Bane
Never did I dream that a woman would cry on our wedding night.
Ten years have passed since humans and vampires allied to defeat the wolves.
Now, to seal the covenant between our people and keep my throne, I must take a mortal bride.
But I’ve gone further than any vampire has gone before—become a fiend, a monster even among my own kind. No woman can lay eyes on me now without horror and fear.
When I first see her, I know I’ve doomed her. But she doesn’t scream in terror.
She fears not my face, but my bestial thirst.
Because of her courage, I will be the remorseless beast who keeps a beauty chained with vows.
And though I crave the taste of her blood…
I will fight the monster within to win her heart and soul.
Cirri
Never did I dream that a monstrous vampire would be the one to hear me.
Voiceless and ignored by the world, I was never considered good enough for anything beyond my indentured servitude—a silent, forgettable shadow.
Until my blood betrayed me.
Chosen by chance as a pureblood bride for the Lord of the Rift, I’ve been sold in marriage to a vampire more hideous than I could’ve imagined.
But despite his savage appearance, he tries to hear my silent words.
He alone learns to read the language of my hands.
He might be a beast, but there is beauty in his soul. For the sake of my people, I will spend a lifetime shackled to this monster…
But for the sake of his heart, I will make myself heard.
This book was a wild ride… wow… I loved it from start to finish.
At nearly 700 pages, it delivers on all fronts: intricate world-building, rich character development, and non-stop action.
The story is captivating from beginning to end, with a perfect blend of drama, romance, and unexpected twists.
It gripped me from the get-go and kept me hooked throughout.
Something was always happening, not always action, but something important to the story.
Around halfway through the book, I took a small break, wanting to come up for some air. This could have been split into two books, but I think the author made the right call. I would not have wanted to wait that long to finish this amazing story.
I loved Cirri and Bane, how they interacted from the start, trying to make the most of the situation that brought them together, to how they both looked beyond the obvious: Cirri looking past Bane’s fiendish appearance and Bane learning how to communicate with Cirri. One of the most precious things when Cirri said to Bane: “You hear me, and I see you.”
Yeah, even now, I’m getting goosebumps 😀
We met so many interesting characters, and while I know this is a standalone, I really hope we will see maybe another book or three where the other fiends get their HEA.
All characters were superbly written, with enough depth to feel authentic.
This book is a must-read for fantasy lovers!
© Victoria Gryson 2024