Bride, Ali Hazelwood
GoodReads Rating: 4.05 ⭐️
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
On Kindle Unlimited?: No
Purchasing: Can be found at most bookstores in various formats. Prices vary.
Length: 399 pages
Misery Lark (yes, that is her real name) has been there, done that as a symbol of peace between humans and vampires…sorry, Vampyres. Essentially abandoned by her kind, she has made a life for herself among the humans that is instantly shattered when a Vampyre takes her back to her father.
Things have been difficult for Misery’s father. The Vampyre councilman sees trouble on the horizon: the humans have elected a new governor, and she will not meet with him. But she has met with the Alpha of the Werewolves. An alliance between humans and Werewolves would be devastating for the Vampyres…so her father is proposing an alliance of his own: an alliance between Vampyres and Werewolves, through marriage.
Misery is 0.3 seconds away from saying “no.” Then she notices the name of the Werewolf Alpha matches a name she found in the apartment of her (only) human friend Serena, who has vanished, without a trace.
Misery needs to find her friend. And if she has to go into the territory of her people’s greatest foe, she’ll do it. Even if her new husband thinks she stinks.
Misery’s story reminds me of the story of Icarus, son of Daedalus. In case you need a reminder, Icarus and Daedalus were held captive in a tower in order to keep the secret of the Minotaur’s maze. In order to escape, they must fly out of the tower, and over the sea, using wings made of feathers and wax. Both Misery’s story and Icarus’ wings fall apart through the sustained application of heat.
And it’s unfortunate. I went to an actual store, the local Barnes and Noble, to buy this book. I’d heard good things. I read the back, and was interested in the idea, I read the first several chapters and enjoyed where it was going…but, and I could not tell you when, at some point, “Bride” became a bore.
It’s a shame, really, because “Bride” had a lot of good ideas: political marriage between enemies, supernatural factions on the verge of war, a societal outcast trying to save their friend, a missing person mystery, it’s all there! Unfortunately, Hazelwood’s focus on the relationship between Misery and Lowe, the Werewolf Alpha, puts everything else to the wayside. These ideas are then left underdeveloped.
Misery too feels underdeveloped. She tells us *a lot* but we see very little of anything that happens/happened to her. Anything seemingly building toward problems and tension is hand waved/deus ex machina-ed away. Even the final confrontation with the final villain is left unseen by the reader.
I will give “Bride” this: it has one of, if not the best, conversations about ✨werewolf sex✨ I have ever read.
So, while I can’t say “Bride” is for everyone, I can say if someone has read Hazelwood’s other works, enjoyed them, and wants to give monster romance a try, this could be for them.
#bookwormsoflemon8 #BookReview #monsterromance #vampire #werewolf
Okay, let's talk more about what makes 'Bride' by Ali Hazelwood such a buzz-worthy read, despite some of its shortcomings! So many of us are drawn to that incredible 'cover of the book 'Bride' by Ali Hazelwood' – it just screams dark romance, doesn't it? That iconic imagery really sets the stage for the vampire werewolf romance aesthetic that fans crave. And speaking of cravings, if you're like me, you're probably wondering about the 'spice level' and those much-talked-about 'ali hazelwood spicy chapters.' While my review gave it ⭐⭐, I absolutely have to mention that the conversations around the more intimate moments between Misery and Lowe are utterly unique and definitely a highlight for anyone seeking well-written spice in their monster romance. Let's dive a bit deeper into 'Misery Lark and Lowe Moreland' themselves. Their dynamic is the heart of this story, a classic enemies-to-lovers setup but with a supernatural twist. You've got the human-raised Vampyre, Misery, forced into a political marriage with Lowe, the powerful Werewolf Alpha. This kind of 'political intrigue' and 'arranged marriage' trope is gold for romance readers! The fanart I've seen for 'bride misery and lowe' truly captures the tension and chemistry that Hazelwood aims for, even if some readers, like myself, felt it could have been explored more. Their journey, complete with 'assassination attempts' and Misery's quest to find Serena, provides plenty of dramatic potential. The allure of 'vampire werewolf romance' is undeniable. It combines primal instincts, ancient feuds, and often, incredible power dynamics. 'Bride' offers these 'tropes and elements' in spades: a world on the brink of war, a heroine caught between two species, and a brooding, protective hero. Many come to Ali Hazelwood's work expecting a certain blend of STEM heroines and steamy romance, and 'Bride' definitely delivers on the steamy part, especially when it comes to the unique perspectives on 'werewolf sex' that the book explores. It's not just about the physical; it's about two different species navigating intimacy. When I look back at my 'reading statistics' – 399 pages read over '7h 54m total reading time' – I think about the journey. Even with a '2-star rating' from me, there's no denying the ambitious scope of this story. For those who adore monster romance and want to see how Hazelwood tackles a new genre while incorporating signature elements, it's definitely a read to consider. Whether you're in it for the 'ali hazelwood bride cover' aesthetic, the 'misery and lowe' relationship, or just to satisfy your curiosity about the 'bride spicy chapters list,' this book sparks a lot of conversation in the book community. What was your favorite trope in 'Bride'?
