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Sanguis et Fauna #2
Dress the Neck Becomingly
Fresh off a case that exposed him to the supernatural world of shapeshifters, Detective Royce Davis just wants his life to go back to normal.
Unfortunately, between his commanding officer breathing down his neck, and his boyfriend dumping him, normal suddenly isn't all that appealing. So what's a strait-laced detective to do?
Engage in an ill-advised one-night stand with a Vampire, naturally.
When bodies start to drop and people go missing, can Royce find a way to trust his blood-sucking new beau?
Dress the Neck Becomingly is a steamy paranormal mystery that contains violence and some consensual blood play. It can be read as a standalone romance with no cliffhanger, but is best enjoyed after reading Mighty Quill, the first book in the Sanguis Et Fauna universe.
Unfortunately, between his commanding officer breathing down his neck, and his boyfriend dumping him, normal suddenly isn't all that appealing. So what's a strait-laced detective to do?
Engage in an ill-advised one-night stand with a Vampire, naturally.
When bodies start to drop and people go missing, can Royce find a way to trust his blood-sucking new beau?
Dress the Neck Becomingly is a steamy paranormal mystery that contains violence and some consensual blood play. It can be read as a standalone romance with no cliffhanger, but is best enjoyed after reading Mighty Quill, the first book in the Sanguis Et Fauna universe.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2023
121 people are currently reading
431 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
September 4, 2024
Spoilers ahead. 1.5 stars rounded down.
This was tolerable sweetness/fluff for the first half. Some of the writing issues from the first book were slightly better, though this author needs to learn how to do scene/time transitions because there is constant scene interruptions that jump days, weeks, and sometimes even months and it’s really jarring. Editors exist for a reason.
Unfortunately the second half of this book bombed so badly, I discovered it has one of my least favorite MC’s in existence.
Sinclair is a vampire. He has to drink human blood to survive. During a fight where he saves the other MC’s (Royce) partner, Sinclair used his teeth to fight.
Royce (the other MC) then arrests Sinclair for murder (even though there was no dead body…. And this is after chapters of lovey dovey commitments), accuses him of cheating. Like… he accused Sinclair of fucking the supposed dead guys when he bit them. 🤔
So then they decide to put Sinclair through and absolutely horrid process to try to train his body to take normal food and he spends weeks basically starving… because his boyfriend is a jealous prick.
Only to have Royce be like “yea man just kidding, you need to feed because we need your vampire strength.” Worst. Boyfriend. Ever.
THEN, Royce gets shot, Sinclair has to feed to beat the bad guys, then Royce gets upset that Sinclair didn’t turn him…. When Sinclair told him in the beginning he was turned against his will.
So then Royce throws a temper tantrum in the hospital being like “Sinclair doesn’t want to commit to me for forever” when literally all Sinclair has done is sacrifice for this guy.
When Sinclair finally shows back up, despite days of Royce thinking the worst, he’s like “bite me and turn me” and Sinclair’s all “Sure, man.” 😑 The thought of them being together forever gives me a headache.
So… after a good chunk of the book being devoted to torturing Sinclair into not having to rely on blood so he doesn’t have to feed from other people because his boyfriend is a jealous prick, after Royce was changed… the end of the book addresses their feeding from other humans as “we’ll figure it out.” And that’s it.
Like..
And the D/s stuff was really random and unnecessary and just cluttered an already busy plot. If you commit to D/s, really commit to it.
Yo. I just… what’s going on with these 2023 releases. 😩
The cover is beautiful. That’s about it.
This was tolerable sweetness/fluff for the first half. Some of the writing issues from the first book were slightly better, though this author needs to learn how to do scene/time transitions because there is constant scene interruptions that jump days, weeks, and sometimes even months and it’s really jarring. Editors exist for a reason.
Unfortunately the second half of this book bombed so badly, I discovered it has one of my least favorite MC’s in existence.
Sinclair is a vampire. He has to drink human blood to survive. During a fight where he saves the other MC’s (Royce) partner, Sinclair used his teeth to fight.
Royce (the other MC) then arrests Sinclair for murder (even though there was no dead body…. And this is after chapters of lovey dovey commitments), accuses him of cheating. Like… he accused Sinclair of fucking the supposed dead guys when he bit them. 🤔
So then they decide to put Sinclair through and absolutely horrid process to try to train his body to take normal food and he spends weeks basically starving… because his boyfriend is a jealous prick.
Only to have Royce be like “yea man just kidding, you need to feed because we need your vampire strength.” Worst. Boyfriend. Ever.
THEN, Royce gets shot, Sinclair has to feed to beat the bad guys, then Royce gets upset that Sinclair didn’t turn him…. When Sinclair told him in the beginning he was turned against his will.
So then Royce throws a temper tantrum in the hospital being like “Sinclair doesn’t want to commit to me for forever” when literally all Sinclair has done is sacrifice for this guy.
When Sinclair finally shows back up, despite days of Royce thinking the worst, he’s like “bite me and turn me” and Sinclair’s all “Sure, man.” 😑 The thought of them being together forever gives me a headache.
So… after a good chunk of the book being devoted to torturing Sinclair into not having to rely on blood so he doesn’t have to feed from other people because his boyfriend is a jealous prick, after Royce was changed… the end of the book addresses their feeding from other humans as “we’ll figure it out.” And that’s it.
Like..
And the D/s stuff was really random and unnecessary and just cluttered an already busy plot. If you commit to D/s, really commit to it.
Yo. I just… what’s going on with these 2023 releases. 😩
The cover is beautiful. That’s about it.
February 21, 2023
I’m so disappointed. The first half of this book was fantastic. Sinclair (Royce’s midlife crisis😂) was such a delightful little emo boy and his old fashioned, awkward courting of Royce was awesome. I stayed up until 2:30am enjoying these parts so much before forcing myself to go to bed. I didn’t love the bdsm-ish aspect because it didn’t feel natural but whatever.
THEN! Duh duh duhhhhhhhhhhh. The second half exists. With barely any romance. Where Royce makes it clear he truly does think Sinclair is a monster. That being a vampire is a horrible thing. And Sinclair just accepts this and decides to make it less obvious he’s a vampire? Then Royce accuses Sinclair of cheating and has a meltdown about Sinclair eating, to which there was nowhere near enough grovel. The fruit bullshit drove me up the wall. Like this awesome character was just…castrated. Sinclair was suffering but don’t worry cuz Royce found it cute. Awwww. Until suddenly Sinclair’s vampire strength is super necessary and convenient so maybe he can have something other than fruit? If it’ll save Royce’s life? And then Royce is all of a sudden fine with vampirism and his issues with consent and feeding suddenly are something they’ll just deal with later and then the book ends. Royce SUUUUUUUUUCKS!!! One of the worst MCs I’ve ever read.
What a let down :( However, we must all appreciate that cover because it is just absolutely STUNNING. A perfect rendition of Sinclair.
THEN! Duh duh duhhhhhhhhhhh. The second half exists. With barely any romance. Where Royce makes it clear he truly does think Sinclair is a monster. That being a vampire is a horrible thing. And Sinclair just accepts this and decides to make it less obvious he’s a vampire? Then Royce accuses Sinclair of cheating and has a meltdown about Sinclair eating, to which there was nowhere near enough grovel. The fruit bullshit drove me up the wall. Like this awesome character was just…castrated. Sinclair was suffering but don’t worry cuz Royce found it cute. Awwww. Until suddenly Sinclair’s vampire strength is super necessary and convenient so maybe he can have something other than fruit? If it’ll save Royce’s life? And then Royce is all of a sudden fine with vampirism and his issues with consent and feeding suddenly are something they’ll just deal with later and then the book ends. Royce SUUUUUUUUUCKS!!! One of the worst MCs I’ve ever read.
What a let down :( However, we must all appreciate that cover because it is just absolutely STUNNING. A perfect rendition of Sinclair.
April 12, 2023
That took a turn!
4.5*
Well, I wasn't expecting either of the twists in this book but both of them were welcome.
No spoilers here, but I'll just say I was satisfied with how everything went in the plotting and I loved the relationship between Sinclair and Royce.
The same situation with the formatting still exists but it wasn't as bad here with time jumps and head hopping.
I liked Royce's cop partner, she was a no nonsense woman who supported him even when she didn't know what was going on.
There's a guest appearance from Cas and Thor too as well as a reference to Ragnar the walrus shifter cousin of Thor's.
I hope the author continues writing in this urban fantasy/paranormal world.
4.5*
Well, I wasn't expecting either of the twists in this book but both of them were welcome.
No spoilers here, but I'll just say I was satisfied with how everything went in the plotting and I loved the relationship between Sinclair and Royce.
The same situation with the formatting still exists but it wasn't as bad here with time jumps and head hopping.
I liked Royce's cop partner, she was a no nonsense woman who supported him even when she didn't know what was going on.
There's a guest appearance from Cas and Thor too as well as a reference to Ragnar the walrus shifter cousin of Thor's.
I hope the author continues writing in this urban fantasy/paranormal world.
February 8, 2023
‘His gaze grew serious again, and he said, “I want you to know I enjoyed it, very much. Too much. You simply must promise to never push my limits like that again.” “…like that?” I echoed, sliding my hand up the back of his neck to grab a fistful of his hair. “I can push your limits in other ways?” “I’m going to have to insist that you do,” said Sinclair, and he kissed me again, dirtier this time.’
What an enchanting, engaging, delightful, and delicious story Emmaline Strange has provided for us in Dress the Neck Becomingly!
As part of the Sanguis Et Fauna shifter universe, we have met Detective Royce Davis, as he investigated a paranormal case in book 1, The Mighty Quill. These are stand-alone books that interact, but as such, you will derive an even greater pleasure by reading them in order.
Royce becomes convinced that things occurring in his community are anything but normal, and as his unexpected relationship with Sin, his twink vampire boyfriend, sheds light onto nefarious happenings, he travels down the rabbit hole of suspicion and acceptance.
This book is a fantastic read, as Strange has a breathtakingly unique form of sharing words that paint pictures of emotional longing, generational challenges, lustful activities, and especially the love that forms when true love is found, no matter the species.
Highly recommend this exceptional addition to Emmaline Strange’s literary works!
What an enchanting, engaging, delightful, and delicious story Emmaline Strange has provided for us in Dress the Neck Becomingly!
As part of the Sanguis Et Fauna shifter universe, we have met Detective Royce Davis, as he investigated a paranormal case in book 1, The Mighty Quill. These are stand-alone books that interact, but as such, you will derive an even greater pleasure by reading them in order.
Royce becomes convinced that things occurring in his community are anything but normal, and as his unexpected relationship with Sin, his twink vampire boyfriend, sheds light onto nefarious happenings, he travels down the rabbit hole of suspicion and acceptance.
This book is a fantastic read, as Strange has a breathtakingly unique form of sharing words that paint pictures of emotional longing, generational challenges, lustful activities, and especially the love that forms when true love is found, no matter the species.
Highly recommend this exceptional addition to Emmaline Strange’s literary works!
February 6, 2023
I was absolutely LOVING the first half of this book, especially goth polly pocket Sinclair. But then the second half of the book happened…and I couldn’t make myself believe that Royce loved or cared about Sinclair.
- First, he arrests Sinclair for saving his partner and then accuses him of cheating? And his apology is flowers? Not enough grovel
- When Sinclair explained what happened to Beckett, Royce is devastated because he can’t think of anything worse than Beckett being like Sinclair. Royce sucks.
- The absolute torture Royce made Sinclair put himself though was really too much for me. “Sleeping at night really seemed to disorient him, though I had to admit I loved it because he looked pretty adorable with his face squished into my pillow.” Like WHAT!!? There are so many different alternatives than what Royce asked Sinclair to do. I’ve seen vampire diaries, try a blood bag! Or Royce can just get over it.
- And to top it off, when it suited him to have a vampire in his corner, Royce asked Sinclair to undo all the work he did and feed to get his strength back! Bffr Royce.
Anyways ya that second half ruined this book for me and Sinclair deserves better and I hated Royce.
- First, he arrests Sinclair for saving his partner and then accuses him of cheating? And his apology is flowers? Not enough grovel
- When Sinclair explained what happened to Beckett, Royce is devastated because he can’t think of anything worse than Beckett being like Sinclair. Royce sucks.
- The absolute torture Royce made Sinclair put himself though was really too much for me. “Sleeping at night really seemed to disorient him, though I had to admit I loved it because he looked pretty adorable with his face squished into my pillow.” Like WHAT!!? There are so many different alternatives than what Royce asked Sinclair to do. I’ve seen vampire diaries, try a blood bag! Or Royce can just get over it.
- And to top it off, when it suited him to have a vampire in his corner, Royce asked Sinclair to undo all the work he did and feed to get his strength back! Bffr Royce.
Anyways ya that second half ruined this book for me and Sinclair deserves better and I hated Royce.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2023
This book was straight up perfect. Sinclair is absolutely ridiculous, and I love him unconditionally. Royce is an adorable grump with low self esteem and I just wanna hug him constantly.
-grumpy/sunshine
-size difference
-age gap
-adorable stalking
-blood play
-good boy
-bondage/ light D/s
-mutual sexual discovery
-vampires
-investigation
It even started in a way I normally don’t like, but my gods it was perfect. I can’t stand that it’s over…
-grumpy/sunshine
-size difference
-age gap
-adorable stalking
-blood play
-good boy
-bondage/ light D/s
-mutual sexual discovery
-vampires
-investigation
It even started in a way I normally don’t like, but my gods it was perfect. I can’t stand that it’s over…
February 7, 2023
Strange has done it again with a vampire romance that made me want a Sinclair in my life…or maybe a Royce.
The characters in this book were wonderful! From the first page I loved Royce and Sinclair and I loved watching their relationship flourish. These darling boys were both looking for something in their lives and they found it in each other.
But although the romance played a huge part in this story, there is also an intriguing mystery that carried the plot along.
Overall I loved this book. Royce and Sinclair, although in an unconventional relationship, are so very human. They fight, they have fears and worries, but through it all, their love for each other makes everything worth it.
Kudos to Strange for another amazing story and I can’t wait to read what you write next!
*I received an ARC from BookFunnel and this is my honest, voluntary review.*
The characters in this book were wonderful! From the first page I loved Royce and Sinclair and I loved watching their relationship flourish. These darling boys were both looking for something in their lives and they found it in each other.
But although the romance played a huge part in this story, there is also an intriguing mystery that carried the plot along.
Overall I loved this book. Royce and Sinclair, although in an unconventional relationship, are so very human. They fight, they have fears and worries, but through it all, their love for each other makes everything worth it.
Kudos to Strange for another amazing story and I can’t wait to read what you write next!
*I received an ARC from BookFunnel and this is my honest, voluntary review.*
March 6, 2023
Courting Vampires? Yes please!
A book about vampires totally different from what I'm used to and L.O.V.E.D. IT
Sinclair is without a doubt the most snobby, old-fashioned and adorable vampire I've ever read! Twink Vampire? Only Emmaneline could have brought us this delight. Royce, a policeman we've known since Mighty Quill, is in a difficult phase and has low self-esteem, but everything is going to change!
That opening chapter undoubtedly captivates anyone, super sexy, rough and gentle at the same time. And that's how I can characterize this book. Their bond is soon very strong and Sinclair's court is divine. I loved meeting Cass and his rodent again.
This book can be felt, smelled, seen, tasted and heard! All the descriptions are detailed, from the flowers, the fruit, Sinclair's clothes, their relationship and their giving to each other.
I just felt like Royce caved too quickly to asking to be turned into a vampire. He had accepted that 1 or 2 years had passed and then it happened... Here everything happened in the space of 1 month....
I wish I knew who Sinclair's Sire was, I hope Emmaline writes us a short about it :)
I was blessed with this arc by Emmaline Strange and this is my honest review
A book about vampires totally different from what I'm used to and L.O.V.E.D. IT
Sinclair is without a doubt the most snobby, old-fashioned and adorable vampire I've ever read! Twink Vampire? Only Emmaneline could have brought us this delight. Royce, a policeman we've known since Mighty Quill, is in a difficult phase and has low self-esteem, but everything is going to change!
That opening chapter undoubtedly captivates anyone, super sexy, rough and gentle at the same time. And that's how I can characterize this book. Their bond is soon very strong and Sinclair's court is divine. I loved meeting Cass and his rodent again.
This book can be felt, smelled, seen, tasted and heard! All the descriptions are detailed, from the flowers, the fruit, Sinclair's clothes, their relationship and their giving to each other.
I just felt like Royce caved too quickly to asking to be turned into a vampire. He had accepted that 1 or 2 years had passed and then it happened... Here everything happened in the space of 1 month....
I wish I knew who Sinclair's Sire was, I hope Emmaline writes us a short about it :)
I was blessed with this arc by Emmaline Strange and this is my honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2023
3.5⭐️ rounded up for Sinclair
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series (can be read as stand-alone)
Format: digital - ku
I had a lot of feelings about this one and I had a whole long, detailed, review all written out, but I somehow managed to delete the whole thing before I posted it, so now I’ll just say this… Sinclair made this book. He was everything and there are very few things I wouldn’t do to protect this man. I had some pretty substantial issues with the ending and it is why this isn’t rated higher despite my love for Sin. Overall, the story was sweet and intriguing and the characters were very likable. The relationship development between Sinclair and Royce was amazing and hilarious, but the ending fell flat and sort of dulled the book for me.
Tags: (may contain spoilers)
m/m, lgbtq, pnr, vampires, shifters, police, power dynamics, D/s, kink-lite sexcapades, explicit content, blood play, blood drinking, violence, age gap, courting attempts, flowers and their meanings, book boyfriend Sinclair, humor, kinks, one night stand, dual pov,
Trigger Warnings:
human trafficking, but make it vampires, murder, gladiator games, but make it vampires, torture, unsafe sex
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series (can be read as stand-alone)
Format: digital - ku
I had a lot of feelings about this one and I had a whole long, detailed, review all written out, but I somehow managed to delete the whole thing before I posted it, so now I’ll just say this… Sinclair made this book. He was everything and there are very few things I wouldn’t do to protect this man. I had some pretty substantial issues with the ending and it is why this isn’t rated higher despite my love for Sin. Overall, the story was sweet and intriguing and the characters were very likable. The relationship development between Sinclair and Royce was amazing and hilarious, but the ending fell flat and sort of dulled the book for me.
Tags: (may contain spoilers)
m/m, lgbtq, pnr, vampires, shifters, police, power dynamics, D/s, kink-lite sexcapades, explicit content, blood play, blood drinking, violence, age gap, courting attempts, flowers and their meanings, book boyfriend Sinclair, humor, kinks, one night stand, dual pov,
Trigger Warnings:
human trafficking, but make it vampires, murder, gladiator games, but make it vampires, torture, unsafe sex
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
March 1, 2023
1.5 stars
I love me a vampire romance but in this case the book did not live up to the stunning artwork of the cover. Honestly, it had amazing potential, but the editing issues and pacing really threw me off, and the way Royce completely changed in the second half was so off-putting.
Making your vampire boyfriend eat fruit bc you don’t want him feeding from ppl without their consent, essentially starving him and seeing him get weaker and weaker, but then getting mad at him for not… turning you.. without your consent… Wtf?
The character assassination was just awful and honestly the mystery/crime case they were attempting to solve was not compelling enough to save the book. Do yourself a favour and skip this one.
I love me a vampire romance but in this case the book did not live up to the stunning artwork of the cover. Honestly, it had amazing potential, but the editing issues and pacing really threw me off, and the way Royce completely changed in the second half was so off-putting.
Making your vampire boyfriend eat fruit bc you don’t want him feeding from ppl without their consent, essentially starving him and seeing him get weaker and weaker, but then getting mad at him for not… turning you.. without your consent… Wtf?
The character assassination was just awful and honestly the mystery/crime case they were attempting to solve was not compelling enough to save the book. Do yourself a favour and skip this one.
June 17, 2023
First of all, let’s appreciate the cover. From Sinclair’s delicate freckles to the beautiful blooms surrounding him, I think we can agree this is a gorgeous image! It’s what made me pick up the book to begin with. It’s a shame the other covers in the series don’t quite match.
DRESS THE NECK BECOMINGLY is something I picked up on a whim (because apparently I read like 10 books at once now). I can’t really say I’m happy I did. There are things I really liked, but when there were issues they were big ones which made it hard to enjoy this to its fullest.
Let’s start with the best, Sinclair! A fangy cinnamon roll with freckles and the technological aptitude of an old man. He was the best character by far. He’s charmingly old-fashioned and utilizes that charm to court Royce. The flowers were such a lovely touch!
Royce was not a bad character initially, in fact I think his flaws made him very human. A nice change from pnr characters who seem very eager to jump into the undead lifestyle. However, he let it get the best of him in ways that really hurt Sinclair. I mean, I can get the initial jealousy over your BF feeding from someone else, but his gross overreaction and the fact that he actually pushed it and made Sin find a blood alternative felt so gross to me. Like dating someone and loving them as a person, but hating their religion to the point you make them convert or something.
While the idea of a fruitarian vampire is funny and I liked the author’s creativity regarding that, it’s clear how much Sin gave up to adopt that lifestyle and even then Royce (in my opinion) didn’t seem to appreciate what a struggle that was. He made it pretty clear that he thinks his BF is a monster, especially with his comments about the missing kid once they discover his fate.
Their intimate scenes were incredibly wholesome for how bloody and kinky they were. I never thought I’d be describing a D/s book as wholesome but here we are! And I loved it. Royce was at his best when his attention was on Sin. He became so caring and vulnerable despite being the one taking charge. He took the time to learn about how to give Sin the greatest pleasure from their scenes and especially after.
The same goes for Sin. It’s clear he hasn’t allowed himself to really slow down and live since he’s been turned. Finding love with Royce is only part of it, he’s found the safety to surrender and enjoy himself.
All of the above had me ready to give this read a solid 4 stars, but there are some issues with the story that can’t be ignored. I was saddened to find a very big one in the second to last chapter that made me drop this to a 3 instead.
- They kept saying, “Your boyfriend is 100 years old.” Not “over 100 years” but focused on the number 100 like it was important to the plot. Sinclair bought his flower shop around 1860 and this book takes place in the present day. If it was a few years off I wouldn’t have noticed, but that’s 160+ years. That’s a big difference.
- After their first night together Royce says he’s sore and is glad he has the day off. Then on the next page he’s working in the office and says it’s the same day. Doesn’t say he was called in for any reason, just that he’s still thinking about the guy from a few hours ago. So I guess he didn’t have the day off after all?
- In the second to last chapter
DRESS THE NECK BECOMINGLY was a nice read, but not one I’ll probably be visiting again. It’s book 2 in the Sanguis et Fauna series. I wish I’d realized that sooner because book 1 has been on my Want to Read shelf for a while now, and even though it can technically be read as a standalone there were times I felt lost not knowing the events of the previous book. After reading a little about Thor and Cas though, theirs is definitely the next book I’ll be picking up.
DRESS THE NECK BECOMINGLY is something I picked up on a whim (because apparently I read like 10 books at once now). I can’t really say I’m happy I did. There are things I really liked, but when there were issues they were big ones which made it hard to enjoy this to its fullest.
Let’s start with the best, Sinclair! A fangy cinnamon roll with freckles and the technological aptitude of an old man. He was the best character by far. He’s charmingly old-fashioned and utilizes that charm to court Royce. The flowers were such a lovely touch!
Royce was not a bad character initially, in fact I think his flaws made him very human. A nice change from pnr characters who seem very eager to jump into the undead lifestyle. However, he let it get the best of him in ways that really hurt Sinclair. I mean, I can get the initial jealousy over your BF feeding from someone else, but his gross overreaction and the fact that he actually pushed it and made Sin find a blood alternative felt so gross to me. Like dating someone and loving them as a person, but hating their religion to the point you make them convert or something.
While the idea of a fruitarian vampire is funny and I liked the author’s creativity regarding that, it’s clear how much Sin gave up to adopt that lifestyle and even then Royce (in my opinion) didn’t seem to appreciate what a struggle that was. He made it pretty clear that he thinks his BF is a monster, especially with his comments about the missing kid once they discover his fate.
Their intimate scenes were incredibly wholesome for how bloody and kinky they were. I never thought I’d be describing a D/s book as wholesome but here we are! And I loved it. Royce was at his best when his attention was on Sin. He became so caring and vulnerable despite being the one taking charge. He took the time to learn about how to give Sin the greatest pleasure from their scenes and especially after.
The same goes for Sin. It’s clear he hasn’t allowed himself to really slow down and live since he’s been turned. Finding love with Royce is only part of it, he’s found the safety to surrender and enjoy himself.
All of the above had me ready to give this read a solid 4 stars, but there are some issues with the story that can’t be ignored. I was saddened to find a very big one in the second to last chapter that made me drop this to a 3 instead.
- They kept saying, “Your boyfriend is 100 years old.” Not “over 100 years” but focused on the number 100 like it was important to the plot. Sinclair bought his flower shop around 1860 and this book takes place in the present day. If it was a few years off I wouldn’t have noticed, but that’s 160+ years. That’s a big difference.
- After their first night together Royce says he’s sore and is glad he has the day off. Then on the next page he’s working in the office and says it’s the same day. Doesn’t say he was called in for any reason, just that he’s still thinking about the guy from a few hours ago. So I guess he didn’t have the day off after all?
- In the second to last chapter
DRESS THE NECK BECOMINGLY was a nice read, but not one I’ll probably be visiting again. It’s book 2 in the Sanguis et Fauna series. I wish I’d realized that sooner because book 1 has been on my Want to Read shelf for a while now, and even though it can technically be read as a standalone there were times I felt lost not knowing the events of the previous book. After reading a little about Thor and Cas though, theirs is definitely the next book I’ll be picking up.
February 3, 2023
(rating 4.5 stars)
Unique world building, sweet romance, some very spicy scenes, and plot twists I did not see coming!
characters-
Sinclair-sweet and beautiful, but also incredibly strong and potentially quite vicious. I really fell in love with him. I also liked Royce, just not as much as Sin. Being similar in age to Royce, I personally found him a bit more relatable than many younger characters in the new adult genre.
Comparing the two men, I feel that a lot of (gorgeous and sometimes funny) detail when into describing Sinclair, but I had a hard time imagining what Royce looked like.
romance-
I know some people don't care for instalove/instalust, but I really appreciated how both characters fell for each other pretty quickly and were up front and mature in how they expressed their feelings. This is not a slow burn, with characters hiding or denying their attraction through half the book. Spicy scenes were spicy...and often bloody.
world building and plot-
Bats! I liked the inclusion of bats and how this story relates to the author's other paranormal books. (I've read A Walrus and a Gentleman but haven't read Mighty Quill, yet.) Bat form Sinclair was absolutely precious. I felt it wrapped up a bit suddenly and would have liked to found out more about how they solved the diet problem and other vampire related issues. Diet was a major problem in the relationship and a lot of work went into solving it, so I wanted to know how the vampire characters dealt with feeding at the end.
I enjoyed the mystery/action elements of the plot as well as the romance. I think both aspects were woven together quite nicely. The end was sweet and satisfying.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The writing is beautiful, but had a few laugh out loud moments as well. I highly recommend it to readers of paranormal/shifter romances.
Unique world building, sweet romance, some very spicy scenes, and plot twists I did not see coming!
characters-
Sinclair-sweet and beautiful, but also incredibly strong and potentially quite vicious. I really fell in love with him. I also liked Royce, just not as much as Sin. Being similar in age to Royce, I personally found him a bit more relatable than many younger characters in the new adult genre.
Comparing the two men, I feel that a lot of (gorgeous and sometimes funny) detail when into describing Sinclair, but I had a hard time imagining what Royce looked like.
romance-
I know some people don't care for instalove/instalust, but I really appreciated how both characters fell for each other pretty quickly and were up front and mature in how they expressed their feelings. This is not a slow burn, with characters hiding or denying their attraction through half the book. Spicy scenes were spicy...and often bloody.
world building and plot-
Bats! I liked the inclusion of bats and how this story relates to the author's other paranormal books. (I've read A Walrus and a Gentleman but haven't read Mighty Quill, yet.) Bat form Sinclair was absolutely precious. I felt it wrapped up a bit suddenly and would have liked to found out more about how they solved the diet problem and other vampire related issues. Diet was a major problem in the relationship and a lot of work went into solving it, so I wanted to know how the vampire characters dealt with feeding at the end.
I enjoyed the mystery/action elements of the plot as well as the romance. I think both aspects were woven together quite nicely. The end was sweet and satisfying.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The writing is beautiful, but had a few laugh out loud moments as well. I highly recommend it to readers of paranormal/shifter romances.
January 11, 2023
I have desperately missed Strange's writing. The world they have created is phenomenal, and the humor is top notch. Sinclair is a one of a kind character, and I have to say I've never seen vampires done quite like this. Royce is also fantastic, and it was great to see both of them develop as characters on their own, and apart. Thor and Cas make an appearance (or two) and when I tell you laughed out loud at the shenanigans, I literally belly laughed. Such a fun and steamy read, I've read Strange's other books and I dare say this is the hottest one. Also appreciate the research and care that went into practicing BDSM safely. If you want something sweet, funny, bloody, and hot, this is it.
April 29, 2023
4.6 stars
February 3, 2023
4 stars
I love Royce lmao. This one worked for me more than the first and I just love all the fauna! I can't wait for more works in this world.
Thank you Emmaline Strange for an arc!!
I love Royce lmao. This one worked for me more than the first and I just love all the fauna! I can't wait for more works in this world.
Thank you Emmaline Strange for an arc!!
January 14, 2023
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving an honest review
The first half of this book was perfect: force-of-nature sunshine twink latches onto brooding human detective and Makes The World Right. I loved Royce and Sinclair's interactions, and the reactions of those around them to their relationship (Stark's biting "Your midlife crisis is here" had me in stitches, although it wasn't as funny the second time the joke was used). I loved Sin's almost-innocent vulnerability despite him being an immortal creature of the night, and the exploration of everything between them.
And THAT COVER! I adore it.
Unfortunately I didn't enjoy the second half of the book as much. There's a massive plotline about...for the sake of avoiding spoilers, let's call it a way to move forward on the whole bloodsucking vampire issue that is almost obsessively dealt with for several subsequent chapters and made even me hungry, and then stuff happens and suddenly all that's out of the window and no one mentions it again or considers how that problem may present itself for...urgh, a different character (really trying to avoid spoilers here).
To be less vague, other inconsistencies include an injured character being discharged from hospital in one chapter and then inexplicably being back in hospital on the same admission in the next chapter, and a reference to a character being given news he'd already been delivered a few pages back. It unfortunately drew me from a story that was otherwise exceptionally enjoyable.
But I will still recommend this book, for it had amazing characters, a sweet yet sexy romance, and was a nice change from the usual trope of the vampire being the hulking, brooding one in the relationship.
The first half of this book was perfect: force-of-nature sunshine twink latches onto brooding human detective and Makes The World Right. I loved Royce and Sinclair's interactions, and the reactions of those around them to their relationship (Stark's biting "Your midlife crisis is here" had me in stitches, although it wasn't as funny the second time the joke was used). I loved Sin's almost-innocent vulnerability despite him being an immortal creature of the night, and the exploration of everything between them.
And THAT COVER! I adore it.
Unfortunately I didn't enjoy the second half of the book as much. There's a massive plotline about...for the sake of avoiding spoilers, let's call it a way to move forward on the whole bloodsucking vampire issue that is almost obsessively dealt with for several subsequent chapters and made even me hungry, and then stuff happens and suddenly all that's out of the window and no one mentions it again or considers how that problem may present itself for...urgh, a different character (really trying to avoid spoilers here).
To be less vague, other inconsistencies include an injured character being discharged from hospital in one chapter and then inexplicably being back in hospital on the same admission in the next chapter, and a reference to a character being given news he'd already been delivered a few pages back. It unfortunately drew me from a story that was otherwise exceptionally enjoyable.
But I will still recommend this book, for it had amazing characters, a sweet yet sexy romance, and was a nice change from the usual trope of the vampire being the hulking, brooding one in the relationship.
February 4, 2023
Not your Typical Vampire Story.
This is far from your standard vampire story. It's a great book, easy to read and kept me interested 'til the end. I liked that it's funny and not overly serious, even though there's a bit of murder and mayhem going on throughout. Sinclair and Royce are a great match. Sinclair in particular made me smile, he's so far from what you think a vampire should be, and so cuddly and loveable. Beautifully written, and so engaging.
This is far from your standard vampire story. It's a great book, easy to read and kept me interested 'til the end. I liked that it's funny and not overly serious, even though there's a bit of murder and mayhem going on throughout. Sinclair and Royce are a great match. Sinclair in particular made me smile, he's so far from what you think a vampire should be, and so cuddly and loveable. Beautifully written, and so engaging.
September 25, 2024
This is the second in a series, you can read it as a standalone but I honest don't know why you'd want to, The Mighty Quill is such fun. OK, read it as a standalone because you will enjoy it on its' own too.
I loved every single thing in this book. Sinclair is just such a cinnamon roll, he's like a puppy, devoted and single minded and just wants to be with his person. Oh, and he's a vampire. His courting of Royce was just hilariously bad, from the stalking and watching him sleep, to turning up in bat form in his apartment, to the ever increasing bouquets of flowers, and finally the gifts he'd leave Royce. I loved it all and it was just so Sinclair. I adored him in all his little fluffy twinky goth glory. He has his hidden will of steel though, I liked that he wouldn't be walked all over and would stand up for himself. I liked Royce from the first book too, and was happy to spend more time with him here too. I could almost feel his bemusement with Sinclair's attempts to woo him (yeah, he was pretty clueless there too 😂 ).
Once they were together though, oh my. Those heat levels were INSANE 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥. Phew. Blood play isn't my thing, or so I thought. It was done so well here though, completely consensual and if anything, it was the vampire who was against it. That was a nice flip on events. This wasn't just a story about Sinclair and Royce getting together though, there was a nice thread about disappearances and other vampires, and a real sense of suspense too. It was so good to see Cas and Thor again, and Cas had the best line in the whole book (that I'm going to put in spoiler tags as I don't want to ruin it for anyone)
It genuinely made me laugh out loud. I love the world Emmaline Strange has created here, I love the idea that there are other types of shifter, and the idea of fauna is wonderful. It opens a whole new world of possibilities and I can't wait for more.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
I loved every single thing in this book. Sinclair is just such a cinnamon roll, he's like a puppy, devoted and single minded and just wants to be with his person. Oh, and he's a vampire. His courting of Royce was just hilariously bad, from the stalking and watching him sleep, to turning up in bat form in his apartment, to the ever increasing bouquets of flowers, and finally the gifts he'd leave Royce. I loved it all and it was just so Sinclair. I adored him in all his little fluffy twinky goth glory. He has his hidden will of steel though, I liked that he wouldn't be walked all over and would stand up for himself. I liked Royce from the first book too, and was happy to spend more time with him here too. I could almost feel his bemusement with Sinclair's attempts to woo him (yeah, he was pretty clueless there too 😂 ).
Once they were together though, oh my. Those heat levels were INSANE 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥. Phew. Blood play isn't my thing, or so I thought. It was done so well here though, completely consensual and if anything, it was the vampire who was against it. That was a nice flip on events. This wasn't just a story about Sinclair and Royce getting together though, there was a nice thread about disappearances and other vampires, and a real sense of suspense too. It was so good to see Cas and Thor again, and Cas had the best line in the whole book (that I'm going to put in spoiler tags as I don't want to ruin it for anyone)
It genuinely made me laugh out loud. I love the world Emmaline Strange has created here, I love the idea that there are other types of shifter, and the idea of fauna is wonderful. It opens a whole new world of possibilities and I can't wait for more.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
January 1, 2026
If so "fucked up" and "wrong"... Why so cute?
March 1, 2023
2.5 stars rounded down. (I had originally rounded up to 3 stars but it's been over 12 hours since I finished reading the book and I'm still mad, so down the rating goes.)
Okay, so the first half or so of this book wasn't bad beyond some areas that could've used some more editing and some rough transitions like the previous book. I liked getting to see Cas and Thor a bit from book one and enjoyed getting to know Sinclair and the vampire side of this supernatural world. The story started off relatively strong and interesting, but then it plummeted to its doom.
First and foremost, can we please stop writing vampire books where the vampires don't sleep and instead stalk and creepily watch their love interests sleep? Pleeeeease? Not only is it overdone at this point, it's downright creepy 90% of the time, and this book definitely fell into that 90%. It made an otherwise lovable and adorable character feel off. I loved Sinclair. LOVED HIM. But when he did this, especially in the beginning when the relationship was new, it was more creepy than cute.
Second, for a book that surrounded itself around consent, it missed the mark SO HARD. Sure, we get consent in the bedroom with some (relatively awkward) Dom/sub play, but when a character says "No, I absolutely do not want to do this thing" and the other character says, "Okay, I understand why you don't want to do this thing, so we won't do the thing" and then character two proceeds to COMPLETELY DISREGARD Character One's wishes and literally forces them to do the thing, THAT IS NOT CONSENT. And then you also don't have a right to be mad that they don't do something without your consent later. Just, ugh. It was incredibly frustrating. Consent is important in more places than the bedroom.
**Specific Spoilers Beyond This Point**
Third, this relationship started off a little rocky but it was working. And then it became incredibly toxic. There's a difference between trying to be a better person for the one you love and trying to change a core piece of who you are just to be with them. A vampire needs blood to survive, and asking them to go off blood just so you feel better is not cool. Especially when you see them literally starving and living a tortured life. It's not sweet or cute. It's selfish and toxic. It doesn't matter that it kind of worked. Asking someone to do this is NOT healthy and it should not have been shown as a healthy way to show love. Especially since part of the reason was Royce's own insecurity and assumption that Sin, who had been nothing but a sweet, loving angel, had clearly cheated on him by screwing people and drinking their blood. NOT. HEALTHY. >>>>TOXIC<<<<
And then... AND THEN Royce had the m***** f******* AUDACITY to request that Sin undo everything Royce had basically cornered him into doing because suddenly Sin consuming blood fit Royce's agenda. And then he forced Sin, AGAINST HIS WILL to drink blood, even though Sin said NO. And then Royce once again had the m***** f******* AUDACITY to be a whiney little cry baby and mope around wondering why Sin didn't turn him. Um, maybe it had something to do with CONSENT and the fact that up until a few chapters ago you were essentially appalled your boyfriend had to drink blood to survive? Who's blood is he gonna drink if you're a vampire? Are you gonna suddenly be chill about it now that it's convenient? Of course you are, because even though Sin should've 100% cut and run, he stayed and turned you at your request. So now you can live together forever in your little toxic bubble.
So, yeah... I'm disappointed with the turn this book took. It started off great and could've stayed great, but took a turn for the worst a little past the middle mark. Now I'm hesitant to read more by this author, which is a shame because I really enjoyed the first book. I want more Thor and Cas and Sinclair and less Royce.
Okay, so the first half or so of this book wasn't bad beyond some areas that could've used some more editing and some rough transitions like the previous book. I liked getting to see Cas and Thor a bit from book one and enjoyed getting to know Sinclair and the vampire side of this supernatural world. The story started off relatively strong and interesting, but then it plummeted to its doom.
First and foremost, can we please stop writing vampire books where the vampires don't sleep and instead stalk and creepily watch their love interests sleep? Pleeeeease? Not only is it overdone at this point, it's downright creepy 90% of the time, and this book definitely fell into that 90%. It made an otherwise lovable and adorable character feel off. I loved Sinclair. LOVED HIM. But when he did this, especially in the beginning when the relationship was new, it was more creepy than cute.
Second, for a book that surrounded itself around consent, it missed the mark SO HARD. Sure, we get consent in the bedroom with some (relatively awkward) Dom/sub play, but when a character says "No, I absolutely do not want to do this thing" and the other character says, "Okay, I understand why you don't want to do this thing, so we won't do the thing" and then character two proceeds to COMPLETELY DISREGARD Character One's wishes and literally forces them to do the thing, THAT IS NOT CONSENT. And then you also don't have a right to be mad that they don't do something without your consent later. Just, ugh. It was incredibly frustrating. Consent is important in more places than the bedroom.
**Specific Spoilers Beyond This Point**
Third, this relationship started off a little rocky but it was working. And then it became incredibly toxic. There's a difference between trying to be a better person for the one you love and trying to change a core piece of who you are just to be with them. A vampire needs blood to survive, and asking them to go off blood just so you feel better is not cool. Especially when you see them literally starving and living a tortured life. It's not sweet or cute. It's selfish and toxic. It doesn't matter that it kind of worked. Asking someone to do this is NOT healthy and it should not have been shown as a healthy way to show love. Especially since part of the reason was Royce's own insecurity and assumption that Sin, who had been nothing but a sweet, loving angel, had clearly cheated on him by screwing people and drinking their blood. NOT. HEALTHY. >>>>TOXIC<<<<
And then... AND THEN Royce had the m***** f******* AUDACITY to request that Sin undo everything Royce had basically cornered him into doing because suddenly Sin consuming blood fit Royce's agenda. And then he forced Sin, AGAINST HIS WILL to drink blood, even though Sin said NO. And then Royce once again had the m***** f******* AUDACITY to be a whiney little cry baby and mope around wondering why Sin didn't turn him. Um, maybe it had something to do with CONSENT and the fact that up until a few chapters ago you were essentially appalled your boyfriend had to drink blood to survive? Who's blood is he gonna drink if you're a vampire? Are you gonna suddenly be chill about it now that it's convenient? Of course you are, because even though Sin should've 100% cut and run, he stayed and turned you at your request. So now you can live together forever in your little toxic bubble.
So, yeah... I'm disappointed with the turn this book took. It started off great and could've stayed great, but took a turn for the worst a little past the middle mark. Now I'm hesitant to read more by this author, which is a shame because I really enjoyed the first book. I want more Thor and Cas and Sinclair and less Royce.
May 17, 2023
The cover and the idea for this book are both absolutely head turning.
The end product made me stop at 50% and put the book down for 3 months. In the end, I couldn't finish it anyway.
The good:
⭐ I liked how much Sin was from another world and from another time. His behavior, understanding of human behavior, understanding of society in the XXI century, were a new, fresh approach towards vampirism.
⭐ The protagonists talk with each other. I know, a shocker.
⭐ There are plot twists that surprised me, both regarding the criminal case and the characters described in the book.
The okay-ish:
💫 For a big part of the book I thought it's just not a story for me. It has its cute moments, dramatic moments, blood play and flower apologies. It has scary moments, and some D/s play. It just never clicked for me, but if someone treated it more like a cute-funny story with a silly protagonist, it should be an easy read.
💫 The vampires in this book are more on the "realistic" part of worldbuilding, behaving not like humans, but actual predators.
The bad:
🌒 The main problem here is that both MCs behave like teenagers when they are anything but. They don't talk with each other for WEEKS, jump into conclusions, don't talk about real issues, and even when they talk their final decisions are just plain stupid.
🌒 While Sin may be still a stupid teenager in his mind, I don't have this explanation for Royce. He is a detective dealing with homicides on a daily basis. His literal JOB is based on him being smart, putting together clues, talking to people and understanding human behavior. It's not often that a character is so dumb it can't be explained in any plausible way. He spends WEEKS avoiding topics regarding vampirism, relationship with Sin, avoiding conversation about his own CASE.
🌒 Royce is definitely not a boyfriend material. He has so many insecurities he needs serious therapy and an adult partner who will call on his bullshit. Actually, I feel like my whole review should be about him, he made me DNF the book.
🌒 The (possible) kidnapping criminal part of the story was done very poorly. It didn't fit with the romantic parts, nor did with the vampiric side of the story. I guess one of the main reasons why it felt flat was Royce (yes, I'm back to ranting about him) being stupid. The moments when it progressed seemed always out of place, utterly random and confusing at best, put between one insecure thought of Royce and another.
I am really disappointed and sad, it was so promising in the beginning.
I received an ARC of this book from the author, and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.
The end product made me stop at 50% and put the book down for 3 months. In the end, I couldn't finish it anyway.
The good:
⭐ I liked how much Sin was from another world and from another time. His behavior, understanding of human behavior, understanding of society in the XXI century, were a new, fresh approach towards vampirism.
⭐ The protagonists talk with each other. I know, a shocker.
⭐ There are plot twists that surprised me, both regarding the criminal case and the characters described in the book.
The okay-ish:
💫 For a big part of the book I thought it's just not a story for me. It has its cute moments, dramatic moments, blood play and flower apologies. It has scary moments, and some D/s play. It just never clicked for me, but if someone treated it more like a cute-funny story with a silly protagonist, it should be an easy read.
💫 The vampires in this book are more on the "realistic" part of worldbuilding, behaving not like humans, but actual predators.
The bad:
🌒 The main problem here is that both MCs behave like teenagers when they are anything but. They don't talk with each other for WEEKS, jump into conclusions, don't talk about real issues, and even when they talk their final decisions are just plain stupid.
🌒 While Sin may be still a stupid teenager in his mind, I don't have this explanation for Royce. He is a detective dealing with homicides on a daily basis. His literal JOB is based on him being smart, putting together clues, talking to people and understanding human behavior. It's not often that a character is so dumb it can't be explained in any plausible way. He spends WEEKS avoiding topics regarding vampirism, relationship with Sin, avoiding conversation about his own CASE.
🌒 Royce is definitely not a boyfriend material. He has so many insecurities he needs serious therapy and an adult partner who will call on his bullshit. Actually, I feel like my whole review should be about him, he made me DNF the book.
🌒 The (possible) kidnapping criminal part of the story was done very poorly. It didn't fit with the romantic parts, nor did with the vampiric side of the story. I guess one of the main reasons why it felt flat was Royce (yes, I'm back to ranting about him) being stupid. The moments when it progressed seemed always out of place, utterly random and confusing at best, put between one insecure thought of Royce and another.
I am really disappointed and sad, it was so promising in the beginning.
I received an ARC of this book from the author, and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.
May 2, 2024
4 *Greedy Little Monster* Stars
Every time we kissed, I felt his fangs brush my skin. Every time we kissed, I longed to feel them deeper.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I absolutely ADORED Sinclair and his Emo Hipster Twink-y self! I loved that he was an old soul and just so swoony sweet. He is a totally different take on any other vampire I've ever read and I was 100% here for it.
From the very first scene, these two were fire. The chemistry. The flirting. The banter. They were the perfect counterpart for each other. There were so many cute moments and special glances, that you couldn't help but fall for them. I was immediately drawn in and felt everything that they felt throughout the book.
I really enjoyed Ms. Strange's writing too. There was a nice balance of story and spice with a bit of mystery thrown in. The characters also had a lot of depth and I found myself immersed in their story. My only criticisms would be that there was a bit of a loll in the third quarter of the book (which is due to a storyline that I didn't think really worked with a vampire character) and some of the transitions between storylines were a bit off at times.
Aside from those couple minor things, this book started off strong and finished off strong. If you're looking for a paranormal story with a non-traditional vampire, I can't recommend this enough. I want to design floral bouquets with Sinclair in his flower shoppe.
Notes: Little Golden-Mantled Flying Fox
Nicknames/Endearments: Sin, Baby, Sweetheart, Darling, Beloved, My Royce
I had truly hit rock bottom: ID'ing some hot twink to figure out how gross it would be if I clumsily flirted with him.
"Your undead hipster boy-toy likes this place, doesn't he?"
Every time we kissed, I felt his fangs brush my skin. Every time we kissed, I longed to feel them deeper.
"Never is a long time," said Sinclair softly.
"Longer for you," I said.
The two halves of him, the hunter and the lover, warred behind his eyes. Being wanted, equally, by both of those halves, was a heady thing.
"Jesus, this bed looks like a fucking crime scene." He was right of course: blood, sweat, and cum had made a truly horrific mess, but it was a horrific mess in which I wanted to live, possibly forever. Our mess.
"Holy shit, did you drink a whole pint?"
"How the hell should I know? I didn't decant it into a measuring glass first."
Sin yelped, and I smoothed the bite with my tongue, two tiny pricks of blood appearing amid the smattering of freckles.
Every time we kissed, I felt his fangs brush my skin. Every time we kissed, I longed to feel them deeper.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I absolutely ADORED Sinclair and his Emo Hipster Twink-y self! I loved that he was an old soul and just so swoony sweet. He is a totally different take on any other vampire I've ever read and I was 100% here for it.
From the very first scene, these two were fire. The chemistry. The flirting. The banter. They were the perfect counterpart for each other. There were so many cute moments and special glances, that you couldn't help but fall for them. I was immediately drawn in and felt everything that they felt throughout the book.
I really enjoyed Ms. Strange's writing too. There was a nice balance of story and spice with a bit of mystery thrown in. The characters also had a lot of depth and I found myself immersed in their story. My only criticisms would be that there was a bit of a loll in the third quarter of the book (which is due to a storyline that I didn't think really worked with a vampire character) and some of the transitions between storylines were a bit off at times.
Aside from those couple minor things, this book started off strong and finished off strong. If you're looking for a paranormal story with a non-traditional vampire, I can't recommend this enough. I want to design floral bouquets with Sinclair in his flower shoppe.
Notes: Little Golden-Mantled Flying Fox
Nicknames/Endearments: Sin, Baby, Sweetheart, Darling, Beloved, My Royce
I had truly hit rock bottom: ID'ing some hot twink to figure out how gross it would be if I clumsily flirted with him.
"Your undead hipster boy-toy likes this place, doesn't he?"
Every time we kissed, I felt his fangs brush my skin. Every time we kissed, I longed to feel them deeper.
"Never is a long time," said Sinclair softly.
"Longer for you," I said.
The two halves of him, the hunter and the lover, warred behind his eyes. Being wanted, equally, by both of those halves, was a heady thing.
"Jesus, this bed looks like a fucking crime scene." He was right of course: blood, sweat, and cum had made a truly horrific mess, but it was a horrific mess in which I wanted to live, possibly forever. Our mess.
"Holy shit, did you drink a whole pint?"
"How the hell should I know? I didn't decant it into a measuring glass first."
Sin yelped, and I smoothed the bite with my tongue, two tiny pricks of blood appearing amid the smattering of freckles.
January 27, 2023
There’s a lot to like about this story— the plot is immersive (it helps, for world building and some character exposition, to have read the previous book in the series, but I think it could easily stand alone). Mystery, intrigue, supernatural secrets, plenty of peril and countless lives at stake– all these things, plus a vampire/human romance.
Sinclair (Sin) is awesome— sweet (a tiny bit stalkerish, but in a completely well-behaved way, and yes, I know that shouldn’t work but it does) kind, smart as heck and doing the best he can as a vampire who didn’t ask for his undead existence and hasn’t exactly had the easiest time trying to make a place for himself in it. Plus, I defy anyone not to find his knowledge of floriography and ideas about courtship absolutely charming. Royce, the human detective grappling with the supernatural world (and its attendant criminal elements) definitely has his good points too— he’s got moral fiber and good intentions for days, for example.
I did, on more than one occasion, however, find Royce’s ability to make everything about himself deeply frustrating. Super jealous about the fact that your vampire boyfriend needs to drink blood (from other people) to live? Enthusiastically encourage said boyfriend to drastically change his physiology and entire mode of existence, rather than dealing with your own insecurity. Be forced, again with said boyfriend, into a crazy dangerous situation, then assume the absolute worst about the fallout even knowing your boyfriend’s own complicated history and the many challenges he’d face? Yup, Royce will do that too (technically, he’ll do that more than once). And may I just say, on that front, yuck.
So I’m never going to be fully team Royce, but hey, he and Sinclair have super hot chemistry, and when he’s not being his own worst enemy he has plenty of thoughtful, sweet, and caring moments that make him into the kind of partner Sin deserves. Overall, I’m happy to see the mystery resolved, justice (sorta) served, and a happily-ever-after achieved. 4.5 stars out of 5.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Sinclair (Sin) is awesome— sweet (a tiny bit stalkerish, but in a completely well-behaved way, and yes, I know that shouldn’t work but it does) kind, smart as heck and doing the best he can as a vampire who didn’t ask for his undead existence and hasn’t exactly had the easiest time trying to make a place for himself in it. Plus, I defy anyone not to find his knowledge of floriography and ideas about courtship absolutely charming. Royce, the human detective grappling with the supernatural world (and its attendant criminal elements) definitely has his good points too— he’s got moral fiber and good intentions for days, for example.
I did, on more than one occasion, however, find Royce’s ability to make everything about himself deeply frustrating. Super jealous about the fact that your vampire boyfriend needs to drink blood (from other people) to live? Enthusiastically encourage said boyfriend to drastically change his physiology and entire mode of existence, rather than dealing with your own insecurity. Be forced, again with said boyfriend, into a crazy dangerous situation, then assume the absolute worst about the fallout even knowing your boyfriend’s own complicated history and the many challenges he’d face? Yup, Royce will do that too (technically, he’ll do that more than once). And may I just say, on that front, yuck.
So I’m never going to be fully team Royce, but hey, he and Sinclair have super hot chemistry, and when he’s not being his own worst enemy he has plenty of thoughtful, sweet, and caring moments that make him into the kind of partner Sin deserves. Overall, I’m happy to see the mystery resolved, justice (sorta) served, and a happily-ever-after achieved. 4.5 stars out of 5.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
February 26, 2023
Sinclair is a total cinnamon roll. He’s sweet, vulnerable, kind, earnest, just the right amount of sassy, and somehow still incredibly relatable, despite being a vampire. By the end of the book, I really needed him to have a happy ending.
One thing to note is that this is definitely a sunshine/grumpy romance, but it’s also a very steamy book. The characters get it on early and often and they even explore some light kink play with each other. I thought this was well done and fun to read, but it’s, erm…athletic…enough that I was wondering if Royce had renter’s insurance at one point. Anyway. Yes, it’s a spicy book.
And then there’s Royce, Sinclair’s love interest. I will say that I really liked him at first. His reaction to finding out that Sinclair was a vampire was hilarious and utterly believable. He’s a very well-drawn character and, in many ways, he really is a good match for Sinclair. I enjoyed the fact that he’s a detective and I LOVED his partner, Priya. She was the amazing no-nonsense friend we all need in our lives, and I hope good things happen to her later in the series, even if it’s “off-page.”
However, the whole business with Sinclair’s feeding habits came across as not good on an emotional level. Royce eventually learns his lesson, he grows as a person, and they get through it together. Plus, he lays it all out on the line for Sinclair at the end, so there’s that. And, to be 100% fair, he might be one of the more authentic love interests out there, in the sense that he had some unhealthy issues to unpack and work through in order to be worthy of someone like Sinclair. So, he’s forgiven (mostly), but only if he keeps treating Sinclair well (I’ve got my eye on you, Royce—don’t screw this up).
Overall, this was a delight to read, and I fully recommend this book if you enjoy (very) steamy male-male paranormal romances between a cinnamon roll (sunshine) vampire and the grumpy human detective he falls in love with. But honestly, if nothing else, just go and read this book for Sinclair—he’s everything we all needed in a vampire protagonist, even if we didn’t know it. You can thank me later.
One thing to note is that this is definitely a sunshine/grumpy romance, but it’s also a very steamy book. The characters get it on early and often and they even explore some light kink play with each other. I thought this was well done and fun to read, but it’s, erm…athletic…enough that I was wondering if Royce had renter’s insurance at one point. Anyway. Yes, it’s a spicy book.
And then there’s Royce, Sinclair’s love interest. I will say that I really liked him at first. His reaction to finding out that Sinclair was a vampire was hilarious and utterly believable. He’s a very well-drawn character and, in many ways, he really is a good match for Sinclair. I enjoyed the fact that he’s a detective and I LOVED his partner, Priya. She was the amazing no-nonsense friend we all need in our lives, and I hope good things happen to her later in the series, even if it’s “off-page.”
However, the whole business with Sinclair’s feeding habits came across as not good on an emotional level. Royce eventually learns his lesson, he grows as a person, and they get through it together. Plus, he lays it all out on the line for Sinclair at the end, so there’s that. And, to be 100% fair, he might be one of the more authentic love interests out there, in the sense that he had some unhealthy issues to unpack and work through in order to be worthy of someone like Sinclair. So, he’s forgiven (mostly), but only if he keeps treating Sinclair well (I’ve got my eye on you, Royce—don’t screw this up).
Overall, this was a delight to read, and I fully recommend this book if you enjoy (very) steamy male-male paranormal romances between a cinnamon roll (sunshine) vampire and the grumpy human detective he falls in love with. But honestly, if nothing else, just go and read this book for Sinclair—he’s everything we all needed in a vampire protagonist, even if we didn’t know it. You can thank me later.
February 22, 2023
✰ 4 stars ✰
“Well, you’ve never been with someone like me
before.”
“That is the understatement of the fucking century.”
Will there come a day when I don't jump right into the middle of the series without starting from the beginning? Yes, but today is not that time when reading Dress the Neck Becomingly. It is a part of series, but can definitely be read as a stand-alone. Sexy vampires are my weakness and I went in hoping for a good ole bloody sexy read. Throw in some very creative dialogue, interesting enough side characters and a somewhat original plot, I'm happy to say I had a good time with this one.
One night after breaking up with his boyfriend, Royce Davis, a low-esteemed, grumpy but well-meaning detective catches the eyes of the beautiful and alluring Sinclair, an immortal feisty vampire with the intense desire to claim Royce as his own. What follows is their strange yet charming courtship while being caught up in a missing persons case that might also have the hands in the paranormal world in which Sinclair is a part of.
I had a good time with this one. I felt like I was reading a supernatural detective story set in the noir era. Royce and Sinclair's relationship was fun to watch unfold. From Royce's first intentions to feign interest in Sinclair, to Sinclair attempting to woo him - and the sex scenes were intensely hot! Especially their final scene towards the end of the book - like that was...the blood kink was evident with this one, haha! 🔥🔥
Sinclair definitely was the real MVP sweetheart here. Call him old-fashioned, call him immortal, but he also was a precious adorable cinnamon roll, even in his bat form - he was so very kind, but with a healthy kinky playful side to him, that shone with his witty quips and hilarious retorts. 🧛🧛 He really shined in those spells where he showed how much Royce meant to him, even much so that he would give up his blood intake for them to be together.
There was also a fair amount of world-building and a relevant enough mystery that involved both parties to handle without seeming like it was forced. It makes me curious enough to check out the first part to the series to see if it can draw me in as much as this one did. I also appreciated that the writing wasn't at all jarringly uneven or choppy at any points. The spicy moments especially were so visceral, you could feel and sense their passionate bond through the pages! That definitely earned points for me!
There were a few questions that were left unanswered, like the true identity behind Sinclair's Sire. Still it was a satisfying read with a happy ending that left me with a smile on my face. Time well spent, I would say. 😊😊
“Well, you’ve never been with someone like me
before.”
“That is the understatement of the fucking century.”
Will there come a day when I don't jump right into the middle of the series without starting from the beginning? Yes, but today is not that time when reading Dress the Neck Becomingly. It is a part of series, but can definitely be read as a stand-alone. Sexy vampires are my weakness and I went in hoping for a good ole bloody sexy read. Throw in some very creative dialogue, interesting enough side characters and a somewhat original plot, I'm happy to say I had a good time with this one.
One night after breaking up with his boyfriend, Royce Davis, a low-esteemed, grumpy but well-meaning detective catches the eyes of the beautiful and alluring Sinclair, an immortal feisty vampire with the intense desire to claim Royce as his own. What follows is their strange yet charming courtship while being caught up in a missing persons case that might also have the hands in the paranormal world in which Sinclair is a part of.
I had a good time with this one. I felt like I was reading a supernatural detective story set in the noir era. Royce and Sinclair's relationship was fun to watch unfold. From Royce's first intentions to feign interest in Sinclair, to Sinclair attempting to woo him - and the sex scenes were intensely hot! Especially their final scene towards the end of the book - like that was...the blood kink was evident with this one, haha! 🔥🔥
Sinclair definitely was the real MVP sweetheart here. Call him old-fashioned, call him immortal, but he also was a precious adorable cinnamon roll, even in his bat form - he was so very kind, but with a healthy kinky playful side to him, that shone with his witty quips and hilarious retorts. 🧛🧛 He really shined in those spells where he showed how much Royce meant to him, even much so that he would give up his blood intake for them to be together.
There was also a fair amount of world-building and a relevant enough mystery that involved both parties to handle without seeming like it was forced. It makes me curious enough to check out the first part to the series to see if it can draw me in as much as this one did. I also appreciated that the writing wasn't at all jarringly uneven or choppy at any points. The spicy moments especially were so visceral, you could feel and sense their passionate bond through the pages! That definitely earned points for me!
There were a few questions that were left unanswered, like the true identity behind Sinclair's Sire. Still it was a satisfying read with a happy ending that left me with a smile on my face. Time well spent, I would say. 😊😊
March 26, 2023
First things first. THIS COVER.
To be completely honest the sole reason I picked this book up was because of its gorgeous cover. I figured if it’s that good on the outside the inside must be pretty good too. And I was not disappointed. The inside is just as good.
Dress the Neck Becomingly is an MM paranormal vampire contemporary romance and the second standalone in the Sanguis Et Fauna series. This book follows Detective Royce Davis and Sinclair the vampire as they solve a mystery, get kinky, and realize they both might be “mad as a wax banana.”
Sinclair was an absolute treat to read. He’s quirky and snappy and I loved the mix of modernism and old fashioned traits in his character. He’s evolved with the times over his hundred plus years, wearing converse and skinny jeans, yet refers to emojis as pictographs and struts around in a lace and silk bathrobe. It was fun to read about a vampire who wasn’t dripping with depression but eccentrically enjoying being undead. His relationship with Royce was a little insta-lovey but I found their obsession with each other to be believable actually. I mean if I found an obsessed freckled goth twink vampire in a club who made me 💥 four times in one night I’d also envision our forever.
I will say, the second half wasn’t as strong as the first, but not so much that I still didn’t have a really good time. I love the softness with which Emmaline writes her characters. They’re just so easy to love. And the medium angst mystery solving adds a fun aspect to this series. Overall a really fun read and I’m hoping for more installments in this series!
To be completely honest the sole reason I picked this book up was because of its gorgeous cover. I figured if it’s that good on the outside the inside must be pretty good too. And I was not disappointed. The inside is just as good.
Dress the Neck Becomingly is an MM paranormal vampire contemporary romance and the second standalone in the Sanguis Et Fauna series. This book follows Detective Royce Davis and Sinclair the vampire as they solve a mystery, get kinky, and realize they both might be “mad as a wax banana.”
Sinclair was an absolute treat to read. He’s quirky and snappy and I loved the mix of modernism and old fashioned traits in his character. He’s evolved with the times over his hundred plus years, wearing converse and skinny jeans, yet refers to emojis as pictographs and struts around in a lace and silk bathrobe. It was fun to read about a vampire who wasn’t dripping with depression but eccentrically enjoying being undead. His relationship with Royce was a little insta-lovey but I found their obsession with each other to be believable actually. I mean if I found an obsessed freckled goth twink vampire in a club who made me 💥 four times in one night I’d also envision our forever.
I will say, the second half wasn’t as strong as the first, but not so much that I still didn’t have a really good time. I love the softness with which Emmaline writes her characters. They’re just so easy to love. And the medium angst mystery solving adds a fun aspect to this series. Overall a really fun read and I’m hoping for more installments in this series!
June 26, 2023
I realized something very, very odd. All of his clothes were still here. What in the actual fuck? Had he been so full of morning-after regret he had to do the walk of shame totally bare-assed?
——————
Now that Royce knew my intent, I figured he would be ready for us to take the next step to progress our courtship. However, he still refused to call me. Oh, Royce! He had me so twisted in knots I didn’t know which way was up. I continued to send him flowers from my shop, all while waiting by the phone, watching over him at night, and finding new criminals to deposit on his doorstep.
——————
Sinclair had beautiful handwriting, almost like calligraphy—though the effect was somewhat spoiled by his inclusion of another pornographic sketch at the bottom of the paper.
——————
June 2023. I’ve read two novels on Kindle Unlimited by Emmaline Strange recently, both are urban paranormal gay romances with a mystery at the center (world has shifters and vampires most humans don’t know about).
I liked them but they both had some pacing issues. The author struggles to balance the mystery element with the romance element effectively and it effects the flow and tone of the story at times. The second one, “Dress the Neck Becomingly,” especially has some weird choices and pacing problems in the second half and is much weaker than the first half. I’d been on-track to give 4 or 5 stars based on the first half of the novel but it really didn’t maintain the mood, pace, and quality later on unfortunately.
The relationships are sweet, there’s lots of humor, the world-building is good, the main characters are likable, steamy scenes are well-done. I’d definitely read more by the author if I can get it from Kindle Unlimited or the library.
They work as standalones but there are return characters so reading in order is preferable.
“Dress the Neck Becomingly” by Emmaline Strange. Book 2 in the series “Sanguis et Fauna.”
——————
Now that Royce knew my intent, I figured he would be ready for us to take the next step to progress our courtship. However, he still refused to call me. Oh, Royce! He had me so twisted in knots I didn’t know which way was up. I continued to send him flowers from my shop, all while waiting by the phone, watching over him at night, and finding new criminals to deposit on his doorstep.
——————
Sinclair had beautiful handwriting, almost like calligraphy—though the effect was somewhat spoiled by his inclusion of another pornographic sketch at the bottom of the paper.
——————
June 2023. I’ve read two novels on Kindle Unlimited by Emmaline Strange recently, both are urban paranormal gay romances with a mystery at the center (world has shifters and vampires most humans don’t know about).
I liked them but they both had some pacing issues. The author struggles to balance the mystery element with the romance element effectively and it effects the flow and tone of the story at times. The second one, “Dress the Neck Becomingly,” especially has some weird choices and pacing problems in the second half and is much weaker than the first half. I’d been on-track to give 4 or 5 stars based on the first half of the novel but it really didn’t maintain the mood, pace, and quality later on unfortunately.
The relationships are sweet, there’s lots of humor, the world-building is good, the main characters are likable, steamy scenes are well-done. I’d definitely read more by the author if I can get it from Kindle Unlimited or the library.
They work as standalones but there are return characters so reading in order is preferable.
“Dress the Neck Becomingly” by Emmaline Strange. Book 2 in the series “Sanguis et Fauna.”
January 28, 2023
This is an ARC review. I received a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
Another beautiful story by the author. I was enchanted by Mughty Quill and am so happy to have had the chance to read the second book in this world early. It did not disappoint. I loved the cameo by Thor and Cassian too, linking the two stories just enough without relying on the first book to bring this one to life.
Our characters are delightful Sinclair is both old and wise but also youthful and gives off an innocence which the spice proves is anything but true. His strength of character comes through from the retelling of his history and the lengths he will go to for the love of his life. Royce is the solid detective we meet in Mighty Quill that stumbles onto the supernatural world. Rather than being horrified or trying to run from it he fully embraces it and the relationship between our two main characters blossoms. Although not without a few bumps along the way.
The core of this book as with the first is a mystery. There are crimes afoot. A dastardly villain (or are they) to uncover and stop. The supernatural element becomes an accent to a really good detective book.
Gorgeous book. So well written. Deserving of its stars.
Another beautiful story by the author. I was enchanted by Mughty Quill and am so happy to have had the chance to read the second book in this world early. It did not disappoint. I loved the cameo by Thor and Cassian too, linking the two stories just enough without relying on the first book to bring this one to life.
Our characters are delightful Sinclair is both old and wise but also youthful and gives off an innocence which the spice proves is anything but true. His strength of character comes through from the retelling of his history and the lengths he will go to for the love of his life. Royce is the solid detective we meet in Mighty Quill that stumbles onto the supernatural world. Rather than being horrified or trying to run from it he fully embraces it and the relationship between our two main characters blossoms. Although not without a few bumps along the way.
The core of this book as with the first is a mystery. There are crimes afoot. A dastardly villain (or are they) to uncover and stop. The supernatural element becomes an accent to a really good detective book.
Gorgeous book. So well written. Deserving of its stars.
January 29, 2023
***ARC received in exchange for honest review***
4.5 stars.
I've been a fan of Emmaline Strange's work since Crown of Aster and this was just as fun a read for me. These characters are instantly likable and I (like many others) adored Sinclair. I really enjoyed the dual POV and how the characters mannerisms bled into their respective POVs (Sinclair's lingo was fun and had me smiling throughout).
Now anyone who knows me at all knows I love vampire books and I believe this is a great addition to that genre, especially within ES's larger shifter universe. I'm definitely not the only one who very much enjoyed having the bat shifting brought back to vampirism (I've missed some bat boys)!
I know this is technically a standalone but felt that the experience was much better for me having read Mighty Quill than if I hadn't. So if you're thinking of picking this up (which I verily recommend) then I'd suggest giving that one a read as well. Some character crossovers were a delight for me and didn't realize how much I'd enjoy catching up with them again.
I definitely feel that this whole universe could expand with more interwoven yet lone standing novels. There are many opportunities here and I'll definitely be along for the ride!
4.5 stars.
I've been a fan of Emmaline Strange's work since Crown of Aster and this was just as fun a read for me. These characters are instantly likable and I (like many others) adored Sinclair. I really enjoyed the dual POV and how the characters mannerisms bled into their respective POVs (Sinclair's lingo was fun and had me smiling throughout).
Now anyone who knows me at all knows I love vampire books and I believe this is a great addition to that genre, especially within ES's larger shifter universe. I'm definitely not the only one who very much enjoyed having the bat shifting brought back to vampirism (I've missed some bat boys)!
I know this is technically a standalone but felt that the experience was much better for me having read Mighty Quill than if I hadn't. So if you're thinking of picking this up (which I verily recommend) then I'd suggest giving that one a read as well. Some character crossovers were a delight for me and didn't realize how much I'd enjoy catching up with them again.
I definitely feel that this whole universe could expand with more interwoven yet lone standing novels. There are many opportunities here and I'll definitely be along for the ride!
February 8, 2023
Sinclair is absolutely precious! Unbelievably and undeniably precious! He’s just beyond and I don’t think I’ve read a character quite like his before. Each chapter from his POV is pure gold and he has some of the best lines. I will from now until perpetuity refer to emojis as pictographs.
This is the second book in the Sanguis Et Fauna series. Characters from the previous book do make an appearance and there is mention of events but I think this can be a standalone as it focuses on Sinclair and Royce.
This book was a complete delight in so many ways. I adore funny paranormal romances and this was such a wonderful combo of funny and sweet with a dash of mystery and drama. To balance the adorableness of Sinclair, Royce has a dash of grumpiness to him but there is a total sweet and romantic side to him. He’s the perfect compliment to Sinclair.
The other characters are equally amazing and add to the story. Enjoyed seeing Thor and Cassian again and Priya is the no nonsense, skeptical yet always supportive friend we all need. If this ever became an audiobook, I would download it in a heartbeat just to hear Sinclair! I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and fair review.
This is the second book in the Sanguis Et Fauna series. Characters from the previous book do make an appearance and there is mention of events but I think this can be a standalone as it focuses on Sinclair and Royce.
This book was a complete delight in so many ways. I adore funny paranormal romances and this was such a wonderful combo of funny and sweet with a dash of mystery and drama. To balance the adorableness of Sinclair, Royce has a dash of grumpiness to him but there is a total sweet and romantic side to him. He’s the perfect compliment to Sinclair.
The other characters are equally amazing and add to the story. Enjoyed seeing Thor and Cassian again and Priya is the no nonsense, skeptical yet always supportive friend we all need. If this ever became an audiobook, I would download it in a heartbeat just to hear Sinclair! I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and fair review.
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