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I’ve got one thing to say to the fated mate who wants to kill Bite Me.
I can handle anyone who walks into my pub. Except him--the most powerful vampire who ever lived. The First. Dark, damaged, and hot as hell. He says I’m his one and only Vampire Bride, and that five years ago, I buried him alive.
Obviously he’s crazy, because I don’t remember any of that. All I know is that if I want to escape his vengeance, I have to help him infiltrate a deadly secret society.
I’m going to use the time to prove that I didn’t try to kill him, and that I’m not his Vampire Bride. Because if I am, he’ll kill me. But his wrath starts to falter as our mutual hate turns to heat. Now, I’m starting to wonder if maybe he’s right. But whatever happens in the end, there’s no escaping our twisted fate.
I can handle anyone who walks into my pub. Except him--the most powerful vampire who ever lived. The First. Dark, damaged, and hot as hell. He says I’m his one and only Vampire Bride, and that five years ago, I buried him alive.
Obviously he’s crazy, because I don’t remember any of that. All I know is that if I want to escape his vengeance, I have to help him infiltrate a deadly secret society.
I’m going to use the time to prove that I didn’t try to kill him, and that I’m not his Vampire Bride. Because if I am, he’ll kill me. But his wrath starts to falter as our mutual hate turns to heat. Now, I’m starting to wonder if maybe he’s right. But whatever happens in the end, there’s no escaping our twisted fate.
266 pages, Paperback
First published July 17, 2021
1451 people are currently reading
3162 people want to read
About the author
Linsey Hall
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Before becoming a writer, Linsey was an archaeologist who studied shipwrecks in all kinds of water, from the tropics to muddy rivers (and she has a distinct preference for one over the other). After a decade of tromping around in search of old bits of stuff, she settled down to start penning her own adventure novels and is freaking delighted that people seem to like them. Since life is better with a little (or a lot of) magic, she writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance.
For giveaways, contests and book discussion join my Facebook group
here!
Before becoming a writer, Linsey was an archaeologist who studied shipwrecks in all kinds of water, from the tropics to muddy rivers (and she has a distinct preference for one over the other). After a decade of tromping around in search of old bits of stuff, she settled down to start penning her own adventure novels and is freaking delighted that people seem to like them. Since life is better with a little (or a lot of) magic, she writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
October 22, 2021
I've been once again misled by an amazing cover! I had high hopes for this one and maybe that was what made the fall even harder because this book was just meh. The characters were okay and the story was very straight forward but I couldn't connect with anything. The writing style wasn't my favorite either. The story felt very much like a very obvious connect-the-dots situation and I was just there for a ride I wasn't even enjoying. I think this series will become one of those series that I go back to when I don't have anything new I want to read. This was unfortunate but it is what it is I guess.
October 4, 2021
There are racoons drinking wine. I repeat: THERE ARE RACOONS DRINKING WINE. 😂😂
While this is very much your stereotypical urban fantasy - with the usual brooding all-powerful male, the snarky female, and the supernatural bond that pulls them together - it's still quite enjoyable. It was a quick, easy read and sometimes that's all I want.
Neither Mac nor Drakon (side note: I hate that name) want to accept their bond, but they can't help but feel it - and so do we at times! But it's even more complicated when you consider the fact that he thinks she tried to kill him and now wants to return the favour... after she helps him extort secrets from a secret society of course.
I thought this was going to be a case of mistaken identity but alas, there seems to be something deeper going on and it looks like it's going to be a slow reveal. It ends on a MAJOR cliffhanger that actually made me kind of mad, but needless to say, I've already downloaded the second book.
Critique
My major critique of this book is that it could be so much more. The world is interesting but the world-building could be a lot stronger. There's a great friend group but we only tend to see them when their help is needed. Things just aren't developed as much as they could be, with the prime example being the creation of the First Vampire. All we're told is that he was made from "blood and magic", like what. Were the witches just sitting around one day like hmm what will we make in our cauldron today, "oh, how about a vampire?" I don't think so. He's so important to the plot, and we're told how super powerful he is, but we aren't told where on earth he came from.
The racoons/ badger gave me a laugh and I appreciate that light relief.
While this is very much your stereotypical urban fantasy - with the usual brooding all-powerful male, the snarky female, and the supernatural bond that pulls them together - it's still quite enjoyable. It was a quick, easy read and sometimes that's all I want.
"Some days, you're the pigeon; some days, you're the statue. Today, I was the statue."
"He towered over me, as solid and immoveable as a mountain. No, not a mountain - a glacier, powerful, icy cold, and capable of carving the world around him to fit his desires."
Neither Mac nor Drakon (side note: I hate that name) want to accept their bond, but they can't help but feel it - and so do we at times! But it's even more complicated when you consider the fact that he thinks she tried to kill him and now wants to return the favour... after she helps him extort secrets from a secret society of course.
I thought this was going to be a case of mistaken identity but alas, there seems to be something deeper going on and it looks like it's going to be a slow reveal. It ends on a MAJOR cliffhanger that actually made me kind of mad, but needless to say, I've already downloaded the second book.
Critique
My major critique of this book is that it could be so much more. The world is interesting but the world-building could be a lot stronger. There's a great friend group but we only tend to see them when their help is needed. Things just aren't developed as much as they could be, with the prime example being the creation of the First Vampire. All we're told is that he was made from "blood and magic", like what. Were the witches just sitting around one day like hmm what will we make in our cauldron today, "oh, how about a vampire?" I don't think so. He's so important to the plot, and we're told how super powerful he is, but we aren't told where on earth he came from.
The racoons/ badger gave me a laugh and I appreciate that light relief.
August 19, 2021
Review: 4.5 stars!
I have always been a fan of the supernatural world, specially vampires ever since Twilight sparked my love for reading when I was 12 years old. Bite me is a very fast-paced PNR with all types of supernatural creatures who live in secret among the humans. Mac is a seer who works in The Haunted Hound bar, a portal that leads to the hidden magical city in London, Guild City.
Mac's world turns upside down when a absurdly hot and yet dangerously powerful vampire walks in the bar. He turns out to be the First vampire ever created and he believes, without a doubt, that Mac is his fated bride and that she tried to kill him 5 years ago and he has come to return the favor.
What a page-turner! I really liked the main character Mac, she is badass, independent and determined. I love her friendship with the other supernaturals in Guild city and how she has worked hard to establish a reputation for herself. In walks Drakon and I couldn't put the book down, this is definitely a binge worthy read. These two characters don't trust each other at all, in fact they want to kill one another, and yet you can feel the sparks and attraction between them. I love the entire fated-bride premonition and how it works. I was hoping for more spice but the slow-burn romance turned out to be very enjoyable! I feel like I will see some sizzling scenes in the sequel!
That ending left me with so many questions, specially about Mac's back story which we will uncover in the next book! Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy!
I have always been a fan of the supernatural world, specially vampires ever since Twilight sparked my love for reading when I was 12 years old. Bite me is a very fast-paced PNR with all types of supernatural creatures who live in secret among the humans. Mac is a seer who works in The Haunted Hound bar, a portal that leads to the hidden magical city in London, Guild City.
Mac's world turns upside down when a absurdly hot and yet dangerously powerful vampire walks in the bar. He turns out to be the First vampire ever created and he believes, without a doubt, that Mac is his fated bride and that she tried to kill him 5 years ago and he has come to return the favor.
What a page-turner! I really liked the main character Mac, she is badass, independent and determined. I love her friendship with the other supernaturals in Guild city and how she has worked hard to establish a reputation for herself. In walks Drakon and I couldn't put the book down, this is definitely a binge worthy read. These two characters don't trust each other at all, in fact they want to kill one another, and yet you can feel the sparks and attraction between them. I love the entire fated-bride premonition and how it works. I was hoping for more spice but the slow-burn romance turned out to be very enjoyable! I feel like I will see some sizzling scenes in the sequel!
That ending left me with so many questions, specially about Mac's back story which we will uncover in the next book! Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy!
October 11, 2021
Great lead into Mac and Drakon’s story. Lots of mystery. Ends with more mysteries waiting to be told. Solid character chemistry. Lacked a little on the romance side for me.
Mac is a kick ass heroine is it’s a lot of snark and that keeps me smiling. Love that she is not a push over. Tons of mystery pops up regarding her past and it appears she is far more than she seems.
Drakon is the first vampire who was betrayed and trapped by his Bride (Mac). He seeks revenge by taking her life but first he needs her to help him retrieve something special.
Will there be forgiveness and a fresh chance for this pair??!! I don’t know I was left hanging!!!! 🤬
Happy reading,
DD💕
Mac is a kick ass heroine is it’s a lot of snark and that keeps me smiling. Love that she is not a push over. Tons of mystery pops up regarding her past and it appears she is far more than she seems.
Drakon is the first vampire who was betrayed and trapped by his Bride (Mac). He seeks revenge by taking her life but first he needs her to help him retrieve something special.
Will there be forgiveness and a fresh chance for this pair??!! I don’t know I was left hanging!!!! 🤬
Happy reading,
DD💕
September 2, 2021
I love vampires, they are the cause of my obsessive paranormal reader heart. This book was fast paced and luring! I was intrigued when I found out this story was set in the same world as Wolfmarked by Veronica Douglas (that was another title I enjoyed!).
The story follows a seer girl named Mac, she meets this sexy mysterious vampire by the name of Drakon. From the start we feel the tension between the two, "love me hate me, I still want you" type of relationship.. yup! you got it, enemies to lovers, one of my absolute favorite tropes. Well, Drakon is a powerful vampire accusing Mac of burying him alive years before but Mac does not remember anything of that sort. In order not to die in the hands of this sexy vampire, Mac agrees to help Drakon investigate the whereabouts on some stolen items.
Mac is my type of protagonist for sure! Straightforward, no beating around the bush and isnt afraid of being herself... she totally stands her ground and I love that about her. Drakon is dark, brooding, very sensual almost, kinda gives me the Interview with the Vampire vibe -type. The world building is carefully put together, the plot was very stable, I wouldve loved to learn a little bit more about the origins. I am a sucker for the history. This fast paced book left me needing answers, looking forward to the next book!
Thank you so much to the author for gifting me a copy!
The story follows a seer girl named Mac, she meets this sexy mysterious vampire by the name of Drakon. From the start we feel the tension between the two, "love me hate me, I still want you" type of relationship.. yup! you got it, enemies to lovers, one of my absolute favorite tropes. Well, Drakon is a powerful vampire accusing Mac of burying him alive years before but Mac does not remember anything of that sort. In order not to die in the hands of this sexy vampire, Mac agrees to help Drakon investigate the whereabouts on some stolen items.
Mac is my type of protagonist for sure! Straightforward, no beating around the bush and isnt afraid of being herself... she totally stands her ground and I love that about her. Drakon is dark, brooding, very sensual almost, kinda gives me the Interview with the Vampire vibe -type. The world building is carefully put together, the plot was very stable, I wouldve loved to learn a little bit more about the origins. I am a sucker for the history. This fast paced book left me needing answers, looking forward to the next book!
Thank you so much to the author for gifting me a copy!
August 27, 2021
“Explosives. They fixed everything.”
5 stars:
Wow I loved everything about this book. The main character, Mac, is spunky, hilarious, and doesn’t put up with anybody’s nonsense. Including Drakon, the First vampire. When Drakon shows up in her bar insisting that she sealed him in a tomb 5 years ago, Mac doesn’t cower. She doesn’t put up with him and his crazy accusations. She instead works a deal with him: I’ll help you find what was stolen from you if you let me live a little longer and prove to you that I am not your Vampire Bride and did not seal you in that tomb.
Mystery. Secret Societies. Danger around every corner. If you’re looking for your next binge read, look no further. I couldn’t put this one down and couldn’t stop thinking about it! Also fun fact: If you’ve read Wolf Marked, you’ll see a fun character crossover! I loved that these books were set in the same world.
Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 24, 2021
What would you do if a super hot vampire enters a bar and accuses you of burying him alive five years ago? I would panic. Not Mac, though. Of course she’s scared and freaked out, but she will throw an explosive potion in his face if she must. Yes, because Mac’s absolutely certain she’s never seen Drakon of Dracul, the First vampire. Yet Drakon has no doubt. It was her, his Bride. Upon learning that she’s a seer, Drakon agrees not to kill Mac yet if she agrees to help him infiltrate a secret society and find out their secrets. Mac agrees, determined to use the opportunity to prove her innocence.
This book was a very fast read because of its fast pace and intriguing plot. I had fun reading about Mac and Drakon and, as usual when a mystery is involved, I love investigating and trying to piece things together. Drakon is convinced that Mac buried him alive five years ago. If it’s true, why doesn’t she remember? And what does Drakon want from this secret society? There was hardly a dull moment in this book.
As for the romance, there is an instant attraction between the two mixed with rivalry and resentment on his part. An understanding forms between them during the course of the book, though it’s not love yet. One could say Mac and Drakon’s is a sizzling slow burn. I’m really curious to see how their story progresses and see their connection growing even more—especially seeing how the book ends! There is one detail though: we find out rather quickly that Mac is supposed to be Drakon’s Bride, which is a sort of fated lover but more epic since he is the First. Not surprising, it’s the synopsis as well. However, I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a twist in the book that we find out alongside Mac, rather than Drakon telling us almost immediately.
Mac has a group of amazing friends, particularly two: Carrow and Eve. While I was reading, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a bigger deal to these characters besides being Mac’s friends. I mean, one of them is with someone they call the Devil of Darkvale. The name seems too cool to be only a minor character. Doing a quick research, I found out I was right! Carrow and Eve are the protagonists of two other series in the Shadow Guild universe. Guess who’s curious to read those now? Yes, me. Does this mean you will not understand Bite Me if you haven’t read the other series? Absolutely not. I have never read anything by this author before but I was able to enjoy this book just fine. There was also a cameo of one of the characters from Wolf Marked by Veronica Douglas, which I read and loved earlier this month! The authors are friends and have also co-written a series together, so it was so cool to read!
I recommend this to paranormal lovers, especially if you’re into vampires!
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy. Opinions are my own.
This book was a very fast read because of its fast pace and intriguing plot. I had fun reading about Mac and Drakon and, as usual when a mystery is involved, I love investigating and trying to piece things together. Drakon is convinced that Mac buried him alive five years ago. If it’s true, why doesn’t she remember? And what does Drakon want from this secret society? There was hardly a dull moment in this book.
As for the romance, there is an instant attraction between the two mixed with rivalry and resentment on his part. An understanding forms between them during the course of the book, though it’s not love yet. One could say Mac and Drakon’s is a sizzling slow burn. I’m really curious to see how their story progresses and see their connection growing even more—especially seeing how the book ends! There is one detail though: we find out rather quickly that Mac is supposed to be Drakon’s Bride, which is a sort of fated lover but more epic since he is the First. Not surprising, it’s the synopsis as well. However, I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a twist in the book that we find out alongside Mac, rather than Drakon telling us almost immediately.
Mac has a group of amazing friends, particularly two: Carrow and Eve. While I was reading, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a bigger deal to these characters besides being Mac’s friends. I mean, one of them is with someone they call the Devil of Darkvale. The name seems too cool to be only a minor character. Doing a quick research, I found out I was right! Carrow and Eve are the protagonists of two other series in the Shadow Guild universe. Guess who’s curious to read those now? Yes, me. Does this mean you will not understand Bite Me if you haven’t read the other series? Absolutely not. I have never read anything by this author before but I was able to enjoy this book just fine. There was also a cameo of one of the characters from Wolf Marked by Veronica Douglas, which I read and loved earlier this month! The authors are friends and have also co-written a series together, so it was so cool to read!
I recommend this to paranormal lovers, especially if you’re into vampires!
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy. Opinions are my own.
August 29, 2021
Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars
Be still my vampire loving heart! I was so excited when I found out that BITE ME and Wolf Marked were set in the same world, especially since vampires are one of my favorite supernatural creatures. Once more, the union of romance, supernatural and mystery in this world worked wonders, so let me tell you a little bit more about this exciting, fast-paced little gem.
Bite Me follows Mac, a seer living in Gild City, the home of the supernatural community in London. One day, a dark, handsome and brooding vampire steps into her bar, and despite the instant attraction, the hostility coming off him in her regards immediately puts Mac on edge. The vampire in question is Drakon, the First vampire, who claims that Mac buried him alive five years earlier. Mac has no recollection of this, but in order to save herself from Drakon’s thirst for vengeance, she oversells her seer gifts and offers to help him infiltrate a secret society in order to save his friend. Drakon accepts, although begrudgingly, at the risk of making his situation with Mac far more complicated. In fact, Drakon knows that Mac is in truth his Bride, the one fated to either strip him of his immortality or turn him to stone. What will happen between Mac and Drakon? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out!
Mac was a delightful protagonist. She had the sort of “no bullshit” attitude that I adore and relate to on a personal level, and I loved her feisty personality and survival instincts. Not only that, but I loved the close-knit circle of friends that she has, which definitely gave an extra layer to the story that went beyond the romance. I’m also very intrigued by Drakon, but I can’t say I love him as much as I loved Mac just yet. Despite having a POV in his perspective, I still feel like we don’t know enough about him and because of that, I wasn’t as invested in the romance as I would have wanted. However, the banter between Mac and Drakon is incredibly fun, and the tension between the two is delivered wonderfully, especially in the second half of the book leading up to the finale. I know I’ll be selling my soul by the time the sequel is in my hands!
I definitely recommend this read to all fans of paranormal romance books, especially fast-paced ones. Note: you don’t have to necessarily read Wolf Marked to read Bite Me, as the two stories are completely disconnected, but if you enjoy one, I do recommend reading the other for extra knowledge and fun cameos!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy to review. All opinions are my own.
Be still my vampire loving heart! I was so excited when I found out that BITE ME and Wolf Marked were set in the same world, especially since vampires are one of my favorite supernatural creatures. Once more, the union of romance, supernatural and mystery in this world worked wonders, so let me tell you a little bit more about this exciting, fast-paced little gem.
Bite Me follows Mac, a seer living in Gild City, the home of the supernatural community in London. One day, a dark, handsome and brooding vampire steps into her bar, and despite the instant attraction, the hostility coming off him in her regards immediately puts Mac on edge. The vampire in question is Drakon, the First vampire, who claims that Mac buried him alive five years earlier. Mac has no recollection of this, but in order to save herself from Drakon’s thirst for vengeance, she oversells her seer gifts and offers to help him infiltrate a secret society in order to save his friend. Drakon accepts, although begrudgingly, at the risk of making his situation with Mac far more complicated. In fact, Drakon knows that Mac is in truth his Bride, the one fated to either strip him of his immortality or turn him to stone. What will happen between Mac and Drakon? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out!
Mac was a delightful protagonist. She had the sort of “no bullshit” attitude that I adore and relate to on a personal level, and I loved her feisty personality and survival instincts. Not only that, but I loved the close-knit circle of friends that she has, which definitely gave an extra layer to the story that went beyond the romance. I’m also very intrigued by Drakon, but I can’t say I love him as much as I loved Mac just yet. Despite having a POV in his perspective, I still feel like we don’t know enough about him and because of that, I wasn’t as invested in the romance as I would have wanted. However, the banter between Mac and Drakon is incredibly fun, and the tension between the two is delivered wonderfully, especially in the second half of the book leading up to the finale. I know I’ll be selling my soul by the time the sequel is in my hands!
I definitely recommend this read to all fans of paranormal romance books, especially fast-paced ones. Note: you don’t have to necessarily read Wolf Marked to read Bite Me, as the two stories are completely disconnected, but if you enjoy one, I do recommend reading the other for extra knowledge and fun cameos!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy to review. All opinions are my own.
June 21, 2021
Yay!!! We finally have a book about Mac! This will be epic, I can already tell... I hope we can finally see some scenes with Mac and Ralph blowing stuff up!🤣🤣🤣
August 14, 2021
I felt like I’ve read this story before. I kept looking at the release date to be sure it’s a new book. I didn’t enjoy the sense of déjà vu & dnf it @ 85%
February 24, 2022
3.5 Stars - if I’m being generous
I’m not sure how I feel about this book. It has absolutely no romance. No steam. No sexual tension. I think maybe there was supposed to be sexual tension? But it was barely discernible if it was present at all. The main characters absolutely hate each other.
So here we have a super duper uber powerful Vampire, who is The First. The first vampire in existence, created solely by magic. He met his fated mate AKA “Bride” and she cruelly imprisons him in stone. 5 years later he escapes and is dead set on murdering her. He needs to kill her for multiple reasons, actually. 1) She imprisoned him. So, obviously he’s gotta kill her for that. 2) Since she’s his bride he either loves her and loses his power and immortality; or he kills her and is set free. If he doesn’t kill her but doesn’t love her then he is turned into a stone gargoyle for eternity. Good times. So his bride is gonna be toast either way.
Enter Mac, our FMC. She’s a rowdy bartender and general badass. And she is absolutely positive she has never met this evil vampire bastard before, let alone imprisoned him. He’s obviously disturbed, evil, and WRONG. So in order to prove her innocence she follows him to a secret society meeting for the weekend. There is mystery! There are problems galore! And she’s having weird memory flashes that don’t belong to her.
Anyway, the story was okay. It was interesting enough to keep me reading. The world building was good. The magic system isn’t really described well. We also don’t have answers to anything by the end of this book.
However, what I DO know is that I don’t have any need or desire to see these two main characters fall in love. I liked Mac well enough. But I didn’t care for the vampy MMC much. I can’t even remember his name, besides “The First”. From someone who only wants to read steamy romance it’s really saying something that I’m not rooting for a relationship between these two. I felt no connection at all between them.
If I do decide to read the next book it’s only because I’m interested in finding out Mac’s secrets. Also, if there is any steam at all in the next book I’ll be surprised.
I’m not sure how I feel about this book. It has absolutely no romance. No steam. No sexual tension. I think maybe there was supposed to be sexual tension? But it was barely discernible if it was present at all. The main characters absolutely hate each other.
So here we have a super duper uber powerful Vampire, who is The First. The first vampire in existence, created solely by magic. He met his fated mate AKA “Bride” and she cruelly imprisons him in stone. 5 years later he escapes and is dead set on murdering her. He needs to kill her for multiple reasons, actually. 1) She imprisoned him. So, obviously he’s gotta kill her for that. 2) Since she’s his bride he either loves her and loses his power and immortality; or he kills her and is set free. If he doesn’t kill her but doesn’t love her then he is turned into a stone gargoyle for eternity. Good times. So his bride is gonna be toast either way.
Enter Mac, our FMC. She’s a rowdy bartender and general badass. And she is absolutely positive she has never met this evil vampire bastard before, let alone imprisoned him. He’s obviously disturbed, evil, and WRONG. So in order to prove her innocence she follows him to a secret society meeting for the weekend. There is mystery! There are problems galore! And she’s having weird memory flashes that don’t belong to her.
Anyway, the story was okay. It was interesting enough to keep me reading. The world building was good. The magic system isn’t really described well. We also don’t have answers to anything by the end of this book.
However, what I DO know is that I don’t have any need or desire to see these two main characters fall in love. I liked Mac well enough. But I didn’t care for the vampy MMC much. I can’t even remember his name, besides “The First”. From someone who only wants to read steamy romance it’s really saying something that I’m not rooting for a relationship between these two. I felt no connection at all between them.
If I do decide to read the next book it’s only because I’m interested in finding out Mac’s secrets. Also, if there is any steam at all in the next book I’ll be surprised.
July 26, 2021
Another great start to a new series featuring a character who has always been fun to read about. Mac has always seemed honest, open and just genuinely good and yet here we learn that she has secrets that she herself didn't know about ! Finding herself caught up in a hunt with Drakon, the very first Vampire sees Mac attempting to use her well let's face it dodgy Seer powers . Things are not what they seem amongst the uber secretive Society that Drakon and Mac are attempting to infiltrate and why does Drakon keep insisting that Mac tried to kill him ? Forced to work together brings answers but they are not at all what anyone could have expected !
I liked Mac in this and it was fun going on this journey with her. This turned out to be a voyage of discovery as we learn about Mac and just why her Seer powers are perhaps a little wonky . The bad guys are truly odious not to mention downright murderous ! Expect fun challenges and situations that seem almost impossible. The romance isn't really happening yet which is a plus as a slow build feels more realistic. Plus the ending is a doozy that completely had me left wanting more and that has to be a good thing.
This voluntary take is of an advanced copy and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
I liked Mac in this and it was fun going on this journey with her. This turned out to be a voyage of discovery as we learn about Mac and just why her Seer powers are perhaps a little wonky . The bad guys are truly odious not to mention downright murderous ! Expect fun challenges and situations that seem almost impossible. The romance isn't really happening yet which is a plus as a slow build feels more realistic. Plus the ending is a doozy that completely had me left wanting more and that has to be a good thing.
This voluntary take is of an advanced copy and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
dnf
September 12, 2021DNF at 45%.
Considering that this book isn’t very long (under 300 pages), I’d expect that pacing to be much faster. Also, there’s the potential for death and destruction but it’s more of just Mac and Dakon fumbling around each other.
I was lured in by the fact that Mac is the bride of Dakon that bested him and buried him alive. But at this point, I feel like it’s not going to get answered until the last 10% of the book and I’ve lost interest.
Considering that this book isn’t very long (under 300 pages), I’d expect that pacing to be much faster. Also, there’s the potential for death and destruction but it’s more of just Mac and Dakon fumbling around each other.
I was lured in by the fact that Mac is the bride of Dakon that bested him and buried him alive. But at this point, I feel like it’s not going to get answered until the last 10% of the book and I’ve lost interest.
August 21, 2021
Okay wow, this was such a good book! Can you tell that I’m on a PNR kick? Usually vampires aren’t my thing, but Drakon is very much my thing!
If you enjoyed the book wolf marked, you’ll definitely enjoy this book because it’s set in the same world. You’ll also get to see a beloved character make an appearance, which I thought was super cool!
Mac works in London in a city full of magical beings. However, her life changes forever when The First Vampire, Drakon, arrives and claims he’s going to kill Mac because 5 years ago, she buried him alive. Except Mac is certain she has never met this vampire and believes he found the wrong girl. To save herself from death, Mac agrees to work with Drakon to figure out what was stolen from him.
Rejected mates are the absolute best and their tension throughout was amazing. I just wanted them to get over their bickering and do it already. 😂
And damn, that ending though!! I need answers! How can you leave me hanging like that! 😭😭
This book is a fast read and so good! You’ll fly through this book and want the second one just as badly as I do!
If you enjoyed the book wolf marked, you’ll definitely enjoy this book because it’s set in the same world. You’ll also get to see a beloved character make an appearance, which I thought was super cool!
Mac works in London in a city full of magical beings. However, her life changes forever when The First Vampire, Drakon, arrives and claims he’s going to kill Mac because 5 years ago, she buried him alive. Except Mac is certain she has never met this vampire and believes he found the wrong girl. To save herself from death, Mac agrees to work with Drakon to figure out what was stolen from him.
Rejected mates are the absolute best and their tension throughout was amazing. I just wanted them to get over their bickering and do it already. 😂
And damn, that ending though!! I need answers! How can you leave me hanging like that! 😭😭
This book is a fast read and so good! You’ll fly through this book and want the second one just as badly as I do!
September 9, 2021
I always love Linsey Hall’s writing and Bite Me is no exception! We follow Mac’s story filled with lost memories as she and Drakon infiltrate a secret society of corrupt magic wielders. There are tons of fun twists and turns in this story and a huge cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 🌶
Readability: Easy to understand
Flow: Fast pacing
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 🌶
Readability: Easy to understand
Flow: Fast pacing
September 5, 2021
Thanks so very much to Linsey Hall for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed below are entirely my own.
OMG this book was such a fresh take on so many tropes that I am already so in love with, I knew I was going to enjoy it and it certainly did not disappoint! My favorite elements included: fated/cursed mates, enemies-to-lovers, and mistaken identity! From the first chapter, I was swept away into this dark action-packed paranormal romance and flew through the entire book within a matter of hours. The entire concept of Vampire Bride in the Shadow Guild made me feel like this is a super unique addition to my favorite genre!
Mac O’Connell is such a refreshing heroine. She’s relentlessly clever and badass to boot, which paired so well against the mysteriously maddening Drakon of Dracul. I am vampire obsessed, so having a first person perspective of an original was freaking incredible! I relished the steamy tension between these two—it’s truly my favorite thing to see in any book! Their interactions reminded me so much of Jericho Barrons and MacKayla from the Fever series and it made me SO happy!
I thought it was so fascinating to see that this book is actually set in the same world as another recent fave of mine, Wolf Marked by Veronica Douglas! It was so cool when certain characters made a few cameos.
Overall this book was an extremely fast-paced, quick and engrossing read!! I am SO pumped for the next installment after all these unanswered questions left me begging for more!
OMG this book was such a fresh take on so many tropes that I am already so in love with, I knew I was going to enjoy it and it certainly did not disappoint! My favorite elements included: fated/cursed mates, enemies-to-lovers, and mistaken identity! From the first chapter, I was swept away into this dark action-packed paranormal romance and flew through the entire book within a matter of hours. The entire concept of Vampire Bride in the Shadow Guild made me feel like this is a super unique addition to my favorite genre!
Mac O’Connell is such a refreshing heroine. She’s relentlessly clever and badass to boot, which paired so well against the mysteriously maddening Drakon of Dracul. I am vampire obsessed, so having a first person perspective of an original was freaking incredible! I relished the steamy tension between these two—it’s truly my favorite thing to see in any book! Their interactions reminded me so much of Jericho Barrons and MacKayla from the Fever series and it made me SO happy!
I thought it was so fascinating to see that this book is actually set in the same world as another recent fave of mine, Wolf Marked by Veronica Douglas! It was so cool when certain characters made a few cameos.
Overall this book was an extremely fast-paced, quick and engrossing read!! I am SO pumped for the next installment after all these unanswered questions left me begging for more!
September 2, 2021
This is a new series based in the same world as the series I just finished by this author - the Wolf Queen series. Because of this, I am familiar and comfortable with the world and I already know many of the secondary characters.
The premise starts when a HUGE and powerful Vampire (he's called The First, because he actually IS the first Vampire) finds Mac and immediately threatens to kill her because she supposedly buried him in an underground vault . It took him 5 years to escape and you better believe that he is NOT a happy camper. The only reason that he is alive is because he is an immortal, but the 5 years were incredibly painful for him without food, water...etc.
Mac on the other hand just thinks he's crazy because it wasn't her that did this - in fact she has never seen him before in her life. He isn't buying it and the tale begins.
Mac begins to realize that all is not what it seems and her past may just not be the past that she is remembering. Drakon is now having a problem because his entire plan was to get his revenge, but...yep....you guessed it...once he sees her, he might be having second thoughts.
There is a whole other storyline going on while all this is happening about a secret society of really bad people and how exactly the duo of Drakon and Mac fit into everything.
This is only the first book in the series so the ground work is just being laid. The character development is not great, but I will admit to liking both of the MC's - Drakon and Mac.
I am willing to keep going to find out what is going to happen.
Onward to book 2.....
The premise starts when a HUGE and powerful Vampire (he's called The First, because he actually IS the first Vampire) finds Mac and immediately threatens to kill her because she supposedly buried him in an underground vault . It took him 5 years to escape and you better believe that he is NOT a happy camper. The only reason that he is alive is because he is an immortal, but the 5 years were incredibly painful for him without food, water...etc.
Mac on the other hand just thinks he's crazy because it wasn't her that did this - in fact she has never seen him before in her life. He isn't buying it and the tale begins.
Mac begins to realize that all is not what it seems and her past may just not be the past that she is remembering. Drakon is now having a problem because his entire plan was to get his revenge, but...yep....you guessed it...once he sees her, he might be having second thoughts.
There is a whole other storyline going on while all this is happening about a secret society of really bad people and how exactly the duo of Drakon and Mac fit into everything.
This is only the first book in the series so the ground work is just being laid. The character development is not great, but I will admit to liking both of the MC's - Drakon and Mac.
I am willing to keep going to find out what is going to happen.
Onward to book 2.....
August 8, 2021
Mac is one tough cookie!
I knew this story had to be epic because it was about our favorite rough bartender! And Linsey didn't disappoint. This is a fated mates tale. If this is your first Linsey Hall book you chose a great spin off. That's right if you want to know where it all started read Ancient Magic. Anyway Mac finds out a hot mysterious stranger has been asking about her. He's incredibly powerful and has danger written all over him. Yet she drawn to him. He asks her to help him over the weekend but is vague with the details. Basically he was asked to join an evil society. He has different reasons for going. Did I mention he thinks Mac tried to kill him 5 years ago?She thinks he's mistaken, but can tell he believes it. She agrees to help him over the weekend. She may have over sold her seer powers. And the longer they are around the stronger the connection between them. Did I mention he wants to kill her for revenge? Oops! You have to read how bad my girl Mac is. How can you not love a girl that likes to blow stuff up?
I knew this story had to be epic because it was about our favorite rough bartender! And Linsey didn't disappoint. This is a fated mates tale. If this is your first Linsey Hall book you chose a great spin off. That's right if you want to know where it all started read Ancient Magic. Anyway Mac finds out a hot mysterious stranger has been asking about her. He's incredibly powerful and has danger written all over him. Yet she drawn to him. He asks her to help him over the weekend but is vague with the details. Basically he was asked to join an evil society. He has different reasons for going. Did I mention he thinks Mac tried to kill him 5 years ago?She thinks he's mistaken, but can tell he believes it. She agrees to help him over the weekend. She may have over sold her seer powers. And the longer they are around the stronger the connection between them. Did I mention he wants to kill her for revenge? Oops! You have to read how bad my girl Mac is. How can you not love a girl that likes to blow stuff up?
July 22, 2021
Mac’s book has finally arrived and boy has it it arrived! Drakon is the First vampire and instead of a fated or cursed mate he has a Bride. And yes you probably guess it, it’s Mac. Now there is something devious going on here, because Drakon is convinced Mac all but buried him alive 5 years ago, only recently freeing himself and Mac has no idea what’s going on or who he is. Unfortunately Drakon doesn’t believe she doesn’t remember and thinks she’s a cruel, devious exceptional actress. While this is a priority, a secret society has taken Drakon’s best friend hostage to lure him out so they set off on an elaborate uncover mission to find him. Somehow Linsey continues to make her alpha men bigger and bagger than pervious ones, it’s incredible. This is definitely my favorite book in the Shadow Guild world hands down so far. The twists and turns were intense in this book. The secrets felt so nefarious. I want so badly to know what’s going on with Mac and want Drakon has planned next and if he’ll ever believe her and grovel. *Major Cliffhanger Alert* Linsey always releases the next book within 1-1.5 months tho so the wait won’t be long! 5/5 stars ⭐️
July 19, 2021
Mac’s story!
Since we first were introduced to Guild City, I’ve been looking forward to learning more about Mac. Her penchant for pranks and explosives easily made her a favorite.
This book brushed the surface of the mystery of who Mac is. Through helping Drakon, Mac realizes something happened in her past that has been hidden from her and she will need to uncover it.
Bite Me left me with more questions than answers about who Mac is. Now I have to wait for book two and hope Linsey shares more. I’m also hoping we see more pranks, more Ralph, and get to learn more about Genevieve!
If you love Linsey’s other characters from Guild City, you’ll enjoy this book.
If you’re new to this world, but like when an author tells a story based off of history or myth, like the first vampire, you should check out this book!
Since we first were introduced to Guild City, I’ve been looking forward to learning more about Mac. Her penchant for pranks and explosives easily made her a favorite.
This book brushed the surface of the mystery of who Mac is. Through helping Drakon, Mac realizes something happened in her past that has been hidden from her and she will need to uncover it.
Bite Me left me with more questions than answers about who Mac is. Now I have to wait for book two and hope Linsey shares more. I’m also hoping we see more pranks, more Ralph, and get to learn more about Genevieve!
If you love Linsey’s other characters from Guild City, you’ll enjoy this book.
If you’re new to this world, but like when an author tells a story based off of history or myth, like the first vampire, you should check out this book!
Read
September 27, 2021I know it’s lame not to rate a book you didn’t like, but here I’m not sure if I’d be rating the story or the narration. The story was ok ish, but the narration kept annoying me, Dnf at around 20%, maybe I’ll give it another go on my Kindle after a while.
July 27, 2021
Fast paced, fun, intriguing and the heroine is one hell of a badass, I cannot wait for the next !
August 31, 2024
3.25 🌟
July 26, 2021
I’ve been reading this author for years, and I one thing I just love is when she starts a new series. One, because I’ll get to meet some new characters, and two, I’ll get to see some old ones. This latest started out great, and it continued great to the very end. Mac is an interesting character that I enjoyed in the other series, and I’ve just learned to love her more in this one. Drakon is a character that I think I’m going to have to warm up to, but I like characters like that. Add in some kick-butt action, great writing, and secrets to be revealed, you have the great book you always expect from this author. Highly recommend.
Read
August 19, 2021DNF.
August 31, 2021
Overall: 2/5
Plot and themes: 2/5
Characters: 1/5
Writing style: 1/5
Attention-grabbing: 1/5
Bite Me is in the same world as a lot of other books by Linsey Hall and Veronica Douglas, where there's a magical part of the world and a non-magical part. Mac is part of the magical side, she works at a bar that is a gateway to this magical side and she takes great pride in being able to defend herself from all sorts of the scum that come in. When an all-powerful vampire shows up demanding that she help him as penance for locking him up five years ago, she doesn't really have a choice in the matter.
This book was like incredibly direct. All the plot elements were spoon-fed to us in the most glaringly obvious fanfiction-type way. I didn't like it all that much at all and I thought it could've been done a lot better. I just read Veronica Douglas's most recent addition to the universe and I thought that it was pretty good so I was looking forward to this one, but it was just too much for me.
I don't know, I don't have a lot of positive things to say about this. It's not difficult to keep up with the plot so even if you lose focus halfway through it'll be easy to jump back in? Not much of a romance or a thriller and kind of disappointing on all fronts.
This review and all my others can be found at: https://aworldshapedbybooks.blogspot....
September 20, 2021
You wouldn’t be remiss thinking you have read this before.. it’s very cliché, but that’s sort of why I started reading it. I wanted that! However… the thing is— I just don’t like Linsey Halls writing. We don’t get on. I try and try again to read her books when I want a guilty pleasure sort of quick read, but the writing always seems clumsy, obvious and just meh to me. I never connect to the characters and the dialogue always seems sooooo unnatural and stagnant. I nearly dnf, well sort of, I skimmed through the second half and quickly caught the gist of the storyline. Overall… skip this one, it’s not great in my opinion.
November 6, 2025
3 ⭐️
"Unable to help myself, I looked toward the door, wondering if Drakon was ever going to walk in. He’d said he’d come for me.
“You’re looking for him, aren’t you?” Carrow asked.
“Yeah. There’s no way he’s just going to abandon me after all this, no matter how much I might want him to.”
“Do you want him to?”
“Of course,” I protested. But did I? Really?"
***** Review with spoilers *****
I really wanted to read an urban fantasy book with a badass main character. Something not too deep — just to have fun, read about some ass-kicking, and a protagonist who fights her desire for her guy. I mean, that’s basically the recipe for all urban fantasy books, right?! But I think I shot myself in the foot when I wished for something light, because this was too light. The whole time I was reading it, all I could think was how boring it felt. Even the scenes that should’ve been packed with action — meaning they should’ve been engaging and exciting — were just dull and didn’t make me feel anything at all.
For God’s sake, even the final fight scene was just so… nothing. They were trapped, and then suddenly they weren’t. Then she calls her friends, and you think, “Okay, now the real thing is going to happen!” But no — she just wants them to set up a bunch of explosives. The bad guy disappears when he’s supposed to be under her control, they run, and blow up the place. That’s it. Like, are you serious? After the entire book building up to this moment, that’s all we get?
I’d say the only interesting part was at the very end — maybe the last two pages. When Drakon’s friend shows up and says he was turned into granite. And even that was only interesting because I really want to see how she’s going to fix it, and because of that tiny little spark of me wanting them to be together.
As for character development, romance development, friendships, familiar (I'm not even going to talk aboit it being a badger) connections, world-building, lore, and all that — I can’t even say there was much of it. And while I understand this story is part of a bigger world built over several books, this was the first one about Mac and Drakon, so you’d expect it to give us more information to set up their story. But no — the book just felt empty overall, with only the bare minimum done to keep things moving.
That being said, the writing itself was good enough to keep me somewhat interested in finding out what’s going to happen to Mac and Drakon. Not crazy about it, but just enough to make me want to grab the next book. So yeah, not terrible, not great — just one of those “it’s fine, I guess” kind of reads that you finish and immediately start hoping the next one makes up for it.
Main characters: Mac and Drakon.
Tropes: slow burn, secret identity, fated mates.
Supernatural types: magic wielder and vampire.
"Unable to help myself, I looked toward the door, wondering if Drakon was ever going to walk in. He’d said he’d come for me.
“You’re looking for him, aren’t you?” Carrow asked.
“Yeah. There’s no way he’s just going to abandon me after all this, no matter how much I might want him to.”
“Do you want him to?”
“Of course,” I protested. But did I? Really?"
***** Review with spoilers *****
I really wanted to read an urban fantasy book with a badass main character. Something not too deep — just to have fun, read about some ass-kicking, and a protagonist who fights her desire for her guy. I mean, that’s basically the recipe for all urban fantasy books, right?! But I think I shot myself in the foot when I wished for something light, because this was too light. The whole time I was reading it, all I could think was how boring it felt. Even the scenes that should’ve been packed with action — meaning they should’ve been engaging and exciting — were just dull and didn’t make me feel anything at all.
For God’s sake, even the final fight scene was just so… nothing. They were trapped, and then suddenly they weren’t. Then she calls her friends, and you think, “Okay, now the real thing is going to happen!” But no — she just wants them to set up a bunch of explosives. The bad guy disappears when he’s supposed to be under her control, they run, and blow up the place. That’s it. Like, are you serious? After the entire book building up to this moment, that’s all we get?
I’d say the only interesting part was at the very end — maybe the last two pages. When Drakon’s friend shows up and says he was turned into granite. And even that was only interesting because I really want to see how she’s going to fix it, and because of that tiny little spark of me wanting them to be together.
As for character development, romance development, friendships, familiar (I'm not even going to talk aboit it being a badger) connections, world-building, lore, and all that — I can’t even say there was much of it. And while I understand this story is part of a bigger world built over several books, this was the first one about Mac and Drakon, so you’d expect it to give us more information to set up their story. But no — the book just felt empty overall, with only the bare minimum done to keep things moving.
That being said, the writing itself was good enough to keep me somewhat interested in finding out what’s going to happen to Mac and Drakon. Not crazy about it, but just enough to make me want to grab the next book. So yeah, not terrible, not great — just one of those “it’s fine, I guess” kind of reads that you finish and immediately start hoping the next one makes up for it.
Main characters: Mac and Drakon.
Tropes: slow burn, secret identity, fated mates.
Supernatural types: magic wielder and vampire.
April 9, 2024
Let me preface this by saying that I'm not the intended audience for this book. The only reason I picked it up is the beautiful cover that somehow reminded me of Vampire the Masquerade world.
So this is a run-of-the-mill urban fantasy/paranormal romance. The story is fast paced and plot driven. I liked the hidden magical city and different towers for different factions. One nitpick I had is that we're told Mac has a reputation in the magical community but we aren't shown anything about it so I have no idea why.
There are two things I didn't like here: the fated mates trope and vampires who aren't actually vampires.
I don't like fated mates because it means you're meant to be with this person whether you'd like it or not. It takes your agency away and places it in the hands of a higher, unseen power. That's not how it works in real life which may be precisely the reason why some people like it in fiction but I'm afraid I'm not one of those people.
Vampires who are basically humans with fangs and superpowers are the worst offender to me. Vampirism, at its root, is a curse. You are condemned to walk in darkness and crave human blood for eternity, you become a monster in exile. But all these paranormal romance books treat vampirism as a blessing with no disadvantages whatsoever, and it makes me so fucking frustrated, ugh.
Writing was serviceable with a few typos here and there. One thing that bothered me is that shock/fear/guilt etc flashed/shot/surged etc through people, their minds, or veins about 49 times if I remember correctly. Why does nobody pay attention to this stuff anymore?
Anyway. It's tropey and cheesy but incredibly readable which makes it perfect for reading in bed at night before falling asleep which is exactly what I did and will do with the next two books.
So this is a run-of-the-mill urban fantasy/paranormal romance. The story is fast paced and plot driven. I liked the hidden magical city and different towers for different factions. One nitpick I had is that we're told Mac has a reputation in the magical community but we aren't shown anything about it so I have no idea why.
There are two things I didn't like here: the fated mates trope and vampires who aren't actually vampires.
I don't like fated mates because it means you're meant to be with this person whether you'd like it or not. It takes your agency away and places it in the hands of a higher, unseen power. That's not how it works in real life which may be precisely the reason why some people like it in fiction but I'm afraid I'm not one of those people.
Vampires who are basically humans with fangs and superpowers are the worst offender to me. Vampirism, at its root, is a curse. You are condemned to walk in darkness and crave human blood for eternity, you become a monster in exile. But all these paranormal romance books treat vampirism as a blessing with no disadvantages whatsoever, and it makes me so fucking frustrated, ugh.
Writing was serviceable with a few typos here and there. One thing that bothered me is that shock/fear/guilt etc flashed/shot/surged etc through people, their minds, or veins about 49 times if I remember correctly. Why does nobody pay attention to this stuff anymore?
Anyway. It's tropey and cheesy but incredibly readable which makes it perfect for reading in bed at night before falling asleep which is exactly what I did and will do with the next two books.
October 26, 2021
This book is straight fire. If you have ever read any of Linsey's books, then you know she has built out an amazing world. I have read almost all her books and love what she has done with Mac's story. We all have been waiting for her to write this story and I am 100% here for it. This story opens up with our main character Macbeth O'Connell (Mac) in her beloved bar. In walks in, tall and dangerous, Drakon, claiming that she is his vampire bride. He is the first vampire and here to exact revenge on Mac for some things that have happened in the past and use her to get into a secret society. Except Mac doesn't know what he is talking about and is not going along with the plan.
If you have been reading Linsey Hall's books, then you will have already been introduced to the funny, kick-butt Mac. She is OG and has been around since the beginning. I love that in this book we finally get to dive into her story and learn more about her. Linsey is building a huge mystery about Mac's past and we learn that her past is not what she remembers it to be. She at the skin level is the standard bad-butt woman in these types of stories, but Linsey manages to put a unique twist on who Mac is. Over the two books, you can see real growth in Mac, going from a more carefree sidekick friend to someone who is driven and passionate about saving the man she is growing feelings for. She has to learn to be comfortable depending on someone, not just on herself.
Linsey is the queen of world building and the Vampire Bride is no exception. We are once again in the world of the Shadow Guild with lots of international travel between the two books. No matter what the characters are doing, I can clearly see where they are at.
Read the full review on my website. Link in bio.
If you have been reading Linsey Hall's books, then you will have already been introduced to the funny, kick-butt Mac. She is OG and has been around since the beginning. I love that in this book we finally get to dive into her story and learn more about her. Linsey is building a huge mystery about Mac's past and we learn that her past is not what she remembers it to be. She at the skin level is the standard bad-butt woman in these types of stories, but Linsey manages to put a unique twist on who Mac is. Over the two books, you can see real growth in Mac, going from a more carefree sidekick friend to someone who is driven and passionate about saving the man she is growing feelings for. She has to learn to be comfortable depending on someone, not just on herself.
Linsey is the queen of world building and the Vampire Bride is no exception. We are once again in the world of the Shadow Guild with lots of international travel between the two books. No matter what the characters are doing, I can clearly see where they are at.
Read the full review on my website. Link in bio.
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