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Salsang Chronicles #1
Stained Egos
I’ve been training for this moment for years, ever since I was dumped at the academy like a piece of trash. I’ve pulled myself up by my bootstraps and taken more beatings, both physical and magical, than any vampire ever should. Now I have my opportunity, my only way out of Westbrook Academy, and I’m not going to blow it. Getting picked by a brotherhood is no easy task, but my life has never been easy!
She’s everything they never knew they wanted, but more than one overly ambitious student wants to win the final place in their brotherhood. It’s up to Cade, Raven, Barclay, Keiran, and Gideon to make sure they pick the best person for their team, after all, the brotherhoods are the only thing stopping the magic world and the human world from crashing into each other...
When things start to go sideways can the guys still trust that they will pick the best candidate for the position, or will it end up being a political game of cat and mouse, as powers out of their control manipulate the future?
Stained Egos is the first book in the Salsang Chronicles, a paranormal "why choose" romance series featuring a kick-ass heroine and her part vampire lovers that will leave you breathless and begging for more.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2019
938 people are currently reading
1636 people want to read
About the author
Helen Scott
109 books1,273 followersUSA Today bestselling author Helen Scott spends her time alternating between fantasy and reality. She likes to think she’d be sorted into Hufflepuff and would have been a Physical Kid from Brakebills. Her days are fueled by tea and cuddles from her four-legged kids and amazing husband in their home in the Chicago suburbs.
When not reading or writing, Helen can be found baking, enjoying a walk in the woods, crafting, or playing video games. She’s a lover of sushi and K-Dramas and is convinced there is magic in the world if you know where to look.
Whether paranormal or contemporary, Helen loves writing sassy, kick-butt heroines and drool-worthy love interests. She's the author of the House of Wolves and Magic series, the Cerberus series, and the Of Demons and Dragons series.
Subscribe to Helen’s newsletter for a free book to get started on the adventure today! https://geni.us/HelenScottNewsletter
When not reading or writing, Helen can be found baking, enjoying a walk in the woods, crafting, or playing video games. She’s a lover of sushi and K-Dramas and is convinced there is magic in the world if you know where to look.
Whether paranormal or contemporary, Helen loves writing sassy, kick-butt heroines and drool-worthy love interests. She's the author of the House of Wolves and Magic series, the Cerberus series, and the Of Demons and Dragons series.
Subscribe to Helen’s newsletter for a free book to get started on the adventure today! https://geni.us/HelenScottNewsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
March 14, 2019
Rating: 5 stars
Heck yes!
+ Multiple povs
+ Boarding school kind of setting
+ ADULT PROTAGONISTS
+ Powerful heroine
+ Powerful male characters
+ Chemistry
+ Sexual tension
+ Sexy time
+ Just fluff the fluffing yes
real review to come at some point
Heck yes!
+ Multiple povs
+ Boarding school kind of setting
+ ADULT PROTAGONISTS
+ Powerful heroine
+ Powerful male characters
+ Chemistry
+ Sexual tension
+ Sexy time
+ Just fluff the fluffing yes
real review to come at some point
March 14, 2019
HOLD YOUR TITS.
The RH gods have smiled upon us.
They have gifted us.
They have HASHTAG BLESSED us.
We must give thanks, RHR.
We must give sacrifice.
I say we sacrifice the No Alpha series, that shit can go.
Or will the gods be angry that we sacrificed something unworthy?
We must ponder this.
ANY W A A A YYYYYY.
This. Book.
Oh.
Firstly, FUCK LILY.
She’s a straight up twat.
Secondly, FUCK ME RAVEN.
I am at your mercy. My human body needs you.
Ugh. These men. Gonna give me a damn heart attack.
Broody, HOT, and alpha.
And distinctive personalities???
WHAT?
Helen. Serena. You’ve been promoted to professors. Go teach some of the other RH authors what a personality really is.
(You know who you are)
The plot:
I’d like to state that I’ve witnessed bullying in a horrifying way in the past and this book reminded me that bitches ain’t shit, and all that matters is perseverance.
Female bullies set back feminism by the decades! WE MUSN’T ALLOW THIS. So seeing Marcella begin to fight back was nice.
The abuse to the students: plain nasty. Ew. Helen, Serena, go see a counselor. I fear y’all have some troubled pasts.
But what these scenes brought to the book was needed. Compassion, empathy and sympathy, emotion.
YES. YES. YES.
The editing: please redo this, please.
I saw a comma next to a period and about shit myself.
WE MUSN’T ALLOW THIS.
Overall, I am fucking wowed.
Grab the 64 pack of crayons WITH the sharpener and
COLOR. ME. SHOCKED.
I need the second book like, now.
The RH gods have smiled upon us.
They have gifted us.
They have HASHTAG BLESSED us.
We must give thanks, RHR.
We must give sacrifice.
I say we sacrifice the No Alpha series, that shit can go.
Or will the gods be angry that we sacrificed something unworthy?
We must ponder this.
ANY W A A A YYYYYY.
This. Book.
Oh.
Firstly, FUCK LILY.
She’s a straight up twat.
Secondly, FUCK ME RAVEN.
I am at your mercy. My human body needs you.
Ugh. These men. Gonna give me a damn heart attack.
Broody, HOT, and alpha.
And distinctive personalities???
WHAT?
Helen. Serena. You’ve been promoted to professors. Go teach some of the other RH authors what a personality really is.
(You know who you are)
The plot:
I’d like to state that I’ve witnessed bullying in a horrifying way in the past and this book reminded me that bitches ain’t shit, and all that matters is perseverance.
Female bullies set back feminism by the decades! WE MUSN’T ALLOW THIS. So seeing Marcella begin to fight back was nice.
The abuse to the students: plain nasty. Ew. Helen, Serena, go see a counselor. I fear y’all have some troubled pasts.
But what these scenes brought to the book was needed. Compassion, empathy and sympathy, emotion.
YES. YES. YES.
The editing: please redo this, please.
I saw a comma next to a period and about shit myself.
WE MUSN’T ALLOW THIS.
Overall, I am fucking wowed.
Grab the 64 pack of crayons WITH the sharpener and
COLOR. ME. SHOCKED.
I need the second book like, now.
March 2, 2019
I found it! I found my new favourite guys!
I lurv this like a fat kid loves cake. The bond people it’s all about the bond
Let me lay this out for you and explain in all the ways this is exactly my cup of tea.
Set in a world where there are 2 sets of vampires along side various other supernaturals. The privileged purebloods and the second class mixed blood. Both attend different academy like schools where they become fluent in the language of kicking ass. This is not a high school romance . The half vamps group 5 males together and once they’ve proved themselves and are ready they get their Sixth pureblood female who will bond the group, become the focus and increase their strength. sounds good right?. This 5 travel to the pureblood academy to be assigned their Sixth by means of a competition between the potentials.
So everyone is a bloodsucking vampire awesome
Everyone is a killer lethal
Everyone has other half supernatural powers too like dream walking, shifter, Druid ...
Multiple POV it’s just always better
The bond makes them possessive, horny, and more powerful yup just go read it already
The MC is suitably super special but also downtrodden with a dark past and is 25
The harem is deliciously hot and broody and also tortured souls who naturally just want to be loved
We all know Akeroyd can write but it’s nice to see a plot I’m fully behind and a lovely fast burn that’s packing some heat while still leaving plenty for the next.
So maybe we have Scott to thank for that
Thank you ladies
Feel free to hit me up with that sequel anytime
But we all know that’s not likely to happen soon so because my memory is still like that of a goldfish here is my Guy Guide (patient pending) for when we do get a sequel
Cade: Time Walker/Vampire, sexy, grumpy one
Gideon: Druid/vampire, sexy, covered in tats ergo second hottest.
Raven: Mind Walker/Vampire, sexy, silver hair ergo the most hottest.
Barclay: shifter/Vampire, sexy, makes everyone sleep in same bed = bonus points for him
Keiran: Dream Walker/Vampire, sexy, the reluctant one, soft spoken but scary
March 19, 2019
What can I say- this book was JUST what I needed!
* everyone’s a vampires ✔️
*ages in the mid 20s ✔️
*everyone has hella cool unique powers ✔️
*insta-love bond making a fast burn smexytime✔️
*different POVs✔️
*minimal secret keeping and everyone communicates fairly maturely ✔️
*has a broody sexy harem and a MC who isn’t a weakling ✔️
Read this book! Now... I mean now ....
I’m waiting ... go get on KU now!!!
* everyone’s a vampires ✔️
*ages in the mid 20s ✔️
*everyone has hella cool unique powers ✔️
*insta-love bond making a fast burn smexytime✔️
*different POVs✔️
*minimal secret keeping and everyone communicates fairly maturely ✔️
*has a broody sexy harem and a MC who isn’t a weakling ✔️
Read this book! Now... I mean now ....
I’m waiting ... go get on KU now!!!
March 23, 2019
3.5 Stars
I wanted to give it a full 4 stars, but also a full 3 so I compromised. Here's why:
I love the premise and the characters. It pulled me in a kept me interested through until the end.
However, there was a big gaping plot hole that bugged me, and caused me to drop it to 3 stars. I feel like it was left that way to create more drama, which it did, but it was contrived, unnecessary drama.
I really feel that if they had taken the more logical path it could have intensified the story, adding more intrigue, action and suspense throughout the series.
But we'll see how this direction plays out in the remaining books in the series.
I wanted to give it a full 4 stars, but also a full 3 so I compromised. Here's why:
I love the premise and the characters. It pulled me in a kept me interested through until the end.
However, there was a big gaping plot hole that bugged me, and caused me to drop it to 3 stars. I feel like it was left that way to create more drama, which it did, but it was contrived, unnecessary drama.
I really feel that if they had taken the more logical path it could have intensified the story, adding more intrigue, action and suspense throughout the series.
But we'll see how this direction plays out in the remaining books in the series.
April 30, 2020
2 stars. interesting enough to finish but something is missing
Pet peeve insta lust
Pet peeve insta lust
February 7, 2021
2.5 stars - can't tell the guys apart, the girl is said to be tough but act weak, no world build, everyone in authority is an asshole, virgin heroine with no friends, all other girls are bully bitches, inconsistencies and intentional plot wholes etc.
So why exactly am I going to book 2 you ask, because the premise is a bit interesting and I am hoping for improvement or hopefully I will get used to the subpar delivery, idk!
Update 07/02/21
This series gets better. Some of the issues above are still there but the premise is as interesting as ever.
So why exactly am I going to book 2 you ask, because the premise is a bit interesting and I am hoping for improvement or hopefully I will get used to the subpar delivery, idk!
Update 07/02/21
This series gets better. Some of the issues above are still there but the premise is as interesting as ever.
October 30, 2023
DNF. SO BAD.
“She was a virgin…she’d been born to be ours. So the scent of her maidenhead flew straight to my head.”
“The woman had a rack on her that would make a Hooters’ waitress jealous.”
🤢 This reads like it was written by a man. WTF. Aside from the glaring and gag worthy descriptions of a woman and the “she’s not like other girls” trope, the writing was also bad.
“She was a virgin…she’d been born to be ours. So the scent of her maidenhead flew straight to my head.”
“The woman had a rack on her that would make a Hooters’ waitress jealous.”
🤢 This reads like it was written by a man. WTF. Aside from the glaring and gag worthy descriptions of a woman and the “she’s not like other girls” trope, the writing was also bad.
Want to read
August 24, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/24/2019)! 🎁
April 19, 2020
💯 Read for the 2019 MacHalo Splendiferous Book Bingo Thingie (MSBBT™) challenge over at the MacHalo Asylum 💯
•• 26. Multiple authors [Bonus Card] ••
This is another book everyone of my friends raved about but I couldn't stand.
The writing was ok, structure and flow wise, and it seems that the plot might have a chance in hell to be interesting but the content and the characters. Dear Goddess, the content and the characters.
The guys didn't like each other at all, even though they had been together for years. One of the guys absolutely loathed the rest of his team. Homophobic, mysoginistic.
And while the female MC wasn't too bad, she wasn't great either.
Let me example you:
Cade tells us that Barclay is half-wolf. That he insists on doing a few things that will bring their Brotherhood closer and that they work even though they make him personally feel uncomfortable. He tells us how they have to go out running with him once a month in his wolf skin. How they all want to avoid both the runs and Barclay changing into his wolf skin so they have to sleep in the same bed most of the time to compensate, otherwise Barclay becomes restless.
Marcella is described as skinny. Not thin or lithe, but skinny. Raven, on his first POV, said she was bordering on malnourished. She is also described as "small", meaning "petite" I imagine. Yet she somehow has huge, "perfect shaped" boobs. Double or Triple Ds or whatever. Maybe I'm wrong but if a woman is FUCKING MALNOURISHED THEN HER BOOBS CAN'T BE THAT HEALTHY while the rest of her wastes away.
I'll give the girl credit, she isn't a drooling spesual snowflake. For a 24 yr old who has spend the last 6 years in an all-girls academy she seems to have her shit together. Mostly.
This are to name a few things. It turned worse by the minute, so I gave up.. Oh well..
1.5 Stars -- DNF @ Page 151 (66%)
Of my five brothers, I only really liked Raven. Raven was cool as fuck, though, and not hard to like. [...]
I just liked how normal he was, whereas Barclay, Gideon, and Keiran were just odd.
That was what happened when you mixed blood, though.
It was also why most of the purebloods shunned us.
There was a reason why species stuck with one another, not mating outside of their own little genetic pot. When they didn’t obey, fuck-ups like us happened.
~ Cade
Page 1 @1%
This is another book everyone of my friends raved about but I couldn't stand.
The writing was ok, structure and flow wise, and it seems that the plot might have a chance in hell to be interesting but the content and the characters. Dear Goddess, the content and the characters.
The guys didn't like each other at all, even though they had been together for years. One of the guys absolutely loathed the rest of his team. Homophobic, mysoginistic.
And while the female MC wasn't too bad, she wasn't great either.
Let me example you:
Cade tells us that Barclay is half-wolf. That he insists on doing a few things that will bring their Brotherhood closer and that they work even though they make him personally feel uncomfortable. He tells us how they have to go out running with him once a month in his wolf skin. How they all want to avoid both the runs and Barclay changing into his wolf skin so they have to sleep in the same bed most of the time to compensate, otherwise Barclay becomes restless.
It didn’t even matter that we slept on three California Kings. I hated sleeping with these guys. It made me feel like a pussy. But mostly, I hated that the minute people knew Barclay was a shifter, they’d know we had to sleep together.
Not ‘sleep together.’ His dick never went anywhere near my dick, thank you very much, but from the sly looks we received, I knew that was where the purebloods’ brains went anyway, and it pissed me off.
Page 4-5 @1%
Marcella is described as skinny. Not thin or lithe, but skinny. Raven, on his first POV, said she was bordering on malnourished. She is also described as "small", meaning "petite" I imagine. Yet she somehow has huge, "perfect shaped" boobs. Double or Triple Ds or whatever. Maybe I'm wrong but if a woman is FUCKING MALNOURISHED THEN HER BOOBS CAN'T BE THAT HEALTHY while the rest of her wastes away.
The woman had a rack on her that would make a Hooters’ waitress jealous. I mean, I seriously didn’t know where it came from considering how skinny she was. Not even magic kept those bad boys strapped in—she had three sport bra straps on her shoulders to prove it, too.
~ Barclay
Page 36 @16%
I'll give the girl credit, she isn't a drooling spesual snowflake. For a 24 yr old who has spend the last 6 years in an all-girls academy she seems to have her shit together. Mostly.
His eyes tracked me as his lips were about to brush against my own, as though he was waiting for me to move away, to deny him this opportunity. But I didn’t want to. Every fiber of my being wanted to stay put and see exactly what those pillowy rose-colored lips felt like against my own, but we were in the middle of a fight, and I didn’t want to lose thanks to my libido.
That was when I punched him in the kidney.
It was just enough of a distraction for me to get out from under him and move to my feet. When he stood, I could swear for a moment I saw confusion in his gaze, but I knew that had to be wishful thinking. Before he could strike again, someone grabbed me around my upper arms and held me tight.
Page 45 @2%
This are to name a few things. It turned worse by the minute, so I gave up.. Oh well..
February 24, 2019
Awesomeness.
A unique story about an underdog vampire, but without the usual stereotypes. Really cool story premise about the magical elite and scum - a special elite woman deemed unworthy and the five men who are looked down upon by society but are the paranormal worlds’ first defense. Mean girls, magic, longing and passion and corrupt system that needs to be fixed. Such a great book and so dynamic. Can’t wait for the next!
A unique story about an underdog vampire, but without the usual stereotypes. Really cool story premise about the magical elite and scum - a special elite woman deemed unworthy and the five men who are looked down upon by society but are the paranormal worlds’ first defense. Mean girls, magic, longing and passion and corrupt system that needs to be fixed. Such a great book and so dynamic. Can’t wait for the next!
March 2, 2019
THIS is the sort of book I have wanted to read for ages.
It has so many brilliant ingredients:
- Interesting world building, with originality, who's culture has a good and accepted structure and explanation for RH relationships. No wallowing over how "wrong" it all is, which is almost always tiresome to read!
- Told in multiple point of views, from all. Of the main characters, so you get a greater sense of their characters, feelings and motivations.
- Great dynamic between the men, but with huge potential for growth. Things aren't perfect and there's lots of great opportunities to be explored.
- A uber powerful female MC, who is just the right amount of powerful, kick ass and vulnerable. Marcella is just spot on here with all of the characteristics I like in a female MC all in the right balance.
- While I'm not normally a huge fan of insta-love, as its usually just a cheap ploy for writers to not bother to write relationship development, so they can get straight to the steamy bits that help sell their books, it works really well here, as the bond may motivate their actions somewhat in regards to the plot, their regard for Marcella feels genuine, with lots of pote til and development for future books.
- Everyone loves an under dog and our MC and her guys are definitely battling against a system stacked against them and full of prejudice. I haven't disliked the baddies in a book this much for quite some time.
In summary, this is one of the best new RH books I've read in a while and I urge you to pick it up and try it for yourself!
It has so many brilliant ingredients:
- Interesting world building, with originality, who's culture has a good and accepted structure and explanation for RH relationships. No wallowing over how "wrong" it all is, which is almost always tiresome to read!
- Told in multiple point of views, from all. Of the main characters, so you get a greater sense of their characters, feelings and motivations.
- Great dynamic between the men, but with huge potential for growth. Things aren't perfect and there's lots of great opportunities to be explored.
- A uber powerful female MC, who is just the right amount of powerful, kick ass and vulnerable. Marcella is just spot on here with all of the characteristics I like in a female MC all in the right balance.
- While I'm not normally a huge fan of insta-love, as its usually just a cheap ploy for writers to not bother to write relationship development, so they can get straight to the steamy bits that help sell their books, it works really well here, as the bond may motivate their actions somewhat in regards to the plot, their regard for Marcella feels genuine, with lots of pote til and development for future books.
- Everyone loves an under dog and our MC and her guys are definitely battling against a system stacked against them and full of prejudice. I haven't disliked the baddies in a book this much for quite some time.
In summary, this is one of the best new RH books I've read in a while and I urge you to pick it up and try it for yourself!
October 21, 2019
I gave this two stars for the following reasons:
Things that I liked: the plot and the world that the author creates.
Things that (in my opinion) need improvement:
1. There were some contradictions. For example, at the beggining of the book they say that the Pursang (pure blood) never get sick and that the Sansang (not pure) hardly get sick but it happens. And then, by the end, they say that it´s quite the opposite. Please make your mind, or don´t mention it at all.
2. I didn´t quite like the characters and their relationship with each other and with the MC. One would expect that a brotherhood that has lived so many things together would be like family but it´s like they don´t like each other at all. In some books the harem have issues with each other because of something that happened in the past, but in this book it´s like that for no reason.
And the relationship with the MC was so forced, it´s like they don´t like her for her but for what she reprensets, she is powerfull and pretty and that´s all they care about. And after that they care about the bond, but it´s like there is no depth in their relationship. This is specially clear with Kieran, who doesn´t specially care for her (he says because he is pragmatic and doesn´t want to get his hopes up to be disappointed later) and suddenly when the bond starts he cares.
IDK, in my opinion something is off. Nonetheless, I´ll keep reading to see if it gets better in the second book.
Sorry if there are typos, I´m kind of in a rush and English is not my first language.
Things that I liked: the plot and the world that the author creates.
Things that (in my opinion) need improvement:
1. There were some contradictions. For example, at the beggining of the book they say that the Pursang (pure blood) never get sick and that the Sansang (not pure) hardly get sick but it happens. And then, by the end, they say that it´s quite the opposite. Please make your mind, or don´t mention it at all.
2. I didn´t quite like the characters and their relationship with each other and with the MC. One would expect that a brotherhood that has lived so many things together would be like family but it´s like they don´t like each other at all. In some books the harem have issues with each other because of something that happened in the past, but in this book it´s like that for no reason.
And the relationship with the MC was so forced, it´s like they don´t like her for her but for what she reprensets, she is powerfull and pretty and that´s all they care about. And after that they care about the bond, but it´s like there is no depth in their relationship. This is specially clear with Kieran, who doesn´t specially care for her (he says because he is pragmatic and doesn´t want to get his hopes up to be disappointed later) and suddenly when the bond starts he cares.
IDK, in my opinion something is off. Nonetheless, I´ll keep reading to see if it gets better in the second book.
Sorry if there are typos, I´m kind of in a rush and English is not my first language.
March 28, 2019
Well, it was good enough to read book two, but...
- In the blurb, it is said that Marcella is ready to do anything to be a Sixth. What has she done since the beginning of the story? Be unsure of herself, letting Lily win, crying. I felt cheated.
- There is not action. It fells like the students are only run and fight each others, but the plot is based essentially on presenting the characters. The evil energy near the school, in the forest, that Gideon feels? We never know what was it. That's an example.
- There are many inconsistencies in this story. Example: Lily's brother wants her to become the Sixth for Gideon's brotherhood. Even if he knows that she's not a good match for them. If she's not, it will diminish their power. So... why he he insist so much?
- Another thing that make no sense. At the end,
BUT, there is good also, mainly the powers, the magic. That's very interesting. And the characters are most of the time interesting too, specially Gideon's brotherhood. Sex scenes are also good.
- In the blurb, it is said that Marcella is ready to do anything to be a Sixth. What has she done since the beginning of the story? Be unsure of herself, letting Lily win, crying. I felt cheated.
- There is not action. It fells like the students are only run and fight each others, but the plot is based essentially on presenting the characters. The evil energy near the school, in the forest, that Gideon feels? We never know what was it. That's an example.
- There are many inconsistencies in this story. Example: Lily's brother wants her to become the Sixth for Gideon's brotherhood. Even if he knows that she's not a good match for them. If she's not, it will diminish their power. So... why he he insist so much?
- Another thing that make no sense. At the end,
BUT, there is good also, mainly the powers, the magic. That's very interesting. And the characters are most of the time interesting too, specially Gideon's brotherhood. Sex scenes are also good.
May 2, 2019
2.5 The back and forth POV's took a bit to get used to with this kind of novel. The worldbuilding was frustrating, and it ends on a cliffhanger of sorts. The relationship feels a little forced and it's definitely a case of insta-attraction when they get close enough to her to be influenced.
February 26, 2019
I really enjoyed this reverse harem. Marcella, the main character, was strong but vulnerable. I liked her guys. All the characters had interesting powers. I look forward to getting to know each of them better, and seeing how their powers change and interact. The whole vampire/walker/shifter/etc. power variety was surprising but well done. The plot was good, and I look forward to the release of book two. 4 stars.
March 5, 2022
It's just that simple to get a good RH paranormal right!
Multiple povs, sexy but sweet, talented and responsible men with an fl that's flawed and tough but loving and not narcissistic and mean is what we need! That's exactly it! That's the formula guys.
I wish we'd gotten more of Marcella. The way there's no end to how men corrupt any world with their dicks and non existent brains is so disgusting and unbelievable and I hope we get to see Marcella and her brotherhood tear it down.
Multiple povs, sexy but sweet, talented and responsible men with an fl that's flawed and tough but loving and not narcissistic and mean is what we need! That's exactly it! That's the formula guys.
I wish we'd gotten more of Marcella. The way there's no end to how men corrupt any world with their dicks and non existent brains is so disgusting and unbelievable and I hope we get to see Marcella and her brotherhood tear it down.
Read
May 18, 2019Let me summarize a bit of the premise. There are two training academies: Eastbrook and Westbrook. At Eastbrook, creatures that are half-vampire and half-something-else (collectively known as "salsangs" or "dirty bloods") are raised in orphanages, taught that their mixed blood makes them worthless, and told that their only route to freedom is to join the paranormal police.
The paranormal police are organized into units of six, five salsangs and one pureblood, and attached to a pureblooded vampire family. They're subject to the family's whims, their freedom remains limited, and if one of them dies they all do. Few of the potentially immortal beings who join these squads live past the age of sixty. It's a rough life but for a salsang it's the best of their bad options.
Only pureblooded female vampires are sent to Westbook. They're the elite of the elite, spoiled and pampered by their powerful families. At Westbook, they compete to take the sixth and final spot in these paranormal police squads. Only the best of the best can hope to make the cut. The heroine, Marcella, is pure blooded but from a low-status background and she is ostracized as a result. Even though she's powerful, her background might keep her from ever joining a squad.
Are we seeing a problem yet? Did I mention that once a pureblooded female joins a squad as a Sixth, she's expected to have sex with all five salsangs?
In this world blood is status and interspecies sex is taboo. Yet we're supposed to believe that the most talented female offspring of elite pure blooded families--the "princesses"--are intentionally bonded to a bunch of low-status, mixed-blood cops, where they'll be expected to engage in taboo sex and die young?
It makes no sense. Not only is the premise disturbing--all the emphasis on being pure blooded is gross--it's flawed at its core. And the action... every character in this book, hero or villain, does nothing but flail uselessly. Everyone's incompetent. No one accomplishes a single one of their goals. It's ridiculous.
The paranormal police are organized into units of six, five salsangs and one pureblood, and attached to a pureblooded vampire family. They're subject to the family's whims, their freedom remains limited, and if one of them dies they all do. Few of the potentially immortal beings who join these squads live past the age of sixty. It's a rough life but for a salsang it's the best of their bad options.
Only pureblooded female vampires are sent to Westbook. They're the elite of the elite, spoiled and pampered by their powerful families. At Westbook, they compete to take the sixth and final spot in these paranormal police squads. Only the best of the best can hope to make the cut. The heroine, Marcella, is pure blooded but from a low-status background and she is ostracized as a result. Even though she's powerful, her background might keep her from ever joining a squad.
Are we seeing a problem yet? Did I mention that once a pureblooded female joins a squad as a Sixth, she's expected to have sex with all five salsangs?
In this world blood is status and interspecies sex is taboo. Yet we're supposed to believe that the most talented female offspring of elite pure blooded families--the "princesses"--are intentionally bonded to a bunch of low-status, mixed-blood cops, where they'll be expected to engage in taboo sex and die young?
It makes no sense. Not only is the premise disturbing--all the emphasis on being pure blooded is gross--it's flawed at its core. And the action... every character in this book, hero or villain, does nothing but flail uselessly. Everyone's incompetent. No one accomplishes a single one of their goals. It's ridiculous.
June 2, 2021
Need book 2!
This book was a little hard to follow in the beginning, mainly because the supernatural rules are different in this world and there isn’t a whole lot of explanation given. That leaks out over the chapters, dutifully filling you in on the ‘need to know’ info. Once I really got in to it, I couldn’t stop reading. I was completely caught by the struggle, the rules, the back stabbing and the budding romance. Fantastic!
Pros:
- world is totally unique.
- FMC is straight up boss.
- The quintet is amazing and each member of the group actually stands out - unlike some RH novels where the guys sorta blend together, with little character definition.
- Well written.
Cons:
- While thankful this intro to a new series avoided the dreaded first book info dump curse, a bit more revelation would have been helpful.
- Questions, so many questions....
- A few editing issues, did not detract.
This book was a little hard to follow in the beginning, mainly because the supernatural rules are different in this world and there isn’t a whole lot of explanation given. That leaks out over the chapters, dutifully filling you in on the ‘need to know’ info. Once I really got in to it, I couldn’t stop reading. I was completely caught by the struggle, the rules, the back stabbing and the budding romance. Fantastic!
Pros:
- world is totally unique.
- FMC is straight up boss.
- The quintet is amazing and each member of the group actually stands out - unlike some RH novels where the guys sorta blend together, with little character definition.
- Well written.
Cons:
- While thankful this intro to a new series avoided the dreaded first book info dump curse, a bit more revelation would have been helpful.
- Questions, so many questions....
- A few editing issues, did not detract.
March 14, 2019
New series yay. Great introduction. Loved the cover artwork, loved the guys and how powerful/protective they are. Strong female lead but still has a fragility about her. Good plot and suspenseful back story. Didn’t like the over the top bullying, the mean girl thing just annoys me now. Not quite a cliffhanger ending but I want to read the next one to find out what happens next. Favourites would be Raven and Kieran.
June 23, 2020
Consuming
This book is really consuming. I got sucked right in. I do love an underdog. I hope Marcella and her brotherhood can make it away from Westbrook, but it sure won't be easy. I want to know more about Marcella's father because there has to be a reason she's that powerful. The guy is a grade-A asshole, but there has to be more to the story and I want to know what it is.
This book is really consuming. I got sucked right in. I do love an underdog. I hope Marcella and her brotherhood can make it away from Westbrook, but it sure won't be easy. I want to know more about Marcella's father because there has to be a reason she's that powerful. The guy is a grade-A asshole, but there has to be more to the story and I want to know what it is.
March 18, 2019
3,5*
I had to high expectations and it didn't live up to that
I had to high expectations and it didn't live up to that
March 4, 2019
This is a great start to this series! With a different take on pure blood and half blood vampires this world has me hooked! Add a kick ass heroine ( I mean who doesn’t love one of those!!!) her five males who together make a brotherhood, twists and turns, excitement, action and drama and you have a fantastic paranormal read! I love the characters and cannot wait to see how this progresses!
August 25, 2019
Oh so good!
Full of action and incredible world building, with instant connection but room to get to know each other. I can’t wait to see what the authors do in the rest of the series!
Full of action and incredible world building, with instant connection but room to get to know each other. I can’t wait to see what the authors do in the rest of the series!
January 26, 2020
Pretty damn good!...
August 22, 2021
I’m leaving the bulk of my expectations for book 2
March 3, 2019
I really am not sure about this book it felt like a hot mess
Even at the very end I still am not exactly sure what they are? are they all vampires with a secondary nature like druid / dream walker / mind reader etc? I just wasn't clear on that and then the fact that they are "brothers" and are super close but they keep kinda denying they like each other had me kinda questioning if I liked this book. I was on the fence until one of the last lines, not exactly a spoiler but I will hide it just in case.
like wtf? yes that makes you super matcho... idk there wasn't one guy that stood out that I liked and Marcella seemed kick ass but also everyone could walk all over her? and everyone in authority was a pos over the top evil or bastard.
I'm on the fence if I will check out the next one.
Even at the very end I still am not exactly sure what they are? are they all vampires with a secondary nature like druid / dream walker / mind reader etc? I just wasn't clear on that and then the fact that they are "brothers" and are super close but they keep kinda denying they like each other had me kinda questioning if I liked this book. I was on the fence until one of the last lines, not exactly a spoiler but I will hide it just in case.
like wtf? yes that makes you super matcho... idk there wasn't one guy that stood out that I liked and Marcella seemed kick ass but also everyone could walk all over her? and everyone in authority was a pos over the top evil or bastard.
I'm on the fence if I will check out the next one.
March 3, 2021
This was generally enjoyable. RH naughtiness was solid.
I really liked the setting and worldbuilding. I'm expecting more details as the series progresses, but the Brotherhood and Sixth aspects and abilities are definitely unique.
I'm uncertain about Marcella and the guys, though. Marcella comes off as this innocent (of course, she's a virgin, ugh), young, and naive girl even though she's 24 and has had years to grow and toughen up. Sometimes her characterization is off, too, as if 2 authors with different styles are writing her (definitely a possibility). Same with the Brotherhood. We're told about them, not shown, and given a tiny bit of detail, so they're still sort of vague in my mind. I'm struggling to see them all clearly and distinctly.
The plot is okay. The 5 are looking for a 6th member to close the bond and they're being controlled by perverse and corrupt leaders at the Academy. No one is good other than the Brotherhood and Marcella. Kind of unrealistic and contrived, but I'm willing to overlook it as long as the story engages me.
The characters are also sometimes immature and young and rarely acting their age. They're in their mid to late twenties. They shouldn't be acting like teenagers or letting their tempers control them or saying "No shit, Sherlock" or calling literally everyone a bitch. I don't know about you, but these things make me cringe.
The instalust isn't unbearable, but it's borderline. I wish more for slow burn and building up relationships, rather than immediate intrigue, lust, and declarations of "perfect" this and "perfect" that. I want more character development and showing of the Brotherhood bond, too. With multiple books in this series, the authors could have pulled off the slow burn and complexity. Unfortunately, though I enjoyed reading this more than I expected, I'm unsure about the future. It may just become unbearable.
Would I re-read this? No.
Would I recommend this? It wouldn't be the first RH series I would recommend, but it's a solid starting point in the genre. Especially if you love academy settings and vampires.
Was I entertained? Yes. Let's hope for better experiences and complexity in the next installments.
Happy reading, Goodreads fiends.
I really liked the setting and worldbuilding. I'm expecting more details as the series progresses, but the Brotherhood and Sixth aspects and abilities are definitely unique.
I'm uncertain about Marcella and the guys, though. Marcella comes off as this innocent (of course, she's a virgin, ugh), young, and naive girl even though she's 24 and has had years to grow and toughen up. Sometimes her characterization is off, too, as if 2 authors with different styles are writing her (definitely a possibility). Same with the Brotherhood. We're told about them, not shown, and given a tiny bit of detail, so they're still sort of vague in my mind. I'm struggling to see them all clearly and distinctly.
The plot is okay. The 5 are looking for a 6th member to close the bond and they're being controlled by perverse and corrupt leaders at the Academy. No one is good other than the Brotherhood and Marcella. Kind of unrealistic and contrived, but I'm willing to overlook it as long as the story engages me.
The characters are also sometimes immature and young and rarely acting their age. They're in their mid to late twenties. They shouldn't be acting like teenagers or letting their tempers control them or saying "No shit, Sherlock" or calling literally everyone a bitch. I don't know about you, but these things make me cringe.
The instalust isn't unbearable, but it's borderline. I wish more for slow burn and building up relationships, rather than immediate intrigue, lust, and declarations of "perfect" this and "perfect" that. I want more character development and showing of the Brotherhood bond, too. With multiple books in this series, the authors could have pulled off the slow burn and complexity. Unfortunately, though I enjoyed reading this more than I expected, I'm unsure about the future. It may just become unbearable.
Would I re-read this? No.
Would I recommend this? It wouldn't be the first RH series I would recommend, but it's a solid starting point in the genre. Especially if you love academy settings and vampires.
Was I entertained? Yes. Let's hope for better experiences and complexity in the next installments.
Happy reading, Goodreads fiends.
December 17, 2021
What a read! With a unique Academy system and how everything worked there - I was captivated by it - I'm a sucker for that kind of book.
The story revolves around Marcella a girl that's supposed to become a Sixth and she's set to fight for a brotherhood. Seems easy? Right? But not when you are bullied every other day and the worst girl calls dibs on the guys that arrived!
o, let the game begin! It will be entertaining, full of characters and how their powers work together! This was really refreshing to read. I had not read any books with powers working like that (or don't remember about it).
Characters are the most powerful thing here as everyone f them is different from a closed introvert, to an extroverted person. And I was mesmerized by the guys and how different they were!
The story revolves around Marcella a girl that's supposed to become a Sixth and she's set to fight for a brotherhood. Seems easy? Right? But not when you are bullied every other day and the worst girl calls dibs on the guys that arrived!
o, let the game begin! It will be entertaining, full of characters and how their powers work together! This was really refreshing to read. I had not read any books with powers working like that (or don't remember about it).
Characters are the most powerful thing here as everyone f them is different from a closed introvert, to an extroverted person. And I was mesmerized by the guys and how different they were!
February 15, 2021
Too many male POVs and annoying politics for me to enjoy. It’s not just the politics but how they dealt with them. More like didn’t deal but just broke the rules and skiddadled. That’s no fun. That’s just going from a skillet into the fire and I didn’t enjoy it.
Because of the number of male POVs the heroine is left as a very unformed character by the end. Yes, she has a tortured past but other than that all we saw her as is a bit of a horny noodle. Just wallowing around and lusting after them. She’s not a solid enough of a character. Or maybe that’s how she is supposed to be and I just don’t like it?
Don’t know... I’m thinking I probably won’t continue the series
Because of the number of male POVs the heroine is left as a very unformed character by the end. Yes, she has a tortured past but other than that all we saw her as is a bit of a horny noodle. Just wallowing around and lusting after them. She’s not a solid enough of a character. Or maybe that’s how she is supposed to be and I just don’t like it?
Don’t know... I’m thinking I probably won’t continue the series
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