANNOT reread a book for the first time EVER again.
I highly recommend this book for all of the following, for which I willingly sacrificed all of the above, because Lexy Night is an author who just cannot stop spinning tales that enrapture you:
*A slow-burn that sets your heart on fire.
*Insta-love that makes you cherish this one life, because we don't have the possibility of forever.
*Banter that is equal to my own sharp mouth and makes me smile! Who doesn't like a little firebird?
*A story of well-woven, interlaced stories, with a special nod to The Tales of the Fallen Fae. (If you missed it... I challenge you to reread the other two books of Lexy Night. Or if this is your first rodeo... you will see).
I hated that this story had to end. Hated that I couldn't keep watching the faces of Devana evolve.
If I know Lexy, her wheels are turning.
In the meantime, my foot is tapping as I stare straight at her waiting. Begging. Pleading for more.
And when she tells me, "Maybe."
I'll just arch an eyebrow and grin, and under my breath whisper, "Whatever you say, brave. Little. Liar."
Bravo my friend. Bravo.
I do not recommend this book if any of the following are true:
*You have obligations.
*You have a spouse who loves your undivided attention.
*You need sleep or sustenance to survive.
*You cannot stand being completely and utterly distraught that you CANNOT reread a book for the first time EVER again.
I highly recommend this book for all of the following, for which I willingly sacrificed all of the above, because Lexy Night is an author who just cannot stop spinning tales that enrapture you:
*A slow-burn that sets your heart on fire.
*Insta-love that makes you cherish this one life, because we don't have the possibility of forever.
*Banter that is equal to my own sharp mouth and makes me smile! Who doesn't like a little firebird?
*A story of well-woven, interlaced stories, with a special nod to The Tales of the Fallen Fae. (If you missed it... I challenge you to reread the other two books of Lexy Night. Or if this is your first rodeo... you will see).
I hated that this story had to end. Hated that I couldn't keep watching the faces of Devana evolve.
If I know Lexy, her wheels are turning.
In the meantime, my foot is tapping as I stare straight at her waiting. Begging. Pleading for more.
And when she tells me, "Maybe."
I'll just arch an eyebrow and grin, and under my breath whisper, "Whatever you say, brave. Little. Liar."
Bravo my friend. Bravo.
September 7, 2026
Review of Advance Reader Copy
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Last Bride and gave it a solid 4-star rating.
The story follows an enemies-to-lovers romance, and the banter between the characters was absolutely perfect. The setting is a world where a vampire king rules over the territories of Devana and the Heart which are a combination of his kind, and the human kind. He is forced to keep a human bride at his side to maintain peace between the two. While the humans detest the vampire king and his kind, they rely on his protection from the nests of forlorn vampires who are driven by a need to kill and feed on humans. King Vastion is now tasked with finding a new bride, and Esiree is determined to win his attention, not because she desires the throne, but because of her family’s hatred of his kind.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Last Bride and gave it a solid 4-star rating.
The story follows an enemies-to-lovers romance, and the banter between the characters was absolutely perfect. The setting is a world where a vampire king rules over the territories of Devana and the Heart which are a combination of his kind, and the human kind. He is forced to keep a human bride at his side to maintain peace between the two. While the humans detest the vampire king and his kind, they rely on his protection from the nests of forlorn vampires who are driven by a need to kill and feed on humans. King Vastion is now tasked with finding a new bride, and Esiree is determined to win his attention, not because she desires the throne, but because of her family’s hatred of his kind.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a great enemies to lovers vampire romance. The MMC is a vampire king looking for his human bride in order to continue a treaty created long prior. He's had so many human brides but this FMC just hits different for him. I love how Es, the FMC, is so witty and spicey. She's a great time. The MMC, was actually so likeable. Maybe some would paint him as a villain but I think he's very hero like. This was a fun and easy ready with everything wrapping up for the FMC and MMC in this book.
I read an advanced reader copy of this book.
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review and all the opinions are my own.
I read an advanced reader copy of this book.
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review and all the opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
I was very interested in this book but was sadly let down. The story isn't bad at all it was the execution that I felt was lacking. I really like the different take on Vampires and the Vampire human relationship.
My biggest problem was the tell but not show theme. I wish there would have been more dialogue and less description of interactions. The end wrapped up a little too quickly in kind of vague descriptions of what I expected to be a very complex and delicate matter.
I liked the relationship between the fmc and mmc but I just wanted more of it.
Thank you to the Literary Archive Collective for the chance to review this ARC.
My biggest problem was the tell but not show theme. I wish there would have been more dialogue and less description of interactions. The end wrapped up a little too quickly in kind of vague descriptions of what I expected to be a very complex and delicate matter.
I liked the relationship between the fmc and mmc but I just wanted more of it.
Thank you to the Literary Archive Collective for the chance to review this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
my first Lexy Night book and it certainly won’t be my last!
a marriage is forced upon Esiree with the Vampyr King, Vastion. She hates him, he’s enamored from the beginning (and is everything you want in a man that yearns)
I inhaled this book. The pacing was fantastic, the banter was hilarious, the tension: impeccable. This was a breath of fresh air for vampire romantasy & I highly recommend!!
a marriage is forced upon Esiree with the Vampyr King, Vastion. She hates him, he’s enamored from the beginning (and is everything you want in a man that yearns)
I inhaled this book. The pacing was fantastic, the banter was hilarious, the tension: impeccable. This was a breath of fresh air for vampire romantasy & I highly recommend!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Reader Review: I devoured this book in one sitting it was that good.
The banter between the FMC and MMC is top tier. Being able to read from both POV adds another layer to their banter. The world building made me feel like I was there.
The vampire lore is unique but easy to understand and follow. This is a good first fantasy book if you want to get into the fantasy realm.
Lexi has a way of writing at a pace that keeps you wanting to turn the page to know what happens next without giving away too much, too soon.
The banter between the FMC and MMC is top tier. Being able to read from both POV adds another layer to their banter. The world building made me feel like I was there.
The vampire lore is unique but easy to understand and follow. This is a good first fantasy book if you want to get into the fantasy realm.
Lexi has a way of writing at a pace that keeps you wanting to turn the page to know what happens next without giving away too much, too soon.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book had a lot of bantering
between the means fmc! They
were enemies in every meaning
of the word. Vampire and human.
Predator and prey. Forced to marry,
but sometimes you get to see what
a person is really like behind closed
doors. In this book you get to see both
the mmc and fmc grow together and fight
enemies that wil try to tear them apart…….
Read the story to find out how. It is a
🌶️🌶️🌶️ and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Enjoy the hunt.
between the means fmc! They
were enemies in every meaning
of the word. Vampire and human.
Predator and prey. Forced to marry,
but sometimes you get to see what
a person is really like behind closed
doors. In this book you get to see both
the mmc and fmc grow together and fight
enemies that wil try to tear them apart…….
Read the story to find out how. It is a
🌶️🌶️🌶️ and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Enjoy the hunt.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5⭐️ I literally woke up in the mornings with my Kindle under my head. I couldn’t stop reading until I fell asleep mid-sentence. The story was told so beautifully and the plot moved along steadily. I’m not usually a fan of multiple POV stories but this worked, mostly.
Esiree and Vastion were not a typical couple but somehow they ended up working. I loved seeing the relationship develop. I wasn’t sure how it was going to end up and I was surprised at the way she wrote the ending.
There was a perfect blend of action, suspense, personality conflicts, court politics, secrets and romance to keep things interesting. There were a couple of scenes with Orin and Tempus that felt a little awkward until the overall picture came to light and the significance made sense.
I received a free eARC from the author via Literary Archive Collective. I voluntarily leave this honest review.
Esiree and Vastion were not a typical couple but somehow they ended up working. I loved seeing the relationship develop. I wasn’t sure how it was going to end up and I was surprised at the way she wrote the ending.
There was a perfect blend of action, suspense, personality conflicts, court politics, secrets and romance to keep things interesting. There were a couple of scenes with Orin and Tempus that felt a little awkward until the overall picture came to light and the significance made sense.
I received a free eARC from the author via Literary Archive Collective. I voluntarily leave this honest review.
Review of advance copy
I became a Lexy Night fan after reading To No End and Come What May. So I was super excited to be one of the first to read The Last Bride. This is not a continuation of the duology. This is a totally new book, with new characters and it is contained in one single book. The FMC is human, the MMC is Vampyre. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, it was well written, the characters were fleshed out, but be aware this book is a little spicy. I don't want to give anything away with my review but who knew we could love Vampyres? Grab this book and read it... then tell me if you could love a Vampyre.
October 4, 2026
I read The Last Bride over the course of one day, pretty much start to finish, and that is really rare for me. I’m a mood reader, and usually I have to hop around between multiple books in a day. I may finish books relatively quickly, but I don’t usually read them cover to cover in the same day. The Last Bride was one of those books that completely held my attention.
There are so many things about this book that I absolutely loved. It has most of my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, and the slowest of slow burns. Vastion and Esiree are actual enemies (at least from her perspective). Vastion is the Vampyr king, and Esiree is a human who has to become his queen to fulfill a treaty between the humans and vampires that basically keeps everything in equilibrium. The vampires rely on humans for sustenance, but the humans also rely on the vampires to protect them from the much more evil, animalistic Rabids (Forlorn if you want to use the more respectful term).
For centuries, this arrangement has worked. But what I think is really tragic is what that means for Vastion. As a Vampyr, he has many human queens over the centuries. Each human queen lives with him for around 50 years, and then she dies. I can’t imagine what that pain must be like. Having the first-person POV from both characters was especially effective because you really get a sense of the deep pain and emotions they’re both carrying. I don't usually comment on writing style, but The Last Bride has some of the best writing I've seen in the genre. It has a gothic, almost old-fashioned dignity to it, that emphasizes Vastion's quiet elegance and juxtaposes Esiree's raw emotion.
What’s also interesting is that while Vastion has sacrificed so much over the centuries, Esiree doesn't know how much that sacrifice has cost him. She only sees her own sacrifice. As the human who is going to become queen, she’s isolated from the rest of humanity in the Vampyr city.
At the beginning, we know the Vastion is going to choose Esiree, because the other women purposely make themselves undesirable. The entire thing is part of a plan to eradicate the Vampyr. But over the course of the book, we get to watch Esiree's perspective evolve as she spends more time in Vampyr society. They become people to her. At the same time, Vastion begins to let a human in, learn to love someone again, and treat her as an equal.
I really felt the emotion in this relationship. I believed that they loved and cared for each other, and I was so deeply invested in them.
The writing is so good, and you can’t help but root for these characters. At the same time, you’re willing to sit with them in their sadness and understand how that sadness motivates them. I felt such a connection to both Vastion and Esiree.
One of the biggest things that determines whether something becomes a five-star read for me is how much it makes me feel, and this made me feel so, so, so much.
I am incredibly excited for book two. This book works as a standalone, but the next book is going to follow two of the side characters, and I’m very excited to see their story, too. I’m also really hoping Vastion and Esiree make an appearance.
If you like vampires, enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, and a real slow burn that develops into what feels like a deep, loving relationship, you’ll definitely want to read The Last Bride.
I received an advance reader copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion.
There are so many things about this book that I absolutely loved. It has most of my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, and the slowest of slow burns. Vastion and Esiree are actual enemies (at least from her perspective). Vastion is the Vampyr king, and Esiree is a human who has to become his queen to fulfill a treaty between the humans and vampires that basically keeps everything in equilibrium. The vampires rely on humans for sustenance, but the humans also rely on the vampires to protect them from the much more evil, animalistic Rabids (Forlorn if you want to use the more respectful term).
For centuries, this arrangement has worked. But what I think is really tragic is what that means for Vastion. As a Vampyr, he has many human queens over the centuries. Each human queen lives with him for around 50 years, and then she dies. I can’t imagine what that pain must be like. Having the first-person POV from both characters was especially effective because you really get a sense of the deep pain and emotions they’re both carrying. I don't usually comment on writing style, but The Last Bride has some of the best writing I've seen in the genre. It has a gothic, almost old-fashioned dignity to it, that emphasizes Vastion's quiet elegance and juxtaposes Esiree's raw emotion.
What’s also interesting is that while Vastion has sacrificed so much over the centuries, Esiree doesn't know how much that sacrifice has cost him. She only sees her own sacrifice. As the human who is going to become queen, she’s isolated from the rest of humanity in the Vampyr city.
At the beginning, we know the Vastion is going to choose Esiree, because the other women purposely make themselves undesirable. The entire thing is part of a plan to eradicate the Vampyr. But over the course of the book, we get to watch Esiree's perspective evolve as she spends more time in Vampyr society. They become people to her. At the same time, Vastion begins to let a human in, learn to love someone again, and treat her as an equal.
I really felt the emotion in this relationship. I believed that they loved and cared for each other, and I was so deeply invested in them.
The writing is so good, and you can’t help but root for these characters. At the same time, you’re willing to sit with them in their sadness and understand how that sadness motivates them. I felt such a connection to both Vastion and Esiree.
One of the biggest things that determines whether something becomes a five-star read for me is how much it makes me feel, and this made me feel so, so, so much.
I am incredibly excited for book two. This book works as a standalone, but the next book is going to follow two of the side characters, and I’m very excited to see their story, too. I’m also really hoping Vastion and Esiree make an appearance.
If you like vampires, enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, and a real slow burn that develops into what feels like a deep, loving relationship, you’ll definitely want to read The Last Bride.
I received an advance reader copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion.
September 30, 2026
First, thank you to the Literary Collective and Lexy Night for an eARC of The Last Bride. All opinions are my own.
Who doesn't love a good vampire romantasy to lead into the spooky season? Lexy Night was able to combine historical-feeling romance with a unique treaty between humans and Vampyr's in a world where Vampyr's are a known species and have their own subsection of forlorn who have fallen victim to their basic instincts and are the true horror of the world. Lexy has filled this standalone with tropes you know and love: arranged/forced marriage, enemies to lovers, he falls first, and, of course, touch her and die, to name a few. These were all handled well and flowed through the story, where they fit nicely and didn't feel forced or overplayed.
This is a dual POV where we split time between our two leading characters, Esiree and Vastion. Esiree has entered as a tribute for Vastions next human bride, a requirement of part of a treaty between the two species, where, Vastion as the vampyr king must have a human bride to oversee over the human species. But Esiree isn't your traditional tribute, her family has created an arrangement to try and guarantee her selection. She knows two things with absolute certainty. She hates all Vampyr's, and she will stop at nothing to help her family kill Vastion.
Instead of being terrified, Esiree shows up feisty and knows how to stand her ground, this instantly intrigues Vastion and I was honestly shocked to think he was truly a great guy from the beginning. While Esiree is set on this being her infiltration mission, dead-set on tearing this kingdom apart and helping eliminate all Vampyr's, Vastion is slowly weasling his way into her heart, and her bed.
Like I mentioned before this is a dual POV, and it was honestly so fun to get both views of their situation and seeing how they navigated and responded to each other. Having him fall for her first and oh so hard made their banter so good and so fun to read. He has no clue about her full plot and the strong animosity of her toward him simply because of his species and her learned prejudice. She's constantly trying to be cold and calculating and he finds her absolute fiestiness and struggle charming. Watching their sheer tension chip away till all her walls completely collapse will have you grinning and kicking your feet.
I will say there were some instances in the middle of the book where I found her to be a bit frustratingly childish in the way she tried to stomp and force her way, but I still kept turning the page because the over all plot and the road ahead kept me intrigued enough to move past her childish pouting moments.
The ending was completely unique and dodged all the predicitable vampire tropes you get with these types of books. It was such a satisfying plot twist and it helps the standalone work out great. This world and how it handles the vampire genre is really unique and had such a creative exploratory vastness. I would honestly love to see a return to this world, possibly following Vastion's sister?
If you're looking for a twist on the vampire genre, I would highly recommend this book!
Who doesn't love a good vampire romantasy to lead into the spooky season? Lexy Night was able to combine historical-feeling romance with a unique treaty between humans and Vampyr's in a world where Vampyr's are a known species and have their own subsection of forlorn who have fallen victim to their basic instincts and are the true horror of the world. Lexy has filled this standalone with tropes you know and love: arranged/forced marriage, enemies to lovers, he falls first, and, of course, touch her and die, to name a few. These were all handled well and flowed through the story, where they fit nicely and didn't feel forced or overplayed.
This is a dual POV where we split time between our two leading characters, Esiree and Vastion. Esiree has entered as a tribute for Vastions next human bride, a requirement of part of a treaty between the two species, where, Vastion as the vampyr king must have a human bride to oversee over the human species. But Esiree isn't your traditional tribute, her family has created an arrangement to try and guarantee her selection. She knows two things with absolute certainty. She hates all Vampyr's, and she will stop at nothing to help her family kill Vastion.
Instead of being terrified, Esiree shows up feisty and knows how to stand her ground, this instantly intrigues Vastion and I was honestly shocked to think he was truly a great guy from the beginning. While Esiree is set on this being her infiltration mission, dead-set on tearing this kingdom apart and helping eliminate all Vampyr's, Vastion is slowly weasling his way into her heart, and her bed.
Like I mentioned before this is a dual POV, and it was honestly so fun to get both views of their situation and seeing how they navigated and responded to each other. Having him fall for her first and oh so hard made their banter so good and so fun to read. He has no clue about her full plot and the strong animosity of her toward him simply because of his species and her learned prejudice. She's constantly trying to be cold and calculating and he finds her absolute fiestiness and struggle charming. Watching their sheer tension chip away till all her walls completely collapse will have you grinning and kicking your feet.
I will say there were some instances in the middle of the book where I found her to be a bit frustratingly childish in the way she tried to stomp and force her way, but I still kept turning the page because the over all plot and the road ahead kept me intrigued enough to move past her childish pouting moments.
The ending was completely unique and dodged all the predicitable vampire tropes you get with these types of books. It was such a satisfying plot twist and it helps the standalone work out great. This world and how it handles the vampire genre is really unique and had such a creative exploratory vastness. I would honestly love to see a return to this world, possibly following Vastion's sister?
If you're looking for a twist on the vampire genre, I would highly recommend this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I went into this thinking it was part of a series for some reason so I was braced for the ending to go terribly and then just end, but it isn't and I was relieved when it wrapped up nicely because a woman can only keep track of so many series at once, and I was absolutely prepared to add one more to the list. Alas, this was a full story and I'm unsure if I should be happy or sad about it because I could have easily read several books of this.
I've read all of Lexy's books so far and can easily say that she's an instant grab author for me. Her worlds are vibrant, her characters well crafted, and her stories capturing. In this particular book were placed in a world that's dark, dreary, and almost hopeless feeling at its beginning. There are "plans" in place, yes, but they're more a hope and a prayer than an actual plan, and from the very beginning I saw the issue that the character's plotting the vampyr king's downfall didn't: they vampyrs are all that stand between the humans and the Forsaken.
But listen, this is what makes the story good. It's what gives it that real feel. Because people who feel backed into a corner, who feel controlled, make stupid decisions. Their blant prejudice against the vampyrs is realistic and reflects the real world where people are so quick to think someone that looks/thinks/acts differently than them is in the wrong and immediately assume the worst of them. Their hate is loud, blinding, and causes far more harm than good.
The romance itself was woven slowly, in little tidbits, as time passes and truths are revealed. It went from slow to full throttle rather quickly, but I enjoyed every moment of it. I enjoyed the back and forth banter between these two, and I especially enjoyed Vastion's chapters and getting a look into his head for a bit because through Esiree's eyes he's in complete control. Spoliers: he absolutely is not fully in control 🤣 Poor man is clawing control by a thread.
The conclusion of this one was satisfying and wrapped everything up pretty nicely. I was honestly impressed with how much Lexy fit in there at the end. But listen... I know it's a standalone... I know! But I want Orin's story. And Mina's. Thin line between love and hate, right? Forced proximity is already there so... 👀
Anywho! Definitely give this one a read. If you like vampire romances, slow burns, hate to love stories then this one is for you. Benefit is it's a standalone. Drawback is Lexy always makes you want more with her stories so just be prepared for that 🤣
I've read all of Lexy's books so far and can easily say that she's an instant grab author for me. Her worlds are vibrant, her characters well crafted, and her stories capturing. In this particular book were placed in a world that's dark, dreary, and almost hopeless feeling at its beginning. There are "plans" in place, yes, but they're more a hope and a prayer than an actual plan, and from the very beginning I saw the issue that the character's plotting the vampyr king's downfall didn't: they vampyrs are all that stand between the humans and the Forsaken.
But listen, this is what makes the story good. It's what gives it that real feel. Because people who feel backed into a corner, who feel controlled, make stupid decisions. Their blant prejudice against the vampyrs is realistic and reflects the real world where people are so quick to think someone that looks/thinks/acts differently than them is in the wrong and immediately assume the worst of them. Their hate is loud, blinding, and causes far more harm than good.
The romance itself was woven slowly, in little tidbits, as time passes and truths are revealed. It went from slow to full throttle rather quickly, but I enjoyed every moment of it. I enjoyed the back and forth banter between these two, and I especially enjoyed Vastion's chapters and getting a look into his head for a bit because through Esiree's eyes he's in complete control. Spoliers: he absolutely is not fully in control 🤣 Poor man is clawing control by a thread.
The conclusion of this one was satisfying and wrapped everything up pretty nicely. I was honestly impressed with how much Lexy fit in there at the end. But listen... I know it's a standalone... I know! But I want Orin's story. And Mina's. Thin line between love and hate, right? Forced proximity is already there so... 👀
Anywho! Definitely give this one a read. If you like vampire romances, slow burns, hate to love stories then this one is for you. Benefit is it's a standalone. Drawback is Lexy always makes you want more with her stories so just be prepared for that 🤣
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ok... Where do I even start with this book. It had so many twists and turns that I was always wondering where it was going. It has all the things... Hate. Love. Political intrigue. Queens. Vampyr. Deceit. Good spice. AND a nice epilogue wanting me to read more!
Esiree is crass, smart.... and a human with a strong hate for vampyr. The vampyr are, of course, the royalty of the Devana in which they govern both humans and vampyr. But surprise surprise, the vampyr must drink the blood of humans to survive. Only from donors of course. And the vampyr provide protection from the forlorn or rabids. Really depends on who you are talking to as to how they refer to these blood lusting, murderous, zombie-like, changed vampires.
Here in lies the political intrigue, the treaty includes that the vampyr king, Vastion, takes a human bride. He has taken many of brides. And it is time to take another. Guess who it is this time?! Esiree. You know, the one that HATES vampyrs. So why would she do this? Because her family has a plan to take down the vampyrs and win back the humans' freedom.
Things do not go as planned for Esiree. She learns that Vastion is actually a good person, I mean, vampyr. He wants this to end just as much as she does. Her hate turns into love because she learns that the vampyr are NOT the cruel creatures they have imagined. She was blinded by her hate as were her family.
What I really enjoyed about this book as that it is a reminder of what it is like to be human. We do not always understand what is going on behind the scenes or within each other. We may not ever really know people and their intentions even though we think we do. There are a lot of twists and turns. Like, what was up with Tempus? It all makes sense in the end. All these little nuggets of information packaged in fantastic events through Lexy's storytelling. AND THE ENDING!! I was NOT expecting that ending.
I always love vampire stories - especially when the author does it differently! Lexy did it differently and very well... SOOOOO I cannot wait to read book 2.
Esiree is crass, smart.... and a human with a strong hate for vampyr. The vampyr are, of course, the royalty of the Devana in which they govern both humans and vampyr. But surprise surprise, the vampyr must drink the blood of humans to survive. Only from donors of course. And the vampyr provide protection from the forlorn or rabids. Really depends on who you are talking to as to how they refer to these blood lusting, murderous, zombie-like, changed vampires.
Here in lies the political intrigue, the treaty includes that the vampyr king, Vastion, takes a human bride. He has taken many of brides. And it is time to take another. Guess who it is this time?! Esiree. You know, the one that HATES vampyrs. So why would she do this? Because her family has a plan to take down the vampyrs and win back the humans' freedom.
Things do not go as planned for Esiree. She learns that Vastion is actually a good person, I mean, vampyr. He wants this to end just as much as she does. Her hate turns into love because she learns that the vampyr are NOT the cruel creatures they have imagined. She was blinded by her hate as were her family.
What I really enjoyed about this book as that it is a reminder of what it is like to be human. We do not always understand what is going on behind the scenes or within each other. We may not ever really know people and their intentions even though we think we do. There are a lot of twists and turns. Like, what was up with Tempus? It all makes sense in the end. All these little nuggets of information packaged in fantastic events through Lexy's storytelling. AND THE ENDING!! I was NOT expecting that ending.
I always love vampire stories - especially when the author does it differently! Lexy did it differently and very well... SOOOOO I cannot wait to read book 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2026
Overview
-Genre: paranormal romantasy
-Pages: 350+
-POV: dual
-Vibes: Mr Darcy as a vampire & Lizzy as a tribute
-Tropes: arranged marriage, human x vampyr, royal/political/court intrigue, us vs them, he falls first, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, chosen one, quest
-Microtropes: biases & prejudice, all is not as it seems, seeking a cure, sunflowers, dark vs light
⭐️4-4.25
Thank you Literary Archive Collective and Team Lexy Night for allowing me to read a digital copy prior to release!
I know what you might be thinking: Oh, look, another vampire story. While, yes, it does involve vampires and humans, this story includes unique vampire lore and has its own legs to stand on amongst the giants in this popular category.
The author combined a plot-forward story with romance, and it blended well. She allowed the romantic tension to build in a slower-burn fashion, and the spicier scenes were not too graphic and did not overshadow the main plot. The author was descriptive, but not overly so, which helped not to bombard the readers.
I enjoyed the banter between characters, and the dialogue was great. The FMC was fiery and snarky, and her relationship with the MMC started out in hate based on bias and prejudice. The MMC has vibes of Mr Darcy, and he definitely fell first. The characters were allowed to show their flaws, and there was a progressional character development throughout for both the protagonists and supporting characters.
I appreciated that this book was less than 400 pages, but still contained a lot. The ending was slightly anticlimactic for me in the sense that it felt a little rushed. However, I think it was intentional because it seems to be setting up for a possible second book, and the epilogue was the only chapter from a secondary character.
If there is a Book 2, I'll look forward to it! And I plan to add all other Lexy Night books to my TBR.
All opinions are my own.
-Genre: paranormal romantasy
-Pages: 350+
-POV: dual
-Vibes: Mr Darcy as a vampire & Lizzy as a tribute
-Tropes: arranged marriage, human x vampyr, royal/political/court intrigue, us vs them, he falls first, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, chosen one, quest
-Microtropes: biases & prejudice, all is not as it seems, seeking a cure, sunflowers, dark vs light
⭐️4-4.25
Thank you Literary Archive Collective and Team Lexy Night for allowing me to read a digital copy prior to release!
I know what you might be thinking: Oh, look, another vampire story. While, yes, it does involve vampires and humans, this story includes unique vampire lore and has its own legs to stand on amongst the giants in this popular category.
The author combined a plot-forward story with romance, and it blended well. She allowed the romantic tension to build in a slower-burn fashion, and the spicier scenes were not too graphic and did not overshadow the main plot. The author was descriptive, but not overly so, which helped not to bombard the readers.
I enjoyed the banter between characters, and the dialogue was great. The FMC was fiery and snarky, and her relationship with the MMC started out in hate based on bias and prejudice. The MMC has vibes of Mr Darcy, and he definitely fell first. The characters were allowed to show their flaws, and there was a progressional character development throughout for both the protagonists and supporting characters.
I appreciated that this book was less than 400 pages, but still contained a lot. The ending was slightly anticlimactic for me in the sense that it felt a little rushed. However, I think it was intentional because it seems to be setting up for a possible second book, and the epilogue was the only chapter from a secondary character.
If there is a Book 2, I'll look forward to it! And I plan to add all other Lexy Night books to my TBR.
All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book brought me back to life again!
It stole my heart and then gifted it back to me with a pretty green ribbon.
Where do I even begin? The decadence that is the worldbuilding, the stakes that are so high they’re balancing on a tightrope between two cliffs.
The feistiness of Esiree and how she carries herself through the journey we go on with her in this book. Something I adore about how Lexy has written Es is that she is so full of grit and determination and an absolute iron refusal to be dismissed or cast aside. She puts herself at tables where otherwise she isn’t invited, and I found her to be both relatable and inspirational. She wears her heart on her sleeve and it shines as her greatest strength.
Vastion… I don’t think I quite have the words to summarise his character. Somehow he manages to be regal and gentle, earnest and a force to be reckoned with. I could feel how deeply he cares for his people and his duty, and how conflicted his role forces him to be, and yet he’s still kind and sweet and charming.
I’ve laughed, I’ve teared up, I’ve wanted to scream and also jump excitedly up and down. The tension is wonderfully paced throughout this book, it gives you morsels that are just enough to keep you wanting to turn every page and see what happens next.
This book balances everything beautifully, so well that I can’t for the life of me decide which part of the story/plot was my favourite because all of it kept me on the edge of my seat, left me desperate to keep reading and to find out what happens, and felt so satisfying for all of them by the last page.
Grateful to have been along for the ride with this one and for the reminder this incredible story gave me: why I became a reader in the first place.
Absolute chef’s kiss of a book, and my hat has flown off my head and into the stratosphere in awe of Lexy and what she’s created with this one.
It stole my heart and then gifted it back to me with a pretty green ribbon.
Where do I even begin? The decadence that is the worldbuilding, the stakes that are so high they’re balancing on a tightrope between two cliffs.
The feistiness of Esiree and how she carries herself through the journey we go on with her in this book. Something I adore about how Lexy has written Es is that she is so full of grit and determination and an absolute iron refusal to be dismissed or cast aside. She puts herself at tables where otherwise she isn’t invited, and I found her to be both relatable and inspirational. She wears her heart on her sleeve and it shines as her greatest strength.
Vastion… I don’t think I quite have the words to summarise his character. Somehow he manages to be regal and gentle, earnest and a force to be reckoned with. I could feel how deeply he cares for his people and his duty, and how conflicted his role forces him to be, and yet he’s still kind and sweet and charming.
I’ve laughed, I’ve teared up, I’ve wanted to scream and also jump excitedly up and down. The tension is wonderfully paced throughout this book, it gives you morsels that are just enough to keep you wanting to turn every page and see what happens next.
This book balances everything beautifully, so well that I can’t for the life of me decide which part of the story/plot was my favourite because all of it kept me on the edge of my seat, left me desperate to keep reading and to find out what happens, and felt so satisfying for all of them by the last page.
Grateful to have been along for the ride with this one and for the reminder this incredible story gave me: why I became a reader in the first place.
Absolute chef’s kiss of a book, and my hat has flown off my head and into the stratosphere in awe of Lexy and what she’s created with this one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When this ARC dropped into my inbox, I had completely forgotten I even applied for it! At the time, I’d just finished two other ARCs and felt a little overwhelmed since I was itching to dive into my personal TBR. But receiving an ARC is such a privilege, and I wanted to honor my commitment!
And let me tell you… I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
Story Overview
The story follows Esiree, a human FMC determined to infiltrate the Vampyr King’s realm and eliminate the ruler and subjects she blames for the darkness tearing apart the human realms. To do this, she must become the first tribute from her territory to participate in the Harvest and win the favor of King Vastion.
However, as Esiree puts her plan into motion, she slowly realizes that this King and his people might not be everything humans have been led to believe…
My Thoughts
Lexy's writing style is amazing—it flows so effortlessly and is so easy to read! I honestly can’t express enough how much I love these characters.
- Esiree is a phenomenal FMC. Even in the face of danger, she displays incredible courage and strength. She is fiercely curious, constantly seeking knowledge, and open-minded enough to challenge her own assumptions.
- Vastion is a top-tier swoon-worthy MMC! The patience and care he shows Esiree will completely melt your heart… but his filthy mouth will have you giggling and kicking your feet!
- The Dynamics: The banter between Esiree and Vestion is absolute perfection, and I loved that it was written in dual perspective!
If you’re looking for:
- Slow burn & enemies-to-lovers
- Elite banter
- A vampire MMC with a filthy mouth
- Political intrigue
- A strong, capable FMC
...then you have to check this book out when it releases! I highly recommend adding it to your TBR!
And let me tell you… I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
Story Overview
The story follows Esiree, a human FMC determined to infiltrate the Vampyr King’s realm and eliminate the ruler and subjects she blames for the darkness tearing apart the human realms. To do this, she must become the first tribute from her territory to participate in the Harvest and win the favor of King Vastion.
However, as Esiree puts her plan into motion, she slowly realizes that this King and his people might not be everything humans have been led to believe…
My Thoughts
Lexy's writing style is amazing—it flows so effortlessly and is so easy to read! I honestly can’t express enough how much I love these characters.
- Esiree is a phenomenal FMC. Even in the face of danger, she displays incredible courage and strength. She is fiercely curious, constantly seeking knowledge, and open-minded enough to challenge her own assumptions.
- Vastion is a top-tier swoon-worthy MMC! The patience and care he shows Esiree will completely melt your heart… but his filthy mouth will have you giggling and kicking your feet!
- The Dynamics: The banter between Esiree and Vestion is absolute perfection, and I loved that it was written in dual perspective!
If you’re looking for:
- Slow burn & enemies-to-lovers
- Elite banter
- A vampire MMC with a filthy mouth
- Political intrigue
- A strong, capable FMC
...then you have to check this book out when it releases! I highly recommend adding it to your TBR!
September 30, 2026
I didn't know what to expect when I first started reading The Last Bride, but within a few pages I was absolutely hooked!
Lexy Knight takes us on an incredible journey of world-building and storytelling. We start with our main character, Esiree, as she prepares to enter the selection process for the next human bride of Vampyr King Vastion. However, you learn that Esiree’s motives aren't entirely innocent, in more ways than one.
Similarly, Vastion, who has been trapped in this ongoing cycle of taking a human bride for centuries, has unfortunately outlived them all and must start the process all over again. So while Esiree is motivated by distrust and deceit toward the Vampyr, Vastion sees Esiree as a challenge and selects her as his bride to learn more of her motives. Having secured the Human Queen title, all Esiree needs to do now is find out the secrets of the Vampyr, so that she and her family can destroy their kingdom and end the cycle of human brides.
Of course, nothing ever goes as planned, and as the endless flirtation and tension morph into shared secrets between the two, their relationship is strengthened through shared trauma, heartbreak, and respect.
Like many fantasy novels, world-building is one of the most important components, next to storytelling, and Lexy Knight brings the incredible Kingdom of Devana to life in The Last Bride. Each location is thought-out and serves a purpose. (Also, we love an included map!) This isn’t just a silly love story. There is political conflict, innocent lives at stake, a need for protection, and a want for something better. So many themes that bring you right in as a reader. If I could give it six stars, I would!
Lexy Knight takes us on an incredible journey of world-building and storytelling. We start with our main character, Esiree, as she prepares to enter the selection process for the next human bride of Vampyr King Vastion. However, you learn that Esiree’s motives aren't entirely innocent, in more ways than one.
Similarly, Vastion, who has been trapped in this ongoing cycle of taking a human bride for centuries, has unfortunately outlived them all and must start the process all over again. So while Esiree is motivated by distrust and deceit toward the Vampyr, Vastion sees Esiree as a challenge and selects her as his bride to learn more of her motives. Having secured the Human Queen title, all Esiree needs to do now is find out the secrets of the Vampyr, so that she and her family can destroy their kingdom and end the cycle of human brides.
Of course, nothing ever goes as planned, and as the endless flirtation and tension morph into shared secrets between the two, their relationship is strengthened through shared trauma, heartbreak, and respect.
Like many fantasy novels, world-building is one of the most important components, next to storytelling, and Lexy Knight brings the incredible Kingdom of Devana to life in The Last Bride. Each location is thought-out and serves a purpose. (Also, we love an included map!) This isn’t just a silly love story. There is political conflict, innocent lives at stake, a need for protection, and a want for something better. So many themes that bring you right in as a reader. If I could give it six stars, I would!
September 23, 2026
3.5 stars
In an effort to bring the humans & vampyrs together, a treaty was formed stating the vampyr King must take a human bride. The time has come once again for King Vastion to find a wife out of the tributes from each territory. Esiree & her family are intent that she becomes the next Queen in order to bring the vampyrs down from the inside. But as truths start to surface, Esiree questions everything she knows about the vampyrs.
I’m a sucker for duel pov enemies to lovers so when I heard about this arc I was so excited to dive in!! I thought the world was unique with the treaty & other elements that I haven’t seen before in other vampire books.
The story itself is easy to follow & felt very cozy (as cozy as this type of book can be). Don’t be mistaken by my synopsis, there’s actual story happening around our characters. It really feels like a full story, not just focusing solely on the romance which I always appreciate.
Being a standalone, the pace for this story is fast. I understand it’s to get through a whole lot of story within the confines of the book, however I wish there were certain moments we could’ve lingered in longer or seen for ourselves (as opposed to having it happen off page).
Overall I think this was a really fun read!! Perfect for those who want some enemies to lovers, vampire x human with a little spice (okay a good amount of spice) but don’t want to commit to a full series.
Thank you to the author for the arc!!
In an effort to bring the humans & vampyrs together, a treaty was formed stating the vampyr King must take a human bride. The time has come once again for King Vastion to find a wife out of the tributes from each territory. Esiree & her family are intent that she becomes the next Queen in order to bring the vampyrs down from the inside. But as truths start to surface, Esiree questions everything she knows about the vampyrs.
I’m a sucker for duel pov enemies to lovers so when I heard about this arc I was so excited to dive in!! I thought the world was unique with the treaty & other elements that I haven’t seen before in other vampire books.
The story itself is easy to follow & felt very cozy (as cozy as this type of book can be). Don’t be mistaken by my synopsis, there’s actual story happening around our characters. It really feels like a full story, not just focusing solely on the romance which I always appreciate.
Being a standalone, the pace for this story is fast. I understand it’s to get through a whole lot of story within the confines of the book, however I wish there were certain moments we could’ve lingered in longer or seen for ourselves (as opposed to having it happen off page).
Overall I think this was a really fun read!! Perfect for those who want some enemies to lovers, vampire x human with a little spice (okay a good amount of spice) but don’t want to commit to a full series.
Thank you to the author for the arc!!
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