Vampires are the spawn of the devil. Evil to the core... or so I thought, until one of them saves my life.
As a member of the House of Rose, a division of the Vampire Hunter Society, I've got one of the highest kill records on file. I track my mark and don't stop until the job is done.
That is, until my mark saves my life. Luka Drake isn't like the vampires I've been hunting for the past five years, and despite the fact that he's a vampire prince fresh out of Magic City Prison for committing God knows what crime, I can't kill him.
My only other option is to walk away and pretend our paths never crossed. I'm about to pull it off but Luka pulls me back, and in the worst way possible, in a way that changes everything.
This is a full-length slow burn paranormal romance for readers that love Jaymin Eve, Linsey Hall and K.F. Breene.
Leia Stone is the USA Today bestselling author of multiple bestselling series including Matefinder and Wolf Girl. She's sold over two million books and her Fallen Academy series has been optioned for film. Her novels have been translated into five languages and she even dabbles in script writing. Leia writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance with sassy kick-butt heroines and irresistible love interests. She lives in Spokane, WA with her husband and two children.
This reads very young. Which surprised me since the heroine is 19 years old. The religious zealotry coming from everyone around the heroine was something I disliked very, very, very much. She's in a cult and hasn't realized it yet. She only knows how to repeat their doctrine over and over again in her internal monologue without prompting. Had I known that was going to be a big part of this novel I wouldn't have picked this book up. It's too bad too because the covers this series has so far are so dang pretty.
Whew, what a read this book was! Absolutely loved everything about this story...and I hate to say it, but I think this one even topped how I felt about the Wolf Girl series! And we all know how I loved Demi and Sawyers' story. But there was just something else about this one and I was pulled in even faster. I was just so curious about the hunter societies...and can I just say all my instincts were on point. Which had me all like...
But now putting that out there, it makes me look a little crazy, since not all the things I knew were, "Yes! I knew it!" excited moments, but whatevs 🤷🏻♀️...what can I say, I just like being right lol.
Oops, okay, I totally just dived right into the review like a crazy person, which I suppose we've already established. This is a true, me style, welcome back into my crazy rambles, right? I haven't posted one in like for-n-ever. I think, I found some grey hairs in that time...lol just joking, my hair just needs to be re-dyed. 😜
Okay, let me first introduce the book before we go any further. This story, The Dark Bite, is the first book, in a new series, BUT not in a new world. This new series is set in the same world as Wolf Girl and eeek we get to re-meet some old fav characters!! And I was totally there for it. But this story is Luka and Aspen's and man did I love it. It had it all. And certainly knows how to jump right in. Honestly, the reading pace of this book is
But then at that ending, Leia, totally pulled out the sassy-weird me and, yeah, let's just say I was about ready to slap me a someone. You'll probably want to too, so don't judge my slap-happy self lol.
But let me tell you a bit about this story...Aspen, is part of a Society that outs the evil in the world...and she takes her job very seriously. Her Society, House of Rose, specialises in killing the vampires. And our Aspen is extremely good at her job, with one of the highest killing rates. But things get thrown up in the air, when her newest mark (yep you guessed it, eek LUKA!!!!!! 😍) actually saves her, instead of leaving her for dead.
Aspen's life and beliefs about Vampires and the paranormal world are about to be spun out from underneath her so fast. This Luka Drake is nothing like an evil monster should be...instead he's caring, kind and has a light inside him, definitely not evil to the core... So when she finds herself tied to him, she begins questioning everything she knew and learnt growing up...and that it all might've just been a lie. So bring on the push and pull of emotions, that this book will bring you. This is always something I really love seeing in books. When the main character starts seeing the whole world around them and starts exploring it for themselves. They break through the frosted glass and see it for what it truly is...and you get to watch as they find their new footing in that world. This is exactly what this book offers and I loved every moment of it.
I don't want to say too much about this story plot because so much unravels in this first one...and I cannot wait to see where Leia is going to take it. I'm just loving these characters and seeing their development even in this short time...Leia really has a special talent for connecting us to her characters and making us feel it all...and man, can I tell you that ending...had me gutted and my heart breaking. You really just felt whatever Aspen was going through and I was like dude hell no!
But because a ramble isn't complete without a teaser...I'll even make it a longer one than usual. 😉 You can thank me later or now lol. Whatever suits you haha.
Luka’s presence filled me up, enmeshing with the very core of me. It was like I’d gained a window into his soul. I felt him in a way I’d never felt anyone before. There was so much light in him, so much love and kindness, but also … a hidden darkness—a scared little boy who had been through unspeakable things.... ‘I see you, Aspen Rose.’His voice was like a balm to a wound that had been festering inside of me for weeks. I felt him probing at the edges of my mind, my soul, my heart. It was hard to explain, but whatever this was … it was magic. Whether it was good or bad, I didn’t know, but I did know that it had tied me to Luka forever in a way that I wasn’t sure I really would ever understand.
All I can say is if you loved Wolf Girl and devoured that, you are really going to need to make sure you grab yourself a copy of this one. You need it in your life. I'm not even kidding. You can find it HERE ---> The Dark Bite. (If you haven't read Wolf Girl, it's probably not 100% necessary but personally, I'd recommend that you did). Whatever you do, just make sure you are ready for its release on the 29th August!
Once again Leia has done it again and I'm hooked like a crazy person. I just needs more and more dang it. Why you do me like this? I don't even know how long I have to wail in my misery, waiting on the next one. Is it out now??? Pleeeeeeeaaaasssseeeee. I'm desperate to know everything!
If you are into all things urban fantasy, paranormal romance and slow-burn romance, this book is the one for you...and you gotto do yourself a favour and check it out. You won't regret it. Trust me...I'm a book nerd. I'd never lead you astray. 😀 Hit me up once you've read and let me know your own thoughts...or let me know below what you are looking forward to most in this new book.
Thank you, Leia, as always, for yet another awesome journey. I truly needed this story and escape in my life and can't wait to see more. 💖
Most of my followers will probably know this by now, but I'm an ARC reader for Leia...and received this book in place of an honest ramble...and I'm here to keep my blog real and honest, so here you have it...I hope you enjoyed being just a little bit inside my head, it's a weird and all over the place, place to be...be glad you aren't stuck there permanently lol.
Keep your eyes posted because there will be another ARC review popping up soon, one from the amazing and lovely ladies, Jaymin & Everly. Eek can't wait to delve into Demon Pack next, I've been dying to lose myself in this one.
Anywho, that's all I have for today. I hope everyone is doing well and life is going as okay as it can be. I'd love to hear from you guys, so if you want to reach out leave a message below or connect with me on my blog (Read Ramble Repeat). If you are new to my page and like what you see don't forget to follow so you don't miss anything. I'm going to try and be more active but things are a bit up in the air, at the moment, but I'll be around.
Cheerio, until we talk again. In the words of my nephew, Jappy...seeya lata alligata.
World build: Unusual take on Hunters and I loved it! Each faction was generously described to perfection. The foundation of hierarchy is very clear and concise. Stone does an outstanding job creating this world.
Storyline: Riveting, and shocking are two of the best words to describe this. The romance is not quite there but the twists and turns make up for this. There were a couple of gasps and chuckles that left this readers mouth and I am grateful for Stone's exciting writing.
FMC: No weak FMC found here! Aspen is strong, intelligent and cunning. A major shock comes to light in the end and there is no doubt book 2 will have Aspen seeking her vengeance. This was certainly her book. Where we get to fully understand Aspen and her background. Stone does a wonderful job creating a connection between the reader and Aspen.
MC: There is not a lot we learn about Luka, but I feel this is done with intent. Sometimes I can feel an author just did not build a character. It is clear Stone is leading us with Luka and book 2 will be very revealing for this character.
Secondary characters: Loved them!! Liz is one of my favorites and I am hoping someone pops in and knocks her socks off soon.
The only thing I liked about the FMC was her name. I dislike zealots & she certainly qualified as one. She spent the entirety of the book unable to stick to a decision. Absurdly indecisive. She lacked common sense & was TSTL. I like Luka & his friends but it’s not enough to bring me back to the series. I don’t recommend this book.
I admit that the paranormal romance YA is a guilty pleasure for me but Leia stone does it well.
All my favorite tropes from enemies to lovers and found family are in this book. The pacing is fast - almost too fast but sometimes that is what you need when you are in a reading slump.
the summary the spinoff series from wolf girl (so if you are confused with the names, go head to my profile to check out the wolf girl series reviews! kinda sad to see how her life was shattered the rating 5/5 Like and comment <3 Find me on: Instagram: @chevreads Wattpad: @writerthursday Pinterest: @thursdayfrappe Youtube: @chevreads P.S. Add me as a friend :) I like to read romance novels and mystery stories
Stone is like a fine wine – she just keeps getting better with the more she writes. Although the “world” for this book has already been established with the completed series Wolf Girl, we’re given a bigger glimpse into the human part of that world, and who knew it would be more exciting than Wolf City?!? I do recommend that you start with the Wolf Girl series before starting this one. You’ll just get more out of it since you get a glimpse into Luka’s backstory there. The main character, Aspen, is a young, naïve yet experienced vampire hunter who has her eyes completely opened when she gets a high profile assassination mission for the prince of vampires and things go pear shaped.
Stone never ceases to amaze me with the short amount of time it takes for her to completely hook me into her stories. Especially new a spin-off series. I really thought the Wolf Girl series was different and great, but it’s nothing compared to the Dark Bite series now. It’s like it was just the previews before a blockbuster. Vampires have always fascinated me, but Stone has upped the ante by giving us an enemies-to-lovers story featuring a vampire hunter who falls for her mark. This story really reminded me of my other new favorite new author, Everly Frost, with her Assassin’s Guild books. I had to tell myself several times that they are completely different worlds. Though I am slightly concerned with her ease in killing one of her secondary characters, I’m 100% hooked. The ending completely snuck up on me, like a true good book, and I canNOT wait to read what else Stone has up her sleeve.
The Dark Bite started out pretty fun! The writing was very easy to get into and I really enjoyed Aspen's perspective--it was engaging and funny and a little silly at times, but in a good way. The world-building surrounding the Houses was also really interesting to me, but I did find the religious aspect a tiny bit odd during some parts. The context surrounding that did make sense to me, though, even more so considering one of the big twists.
I did think the plot lost steam during the second half when the romance got more of a focus. I really enjoyed the bond element and how it came about--I'm usually very much here for antagonists being forced to spend time together and this delivered lol but I think the feelings between Aspen and Luka were a bit rushed considering their situation. The word "love" got thrown around early without them having spent much time together and that wasn't convincing to me.
The ending left me with so many questions! The twist at the end was something I loved and I honestly can't wait to see the consequences of that.
Want to love the story but the main character is too ridiculous to be enjoyable. How many times can one chick question the same thing or people? No one likes a flip flopper. The non-grey area she lives in is clearly from a head injury that ruined her reasoning ability. Luka may not be enough pull to return if this is the cow he's milking.
J’ai lu ce roman après des lectures intenses. J’avais besoin de quelque chose de plus léger et ça a parfaitement rempli sa fonction.
La trame est assez classique dans sa conception. Une héroïne qui pense se battre pour la bonne cause et qui au fur et à mesure découvre la vérité sur plusieurs aspects, assorti d’une relation avec un homme qui devrait être son ennemi. On a déjà vu ce concept dans le genre très souvent mais l’auteure de part son style arrive à nous faire oublier l’aspect classique.
J’ai bien aimé les interactions entre l’héroïne et son « ennemi », il y a du peps dans leurs échanges. Et surtout on évite la facilité avec une femme qui succombe trop vite.
L’intrigue est bien conçue et offre de multiples possibilités pour la suite.
Les personnages secondaires sont très vivants et ne font pas office de potiches.
En résumé un roman divertissant qui ne renouvelle pas le genre mais parvient à faire oublier sa trame déjà vue.
Lowkey didn't expect this to be good, this book somehow had the most well-thought-out vampire and supernatural plot I've read. Also, that slow burn and finding out your whole life had been a lie was *chef's kiss*
Funny moments: - “He’d been about to drain her,” I told Maz, thinking back to the way he’d fed on her, sucking at her neck as she… I shivered, remembering the human’s moan of pleasure. Disgusting. - “Hey, how are you?” I approached the couch with caution. One ice cream container was already empty and on the floor, and I was regretting my decision to take her with me tonight. Maybe she wasn’t ready to go back to hunting yet. She looked up at me and wiped at her eyes. “I’m good. I’ve decided to become a lesbian.” - That delayed healing, but he would be okay if he was able to feed. (yeah on you lol) - “We need to date normal guys. The society inflates their egos. We need like … engineers or bankers, or boring guys who think we are exciting,” Liv declared. - This guy was on death’s doorstep and he was commenting on my hair? - Me: Don’t leave your room. My boss thinks I killed you. Random Dude From Bar: Yes my lady. - I was falling for a vampire who was fighting to keep me alive so he could have dinner. - Why couldn’t I have bonded with a guy who had a pulse? - “What did you do to piss her off?” I mean, from what I’d heard it wasn’t that hard to accomplish. The queen was a complete psycho. His eyes darkened. “I was born.”
Fav smut moments: - Luka strained against my hold and I opened my thighs, wrapping my legs around his waist, and clenched. This bastard was going to get himself killed, and for what? To save a murdering, blood-draining asshole like Thorin? And no doubt give away my hiding spot in the process…? No way. - His eyes fell to my lips, then I felt him harden, his erection growing between us. I unclenched my legs and opened my mouth in shock, swallowing my gasp as a halfcocked grin swept across his face. Luka pulled himself away from me a few inches, giving us both some room to breathe. Was he … attracted to me? The thought was horrifying. I mean I had straddled him, but … he was a demon. Hell spawn. - Aspen, you are a stupid woman, I told myself as I dropped to my knees. You hunt these animals, not keep them alive! I raged at myself as I draped my hair across one shoulder, exposing my neck. You protect humans from being fed on like animals, you do not willingly give your blood. I leaned forward and pressed my neck to his lips. You… Pleasure exploded inside of me as two sharp pricks sliced into my neck. - Trust, adoration, life, vitality, love, bond, darkness, all of these words and feelings swirled around my head as pleasure pulsed through my body like a wave of heat. Tingly warmth spread between my legs, and I reached up and threaded my fingers through his hair, pushing him harder into my neck. I moaned at the same time he did, and his hand came around my back to trail my spine. - One second I was sitting on the bench and the next I was in his arms, legs dangling over the side of his as he tipped my jaw up and sank his teeth into my neck. There was no time for me to direct him to drink from my wrist, because this was already happening and holy hell it felt so good I didn’t want him to stop. A moan slipped from my lips as I reached out and grasped his bicep, letting my nails dig into the hard meat of his arm. He yanked my hair a little as he fisted it at the nape of my neck, and heat blossomed between my legs. - “Too far!” This time I reached up my hand to really let him have it, but he caught it midair, yanking me forward as I stumbled toward him, slamming my body flush up against his. “And a naive, devastatingly sexy woman with red hair is my kryptonite,” he huffed. - “It’s getting too obvious. We need to do it somewhere … more discreet.” A sly grin pulled at the corners of Luka’s lips. “I love how much humans blush. It tells me a lot.” Kill me now. - Stepping forward, he reached out and brushed a light finger over my inner thigh. “The femoral artery is a good one if … you wouldn’t be too uncomfortable with that option.” - “I’m awful at many things. Scrabble, drawing, eating with chopsticks. But kissing isn’t one of them,” I said, and his eyes went half-lidded. He was waiting, waiting for me. - “Come in. I hear your heartbeat,” Luka said, and I groaned. - “Aspen?” He looked up at me seductively and my throat went dry. “Hmm?” His gaze fell to my bare legs and my giant rose tattoo, and then slowly trailed their way back up my body. “If you want me to behave, then please stop wearing those tiny shorts around me.” - “Maybe I don’t want you to behave.” The words had barely left my lips before he sprang from his knees and placed a hand behind my back, pushing me gently onto the bed and lowering himself over me. - This kiss broke me and put me back together in the same moment.
Favourite quotes: - As a failsafe, I had stakes built into the heels of my stilettos, I only needed to uncap them. - Hah! He was asking consent to touch my hips? That was hilarious considering he’d drained a girl and killed her. - Dominus coercere. My hands froze. My Latin was impeccable. Those two words basically meant “master of compulsion.” - Sterling was my first love, first kiss, almost my first everything. I’d wanted more out of our semi-casual relationship and his answer was to break up with me and move to New York. (they probably didn't need to kill AND decapitate his head at the end tbh) - Vampiric imprinting, unlike werewolf imprinting, can only be done with a willing feeder and it is very rare. The vampires call it the Bonding. It is not a process one can control, but is thought to be born out of conditions with many factors. 1. The vampire and feeder must both be sexually attracted to each other. Frick. 2. The vampire must be near death. Double frick. 3. It must be the first time the vampire had fed from said feeder. - The feeder takes on the vampire’s symptoms of thirst until that vampire’s thirst is quenched. The symptoms are headaches, nausea, thirst, and rage. - Could this day get any worse? I didn’t want to tempt fate by asking. - I looked down, shocked to see a wooden stake had been driven into my abdomen from behind. (was hoping she'd need to be saved by being turned into a vampire but I suppose that plot device can be used later in the series) - Luka’s fingers gently probed my wound and I whimpered, my teeth chattering. “It doesn’t even hurt anymore,” I assured him. His jaw clenched. “That means you’re near death. Pain means you’re still alive.” With that sobering fact, everything blurred around me as he zoomed us out of the gala, and then the dizziness finally took me, and everything went black. - I reached behind my back and pulled out my pistol, brandishing it before him and pointing it right between his eyes. “Hi.” The dude’s eyebrows hit his hairline. “Damn. You must be Aspen.” I grinned, proud to have that sort of reputation around here. - I mean, if I was attacked and turned into a vampire, would I drink blood to survive? Probably, yeah … as long as it didn’t hurt anyone and they were willing. Would that make me a demon? A monster? - “Listen, Aspen, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you’re in a cult. They lie to you, make up profiles on the vamps you kill to assuage your guilt, and trick you into murdering them. Luka’s a good guy, an innocent guy, and you’re killing him.” - Izzy looked sideways at me as she closed the app and canceled the hit. “There are no families or chief of police that hire you. We do. Rival vampires, fey, witches, whoever. You’re hired assassins,” Izzy said blankly. - I’d noticed that the lowest bounty able to be paid was twenty thousand. But we only got five. That meant Maz was taking seventy-five percent. Bile rose in my throat as my body went into shock. Nothing was real. - “I … thought your faith … was kind of beautiful. I didn’t want to be … the one to make you…” His voice was so soft and weak, I had to lean in closer to hear him. “To make you hate God.” - The fact that there were no hunters at the House of Rose over the age of twenty-five—I’d assumed they all retired or died like Sterling said, but … what if they found out? What if they were silenced? - We watched on in horrified silence as Sterling clicked through each and every picture. They all used one of three photos. The redhead, the brunette female, and the blond male. All of them. All. Of. Them. - A wild idea, a huge idea. What if Liv, Sterling, Vasquez, and I started our own hunter house? One that only killed in self-defense, and one that protected. A bodyguard service for humans and supernatural. - Breeder: Marilee Rose. I frowned at the word breeder. My mother? Was that … my mother? Why would she be called a breeder…? When I got to the next line, my entire body stiffened. Genetics: 86% human, 14% Fey The air froze in my lungs as I stared at Sterling’s cursive note. Not human? - Aspen Rose, healthy female hunter baby. $10,000 It was a transaction receipt, signed by Maz herself. I was bought. Like property, like cattle, like a slave.
“Vampire Hunter Society” is book one in Leia Stone’s The Dark Bite series.
This series follows Aspen Rose a Vampire Hunter who was contracted to kill Luka Drake a Vampire Prince. If you have read the Wolf Girl series you will be familiar with Luka and a few other familiar characters. If not no need to worry as this can be read without having read them, but if I’m being honest I recommend reading the Wolf Girl series as the main storyline continues on and major key moments, characters and points will be missed. Plus it’s an excellent excuse to read more fantastic books by Ms Stone.
Get ready to have your heart strings pulled, this book is going to you on on emotional roller coaster, with lots of ups and downs. Be prepared to scream and shout at the characters whilst also cheering them on. Shocking revelations, lies, betrayal, and chemistry, sexy male and kicka$$ female what more could you ask for from an enjoyable read.
Aspen was naive and quite abrupt with her beliefs which will cause you to be frustrated and annoyed at times with her character, especially when she does a few despicable and cruel things to Luka. But when your very life is being questioned would you listen and believe what you have known your whole life or the sexy stranger? I feel that if a gorgeous man like Luka, Sawyer or Walsh showed up in my life telling me that Supernatural beings were real and wanted me to be apart of their world I would do anything and believe anything they said.
It was great to see some beloved characters and the going ons from Magic City. I am really excited for this series and can’t wait to see how things unfold for Aspen and Luka.
J'ai complètement craqué pour la couverture et le résumé de ce roman ! Une chasseuse de Vampire qui tombe amoureuse d'une des créatures qu'elle tue ? L'idée du roman m'avait totalement convaincu, j'avais super hâte de découvrir cette histoire et cette auteure par la même occasion !
Dans Vampire hunter society, on fait la rencontre d'Aspen, une excellente chasseuse de vampires qui a promis de protéger les humains de ces affreuses créatures de la nuit. Tout se passe très bien, cette jeune adulte de seulement 19 ans commence à se créer une bonne réputation parmi toutes les maisons de Chasseurs et elle est même sur le point de se faire récompenser pour son travail exemplaire.
Seulement voilà, lors d'une énième mission qu'on lui a attribuée, tout ne se passe pas comme prévu. Oui, elle a bien réussi à trouver sa cible, Luka, qui fait aussi partie de la famille royale, mais qui vient de s'évader de la prison de Magic City. Toutefois, elle n'avait pas prévu que celui-ci lui sauve la vie tout en étant conscient de sa véritable identité. Et encore moins qu'un lien étrange se crée entre eux, alors qu'elle cherchait juste à lui rendre la pareille, en le sauvant à son tour !
Quand Luka et Aspen vont découvrir en quoi consiste réellement ce lien, plus rien ne sera jamais plus comme avant dans leur vie à tous les deux…
Quand j'ai découvert en quoi consistait ce lien, j'ai d'abord trouvé ça très tiré par les cheveux, peu réaliste, mais je me suis par la suite, très rapidement prise au jeu !
J'ai trouvé la plume de l'auteure assez simple, mais ça n'enlève rien à la fluidité de la lecture. C'est un roman qui se lit rapidement tant c'est addictif et riche en rebondissements. Leia Stone nous offre une histoire haletante, dans un univers où il est facile de rentrer et une petite romance slow burn qui commence tout juste à se construire dans ce premier tome.
Les personnages de ce roman m'ont vraiment beaucoup plu ! À vouloir chercher des traîtres partout, j'ai eu du mal à m'attacher aux bonnes personnes, mais je dois reconnaître que je les trouve tous très bien construits. L'évolution d'Aspen quant au fait de tuer des vampires m'a aussi assez surprise. Et j'ai tout simplement adoré le début de romance qui a commencé à se construire ici !
Le plus gros point positif de ce roman selon moi, c'est vraiment toutes les réactions et les émotions qu'il est capable de nous transmettre ! À chaque rapprochement, on chauffe, à chaque révélation, on s'énerve, notre cerveau est en ébullition et on doute.
Puis, à chaque fois que je vois les liens solides qu'à réussi à créer Luka avec ses amis – même sa famille ! –, ça me met de bonne humeur et je souris :)
En résumé, nous avons là un premier tome très réussi ! On a des plots twists de malade, des personnages attachants et super bien construits, une histoire sombre derrière ces maisons de Chasseurs de créatures de la nuit et des révélations qui pourraient bien vous faire péter un câble…
Vampire hunter society - The Dark Bite est le début d'une trilogie que j'ai hâte de terminer tant ce premier tome m'a plu. Sans surprise, je vous le recommande à mille pourcent si vous aimez les romans fantastiques avec pleins de créatures de la nuit telles que les vampires et les loups-garous !
I actually read this before I read the Wolf Girl series where the Magic City world and its various inhabitants are already established but I didn't find it difficult to follow along with this book as it's mostly set in the human world and focuses on the Hunters of magical creatures. That said, we do meet the main (and side) characters from the "first" series, but I'm not sure yet how big of a role they'll play in Luka's story. Hopefully, it'll be a big one! 😊
This was non-stop action from the beginning and so it was quite a fast-paced read! There were also some good twists that took the story in a direction I wasn't expecting but it's being set up for some high-stakes action that I'm looking forward to. I was quite surprised by how religious parts of the story were because the Rose House that Aspen belongs to is extremely devout and they use scripture to justify their slaying of vampires. While I'm not averse to books that talk about God or whatever, some of the aspects like how female hunters having to be "pure" to join the society kinda made me uncomfortable. That aside, I was intrigued by the society as a whole and the different houses as, unlike Rose House, they hunt other magical creatures and aren't exclusive to just vampires.
For the most part, I did like Aspen. She's the top hunter in the house and she has no problem slaying baddies. She's not just dedicated to Rose House, but she's also fiercely devoted to Maz, the head of Rose House and to the Hunter scripture. However, this makes her very naive and we quickly see just how sheltered she is from the world outside of hunter life. While I thought she was badass at wielding deadly weapons and slaying baddies, plus I adored her friendship with BFF Liv, I wished we got a bit more depth to her character because right now it's mostly surface-level details. The same goes for Luka. He's one of the characters introduced in the Wolf Girl series and while we get a few additional details about him and his family here, we really don't learn much. He's just a 'good guy' vampire who's now bonded to Aspen and we only see him when Aspen feeds him once a day/every two days.
Thanks to the bond their romance borders on insta-love though it's still mostly insta-lust. However, that ending has me convinced that we're gonna be in for one helluva angsty romance, possibly a love triangle (ugh, pls no) but most definitely some drama-llama angsty love-hate stuff and ... I don't know if I'm here for it. But having said that, I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes because with how things went in the latter half of the book, you know a lot of stuff is about to go down. And soon!
Aspen in an orphan raised to be a lethal vampire hunter it's all she's known her whole life. She's rising up the ranks quickly never missing her mark until the day she has Luka Drake in her sights. What should have been a quick easy kill goes terribly wrong and Aspen finds herself saved by the vampire she was sent to kill. In return she does something for him that changes both of their lives binding them forever.
Meeting Luka has changed Aspens life in more than she ever imagined. He's not the vampire she expected him to be. Which forces her to question everything she's know about vampire and the life she was raised in. Maybe they aren't the blood sucking killers that she's been led to believe. Aspen will have to choose to believe the truth of keep her head in the sand.
I knew this one was going to be amazing as we had a taste of Luka from the Wolf Girl series which I love. I just love Aspen right from the start she's this spunky red head who is bad-ass in her own right. She and Luka who have this instant chemistry that works if they can both accept they are in this together. I love that Demi and the crew are in this one as she's one of my all time favorite characters and I've missed her.
Leia Stone is an auto buy must read author for me. I've read most of her book and truly love every story each one. She creates these worlds filled with unique characters that capture the heart as well as the imagination. It's impossible not to love every book she's written. I admit this one has sat on the shelf far longer than it should have because it's amazing. I devoured it in just one afternoon. A must read if you love action packed slow burn romance.
What an explosive start to this spin off series! If you’ve read the Wolf Girl series, then you’ll already know Luka Drake—vampire prince and best friend of alpha werewolf, Sawyer.
While Luka is the MMC of VHS, we actually see the story from Aspen’s POV.
Aspen is one of the most deadly vampire hunters for the House of Rose—a devout sect of the Hunter society dedicated to ridding the world of all bloodsuckers.
Raised in the VHS with her BFF Olivia, she makes it her mission to be the best of the best.
Until she is saved by the prince of vampires himself, Luka. Confused by his actions she can’t help but reciprocate when he lies dying on his couch—a decision she starts to regret immediately.
Yet Luka continues to save her and she continues to save him. Aspen can’t seem to reconcile the moral absolutes she was raised to believe with the actions and kindness of a vampire.
Aspen’s tumultuous journey of learning to open her mind to possibilities is hard to watch at times—because we’ve all been there. We’ve all believed something blindly at one point in our lives. Her naïveté is frustrating, but it speaks to her age and lack of exposure.
And Luka? What a dreamboat! He’s swoony, smooth, and will unflinchingly put the needs of others above his own EVERY. TIME.
This book is a quick and action packed read. It’s got some sizzle and plenty of intrigue. I can’t wait to read more!
Great start to a new spin off series, I was so excited when I found out it would be Lucas. Aspen didn’t disappoint! Aspen and her best friend liv are vampire hunters for a hunter society. Secrets are unravelled, bonds are made, lives are turned upside and the chaos continues!! This book is full of angst and deceit.. it’s actually pretty savage for poor Aspen and Liv. I’ve only given this book 4 stars because I don’t feel like I have connected with the characters as much as I did with the other series YET…I know I shouldn’t compare the two but I’m yet to be fully in love with any of them yet, even Lucas. Granted this is a slow burn romance so I just need to be patient I think as I’m wanting moreee between Aspen and Lucas!! Although that ending isn’t looking great for them 😅 looking forward to diving into the next book!!
http://www.unbrindelecture.com/2023/0... Un premier tome avec pas mal de positif mais aussi un tas de fausses notes . Aspen est une héroïne badass mais parfois un peu trop soumise à mon goût. Luka quant à lui est un modèle de patience qui ne colle pas vraiment à sa nature de prédateur. L'univers est vraiment hyper intéressant et j'espère que l'autrice nous réserve de jolies surprises pour la suite de cette histoire.
That was one heck of a roller coaster! And that cliffhanger! I can’t wait to see what comes next for these characters and I love getting to see more into the world we saw in Demi and Sawyers story 😃
Vampirleri seviyorsanız başlangıç olarak güzel bir kitaptı. Hem kısa hem de akıcıydı okurken sıkılmadım. Sonunda Aspen'in neyin içinde olabileceğini tahmin etmiştim ama son sayfadakini hiç beklemiyordum. Ve hemen ikinci kitaba geçiyorum neler olduğunu okumam lazım!