Review: ‘Bride’ by Ali Hazelwood
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Bride
by Ali HazelwoodPublished by Berkley on February 6, 2024
SubGenres: Paranormal Romance
Format: Paperback
Pages: 410
Source: the publisher
Audience: 18+/Adult
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A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.
Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...
Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….
Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.
I’ve read Ali Hazelwood’s Contemporary Romance books, and I was excited to read her first foray into Paranormal Romance, a world featuring Vampyres and Werewolves. As an avid lover of the subgenre, I was intrigued to read Ali’s take on it.
Misery Lark is a Vampyre who is forced into a marriage with the Alpha Werewolf, Lowe Moreland in order to keep a peaceful alliance between the two different species. The issue is neither of them trusts the other, which will make for an interesting marriage and political alliance, especially when one of them agrees to marry because they are hoping to find their friend who has gone missing.
Ali Hazelwood’s debut in the Paranormal Romance genre was a treat, particularly her unique interpretation of Vampyres and Werewolves and their intricate dynamics. She skillfully blended the paranormal elements that readers of this subgenre expect while also giving her signature writing style that readers have read in her Contemporary Romance books.
I liked Misery’s character and felt sympathy for her the whole time because she never fit in, even with her own kind. She just wanted a place to call home, and she was also worried about her friend who had gone missing, which is one reason why she was okay with being married to Lowe. She thought he knew something, and I wanted her desperately to find her friend.
Lowe’s character was mysterious and intriguing, but I do wish I had gotten his POV, especially when he and Misery are supposed to be Fated Mates. Just like with Ali’s Contemporary Romance books, Bride is told solely through the FMC, so we only get her side of things. Lowe comes off as a cold, grumpy Alpha whenever he has to deal with Misery, and I wasn’t convinced he and Lowe were fated mates due to his behavior toward her.
When the drama unfolded at the end of the book, and the true antagonist was revealed, I had already figured out who was behind it, so it was less dramatic to me. It also feels rushed, and I’ve definitely felt that with other books I’ve read from Ali Hazelwood, but other than that, the book is enjoyable.
What about the knotting that readers have been raving about in Bride? As someone who has been reading PNR for over 15+ years, it wasn’t as big of a deal to me. But for new readers to this subgenre, it’s a great introduction to PNR and knotting. I’ve read Spicy PNR, and this one was a slow burn with a couple of spicy times between the characters.
I give this book four stars, and I hope Ali Hazelwood writes more in this subgenre, especially when certain secondary characters from Bride deserve a story, too. If you are looking to branch into PNR more after reading Bride, then may I recommend Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark Series and Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series. Yes, they are long-running series but well worth the read.
Trope(s)/Element(s):
✓Arranged Marriage/Marriage of Convenience
✓Enemies to Lovers
✓Slow Burn
✓Vampyres/Werewolves
✓Knotting
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My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)
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