What is it?
A wonderful three-book series featuring a not-so-ordinary human who’s become part of the secret vampyr world. There’s steamy sex scenes, lots of hurt/comfort, and impressive worldbuilding.
Who’s it about?
Jason is a former marine with a kind heart that stumbles his way into the world of vampyrs when he rescues the Prince’s right-hand, Tiago. He thinks it’s all part of come weird cult until he runs into vampyrs again at his shop in New Orleans. He becomes a mediator between the two classes of vampyrs, which draws the attention of the Prince. It’s love at first sight, with some hiccups.
Varic is the Prince (draugr) of the vampyrs, a position that leads to travelling all over the world to resolve disputes and uphold the vampyr laws. He’s revered as the face of the people, but incurring his wrath (especially if Jason is injured) brings out the werewolf-like Wolf of Maedoc. He brings Jason to his home in Malta, where court politics quickly bring danger to the happy couple.
Why do I like it?
The story is engaging with just the right amount of hurt/comfort to keep me coming back. After I read the series for the first time, I immediately re-read it because I wanted more. (And there isn’t more! Travesty!) The worldbuilding is great, with how the secret world of vampyrs intertwines with the normal human world. Jason is a fish-out-of-water as he’s pulled further and further into the heart of the royal family and through it all he brings kindness and compassion that softens Varic’s temper.
I love all the bits in Malta: how the palace is described, the twisting layer of catacombs, and the secret spots in the palace that only a few know about. The side characters are engaging. I love haughty Tiago, stoic Hadrian, the Prince’s loyal guard, and the I-pretend-not-to-care Zed. The female characters are a delight, particularly the Queen and Princess Nerilla who welcome Jason with open arms.
There’s enough worldbuilding that I wish for another book to go deeper into the mystery around Jason’s matan abilities, the Queen’s magic, and the changes Varic and Jason will bring to vampyr society.
Quotes:
“Do it hard. I wanna feel you tomorrow.”
“I’ll still be inside you tomorrow.”
— *fans self* Some steaminess from His Consort
There was a single moment when everything, all of me, snapped into place, into one, and I was there solely to love and nurture the man I loved. I was his home. He belonged inside of me, on top of me, around me, and in my arms.
He was mine and I was his.
— Some intense blood drinking from His Prince
“It’s a lesson that sometimes, no matter what, you can’t save everyone because… it’s not your story.”
— Some advice from the Queen in His Realm
Trigger Warnings:
Mention of rape (books 2 & 3)