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Whitethorn Agency #1
Rare Vigilance
Everything has a price. Especially the truth.
From the author of Prince of Air and Darkness comes the first in a thrilling new paranormal series.
Former marine Atlas Kinkaid knows not to ask questions about the clients he protects at the behest of the elite Whitethorn security agency. Just like he doesn’t like anyone asking about his scars—scars left by a mysterious attack that haunts his every waking moment.
Consumed by the need to find out what happened to him, Atlas takes a job providing security to Cristian Slava, the indolent—and gorgeous—son of a notorious businessman. Cristian seems to be just another entitled client, but when nights at the club turn into secret meetings and people start going missing, Atlas realizes there’s more to Cristian—and to protecting him—than meets the eye.
But the same people who are after Cristian have something Atlas desperately craves: they know exactly what happened the fateful night he was attacked—and are willing to tell him everything…
For a price.
From the author of Prince of Air and Darkness comes the first in a thrilling new paranormal series.
Former marine Atlas Kinkaid knows not to ask questions about the clients he protects at the behest of the elite Whitethorn security agency. Just like he doesn’t like anyone asking about his scars—scars left by a mysterious attack that haunts his every waking moment.
Consumed by the need to find out what happened to him, Atlas takes a job providing security to Cristian Slava, the indolent—and gorgeous—son of a notorious businessman. Cristian seems to be just another entitled client, but when nights at the club turn into secret meetings and people start going missing, Atlas realizes there’s more to Cristian—and to protecting him—than meets the eye.
But the same people who are after Cristian have something Atlas desperately craves: they know exactly what happened the fateful night he was attacked—and are willing to tell him everything…
For a price.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 22, 2021
53 people are currently reading
1226 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Grant
29 books345 followersM.A. Grant fell in love with the romance genre while working at an independent bookstore. She spent a decade in the rugged beauty of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula before moving to the mountains of Eastern Washington. When she’s not calling out to passing ravens or making a cup of tea, she’s writing dark and moving stories.
She is represented by Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency.
She is represented by Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
May 20, 2021
Wow, this new supernatural M.A. Grant story was really exciting and action-packed every step of the way.
I'd previously read and thoroughly enjoyed Grant's "The Darkest Court", an M/M series about Queen Mab's three Fae prince sons, and if the remainder of this series keeps up with this first book, I may end up liking this series even more than its predecessor.
Set in modern-day, upstate New York, Atlas Kinkaid, a former Marine, took a bodyguard job to protect Cristian Slava, the arrogant son of a wealthy businessman.
[My interpretation of Atlas]
I really enjoyed the first parts of the story, where Christian had resigned himself to the need for a bodyguard/babysitter, but was bound and determined to do everything within his power to make that person's job... hellish.
[My interpretation of Christian]
At the end of his military career, Atlas and his platoon had been attacked by a "monster" in Romania, with him being the only survivor, but what I especially liked about this story was that, when confronted by the same type of "monster" here in the states, that eventually led to Atlas and Christian finally forging a bond. Most definitely not immediately, but eventually.
As I don't want to be "That Spoilery Bitch", those are about the only plot details that I'm comfortable detailing out at this point, but I will add that alongside all of the near-constant action, the romance wasn't entirely left behind in the dust, achieving a nice balance, so two thumbs-up there.
I'd rate this book at around 4.5 stars and whole-heartedly recommend it to any M.A. Grant fans or those who enjoy faster-paced, but not rushed, supernatural stories.
In case some of you are super-curious, and hadn't already heard or figured it out yet, the main supernatural creatures in this story are .
I'll without a doubt be reading *ALL* of the books in this series!
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My ARC copy of the book was provided by the publishers through NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
See All My Latest Reads (Review Quick-Links)
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December 31, 2021
3.5 Stars!
My first read by MA Grant, and I’m confident it won’t be my last.
This starts out with ex-marine Atlas, who’s been traumatized by a mysterious attack that left him the sole survivor of his combat unit, struggling daily with PTSD. However, his sister owns and operates a successful private security agency, and there just so happens to be a lucrative contract that other employees have not meshed well with. This serendipitously adapts for Atlas’s personal/physical struggles that traditional protection jobs can’t typically accommodate.
What I appreciated was the slow burn between Atlas and his charge Christian. They barely tolerate each other, sometimes they oppose one another but ultimately, they learn that there’s more than meets the eye on both their parts, resulting in grudging respect and inevitably more. Secrets abound, politics and takeover machinations are constantly brewing, lives are in danger, and these two must learn to trust each other before it’s too late.
This had a good foundation to the paranormal world building, more I suspect will be further explored in the next book. This also brings a slight twist to standard lore which I enjoyed and want to know more of. Despite my absolute disbelief that Atlas never had a weapon on him (once he utilized a knife), I also suspect that will change in the sequel. Apparently, I need more dead bodies and gore than previously thought. Lol.
Again, a good start to what I hope will be an even better series. And that ending?? I loved it!
My first read by MA Grant, and I’m confident it won’t be my last.
This starts out with ex-marine Atlas, who’s been traumatized by a mysterious attack that left him the sole survivor of his combat unit, struggling daily with PTSD. However, his sister owns and operates a successful private security agency, and there just so happens to be a lucrative contract that other employees have not meshed well with. This serendipitously adapts for Atlas’s personal/physical struggles that traditional protection jobs can’t typically accommodate.
What I appreciated was the slow burn between Atlas and his charge Christian. They barely tolerate each other, sometimes they oppose one another but ultimately, they learn that there’s more than meets the eye on both their parts, resulting in grudging respect and inevitably more. Secrets abound, politics and takeover machinations are constantly brewing, lives are in danger, and these two must learn to trust each other before it’s too late.
This had a good foundation to the paranormal world building, more I suspect will be further explored in the next book. This also brings a slight twist to standard lore which I enjoyed and want to know more of. Despite my absolute disbelief that Atlas never had a weapon on him (once he utilized a knife), I also suspect that will change in the sequel. Apparently, I need more dead bodies and gore than previously thought. Lol.
Again, a good start to what I hope will be an even better series. And that ending?? I loved it!
July 20, 2021
THIS IS A SERIES AND I DIDN'T KNOW! Fuck my life *groans* 🥲
After a rocky start, I really, really loved this! At one point I thought it was gonna be insta, it was not, they were attracted to each other but it wasn't that fast. I also thought I wasn't going to like Cristian because he was a manchild, I was wrong, when he showed his true colors I was fucked! I thought and assumed a lot but at the end I LOVED THIS SHIT!!
I loved the mystery, it was action packed, something was happening all the time, the side characters were awesome, a lot of strong female representation, an interesting take on vampires and an interesting enemy to lovers/bodyguard/I think it will end up being fated mates thing going on. The main characters? Lovely as fuck! ❤💙💜
I do have questions only the next book can answer, so when is it coming? Because I need it! 😭😭💜
After a rocky start, I really, really loved this! At one point I thought it was gonna be insta, it was not, they were attracted to each other but it wasn't that fast. I also thought I wasn't going to like Cristian because he was a manchild, I was wrong, when he showed his true colors I was fucked! I thought and assumed a lot but at the end I LOVED THIS SHIT!!
I loved the mystery, it was action packed, something was happening all the time, the side characters were awesome, a lot of strong female representation, an interesting take on vampires and an interesting enemy to lovers/bodyguard/I think it will end up being fated mates thing going on. The main characters? Lovely as fuck! ❤💙💜
I do have questions only the next book can answer, so when is it coming? Because I need it! 😭😭💜
June 21, 2021
Everything has a price. Especially the truth.
I absolutely loved the Darkest Court series by M.A. Grant, particularly Prince of Air and Darkness, so I have been hanging out for her latest paranormal series, #WhitethornAgency, starting off with this gem of a first book, Rare Vigilance.
Honestly, at first I wasn't sure about this book, purely based on the cover art and the name but in any event, don't let either of those things put you off (if you're like me😁) because Rare Vigilance is GOOOOD😍.
Our two MCs are Atlas Kincaid, former marine turned security agent, and Cristian Slava, son of a somewhat infamous business man. Both are lethally attractive, multi-layered, intriguing characters, and there is a shed-load of tension between the two from the get-go 🔥🔥🔥.
Missing persons, dodgy night clubs, strange animal-type attacks, mysterious bonds and an underlying war brewing between families, and we're set up for a great series.
Without giving too much away, it quickly becomes apparent that one of our MCs isn't exactly what he seems to be, and so we have that yummy blend of one human MC, and one not so much...and lots of angsty, slow-burn enemies-something else that M.A. Grant does so well😈.
All the stars ✨✨✨✨✨.
I absolutely loved the Darkest Court series by M.A. Grant, particularly Prince of Air and Darkness, so I have been hanging out for her latest paranormal series, #WhitethornAgency, starting off with this gem of a first book, Rare Vigilance.
Honestly, at first I wasn't sure about this book, purely based on the cover art and the name but in any event, don't let either of those things put you off (if you're like me😁) because Rare Vigilance is GOOOOD😍.
Our two MCs are Atlas Kincaid, former marine turned security agent, and Cristian Slava, son of a somewhat infamous business man. Both are lethally attractive, multi-layered, intriguing characters, and there is a shed-load of tension between the two from the get-go 🔥🔥🔥.
Missing persons, dodgy night clubs, strange animal-type attacks, mysterious bonds and an underlying war brewing between families, and we're set up for a great series.
Without giving too much away, it quickly becomes apparent that one of our MCs isn't exactly what he seems to be, and so we have that yummy blend of one human MC, and one not so much...and lots of angsty, slow-burn enemies-something else that M.A. Grant does so well😈.
All the stars ✨✨✨✨✨.
February 28, 2025
Oh that was good. Not at all what I thought I was going to be reading, but still absolutely brilliant, even if it does end on a tiny bit of a cliffie.
That was expected, given it's book one in a new trilogy from the writer of one of my absolutely favourite urban fantasy/paranormal series https://www.goodreads.com/series/2491... but even so I was like noooooooo, I need book two now!
It's not a relationship cliffie, but related to the overall book arc which will run through the series and concerns an utterly delicious kind of political (small P not modern politics but political manoeuvring between specific business leaders of a particular persuasion).
On the face of it, things start as a fairly typical bodyguard/protectee kind of narrative, throw in a bit of antagonism, secrets and behind the scenes plotting and you could be forgiven for thinking you're going to be reading a traditional suspense.
But no, it rapidly becomes clear there's something going on that isn't quite normal and that's as much as I will say about the paranormal/supernatural element of the tale.
It draws from Romanian culture, a very specific part of which I've not really seen been the focus of many fiction books apart from Richelle Mead's epic tales of good versus evil. (And that's the biggest hint you're going to get :D )
And as the plot unwinds, it's clear that Atlas and Christian have a connection, one they're both fighting big time as the tensions mount.
The feeling of dread which hangs over them as Atlas gets mired into a family dispute which has more layers and twists than he could ever have imagined is real.
The pacing is superb. I read this in one go in a few hours and never felt like any of it was filler. My feelings for the main pairing swapped and changed, same with the secondary characters which surround them, on a regular basis.
I couldn't tell where the plot was going, only that something was being hidden. When it becomes obvious what that is, you get a definite Eureka! moment.
Cannot wait for more as I love M.A. Grant's world-building and writing!
But one thing I will say, I don't think the cover does this book any favours at all.
With a Blurb which is also fairly non-descriptive, I think the publishers are missing a trick for readers to get more of a feeling about the book's subject.
#ARC kindly received from the publishers Carina Press via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review
That was expected, given it's book one in a new trilogy from the writer of one of my absolutely favourite urban fantasy/paranormal series https://www.goodreads.com/series/2491... but even so I was like noooooooo, I need book two now!
It's not a relationship cliffie, but related to the overall book arc which will run through the series and concerns an utterly delicious kind of political (small P not modern politics but political manoeuvring between specific business leaders of a particular persuasion).
On the face of it, things start as a fairly typical bodyguard/protectee kind of narrative, throw in a bit of antagonism, secrets and behind the scenes plotting and you could be forgiven for thinking you're going to be reading a traditional suspense.
But no, it rapidly becomes clear there's something going on that isn't quite normal and that's as much as I will say about the paranormal/supernatural element of the tale.
It draws from Romanian culture, a very specific part of which I've not really seen been the focus of many fiction books apart from Richelle Mead's epic tales of good versus evil. (And that's the biggest hint you're going to get :D )
And as the plot unwinds, it's clear that Atlas and Christian have a connection, one they're both fighting big time as the tensions mount.
The feeling of dread which hangs over them as Atlas gets mired into a family dispute which has more layers and twists than he could ever have imagined is real.
The pacing is superb. I read this in one go in a few hours and never felt like any of it was filler. My feelings for the main pairing swapped and changed, same with the secondary characters which surround them, on a regular basis.
I couldn't tell where the plot was going, only that something was being hidden. When it becomes obvious what that is, you get a definite Eureka! moment.
Cannot wait for more as I love M.A. Grant's world-building and writing!
But one thing I will say, I don't think the cover does this book any favours at all.
With a Blurb which is also fairly non-descriptive, I think the publishers are missing a trick for readers to get more of a feeling about the book's subject.
#ARC kindly received from the publishers Carina Press via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review
October 1, 2022
Great story. There are few MM vampire books that I truly like. But beware of cliffhangers.
May 22, 2023
Audiobook - 4 Stars
Story - 3.5 stars
Story - 3.5 stars
i-m-a-quitter
September 20, 2021It's official. I am in a book slump.
I can't find a book to hold my attention.
Made it to about 40% in this one but UGH, it's just dragging. And I don't have that desire to not put it down.
It's not horrible. And I am intrigued as to where the storyline will go. But I just got to the part where Atlas decides to work against Christian and I'm just annoyed.
I shouldn't have picked this one up to begin with seeing as it's a trilogy and only book 1 is out.
But there is seriously NOTHING out there to read right now.
So for now, this is a PAUSE....or hell, maybe it's a DNF. IDK, I may go back to this one once the remaining books are out.
As of now, it's just not doing it for me.
I can't find a book to hold my attention.
Made it to about 40% in this one but UGH, it's just dragging. And I don't have that desire to not put it down.
It's not horrible. And I am intrigued as to where the storyline will go. But I just got to the part where Atlas decides to work against Christian and I'm just annoyed.
I shouldn't have picked this one up to begin with seeing as it's a trilogy and only book 1 is out.
But there is seriously NOTHING out there to read right now.
So for now, this is a PAUSE....or hell, maybe it's a DNF. IDK, I may go back to this one once the remaining books are out.
As of now, it's just not doing it for me.
July 20, 2021
I've given this an A- at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars rounded up.
M.A. Grant has been on my radar for a while, but I haven’t yet managed to get around to reading any of her books, so when I saw she was starting a new series, it seemed the perfect time to jump in. Rare Vigilance is book one in her Whitethorn Agency trilogy and the well-paced, wonderfully balanced combination of action, paranormal suspense and slow-burn romance had me captivated from start to finish.
Note: This is a trilogy with an overarching plot and this book ends on a cliffhanger, so don’t go into it expecting an HEA or a firm conclusion.
Former marine Atlas Kinkaid returned from his military service in Eastern Europe with scars both inside and out, the result of an attack on his unit from which he emerged the sole survivor. He has PTSD and lingering health issues – sensory sensibilities and debilitating migranes which can affect his balance and vision – so finding work hasn’t been easy, but his half-sister Bea, the owner of the successful and rapidly growing Whitehorn security agency, has been able to offer him enough work to enable him to keep body and soul together. Her biggest client is Decebal Vladislavic – the businessman and investor who is almost single-handedly revitalising the small previously industrial town of Scarsdale, and who has business interests in pretty much everything in town, from medical facilities, to housing to entertainment. Recently, Decebal has experienced “complications” with some of his business deals, and he wants an agent to provide security at home. He’s asked Bea to provide someone who is happy working night shifts – which is perfect for Atlas, who agrees to take the job.
Arrived at Decebal’s impressive home on the outskirts of town, Atlas is waiting to meet his new employer for the first time, and hears the unmistakable sound of an argument – not in English – coming from the office he’s waiting to enter. The raised voices quickly stop and then a strikingly handsome young man emerges, muttering under his breath and clearly annoyed – until he notices he’s not alone and his whole demeanour changes. Suddenly all effortless poise and charm, the rudeness with which he treats Atlas is clearly designed to make him re-think his desire to work there. Atlas is, however, undaunted and refuses to be put off; and it’s just as well, because of course this man is to be his new charge – Cristian Slava, Decebal’s son and the heir to his business empire.
Rare Vigilance starts out as a regular-enough bodyguard romance in which the protectee is convinced they don’t need protecting and takes every opportunity to be rude and to give their minder the slip. Cristian clearly expects Atlas to quit just as his other bodyguards have, but when Atlas proves himself to be surprisingly tenacious and impervious to Cristian’s attempts to drive him away, Cristian starts to gain a reluctant respect for him. And as Cristian begins to accept Atlas isn’t going anywhere, Atlas gets intriguing glimpses of a different side of Cristian, seeing a quieter, more thoughtful and capable man behind the charming party-boy image – and starts to actually like him a little.
After a few weeks, they’ve reached a détente and have settled into a routine of sorts, but there’s a seismic shift in their relationship – and the direction taken by the story – when Atlas takes Cristian to what is supposed to be a business meeting, but which instead sees them being attacked by – well, I’ve seen other reviews mention it, but I’m not going to because it’s a neat plot twist the author has been carefully seeding all along – and if you’re been paying close attention you’ve probably figured it out by now anyway.
What follows is a gripping, tightly-plotted story in which a dangerous family feud threatens to explode into all-out war and Atlas comes face to face with his worst nightmare – which turns out not to be a nightmare at all, but something very real and utterly lethal. Secrets, lies, betrayals of the worst kind, mysterious night time deliveries and unexplained animal-like attacks all combine to make Rare Vigilance a real page-turner, and I raced through it in a couple of sittings, unwilling to put it down.
While all this is going on, Atlas and Cristian are growing closer and the author does a really good job with their slow-burn romance. They have terrific chemistry and there’s lots of lovely UST along the way as the attraction that sparks between them at their first meeting starts to grow into a bond that transcends their status as employer and employee, and Atlas’ competence and protectiveness slowly win Cristian’s trust. I liked them both; even when Cristian is at his most brattish, there are hints that his brash, cocky persona is an act to prevent people getting close, and there are hidden vulnerabilities beneath Atlas’ stoic, take-no-crap exterior that soften his hard edges and make him rather endearing. We don’t know much about either character right now, but I’m hoping that will change as the series progresses; what we do get is a good start and a pretty solid foundation in terms of their characterisation and relationship, and I’m eager to find out where things are going to go.
Having Atlas as the sole PoV character means that the reader finds things out at the same time he does, and that works really well here, especially in the early stages of the story were the author creates a real sense of edginess and of something being not quite as it seems. The only negative comments I can really make are that there’s one aspect of the world-building that could have used a bit more detail, and WTF is with that cover? but neither spoiled my enjoyment in any way, and I guess the world-building issue may be addressed in a future book.
Rare Vigilance is a terrific read and a superb start to this new series. The cliffhanger ending has me chomping at the bit for more, and I’ll be pouncing on book two, Crooked Shadows as soon as it appears.
M.A. Grant has been on my radar for a while, but I haven’t yet managed to get around to reading any of her books, so when I saw she was starting a new series, it seemed the perfect time to jump in. Rare Vigilance is book one in her Whitethorn Agency trilogy and the well-paced, wonderfully balanced combination of action, paranormal suspense and slow-burn romance had me captivated from start to finish.
Note: This is a trilogy with an overarching plot and this book ends on a cliffhanger, so don’t go into it expecting an HEA or a firm conclusion.
Former marine Atlas Kinkaid returned from his military service in Eastern Europe with scars both inside and out, the result of an attack on his unit from which he emerged the sole survivor. He has PTSD and lingering health issues – sensory sensibilities and debilitating migranes which can affect his balance and vision – so finding work hasn’t been easy, but his half-sister Bea, the owner of the successful and rapidly growing Whitehorn security agency, has been able to offer him enough work to enable him to keep body and soul together. Her biggest client is Decebal Vladislavic – the businessman and investor who is almost single-handedly revitalising the small previously industrial town of Scarsdale, and who has business interests in pretty much everything in town, from medical facilities, to housing to entertainment. Recently, Decebal has experienced “complications” with some of his business deals, and he wants an agent to provide security at home. He’s asked Bea to provide someone who is happy working night shifts – which is perfect for Atlas, who agrees to take the job.
Arrived at Decebal’s impressive home on the outskirts of town, Atlas is waiting to meet his new employer for the first time, and hears the unmistakable sound of an argument – not in English – coming from the office he’s waiting to enter. The raised voices quickly stop and then a strikingly handsome young man emerges, muttering under his breath and clearly annoyed – until he notices he’s not alone and his whole demeanour changes. Suddenly all effortless poise and charm, the rudeness with which he treats Atlas is clearly designed to make him re-think his desire to work there. Atlas is, however, undaunted and refuses to be put off; and it’s just as well, because of course this man is to be his new charge – Cristian Slava, Decebal’s son and the heir to his business empire.
Rare Vigilance starts out as a regular-enough bodyguard romance in which the protectee is convinced they don’t need protecting and takes every opportunity to be rude and to give their minder the slip. Cristian clearly expects Atlas to quit just as his other bodyguards have, but when Atlas proves himself to be surprisingly tenacious and impervious to Cristian’s attempts to drive him away, Cristian starts to gain a reluctant respect for him. And as Cristian begins to accept Atlas isn’t going anywhere, Atlas gets intriguing glimpses of a different side of Cristian, seeing a quieter, more thoughtful and capable man behind the charming party-boy image – and starts to actually like him a little.
After a few weeks, they’ve reached a détente and have settled into a routine of sorts, but there’s a seismic shift in their relationship – and the direction taken by the story – when Atlas takes Cristian to what is supposed to be a business meeting, but which instead sees them being attacked by – well, I’ve seen other reviews mention it, but I’m not going to because it’s a neat plot twist the author has been carefully seeding all along – and if you’re been paying close attention you’ve probably figured it out by now anyway.
What follows is a gripping, tightly-plotted story in which a dangerous family feud threatens to explode into all-out war and Atlas comes face to face with his worst nightmare – which turns out not to be a nightmare at all, but something very real and utterly lethal. Secrets, lies, betrayals of the worst kind, mysterious night time deliveries and unexplained animal-like attacks all combine to make Rare Vigilance a real page-turner, and I raced through it in a couple of sittings, unwilling to put it down.
While all this is going on, Atlas and Cristian are growing closer and the author does a really good job with their slow-burn romance. They have terrific chemistry and there’s lots of lovely UST along the way as the attraction that sparks between them at their first meeting starts to grow into a bond that transcends their status as employer and employee, and Atlas’ competence and protectiveness slowly win Cristian’s trust. I liked them both; even when Cristian is at his most brattish, there are hints that his brash, cocky persona is an act to prevent people getting close, and there are hidden vulnerabilities beneath Atlas’ stoic, take-no-crap exterior that soften his hard edges and make him rather endearing. We don’t know much about either character right now, but I’m hoping that will change as the series progresses; what we do get is a good start and a pretty solid foundation in terms of their characterisation and relationship, and I’m eager to find out where things are going to go.
Having Atlas as the sole PoV character means that the reader finds things out at the same time he does, and that works really well here, especially in the early stages of the story were the author creates a real sense of edginess and of something being not quite as it seems. The only negative comments I can really make are that there’s one aspect of the world-building that could have used a bit more detail, and WTF is with that cover? but neither spoiled my enjoyment in any way, and I guess the world-building issue may be addressed in a future book.
Rare Vigilance is a terrific read and a superb start to this new series. The cliffhanger ending has me chomping at the bit for more, and I’ll be pouncing on book two, Crooked Shadows as soon as it appears.
June 22, 2021
Maybe I’m the odd one out here, but I didn’t love this book. The cover is a bit deceiving and I initially thought it was a romantic suspense or a histrom? This doesn’t scream vampire to me at all. I could overlook the cover if the book about vampires was good, but I sadly just don’t think it was. I loved the author’s Prince of Air and Darkness, but I’m afraid the joy I got from that book is lost here. The story is definitely part of a trilogy because the romance here is a VERY slow burn and this book does end with a bit of a cliffhanger.
Content notes include MC used to be military (a Marine), PTSD, anxiety, violence, death, blackmail, mentions of parental figures dying before the book starts, and mentions of a grandmother and another dear friend with deteriorating memories of their loved ones.
This book is told entirely from Atlas Kincaid’s point of view. He’s a (former) Marine and after a particularly vicious attack on his men by the supernatural, he was discharged from the military and now works for his sister’s elite security agency. His latest assignment takes him to work for the very kinds of people he both hates and fears the most - vampires. Atlas is hired to look after an unruly son of the most powerful vampire in the town. Cristian Slava has run off every bodyguard who’s ever been assigned to him and he thinks Atlas will be more of the same. He very soon discovers that Atlas might a little bit smarter than those other bodyguards.
So, I think this book was very interesting in the beginning?? I was intrigued by the attack Atlas went through in Romania and how that would affect his looking after Cristian. Atlas still has the scars, the headaches, and the nightmares from that day four years ago, but working as a bodyguard for a vampire means he gets to keep vampire hours. This gives a much needed relief for his light sensitive eyes, even though working with vampires is not ideal.
I LOVE a good slow burn romance that takes awhile for the MCs to hook up. But this book takes what feels like forever and a day, and maybe it’s because of a plot point that gets thrown into the mix that mad it seem even longer? This whole middle part of the book did not work out for me.
***THERE ARE DEFINITELY SPOILERS AHEAD***
***END OF SPOILERS***
It’s hard to say whether I’ll continue with this series since book 2 is a long ways off. Well, less than a year really, but I’m not that patient. I’m not particularly in love with the storyline or all that convinced of the romance here. And it seems like the same audiobook narrator for The Darkest Court series will be narrating this series as well, so that’s going to be a miss for me since I’m not a fan. I like Atlas and Cristian well enough as characters, but considering this is a single POV book where we only see the story from Atlas’s POV? It’s aggressively fine, but nothing really pulls at me to continue the series at all. This makes me sad because I was looking forward to a new book by the author and hoped for something more exciting than what we got.
***Thanks so much to the publisher for giving me an e-ARC for review!***
Content notes include MC used to be military (a Marine), PTSD, anxiety, violence, death, blackmail, mentions of parental figures dying before the book starts, and mentions of a grandmother and another dear friend with deteriorating memories of their loved ones.
This book is told entirely from Atlas Kincaid’s point of view. He’s a (former) Marine and after a particularly vicious attack on his men by the supernatural, he was discharged from the military and now works for his sister’s elite security agency. His latest assignment takes him to work for the very kinds of people he both hates and fears the most - vampires. Atlas is hired to look after an unruly son of the most powerful vampire in the town. Cristian Slava has run off every bodyguard who’s ever been assigned to him and he thinks Atlas will be more of the same. He very soon discovers that Atlas might a little bit smarter than those other bodyguards.
So, I think this book was very interesting in the beginning?? I was intrigued by the attack Atlas went through in Romania and how that would affect his looking after Cristian. Atlas still has the scars, the headaches, and the nightmares from that day four years ago, but working as a bodyguard for a vampire means he gets to keep vampire hours. This gives a much needed relief for his light sensitive eyes, even though working with vampires is not ideal.
I LOVE a good slow burn romance that takes awhile for the MCs to hook up. But this book takes what feels like forever and a day, and maybe it’s because of a plot point that gets thrown into the mix that mad it seem even longer? This whole middle part of the book did not work out for me.
***THERE ARE DEFINITELY SPOILERS AHEAD***
***END OF SPOILERS***
It’s hard to say whether I’ll continue with this series since book 2 is a long ways off. Well, less than a year really, but I’m not that patient. I’m not particularly in love with the storyline or all that convinced of the romance here. And it seems like the same audiobook narrator for The Darkest Court series will be narrating this series as well, so that’s going to be a miss for me since I’m not a fan. I like Atlas and Cristian well enough as characters, but considering this is a single POV book where we only see the story from Atlas’s POV? It’s aggressively fine, but nothing really pulls at me to continue the series at all. This makes me sad because I was looking forward to a new book by the author and hoped for something more exciting than what we got.
***Thanks so much to the publisher for giving me an e-ARC for review!***
June 25, 2021
A stoic hero with a traumatic past and his charge, a snarky heir, soft-hearted and fierce, a dangerous father and a loyal sister on their side while there's a sinister matriarch on the other side; memories of a mission gone terribly wrong, an ancient family feud, a glacial slow-burn, a mistake that could cost said hero everything and lets not forget: a creature out of a vampires nightmare. So all ingredients for a good paranormal story are in the game and M.A. Grant knows how to play it. After reading The Darkest Court and now with the start of her new trilogy she could become easily an automatic read for me, doesn't matter that I would like to feel more of the tension between Atlas and Cristian but maybe I was too long distracted by anxiously waiting for Atlas' bad decision to blow in his face and when it didn't I was relieved but also disappointed about the strategic skill of the other side. That's what makes it a strong 4 star rating.
December 20, 2024
Rare Vigilance by M A Grant
Whitethorn Agency series #1. M-M paranormal vampire romance. Bodyguard troupe. Cliffhanger.
Former marine Atlas Kinkaid is assigned as a bodyguard to Cristian Slava. They don’t get along. Cristian believes he can handle whatever comes his way. When people start going missing, Atlas realizes there is more to Cristian than just a businessman and there may answers to his own PTSD.
As the tension grows, so too does the relationship.
Secrets, betrayal, possible animal attacks and the start of something both new and old.
Cliffhanger
Whitethorn Agency series #1. M-M paranormal vampire romance. Bodyguard troupe. Cliffhanger.
Former marine Atlas Kinkaid is assigned as a bodyguard to Cristian Slava. They don’t get along. Cristian believes he can handle whatever comes his way. When people start going missing, Atlas realizes there is more to Cristian than just a businessman and there may answers to his own PTSD.
As the tension grows, so too does the relationship.
Secrets, betrayal, possible animal attacks and the start of something both new and old.
Cliffhanger
July 15, 2023
4.5 stars
So good. I couldn't put it down. One of the MC's is a former military soldier who saw some crazy things and came home with PTSD. His sister owns a bodyguard business and he begins working for her. His first assignments throws him in to the world of vampires and other things that go bump in the night. Great chemistry between the two MC's. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.
**ARC provided through Netgalley**
So good. I couldn't put it down. One of the MC's is a former military soldier who saw some crazy things and came home with PTSD. His sister owns a bodyguard business and he begins working for her. His first assignments throws him in to the world of vampires and other things that go bump in the night. Great chemistry between the two MC's. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.
**ARC provided through Netgalley**
Read
September 18, 2021DNF at 50% - bodyguard action romances are not for me.
October 27, 2024
As we all know I’m a total skank for anything vampire, ever since I was 14 and Twilight came out at the time; I’ve had a soft spot for those blood sucking boys and girls. It’s hard for me to hate a vampire book especially if you’re gonna toss some men doing boy things with one another. That being said, if you are looking for sexy bloody vampire fucking well you’re reading the wrong book that is for sure. This is more of a slow burn and you are rewarded with a singular one sided handjob in the last chapter so be warned! I’m not complaining just giving warning. The romance is far from the main point of the book. It’s more about Atlas’ trauma from Romania and his working with a strange family and bratty man as a body guard while a sort of mystery type situation unfolds around them. The romance really ain’t all that, though perhaps in the next installment you get more. I will continue the series sometime because I did enjoy myself. A lot of nothing happened in this book but I’m not one to complain about no action. I enjoy a slow mostly vibes and no thought type of book. I had a good time listening to this since it was free on audiable plus. Anyways Jon Solo always does a good job and it made my work day go by faster. It could have used more tension, more romance, more emotion for me to truly be super invested but like I said I still had a decently fun time. 3.75 ⭐️
August 30, 2021
Solid start to Grant's new series, but I had some issues. Firstly, I didn't get the engrossed feelings I had while reading her Darkest Court series. The secondary cast felt a bit two-dimensional, the world building outside the mansion needed some expansion, and there was too much tell vs. show for this reader. Secondly, as fellow review suzette said about these vampires, "For this being a story about vampires I was still left feeling I never saw a vampire. These are a different type for sure. I kept wondering why a vampire would need protection from a human. They were pretty unremarkable." And this truly bothered me as I want my vamps to be darker, grittier, and far more dangerous.
The writing was superb, the plot was tightly written, and I quite liked the cliffhanger. Yep, the ole eyebrows were up in my hairline somewhere. I think Atlas and Christian show promise for a great relationship down the road and I wait impatiently for number two.
The writing was superb, the plot was tightly written, and I quite liked the cliffhanger. Yep, the ole eyebrows were up in my hairline somewhere. I think Atlas and Christian show promise for a great relationship down the road and I wait impatiently for number two.
Read
March 15, 2021CONTENT WARNINGS: Rare Vigilance contains descriptions of PTSD, anxiety, violence, blood, intense bodily harm, and death.
July 11, 2022
How dare Marion Audrey Grant have the audacity to give me an arc of Rare Vigilance knowing it will be AGES before I can read book 2. I'm so upset. And I can't prove it but I think she did it on purpose. 😔🤣
Anyways, I present to you, a based on a true story gif reaction thread of me reading this book. 😌
I was hesitant to start Rare Vigilance. Not because I didn't think I wouldn't like it. (I do. I do. I do.) Or that it wouldn't be amazing. (IT IS.) But I was scared that it couldn't and wouldn't live up to the expectations of the piece of my soul that belongs The Darkest Court. How could anything top that. And it didn't, or it didn't have to, because now I have a whole new little corner of it just for this series. M.A. Grant's books are apparently my horcruxes now. *shrug*
It was so interesting to see the transition from Fae lore to Vampire lore. As was The Darkest Court, Rare Vigilance is well written, well researched, and very much character driven. Grant writes some of my favorite characters. She takes these broken souls and somehow leads them to each other in a complicated messy beautiful way. She makes you care about them and their choices and their fate. She makes them relatable.
In Rare Vigilance we have Atlas (one of my favorite names) Kinkaid who is still figuring out how to live after being discharged from the military following an attack where he was the only the survivor. His sister sets him up on a security job and his charge is no other than the sarcastic stubborn partier Christian Slava. Filled with secrets and betrayals, they soon have to learn to work together to defeat a common enemy.
TW from author:
*** Thank you so much to M.A. Grant, Carina Press, and Netgalley for allowing me to experience pain in the form of this book shaped story. All opinions are my own. Quotes are subject to change. ***
Anyways, I present to you, a based on a true story gif reaction thread of me reading this book. 😌
“Choice, Mr. Kinkaid, is the cornerstone of my world. Without it, there is nothing . No family, no loyalty, no respect.”
I was hesitant to start Rare Vigilance. Not because I didn't think I wouldn't like it. (I do. I do. I do.) Or that it wouldn't be amazing. (IT IS.) But I was scared that it couldn't and wouldn't live up to the expectations of the piece of my soul that belongs The Darkest Court. How could anything top that. And it didn't, or it didn't have to, because now I have a whole new little corner of it just for this series. M.A. Grant's books are apparently my horcruxes now. *shrug*
It was so interesting to see the transition from Fae lore to Vampire lore. As was The Darkest Court, Rare Vigilance is well written, well researched, and very much character driven. Grant writes some of my favorite characters. She takes these broken souls and somehow leads them to each other in a complicated messy beautiful way. She makes you care about them and their choices and their fate. She makes them relatable.
In Rare Vigilance we have Atlas (one of my favorite names) Kinkaid who is still figuring out how to live after being discharged from the military following an attack where he was the only the survivor. His sister sets him up on a security job and his charge is no other than the sarcastic stubborn partier Christian Slava. Filled with secrets and betrayals, they soon have to learn to work together to defeat a common enemy.
“Is that all it takes? Is telling you the truth all it takes to get you to look at me like that?” he asked, courageous in a way Atlas would never know. He took a cautious step forward, sliding so, so easily into Atlas’s space, and tilted his head up, his lips a breath away. Waiting. Giving Atlas the chance to move, to flee, or to surrender and close the distance between them.
“How am I looking at you?” Atlas asked, desperate to keep his head and not do something foolish.
“Like I’m finally worth the risk.”
Feeling more and more like Alice in some demented Wonderland, Atlas pressed forward.
TW from author:
*** Thank you so much to M.A. Grant, Carina Press, and Netgalley for allowing me to experience pain in the form of this book shaped story. All opinions are my own. Quotes are subject to change. ***
August 16, 2022
4,5/5
J'avais adoré la série « The Darkest Court » avec laquelle j'avais pu découvrir M.A. Grant ! Il me tardait donc de pouvoir découvrir sa toute nouvelle série avec le premier opus « Rare Vigilance », et ce, en n'ayant pas lu le résumé ^^
Ce résumé reste d'ailleurs plutôt vague donc je vais essayer de ne pas trop en dévoiler...
Nous faisons la connaissance de Atlas Kinkaid, un ancien marine travaillant désormais pour l'agence de sécurité Whitethorn, dirigée par sa sœur Bea. Sa nouvelle mission est de devoir protéger Cristian Slava, de fils d'un certain célèbre homme d'affaire. Atlas va alors faire de surprenantes découvertes à ses côtés.
Si le récit démarre sur un schéma plutôt classique du bodyguard/protégé, le reste va être surprenant en fait. M.A. Grant nous embarque cette fois dans un univers paranormal, un New York peu différent du monde dans lequel on vit, à quelques exceptions près. J'adore ce genre d'histoire, celle où le paranormal se font au monde normal, où la frontière entre le fantastique et le réel est très fine et où l'auteur nous distille ces éléments au fur et à mesure.
J'ai adoré les personnages. Atlas est un homme qui a vécu de nombreuses batailles dans sa vie, il en porte certaines cicatrices pouvant en témoigner. Son boulot lui permet de payer ses factures, mais en acceptant le job proposé par sa sœur, il va être confronté à un autre type de danger.
Sa première rencontre avec celui qui deviendra son protégé est assez intense, glaciale. D'emblée, on sent qu'il y a un truc entre les deux personnages. L'alchimie est instantanée, la tension également et ce, une bonne majorité du roman.
Cristian, c'est un peu le fils à papa, il apparaît comme froid, imbus de lui-même. Petit à petit, tout comme Atlas, on va découvrir les autres facettes qu'il dissimule. Et j'ai adoré les découvrir ^^
Un lien va se créer entre les personnages, un lien particulier et j'ai bien aimé la façon dont l'auteur l'a développé. On va avoir droit à un slow burn dont je raffole, saupoudré du petit thème des « contraires qui s'attirent » délicieux ^^
C'est sans temps mort, j'ai adoré et dévoré ce roman en presque une bouchée. Mystères, attaques étranges, actions et révélations sont au programme. La romance est discrète, ce n'est pas à proprement parler d'une romance à ce stade d'ailleurs même si Cristian et Atlas se cherchent et qu'un lien étrange les réunit.
L'auteur prend le temps aussi de développer, pour mon plus grand bonheur, son univers, dont je ne mentionnerai rien étant donné qu'il pourrait mettre la puce à l'oreille XD
On sent tout le potentiel à venir et j'ai trop hâte de découvrir le second tome !
J'avais adoré la série « The Darkest Court » avec laquelle j'avais pu découvrir M.A. Grant ! Il me tardait donc de pouvoir découvrir sa toute nouvelle série avec le premier opus « Rare Vigilance », et ce, en n'ayant pas lu le résumé ^^
Ce résumé reste d'ailleurs plutôt vague donc je vais essayer de ne pas trop en dévoiler...
Nous faisons la connaissance de Atlas Kinkaid, un ancien marine travaillant désormais pour l'agence de sécurité Whitethorn, dirigée par sa sœur Bea. Sa nouvelle mission est de devoir protéger Cristian Slava, de fils d'un certain célèbre homme d'affaire. Atlas va alors faire de surprenantes découvertes à ses côtés.
Si le récit démarre sur un schéma plutôt classique du bodyguard/protégé, le reste va être surprenant en fait. M.A. Grant nous embarque cette fois dans un univers paranormal, un New York peu différent du monde dans lequel on vit, à quelques exceptions près. J'adore ce genre d'histoire, celle où le paranormal se font au monde normal, où la frontière entre le fantastique et le réel est très fine et où l'auteur nous distille ces éléments au fur et à mesure.
J'ai adoré les personnages. Atlas est un homme qui a vécu de nombreuses batailles dans sa vie, il en porte certaines cicatrices pouvant en témoigner. Son boulot lui permet de payer ses factures, mais en acceptant le job proposé par sa sœur, il va être confronté à un autre type de danger.
Sa première rencontre avec celui qui deviendra son protégé est assez intense, glaciale. D'emblée, on sent qu'il y a un truc entre les deux personnages. L'alchimie est instantanée, la tension également et ce, une bonne majorité du roman.
Cristian, c'est un peu le fils à papa, il apparaît comme froid, imbus de lui-même. Petit à petit, tout comme Atlas, on va découvrir les autres facettes qu'il dissimule. Et j'ai adoré les découvrir ^^
Un lien va se créer entre les personnages, un lien particulier et j'ai bien aimé la façon dont l'auteur l'a développé. On va avoir droit à un slow burn dont je raffole, saupoudré du petit thème des « contraires qui s'attirent » délicieux ^^
C'est sans temps mort, j'ai adoré et dévoré ce roman en presque une bouchée. Mystères, attaques étranges, actions et révélations sont au programme. La romance est discrète, ce n'est pas à proprement parler d'une romance à ce stade d'ailleurs même si Cristian et Atlas se cherchent et qu'un lien étrange les réunit.
L'auteur prend le temps aussi de développer, pour mon plus grand bonheur, son univers, dont je ne mentionnerai rien étant donné qu'il pourrait mettre la puce à l'oreille XD
On sent tout le potentiel à venir et j'ai trop hâte de découvrir le second tome !
November 5, 2021
After reading some reviews of this, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it or not. That together with this being a new author to me had me waiting the longest time to pick it up. I shouldn't have worried though. It was so good. Both Atlas and Cristian were great characters and I found myself rooting for them pretty much from the beginning while also very much enjoying the ride of the story itself. And it was a wild one. Not even the cliffhanger ending bothered me. Maybe because I was prepared for it. Yes, I read spoilers.
The writing was great and flowed really well. As was the pacing. I very much enjoyed how piece by piece of the mystery slowly was unraveled. Usually I find it quite tiring only having one point of view throughout the whole book, but I really enjoyed being in Atlas head.
I can't wait t0 see what's next for Atlas and Cristian.
The writing was great and flowed really well. As was the pacing. I very much enjoyed how piece by piece of the mystery slowly was unraveled. Usually I find it quite tiring only having one point of view throughout the whole book, but I really enjoyed being in Atlas head.
I can't wait t0 see what's next for Atlas and Cristian.
January 23, 2022
3-3.5 stars
Loved the start but once they were attacked I didn’t love it as much.
The secret that Atlas was holding was not what I wanted to happen but ehh what can you do..
This was also told in third person POV but we only got Atlas’s POV… I wanted Cristian’s POV…
It did end on a sort of cliffhanger so now the question is do I continue or do I find something else?
Loved the start but once they were attacked I didn’t love it as much.
The secret that Atlas was holding was not what I wanted to happen but ehh what can you do..
This was also told in third person POV but we only got Atlas’s POV… I wanted Cristian’s POV…
It did end on a sort of cliffhanger so now the question is do I continue or do I find something else?
June 22, 2021
omg excellent
twists on vampires
great couple, slow burn
Wowzers
RTC when I am coherent
Atlas, a former Marine with a hellish experience behind him that’s left him with all the kinds of scarred, is hired to protect Christian, a businessman who’s just kind of resigned to needing protection.
The action? On the edge of your seat amazing. The big bad? Scarily amazing. The build up of the romance? Swoony amazing. The fact that I read this right through? The best kind of amazing.
I cannot, cannot, CANNOT wait for book two.
All of my recommendations. All of them.
twists on vampires
great couple, slow burn
Wowzers
RTC when I am coherent
Atlas, a former Marine with a hellish experience behind him that’s left him with all the kinds of scarred, is hired to protect Christian, a businessman who’s just kind of resigned to needing protection.
The action? On the edge of your seat amazing. The big bad? Scarily amazing. The build up of the romance? Swoony amazing. The fact that I read this right through? The best kind of amazing.
I cannot, cannot, CANNOT wait for book two.
All of my recommendations. All of them.
May 29, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy. I enjoyed this!
I didn't know anything about this going in. I just saw this and requested it because I really liked M.A. Grant's other series and wanted to read this. I was expecting it to be sort of similar to her other series and it was, but with a different sort of paranormal element. There's definitely a bit less world building. There were parts of this where I honestly couldn't tell if vampires were a know entity in this world or not. Hopefully some of that will be fleshed out a bit more in subsequent books but I do think we got a good introduction in this book, especially as the story progressed.
I liked the characters. Christian and Atlas are both interesting. I still feel like I don't know them super well because they both spend a lot of this book being pretty guarded, especially Atlas. This is understandable for their characters but I am hoping that we'll learn more about them as the relationship progresses. There's still so much we don't know about their backgrounds so hopefully that will get fleshed out. There is an instant attraction between them but I do think the attraction developed naturally after that point and I'm excited to see where it goes.
This does end on a bit of a cliff-hanger. This book does have some interesting plot. Some points were frustrating for me as far as communication issues and Atlas trusting some people faster than I think his character would suggest but ultimately, I think this is a really good set up to a series and I'm excited to see where this goes.
I didn't know anything about this going in. I just saw this and requested it because I really liked M.A. Grant's other series and wanted to read this. I was expecting it to be sort of similar to her other series and it was, but with a different sort of paranormal element. There's definitely a bit less world building. There were parts of this where I honestly couldn't tell if vampires were a know entity in this world or not. Hopefully some of that will be fleshed out a bit more in subsequent books but I do think we got a good introduction in this book, especially as the story progressed.
I liked the characters. Christian and Atlas are both interesting. I still feel like I don't know them super well because they both spend a lot of this book being pretty guarded, especially Atlas. This is understandable for their characters but I am hoping that we'll learn more about them as the relationship progresses. There's still so much we don't know about their backgrounds so hopefully that will get fleshed out. There is an instant attraction between them but I do think the attraction developed naturally after that point and I'm excited to see where it goes.
This does end on a bit of a cliff-hanger. This book does have some interesting plot. Some points were frustrating for me as far as communication issues and Atlas trusting some people faster than I think his character would suggest but ultimately, I think this is a really good set up to a series and I'm excited to see where this goes.
November 8, 2021
This was good but I hate the "I-am-just-waiting-for-the-right-moment-to-confess-something-important" trope and it is always too late. The story is pretty good but wasn't as compelling as the first series which I loved.
I will definitely read book #2 but I really need to remember to wait until series are at least a few books in before I start reading. I will probably forget everything before the next.
I will definitely read book #2 but I really need to remember to wait until series are at least a few books in before I start reading. I will probably forget everything before the next.
August 12, 2022
A pretty enjoyable start to a same-couple series between a vampire and his bodyguard.
This had a slow start, but by around 30% the action really picks up and I was hooked in. This author does a great job on the action scenes too - tension, action, suspense, and none of it overwhelming or dragged out. Definitely a strong point.
The romance was on the lighter side, but since this is the first of a same couple series (trilogy?), I'm not surprised. It was sweet, the beginning of it. Interested to see how it builds in the next book.
Bonus: only one bike!
There was some very nice emotional vulnerability moments between Atlas and Cristian too. They may have gotten off to a rough start for reasons, but they found their stride throughout the book.
Overall, a solid start to a series! Definitely continuing on. Looking forward to learning more about vampires and the world building - the next books blurb looks very promising for this - and of course, more romance.
Read more reviews on my blog:
https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
This had a slow start, but by around 30% the action really picks up and I was hooked in. This author does a great job on the action scenes too - tension, action, suspense, and none of it overwhelming or dragged out. Definitely a strong point.
The romance was on the lighter side, but since this is the first of a same couple series (trilogy?), I'm not surprised. It was sweet, the beginning of it. Interested to see how it builds in the next book.
Bonus: only one bike!
There was some very nice emotional vulnerability moments between Atlas and Cristian too. They may have gotten off to a rough start for reasons, but they found their stride throughout the book.
Overall, a solid start to a series! Definitely continuing on. Looking forward to learning more about vampires and the world building - the next books blurb looks very promising for this - and of course, more romance.
Read more reviews on my blog:
https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
April 9, 2024
Reread 2024: Apparently I already read this? Could have fooled me. Human bodyguard with PTSD working for bratty ageless vampire. Shenanigans ensue.
This starts out interesting but ultimately loses intrigue near the 75% mark, and I stopped caring about the plot or romance. Probably not going to continue on.
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Somewhere between 3 and 3.5 stars - a fun uptight human bodyguard and bratty vampire romance.
Looking forward to whatever chaos the plot has coming next.
Part of a same couple series and this ends on a cliffy, fyi.
This starts out interesting but ultimately loses intrigue near the 75% mark, and I stopped caring about the plot or romance. Probably not going to continue on.
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Somewhere between 3 and 3.5 stars - a fun uptight human bodyguard and bratty vampire romance.
Looking forward to whatever chaos the plot has coming next.
Part of a same couple series and this ends on a cliffy, fyi.
December 12, 2023
Family are the only ones that can damage you, that much. Talk about heart wrenching.
July 6, 2021
I've loved this author since I finished Prince of Air and Darkness and went "Wow". So, when that series (unfortunately) ended , I was on the lookout for anything else being released by M.A Grant and the MOMENT I saw this on Netgalley, I hit that request button so quickly I think I sprained something. 😂😂
This book, while also paranormal, is more on the vampire end of the paranormal/fantasy spectrum than the fae political intrigue we got with the other series so this gives the reader another opportunity to marvel at the writing chops of this author.
Right from the very beginning, we get pulled into a world where everything is not as it seems, where there are plots within plots WITHIN plots. I could not get enough.
The author also did quite a good job of weaving in the world building into the story and dialogue rather than an "info dump" that is usually the case.
This book was more plot-focused than relationship-focused and as such, we spend most of the time on the slow evolution of the interpersonal relationships among the members of the various social groups in the book; especially between Cristian and Atlas who are our protagonists.
I liked Atlas and much later Cristian but neither of these men were perfect. Actually, I would say their imperfections made me root for them even more. Cristian's unwillingness to let anyone in and Atlas' past trauma led these two to make less than sensible decisions but eventually, none of the baddies counted on the inherent stubbornness of these two men. Lol
The only reason this book did not get a straight 5-star rating was the ending. I really should've known better but somehow I forgot how M.A Grant loves her cliffhangers. I , do not like them.
I get that this is the first book of a series, I get it. I certainly do not expect the author to finish everything in one book when it's clearly a series, but I would've preferred a bit more closure with this book rather than it leaving me with anxiety over the next book.
Others might not mind, but cliff hangers get to me like nothing else and I prefer to stay FAR away from them regardless of how great a book was/is.
** eARC Provided by Publisher via Netgalley in Exchange for an Honest,Unbiased Review **
This book, while also paranormal, is more on the vampire end of the paranormal/fantasy spectrum than the fae political intrigue we got with the other series so this gives the reader another opportunity to marvel at the writing chops of this author.
Right from the very beginning, we get pulled into a world where everything is not as it seems, where there are plots within plots WITHIN plots. I could not get enough.
The author also did quite a good job of weaving in the world building into the story and dialogue rather than an "info dump" that is usually the case.
This book was more plot-focused than relationship-focused and as such, we spend most of the time on the slow evolution of the interpersonal relationships among the members of the various social groups in the book; especially between Cristian and Atlas who are our protagonists.
I liked Atlas and much later Cristian but neither of these men were perfect. Actually, I would say their imperfections made me root for them even more. Cristian's unwillingness to let anyone in and Atlas' past trauma led these two to make less than sensible decisions but eventually, none of the baddies counted on the inherent stubbornness of these two men. Lol
The only reason this book did not get a straight 5-star rating was the ending. I really should've known better but somehow I forgot how M.A Grant loves her cliffhangers. I , do not like them.
I get that this is the first book of a series, I get it. I certainly do not expect the author to finish everything in one book when it's clearly a series, but I would've preferred a bit more closure with this book rather than it leaving me with anxiety over the next book.
Others might not mind, but cliff hangers get to me like nothing else and I prefer to stay FAR away from them regardless of how great a book was/is.
** eARC Provided by Publisher via Netgalley in Exchange for an Honest,Unbiased Review **
June 17, 2021
Christian, a seemingly spoiled rich man wants nothing more than to get rid of his latest bodyguard Atlas. Atlas gives as good as he gets and they settle into a sort of truce. Then the weird stuff starts happening.
Nicely written book with numerous surprises. World building occurred throughout the book. Strong characters, mostly likable. Bad guys were easy to dislike. Very slow burn and ended in a mini cliffhanger. Hope it’s not to long until the next book.
This story grabbed me from the beginning. I went into it without an idea of what it was about and was very surprised at the path it took. Hard to review without any spoilers. I’ll just say I really liked the spoiled man and his watcher.
I received an early copy of this book from Netgalley
Nicely written book with numerous surprises. World building occurred throughout the book. Strong characters, mostly likable. Bad guys were easy to dislike. Very slow burn and ended in a mini cliffhanger. Hope it’s not to long until the next book.
This story grabbed me from the beginning. I went into it without an idea of what it was about and was very surprised at the path it took. Hard to review without any spoilers. I’ll just say I really liked the spoiled man and his watcher.
I received an early copy of this book from Netgalley
May 14, 2021
I am over the moon with how much I enjoyed this book!
It had the elements of sci-fi, monsters living among us, myths and legends and an mm romance?? This book has got it all!!
After I finished I needed the rest of the series, you can't leave me hanging like that!! I need to know!! Plus I'm so excited to see how the relationship between Cristian and Atlas progresses. Also, how cool is the name Atlas? Love it.
I'm a huge fan and I can't wait for the rest of this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press for the earc in return for an honest review.
It had the elements of sci-fi, monsters living among us, myths and legends and an mm romance?? This book has got it all!!
After I finished I needed the rest of the series, you can't leave me hanging like that!! I need to know!! Plus I'm so excited to see how the relationship between Cristian and Atlas progresses. Also, how cool is the name Atlas? Love it.
I'm a huge fan and I can't wait for the rest of this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press for the earc in return for an honest review.
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