Book Review: Bride by Ali Hazelwood
Vampyres, werewolfs, and interspecies marriages, Ali Hazelwood’s newest novel is sure to peak the interest of those of you who are interested in the paranormal. Personally? I’m still trying to decide if I liked it or not. Check out my full review for Bride by Ali Hazelwood below.
Book Information
Misery is a vampyre who could care less about what her father thinks and the way she’s supposed to act as a vampyre. Instead, she is living among the humans pretending to be one with her best friend, Serena. Until Serena goes missing and Misery has to find out what happened to her. So, when her father offers her up as the bride to an alpha werewolf, she doesn’t care that this werewolf will probably eat her. She just knows that he’s her ticket to find out what happened to Serena. When she gets to know him, though, things change between them and Misery is sure that her feelings for him are becoming… complicated.
Review | Heidi Dischler
I have to say, this is probably the oddest book I’ve read this year. I was trying to branch out a little, but I don’t think this was for me. Maybe I’ve branched out a little too much?
To be completely honest, though, the first half of this book was really interesting and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed Misery’s search for her best friend. I enjoyed the backstory and her depressing past (thanks, Mr. World’s-Worst-Dad). I really enjoyed the slow burn between Lowe and Misery. The thing about the first half, though? Romance came second to the plot. The last half of the book was purely romance with your perfunctory plot tie-up. It was depressing to see a story that had so much potential fizzle out because the author was focused on the… ah hem… steamy scenes.
Regarding those steamy scenes: I went into this book knowing that this author has written some pretty intense love scenes for her previous book (check out my review for The Love Hypothesis if you want to know my first ever reaction to Ali Hazelwood’s writing – it definitely gets heated). So, in my mind, I’m knowing there’s a possibility for that. Heck, I know it’s probably 99% possible to see the vampyre-werewolf bedroom scene. In the recesses (and I’m definitely talking recesses here) of my mind, I’m like, “yeah, there’s no way she’s gonna go that far.” Oh, but she does. I read one comment on Goodreads that said, “This was knot it.” And, yep, that summarizes my thoughts on said specific bedroom scene. You have been warned.
Back to what I liked about this novel: the first half of the plot, Misery’s character (honestly loved her), Misery’s brother, the whole “war between the species” thing, and the comical relief that Misery provides. Lowe’s character was just meh. The second half of the book was meh (more plot, less romance centered). Honestly, if Ali Hazelwood would’ve kept her focus on the plot and let the romance come secondary, this story wouldn’t have felt so lackluster.
Overall, the ending falls short due to being rushed and changing the focus to romance. The characters had a fun dynamic and Misery was my favorite just due to her ditzy nature and comical attitude. 3.5 out of 5 stars that is rounded to 4 for all of the social platforms that think we can quantify our bookish feelings into whole stars only 🙃.
Source: Audiobook from Libby Public Library
(P.S. You can read this book for free by signing up for a free trial of Audible, which gives you two free audiobooks of your choice!)
