Review that's not really a review: I have to take a break from glomming this series to read something else, but I thought this might be a good opportunity to discuss my thoughts on the series to this point.

It is definitely entertaining. The writing gets shades better with each book. Ward is great at world building. I am very sad that I have to take a break.

Here are some thoughts, in no particular order:

1. All the men are HUNG. It's almost absurd after a while, but Ward ultimately sets up an interesting dichotomy. In this world, potent = good, impotent = bad, in the good/evil sense. (The Brothers, the good guys, are all virile warriors with huge penises who are pretty much always ready to go. The lessers, the bad guys, are impotent. Not a coincidence!) Part of me kind of likes this, because it's so rare that sex is celebrated in our culture, and holy smokes, Ward can write a hot sex scene. But part of me rolls my eyes every time we're in a woman's POV and she's all, "Oh, my, you're so big." O RLY?

2. And the names, yikes.

3. I'm not a fan of the mates trope in paranormal fantasy, and part of me keeps hoping the mated relationships will be better developed. Like, I'll go with it if both characters are appealing, but I want to know that these characters love each other for Reasons and not just because they get each other charged up sexually. Clearly Ward is capable of writing interpersonal relationships because the dynamics between the various members of the Brotherhood are very well done and feel realistic. But, like, so Butch? Meets Marissa one time and then goes bonkers over her? And that's a "I want to risk my life repeatedly so that we can be together because I love you so much!" situation? Really?

4. In this book in particular: Marissa at least redeemed herself a bit because I didn't care for her character previously, but then she went and grew a spine. That's a nice thing to see in a romance novel. Docile doormat = unworthy, but woman who stands up to her Alpha male hero = good. Yay! I like that each of the heroines has been a strong woman so far.

5. If I may say: I know the pairing in the most recent book, so when they show up in this book, I was like, "Aw!" Given how gendered this universe is, I'm interested to see what Ward does with the gay vampires.

6. Aw, poor Vishous.

7. And all that vintage couture up in smoke?!