Title: Bride
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published on: February 6, 2024
Publisher: Berkley
Source: digital
Pages: 410
Synopsis:
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.
My thoughts
(Spoiler free)
My first five-star read for the year! I was stoked to get an early copy of Ali Hazelwood’s paranormal romance Bride. As someone who was a little bit obsessed with Twilight in its heyday, I tend to steer away from books about vampyres or werewolves because I just end up comparing them all to Twilight, which isn’t fair at all. But I’ve loved everything Hazelwood has published, and I knew she was also a fan of Twilight, so I had faith she would make this genre leap a fun one. I’m happy to say I wasn’t wrong!
I’ve seen another Goodreads reviewer say Bride is a love-letter to Twilight, and I have to say I agree. While there aren’t necessarily identical references, there are similarities, ones that made me smile and feel all warm inside. If I were trying to make literal comparisons, I’d say Lowe, the Alpha Werewolf, is Edward and Misery, the Vampyre, is a mix between Bella and Jacob.
So, if you were ever a Twi-hard shipping Edward and Jacob, maybe this is your story?!
I have a feeling Hazelwood—or maybe the publisher—is trying to distance Bride from Twilight, however, because I haven’t come across anything where she admits the inspiration. But for me, I couldn’t help comparing them.
Lowe is stoic and mysterious, appears to be standoffish in the beginning, but he has a lot on his shoulders: the responsibility of a whole pack and the undertaking of a fragile alliance with the Vampyres.
“You’re not a problem, Misery. You’re a privilege.”
Ali Hazelwood; Bride
Misery is snarky and brave, used to being on her own having been shifted between the Vampyres and Humans all her life. She may not care so much about keeping the peace between the Vampyres and Werewolves, but the one thing she does care about has recently disappeared, and she has reason to believe that Lowe is involved somehow.
So it’s easy for her not to protest when she’s tasked with the responsibility of marrying the Alpha Werewolf to encourage peace between the two species.
The best word I can come up with at the moment for Bride is electric! I had so much fun reading this one. It’s a bit of a slow-burn romance, with plenty of humor, angst, and twists to keep the reader locked in. I desperately hope this will be a series. And Bride goes on my list of books to reread!
Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
(All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.)
My Rating:
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Levels inspired by The Well-Read Librarian from Sourcebooks
About the Author
Ali Hazelwood
I’m Ali, and I write contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia. I love cats, Nutella, and side ponytails. I’m also currently learning to crochet, so as you can tell I’m a super busy gal with an intense and exciting life!
I’m originally from Italy, lived in Japan and Germany, and eventually moved to the US to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. I recently became a professor, which absolutely terrifies me. When I’m not at work you can find me binge-watching shows with my three feline overlords (and my slightly less feline husband), running, or eating candy.
A Song For A Book
I looked high and low for an author-inspired playlist for Bride with no success. There are several fan-created ones on Spotify, though. I’ve chosen to highlight “Full Moon” by The Black Ghosts. If you’re a Twilight fan, you should recognize this one. 😉
When the full moon turns white that’s when I’ll come home
I am going out to see what I can sow
And I don’t know where I’ll go
And I don’t know what I’ll see
But I’ll try not to bring it back home with me
Like the morning sun your eyes will follow me
As you watch me wander, curse the powers that be
Cause all I want is here and now but its already been and gone
Our intentions always last that bit too long
Far far away, no voices sounding, no one around me and
You’re still there
Far far away, no choices passing, no time confounds me and you’re still there
In the full moons light I listen to the stream
And in between the silence hear you calling me
But I don’t know where I am and I don’t trust who I’ve been
And If I come home how will I ever leave
Have you read Bride? Or did you add it to your tbr? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
Yay for your first 5-star read! I’ve heard lots of good things about this one and I bought a copy a couple of weeks ago. I was never a huge Twilight fan but I still can’t wait to read it 😍 Great review!
I bet you’ll like it! I think I just know Twilight too well, so I couldn’t help looking for comparisons. 😉 I look forward to hearing what you think about it, Dini!
I NEED this! Great review.
I hope you get your hands on it soon! I’d love to hear your thoughts on it. <3
Yay! Great review. I loved this one as well.
Yay!! Seeing that you enjoyed it helped me get more excited as I was reading. <3
This book has so many high ratings. You all almost have me convinced to giving it a try. My daughter bought a copy, so it’s there if I want it. I was not a twi-hard, but I saw the films, so that’s something, right? Glad this was such a hit for you!
You should give it a try! Read the first few chapters and see what you think. 😉