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The Halfblood Rebels #1
Halfblood Betrayed
Can a wounded, amnesiac, half-werewolf trust a powerful vampire, or will he betray her?
AYLANA
Someone wants to silence me forever. I know this down to my marrow even if I can’t remember anything else. Bleeding, and with werewolf-killing poison running through my veins, I only have one option—find the address I scrawled onto my arm with black ink.
I don’t know whom I expected to find when I knocked on the door, but it was certainly not a vampire…
SEBASTIAN
Aylana collapses in my arms, soaked, shivering, and bleeding everywhere. The fiery half-werewolf has been the bane of my existence since I arrived in this city. We hate each other… But my first instinct is to help her, even though I know come morning she’ll want to rip my heart out.
Finding the one who hurt her is more important than our rivalry. I can only hope Aylana agrees with me. And if she doesn’t…
Well, what’s the point of being immortal if I don’t take deadly chances?
Fans of Midnight Breed and Lost Girl will enjoy the explosive mix of romance, action, and paranormal mystery in HALFBLOOD BETRAYED.
WARNING: The Halfblood Rebels is an ANTI-alphahole, pro-feminist, pro-LGBTQIA+, woke AF series with explicit spicy scenes and a lot of profanity. Read the Author's Note for a full list of CWs before downloading.
AYLANA
Someone wants to silence me forever. I know this down to my marrow even if I can’t remember anything else. Bleeding, and with werewolf-killing poison running through my veins, I only have one option—find the address I scrawled onto my arm with black ink.
I don’t know whom I expected to find when I knocked on the door, but it was certainly not a vampire…
SEBASTIAN
Aylana collapses in my arms, soaked, shivering, and bleeding everywhere. The fiery half-werewolf has been the bane of my existence since I arrived in this city. We hate each other… But my first instinct is to help her, even though I know come morning she’ll want to rip my heart out.
Finding the one who hurt her is more important than our rivalry. I can only hope Aylana agrees with me. And if she doesn’t…
Well, what’s the point of being immortal if I don’t take deadly chances?
Fans of Midnight Breed and Lost Girl will enjoy the explosive mix of romance, action, and paranormal mystery in HALFBLOOD BETRAYED.
WARNING: The Halfblood Rebels is an ANTI-alphahole, pro-feminist, pro-LGBTQIA+, woke AF series with explicit spicy scenes and a lot of profanity. Read the Author's Note for a full list of CWs before downloading.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2022
About the author
Selene Kallan
15 books145 followersSelene Kallan is a fantasy author who daydreams about her imaginary worlds most of the time. Her obsession with vampires, and all things supernatural, has made her an avid reader. She loves writing, discovering new metal bands, and watching superhero movies. She is also feeling a little crazy while writing about herself in third person, but apparently, this is the way to go.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 20, 2023
I have been on a kick of 'I picked it up and started reading it, so I am going to finish it and review it, no matter how I feel about it' lately. So this is the same. I found this book because the author was advertising it, specifically, in a Facebook group I am in. The opening was interesting enough to me to pick it up, on KU. Minimal commitment.
It's... fine? It isn't top-tier by any stretch. But it isn't 'should be ashamed of itself bad' either. I started out thinking it was a 3/5, but by the halfway point, it dipped to a 2/5. Because after that point, I felt like my time was being wasted. And by about the 3/4 mark in this book, even after wasting time to get there, the entire story line has been wrapped up. Why is there still a quarter of this book left?! I skimmed the rest of it. Thankfully it ended at 87%. The author then included the story from before this book, which was intended to be a bonus, but I 1000% wasn't interested.
The author jumbles word order of commonly used phrases several times in the book which I found distracting. Or *almost* but not quite the right word gets used in commonly used phrases. This actually happens several times. It started to feel like it was written by someone who is fluent in English, but didn't grow up with it, so the common way to say these phrases aren't comfortable to them like they would be with someone who grew up with them. Or they just had excellent spell-check, but their other editing was trash. One or the other.
For example, this happened, talking about the possibility of children in the future for Aylana and Sebastian. Kamilla, one of his powerful twin cousins is speaking. "Normally pureblood werewolves and vampires don't produce offspring. There have been cases, but very few. Only once have I met the child of a pureblood vampire and a full blood werewolf. However you and Sebastian both carry fey blood." WELL THEY AREN'T PUREBLOOD THEN, ARE THEY?! Both characters are famously HALF-BLOODS, so what was the point of this interlude...?
There is a lot of dumb stuff, that is kind of background stuff. Like, it feels like every vampire we meet or hear about is "a royal vampire", but that can't actually be the case in any real world scenario. Also, the powers and stuff are weird and inconsistent. His healing magic is BLUE. Her healing magic is GREEN. That's how you know if it Vampire healing magic or Shifter healing magic! Mind powers. Empathy powers. He shifts forms TOO! Like, if you aren't gonna delineate between the groups, why call them different things? Also, there is some weird stuff related to the disclaimer at the beginning of the book. First, absolute respect for it being there, being clear, and unapologetic in it's message. I respect that a lot. Unfortunately, it feels at times like there is a checklist, pulled from that disclaimer, like the author wanted to make sure they lived up to the stuff they said would be in it. For example, curse words were mentioned as being in the book. But really there almost isn't any foul language. In ONE SCENE that doesn't make any sense to have it, it was a noticeable blip. The disclaimer at the beginning of the book keeps this from being spoilery, but the MC, Aylana, has a history of traumatic sexual assault incidents. She considers herself to be... romantically broken because of it. And at one point, a person who *did* sexually assault her is present, with several other enforcer types backing them. In her inner monologue, she goes over how sexually assault-y or supportive of being sexually assault-y the various newcomers are. And the one person who 'took no for an answer' from her, and never tried anything after that, who has never seemed to support that behavior in others, who she says she feels most comfortable about from that entire group of like 5-6 people showing up is the ONE time real cursing happens. She talks (inner monologue) about how he has "f---ked half of the city". She does not dislike this person, has no reason to be emotionally invested in this moment, or this person's sexual conquests. That seems like a charged word for someone like her to use to describe him in particular. Like the author was reminded, 'oh yeah, I said there were gonna be curse words in this thing! I know, I stick one... right...here!". Didn't fit the character, the circumstance, the situation, none of it.
Related to the Author's Note disclaimer, when the author said that this book was "unapologetically "woke"" they weren't kidding. This was the TRY HARDEST 'woke' thing I have ever read. Like the author was consulting a textbook or articles or a checklist, rather than developing real stories and real people as characters. There were so many times where I just shook my head and thought that people don't actually talk like this. It was so... fabricated as to be a bit of a trial to read-- and I say that as someone who is not typically bothered by 'woke' elements.
Also, for an author who is unapologetic about being so embracing of liberal ideals and content in this book (from the disclaimer at the beginning), I found it incredibly ridiculous that the main character is presented as one of the best private investigators around, when literally the only case we hear about is the one she was on when she got her memory wiped. Where she was violently harassing someone about it because she was functionally racist. Not because they did it. Not because there was actual evidence pointing that way. Because she was racist. The author LITERALLY refers to vampires as "foreigners" twice by the point I am up to in the book. I am not the one putting that spin on it. They did. Okay, to add, later in the book, the author does away with any pretense and just starts calling it racism. AND, SOMEHOW, has the audacity to have our previously extremely racist private investigator say that she made a lot of effort to keep the OTHER racists in her pack in line. She couldn't even keep herself in line until she lost her memory. The decision to write that, was, in the words of Charles Barkley, turrible.
The pacing for this book is super off too. Like, the storyline for the book feels... over, by a bit under the halfway point. And I found myself wishing it was over already. It genuinely feels like the author is going out of their way to waste my time with this book after about 50%.
Also, I am confused on how the author wants us to understand the power structure of the vampires. I already got into the weirdness of everyone being ROYAL and IMPORTANT. But, (spoilers)
there are two completely different and unrelated incidents in the backstories of both main characters where they either killed or almost killed "Royal vampires". She was kidnapped, and that particular vampire royal was gonna r-pe and kill her, but she managed to escape her chains, killed him, and had to cover it up. And Sebastian almost killed his father for being the worst, when he found out. But he wasn't allowed to, and had to go live somewhere else. Because in both cases, 'if the other important vampires found out, they'd be tracked down and killed'. But... the vampires are also presented as good and fair leaders in other parts of the book. Like, it doesn't make sense and it isn't consistent with it's own logic or facts. For example, we get a run-down on how special and strong royal vampires are compared to... not royal ones? And Aylana supposedly was able to escape and kill the ROYAL vampire that held her because he wasn't a fighter. Both of those things are in the book.
Also, the covered up Royal Vampire murder and the almost but not quite murder of Sebastian's dad that couldn't happen, because they were going to be tracked down and killed otherwise? That's attributed to "The Tribunal". But somehow, also, the city that Sebastian moves to that is *specifically* controlled by his cousins--who he escaped with-- is ALSO "the tribunal's jurisdiction". I don't think the author figured out the details of this power structure. Because they bungle it like this multiple times. Example: in a much earlier scene, it is explained that the twin cousins of Sebastian, run the town, make the rules, and punish the guilty. But not only are their hands tied with the previously mentioned serial killer 'crosses their desk', but they start talking about how Sebastian can't do anything either. And said serial killer is in "the tribunal's jurisdiction" in their town-- the one they are described as the rulers of, more than once. This power structure is nebulous and, just, whatever the author wanted it to be from moment to moment, rather than being a consistent entity for the duration of the story.
Yikes. Just... yikes. Absolutely never again.
It's... fine? It isn't top-tier by any stretch. But it isn't 'should be ashamed of itself bad' either. I started out thinking it was a 3/5, but by the halfway point, it dipped to a 2/5. Because after that point, I felt like my time was being wasted. And by about the 3/4 mark in this book, even after wasting time to get there, the entire story line has been wrapped up. Why is there still a quarter of this book left?! I skimmed the rest of it. Thankfully it ended at 87%. The author then included the story from before this book, which was intended to be a bonus, but I 1000% wasn't interested.
The author jumbles word order of commonly used phrases several times in the book which I found distracting. Or *almost* but not quite the right word gets used in commonly used phrases. This actually happens several times. It started to feel like it was written by someone who is fluent in English, but didn't grow up with it, so the common way to say these phrases aren't comfortable to them like they would be with someone who grew up with them. Or they just had excellent spell-check, but their other editing was trash. One or the other.
For example, this happened, talking about the possibility of children in the future for Aylana and Sebastian. Kamilla, one of his powerful twin cousins is speaking. "Normally pureblood werewolves and vampires don't produce offspring. There have been cases, but very few. Only once have I met the child of a pureblood vampire and a full blood werewolf. However you and Sebastian both carry fey blood." WELL THEY AREN'T PUREBLOOD THEN, ARE THEY?! Both characters are famously HALF-BLOODS, so what was the point of this interlude...?
There is a lot of dumb stuff, that is kind of background stuff. Like, it feels like every vampire we meet or hear about is "a royal vampire", but that can't actually be the case in any real world scenario. Also, the powers and stuff are weird and inconsistent. His healing magic is BLUE. Her healing magic is GREEN. That's how you know if it Vampire healing magic or Shifter healing magic! Mind powers. Empathy powers. He shifts forms TOO! Like, if you aren't gonna delineate between the groups, why call them different things? Also, there is some weird stuff related to the disclaimer at the beginning of the book. First, absolute respect for it being there, being clear, and unapologetic in it's message. I respect that a lot. Unfortunately, it feels at times like there is a checklist, pulled from that disclaimer, like the author wanted to make sure they lived up to the stuff they said would be in it. For example, curse words were mentioned as being in the book. But really there almost isn't any foul language. In ONE SCENE that doesn't make any sense to have it, it was a noticeable blip. The disclaimer at the beginning of the book keeps this from being spoilery, but the MC, Aylana, has a history of traumatic sexual assault incidents. She considers herself to be... romantically broken because of it. And at one point, a person who *did* sexually assault her is present, with several other enforcer types backing them. In her inner monologue, she goes over how sexually assault-y or supportive of being sexually assault-y the various newcomers are. And the one person who 'took no for an answer' from her, and never tried anything after that, who has never seemed to support that behavior in others, who she says she feels most comfortable about from that entire group of like 5-6 people showing up is the ONE time real cursing happens. She talks (inner monologue) about how he has "f---ked half of the city". She does not dislike this person, has no reason to be emotionally invested in this moment, or this person's sexual conquests. That seems like a charged word for someone like her to use to describe him in particular. Like the author was reminded, 'oh yeah, I said there were gonna be curse words in this thing! I know, I stick one... right...here!". Didn't fit the character, the circumstance, the situation, none of it.
Related to the Author's Note disclaimer, when the author said that this book was "unapologetically "woke"" they weren't kidding. This was the TRY HARDEST 'woke' thing I have ever read. Like the author was consulting a textbook or articles or a checklist, rather than developing real stories and real people as characters. There were so many times where I just shook my head and thought that people don't actually talk like this. It was so... fabricated as to be a bit of a trial to read-- and I say that as someone who is not typically bothered by 'woke' elements.
Also, for an author who is unapologetic about being so embracing of liberal ideals and content in this book (from the disclaimer at the beginning), I found it incredibly ridiculous that the main character is presented as one of the best private investigators around, when literally the only case we hear about is the one she was on when she got her memory wiped. Where she was violently harassing someone about it because she was functionally racist. Not because they did it. Not because there was actual evidence pointing that way. Because she was racist. The author LITERALLY refers to vampires as "foreigners" twice by the point I am up to in the book. I am not the one putting that spin on it. They did. Okay, to add, later in the book, the author does away with any pretense and just starts calling it racism. AND, SOMEHOW, has the audacity to have our previously extremely racist private investigator say that she made a lot of effort to keep the OTHER racists in her pack in line. She couldn't even keep herself in line until she lost her memory. The decision to write that, was, in the words of Charles Barkley, turrible.
The pacing for this book is super off too. Like, the storyline for the book feels... over, by a bit under the halfway point. And I found myself wishing it was over already. It genuinely feels like the author is going out of their way to waste my time with this book after about 50%.
Also, I am confused on how the author wants us to understand the power structure of the vampires. I already got into the weirdness of everyone being ROYAL and IMPORTANT. But, (spoilers)
there are two completely different and unrelated incidents in the backstories of both main characters where they either killed or almost killed "Royal vampires". She was kidnapped, and that particular vampire royal was gonna r-pe and kill her, but she managed to escape her chains, killed him, and had to cover it up. And Sebastian almost killed his father for being the worst, when he found out. But he wasn't allowed to, and had to go live somewhere else. Because in both cases, 'if the other important vampires found out, they'd be tracked down and killed'. But... the vampires are also presented as good and fair leaders in other parts of the book. Like, it doesn't make sense and it isn't consistent with it's own logic or facts. For example, we get a run-down on how special and strong royal vampires are compared to... not royal ones? And Aylana supposedly was able to escape and kill the ROYAL vampire that held her because he wasn't a fighter. Both of those things are in the book.
Also, the covered up Royal Vampire murder and the almost but not quite murder of Sebastian's dad that couldn't happen, because they were going to be tracked down and killed otherwise? That's attributed to "The Tribunal". But somehow, also, the city that Sebastian moves to that is *specifically* controlled by his cousins--who he escaped with-- is ALSO "the tribunal's jurisdiction". I don't think the author figured out the details of this power structure. Because they bungle it like this multiple times. Example: in a much earlier scene, it is explained that the twin cousins of Sebastian, run the town, make the rules, and punish the guilty. But not only are their hands tied with the previously mentioned serial killer 'crosses their desk', but they start talking about how Sebastian can't do anything either. And said serial killer is in "the tribunal's jurisdiction" in their town-- the one they are described as the rulers of, more than once. This power structure is nebulous and, just, whatever the author wanted it to be from moment to moment, rather than being a consistent entity for the duration of the story.
Yikes. Just... yikes. Absolutely never again.
May 1, 2022
I really wanted to love this book but in the end... well, by about half-way through, I knew it wasn't working. I mean, I finished it, but it was more because I wanted to see where it would end than actual breathless enjoyment.
The prompt that started it is fantastic and I'd love to see more stories based on that prompt:
And this started out great! The first chapter absolutely worked. But then the story got stupid, somehow. The two mains were hilariously overpowered, the male lead's friends were even more overpowered, but somehow they couldn't figure out obvious things. The female lead made some pretty stupid choices (you know that you've got vicious enemies out there willing to kill you - and that you can't remember who they are, why on earth would you go out by yourself without any protection ?) which pulled me out of the story.
The world itself is kind of confusing. There are: vampires, fey, werewolves, gargoyles, elves, humans, and possibly more creatures. There are also the various half-versions of all of these. Every single character's parents are Evil And Racist (and willing to have halfling children, but also willing to hate halflings of all types because they're halflings), and everyone is always willing to murder their/everyone else's parents for these evil and racist beliefs.
I couldn't balance the bloodthirstiness and vicious fighting ability of the characters against their Soft and Tender (tm) behavior with each other. I don't usually have problems with that mixture, but these characters whipped back and forth between the two extremes without any middle stage and it was jarring (and felt unrealistic).
AND. And the author kept using words incorrectly.
Ex: 'The light of the lamp made her paleness more notorious.' Um. Did you mean obvious? Because notorious doesn't work in that sentence.
'“You won’t force her to relive that if she refuses,” I told him, my tone brokered no argument.' :sigh: It's 'brooked' no argument.
And lastly, the constant use of 'females' and 'males', instead of 'women' and 'men' bugs me. It's a current style and it's... valid, I guess, but it's fucking annoying. Just because a woman isn't a human woman doesn't make her a female. And I don't know any woman who'd look at a hot guy and think, "Wow, that is such a sexy male."
Those terms are clinical and depersonalizing and I, personally, find it creepy that we're using them more and more.
Anyway. I am so sorry this wasn't the book I expected, because I had such high hopes.
The prompt that started it is fantastic and I'd love to see more stories based on that prompt:
And this started out great! The first chapter absolutely worked. But then the story got stupid, somehow. The two mains were hilariously overpowered, the male lead's friends were even more overpowered, but somehow they couldn't figure out obvious things. The female lead made some pretty stupid choices (you know that you've got vicious enemies out there willing to kill you - and that you can't remember who they are, why on earth would you go out by yourself without any protection ?) which pulled me out of the story.
The world itself is kind of confusing. There are: vampires, fey, werewolves, gargoyles, elves, humans, and possibly more creatures. There are also the various half-versions of all of these. Every single character's parents are Evil And Racist (and willing to have halfling children, but also willing to hate halflings of all types because they're halflings), and everyone is always willing to murder their/everyone else's parents for these evil and racist beliefs.
I couldn't balance the bloodthirstiness and vicious fighting ability of the characters against their Soft and Tender (tm) behavior with each other. I don't usually have problems with that mixture, but these characters whipped back and forth between the two extremes without any middle stage and it was jarring (and felt unrealistic).
AND. And the author kept using words incorrectly.
Ex: 'The light of the lamp made her paleness more notorious.' Um. Did you mean obvious? Because notorious doesn't work in that sentence.
'“You won’t force her to relive that if she refuses,” I told him, my tone brokered no argument.' :sigh: It's 'brooked' no argument.
And lastly, the constant use of 'females' and 'males', instead of 'women' and 'men' bugs me. It's a current style and it's... valid, I guess, but it's fucking annoying. Just because a woman isn't a human woman doesn't make her a female. And I don't know any woman who'd look at a hot guy and think, "Wow, that is such a sexy male."
Those terms are clinical and depersonalizing and I, personally, find it creepy that we're using them more and more.
Anyway. I am so sorry this wasn't the book I expected, because I had such high hopes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2022
A romantic action filled balm for the soul!
Loved this book!
At its core it is an enemies to lovers story with a twist. They start off as enemies, fighting, at each other's throats, but then, one of them loses her memory.
The book starts after the main character has lost her memory and she is in desperate need of a safe space to hide and recover. She heads STRAIGHT to her enemy's house, since her subconscious mind knows that is where she will find sanctuary.
So imagine the drama, the unfolding story line, when your enemy shows up at your door half dead and looking to you for aid. And she cannot remember she hates you.
Oh I LOVED it!
The author does an amazing job of going between the two main characters, telling their side of the story and building a beautiful romance. For once we have people being honest and not the aggravating trope of lies being stumbling blocks, instead there is communication and growing trust, all dipped in 'follow your gut to be okay'.
This is a world I will need to travel back to and visit, as there are quite a few people who I NEED to know more about. Hopefully even more wonderful stories will be written in it soon.
The book is not the first I have read by this talented author, but I have to say, it truly is my favorite so far. Read this one and prepare to enjoy it!
Loved this book!
At its core it is an enemies to lovers story with a twist. They start off as enemies, fighting, at each other's throats, but then, one of them loses her memory.
The book starts after the main character has lost her memory and she is in desperate need of a safe space to hide and recover. She heads STRAIGHT to her enemy's house, since her subconscious mind knows that is where she will find sanctuary.
So imagine the drama, the unfolding story line, when your enemy shows up at your door half dead and looking to you for aid. And she cannot remember she hates you.
Oh I LOVED it!
The author does an amazing job of going between the two main characters, telling their side of the story and building a beautiful romance. For once we have people being honest and not the aggravating trope of lies being stumbling blocks, instead there is communication and growing trust, all dipped in 'follow your gut to be okay'.
This is a world I will need to travel back to and visit, as there are quite a few people who I NEED to know more about. Hopefully even more wonderful stories will be written in it soon.
The book is not the first I have read by this talented author, but I have to say, it truly is my favorite so far. Read this one and prepare to enjoy it!
November 25, 2022
I just finished this kick-ass, SPICY-HOT & feminist fantasy-romance-thriller by the always epic Selene Kallan. This may be Selene's best book yet (even though it doesn't feature the demon Nox - perhaps the sexiest creation in all of fantasy). Former enemies - the werewolf/fey Aylana & vampire Sebastian's hearts collide when Aylana shows up at his door, her memories stripped away. Together, they must set aside their mutual emnity, recover Aylana's memories and hunt down a killer who is targeting not only Aylana, but who might be responsible for the death of a string of women. Great dialogue (full of Selene's signature wit), off-the-charts chemistry, HOT love scenes, thrilling action and lethal yet endearing characters make this a highly enjoyable, escapist read. If you're new to Selene's world, I'd start HERE. Highly recommended for fans of books like those by Jennifer Armentrout, Cassandra Clare and Sarah J. Maas. Selene is one of the most exciting young fantasy authors out there to follow - and I can't wait for her next release (which promises to be a truly interesting take on gargoyles...)
October 30, 2022
It was hard to put this book down as I was reading, it was so fun and fast paced, with well-developed, believable characters. The author got the idea for the plot from a prompt and she flew with it creating this gem of a novel. There is lots of action, fight scenes, as well as hot sex scenes all of which help develop the characters. The dialog is funny and entertaining as the characters sass each other. A really enjoyable read.
I am sharing this quote from one of the main characters -- which moved me so much I have taped it on the wall in my office.
"We are all cracked mirrors, and there's nothing that will even leave us smooth and unmarked again. But sometimes, if we are lucky, someone comes along. Someone who sees the jagged pieces left behind after the shattering and finds beauty in them. Someone who picks up those shards, bearing the cuts, and puts them back together until we can see our reflection again, as we do the same for them."
I am sharing this quote from one of the main characters -- which moved me so much I have taped it on the wall in my office.
"We are all cracked mirrors, and there's nothing that will even leave us smooth and unmarked again. But sometimes, if we are lucky, someone comes along. Someone who sees the jagged pieces left behind after the shattering and finds beauty in them. Someone who picks up those shards, bearing the cuts, and puts them back together until we can see our reflection again, as we do the same for them."
June 8, 2022
A great read
I saw one of those writers prompt screenshots on Facebook about how mortal enemies hate each other but one loses their memories and ironically feels safe around their nemesis. Enemies turned lovers. The OP had shared a link to a story she'd written coming from the prompt. It turned out to be the first chapter of this book. After reading it and immensely enjoying the writing style, I had to purchase the full book. I was not disappointed. The characters, even of the supernatural, are believable, enjoyable, relatable. The authors cadence is easy to follow and natural, not forced or overly wordy. The story was fun, fast paced enough to keep me engaged but not so fast that details were glossed over. I'd definitely recommend this book - give it a shot! I'm going to go check out her other stuff!
I saw one of those writers prompt screenshots on Facebook about how mortal enemies hate each other but one loses their memories and ironically feels safe around their nemesis. Enemies turned lovers. The OP had shared a link to a story she'd written coming from the prompt. It turned out to be the first chapter of this book. After reading it and immensely enjoying the writing style, I had to purchase the full book. I was not disappointed. The characters, even of the supernatural, are believable, enjoyable, relatable. The authors cadence is easy to follow and natural, not forced or overly wordy. The story was fun, fast paced enough to keep me engaged but not so fast that details were glossed over. I'd definitely recommend this book - give it a shot! I'm going to go check out her other stuff!
October 30, 2024
2,6 (?) 🌟 🌟
I’m not sure. At first, I thought it was set in the same universe as The Cursed and the Fallen and Bonded by Blood and Magic, but apparently, it’s not. It’s extremely similar, though; it almost feels like a parallel reality. For what it’s worth, I would have preferred the author to keep expanding that world; it would have made more sense. I didn’t feel particularly connected with either of the protagonists, the story is predictable, and the theme ‘the victim is never responsible for the actions of their aggressor’ is starting to get old, especially since it was already a theme in the two works mentioned above. The same goes for racism and other elements, like the male antagonists calling the heroine a whore; it works in one story, maybe two, but you can’t keep recycling the same themes without boring your readers. That’s my take.
I’m not sure. At first, I thought it was set in the same universe as The Cursed and the Fallen and Bonded by Blood and Magic, but apparently, it’s not. It’s extremely similar, though; it almost feels like a parallel reality. For what it’s worth, I would have preferred the author to keep expanding that world; it would have made more sense. I didn’t feel particularly connected with either of the protagonists, the story is predictable, and the theme ‘the victim is never responsible for the actions of their aggressor’ is starting to get old, especially since it was already a theme in the two works mentioned above. The same goes for racism and other elements, like the male antagonists calling the heroine a whore; it works in one story, maybe two, but you can’t keep recycling the same themes without boring your readers. That’s my take.
February 12, 2023
A fantastic hidden gem
This story was the only suggestion made in a FB book group to the search for a trope of a hero showing up at the villians door, broken and bruised saying "I didn't know where else to go" and my goodness did it deliver!
I loved this story so much. I was looking for a quick and cruisy read and found such a gem.
I really enjoyed the way it unfolded. The spice was present but not overwhelming and though their relationship developed quickly, it didn't feel rushed. They had great banter and I just loved their dynamic.
This story was the only suggestion made in a FB book group to the search for a trope of a hero showing up at the villians door, broken and bruised saying "I didn't know where else to go" and my goodness did it deliver!
I loved this story so much. I was looking for a quick and cruisy read and found such a gem.
I really enjoyed the way it unfolded. The spice was present but not overwhelming and though their relationship developed quickly, it didn't feel rushed. They had great banter and I just loved their dynamic.
August 14, 2022
Premise of story is decent. The writing is terrible.
Premise of the story is decent. And the only reason I actually read the whole book. However the author needs a good proof reader and an editor. Along with a few beta readers to give good honest feed back. This book though just felt more like a first draft it didn't flow well. It has potential but at this point not enough for me to continue reading this author.
Premise of the story is decent. And the only reason I actually read the whole book. However the author needs a good proof reader and an editor. Along with a few beta readers to give good honest feed back. This book though just felt more like a first draft it didn't flow well. It has potential but at this point not enough for me to continue reading this author.
August 4, 2022
Enemies to Lovers Done Well
I truly enjoyed this book. It has fey, werewolves, vampires and demons. The world building was good and I enjoyed all the characters. This was not a novel theme but it was well done. I think this author can have a really bright future and I cannot wait to read more.
I truly enjoyed this book. It has fey, werewolves, vampires and demons. The world building was good and I enjoyed all the characters. This was not a novel theme but it was well done. I think this author can have a really bright future and I cannot wait to read more.
October 18, 2023
I really enjoyed this book.
It's been a while since I immersed myself in a vampire-werewolf novel. I'm glad I picked this one up. It's packed with supernatural creatures, crimes and mysteries. The two main characters are well written and develop well through the course of the story. There's also a fair bit of spice.
Definitely worth a read.
It's been a while since I immersed myself in a vampire-werewolf novel. I'm glad I picked this one up. It's packed with supernatural creatures, crimes and mysteries. The two main characters are well written and develop well through the course of the story. There's also a fair bit of spice.
Definitely worth a read.
November 16, 2024
Great read!
I really enjoyed this book! The characters are well written, and the plot is enjoyable and easy to follow. There was just enough mystery and a smattering of violence keeping things interesting and the plot moving forward. The spicy scenes were well placed, well written, and overall were not too explicit.
I really enjoyed this book! The characters are well written, and the plot is enjoyable and easy to follow. There was just enough mystery and a smattering of violence keeping things interesting and the plot moving forward. The spicy scenes were well placed, well written, and overall were not too explicit.
October 24, 2025
just ok
While the storyline and premise were pretty good. It needs an edit something fierce. Wrong tense of words, using words that were totally unnecessary and didn’t fit the dialogue of the character. It reads as being written by someone who doesn’t speak English as a first language and failed to have it checked by someone who does prior to publishing.
While the storyline and premise were pretty good. It needs an edit something fierce. Wrong tense of words, using words that were totally unnecessary and didn’t fit the dialogue of the character. It reads as being written by someone who doesn’t speak English as a first language and failed to have it checked by someone who does prior to publishing.
July 25, 2022
good read
I was intrigued by an excerpt the author posted on Facebook. I’m glad I read it! That said, there’s some awkward dialogue, and the book could definitely have benefited from some more thorough editing. Overall, it’s a solid book and worth your time if you like PNR.
I was intrigued by an excerpt the author posted on Facebook. I’m glad I read it! That said, there’s some awkward dialogue, and the book could definitely have benefited from some more thorough editing. Overall, it’s a solid book and worth your time if you like PNR.
April 18, 2022
Could not connect to the characters at all. The story had potential but not good enough for my liking.
And please, please, do something about this cover...
And please, please, do something about this cover...
September 25, 2023
So many twists and turns! It was fun!
Such a fun and fast read! I enjoyed the mystery of this story! The enemies to lovers storyline was great too! Also loved the world building.
Such a fun and fast read! I enjoyed the mystery of this story! The enemies to lovers storyline was great too! Also loved the world building.
October 16, 2023
Once the relationship consummated, the MCs morphed into Mary and Manny Sue. I skipped ahead and the Big Bad remained cartoonishly repugnant throughout. DNF 40%
March 21, 2024
Really enjoyed this one
The writing and storyline were excellent; the world building solid, and I really liked the characters. I definitely recommend this one!
The writing and storyline were excellent; the world building solid, and I really liked the characters. I definitely recommend this one!
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June 16, 2026Read 19%
This seemed alright but it’s not really my type of book and I had no urge to keep going or pick it up again so 🤷🏻♀️
This seemed alright but it’s not really my type of book and I had no urge to keep going or pick it up again so 🤷🏻♀️
November 1, 2023
**********Contains Spoilers**********
I saw an excerpt of this book that Selene Kallan had posted in a book group on Facebook and I was instantly intrigued. I went straight to Amazon and downloaded a sample of both of the Half-Blood Rebel books, and I was hooked straight away. Once I finished reading the samples I happily purchased both books in the series. I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a good start to the Half-Blood Rebels Series. Aylana, a half-werewolf has been investigating the brutal murders of several human women since the police haven’t found a lot of evidence. She’s latched onto Sebastian, the new vampire royal that has recently moved to Darkwood since the murders started pretty much when he arrives. He’s an a*sehole and their hate and contempt for each other is mutual. After getting too close Aylana is attacked, she’s bleeding and werewolf poison running through her veins. Even with her memories being wiped, she knows right down to her bones that she’ll be safe if she can get to the address she hastily scrawled on her arm. She didn’t know what to expect when she knocked on the door, but a powerful vampire wasn’t it.
Sebastian, opens the door and Aylana collapses in his arms. They hate each other but Sebastian’s first instinct is to protect her. Sebastian knows that finding out who attacked Aylana is more important than their rivalry. Even if Aylana probably wont agree when her memories return. It was nice that they were honest with each other (unlike a lot of other books), well Sebastian lied a bit initially regarding how much they actually hate each other so he could help get to the bottom of who targeted her and help protect her while she’s still not at full strength. I thought it was cool that they protected each other equally, and never discounted the other’s strength. I also enjoyed their banter. I do wish that their relationship didn’t move at such a fast pace but it doesn’t bother me as much as it usually would, considering they’re both supernatural creatures. Man, both Aylana and Sebastian have been through some sh*t. I thought the chemistry between them was completely off the charts, as well as hot as hell. I’m looking forward to reading Half-Blood Deceived next. I’d definitely recommend this book, series and author to everyone.
I saw an excerpt of this book that Selene Kallan had posted in a book group on Facebook and I was instantly intrigued. I went straight to Amazon and downloaded a sample of both of the Half-Blood Rebel books, and I was hooked straight away. Once I finished reading the samples I happily purchased both books in the series. I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a good start to the Half-Blood Rebels Series. Aylana, a half-werewolf has been investigating the brutal murders of several human women since the police haven’t found a lot of evidence. She’s latched onto Sebastian, the new vampire royal that has recently moved to Darkwood since the murders started pretty much when he arrives. He’s an a*sehole and their hate and contempt for each other is mutual. After getting too close Aylana is attacked, she’s bleeding and werewolf poison running through her veins. Even with her memories being wiped, she knows right down to her bones that she’ll be safe if she can get to the address she hastily scrawled on her arm. She didn’t know what to expect when she knocked on the door, but a powerful vampire wasn’t it.
Sebastian, opens the door and Aylana collapses in his arms. They hate each other but Sebastian’s first instinct is to protect her. Sebastian knows that finding out who attacked Aylana is more important than their rivalry. Even if Aylana probably wont agree when her memories return. It was nice that they were honest with each other (unlike a lot of other books), well Sebastian lied a bit initially regarding how much they actually hate each other so he could help get to the bottom of who targeted her and help protect her while she’s still not at full strength. I thought it was cool that they protected each other equally, and never discounted the other’s strength. I also enjoyed their banter. I do wish that their relationship didn’t move at such a fast pace but it doesn’t bother me as much as it usually would, considering they’re both supernatural creatures. Man, both Aylana and Sebastian have been through some sh*t. I thought the chemistry between them was completely off the charts, as well as hot as hell. I’m looking forward to reading Half-Blood Deceived next. I’d definitely recommend this book, series and author to everyone.
May 14, 2024
I love enemies to lovers, the summary claimed this was it. But it wasnt. Author says they are enemies but do we see it, do we feel it? No. Entire book was terribly predictable.
Edit after 2 months: I do not remeber what it was about. Very mainstream. I remember being unimpressed.
Edit after 2 months: I do not remeber what it was about. Very mainstream. I remember being unimpressed.
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