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megmirons's review against another edition
4.0
This was my first Ali Hazelwood book and it didn’t disappoint! The dialogue was laugh out loud funny and the tension between Misery and Lowe was
sleepy_book_wyrm's review
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
millek's review
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
everydayweekends's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
fadedoldbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I will say I thoroughly enjoyed this one! I haven’t read a paranormal contemporary since I was a teen so this was a nice change of pace from what I have been reading.
Misery is our MFC and comes across as quite melancholy but not in such a way that it was depressing. She had a unique sense of humour which was a nice reprieve from all the political drama.
Yes, this book relies heavily on the politics between vampyres, wolves, and humans. So if you don’t like political chatter I would maybe avoid this one.
I enjoyed how the lore was imbedded throughout. I was able to understand the specifics of vampyres and wolves in this world without becoming bogged down or questioning behaviours/personalities.
If you’re interested in a paranormal contemporary with interesting power dynamics definitely grab this!
Misery is our MFC and comes across as quite melancholy but not in such a way that it was depressing. She had a unique sense of humour which was a nice reprieve from all the political drama.
Yes, this book relies heavily on the politics between vampyres, wolves, and humans. So if you don’t like political chatter I would maybe avoid this one.
I enjoyed how the lore was imbedded throughout. I was able to understand the specifics of vampyres and wolves in this world without becoming bogged down or questioning behaviours/personalities.
If you’re interested in a paranormal contemporary with interesting power dynamics definitely grab this!
emilywemily6's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was an entertaining intro to the omegaverse! The politics and backstory of the vampires vs weres vs humans was really interesting, and I loved seeing Misery come to love the werewolves and their culture. I wish some concepts had been explained a little more. I enjoyed these characters but they didn’t have a lot of depth. While I liked the romance for the first 3/4 of the book, I really hated the relationship dynamic toward the end and how Lore lied and gaslit Misery once their relationship progressed 🙄 obviously that resolved but I just didn’t like how the relationship evolved overall when things got sexual, or how easy it was for her to forgive him, or how clueless he was about his poor decision. Overall, this was a fun read, but I feel like there is more that could have made this a really great book in this paranormal romance category.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Xenophobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Kidnapping
peaches_pages's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
floralmay's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
MINIOR SPOILERS!
In the world of publishing, I made a grave mistake and thought that Ali Hazelwood’s new book Bride was a young adult, and I am so glad I did. The bride gave me the same emotions as if Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer and the cruel prince had a baby! The reason I am so happy I went into this book thinking it was young adult is the fact that if I had gone into this book thinking it was romantasy, enemies to lovers, or a rom-com I would’ve hated it… And I think people classifying it this way might make the book see its unjust downfall.
That being said, it is a paranormal romance, urban fantasy, that gives me the feel of a K- drama married a Fan fiction in the best way possible!
<b>Characters</b> – The characters I feel lack a physical description. Like it is there but not there at the same time. This in no way takes from them. Their personality shines though and you can clearly tell which character is which. But I had a hard time visualizing the characters. The key difference is one has pointy ears. One has red blood; one has green blood, and one has purple. Some people said it was weird that Misery has pointed ears, but I think people forget Dracula also has pointed ears, and more than one fantasy race can have this feature.
1) <b>Misery</b> - Misery’s Name! This was the sole reason I wanted this book in my hands. Besides the fact that it is an Ali Hazelwood book. Very rarely do I read a book and think That character’s name is spot on. It is more of a feeling that the character needed a name and that was the one they chose. It didn’t feel like that with Misery. Misery felt well fleshed out character-wise. Maybe the character and I are connected through trauma? One thing that I hope Ali will flesh out in the next book is that she’s a vampire who's the daughter of a powerful vampire ruler. I would like to see her as a lesion between the wares, humans, and Vamps. There has to be another book right? That ending!!
Misery is taken out of her element and exposed to so much. I love the little details like misery forgetting which is a ladle and which is a spatula. Because if you think about it, if you don’t eat human food, have never cooked, and have no use for a kitchen, would you know the difference? It’s like asking a girl from the slums which one is the correct salad fork.
I think if you grow up in a normal household it is easy to think of her as a dumb character who is useless and boring. But as someone who didn’t come from a normal household, I found Ali’s description of misery spot on. Misery doesn’t stay defenseless; she takes self-defense and knows exactly what to do to get her point across. The point is she is a girl who has been given the choice to find herself after being controlled by her “community.” But the best part about her is that she is a woman who knows how to communicate!
2)<b>Lowe's</b> character reminds me of a grumpy old man, and I love it. This is like an 18-year-old going on 80 type vibes. He is a very large man and that is stated several times by Misery. I think this works for her character. She is very innocent and completely out of her element. I personally freaked out for over a month when my boyfriend was 6ft tall. I look like a child compared to him.
Misery and Lowe come together because they both had to give up the life they wanted, the life they worked for, for the life that was given to them. I would love to see them more fleshed out as this was an extremely slow burn, I feel like there were not enough “moments.”
3) <b>Ana</b> – This is the best kid in the entire world, nothing will change my mind! She felt like a six- or seven-year-old. She was a sponge for knowledge and a good example that racism is taught. She asked questions to misery to understand her not to judge her. She accepted Misery because Misery never gave Ana to fear her…unlike someone.
<b>World Building</b>
Ali is good at the One and Done books, but this one felt like the story was not finished, it makes me sad for what could have been. The story of Misery Lark, a child of the most influential Vampyr councilman in the South, and Lowe Moreland, the most formidable Alpha among the werewolves, is one of forbidden romance and more. Their union seeks to unite long-standing mortal foes and bring about peace. The plot is filled with intricate political intrigue and well-thought-out plans taking place in the werewolf and vampyre domains. And it does in a way. But I felt there could be more… like this book was the trailer for an epic trilogy, with a spin-off duleology about Serena and Koen…ugh dreams….
The found family trope was truly what had me wanting more, but I still really want to learn more about this hate between the races and the future solutions.
Now here is the Bad part….. The KNOT situation was not executed properly and took me 20 minutes of trying to understand what the heck Ali was trying to say. I came up with an animal balloon…. So not great lol Edit… My coworker called it a mushroom d**k.
<b>My favorite parts of this book were:</b>
“you’re not a problem Misery. You’re a privilege.”
“Fuckwaffle” I will now be calling people this.
“Tyler Medicine” …. for Tylenol” Again magical creatures
In short, Bride reads like fanfiction with a side of missed opportunities in world-building, but the characters are the real MVPs here. So, grab a copy, laugh at the kitchen confusion, and maybe add "fuckwaffle" to your vocabulary—it's worth it!
In the world of publishing, I made a grave mistake and thought that Ali Hazelwood’s new book Bride was a young adult, and I am so glad I did. The bride gave me the same emotions as if Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer and the cruel prince had a baby! The reason I am so happy I went into this book thinking it was young adult is the fact that if I had gone into this book thinking it was romantasy, enemies to lovers, or a rom-com I would’ve hated it… And I think people classifying it this way might make the book see its unjust downfall.
That being said, it is a paranormal romance, urban fantasy, that gives me the feel of a K- drama married a Fan fiction in the best way possible!
<b>Characters</b> – The characters I feel lack a physical description. Like it is there but not there at the same time. This in no way takes from them. Their personality shines though and you can clearly tell which character is which. But I had a hard time visualizing the characters. The key difference is one has pointy ears. One has red blood; one has green blood, and one has purple. Some people said it was weird that Misery has pointed ears, but I think people forget Dracula also has pointed ears, and more than one fantasy race can have this feature.
1) <b>Misery</b> - Misery’s Name! This was the sole reason I wanted this book in my hands. Besides the fact that it is an Ali Hazelwood book. Very rarely do I read a book and think That character’s name is spot on. It is more of a feeling that the character needed a name and that was the one they chose. It didn’t feel like that with Misery. Misery felt well fleshed out character-wise. Maybe the character and I are connected through trauma? One thing that I hope Ali will flesh out in the next book is that she’s a vampire who's the daughter of a powerful vampire ruler. I would like to see her as a lesion between the wares, humans, and Vamps. There has to be another book right? That ending!!
Misery is taken out of her element and exposed to so much. I love the little details like misery forgetting which is a ladle and which is a spatula. Because if you think about it, if you don’t eat human food, have never cooked, and have no use for a kitchen, would you know the difference? It’s like asking a girl from the slums which one is the correct salad fork.
I think if you grow up in a normal household it is easy to think of her as a dumb character who is useless and boring. But as someone who didn’t come from a normal household, I found Ali’s description of misery spot on. Misery doesn’t stay defenseless; she takes self-defense and knows exactly what to do to get her point across. The point is she is a girl who has been given the choice to find herself after being controlled by her “community.” But the best part about her is that she is a woman who knows how to communicate!
2)<b>Lowe's</b> character reminds me of a grumpy old man, and I love it. This is like an 18-year-old going on 80 type vibes. He is a very large man and that is stated several times by Misery. I think this works for her character. She is very innocent and completely out of her element. I personally freaked out for over a month when my boyfriend was 6ft tall. I look like a child compared to him.
Misery and Lowe come together because they both had to give up the life they wanted, the life they worked for, for the life that was given to them. I would love to see them more fleshed out as this was an extremely slow burn, I feel like there were not enough “moments.”
3) <b>Ana</b> – This is the best kid in the entire world, nothing will change my mind! She felt like a six- or seven-year-old. She was a sponge for knowledge and a good example that racism is taught. She asked questions to misery to understand her not to judge her. She accepted Misery because Misery never gave Ana to fear her…unlike someone.
<b>World Building</b>
Ali is good at the One and Done books, but this one felt like the story was not finished, it makes me sad for what could have been. The story of Misery Lark, a child of the most influential Vampyr councilman in the South, and Lowe Moreland, the most formidable Alpha among the werewolves, is one of forbidden romance and more. Their union seeks to unite long-standing mortal foes and bring about peace. The plot is filled with intricate political intrigue and well-thought-out plans taking place in the werewolf and vampyre domains. And it does in a way. But I felt there could be more… like this book was the trailer for an epic trilogy, with a spin-off duleology about Serena and Koen…ugh dreams….
The found family trope was truly what had me wanting more, but I still really want to learn more about this hate between the races and the future solutions.
Now here is the Bad part….. The KNOT situation was not executed properly and took me 20 minutes of trying to understand what the heck Ali was trying to say. I came up with an animal balloon…. So not great lol Edit… My coworker called it a mushroom d**k.
<b>My favorite parts of this book were:</b>
“you’re not a problem Misery. You’re a privilege.”
“Fuckwaffle” I will now be calling people this.
“Tyler Medicine” …. for Tylenol” Again magical creatures
In short, Bride reads like fanfiction with a side of missed opportunities in world-building, but the characters are the real MVPs here. So, grab a copy, laugh at the kitchen confusion, and maybe add "fuckwaffle" to your vocabulary—it's worth it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Sexual content, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, War, Violence, and Murder