MAJOR Plot spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
THIS IS YOUR SECOND WARNING. If you don’t want to know what happens then don’t read this review.
4.5 stars
This story had typical vibes that I usually get while reading a paranormal romance. It had great world building with introductions of what a vampire, hunter, and a savage vampire were. Some of the elements of this world had very similar rules to other vampire book while at the same time having its own unique and established rules that other books do not. I really appreciated that and being sucked into the world right from the get go as Ronan and Kadence had their meeting at the club with the same purposes of killing Joseph, a savage vampire. They immediately had this super intense attraction and pull towards each other, which was an indication that they were each other’s mates.
What I thought was really interesting was the rules that hunters had for their woman. It was very sexiest. Very archaic and very much gave me vibes of a historical romance that place restrictions on woman. Yes, women in the hunter world was protected, but they were also trapped and not free to live. They were precious commodities, but more as brood mares instead of individuals due to the low number of births in the hunter’s population. So, these women were sequestered, matched with a fellow hunter and marriage, taught how to please her husband, and just learn to be the perfect wife. That was a woman’s function, but Kadence wanted more than that from her life. She wasn’t that stereotypical woman that were known in the hunter’s world. She “failed” her classes to become the perfect wife. She yearned to see the world. She wanted to see the outside world that she had been protected and sheltered from. She was very smart and resourceful as she snuck out of the compound in order to find and kill Joseph for killing her father. I just loved her tenaciousness and wit. Just everything that wasn’t valued in the hunter’s world of what a woman should be was what Kadence. I loved that about her so much.
As for the romance between Kadence and Ronan, I absolutely loved and adored. It started with that pull to each other in the club, but soon became much more because they knew that they had a connection. It was a heated and intimate one. I loved how Ronan gently took care of her when she was injured. I loved how they listened to each other as they each explained their worlds to each other. Worlds that were different yet similar. Despite the fact that hunters hated the vampires and was what was taught to Kadence all her life, she never hated him as she got to know him and learn about the fact that not all vampires were bad. She even started falling for him along the way. I loved the training scene, which was sexy and spicy as their sexual tension played out. I loved how he was willing to give her her freedom even to the detriment of himself after learning she had been trapped all her life at the hunter’s compound with very little choices. He wanted to give her the world and let her make her own decisions of how to live her life. He never wanted to pressure her to stay with him even though if she left he was more than likely to go savage without her. He really put her first in her wants and needs. I loved that because it showed how much her cared and loved her. Just their whole courtship was really well done to show as they began fall in love with one another even without the mating bond.
The love scenes between these two were scorching hot, yet really intimate and about their connection as a a couple. Their first time scene was very beautifully done as they indulged in their craving for each other, but ti very gentle way since it was her first time. It was about the intimacy and sharing together as they brought each other pleasure. They had a little hiccup in the aftermath scene, but not because he didn’t want to hold her close, but it was cause he was loosing control and wanted to make her his completely by biting her and having her become a vampire to stay with him all eternity, but he never wanted to do it against his will so he ran away, which made her believe he rejected her, not knowing the full extent of what was going on. Then after things became revealed, things got back on track then they had some more sexy times that were spicy yet intimate as the first time. There was the one scene that felt really intimate because there was such understanding in that moment because she realized that she wanted to be with him and what she had to due in order to ensure that happened. It was a process that was very emotional as it was bonded until they were really one. There was no going back after that. I loved that.
There were a lot of action packed scenes in the hunt for Joseph. It didn’t take away from the romance, but only enhanced. It added an edge, danger, and suspense to the story. But there was another element in their as well, which was the hunters vs vampires conflict. Both of them had the same goals of taking down savage vamps, but the two groups didn’t have understanding between each other, leading them to be in some heated conflicts along the way as they chased Joseph. It was very tense especially with the whole connection between Ronan and Kadence. However it lead to a good opportunity to bridge the gap between the two groups and form and alliance hence the name of this series. So, I appreciated that part of the story. I thought it added depth without taking away from main thing which was the romance between Ronan and Kadence.
I throughly enjoyed this book very much. I adored it. It reminded me much like other paranormal romances that I have read in the past with lots of passion, danger, suspense, and world building. Some of the world building was similar to other vampire books, yet had some unique things about it too mainly the things concerning the savage vampires. It made very intriguing and kept me on the seat of my pants as both hunters and vampires alike go after savage vamp Joseph. With this world that was built, it made very interested in wanting to continue the series because I want to know what happens next and see more richness to the world that was established in this one. The romance was awesome as a pivotal plot point with everything else in the background only enhancing the romance as it progressed between Kadence and Ronan. I loved them together so much. I loved seeing their journey in falling love with each other. It was clear that they understood each other as they got to know each other more and more. They had a great connection. They had passion. They had great intimate moments together. It was clear they wanted the best for each other. They just had a real good relationship with one another. I appreciated that so much. Even though I did this story and world was really amazing, I couldn’t quite give it a five star rating, not because of anything that the story did wrong, but there was just something that was preventing me to give it a five stars. I don’t know what that missing piece was, but it was something. But overall, I enjoyed my reading journey with this one, and I can see myself reading more books in this series as well as the series that it was spun off from sometime in the future because I’m very intrigued. This was a win in my book.