Plot: Bound by blood.
Tempted by desire.
Unleashed by destiny.
Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.
Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.
As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.
Reviews: Oh Sarah Maas. How do you keep ensnaring me?
I’m not a big romance reader unless it falls into more of a chic lit/comedy category. I don’t go for steamy bodice rippers. Sarah Maas specializes in high fantasy bodice rippers and I….love them? I’ve read her YA stuff. With Maas you know what you’re getting- found family trope, Mary Sue lead, everyone is smoking hot, everyone thinks the lead is sexy, banter, and everyone wears leather.
But also…I love found family tropes? And I don’t really mind a Mary Sue when I’m looking for some good escapism? The banter isn’t all bad? And damn if she doesn’t punch me right in the feels sometimes.
This book is her adult debut. It has all of the above plus more sex because adult debut. It also made me tear up twice on reread. And was good enough to reread before the sequel comes out later this month.
Don’t expect any great work of genius. But do expect a fun read that sweeps you along, with characters you care about and a sizzling romance.
(Also don’t take this on a weekend to your in-laws, and then forget it there, and then have to screech NO DON’T READ IT IT’S FULL OF SEX to your conservative mother in law when she calls to tell you it’s there and she might give it a look. If you were to do this, your oh so supportive husband may then tell his laughing mother that you only read these kinds of books “for the articles” and you will be able to anticipate being teased for this for literal years to come.)