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The Shadow Realm #2
A Heart Of Bitter Poison
The second book wickedly funny Shadow Realm dark paranormal romcom series by #1 NYT bestselling author Brynne Weaver.
An executioner and a bounty. A soldier and a weapon.
The hunter and the prey that won’t go down.
After centuries in hiding, the last of the original sirens took a chance on love.
And it blew up in her face.
Imprisoned by the Shadow Realm, Lu's days now pass in a haze of torture and tears. She's the most ancient vampire siren, the weapon they can't work out. Halfway to a hybrid of immortal creatures, she could be the key to their plans for war against the Realm of Light... if only they could figure out how to finish the transformation.
After a daring escape, Lu finds herself on the run with an unlikely set of allies. Their enemies have a head start in the race to find the oldest vampires, and Lu will stop at nothing to keep them safe from a fate worse than death. If they can't find them in time, it will end in the war of the ultimate superpowers. But every move she makes, Ashen is there. The demon that she trusted. The executioner she loved. The Reaper that poisoned her heart with his betrayal. And as secrets of the Shadow Realm and her own history start to collide, Lu begins to question everything she knows... including the motives of the enigmatic demon she can't seem to escape.
She's promised herself she'll never go back.
She's determined not to fall in love.
If only she knew whom to trust...
Praise for A Shadow In The Reaping (Book 1 of the Shadow Realm series):
"This book had me hooked from the first paragraph. If you are looking for a fresh voice in the world of paranormal romance, pick up this one! Brynne Weaver's humor, imagination, and glittering prose will captivate you, and Ashen and Lu will keep you coming back for more." ~Stephanie Fournet, bestselling contemporary romance author of Dream House, Leave A Mark, and Someone Like Me
~~ This is a DARK ROMANCE intended for an 18+ audience. Contains mature themes, including violence, trauma, torture, pregnancy loss/infertility, references to suicidal ideation, explicit language, sexual content (consensual but includes S&M, blood, knife play, violence) ~~
An executioner and a bounty. A soldier and a weapon.
The hunter and the prey that won’t go down.
After centuries in hiding, the last of the original sirens took a chance on love.
And it blew up in her face.
Imprisoned by the Shadow Realm, Lu's days now pass in a haze of torture and tears. She's the most ancient vampire siren, the weapon they can't work out. Halfway to a hybrid of immortal creatures, she could be the key to their plans for war against the Realm of Light... if only they could figure out how to finish the transformation.
After a daring escape, Lu finds herself on the run with an unlikely set of allies. Their enemies have a head start in the race to find the oldest vampires, and Lu will stop at nothing to keep them safe from a fate worse than death. If they can't find them in time, it will end in the war of the ultimate superpowers. But every move she makes, Ashen is there. The demon that she trusted. The executioner she loved. The Reaper that poisoned her heart with his betrayal. And as secrets of the Shadow Realm and her own history start to collide, Lu begins to question everything she knows... including the motives of the enigmatic demon she can't seem to escape.
She's promised herself she'll never go back.
She's determined not to fall in love.
If only she knew whom to trust...
Praise for A Shadow In The Reaping (Book 1 of the Shadow Realm series):
"This book had me hooked from the first paragraph. If you are looking for a fresh voice in the world of paranormal romance, pick up this one! Brynne Weaver's humor, imagination, and glittering prose will captivate you, and Ashen and Lu will keep you coming back for more." ~Stephanie Fournet, bestselling contemporary romance author of Dream House, Leave A Mark, and Someone Like Me
~~ This is a DARK ROMANCE intended for an 18+ audience. Contains mature themes, including violence, trauma, torture, pregnancy loss/infertility, references to suicidal ideation, explicit language, sexual content (consensual but includes S&M, blood, knife play, violence) ~~
Unknown Binding
Published January 27, 2022
520 people are currently reading
10128 people want to read
About the author
Brynne Weaver
20 books26.8k followersBrynne Weaver is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and international sensation with over 4 million copies sold in over twenty-five countries to date. She has traveled the world, taken in more stray animals than her husband would probably prefer, and nurtured her love for dark comedies, horror, and romance in both literature and film. During all her adventures, the constant thread in Brynne’s life has been writing. With thirteen published works and counting, Brynne has made her mark in the literary world by blending irreverent dark comedy, swoon-worthy romance, and riveting suspense to create genre-breaking, addictive stories for readers to escape into. Known as the “Queen of Dark Romcom,” Brynne Weaver aspires to write female-focused stories about resilient characters navigating the darker edges of love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews
February 10, 2022
When I found this new-to-me author, when I read A Shadow in the Reaping, I knew that she was someone to keep my eye on. She had me hooked to this story and I was willing to give her just about anything to get my hands on the next book. Well here it is and thankfully the wait wasn't that long.
Seriously, if I thought she had the goods in the first book, I KNOW she's got them after reading this one. HANDS DOWN one of THE BEST sequels I have ever read!!
You already know I can't stand a story told from just one perspective, but the author made it work !
Picking up right where the last one left off, this book was full of angst, torture, heartbreak, fighting, bravery, evil, and so much freaking love. So much love!
Lu and Ashen... I cannot get enough of this couple and I'm hoping (I'm looking at you, Mz Author Lady) that there will be another book in this series. It's necessary!!
Reapers are after Lu. Ashen, also a reaper, is determined to keep her safe. Her friends are also there to lend support and their might. And there's the love again. I'm so in love with all the love in this book. And the sexy times between Ash and Lu... Damn, these two were so freaking hot together.
And I want more. The end (yes Queen) was great, but not enough. Not for me. I'm greedy, I've never denied it, and I need more.
The writing... magnifique. The plot... incredible. The characters... stunning. And I want more!!
Find more on the blog
Seriously, if I thought she had the goods in the first book, I KNOW she's got them after reading this one. HANDS DOWN one of THE BEST sequels I have ever read!!
You already know I can't stand a story told from just one perspective, but the author made it work !
Picking up right where the last one left off, this book was full of angst, torture, heartbreak, fighting, bravery, evil, and so much freaking love. So much love!
Lu and Ashen... I cannot get enough of this couple and I'm hoping (I'm looking at you, Mz Author Lady) that there will be another book in this series. It's necessary!!
Reapers are after Lu. Ashen, also a reaper, is determined to keep her safe. Her friends are also there to lend support and their might. And there's the love again. I'm so in love with all the love in this book. And the sexy times between Ash and Lu... Damn, these two were so freaking hot together.
And I want more. The end (yes Queen) was great, but not enough. Not for me. I'm greedy, I've never denied it, and I need more.
The writing... magnifique. The plot... incredible. The characters... stunning. And I want more!!
Find more on the blog
May 5, 2022
Thank you to Brynne Weaver for sending me an 𝐀𝐑𝐂. All thoughts and opinions are my own. There are many many 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗔𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗! So if you hate them and don't want to know anything about this book, i suggest you don't to go any further. 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝.
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
I devoured this book, there's no other way to describe it. I started and couldn’t stop and if I wasn't comatose by the time i reach 𝟔𝟎% i would have continued and finished it in one sitting but my brain couldn't comprehend a single word anymore and i wasn't about to zombie read this beauty. So i gracefully past out on my bed and waited until the next day to continue.
Goddamn what a story. Now i didn't expect this one to start with humor the same way 𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐑 did, not after the way it ended but 𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐍 it still hurt to not have Lu be her usual sassy self. 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐔𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 was like another kind of torture, she already suffered everything inimaginable in her 𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟎 years of being a vampire but she never should have 𝐅𝐄𝐋𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐀 𝐎𝐅 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐋 even if he wasn’t at fault, at that time it's the only truth she had, as if having her voice stolen and being tortured wasn't already enough. But at least she wasn't alone in her despair, she had the most important person in her corner to make sure those feelings did not consume her whole. But fu#k seeing her all broken and without hope crushed my heart in a million pieces. Because that's 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐏 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐍 𝐋𝐄𝐔𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐀.
And of course in those moments of despair her crazy ass needs Ediye to sing her “𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐘 𝐌𝐘𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅” to cheer her up, like of course what other song would be even remotely on point with their situation. It was so fu#king depressing that it couldn't be anything but hilarious at that point.
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
I am so glad we had more information on Ediye, after her interactions with Lu in 𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐑 I wanted to know more about her and their friendship and i got what i wanted here. I've always known their bond runs deeper than the fact they've known each other for 𝟑𝟎𝟎 years. That was the thing about 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧, it came with a universal understanding for those who survived it. And the second they met, they could see it, feel it and a connection was created. But I hate how she had to witness her dearest friend 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤, 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫 in those 𝟐𝟔 days.
“Ediye laughs like she’s got my number. “Oh vampire. You are so fucked.”
I scoff “Why should I be the fucked one? He should be fucked. I fucketh him.”
“Oh you fuckethed him all right
“Ediye laughs at my vicious scowl and holds the towel out for me. My glare softens as I realize how much light there is in her eyes. How much relief. To see her smile without a veneer of pain and worry bathes my heart in shimmering light. She leans forward as I wrap myself in the towel and burrow myself in its warmth. She gives me a kiss on the cheek and leans back to smile at me. “I know you belong to me.”
“I’ve always belonged to you.”
Ediye winks and nods to the counter where my clothes lay folded. “Damn straight, bitch.”
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
This Story was so much more emotional than the first and for good reasons. In this one her trauma was still very, very fresh so we had more of her slowly healing physically, emotionally and mentally not to mention tending to her broken heart. Everything was still raw even tho she tried to hold on to her humor and quirkiness it was still a very painful journey. But she was surrounded by the best people she could ever whish for and with their help, support and love our vicious vampire will survive this. All of them where there when she needed them even if it was something as simple as putting a hand on her shoulder to let her know she wasn't 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐄.
⋘⋙---------•⪼⪻•---------⋘⋙
Speaking of emotional, during her first confrontation with Ashen i was so torn up between the two of them, i knew there had to be more to the story but fu#k I couldn't not be on Lu side, her emotions were still raw. But he's sorrow and pain in that moment cut deep.
“So... so that’s it? You would believe my sister? Ember, who threatened you? Who took Aglaope from you? Who brought Molpe to you in chains, and dragged her soul down the halls of House Urbigu? Who snatched you from the Living Realm and burnt Ediye’s house to the ground?” I see the exact moment when all the colors of Ashen’s eyes seem to collapse into an abyss of despairing shadow. The flame in his pupils snuffs out for the instant before he blinks. It’s so fast that I almost doubt it even happened. As soon as his eyes are open again, the fire is back, an impenetrable heat that keeps his secrets safe.”
But no matter what she's still right, even if he had nothing to do with what happened it didn't change anything for her. Not at that point in the story anyway. She needed someone to blame. To feel Something other than pain, so she focused all her rage at him. It was either that or drown in her agony.
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
And if all that's wasn't enough for you we have a new Leucosia not just because of her new trauma, not that it didn't change her but we had a more powerful and deranged Lu. After the witchy serum and month of torture her body was slowly changing and adapting to it's new state and now we found out that she was slowly evolving into something else. Like she really really changed. And I'm pretty sure her inner monologs were getting crazier. 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐞-𝐀𝐬𝐲𝐥𝐮𝐦 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐞𝐫. As in if you thought she was certifiable, psychotic and vicious before well. . . Here's Leucosia 𝟐.𝟎 for you.
“Ugh, I know. But if you spent a month being tortured, you’d probably be a little deranged too. I have an urge to thank her. But, for some reason, also a much, much greater urge to kill her. Viciously. Like, a bathe-in-her-blood, cast-spells-from-her-bones kind of killing. I’m not sure why. No, scratch that. I am sure why. For re-existing. For taking what was mine. I shudder as a murderous urge slithers down my spine. More murderous than usual. By a lot. And that’s saying something, because, hello… vampire. Fuck, I’m feeling really weird. Not bad weird, more like maniacal weird. I’ve determined that my emotional state has distilled into two primal emotions:
A desire to fuck people up. Or, a desire to just… Fuck people. Specifically one person.”
[..] “His eyes haven’t left mine and that enrages me even more. He was supposed to like boobs. I even have a note about it. Why isn’t he fucking looking at my boobs? Though if he does, I might slap him. I haven’t decided. But either way, he’s a fucking asshole.”
“There’s a cacophonous argument in my head of why-aren’t-you-looking, look-down-you-motherfucker, if-you-look-I-will-murder-you, and I’m not sure which voice is going to win...”
⋘⋙---------•⪼⪻•---------⋘⋙
We also had a lot more 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥, 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲, 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲, 𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 between them, That I won't say more about because I don't want to spoil too much and if I keep writing I won't stop until I quote the entire book.
All I'll say is this book was so much more intense and emotional. So many moments that hurt so fu#king bad that all I wanted to do was 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 for it to stop but than there were other equally moments of 𝐉𝐨𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 that almost erased those more painful moments.
“I know I have not given you reason to trust in my promises, my Lu. But I swear to you, I swear, I will do everything in my power to give you your vengeance. If you want to burn every realm, I will hand you the match and stand with you until the last cinders fall. I will pay for this promise with my life if I have to.”
[...] “I turn enough to give Ashen the evil eye over my shoulder. He gives the most infuriating, teasing, adorable grin in reply.
“Vampire...” he says in a low warning, though the smile still tugs at his lips. The dagger flies from my hand and smacks into the headboard with a twang. Ashen looks at the blade next to his head and back to me, his smile growing wide.
“I missed,” I say, trying to toss him a glare as fierce as the dagger he pulls from the split wood.
“No, you didn’t.”
“I can try again.” Ashen laughs. God almighty, that sound. It’s like a punch to the chest every time I hear it. His smile grows as he looks down at the dagger. “I have seen you throw blades accurately with your peripheral vision. You never miss.” His eyes slide to mine and he gives me a dark, cocky smile. I can’t decide if I want to smack his face or sit on it. “Does that mean I’m growing on you?”
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
We had a lot of new revelations and twists that I simply devoured. More adventure and characters from the past and present. Some new allies and of course new enemies. 𝐀 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭. 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲. 𝐎𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝. The story was as Compelling as the first if not more. There were even more 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐑𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐲, 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞, 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. We also learn more about Lu's past and origins. We had even more world building/lore. Take the Shadow Realm in 𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐑 when we got there it was exactly what I expected it to be more or less. But the Realm of Light was not in a billion years what I thought it would be. I mean maybe, maybe if all angels were like Eryx but otherwise 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋. 𝐍𝐎. What a happy surprise tho. Now I could continue to list every word from the dictionary to describe how incredible this story was but this is something you need to read for yourself.
Also i want my own Mr. Hassan. Cause Duh! Ooooh and my own Urtur too. Cause again Duh!!!!
𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐑𝐘𝐍𝐍𝐄 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐔𝐃𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐂𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐘. 𝐖𝐇𝐘𝐘𝐘𝐘𝐘!!!!!
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
I devoured this book, there's no other way to describe it. I started and couldn’t stop and if I wasn't comatose by the time i reach 𝟔𝟎% i would have continued and finished it in one sitting but my brain couldn't comprehend a single word anymore and i wasn't about to zombie read this beauty. So i gracefully past out on my bed and waited until the next day to continue.
Goddamn what a story. Now i didn't expect this one to start with humor the same way 𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐑 did, not after the way it ended but 𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐍 it still hurt to not have Lu be her usual sassy self. 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐔𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 was like another kind of torture, she already suffered everything inimaginable in her 𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟎 years of being a vampire but she never should have 𝐅𝐄𝐋𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐀 𝐎𝐅 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐋 even if he wasn’t at fault, at that time it's the only truth she had, as if having her voice stolen and being tortured wasn't already enough. But at least she wasn't alone in her despair, she had the most important person in her corner to make sure those feelings did not consume her whole. But fu#k seeing her all broken and without hope crushed my heart in a million pieces. Because that's 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐏 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐍 𝐋𝐄𝐔𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐀.
And of course in those moments of despair her crazy ass needs Ediye to sing her “𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐘 𝐌𝐘𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅” to cheer her up, like of course what other song would be even remotely on point with their situation. It was so fu#king depressing that it couldn't be anything but hilarious at that point.
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
I am so glad we had more information on Ediye, after her interactions with Lu in 𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐑 I wanted to know more about her and their friendship and i got what i wanted here. I've always known their bond runs deeper than the fact they've known each other for 𝟑𝟎𝟎 years. That was the thing about 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧, it came with a universal understanding for those who survived it. And the second they met, they could see it, feel it and a connection was created. But I hate how she had to witness her dearest friend 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤, 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫 in those 𝟐𝟔 days.
“Ediye laughs like she’s got my number. “Oh vampire. You are so fucked.”
I scoff “Why should I be the fucked one? He should be fucked. I fucketh him.”
“Oh you fuckethed him all right
“Ediye laughs at my vicious scowl and holds the towel out for me. My glare softens as I realize how much light there is in her eyes. How much relief. To see her smile without a veneer of pain and worry bathes my heart in shimmering light. She leans forward as I wrap myself in the towel and burrow myself in its warmth. She gives me a kiss on the cheek and leans back to smile at me. “I know you belong to me.”
“I’ve always belonged to you.”
Ediye winks and nods to the counter where my clothes lay folded. “Damn straight, bitch.”
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
This Story was so much more emotional than the first and for good reasons. In this one her trauma was still very, very fresh so we had more of her slowly healing physically, emotionally and mentally not to mention tending to her broken heart. Everything was still raw even tho she tried to hold on to her humor and quirkiness it was still a very painful journey. But she was surrounded by the best people she could ever whish for and with their help, support and love our vicious vampire will survive this. All of them where there when she needed them even if it was something as simple as putting a hand on her shoulder to let her know she wasn't 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐄.
⋘⋙---------•⪼⪻•---------⋘⋙
Speaking of emotional, during her first confrontation with Ashen i was so torn up between the two of them, i knew there had to be more to the story but fu#k I couldn't not be on Lu side, her emotions were still raw. But he's sorrow and pain in that moment cut deep.
“So... so that’s it? You would believe my sister? Ember, who threatened you? Who took Aglaope from you? Who brought Molpe to you in chains, and dragged her soul down the halls of House Urbigu? Who snatched you from the Living Realm and burnt Ediye’s house to the ground?” I see the exact moment when all the colors of Ashen’s eyes seem to collapse into an abyss of despairing shadow. The flame in his pupils snuffs out for the instant before he blinks. It’s so fast that I almost doubt it even happened. As soon as his eyes are open again, the fire is back, an impenetrable heat that keeps his secrets safe.”
But no matter what she's still right, even if he had nothing to do with what happened it didn't change anything for her. Not at that point in the story anyway. She needed someone to blame. To feel Something other than pain, so she focused all her rage at him. It was either that or drown in her agony.
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
And if all that's wasn't enough for you we have a new Leucosia not just because of her new trauma, not that it didn't change her but we had a more powerful and deranged Lu. After the witchy serum and month of torture her body was slowly changing and adapting to it's new state and now we found out that she was slowly evolving into something else. Like she really really changed. And I'm pretty sure her inner monologs were getting crazier. 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐞-𝐀𝐬𝐲𝐥𝐮𝐦 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐞𝐫. As in if you thought she was certifiable, psychotic and vicious before well. . . Here's Leucosia 𝟐.𝟎 for you.
“Ugh, I know. But if you spent a month being tortured, you’d probably be a little deranged too. I have an urge to thank her. But, for some reason, also a much, much greater urge to kill her. Viciously. Like, a bathe-in-her-blood, cast-spells-from-her-bones kind of killing. I’m not sure why. No, scratch that. I am sure why. For re-existing. For taking what was mine. I shudder as a murderous urge slithers down my spine. More murderous than usual. By a lot. And that’s saying something, because, hello… vampire. Fuck, I’m feeling really weird. Not bad weird, more like maniacal weird. I’ve determined that my emotional state has distilled into two primal emotions:
A desire to fuck people up. Or, a desire to just… Fuck people. Specifically one person.”
[..] “His eyes haven’t left mine and that enrages me even more. He was supposed to like boobs. I even have a note about it. Why isn’t he fucking looking at my boobs? Though if he does, I might slap him. I haven’t decided. But either way, he’s a fucking asshole.”
“There’s a cacophonous argument in my head of why-aren’t-you-looking, look-down-you-motherfucker, if-you-look-I-will-murder-you, and I’m not sure which voice is going to win...”
⋘⋙---------•⪼⪻•---------⋘⋙
We also had a lot more 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥, 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲, 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲, 𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 between them, That I won't say more about because I don't want to spoil too much and if I keep writing I won't stop until I quote the entire book.
All I'll say is this book was so much more intense and emotional. So many moments that hurt so fu#king bad that all I wanted to do was 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 for it to stop but than there were other equally moments of 𝐉𝐨𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 that almost erased those more painful moments.
“I know I have not given you reason to trust in my promises, my Lu. But I swear to you, I swear, I will do everything in my power to give you your vengeance. If you want to burn every realm, I will hand you the match and stand with you until the last cinders fall. I will pay for this promise with my life if I have to.”
[...] “I turn enough to give Ashen the evil eye over my shoulder. He gives the most infuriating, teasing, adorable grin in reply.
“Vampire...” he says in a low warning, though the smile still tugs at his lips. The dagger flies from my hand and smacks into the headboard with a twang. Ashen looks at the blade next to his head and back to me, his smile growing wide.
“I missed,” I say, trying to toss him a glare as fierce as the dagger he pulls from the split wood.
“No, you didn’t.”
“I can try again.” Ashen laughs. God almighty, that sound. It’s like a punch to the chest every time I hear it. His smile grows as he looks down at the dagger. “I have seen you throw blades accurately with your peripheral vision. You never miss.” His eyes slide to mine and he gives me a dark, cocky smile. I can’t decide if I want to smack his face or sit on it. “Does that mean I’m growing on you?”
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
We had a lot of new revelations and twists that I simply devoured. More adventure and characters from the past and present. Some new allies and of course new enemies. 𝐀 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭. 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲. 𝐎𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝. The story was as Compelling as the first if not more. There were even more 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐑𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐲, 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞, 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. We also learn more about Lu's past and origins. We had even more world building/lore. Take the Shadow Realm in 𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐑 when we got there it was exactly what I expected it to be more or less. But the Realm of Light was not in a billion years what I thought it would be. I mean maybe, maybe if all angels were like Eryx but otherwise 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋. 𝐍𝐎. What a happy surprise tho. Now I could continue to list every word from the dictionary to describe how incredible this story was but this is something you need to read for yourself.
Also i want my own Mr. Hassan. Cause Duh! Ooooh and my own Urtur too. Cause again Duh!!!!
𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐑𝐘𝐍𝐍𝐄 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐔𝐃𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐂𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐘. 𝐖𝐇𝐘𝐘𝐘𝐘𝐘!!!!!
January 1, 2026
I keep saying that I'm over Vampire Werewolf books, but I keep finding and reading them. I am however more decerning in which ones I'm reading. Give me a siren Vampire in love with and possibly betrayed by a Reaper from the Shadow realm and a cast of interesting and morally flexible characters and you can color me interested.
The Shadow Realm was supposed to be a place for souls to get merciful justice. That is not what it has become. Souls trapped there are tortured, used, hunted or part of a churning sea of souls trying to find an escape. Lu has been betrayed and is trapped in the Shadow Realm as they try to figure out how to turn her into an ultimate weapon to be used in the war against the Realm of Light.
This started out so rough as Lu is sick, imprisoned and tortured. It shows how twisted the Shadow realm has become. Good thing she has her best friend Ediye is there to help keep her spirits up and belt out some annoying tunes to help time pass and irritate their captors.
The story really starts to pick up once they are able to escape with the help of some unlikely friends. This is when I really started to enjoy the story as the group tries to figure out how to get Lu back to fighting condition and reap a little revenge on a certain Reaper, that deserves a little pain before he can end up in our good graces again.
Lu is such a fun character. She is a little crazy, very vengeful and ready to burn down the Shadow Realm after the hell they put her through. I had a fun time with her crew as they take on the Hybrids and the Shadow Realms in order to make Lu into the weapon needed to keep balance between the realms.
Of course this wouldn't have been nearly as good if we didn't get the groveling Reaper bent on trying to get close enough to Lu to explain what happened. Good thing he resurrects when killed by anything but Angelwing poison, because Lu has some anger issues to work out.
Overall it is a fun cast and I love the friendship between Ediye. They are so close and it is a true ride or die friendship. I loved the scenes with them and how they bolster one another. Ashen and his true motivations, is he committed to getting Lu back and finding a way to tare down the realm he serves or is she the Weapon he is just trying to use? Fun story and I can't wait to see how it all closes out.
“The Shadow Realm, to deliver merciful justice. The Realm of Light, to deliver rightful salvation. The Living Realm, to challenge the soul and offer the hope of another path.”
The Shadow Realm was supposed to be a place for souls to get merciful justice. That is not what it has become. Souls trapped there are tortured, used, hunted or part of a churning sea of souls trying to find an escape. Lu has been betrayed and is trapped in the Shadow Realm as they try to figure out how to turn her into an ultimate weapon to be used in the war against the Realm of Light.
This started out so rough as Lu is sick, imprisoned and tortured. It shows how twisted the Shadow realm has become. Good thing she has her best friend Ediye is there to help keep her spirits up and belt out some annoying tunes to help time pass and irritate their captors.
No betrayal is worse than when it's delivered by the hand of someone you love.
The story really starts to pick up once they are able to escape with the help of some unlikely friends. This is when I really started to enjoy the story as the group tries to figure out how to get Lu back to fighting condition and reap a little revenge on a certain Reaper, that deserves a little pain before he can end up in our good graces again.
Lu is such a fun character. She is a little crazy, very vengeful and ready to burn down the Shadow Realm after the hell they put her through. I had a fun time with her crew as they take on the Hybrids and the Shadow Realms in order to make Lu into the weapon needed to keep balance between the realms.
Of course this wouldn't have been nearly as good if we didn't get the groveling Reaper bent on trying to get close enough to Lu to explain what happened. Good thing he resurrects when killed by anything but Angelwing poison, because Lu has some anger issues to work out.
Overall it is a fun cast and I love the friendship between Ediye. They are so close and it is a true ride or die friendship. I loved the scenes with them and how they bolster one another. Ashen and his true motivations, is he committed to getting Lu back and finding a way to tare down the realm he serves or is she the Weapon he is just trying to use? Fun story and I can't wait to see how it all closes out.
January 27, 2022
I really enjoyed book 2 more than book 1 and the resolution came quickish but the groveling persisted which I LOVED. Lu became more badass- which I didn't think was possible and you got all your favorite side characters back. The spice is turned up but the adventuring continues. Good example of plot with spice.
Thank you Brynne for the ARC! Can't wait for the third book- no huge cliffhanger on this one tho!
Thank you Brynne for the ARC! Can't wait for the third book- no huge cliffhanger on this one tho!
January 28, 2022
Ladies & gents, y'all are going to want to sit down for this book, because if you're standing I promise A Heart of Bitter Poison will BLOW YOU AWAY! The second book picks up right where A Shadow In The Reaping ends, and we get to follow Lu & Ediye navigate betrayal, hurting, and surviving.
If you were reeling from the choices that Ashen made in the first book, buckle up because this book is about to take you on a rollercoaster that nobody can ever prepare you for. (What in the Tamlin-Rhysand f**kry is happening Ashen, come on man!). I can for certain say I cried, laughed, smiled, wept, and hysterically laughed myself right off the chair I was reading in.
Lu continues to kick ass and keep her badass demeanour throughout the entire book, which made it so much easier for me to fall more in love with how awesome she is! Ediye plays such a huge role in this book once more and we again get to see her also be this badass who has her friends back at all times.
Characters that surprised me in this book? Cole and Eryx! These two!! Let me snuggle them up and protect them with my life, because this demon and angel duo are the perfect side characters you can't help but love! Give us more of Cole and Eryx please, I've already fallen in love with them! :)
On the spice level, this book was SO SPICY. The spice scenes in this book are like no other and I'm pretty sure it's become an addiction for wanting more because Brynne writes the BEST spice scenes!
Overall this book was one of the best books I've read in 2022 (I know the year just started but I'm pretty sure this book will be at the top on my book list until the end of time), the spice was amazing, the back and forth between characters were perfectly written & Brynne seems to have a knack for throwing so many twists in her books that make your head spin! Like my mom said to me the other day "Brynne's books give her emotional damage". If you're looking for a good modern day vampire, reaper, demons, angels, witches book, you got to pick up this series!
If you were reeling from the choices that Ashen made in the first book, buckle up because this book is about to take you on a rollercoaster that nobody can ever prepare you for. (What in the Tamlin-Rhysand f**kry is happening Ashen, come on man!). I can for certain say I cried, laughed, smiled, wept, and hysterically laughed myself right off the chair I was reading in.
Lu continues to kick ass and keep her badass demeanour throughout the entire book, which made it so much easier for me to fall more in love with how awesome she is! Ediye plays such a huge role in this book once more and we again get to see her also be this badass who has her friends back at all times.
Characters that surprised me in this book? Cole and Eryx! These two!! Let me snuggle them up and protect them with my life, because this demon and angel duo are the perfect side characters you can't help but love! Give us more of Cole and Eryx please, I've already fallen in love with them! :)
On the spice level, this book was SO SPICY. The spice scenes in this book are like no other and I'm pretty sure it's become an addiction for wanting more because Brynne writes the BEST spice scenes!
Overall this book was one of the best books I've read in 2022 (I know the year just started but I'm pretty sure this book will be at the top on my book list until the end of time), the spice was amazing, the back and forth between characters were perfectly written & Brynne seems to have a knack for throwing so many twists in her books that make your head spin! Like my mom said to me the other day "Brynne's books give her emotional damage". If you're looking for a good modern day vampire, reaper, demons, angels, witches book, you got to pick up this series!
October 18, 2022
2022 Reread:
I said what I said.
Original:
Thank you to Brynne Weaver for the opportunity to read this ARC. This honest review was based off my experience reading an ARC, which in no way biased me.
I LOVED EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF THIS BOOK. I am not sure how else to say this, but the issue about loving a book this much is I HAVE NO WAY TO FORM COHERENT THOUGHTS AFTER I’M DONE READING. The writing, the characters, the banter, the chemistry, literally everything was amazing.
This book made me laugh so much LIKE OUT LOUD, like full on cackle, its the banter between Lu and Asher, its so good. It also made me cry a little, I’ll admit it.
The writing, there were some lines that JUST HIT SO WELL. The descriptions were beautiful, poetic almost lyrical I’M OBSESSED. Like this is an example “Her voice isn’t what I expect. It’s quiet, but assertive, like a gentle breeze that still cuts through a forest to find you.” There’s call backs that are there if you pay attention to them and I loved noticing them.
And I know what you’re probably here for, you’re wondering how smutty this is. CAN CONFIRM THE SMUT IN HERE IS GOOD, OH SO GOOD. There’s more, and its more ✨DETAILED✨ than the first book.
Lu and Asher serve the enemies to lovers trope in A Shadow in the Reaping, in A Heart of Bitter Poison we see the evolution back into enemies and then… well read it to find out, I won’t be the one to spoil it for you. Like their species are inherently enemies. He is a Reaper, a demon who hunt other supernatural species and reap their souls for the Shadow Realm. She is the last of the original siren vampires, but no one is supposed to know that since she’s supposed to be dead.
With this book, I am so happy we get to know more of the side characters introduced in ASITR. Ediye especially. Her and Lu’s friendship is quite something to read about. Everyone needs an Ediye to their Lu (or vice versa) in their lives. We get to know more about Cole and his backstory, well actually another thing I loved was that we got to know more of everyone’s back story not just the main characters’.
If you like angry/hate sex, active murder attempts kind of enemies to lovers (you know the knife to the throat scenes), vampires, demons, hunters, witches, werewolves, angels, vampire/werewolf hybrids, a war between realms and that’s just the basics, you need to read this series.
I really enjoyed A Shadow in the Reaping, with A Heart of Bitter Poison, Brynne really raised the bar I’m very excited to see where this series goes and to read more of her work.
JUST READ IT. It deserves more than 5 stars really.
I said what I said.
Original:
Thank you to Brynne Weaver for the opportunity to read this ARC. This honest review was based off my experience reading an ARC, which in no way biased me.
I LOVED EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF THIS BOOK. I am not sure how else to say this, but the issue about loving a book this much is I HAVE NO WAY TO FORM COHERENT THOUGHTS AFTER I’M DONE READING. The writing, the characters, the banter, the chemistry, literally everything was amazing.
This book made me laugh so much LIKE OUT LOUD, like full on cackle, its the banter between Lu and Asher, its so good. It also made me cry a little, I’ll admit it.
The writing, there were some lines that JUST HIT SO WELL. The descriptions were beautiful, poetic almost lyrical I’M OBSESSED. Like this is an example “Her voice isn’t what I expect. It’s quiet, but assertive, like a gentle breeze that still cuts through a forest to find you.” There’s call backs that are there if you pay attention to them and I loved noticing them.
And I know what you’re probably here for, you’re wondering how smutty this is. CAN CONFIRM THE SMUT IN HERE IS GOOD, OH SO GOOD. There’s more, and its more ✨DETAILED✨ than the first book.
Lu and Asher serve the enemies to lovers trope in A Shadow in the Reaping, in A Heart of Bitter Poison we see the evolution back into enemies and then… well read it to find out, I won’t be the one to spoil it for you. Like their species are inherently enemies. He is a Reaper, a demon who hunt other supernatural species and reap their souls for the Shadow Realm. She is the last of the original siren vampires, but no one is supposed to know that since she’s supposed to be dead.
With this book, I am so happy we get to know more of the side characters introduced in ASITR. Ediye especially. Her and Lu’s friendship is quite something to read about. Everyone needs an Ediye to their Lu (or vice versa) in their lives. We get to know more about Cole and his backstory, well actually another thing I loved was that we got to know more of everyone’s back story not just the main characters’.
If you like angry/hate sex, active murder attempts kind of enemies to lovers (you know the knife to the throat scenes), vampires, demons, hunters, witches, werewolves, angels, vampire/werewolf hybrids, a war between realms and that’s just the basics, you need to read this series.
I really enjoyed A Shadow in the Reaping, with A Heart of Bitter Poison, Brynne really raised the bar I’m very excited to see where this series goes and to read more of her work.
JUST READ IT. It deserves more than 5 stars really.
November 29, 2024
This is a rare example of the 2nd is better than the 1st. I am really enjoying this story. Vampire Lu is the badass we all need.
This one picks up about a month after the first. It is fast paced enough that I just kept wanting to read it. So much going on between the Shadow Realm, the Living realm and the Light Realm. More characters are introduced, leading to more questions of who can we trust?
Ashen and Lu are the definition of enemies to lovers and I am loving every minute!
This one picks up about a month after the first. It is fast paced enough that I just kept wanting to read it. So much going on between the Shadow Realm, the Living realm and the Light Realm. More characters are introduced, leading to more questions of who can we trust?
Ashen and Lu are the definition of enemies to lovers and I am loving every minute!
January 8, 2022
~ARC Review~
The second book in the The Shadow Realm series and honestly, it hit the home run for me AGAIN. I rated A Shadow in the Reaping 5 stars and this one would be 6/5⭐️.
It's written in such a lighthearted and fun way, we follow vampire Lu again and her AMAZING & HILARIOUS inner monologues and demon Ashen and his broody personality. We see how they manage themselves after the heartbreaking cliffhanger in the first book! And it's done so, so, so nicely. The secondary characters are playing a bigger role in this book and you fall in love with them so quickly! I honesty can't wait to ream more about everyone in the next book. The authors sense of humour is freaking on point, I spend a lot of the time laughing out loud like an idiot. I just love your writing Brynne!
Brynne turned the spice tap ON in this book and I LOVED it 😏😏😏😏! HOT STUFF! 🥵
The combination of: paranormal beings, magic system, different realms, love, broken heart, fated mates and destinies is very good balanced. AND there is still so many unanswered questions that I AGAIN, can't wait for the next book :). I swear I was so nervous to read the ending on this one!
This is an 18+ book and check the trigger warnings before reading it as it can contain some triggering themes.
The second book in the The Shadow Realm series and honestly, it hit the home run for me AGAIN. I rated A Shadow in the Reaping 5 stars and this one would be 6/5⭐️.
It's written in such a lighthearted and fun way, we follow vampire Lu again and her AMAZING & HILARIOUS inner monologues and demon Ashen and his broody personality. We see how they manage themselves after the heartbreaking cliffhanger in the first book! And it's done so, so, so nicely. The secondary characters are playing a bigger role in this book and you fall in love with them so quickly! I honesty can't wait to ream more about everyone in the next book. The authors sense of humour is freaking on point, I spend a lot of the time laughing out loud like an idiot. I just love your writing Brynne!
Brynne turned the spice tap ON in this book and I LOVED it 😏😏😏😏! HOT STUFF! 🥵
The combination of: paranormal beings, magic system, different realms, love, broken heart, fated mates and destinies is very good balanced. AND there is still so many unanswered questions that I AGAIN, can't wait for the next book :). I swear I was so nervous to read the ending on this one!
This is an 18+ book and check the trigger warnings before reading it as it can contain some triggering themes.
January 6, 2022
WOW. THIS FREAKING BOOK. I loved it. It was definitely darker and (OH BOY THE SPICE 🥵🥵) hotter than the first book. And damn, I couldn't put it down. If you enjoyed the first one, this is even better. Lu was just as witty and funny as ever, but going on this journey with her after everything she's been through was amazing. Girl is tough as hell, and I love her.
I laughed, I cried, and had a great time. Thanks for the ARC, Brynne! Can't wait for the 3rd book!
I laughed, I cried, and had a great time. Thanks for the ARC, Brynne! Can't wait for the 3rd book!
January 17, 2022
I had the honour of receiving an ARC copy of A Heart of Bitter Poison. Book 2 in the Shadow Realm series and WOW! It’s not very often that book 2 blows book 1 out of the water or should I say “out of this realm” but it did. Oh boy did it ever!
The emotional rollercoaster this book had me on was exceptional. I laughed, cried, and had all of the feels while reading this.
Brynne not only gives you everything you need in a romance novel but she also knows how to bring the spice!
I don’t think I’ll be able to stop thinking about this series until I have the next book in my hands!
The emotional rollercoaster this book had me on was exceptional. I laughed, cried, and had all of the feels while reading this.
Brynne not only gives you everything you need in a romance novel but she also knows how to bring the spice!
I don’t think I’ll be able to stop thinking about this series until I have the next book in my hands!
February 17, 2022
WOW
This book was absolutely amazing in every way. The twists, the turns, the spice, and that freaking ending. I didn’t want it to end. I savored every word. Truly AMAZING. Bravo.
This book was absolutely amazing in every way. The twists, the turns, the spice, and that freaking ending. I didn’t want it to end. I savored every word. Truly AMAZING. Bravo.
February 10, 2024
I love these books and this series is just have so much fun 😭
March 3, 2024
The cliffhanger from the first book left me in absolute need to start this one right after.
But... I was more frustrated with this read, than anything.
The thing is - I understand the utter betrayal. The anguish and the anger. I really do. Poor Lu.
BUT - if these centuries old beings, could stop acting like youngsters and actually COMMUNICATE, that would have saved a lot of frustration.
Lu won't listen to Ashen. (though I kind of kind of get it - but why keep the company if one aren't ready to listen).
And when Ashen has the chances to actually spill the beans - he talks in riddles. (that surely doesn't help...)
The raw emotions were burning, and it suited it. The heavy themes of trust, love and betrayal was powerfull - but the tension sometimes got overshadowed by misplaced desire (either hate or crave) and cringy humour (I usually rather like Brynne Weavers humour (Marrow and (I love -) Butcher & Blackbird), and while I really liked the smugness and humorous banter between Lu and Ashen - I absolutely did not favour the "sitcom" humour among the circle of friends)
I thought it would be an emotional rollercoaster, but I was mostly frustrated with the lack of communication and explanation.
A LOT is happening, and rather fast considering the time-frame, but with everything going on AND the emotional struggles, it felt rather blurry and dumped.
My favourite thing about this book was Asher love and protectiveness of Lu.
I will probably pick the 3rd novel up, to get the series nicely concluded, But I am no in a hurry.
But... I was more frustrated with this read, than anything.
The thing is - I understand the utter betrayal. The anguish and the anger. I really do. Poor Lu.
BUT - if these centuries old beings, could stop acting like youngsters and actually COMMUNICATE, that would have saved a lot of frustration.
Lu won't listen to Ashen. (though I kind of kind of get it - but why keep the company if one aren't ready to listen).
And when Ashen has the chances to actually spill the beans - he talks in riddles. (that surely doesn't help...)
The raw emotions were burning, and it suited it. The heavy themes of trust, love and betrayal was powerfull - but the tension sometimes got overshadowed by misplaced desire (either hate or crave) and cringy humour (I usually rather like Brynne Weavers humour (Marrow and (I love -) Butcher & Blackbird), and while I really liked the smugness and humorous banter between Lu and Ashen - I absolutely did not favour the "sitcom" humour among the circle of friends)
I thought it would be an emotional rollercoaster, but I was mostly frustrated with the lack of communication and explanation.
A LOT is happening, and rather fast considering the time-frame, but with everything going on AND the emotional struggles, it felt rather blurry and dumped.
My favourite thing about this book was Asher love and protectiveness of Lu.
I will probably pick the 3rd novel up, to get the series nicely concluded, But I am no in a hurry.
October 29, 2023
the fmc's constant immature and vulgar quips simply became too much to handle.
miss girl couldn't be serious if her life depended on it, and that attitude felt super disjointed with the relatively dark content in the novel.
this is where I politely tap out of this series.
miss girl couldn't be serious if her life depended on it, and that attitude felt super disjointed with the relatively dark content in the novel.
this is where I politely tap out of this series.
March 15, 2022
I LOVED THIS!!!!
I HATED ASHEN, I DIDNT THINK I COULD FORGIVE HIM....BUT HERE WE ARE!!!!
This book was poetry, pure poetry
I FELT Lu's pain, the hate, the betrayal, the complete heartbreak! The description of her heartbreak broke my heart:
"
Because if I was going to survive a broken body in this room, I couldn’t live in a broken heart." Lu truly had a heart of bitter poison, and it was ruining her!
The torture Lu has to endure along with the betrayal from ASHEN, it's just heart wrenching! She's so broken. I was so mad at ASHEN! I loved it when she killed him, multiple times, and Ediye , her anger at Ashen was something! Love Ediye!
Despite her utter devastation, Lu is still hilarious"
"Why isn’t he fucking looking at my boobs? Though if he does, I might slap him. I haven’t decided. But either way, he’s a fucking asshole."
She really puts Ashen through the grinder, and I was there for it!!! Though, Ashen never truly betrayed her, but I was so mad at him, and with what Lu went through, I totally understood why she was filled with such rage!
Ashen worms his way back into Lu's heart and the readers, the slippery bastard!:
"I will do everything in my power to give you your vengeance. If you want to burn every realm, I will hand you the match and stand with you until the last cinders fall. I will pay for this promise with my life if I have to.”
The writing is just beautiful:
"“I love you, Lu. My beautiful, otherworldly, magical goddess Lu,” he whispers. Love. He says it so easily, like it’s both a privilege and a relief. Like tossing an injured bird to the sky and watching it disappear into the distance, healed and wild and free" MY HEART!
Lu turns around and makes you laugh again:
"His eyes slide to mine and he gives me a dark, cocky smile. I can’t decide if I want to smack his face or sit on it."
And then back to the poetry:
"Ashen pauses his motion and we lock eyes. It’s the most of everything in his expression. The most peace. The most desire. The most longing. It breaks and remakes my heart. I feel as though we’re two shattered pieces stitching together, just like the ancient myths of humans said. And it’s not a simple process. Some stitches are crooked. Some have to be pulled out and stitched again. There is pain and progress and blame and beauty. There are deep shadows and pools of light. And I know now. I know I want it all." Sweet Jesus!
And how can you not forgive Ashen and love him again??!!
"He never thought he truly deserved something like this. For all his talk about making it hard to choose anything but him, or that the process had already begun, he didn’t actually believe it would happen. He was going to spend his immortal life reaching for something he never thought he’d grasp."
They both were in such pain 😭 Being part of their journey to love and healing together was 🤌
And Lu really became the badass heroine at the end! I adore her, her ability to still want love, even after she was completely broken and torn apart, she still reached for ❤️
This story had me up and down the whole way!!! I absolutely DEVOURED this book!!
I HATED ASHEN, I DIDNT THINK I COULD FORGIVE HIM....BUT HERE WE ARE!!!!
This book was poetry, pure poetry
I FELT Lu's pain, the hate, the betrayal, the complete heartbreak! The description of her heartbreak broke my heart:
"
Because if I was going to survive a broken body in this room, I couldn’t live in a broken heart." Lu truly had a heart of bitter poison, and it was ruining her!
The torture Lu has to endure along with the betrayal from ASHEN, it's just heart wrenching! She's so broken. I was so mad at ASHEN! I loved it when she killed him, multiple times, and Ediye , her anger at Ashen was something! Love Ediye!
Despite her utter devastation, Lu is still hilarious"
"Why isn’t he fucking looking at my boobs? Though if he does, I might slap him. I haven’t decided. But either way, he’s a fucking asshole."
She really puts Ashen through the grinder, and I was there for it!!! Though, Ashen never truly betrayed her, but I was so mad at him, and with what Lu went through, I totally understood why she was filled with such rage!
Ashen worms his way back into Lu's heart and the readers, the slippery bastard!:
"I will do everything in my power to give you your vengeance. If you want to burn every realm, I will hand you the match and stand with you until the last cinders fall. I will pay for this promise with my life if I have to.”
The writing is just beautiful:
"“I love you, Lu. My beautiful, otherworldly, magical goddess Lu,” he whispers. Love. He says it so easily, like it’s both a privilege and a relief. Like tossing an injured bird to the sky and watching it disappear into the distance, healed and wild and free" MY HEART!
Lu turns around and makes you laugh again:
"His eyes slide to mine and he gives me a dark, cocky smile. I can’t decide if I want to smack his face or sit on it."
And then back to the poetry:
"Ashen pauses his motion and we lock eyes. It’s the most of everything in his expression. The most peace. The most desire. The most longing. It breaks and remakes my heart. I feel as though we’re two shattered pieces stitching together, just like the ancient myths of humans said. And it’s not a simple process. Some stitches are crooked. Some have to be pulled out and stitched again. There is pain and progress and blame and beauty. There are deep shadows and pools of light. And I know now. I know I want it all." Sweet Jesus!
And how can you not forgive Ashen and love him again??!!
"He never thought he truly deserved something like this. For all his talk about making it hard to choose anything but him, or that the process had already begun, he didn’t actually believe it would happen. He was going to spend his immortal life reaching for something he never thought he’d grasp."
They both were in such pain 😭 Being part of their journey to love and healing together was 🤌
And Lu really became the badass heroine at the end! I adore her, her ability to still want love, even after she was completely broken and torn apart, she still reached for ❤️
This story had me up and down the whole way!!! I absolutely DEVOURED this book!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2025
This picks up right where book 1 left off, and I must say, had a much more satisfying ending.
Lu and Ediye are in the dungeons of the shadow realm, and Lu has been horrifically tortured for a month. I’m honestly glad Brynne only wrote in some of the scenes and just kind of listed other torment, because oof.
Poor Lu continues to suffer with seizures and blinding headaches for most of the book, and has to go through so damn much to simply be able to speak again. Her quality of life honestly sucks. But, she knows that her choices are to either keep going or die. And I think everyone’s trust in Ashen is tested and wavers back and forth for the duration. I did enjoy the most unlikely of allies at the end there though.
4🌟
3🌶️
Lu and Ediye are in the dungeons of the shadow realm, and Lu has been horrifically tortured for a month. I’m honestly glad Brynne only wrote in some of the scenes and just kind of listed other torment, because oof.
Poor Lu continues to suffer with seizures and blinding headaches for most of the book, and has to go through so damn much to simply be able to speak again. Her quality of life honestly sucks. But, she knows that her choices are to either keep going or die. And I think everyone’s trust in Ashen is tested and wavers back and forth for the duration. I did enjoy the most unlikely of allies at the end there though.
4🌟
3🌶️
May 16, 2024
YESSSSSSSSSS WHAT AN ENDING 🙌🏻
Holy cow I was in the edge of my seat, literal tears rolling down my face to fist pump yelling 👏🏻👏🏻 what an ending and this isn’t even the end there’s still one more book to go👏🏻🙌🏻
No notes with this book, we started on such a cliff hanger from book one and I was chomping at the bit to see what would happen next.
The betrayal, the anger, the tension, the chaos, the humour🤭 just everything.
There’s vampires, demons, angels, werewolves, witches, what more can you ask for?
I was seeing this book in my dreams it was written so clearly, Brynnes writing & especially her humour just gets me every time😂 I just want to meet these characters so bad
I refuse to give any story context to not risk spoilers but I will share some of my fav quotes ☺️
“That asshat motherfucker” (my fav insult)🤗
“Why-aren’t-you-looking. If-you-look-I-will-murder-you”😤
“The common denominator in all this fuckshit is you”🖕🏻
“The last time I saw you, you sliced my cheek like Hannibal Lector looking for a fucking snack”🍴
“Ki murangen, naga ekimmu” 🫠
Holy cow I was in the edge of my seat, literal tears rolling down my face to fist pump yelling 👏🏻👏🏻 what an ending and this isn’t even the end there’s still one more book to go👏🏻🙌🏻
No notes with this book, we started on such a cliff hanger from book one and I was chomping at the bit to see what would happen next.
The betrayal, the anger, the tension, the chaos, the humour🤭 just everything.
There’s vampires, demons, angels, werewolves, witches, what more can you ask for?
I was seeing this book in my dreams it was written so clearly, Brynnes writing & especially her humour just gets me every time😂 I just want to meet these characters so bad
I refuse to give any story context to not risk spoilers but I will share some of my fav quotes ☺️
“That asshat motherfucker” (my fav insult)🤗
“Why-aren’t-you-looking. If-you-look-I-will-murder-you”😤
“The common denominator in all this fuckshit is you”🖕🏻
“The last time I saw you, you sliced my cheek like Hannibal Lector looking for a fucking snack”🍴
“Ki murangen, naga ekimmu” 🫠
February 6, 2022
So much potential
As this is the first series I've read by this author..she has so much potential! Will read more of her tales. Feels like Weaver was influenced by other fantasy authors as (older) Edddings and Feist; more recently by Sarah Maas and Elicia Hyder.
Will definitely re-read!
As this is the first series I've read by this author..she has so much potential! Will read more of her tales. Feels like Weaver was influenced by other fantasy authors as (older) Edddings and Feist; more recently by Sarah Maas and Elicia Hyder.
Will definitely re-read!
March 19, 2024
Yaaas moarrrrr
May 9, 2022
This book! Brynne Weaver just toyed with my emotions, and I'm begging for more!
AHOBP picks up where book one ends and immediately breaks your heart. It's devastating the way that this story flings you around by your heartstrings, but it's so worth it for the highs and the 5-alarm fire that is the love story. Lu is as fiery as ever, and Ashen is *chef's kiss*.
I guarantee that you'll laugh and gasp and cheer for these characters. The action is tense and violent, but the marshmallows are so sweet.
AHOBP picks up where book one ends and immediately breaks your heart. It's devastating the way that this story flings you around by your heartstrings, but it's so worth it for the highs and the 5-alarm fire that is the love story. Lu is as fiery as ever, and Ashen is *chef's kiss*.
I guarantee that you'll laugh and gasp and cheer for these characters. The action is tense and violent, but the marshmallows are so sweet.
September 20, 2024
Yes yes yes yes yes yes.
Sea pandas.
Sea pandas.
January 29, 2022
All I can say is WOW Brynne has done it again! I absolutely loved the first book in the series and was so excited to read this one and it did not disappoint! The action, the humour, the twists and turns made this book a five star read for me! Brynne has created a world that I love escaping to. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to see what our sassy, hilarious, bad ass vampire with great music taste does next!
January 29, 2022
unique
I really enjoyed these books. They were unique and suspenseful. They also showed how we make decisions that aren't good, but sometimes the only decision we can make at that time for the future. I must say they drew me in and I never knew what to think from one moment to the next. Really enjoyed them.
I really enjoyed these books. They were unique and suspenseful. They also showed how we make decisions that aren't good, but sometimes the only decision we can make at that time for the future. I must say they drew me in and I never knew what to think from one moment to the next. Really enjoyed them.
January 29, 2022
Absolutely devoured this book.
Lu is back and just as bad ass as ever!
I didn’t find this one quite as funny as the first one but still Lu is a great character and so relatable, well about as relatable as a siren/vampire can be! The story following on from ASITR definitely went on a bit darker and I loved it! What an ending!
Lu is back and just as bad ass as ever!
I didn’t find this one quite as funny as the first one but still Lu is a great character and so relatable, well about as relatable as a siren/vampire can be! The story following on from ASITR definitely went on a bit darker and I loved it! What an ending!
February 2, 2022
After reading the first book in the series I was really excited to read this and it did not disappoint. Everything from the drinks to the fighting and, yeah, the spice were all top tier and I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.
January 9, 2022
Thanks so much Brynn for this ARC! All these thoughts are my own and I would shout these from the rooftops without having been a part of the ARC team!!
I absolutely fell in love with ASITR and have been DYING to read A Heart of Bitter Poison and I was NOT LET DOWN! The spice is PHENOMENAL ('GET A BUCKET AND A MOP!'), the plot is even more amazing than I had dreamed it would be, and we were introduced to so many badass characters that I can't wait to see more of!
This book is definitely darker and with more steam than the first! But don't let that scare you, Lu hasn't lost any of her sparkling personality and will keep you entertained the whole time! Can't wait for the next one!
I absolutely fell in love with ASITR and have been DYING to read A Heart of Bitter Poison and I was NOT LET DOWN! The spice is PHENOMENAL ('GET A BUCKET AND A MOP!'), the plot is even more amazing than I had dreamed it would be, and we were introduced to so many badass characters that I can't wait to see more of!
This book is definitely darker and with more steam than the first! But don't let that scare you, Lu hasn't lost any of her sparkling personality and will keep you entertained the whole time! Can't wait for the next one!
June 27, 2022
Lu is back and holy (unholy?) smokes. This venture into the Shadow Realm series upped the game. Smart, funny, dark, and just the perfect amount of spice. "Acerbic" is the perfect description of the sexy siren vampire, Lu.
A Heart of Bitter Poison picks up right where A Shadow in the Reaping left off. Which is with your mouth held agape and unsure on where the story is going to take you. That's all you get. There are no spoilers for this review (or the previous book) because you need to jump on this rollercoaster and strap in.
I will however talk about how flawlessly the tone of this novel shifted. It has a dark, looming presence wrapped over it. Brynne Weaver manages to keep this tone from getting too heavy by perfectly weaving Lu's sardonic wit throughout. As a huge fan of Brynne's other books, this one...she worked some type of spell, because the balance of the dark and humor is absolutely spot on. Even with the humor laced through the book, you can see the lyrical writing shine through. The chemistry, banter, spice, and fast paced plot was perfectly crafted.
Each book by Brynne I love more and more, so huge thanks to her not keeping me waiting and giving me the chance to read an ARC! I had to bust out my fangria and fangirl over my vampire crush, lucious Lu.
A Heart of Bitter Poison picks up right where A Shadow in the Reaping left off. Which is with your mouth held agape and unsure on where the story is going to take you. That's all you get. There are no spoilers for this review (or the previous book) because you need to jump on this rollercoaster and strap in.
I will however talk about how flawlessly the tone of this novel shifted. It has a dark, looming presence wrapped over it. Brynne Weaver manages to keep this tone from getting too heavy by perfectly weaving Lu's sardonic wit throughout. As a huge fan of Brynne's other books, this one...she worked some type of spell, because the balance of the dark and humor is absolutely spot on. Even with the humor laced through the book, you can see the lyrical writing shine through. The chemistry, banter, spice, and fast paced plot was perfectly crafted.
Each book by Brynne I love more and more, so huge thanks to her not keeping me waiting and giving me the chance to read an ARC! I had to bust out my fangria and fangirl over my vampire crush, lucious Lu.
July 18, 2024
4,75✨ i did fuck ton of crying because of this book
Read
January 10, 2022Brynne Weaver!
Boy ohhhh boy do you know how to keep me on the edge of my seat. What an absolute gripping story from the beginning to the end. I am in love with the characters you have created and the different ways they add to the dynamic of our band of misfits.
This story picks right up from where we left off in ASITR and just keeps moving. There is no slowing down! The spice has been jacked up to a full 4/5 chilli peppers. It happens often with a dash of kink in there. Brilliant writing in these scenes. Definitely quenches a thirst for more.
Lu remains authentic to herself and I really do love her inner monologue. She makes me laugh so much. Ashen makes me hate him, love him, hate him and love him so many times over it makes my poor heart hurt for Lu. We get to know more about Davina and her connection to our misfits. We get a new love throuple that I am so dang excited for. (That's all I am saying on that) This crew has really come together in this book and their bond is something truly special. Eryx gets to make a reappearance and I adore him and his glitterballs even more in this book. Cole is such a breath of fresh air. He really makes me look at Ashen's actions in a different way. We learn more about him and I am thrilled about it. Ediye is one of my favorite people in this series. She is such a great best friend and truly one of the most supportive people for Lu's. They are perfect for each other. I want a badass bitch in my crew.
Overall, you can't go wrong by picking up this book. You'll be hooked from the first page and won't want to put it down. There are so many beautiful quotes from the book I'll be adding to this review once the book is published. Brynne is not just a masterful storyteller, she has a magical way with words. The way she weaves them together in her stories is beautiful. You've got a lifelong reader for all of your future releases.
Boy ohhhh boy do you know how to keep me on the edge of my seat. What an absolute gripping story from the beginning to the end. I am in love with the characters you have created and the different ways they add to the dynamic of our band of misfits.
This story picks right up from where we left off in ASITR and just keeps moving. There is no slowing down! The spice has been jacked up to a full 4/5 chilli peppers. It happens often with a dash of kink in there. Brilliant writing in these scenes. Definitely quenches a thirst for more.
Lu remains authentic to herself and I really do love her inner monologue. She makes me laugh so much. Ashen makes me hate him, love him, hate him and love him so many times over it makes my poor heart hurt for Lu. We get to know more about Davina and her connection to our misfits. We get a new love throuple that I am so dang excited for. (That's all I am saying on that) This crew has really come together in this book and their bond is something truly special. Eryx gets to make a reappearance and I adore him and his glitterballs even more in this book. Cole is such a breath of fresh air. He really makes me look at Ashen's actions in a different way. We learn more about him and I am thrilled about it. Ediye is one of my favorite people in this series. She is such a great best friend and truly one of the most supportive people for Lu's. They are perfect for each other. I want a badass bitch in my crew.
Overall, you can't go wrong by picking up this book. You'll be hooked from the first page and won't want to put it down. There are so many beautiful quotes from the book I'll be adding to this review once the book is published. Brynne is not just a masterful storyteller, she has a magical way with words. The way she weaves them together in her stories is beautiful. You've got a lifelong reader for all of your future releases.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2024
Trigger Warnings Include: Physical Violence including fighting, killing, and torture; References to Suicidal Ideation; Pregnancy Loss & Infertility; Undiagnosed PTSD and Panic Attacks; Profanity; Explicit Sexual Content (all consensual) - includes BDSM, Blood Play, Knife Play, Breath Play; Snakes aka danger noodles.
While I wasn’t as much of a fan of book one, I enjoyed this one a lot more. The FMC wasn’t as annoying as in the first one and I ended up connecting with her character at least. This one feels more relatable in the sense that the character actual feels more real. Even though she’s an immortal, we kinda get to see more of her human side in the things she experienced or wanted for her life. I enjoyed her relationship with Ashen more also and needed to know how things turned out after the way book one left off. There was a good amount of action that was balanced with a bit mystery to it too that made it interesting. Ediye is still my favorite though and I’m so glad we got to see more of her character in this one. I love the plot twists within the characters and who ends up becoming an ally. There was even more spice which is more of what I was expecting in the last book. Considering this one was an improvement from the previous book, I give it four stars and I’m ready to find out how this trilogy ends in the next installment.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶 (between both frequency and detail)
Heads up/Good to Know: LGBTQ+ Representation, Playlist Included, Character Drink Menu Included
While I wasn’t as much of a fan of book one, I enjoyed this one a lot more. The FMC wasn’t as annoying as in the first one and I ended up connecting with her character at least. This one feels more relatable in the sense that the character actual feels more real. Even though she’s an immortal, we kinda get to see more of her human side in the things she experienced or wanted for her life. I enjoyed her relationship with Ashen more also and needed to know how things turned out after the way book one left off. There was a good amount of action that was balanced with a bit mystery to it too that made it interesting. Ediye is still my favorite though and I’m so glad we got to see more of her character in this one. I love the plot twists within the characters and who ends up becoming an ally. There was even more spice which is more of what I was expecting in the last book. Considering this one was an improvement from the previous book, I give it four stars and I’m ready to find out how this trilogy ends in the next installment.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶 (between both frequency and detail)
Heads up/Good to Know: LGBTQ+ Representation, Playlist Included, Character Drink Menu Included
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