Assessment:
Plot: This enjoyable and steamy paranormal romance does a great job hitting all the beats of a fun, attention-grabbing adventure. The sexual tension between the leads, the vampire mythology, and the conflicts affecting the main and secondary characters are believable, well-plotted, and intriguing. The scenes move swiftly and the book could benefit from some length, but is definitely a credit to the genre.
Prose/Style: Thorne does a great job writing quippy, realistic dialogue, especially the romantic banter between the hero and heroine and the dialogue between the members of the main cast. The action scenes are fast-paced, ratcheting up the tension and conflicts to keep the story moving at a swift but believable pace. The sex scenes are provocative without feeling cliche or gratuitous. At times, the paranormal mythology can get a bit overcrowded with characters, but the overall arc is an impressive reimagining of popular tropes of the genre.
Originality: The second installment in Thorne's series is a sexy, inventive addition to the paranormal romance genre. This fun, steamy novel keeps readers on the edge of their seats--and rooting for the hero and heroine--from start to finish.
Character Development/Execution: The hero and heroine are both complex, fully developed characters who have terrific chemistry, both emotionally and physically. The secondary characters, even ones who appear briefly, are distinct and engaging. One particular highlight is the main villain, who is well-developed and doesn't veer into caricature.
Date Submitted: June 11, 2021
