(While this title can stand alone, recommend first two books of series or one of the earlier standalones, like Beloved Vampire, to gain familiarity with the Vampire Queen world)
Loss left them only rage...Until they found each other…
Cai doesn’t want to be with anyone. He doesn’t want a damn servant, he doesn’t want to be associated with damn vampires. Rand just wants to forget his human side, stay in his wolf form and find a satisfying and hopefully violent, bloody way to bring it all to an end.
But when a young female vampire’s life is at stake, the Vampire Council drafts Cai to enter a dark world he never wanted to visit again. Rand is too honorable to let him go alone, and the only way that can work is if he’s Cai’s fully marked servant, bound to the vampire for all eternity.
So fate decides these two lost souls need each other. Even if they have to tear each other apart to figure it out.
A submissive herself, Hill brings authenticity to her intensely emotional BDSM love stories. With over fifty titles and seven series, her contemporary and paranormal romances feature everything from billionaires, bikers, SEALs, firefighters, cops and housemaids, to vampires, mermaids, witches and angels.
"Joey translates the world of BDSM with such intense power and exquisite beauty. LOVE is the most powerful element entwined through the Dominance and submission.” –Goodreads, Pink Lady
Joey is the recipient of the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award for Erotic Romance, and she loves to hear from her readers!
I was captivated by Cai and Rand right from the beginning. After having their introduction in the previous book, I had assumed that this story would start from after that point, but we actually went on a journey from their start to reach that point where they go to the desert.
It was simply amazing getting to see Cai’s heart unconsciously involved since almost the beginning. No matter what he may have thought the reasons for his interest were, it was obvious that it was something that was going to flip his world upside down.
Rand’s story was so heart-breaking, I myself wanted to help him avenge his family’s deaths. And I am ecstatic that Cai got a chance to put his own demons to rest.
It was an emotional journey, exactly what you expect from a book by Joey W. Hill. I wish the series continues onwards. This is a world I never want to part from. ❤️
m/m, m/m/f Vampire's Soul is a fantastic addition to the Vampire Queen series. Rand is a depressed werewolf and Cai is an angry made vampire. These two lost souls come together in the most unlikely of ways and change each other on a fundamental level that may just be the best thing that happens to them. This story is filled with a lot of m/m loving so if that isn’t your thing you may want to skip this one but I have to tell you, you will surely miss out. As with all of this authors books there is so much more than sex going on between the characters and never has it been more evident than between Cai and Rand. As a bonus we get to check in with a couple of favorite characters from previous books. Grab a drink and settle in for a hell of a read. Note: While this title can stand alone, recommend first two books of series or one of the earlier standalones, like Beloved Vampire, to gain familiarity with the Vampire Queen world
Joey W. Hill's Vampire Queen stories are auto buys for me, and I have never, not once, been disappointed. Vampire's Soul is no exception, though I have to admit, Cai is a hard hero to love. His abrasive nature is offset by Rand's heroic soul, the tragic goodness of an alpha wolf shifter who is strong enough to somehow bring out the best in Cai, strong enough to defer to the vampire's need to master his servant. That's sort of an ongoing narrative to Hill's Vampire stories, the fact that the servant is often the more powerful half of the whole, and this book is no exception. I found myself rooting for Cai's success, for Rand's ability to heal, and even for the Vampire Queen herself, Lyssa, to understand what makes Cai act like such a jerk at times, even as he undertakes a truly heroic task set for him by the Vampire Council he truly abhors.
It takes a talented author to create stories with the depth of emotion and the offtimes twisted nature of her protagonists, and make the words absolutely sing. Joey Hill has done it once again in this latest installment to her wonderful Vampire Queen series.
Joey's Hill's Rough Canvas is easily on my top 10 list of m/m books. It guts me (in a good way) every time I read it. Every. time.
So imagine my despair when I learned that Hill writes almost exclusively m/f. I know it's biased, but it feels like a waste of her talent! In any case, when I saw that she was writing another m/m book I did a happy dance of joy and read her book the day it came out.
Sadly, it was just okay. Hill is a good writer and knows how to flesh out a world really well, so it's better than most, but nowhere near the magical perfection that is Rough Canvas.
I need books to be emotional in order to feel connected to the characters and their stories. While this book tells an interesting story and has interesting characters, I didn't feel invested in either character or their relationship to each other. I feel like Hill used paranormal tropes to easily bring her two MC's together. It's *so convenient,* after all, to have werewolves feel a bond quickly or say, have a vampire forge a connection with another using his vampire mojo. And that's what Hill does here. She allows both characters to form a bond paranormally but doesn't take much time to develop it or help her readers understand why these two would *want* to stay together.
The end of the story--where the two MC's find each other again--takes a step towards doing that, but it came too late for me. This is one story where I think it would have benefited from a little less sex and a little more talking/connecting--or at the very least, the same amount of sex AND more talking/connecting.
Again, this story hasn't bad. I truly enjoyed reading it. But I loved Rough Canvas so much that I think I was just expecting more from this book and it didn't delivery.
DNF. Both Cai and Rand were gay. Surprisingly, they had MMF menage sex @ 80% with the female kidnap victim they were sent to rescue. It was totally unnecessary to their relationship and the overall story. What a shame because the book was at a 4 or 5 star rating at the time.
Увы и ах. Интересные кусочки постоянно чередуются с затянутыми и скучными. Автор уделяет необоснованно много внимания второстепенным персонажам и их эмоциональному состоянию. С эротическим действом, через которое Хилл так любит раскрывать своих героев, в этот раз даже перебор. А сцена f/m/m, как мо мне, вообще отдает насилием над оборотнем. Вердикт: читать поклонникам автора.
I have long felt that if anyone could do one of my favourite supernaturals, the wolf shifter, the physical, mental and emotional justice required in a great read, it would be Joey W. Hill. And she most certainly did not let me down.
But better yet, she went and combined it with what is arguably the best vampire series out there. Past. Present. And very probably future, because Ms. Hill just seems to find ways to discover new places and heights to take the Vampire Queen series. At its heart, always vampires, but at its soul, always character. Always more. Always deeper, and without once adding a character of another species because it's au currant, she does so to enrich a perfectly gripping world. There is a flow that doesn't just add, it adds layers and the layers contain the most delicious possibilities.
But what I love most about this book in particular is the depth of both Cai and Rand. Their stories of loss are not too dissimilar, but their individual processes of healing are complex in ways that are not solely species related. It goes without saying that I love a good, strong Alpha wolf, and without doubt Rands strength lies in his insight and in his basic need to belong. And to support.
But Cai and his journey are every bit as compelling, maybe even tangible. To watch his facade begin to crumble, at least where Cai is concerned, is largely to do so via his inner dialogue. To understand, as a reader, what he was going through when the characters around him mostly saw a very different, very hostile almost feral outlier, particularly juxtaposed with Rand, was to make you root for the underdog. And in the end, for him to begin to recognize that he was always more than he believed himself to be, sets their future story on the right track...
***A wonderful Addition to the Vampire Queen Series!***
“Loss left them only rage. Until they found each other… Cai doesn’t want to be with anyone. He doesn’t want a damn servant, he doesn’t want to be associated with damn vampires. Rand just wants to forget his human side, stay in his wolf form, and find a satisfying—hopefully violent—way to bring it all to an end. But when a young female vampire’s life is at stake, the Vampire Council drafts Cai to enter a dark world he never wanted to visit again. Rand is too honorable to let him go alone, and the only way that can work is if he’s Cai’s fully marked servant, bound to the vampire for all eternity. So fate decides these two lost souls need each other. Even if they have to tear each other apart to figure it out.”
I love Shifters. A lot. To finally have a shifter character in the capable hands of Joey W Hill is a wish fulfilled. As a longtime fan of her Vampire Queen Series, I am always impressed by how she is able to weave in new characters and new worlds so seamlessly. Never just token additions to drive a story forward, they always wind up being a necessary thread in the beautiful tapestry her stories create.
Cai and Rand of Vampire’s Soul are the latest addition to that tapestry. Cai,( a made vampire), is at first glance prickly and abrasive to anyone unlucky enough to cross his path. His “I don’t give a fuck” attitude makes him an unlikely candidate for hero-hood. Whether he lives to fight another day or winds up a pile of dust at sunrise, makes not one bit of difference to him. Period. So his chance encounter at the start of our story with a wounded shifter determined to die, seems an unlikely start to this romance. But there is something about Rand the shifter that catches Cai’s attention, and makes him want to see what happens next. That there’s a strong sexual attraction between them is undeniable. That both are willing to act on it almost immediately, despite Rand’s wounds seems mad. But that physical connection becomes the initial thread that will bind these 2 beings together. Rand is an Alpha who has suffered a most devastating loss. Convinced that he’d be better off dead, and wanting to go out in as violent a way as possible, Cai’s appearance and interference in that plan rankles and intrigues him. When both are taken and brought before the Vampire Council, a request for help in rescuing a young female born vampire sets them on a path back into a past that each would rather forget. Complicating matters, the necessity of Cai making Rand a third marked servant in order to achieve their goal, only deepens the questions of who and what they are to each other. Between them, Rand is the more emotionally mature of the pair. Being a shifter and growing up “pack” he is the first to recognize that there’s a lot more between the 2 than just sexual attraction. He cares about Cai and is aware that his feelings are becoming much deeper. Cai on the other hand, chooses to be blind to anything other than the physical pull he feels for Rand. Doesn’t matter that his actions say otherwise. Their eventual rescue and subsequent involvement with Dovia leads to a very steamy scene between the three. And, a closely guarded secret of Cai’s is able to bring Dovia both comfort and closure for an event she was forced to endure. The interactions between our pair and several of our favorite Vampire Queen Characters are both poignant and hilarious. I will never be able to see one particular characters’ name without thinking the phrase “fishwife”and giggling at my own risk. What we discover about Cai’s past, makes who and how is is now, so much more understandable and I’m profoundly grateful that Ms. Hill never dulled his rough edges, or made him less prickly. As for Rand, 3rd marked servant he may be, but he’s nobody’s door mat. When push comes to shove and he needs to take a bold step in order to draw Cai’s attention back to him after their task is finished, his motto was “Go BIG, or go Home”. BIG being a very sexy and appealing new Vampire named Wolf (and yes, the BIG part does fit). What Rand is willing to do with Wolf finally draws Cai back, and at the end of their story the lines between Master/servant, friend/lover are blurred so that what we’re left with are 2 souls right where they’re meant to be. Together...
This is the 14th book of this series. Hands down, this is my favorite, ever, series. Joey W. Hill writes with a burning for life in her soul that comes out on paper and reaches into mine. Not hyperbole. Truth. Her work gets to me on a deep level. This book is about Mordecai, usually called Cai, an ex-Trad vampire, who lives on his own, and Rand, who is a shape shifting wolf. Cai saves Rand after the wolf kills the human hunter who mortally wounded him. Cai wants no part of any relationship, but just can't seem to allow this wolf-man to die. The book takes us through each of their pasts, eventually, as we get to really know them, to delve into the heart and soul of each of these wounded-in-their-own way creatures. This book also includes varying degrees of appearance by Lyssa, the Queen and her servant/mate Jacob, the triad of Deagan, Anwyn, and Gideon, the Trad group with whom Cai spent his first hundred years, and a few other assorted vampires and their servants. It's a brilliant and engrossing story. I was left with the feeling that there were more ends to tie up here and with the hope that Ms. Hill might just need to write another book of this series to bring some of them to conclusion. I certainly hope so. Most brilliant and moving!
It seems like it's been forever since the last Vampire Queen Series release. This was definitely worth the wait! So many things going on, action, adventure, and love. Joey has a wonderful way with words, I love her worlds and how everything blends so well.
I love how Joey is able to take broken souls and find a way to put them back together. I hope to be able to see more of Cai and Rand. If you haven't read the other Vampire Queen Books you'll definitely want to after this!!!
So very good. Cai and Rand are both so broken and damaged, for entirely different reasons. Watching them fight and love each other was so good. Their chemistry was everything two dominant alphas coming together should be. I found myself reading this one slower than usual so I could savor every word.
An incredible roller coaster ride of emotions. I say this over-and-over again, Joey Hill is a master at understanding emotions and life. How she weaves it into this complex world of vampires, fae, shifters, and who knows what else to come, is quite amazing. I read and re-read the first two (2) chapters that were gifted on her website, so many times; I couldn't wait until release day. The wait was well worth it. If you cannot read BDSM or M/M books, then stop now. Please, do not read the book then gripe about this type of content. The anguish of Cai's and Rand's lives will live in me as the children of "Vampire Instinct" continue to do so all of these years later. Their relationship is done to perfection, “Cai’s gaze had that predatory glitter that was terrifying if you were his food, and impossible to resist if you were his.” Their capacity to love unfathomable, “Feel what I believe about you. Feel what I feel for you.” This is a much lighter book as it pertains to vampire social gatherings, but a much heavier book at its looks into the society we have watched unfold and develop. There is no stagnation on the part of Joey’s characters. When Farida is mentioned in a single sentence, I was immediately taken to “The Season of Giving.” The weight at "what could have been" given a much deeper thought (It remains my most FAVORITE novella by any author, but I am partial to this series ♥). As a mom, I want to hold these characters in my arms and never let go: Cai, “So fucking scared … hate it. Just fucking hate it;” Dovia, “I don’t want to feel…the others inside me, around me;” Rand, “Make it stop.” The weight of the story has many lighter moments to soothe our own souls, "Hey, let's do a third mark soul-binding, hike into the Appalachians, and find a bunch of psychotic fuckheads." O, and some FANTASTIC Lyssaisms, “Perhaps it’s better if you listen and I talk. Your chances of survival will increase exponentially.” My favorite line from Cai to Lyssa, “Well, you have a really nice pedicure. You should show that off.” So many memories surface from that single line … Our favorite trinity is with us for a time. The location of the third mark marks (yes, more than one) is significant. Overall, Joey reminds us that life is, “made up of love and loss, and wisdom often so hard-earned, it (rides) hand-in-hand with guilt, regret and nightmares.” For those who survive, we can only hope that they find peace and love. A sincere "thank you" Joey for everything you continue to give to your readers.
Fantastic! Sometimes I feel like characters in a series can fall into becoming all the same based on basic characteristics but I never feel that way about Joey's characters. Especially with Cai. He is hilarious and mean and is the most human-e of the vampires I've met so far regardless.
Rand is a stand-up guy and the development of his shifter background is about what you'd expect, only less fantastical than what you usually see. It was interesting to see the processes of Rand's wolf-mind in terms of emotion where you normally only see visuals and scents talked about.
This book really is a very different kind of Vampire Queen novel. The relationship between Cai and Rand does not adhere 'to the rules' as it is. But its great, and it makes sense for them. It would seem like Cai has the emotional depth of a petri dish because of how he talks but its actually because he feels too much, he's still very connected to his humanity. Rand is basically 99.9% intuition and is battling with his own feelings while still feeling drawn to Cai, sometimes for reasons even he can't understand. There is a strong attraction there though that's certainly physical too.
Speaking of physical, I would've liked more sex tbh. But that's me. There was a good amount though, and it was really good. I came for the sex, but I stayed for the caustic wit, action-adventure, and the HEA.
As a side note, I think by the time the cameo in Night's Templar happens Cai has spent enough time with Rand that he passed on his surliness towards strangers.
~~~~ I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did! ~~~~
Joey E Hill stories / novels have a deep and profound understanding of individuals, it's why I get them, five right in, and want to devour the story in a single sitting each time.
In Vampire's Soul both Rand and Cai are trying their best to face each day, to move forward from pasts that have left wounds where we can't see them. Rand is an Alpha wolf without a pack, a Cai is a made Vampire who has escaped the sexy that made him, and spent decades trying to avoid all other Vampires. Against all odds, these two may be the only brings with their knowledge to save a kidnapped young woman. Their struggles and pain feel incredibly real, as does their effort to heal... or at least try and help others if not themselves. Their complexities are believable and left my heart aching for them to finally catch a break... it get a follow up novel where we find out more about Dovia, who they risked everything to try and rescue.
This novel is part of a much larger series, and I have read the other books in the series as they came out... but I felt this story was a good stand alone book, introducing characters when they appear and not assuming you recall information from a previous book. It continues the world building... but if you've missed a book / story I think you'll be okay.
A wolf-shifter without a pack who wants to forget his human side, stay in his wolf form and find a satisfying and hopefully violent, bloody way to bring it all to an end.
A vampire who doesn’t want to be associated with damn vampires and doesn’t want a damn servant.
So fate decides these two lost souls need each other. Even if they have to tear each other apart to figure out…
I laughed and laughed.
“Does everything you say have to be marinated in sarcasm?”
“No. I prefer to spice things up with jaded cynicism and outrageous acts of selfishness.”
Absolutely delightful, enthralling and beautifully written. Vampire’s Soul is a fantastic addition to the Vampire Queen series.
Happy reading!
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Another good book by Joey W Hill. There's a lot of things going on in this book, but at the end of the day it came down to one thing, finding themselves. It's not easy to find yourself when you're stuck in on mode and can't seem to find way out of it.
Still love this book. The growth of the relationship between Rand and Cai was a journey that never bores me. This is actually the third time I've read this through and I enjoyed it just as much this time as the first time. Thanks Ms. Hill for a story that is exciting and fresh at every read.
First, let me say that I reject the phrase "alpha man/male" because it is based on faux science usually involving animal behavior that has been disproven for a couple of decades now. Plus it makes me think of "alpha" versions of technology and art which generally mean that it is the first draft and in need of revisions. Honestly, I have no idea why anyone would want to apply "alpha" to himself or others unless it is an insult. However, since Hill uses those phrases repeatedly, I need to use it so you understand what you might get in this book.
What you get is closer to the truth than Hill's use of that phrase might suggest. Cai is a made vampire who prefers to be alone because that helps him deal with his reality both past and present. Rand is a werewolf who has lost his pack and is looking to end his loneliness. Vampires, being aggressive, selfish monsters, don't generally do what anyone else wants, so the two men end up being "alone" together. Luckily, they both prefer their own genders for sex because if you've read Hill's Vampire Queen series, you know you will get a lot of that.
I cared enough about both vamp and wolf to feel that urge to keep reading, which is a good sign for a story in my experience. I was pleased that Lyssa, the queen of the series title, appeared far more often that she did in another adjacent book I've recently read in this series. Through Cai and Rand's unsought after deal with the Vampire Council, we learn more about their society that isn't primarily focused on servants having sex in a group setting. More importantly, I found the conclusion to Cai and Rand's affair made sense even it felt a bit rushed.
I don’t know if I have give 5 stars to any book till now. Probably not, cause I’m selective like that. But after reading this, I have to give it. Wow, This is my first read for Hill’s writing but what an amazing writer! Bound to this book from very beginning. It’s rare for me cause I have literally left two novels i had picked earlier in half or less. I am so bored out of reading stuffs that don’t tickles with me and felt to me as something stupid.Nothing that can fulfill my expectations for a good read and reminds me I have read preity good books in past why aren’t any of those are not available now. Then, I found this and yeah it clicked me as I want to read it. And I got connected to the strong characters from beginning. This is exactly what I want to read. Though there are some moments present in it without which the story would have much better. Like having sex with that girl. But overall its a minor bug to a big picture. That’s what a good read for me ( It must have strong characters) and a good storyline. It’s even rarer for me to write reviews of the books I had read but when I like a story & characters that much I want to write about them. And i’m writing it. Everyone should read it, it will not disappoint you. After a long time I found a book worth spending my time and thoughts on. I have read many and I always remember the special ones. This one settles itself proudly among them.
I'm never disappointed by Ms. Hill's storytelling prowess. Vampire's Soul covers some old ground from the Vampire Queen universe and brings a new twist with her take on what a wolf shifter would be in that well established universe. But it's more than a twist; it's a deep plunge into the souls of two wounded males, loners who choose loneliness over the false pretenses of their respective upbringings. Until each other. And who doesn't love a story about how and why two beings fall in love? Especially when Ms Hill channels her muse to show us what might be going on inside two very alpha males. Thinking ain't it, lol! No! Lots of sexy action, wrestling (nude) and, oh yes, a chance to redeem the past and be heroes. I like that the HEA is not neat and tidy and we may have the opportunity to see Cai and Rand again, just as we see all the vampires and servants reappear from book to book. And hope we get to see more meetings between vamps and shifters in the future. Thank you for another great read!
Vampire's Soul is one amazing book. Joey has done another fabulous with this one. This is the first in her vampire world where a wolf comes into play. The world of the vampires are hostile and very possessive (dominant) in nature. Where wolfs are pack members that run with others. There is so much action in this book that I couldn't stop reading it and kept me on the edge of my set wanting more and more. First of all Lady has the patience of Job , because Cai isn't your typical vampire and Rand is defiantly not an servant type (all Alpha). Cai and Rand have a lot to deal with and will they work those issues out? You need to read this book and find out. You will find out about Cai and Rand's past and how that effects them. Can they get through their issues and work together to complete their mission for Vampire Council? If you haven't read any of Joey W. Hill's Vampire Queen Series you are missing out MAJORLY , this is by far the best vampire series out there. I can not wait to see more of these characters in future books. And I'm always wanting more , can't get enough.
Book is fantastic, everything you would expect from the vampire series. I know the author states to read book 1 and 2 to get a feel for the characters that the main characters interact with but I think you need to read them all. I say that because I get a chance to see how much the council has changed and why especially for vampires and servants. Also they make many mentions on relationships building with other so beings like he Fae but you wouldn’t know much of what has happened unless you read the previous book as well as some of the others. Just read them all they are amazing don’t screw yourself by missing a book just because you see it as the only standalone.
What a great addition to the VQ world! Rand being a shifter and an alpha takes us in a different direction from previous master-servant relationships. who masters whom? Both are damaged and alone and come together for a quest. Cai has a whole different view of the vampire world, and I loved his sarcastic side. Rand can't help being a wolf, and that brings so much to the relationship. Great turmoil & emotions, great fights & banter. I love this story & hold we have not seen the last of Cai & Rand. There are a few loose ends to tie up!
There are 26 letters in our alphabet that make up the constituant parts of our language. The wonder of Joey Hill is that she can take those words and weave them into magic. Vampire's Soul brings together two souls whose pasts have been driven by loss and tragedy. For Rand this has deepened his own compassion, kindness and strength of character. For Cai the abyss of his early introduction to horror, has created a wonderfully snarky character rich in experience, but now driven by the need for solitude. Aloneness is the way for both these beautiful men, until they find each other. This latest visit to Joey's Vampire world is a tour de force. Tense, intense, rich in characterisation, filled with Joey's key skill of describing heart and love combine with wondeful flashes of wit and dark humour complete a book which will demand rereading asap. Do not delay to add this fabulous book to your library.
I enjoyed reading this book. I like how she brought in many of the past characters into the story line which helped keep everything connected. The way she portrayed Rand's wolf side and his human side was excellent. I will be sure to recommend this book to others.... Thank you for being such a great author
It's me, I can't get into the story. I'm sorry to author Joey. Her writing sometimes bothers me. I was hoping for shorter,, and hotter intimate scenes. And less emotional head space. The other scenes with the bad guys thrown in, bugged me too. Bad guys: long drawn, and boring. Sorry again, Joey. I pictured the story different, then what I read.
The Story of Do a and Rand was an amazing book! Loved every minute of it! Could not put it down! You want to hug and cry with Via and Rand. Beautiful characters! A must read!