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Hunger Pangs #1
True Love Bites: Fluff and Fangs Edition
In a world of dwindling hope, love has never mattered more...
Injured in a seemingly pointless war, Captain Nathan J. Northland returns home to Lorehaven to an uncertain future. He doesn't know what to expect, but it certainly wasn't being posted on an island full of vampires. An island whose local vampire dandy lord causes Nathan to feel strange things he’d never felt before.
Feelings about fangs.
When Viscount Vlad Blutstein agreed to hire Nathan as Captain of the Eyrie Guard, he hadn’t been sure what to expect either. It certainly hadn’t been to fall in love with a disabled werewolf. A werewolf who treats him with respect. Kindness. More kindness than Vlad feels he deserves. Vlad has fallen and fallen hard, and that’s the problem.
There's a storm coming.
Torn by their allegiances—to family, to duty, and the age-old enmity between vampires and werewolves—Vlad and Nathan find themselves in a difficult situation: to love where the heart wants or to follow where expectation demands.
The situation is complicated further when a mysterious and beguiling figure known only as Lady Ursula crashes into their lives, bringing with her dark omens of death, doom, and destruction in her wake.
One thing is for certain, nothing will ever be the same.
--
This is a fluffier version of Hunger Pangs: True Love Bites as requested by several of my readers. The majority of the story is the same with only a few scenes changed to accommodate those readers. Contains full romance, lots of kissing, and fade to black for those who like a little more fluff with their fangs.
Injured in a seemingly pointless war, Captain Nathan J. Northland returns home to Lorehaven to an uncertain future. He doesn't know what to expect, but it certainly wasn't being posted on an island full of vampires. An island whose local vampire dandy lord causes Nathan to feel strange things he’d never felt before.
Feelings about fangs.
When Viscount Vlad Blutstein agreed to hire Nathan as Captain of the Eyrie Guard, he hadn’t been sure what to expect either. It certainly hadn’t been to fall in love with a disabled werewolf. A werewolf who treats him with respect. Kindness. More kindness than Vlad feels he deserves. Vlad has fallen and fallen hard, and that’s the problem.
There's a storm coming.
Torn by their allegiances—to family, to duty, and the age-old enmity between vampires and werewolves—Vlad and Nathan find themselves in a difficult situation: to love where the heart wants or to follow where expectation demands.
The situation is complicated further when a mysterious and beguiling figure known only as Lady Ursula crashes into their lives, bringing with her dark omens of death, doom, and destruction in her wake.
One thing is for certain, nothing will ever be the same.
--
This is a fluffier version of Hunger Pangs: True Love Bites as requested by several of my readers. The majority of the story is the same with only a few scenes changed to accommodate those readers. Contains full romance, lots of kissing, and fade to black for those who like a little more fluff with their fangs.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 24, 2020
159 people are currently reading
2618 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 303 reviews
March 6, 2021
Unfortunately an overall underwhelming read for me. I loved the concepts and character ideas, but the execution didn't work for me.
I think it part it was the switch from character-focussed romance (where I suspect the genesis of this book lay) to a longer, plottier series - I found myself not really caring about the Fate Of The World And Also Lots Of Political Stuff, and mourning the lack of focus on the characters we'd spent the first part of the book getting to know.
I also wasn't sure of the setting - the author is clearly having some fun with regency settings and tropes, but this doesn't always work in the execution. For instance, there are a LOT of characters introduced (mostly for the purposes of gossip) in the first part of the book who are later dropped from the narrative. The language use is quite thoroughly modern. I found myself unsure of the place of queer lifestyles in this society - it seems like neither of the main (m/m) pairing are at all bothered to be mlm, but on the other hand another character is said to have never been at ease with the main character's 'indiscriminate' attitude to gender, all discussions of marriage seem to default to m/f, and I can't recall if we are shown any non-traditional couples in the background. I sort of feel like either I want a traditional setting where sexuality is an obstacle for the main characters to overcome (together!), or I want one where it's a complete non-issue, and I honestly have no idea which this is. There are several non-binary characters mentioned, but none are main characters.
The point where I found myself really put-off was when the main characters (werewolf Nathan and vampire Vlad) finally got over their intense mutual pining and kissed....only to stop at that point to have a discussion about their kinks. Maybe I hadn't been reading deeply enough but I hadn't, until that point, really felt like Nathan's attraction to Vlad was based on thinking that Vlad was submissive, nor vice versa, so it really threw me out to have them stop the action to have a discussion about a top/bottom or dom/sub dynamic that hadn't been on my radar til then. It took what should have been an intense, swept-up moment into something weirdly modern and clinical, plus I thought the characterisations didn't suit - how does 400+ year-old Vlad not even hear of the concept of a safeword?! It made Nathan's explanations into something a little bit condescending and 'I know better than you about you want' which...ugh. The weird thing is, I do love adults Communicating Like Adults and discussions like this have their place, but it just wan't here, at this point in this book.
To be honest I would have been happier with the world-saving, Ursula plot being excised entirely and letting the novel focus on Nathan (and Nathan's healing), Vlad, their dynamic as their relationship developed and changed and their place within their respective families as a one-off novel rather than a series. I'm not planning to pick up book two.
If you're after werewolves, vampires and regency, go for Gail Carriger.
I think it part it was the switch from character-focussed romance (where I suspect the genesis of this book lay) to a longer, plottier series - I found myself not really caring about the Fate Of The World And Also Lots Of Political Stuff, and mourning the lack of focus on the characters we'd spent the first part of the book getting to know.
I also wasn't sure of the setting - the author is clearly having some fun with regency settings and tropes, but this doesn't always work in the execution. For instance, there are a LOT of characters introduced (mostly for the purposes of gossip) in the first part of the book who are later dropped from the narrative. The language use is quite thoroughly modern. I found myself unsure of the place of queer lifestyles in this society - it seems like neither of the main (m/m) pairing are at all bothered to be mlm, but on the other hand another character is said to have never been at ease with the main character's 'indiscriminate' attitude to gender, all discussions of marriage seem to default to m/f, and I can't recall if we are shown any non-traditional couples in the background. I sort of feel like either I want a traditional setting where sexuality is an obstacle for the main characters to overcome (together!), or I want one where it's a complete non-issue, and I honestly have no idea which this is. There are several non-binary characters mentioned, but none are main characters.
The point where I found myself really put-off was when the main characters (werewolf Nathan and vampire Vlad) finally got over their intense mutual pining and kissed....only to stop at that point to have a discussion about their kinks. Maybe I hadn't been reading deeply enough but I hadn't, until that point, really felt like Nathan's attraction to Vlad was based on thinking that Vlad was submissive, nor vice versa, so it really threw me out to have them stop the action to have a discussion about a top/bottom or dom/sub dynamic that hadn't been on my radar til then. It took what should have been an intense, swept-up moment into something weirdly modern and clinical, plus I thought the characterisations didn't suit - how does 400+ year-old Vlad not even hear of the concept of a safeword?! It made Nathan's explanations into something a little bit condescending and 'I know better than you about you want' which...ugh. The weird thing is, I do love adults Communicating Like Adults and discussions like this have their place, but it just wan't here, at this point in this book.
To be honest I would have been happier with the world-saving, Ursula plot being excised entirely and letting the novel focus on Nathan (and Nathan's healing), Vlad, their dynamic as their relationship developed and changed and their place within their respective families as a one-off novel rather than a series. I'm not planning to pick up book two.
If you're after werewolves, vampires and regency, go for Gail Carriger.
May 7, 2021
I rarely buy books without knowing what they're going to be about, but True Love Bites was one of them. I follow the author on Tumblr, and I had faith she could write. Spoiler: she can!
I came into this without knowing what to expect except that there would be vampires and werewolves. Here are my findings:
True Love Bites is so much fun, and it has a sense of humor
It starts with a bit of a tragedy, in the form of a dead magical tree and a blight threatening to spread throughout the world. It starts with a young soldier returning home from the war, maimed, but alive.
I wasn't sure it would be quite my cup of tea until the first family scene happened, and the humor started shining through. After that, I fell in love.
The world is full of magic and complex...
...and alas, much is left unexplained. But, in short: there are vampires (who... eventually feel their age? I'm not sure) and werewolves (who live for upwards of two centuries, as far as I can tell), as well as liches and various other magical creatures, such as werebears. It's not entirely clear to me exactly how all the pieces fall together, and what wars are waged. Also, a long time ago, there was a great magical disaster leading to the destruction of great areas.
I'm also not entirely sure whether the world is modeled on Earth or not. There's a place called Ingleton, there are northern werewolves... I mean, it could be about the British Isles... or not.
But while I felt the need to find out more, I don't think it's absolutely necessary to understand the world completely to have fun reading the novel.
The characters are charming - and isn't that what we're here for?
Vlad the vampire, is dramatic, clever, unable to stick to a single thing, but capable of coming up with all sorts of clever ideas to improve pretty much anything. Alas, he's also entirely convinced of his own lack of worth, which he hides through sarcasm and a flippant attitude.
Nathan the werewolf is stubborn, with a heart of gold, and capable of seeing the best in people. Not always thinking of consequences, but capable of seeing through bullshit, he's the exact sort of friend you'd want at your side.
And together, they're quite stellar.
Ursula, alas, is present a lot less in the novel, but she's quite charming herself.
There are two sides to this book and
First, there's the romance, which builds quite nicely, and which is quite fluffy and sweet. I'm not sure I'm 100% persuaded by their first bedroom interaction, which felt quite... didactic?... But I'm quite persuaded by the rest of the romance. It's got support, and humor, and attraction, and all the good things.
There's a bit of a hint of polyamory to come, but it's not here yet.
The second part (and I do mean "second part"; it's only foreshadowed for the first half of the book) is a larger plot about magic, saving the world, and a looming threat. And some of that threat is implied to be solved at the end.
But the book just ends. After a bit of looking around, it became apparent this is because Joy Demorra split a single volume into two where it felt appropriate, because otherwise it would have become much too long. Which is fine, but it also means we have to wait awhile before some things get resolved and/or explained.
Overall, it's quite fun, and really recommended
I loved it. It made me smile, and laugh. It made me feel excited and thrilled and intrigued.
I'm looking forward to some things getting explained and continued in the next volume, but I'm nothing if not patient. Now, if only I could find out when it will be published...
I came into this without knowing what to expect except that there would be vampires and werewolves. Here are my findings:
True Love Bites is so much fun, and it has a sense of humor
It starts with a bit of a tragedy, in the form of a dead magical tree and a blight threatening to spread throughout the world. It starts with a young soldier returning home from the war, maimed, but alive.
I wasn't sure it would be quite my cup of tea until the first family scene happened, and the humor started shining through. After that, I fell in love.
The world is full of magic and complex...
...and alas, much is left unexplained. But, in short: there are vampires (who... eventually feel their age? I'm not sure) and werewolves (who live for upwards of two centuries, as far as I can tell), as well as liches and various other magical creatures, such as werebears. It's not entirely clear to me exactly how all the pieces fall together, and what wars are waged. Also, a long time ago, there was a great magical disaster leading to the destruction of great areas.
I'm also not entirely sure whether the world is modeled on Earth or not. There's a place called Ingleton, there are northern werewolves... I mean, it could be about the British Isles... or not.
But while I felt the need to find out more, I don't think it's absolutely necessary to understand the world completely to have fun reading the novel.
The characters are charming - and isn't that what we're here for?
Vlad the vampire, is dramatic, clever, unable to stick to a single thing, but capable of coming up with all sorts of clever ideas to improve pretty much anything. Alas, he's also entirely convinced of his own lack of worth, which he hides through sarcasm and a flippant attitude.
Nathan the werewolf is stubborn, with a heart of gold, and capable of seeing the best in people. Not always thinking of consequences, but capable of seeing through bullshit, he's the exact sort of friend you'd want at your side.
And together, they're quite stellar.
Ursula, alas, is present a lot less in the novel, but she's quite charming herself.
There are two sides to this book and
First, there's the romance, which builds quite nicely, and which is quite fluffy and sweet. I'm not sure I'm 100% persuaded by their first bedroom interaction, which felt quite... didactic?... But I'm quite persuaded by the rest of the romance. It's got support, and humor, and attraction, and all the good things.
There's a bit of a hint of polyamory to come, but it's not here yet.
The second part (and I do mean "second part"; it's only foreshadowed for the first half of the book) is a larger plot about magic, saving the world, and a looming threat. And some of that threat is implied to be solved at the end.
But the book just ends. After a bit of looking around, it became apparent this is because Joy Demorra split a single volume into two where it felt appropriate, because otherwise it would have become much too long. Which is fine, but it also means we have to wait awhile before some things get resolved and/or explained.
Overall, it's quite fun, and really recommended
I loved it. It made me smile, and laugh. It made me feel excited and thrilled and intrigued.
I'm looking forward to some things getting explained and continued in the next volume, but I'm nothing if not patient. Now, if only I could find out when it will be published...
February 12, 2021
A sweet enough journey with some interesting world-building, and characters you can root for, but epically uneven with regards plot and pacing. It was originally published as fic and you can tell - the doodling episodic quality hasn’t been edited out, especially in the later parts and the tone shifts often. It’s squidgy comedy of manners one minute and portentous end of the world fantasy the next, and while I’m sure those things can be well combined, the mixing hasn’t really taken here. I never knew what type of book I was picking up, chapter by chapter. And marketing as MMF poly is misleading - maybe that’s where it’s headed but to me this was straightforwardly M/M with a HFN.
It’s a projected multi-book series but this is where I leave it.
It’s a projected multi-book series but this is where I leave it.
January 1, 2024
This book was unfortunately 2.5 stars for me. I believe the book has both objective issues and subjective issues that are specific to my experience reading it.
1. anachronisms: For example, the book takes place in alternate history sort-of England circa 1890, however, the term “head honcho” is used. That phrase originates from American POWs in Japan in World War II, and should have EASILY been caught during editing. As a second example, Nathan refers to “neurons firing” in his POV, but later shows period-typical ignorance of human internal anatomy. Besides, in reality, neurons weren’t even described until the late 1880s and wouldn’t have been widely known by random soldiers until much later.
2. Clunky word choice: Nathan is described as surveying a place with “a clearer degree of clarity”. And later, within a couple paragraphs of one another, two different women’s emotions are described as being “maternal” (alarm and pride, respectively). These among some other examples.
3. The book feels averse to the monstrousness of its own monster characters: while it’s true that the book is peppered with mentions of “predatory” walks/gazes, these come off as performative, since nothing remotely predatory actually happens. Vlad, a vampire, doesn’t drink blood or even crave it throughout the book. When Nathan, a werewolf, takes his wolf form, he behaves like a golden retriever, even demanding to play fetch and accepting pets. In the end, there was very little point in Vlad being a vampire and Nathan being a werewolf. They could have both been human and the plot would not need to change at all, outside some superficial tweaks. This is definitely a personal preference thing. I don’t like the fluffy, silly sterilization of monster creatures.
4. The characters are incurious about the story they are in: Nathan doesn’t seem to care what exactly happened to the previous captain of the guard, even after finding an encrypted journal taped under his desk. He just accepts the explanation “too much absinthe” without question. For a second example, I am VERY surprised that Ursula did not think to pick up a book on botany during her year of checking on ancestral trees. Additionally, once the identity of the fungus is found, she doesn’t so much as muse out loud at how improbable it is that ALL the ancestral trees were poisoned at about the same time. She just says, “It pops up outside the waste for time to time!” Like BRUH.
5. Infuriating depictions of women: the author cherry-picked which things she wished to make period typical, and which not to. So, there is no period typical homophobia or enbyphobia. There is little to no racism (based on skin color). But the women! They get to behave like 19th century caricatures. Generally disinterested in politics, obsessed with dresses and matchmaking and gossip. Worst victims of this treatment: Kitty, Ria, Mrs Collins and Lady M. In our main characters’ POVs the women are regarded as tiresome, demanding, amusing, in need of protection, dramatic, hysterical, cute, and maternal, as needed. The exception: Ursula, who is very literally not like other girls.
6. Vlad’s treatment of Lady M: the way Vlad treats Lady M is astounding to me. Her panic attacks and poor mental health are waved off as being hysteria. “Any excuse to be dramatic” he says about the woman whose only children died tragically before her eyes not too long ago. Additionally, when Nathan asks why Vlad took the blame for Elizabeth’s transformation, Vlad responds “I couldn’t hurt her like that, Lady M.” And describes Lady M as a “silly grieving woman”. “I wasn’t about to take her husband away from her.” So Vlad places HIS OWN DECISION to not hold the Count accountable completely onto Lady M because… her children died? That literally has nothing to do with why the Count transformed Elizabeth anyway. It was a coincidence that Vlad had brought Elizabeth to the castle around that time. For a book that purports to hold an enlightened position on chronic illness and mental health, this is a telling exception, especially since Vlad is never challenged or contradicted in the misogynistic/patronizing way he regards Lady M and other women in his life (including Ria and Mrs Collins).
7. Depiction of Elizabeth: to start, I would like to note that Vlad has an equally patriarchal attitude toward Elizabeth as well. He blames himself for Elizabeth’s transformation because he “put her in the path” of the Count. As if she has no agency of her own and didn’t actively seek the count out and persuade him to transform her into a vampire. Anyway, Elizabeth plays the role of hypocritical bully and jealous manipulator. Awesome. I thought for sure it was going to be revealed that she has plots of her own, but no, aside from manufacturing a blatantly false, biologically impossible rumor about Ria, and being financially irresponsible she just wants to have some mean girl fun. A tidbit I noticed which irked me is that when Elizabeth is being magically uninvited from the castle, the book lingers on the moment when her wig falls off her head, revealing cropped blond hair, and she scrabbles pathetically on the floor to clutch the wig back to her. The humiliation of a woman by removing her wig left a bad taste in my mouth that I have trouble explaining.
8. Instant sexual attraction is boring: Vlad is instantly intimidated and aroused by Nathan. Nathan is instantly attracted to Vlad. Vlad and Nathan are both instantly attracted to Ursula and her lovely butt. They don’t look twice at any other man or woman’s butt for the entire novel. We obviously will only ever be aroused by the hotness of our soul mates and no other hotness. And arousal at hotness will always precede romantic attraction. This is more of a genre issue and one of my personal pet peeves than a unique issue of Hunger Pangs. Vlad and Nathan have no relationship conflict, only harmony and understanding as they learn more about each other. EH. Whatever. Their sex scene was fine, no notes, good communication is a very positive thing. (Although I do wonder how Nathan has never been called “sir” during sex before considering his extensive military experience and apparent concurrent sexual experience).
9. Miscellaneous: There are dozens of cringey, awkward and/or contradictory moments throughout this novel, but one of the best is when Vlad shows Nathan his preserved lower fang in a jar, dated 100 years before Elizabeth’s transformation. Since that fang is needed in order to transform someone into a vampire, Nathan of course instantly deduces that it would be physically impossible for Vlad to be responsible for Elizabeth’s transformation. Vlad praises Nathan for being unusually perceptive, “you know, hundreds of people have seen this, and not one of them ever figured it out”. I cannot emphasize enough what utter contrived nonsense this is. HUNDREDS of people failed to make such an incredibly simple connection? Like if someone were accused of leaving a handwritten ransom note.. but they have no hands. I am DECEASED.
10. Fiddledee: first of all, Nathan does not appreciate Fiddledee. Second of all, the man’s middle name is Humperdink, a fact which instantly elevated the text to crack. I don’t make the rules.
Now, there are plenty of good and intriguing things going on in this book as well. It’s just that 90% of them are unresolved. I am left with many questions: why are the mines so important to the Count? What has he been plotting? Does he have anything to do with the poisoned trees? How long has he been mind-controlling Vlad? Did Nathan’s father have anything to do with the poisoning of their ancestral tree? Does that have anything to do with his sudden downturn in health? What did the previous captain of the guard discover on Eyrie? Why did he disappear? What is the Count plotting with the refugees? Does he just need bodies for some sinister reason? Why does the sentient rose (shown to be a good judge of character) hate Rook so much? Does Elizabeth have any larger plot after all?
I just have to wait for the characters to start asking these questions themselves. And not take *shrug* “too much absinthe” or similar rubbish for an answer.
1. anachronisms: For example, the book takes place in alternate history sort-of England circa 1890, however, the term “head honcho” is used. That phrase originates from American POWs in Japan in World War II, and should have EASILY been caught during editing. As a second example, Nathan refers to “neurons firing” in his POV, but later shows period-typical ignorance of human internal anatomy. Besides, in reality, neurons weren’t even described until the late 1880s and wouldn’t have been widely known by random soldiers until much later.
2. Clunky word choice: Nathan is described as surveying a place with “a clearer degree of clarity”. And later, within a couple paragraphs of one another, two different women’s emotions are described as being “maternal” (alarm and pride, respectively). These among some other examples.
3. The book feels averse to the monstrousness of its own monster characters: while it’s true that the book is peppered with mentions of “predatory” walks/gazes, these come off as performative, since nothing remotely predatory actually happens. Vlad, a vampire, doesn’t drink blood or even crave it throughout the book. When Nathan, a werewolf, takes his wolf form, he behaves like a golden retriever, even demanding to play fetch and accepting pets. In the end, there was very little point in Vlad being a vampire and Nathan being a werewolf. They could have both been human and the plot would not need to change at all, outside some superficial tweaks. This is definitely a personal preference thing. I don’t like the fluffy, silly sterilization of monster creatures.
4. The characters are incurious about the story they are in: Nathan doesn’t seem to care what exactly happened to the previous captain of the guard, even after finding an encrypted journal taped under his desk. He just accepts the explanation “too much absinthe” without question. For a second example, I am VERY surprised that Ursula did not think to pick up a book on botany during her year of checking on ancestral trees. Additionally, once the identity of the fungus is found, she doesn’t so much as muse out loud at how improbable it is that ALL the ancestral trees were poisoned at about the same time. She just says, “It pops up outside the waste for time to time!” Like BRUH.
5. Infuriating depictions of women: the author cherry-picked which things she wished to make period typical, and which not to. So, there is no period typical homophobia or enbyphobia. There is little to no racism (based on skin color). But the women! They get to behave like 19th century caricatures. Generally disinterested in politics, obsessed with dresses and matchmaking and gossip. Worst victims of this treatment: Kitty, Ria, Mrs Collins and Lady M. In our main characters’ POVs the women are regarded as tiresome, demanding, amusing, in need of protection, dramatic, hysterical, cute, and maternal, as needed. The exception: Ursula, who is very literally not like other girls.
6. Vlad’s treatment of Lady M: the way Vlad treats Lady M is astounding to me. Her panic attacks and poor mental health are waved off as being hysteria. “Any excuse to be dramatic” he says about the woman whose only children died tragically before her eyes not too long ago. Additionally, when Nathan asks why Vlad took the blame for Elizabeth’s transformation, Vlad responds “I couldn’t hurt her like that, Lady M.” And describes Lady M as a “silly grieving woman”. “I wasn’t about to take her husband away from her.” So Vlad places HIS OWN DECISION to not hold the Count accountable completely onto Lady M because… her children died? That literally has nothing to do with why the Count transformed Elizabeth anyway. It was a coincidence that Vlad had brought Elizabeth to the castle around that time. For a book that purports to hold an enlightened position on chronic illness and mental health, this is a telling exception, especially since Vlad is never challenged or contradicted in the misogynistic/patronizing way he regards Lady M and other women in his life (including Ria and Mrs Collins).
7. Depiction of Elizabeth: to start, I would like to note that Vlad has an equally patriarchal attitude toward Elizabeth as well. He blames himself for Elizabeth’s transformation because he “put her in the path” of the Count. As if she has no agency of her own and didn’t actively seek the count out and persuade him to transform her into a vampire. Anyway, Elizabeth plays the role of hypocritical bully and jealous manipulator. Awesome. I thought for sure it was going to be revealed that she has plots of her own, but no, aside from manufacturing a blatantly false, biologically impossible rumor about Ria, and being financially irresponsible she just wants to have some mean girl fun. A tidbit I noticed which irked me is that when Elizabeth is being magically uninvited from the castle, the book lingers on the moment when her wig falls off her head, revealing cropped blond hair, and she scrabbles pathetically on the floor to clutch the wig back to her. The humiliation of a woman by removing her wig left a bad taste in my mouth that I have trouble explaining.
8. Instant sexual attraction is boring: Vlad is instantly intimidated and aroused by Nathan. Nathan is instantly attracted to Vlad. Vlad and Nathan are both instantly attracted to Ursula and her lovely butt. They don’t look twice at any other man or woman’s butt for the entire novel. We obviously will only ever be aroused by the hotness of our soul mates and no other hotness. And arousal at hotness will always precede romantic attraction. This is more of a genre issue and one of my personal pet peeves than a unique issue of Hunger Pangs. Vlad and Nathan have no relationship conflict, only harmony and understanding as they learn more about each other. EH. Whatever. Their sex scene was fine, no notes, good communication is a very positive thing. (Although I do wonder how Nathan has never been called “sir” during sex before considering his extensive military experience and apparent concurrent sexual experience).
9. Miscellaneous: There are dozens of cringey, awkward and/or contradictory moments throughout this novel, but one of the best is when Vlad shows Nathan his preserved lower fang in a jar, dated 100 years before Elizabeth’s transformation. Since that fang is needed in order to transform someone into a vampire, Nathan of course instantly deduces that it would be physically impossible for Vlad to be responsible for Elizabeth’s transformation. Vlad praises Nathan for being unusually perceptive, “you know, hundreds of people have seen this, and not one of them ever figured it out”. I cannot emphasize enough what utter contrived nonsense this is. HUNDREDS of people failed to make such an incredibly simple connection? Like if someone were accused of leaving a handwritten ransom note.. but they have no hands. I am DECEASED.
10. Fiddledee: first of all, Nathan does not appreciate Fiddledee. Second of all, the man’s middle name is Humperdink, a fact which instantly elevated the text to crack. I don’t make the rules.
Now, there are plenty of good and intriguing things going on in this book as well. It’s just that 90% of them are unresolved. I am left with many questions: why are the mines so important to the Count? What has he been plotting? Does he have anything to do with the poisoned trees? How long has he been mind-controlling Vlad? Did Nathan’s father have anything to do with the poisoning of their ancestral tree? Does that have anything to do with his sudden downturn in health? What did the previous captain of the guard discover on Eyrie? Why did he disappear? What is the Count plotting with the refugees? Does he just need bodies for some sinister reason? Why does the sentient rose (shown to be a good judge of character) hate Rook so much? Does Elizabeth have any larger plot after all?
I just have to wait for the characters to start asking these questions themselves. And not take *shrug* “too much absinthe” or similar rubbish for an answer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2020
Stayed up until five
I'd pre ordered this book and it auto downloaded at midnight. At 2am I remembered I had work in the morning. At 4am I told myself that I really had to go to sleep. I think I drifted off around five , still holding my kindle.
I love the world building, I love the jokes, and I want to crawl through the pages to hug Nathan.
I'd pre ordered this book and it auto downloaded at midnight. At 2am I remembered I had work in the morning. At 4am I told myself that I really had to go to sleep. I think I drifted off around five , still holding my kindle.
I love the world building, I love the jokes, and I want to crawl through the pages to hug Nathan.
May 26, 2022
SO GOOD???????
I'll write a proper review later, but this book has directly pole vaulted into my list of top fave books.
I'll write a proper review later, but this book has directly pole vaulted into my list of top fave books.
October 7, 2023
Let us step back for a moment and imagine that we can remove two small sections of this book. Perhaps 50-80 pages total. Let's review that book.
3/5 very enjoyable stars. This is a Regency romance of manners between a vampire viscount and a werewolf military officer, steeped in British tongue-in-cheek humor. It approaches the supernatural in the way of Terry Pratchett, whom I love, GNU. There is a dash of Austen in the approach to society; everything is gossip and reputation, connections and scandals. It's not always gracefully written, but it's here to have fun.
The two leads are fun. Nathan, the werewolf, is the big, solid, sensible type who has some souvenirs from the war front. The vampire, unsurprisingly named Vlad, is a dramatic, eccentric dabbler with some unfortunate wet napkin traits that could occasionally make his sections tiring. Together they had some fun banter. They were nice fellows and instantly attracted to each other, which left no romantic conflict; but I didn't mind watching them get flustered and test the waters as they tackled outside problems together.
Outside problems were admittedly small. There isn't much plot here. But you don't expect one in a romance like this! It's all personal stakes and community events. Toward the end, a larger political plot does rear its head via Parliament and the werewolf clans. It has a bit more nuance than the politics up until this point, which were a little overdone in the style of Tumblr. This larger plot suited the main couple very well, I think, and I was interested to see where it would lead in sequels.
So what dastardly scenes brought the rating down?
There is a sex scene. I am not complaining about this; I bought the explicit version. I am not the kind of person to read kinky romance but then ask the author to censor the sex for my innocent eyes. The sex scene was even fairly enjoyable, though admittedly lacking in any vampiric or were elements. In the leadup, the couple finally confesses their feelings and shares a giddy, hungry kiss. The moment was magical. And then the werewolf stomps the brakes so they can sit eight feet apart and have a tiring, clinical discussion about their dom/sub preferences, safewords, and consent.
This eleven straight pages killed it for me. Two problems here. One, I am now dry as a desert and bored to tears. I was reading a romance book where the leads kissed at last. Now I am in a lecture hall. I don't see why a couple would feel the need to have this ENTIRE terms-and-conditions talk as soon as the first kiss happens. I don't see why I need to read it at all. Two, the centuries-old vampire is incapable of talking about sex. He blushes madly, stutters, and hides his face in cushions. He doesn't know what a safeword is? He doesn't know anything about sex? Uwu?? I hate it. Where are my romances between adults.
I soldiered on after this and got another 60-ish pages of what I came here for, including the introduction to the political plot I mentioned. Then the author decided to surprise us all by introducing the actual plot. On page 430.
The third member of the polycule (??? this is a m/m romance) arrives and infodumps the rest of the high-stakes world-ending plot in one jarring speech. The now-three main characters solve the problem and get together in the same, I don't know, 40 pages. The end. I don't even feel this is worth spoiler tags, because it happens and then it's over.
Basically, imagine you are reading a silly but cute little romance. Just when the couple starts getting somewhere, you are made to stop and read a legal document. And just as you've recovered from that and believe you can know joy again, you're forcibly clipped through the map so that you can feverishly speedrun a fantasy plot and a new romance. Take these out of the book.
3/5 very enjoyable stars. This is a Regency romance of manners between a vampire viscount and a werewolf military officer, steeped in British tongue-in-cheek humor. It approaches the supernatural in the way of Terry Pratchett, whom I love, GNU. There is a dash of Austen in the approach to society; everything is gossip and reputation, connections and scandals. It's not always gracefully written, but it's here to have fun.
The two leads are fun. Nathan, the werewolf, is the big, solid, sensible type who has some souvenirs from the war front. The vampire, unsurprisingly named Vlad, is a dramatic, eccentric dabbler with some unfortunate wet napkin traits that could occasionally make his sections tiring. Together they had some fun banter. They were nice fellows and instantly attracted to each other, which left no romantic conflict; but I didn't mind watching them get flustered and test the waters as they tackled outside problems together.
Outside problems were admittedly small. There isn't much plot here. But you don't expect one in a romance like this! It's all personal stakes and community events. Toward the end, a larger political plot does rear its head via Parliament and the werewolf clans. It has a bit more nuance than the politics up until this point, which were a little overdone in the style of Tumblr. This larger plot suited the main couple very well, I think, and I was interested to see where it would lead in sequels.
So what dastardly scenes brought the rating down?
There is a sex scene. I am not complaining about this; I bought the explicit version. I am not the kind of person to read kinky romance but then ask the author to censor the sex for my innocent eyes. The sex scene was even fairly enjoyable, though admittedly lacking in any vampiric or were elements. In the leadup, the couple finally confesses their feelings and shares a giddy, hungry kiss. The moment was magical. And then the werewolf stomps the brakes so they can sit eight feet apart and have a tiring, clinical discussion about their dom/sub preferences, safewords, and consent.
This eleven straight pages killed it for me. Two problems here. One, I am now dry as a desert and bored to tears. I was reading a romance book where the leads kissed at last. Now I am in a lecture hall. I don't see why a couple would feel the need to have this ENTIRE terms-and-conditions talk as soon as the first kiss happens. I don't see why I need to read it at all. Two, the centuries-old vampire is incapable of talking about sex. He blushes madly, stutters, and hides his face in cushions. He doesn't know what a safeword is? He doesn't know anything about sex? Uwu?? I hate it. Where are my romances between adults.
I soldiered on after this and got another 60-ish pages of what I came here for, including the introduction to the political plot I mentioned. Then the author decided to surprise us all by introducing the actual plot. On page 430.
The third member of the polycule (??? this is a m/m romance) arrives and infodumps the rest of the high-stakes world-ending plot in one jarring speech. The now-three main characters solve the problem and get together in the same, I don't know, 40 pages. The end. I don't even feel this is worth spoiler tags, because it happens and then it's over.
Basically, imagine you are reading a silly but cute little romance. Just when the couple starts getting somewhere, you are made to stop and read a legal document. And just as you've recovered from that and believe you can know joy again, you're forcibly clipped through the map so that you can feverishly speedrun a fantasy plot and a new romance. Take these out of the book.
April 5, 2021
I made it about 60% before giving up on this one. When I realise I haven't picked my kindle up in days I know it's time to walk away, even if there's nothing overtly terrible about the book.
The main issue here I think is a lack of conflict. 60% in and I really could not tell you what our heroes are supposed to be fighting against? What they're hoping to achieve? What stands in their way? There are exactly two (2) scenes with a woman and a dead magic tree that does seem to indicate some kind of plot, but by this point it hadn't impacted the main (lack-of)plot at all.
And you know, I'm a reader who firmly believes that plot is optional. But you have to offer the reader something in it's place! Really complex and/or charming characters, or a slow-burn romance, or angst, or entertaining banter or angst. True Love Bites doesn't quite hit the mark with any of these.
The main leads are instantly attracted to each other, and while they don't hook up right away it never feels like a slow-burn. Obstacles are neatly taken care of almost as quick as they arrive, and everyone is generally just really nice.
Which makes a book that is generally nice but not really that engaging.
The main issue here I think is a lack of conflict. 60% in and I really could not tell you what our heroes are supposed to be fighting against? What they're hoping to achieve? What stands in their way? There are exactly two (2) scenes with a woman and a dead magic tree that does seem to indicate some kind of plot, but by this point it hadn't impacted the main (lack-of)plot at all.
And you know, I'm a reader who firmly believes that plot is optional. But you have to offer the reader something in it's place! Really complex and/or charming characters, or a slow-burn romance, or angst, or entertaining banter or angst. True Love Bites doesn't quite hit the mark with any of these.
The main leads are instantly attracted to each other, and while they don't hook up right away it never feels like a slow-burn. Obstacles are neatly taken care of almost as quick as they arrive, and everyone is generally just really nice.
Which makes a book that is generally nice but not really that engaging.
March 6, 2021
I enjoyed this book a great deal, but I think there are a few things that are important to know about it:
1) it was originally written as a serial, and still reads very episodically
2) it is heavy on the romance and set up to the plot, with little action until the very end
3) it ends with clearly still a lot of things to be dealt with in book 2
4) it is primarily m/m, with just the introduction of the third character in the promised polyamorous triad by the end of the book
I can work with all of those things, but I'm glad that I was aware of several of them due to other reviews. This is a pleasant ramble of a story, with the beginnings of some epic fantasy drama to come. I really enjoyed the sense of humor, the developing relationship between Vlad and Nathan, and the overall world-building.
One quibble - I didn't like that one unpleasant character was made obviously villainous by blatant expression of several bigoted viewpoints (racist, sexist, and homophobic) that were otherwise absent from the world-building.
1) it was originally written as a serial, and still reads very episodically
2) it is heavy on the romance and set up to the plot, with little action until the very end
3) it ends with clearly still a lot of things to be dealt with in book 2
4) it is primarily m/m, with just the introduction of the third character in the promised polyamorous triad by the end of the book
I can work with all of those things, but I'm glad that I was aware of several of them due to other reviews. This is a pleasant ramble of a story, with the beginnings of some epic fantasy drama to come. I really enjoyed the sense of humor, the developing relationship between Vlad and Nathan, and the overall world-building.
One quibble - I didn't like that one unpleasant character was made obviously villainous by blatant expression of several bigoted viewpoints (racist, sexist, and homophobic) that were otherwise absent from the world-building.
January 9, 2021
Read the first few chapters as an eBook, then decided to give myself a present for making it to the new year and bought the paperback. Managed to restrain myself till it arrived and today I finished the whole rest of the book in one sitting. 1000000/10 would recommend. I am LOVING the dynamics of the characters and while I came for the romance I stayed for the looming sense of Dread that much much bigger things are happening all around. Will probably update with something more in depth when it's not nearly 1am anymore. At least if someone reminds me.
Either way this is great and I love it, haven't devoured a story like this in forever (shakes stick at adhd gerblins making a mess in my brain filing department), but this *This* story is just so so incredibly captivating, it moves both extremely fast and hair pullingly slow in the best definition of both these terms. I gotta stop writing or else I'm gonna be here in 48 hours still gushing about how much I loved it.
Either way this is great and I love it, haven't devoured a story like this in forever (shakes stick at adhd gerblins making a mess in my brain filing department), but this *This* story is just so so incredibly captivating, it moves both extremely fast and hair pullingly slow in the best definition of both these terms. I gotta stop writing or else I'm gonna be here in 48 hours still gushing about how much I loved it.
February 13, 2021
I was told this was a polyamorous MMF paranormal romance but really it was MM and I therefore feel extremely robbed. This may be where the series is headed but Ursula was barely on page for the story and didn’t spend any meaningful time with Nathan and Vlad until the very end. And then she left them and went on her way with nary a promise of something more. The three of them have a promising dynamic but again, there was barely any development. This was originally fanfic and the author needed to kill her darlings and edit this down much more. We’re given a hell of a lot of set up and barely any plot. The pacing was all over the place. There were promising moments with clever characterization and parts I enjoyed (surprise BDSM!) but it got bogged down in unnecessary detail and meandering threads that never went anywhere. I don’t plan on continuing with the series.
Character notes: Nathan is a 63 year old disabled bisexual werewolf, Dom, and army captain. His left arm is described as “ruined” and he has hearing loss in his left ear that is eventually helped by hearing devices. Vlad is a 400 year old bisexual vampire, reformer, and submissive who’s into gardening and any number of other things. Ursula is an almost 4000 year old bisexual eldritch fae and keeper of the Ancestral Trees. She is Obërian and has “burnished copper skin.” This is set in 1887-1888, primarily on the vampire island colony of Eyrie.
CW: disabled main character (deaf in one ear, injured arm, scarred face), ableism, PTSD, racism, past kink-shaming, war references due to hero’s 40 years of military service, alcohol, inebriation (not clear if Vlad is an alcoholic or not), intimate partner violence (Elizabeth slaps Vlad; he breaks things off with her later for other reasons), metal poisoning, cigarettes, past opium use, classism, ableist language, gender essentialist language (including “manhood” used as a euphemism), poor word choice (e.g. “slaving away”), secondary character uses a wheelchair, secondary character’s twin sons died of “sweating sickness” (past)
Character notes: Nathan is a 63 year old disabled bisexual werewolf, Dom, and army captain. His left arm is described as “ruined” and he has hearing loss in his left ear that is eventually helped by hearing devices. Vlad is a 400 year old bisexual vampire, reformer, and submissive who’s into gardening and any number of other things. Ursula is an almost 4000 year old bisexual eldritch fae and keeper of the Ancestral Trees. She is Obërian and has “burnished copper skin.” This is set in 1887-1888, primarily on the vampire island colony of Eyrie.
CW: disabled main character (deaf in one ear, injured arm, scarred face), ableism, PTSD, racism, past kink-shaming, war references due to hero’s 40 years of military service, alcohol, inebriation (not clear if Vlad is an alcoholic or not), intimate partner violence (Elizabeth slaps Vlad; he breaks things off with her later for other reasons), metal poisoning, cigarettes, past opium use, classism, ableist language, gender essentialist language (including “manhood” used as a euphemism), poor word choice (e.g. “slaving away”), secondary character uses a wheelchair, secondary character’s twin sons died of “sweating sickness” (past)
November 26, 2020
I reached the end of Book 1, and said to myself, "Is that it?"
Don't get me wrong, I adore Joy's writing, and I fully empathise with her health struggles et al. over the last 4 years; in particular her difficult decision to split this first manuscript into two (a 1000 page hardcover is just not a reasonable thing to print, I'm fully aware of that). It's hard to put my feelings about this into words, so I'll try dot points:
Thoughts on the novel as a whole entity:
1. I felt that while I was reading I could almost sense where bits had been excised to cut down the page count, and that while the world is vivid and wonderful, it did almost feel a trifle...flat in some respects. I felt that some of the wit and the heart had been taken out somehow...I can't explain it fully. I'm holding out hope for a Director's Cut someday, and that Joy can put everything in Book 2 that her heart desires!
2. Given that this is just the first half of the original manuscript, it ends in a good place, but it also just ends?? I love me some slowburn, and pacing and characterization are dead important, but given that there was supposed to be a second half, it feels like the book almost had no point?? I mean, obviously it has a point, not every novel needs to be high-stakes drama, and the ending makes that very point ("It was just three people, an old library, and a little cleverness"), but where does it go from here? This was meant to be the middle of the book; clearly the solution they found in the library isn't the panacea they're intending it to be. It's hard to fully form a judgment on this when literally the second half hasn't been published yet.
3. It didn't feel long enough, tbh; Joy said it was 122,000 words, but man they flew by, and I need to know what happens next. I think ultimately, I hope that Book 2 comes out in the next 12 months, because I think readers are going to want to read Books 1 & 2 together, to get a full sense of the plot, because we aren't privy to the big picture right now.
What I loved:
1. Elizabeth getting the arse-kicking she richly deserves (and much sooner than I was estimating!), because no one should be treated the way she was treating them.
2. Nathan- all of Nathan, tbqh
3. The excellent sex scenes- I was a bit apprehensive, I wasn't sure how explicit they would be, and if I could handle that, BUT they were fine, and I loved that Nathan and Vlad kept checking in with each other #consentftw
4. Riya- just Riya! Also...her and Kitty Collins, yes??
5. The casual inclusiveness littered about; glorious!! And Dr Allan, the definitely not-a-necromancer :D
6. It really got me with Nathan's arc; he was so sick, and so trying to soldier on, and finally two people believed in his pain, and got some correct treatment, and yeah it's a hell of a slow road, but man at least he isn't dying of metal poisoning anymore.
7. KITTY FUCKING COLLINS. What a legend; what a woman.
8. Vlad and Riya's relationship <3
9. ALSO Joy kept in my favourite line, about Nathan's 4 younger sisters keeping him fit :D AND his younger twin brothers- I was so glad they were still in there!
10. "Silence fell so abruptly it clanged into place." :D
11. I really liked how the book began with Ursula, because she is a major part of the series, and up till now hasn't actually appeared in the Patreon previews.
What I didn't care for:
1. MILES.
2. Vlad taking the fall for his father (I get it, but baby boy you have got to grow out of the habits that have been beaten into you)
What I'd like to see more of:
1. RIYA.
2. KITTY FUCKING COLLINS. "Kitty, come away from the comestibles at once."
3. Eyrie.
4. Also Vlad taking on the council with more ideas, like equality and fair hourly wages :D
5. Ursula having a more prominent emotional connection with her boys, because we haven't been introduced to her as we have Vlad and Nathan.
6. A followup to Vlad's recollection of the book that saves the day; he was so sure he owned a copy once that went missing...did it...go missing on purpose?? Is this some small part of a greater conspiracy????
Final thoughts: Frankly I just want more; I hope Joy's ready to print some absolute doorstopper novels, coz even at 122,000 words this felt way too truncated
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2020
Absolutely loved it!
I have been waiting for Joy to grace us with this book for a while and I couldn't be happier with the result. Knowing there will 100% definitely be more of this is just the cherry on top because I am DREADFULLY IN LOVE with Vlad and Nathan both and I strongly suspect all I need is some extra exposure to Ursula to succumb to her as well.
There were so many great lines and puns and jokes and profound scenes in this, I can't be expected to pick just one to comment on, but I do want to give a special shout-out to Vlad's comment on his name being 'I've learnt to be dead with it', which absolutely slayed me and cemented my love for him.
Nathan's story in particular was extremely moving and I'm sire we haven't seen the last of either his pack or Vlad's family, not to mention Ursula.
Joy, thank you for writing this story, it has really made 2020 just that bit brighter and I can't wait to find out how the story continues!
I have been waiting for Joy to grace us with this book for a while and I couldn't be happier with the result. Knowing there will 100% definitely be more of this is just the cherry on top because I am DREADFULLY IN LOVE with Vlad and Nathan both and I strongly suspect all I need is some extra exposure to Ursula to succumb to her as well.
There were so many great lines and puns and jokes and profound scenes in this, I can't be expected to pick just one to comment on, but I do want to give a special shout-out to Vlad's comment on his name being 'I've learnt to be dead with it', which absolutely slayed me and cemented my love for him.
Nathan's story in particular was extremely moving and I'm sire we haven't seen the last of either his pack or Vlad's family, not to mention Ursula.
Joy, thank you for writing this story, it has really made 2020 just that bit brighter and I can't wait to find out how the story continues!
June 13, 2022
edit: I'm changing this to a 3.5/low 4 stars, because the characters were so adorable I'm currently missing reading about them right now and wishing I had book 2.
This is a 1000% (not a typo) character focused book. The plot is like an afterthought and basically non-existent. The characters are AMAZING sweethearts and I adore all of them! They're so respectful and sweet to each other (the protagonists).
Think of slice of life with vampires, werewolves, and a mainly gay focused relationship.
The plot sort of started (and then immediately ended again) in the final ~70 pages or so. There's also supposed to be something about polyamory in this book, but it's just hints and setup at the very end, so don't read it with hopes of that.
There's also an edition without 18+ scenes; it has a blue cover. I discovered that too late haha.
This is a 1000% (not a typo) character focused book. The plot is like an afterthought and basically non-existent. The characters are AMAZING sweethearts and I adore all of them! They're so respectful and sweet to each other (the protagonists).
Think of slice of life with vampires, werewolves, and a mainly gay focused relationship.
The plot sort of started (and then immediately ended again) in the final ~70 pages or so. There's also supposed to be something about polyamory in this book, but it's just hints and setup at the very end, so don't read it with hopes of that.
There's also an edition without 18+ scenes; it has a blue cover. I discovered that too late haha.
May 23, 2021
There aren't enough words for how much I love this book. I've recommended it to almost everyone I've talked books with and will continue to rave about it. Delightful queerness, vampires and werewolves, a disability plot that shows serious care, canon theys and Mx.s, thoughtful BDSM, and enough subverted tropes to make any fanfiction lover happy. It's the first book I've finished in a long time, and I've read it twice this year alone. If you like love stories, vampires, werewolves, BDSM, or laughter, you really should read it.
August 11, 2024
This was an utter delight and I can't wait for the next one!
November 6, 2023
"True Love Bites" not only delivers an engaging and entertaining storyline but also fosters a diverse and inclusive representation of relationships and genders.
This is a fun little foray into a world where historical enmities collide with newfound attraction. Captain Nathan J. Northland, a war-weary injured werewolf, and Vlad Blutstein, a captivating vampire lord with a penchant for the dramatic find themselves with annoying feelings. It is a sweet and thoughtful romance. I especially liked the frank and honest conversation about boundaries and interests between the two leads. Towards the end, Lady Ursula emerges as a mysterious figure. She introduces an intriguing layer of impending doom that adds depth to the narrative and leaves me eager to continue the series.
This is a fun little foray into a world where historical enmities collide with newfound attraction. Captain Nathan J. Northland, a war-weary injured werewolf, and Vlad Blutstein, a captivating vampire lord with a penchant for the dramatic find themselves with annoying feelings. It is a sweet and thoughtful romance. I especially liked the frank and honest conversation about boundaries and interests between the two leads. Towards the end, Lady Ursula emerges as a mysterious figure. She introduces an intriguing layer of impending doom that adds depth to the narrative and leaves me eager to continue the series.
August 16, 2021
okay so first of all, wow. i loved this and read it in a day. i mean there were bits and pieces in the writing style that i don't personally favour and i REALLY should've bought the fluff version (that i sadly didn't know of when i ordered the book) but still. the story is thrilling and wonderfully written. the characters are incredibly interesting and so utterly Human (esp for being supernatural beings) it is wonderful. moreover did i absolutely enjoy the queer poly romance and the authors way of treating disability all throughout the story it was really good and refreshing to read. everything about the book made me happy. amongst other things because both, the writing style and humour, reminded me so much of terry pratchett and neil gaiman. i really do hope there will be a second book but alas until then the short story will have to do.
September 23, 2024
Yes.. Just yes. Loved pretty much everything about this book, so cozy and cute,nothing that made me feel anxious about what might happen next. Plus the fact that the author bothered to publish a non spicy version is really just amazingly thoughtful. Can't wait for the next one, hoping it'll come soon 🤗
December 18, 2020
A delightful book that expertly blends the supernatural with science and magic filled with wonderful characters. I love Vlad, but absolutely adore disabled werewolf Nathan. His story is handled with care.
June 15, 2025
2.5
I got bored during the dance and then there was the absolutely useless boundaries talk for a vampire who apparently never met a top or femdom in 200 years (edit: HE'S OVER 400?) or whatever. the pacing further fell off in the third act
this should have either leaned heavier into romance or a decent plot bc it failed at balancing both. it's readable though. i did really like Nathan.
I got bored during the dance and then there was the absolutely useless boundaries talk for a vampire who apparently never met a top or femdom in 200 years (edit: HE'S OVER 400?) or whatever. the pacing further fell off in the third act
this should have either leaned heavier into romance or a decent plot bc it failed at balancing both. it's readable though. i did really like Nathan.
August 28, 2025
a very fun read!! paranormal romance with a side of regency-era drama, cool world building, and some excellent disability/chronic illness rep with definitely no necromancy. probably.
pacing was a little off at times, i wish we’d moved into act III a little sooner. but overall, still very enjoyable! and also, i love Vlad so very much.
pacing was a little off at times, i wish we’d moved into act III a little sooner. but overall, still very enjoyable! and also, i love Vlad so very much.
January 23, 2021
This was really great, it was fun and engaging and a joy to read. I loved the characters and the world-building BUT it ends so abruptly I have to dock a star. I was honestly shocked when I realised there wasn't any more.
I'm still not convinced that maybe the wrong version of the file got uploaded to Kobo. What I thought was another chapter was a sample of Crewel Intentions: Flirting with Fangs: A Hunger Pangs Short. DON'T READ IT. The sample just casually gives away major unresolved plot-points from True Love Bites.
In fact even the blurb for Crewel Intentions: Flirting with Fangs: A Hunger Pangs Short is a major spoiler for True Love Bites. I don't understand how it's supposed to be 1.5 in the series.
I'm still not convinced that maybe the wrong version of the file got uploaded to Kobo. What I thought was another chapter was a sample of Crewel Intentions: Flirting with Fangs: A Hunger Pangs Short. DON'T READ IT. The sample just casually gives away major unresolved plot-points from True Love Bites.
In fact even the blurb for Crewel Intentions: Flirting with Fangs: A Hunger Pangs Short is a major spoiler for True Love Bites. I don't understand how it's supposed to be 1.5 in the series.
June 27, 2021
I am really not sure how describe what I disliked about this one so that I don't give away too much but at the same time can give a proper review.
Let's start with what I liked:
The characters were interesting and also likeable, especially Nathan. The storyline about his injuries was my favourite part of the book.
The book was well-written in terms of the language used and the descriptions of place and situations.
Now, why only two stars?
It felt to me like there was hardly any plot. It was a lot of the time just the characters going about their daily life and that daily life was for the most part not very exciting or led nowhere.
There wasn't any real build-up to the attraction. It was instantly clear who liked who and there was no conflict there. That being said I could get behind the first couple a lot better than later developments (trying to remain vague here so that there's no spoilers).
One scene in particular felt completely out of context to me. I bought the "fluffy" version of this book and so I didn't get to see the actual "action" and now I wish I had bought the regular one because I felt like I didn't really understand what was going on there. The whole chapter felt very random and like two modern day people discussing kinks and boundaries and didn't fit in with the rest of the story. I had to put it down after that chapter and continue another day because it kind of threw me out of the setting if that makes any sense?
All in all I would have wanted more plot and more conflict and more... realistic built up to attraction. It felt a bit like a let down to have such interesting characters and then nothing much happens to them or their world.
Let's start with what I liked:
The characters were interesting and also likeable, especially Nathan. The storyline about his injuries was my favourite part of the book.
The book was well-written in terms of the language used and the descriptions of place and situations.
Now, why only two stars?
It felt to me like there was hardly any plot. It was a lot of the time just the characters going about their daily life and that daily life was for the most part not very exciting or led nowhere.
There wasn't any real build-up to the attraction. It was instantly clear who liked who and there was no conflict there. That being said I could get behind the first couple a lot better than later developments (trying to remain vague here so that there's no spoilers).
One scene in particular felt completely out of context to me. I bought the "fluffy" version of this book and so I didn't get to see the actual "action" and now I wish I had bought the regular one because I felt like I didn't really understand what was going on there. The whole chapter felt very random and like two modern day people discussing kinks and boundaries and didn't fit in with the rest of the story. I had to put it down after that chapter and continue another day because it kind of threw me out of the setting if that makes any sense?
All in all I would have wanted more plot and more conflict and more... realistic built up to attraction. It felt a bit like a let down to have such interesting characters and then nothing much happens to them or their world.
December 10, 2023
DNFed at 76% when the heroine shown on the cover finally shows up. This is not a complete book in itself. It’s a slow opening act. By the end of the book I presume we will be at about where I would expect to be at the 30% mark for any other book.
Also, it’s weird that our vampire hero, who is something like 400, acts and thinks like a new adult near-virgin, while our werewolf hero who is in his 60s, comes off like 30-something. Underscoring this odd youthfulness is the fact that both men are stressed by their relationships with their respective domineering fathers. Gosh, if I live to 400, I can’t imagine how depressing it would be to still be fearing daddy’s opinion.
Yet this book has some good elements. The politics are familiar, the world building is a random mishmash of regency and dark and stormy night stuff but it works, and I like the characters despite not being happy that they’re so immature for their ages.
Also, it’s weird that our vampire hero, who is something like 400, acts and thinks like a new adult near-virgin, while our werewolf hero who is in his 60s, comes off like 30-something. Underscoring this odd youthfulness is the fact that both men are stressed by their relationships with their respective domineering fathers. Gosh, if I live to 400, I can’t imagine how depressing it would be to still be fearing daddy’s opinion.
Yet this book has some good elements. The politics are familiar, the world building is a random mishmash of regency and dark and stormy night stuff but it works, and I like the characters despite not being happy that they’re so immature for their ages.
July 5, 2021
so literally the only reason i'm giving this four stars instead of five is because the ending was super sudden and didn't feel finished. i know there's a sequel and i'm super excited for it! i just really wanted more. part of that might have been because i was reading the ebook and didn't have any indication of how far along i was, but it definitely felt like it ended in the middle of the story.
otherwise, this book was incredible. i adored the characters, the world building was fun, the smut was great (although i would love to see more of it!). the rep was amazing - queerness (including nonbinary characters), disability, ptsd, ADHD, you name it. the discussions of consent were perfect and the pining was just right. i'm definitely excited for the next book!
otherwise, this book was incredible. i adored the characters, the world building was fun, the smut was great (although i would love to see more of it!). the rep was amazing - queerness (including nonbinary characters), disability, ptsd, ADHD, you name it. the discussions of consent were perfect and the pining was just right. i'm definitely excited for the next book!
November 19, 2021
Came for the nail nipples, stayed for the blog tea, got rewarded with a book, and wowie what an amazing work of art Joy has put out there for us. The disability rep(!!), the good play negotiations, the blooming poly dynamic, the glimmering hopepunk of making the world you want to see with the people you love because, despite all the awful out there, we can impact the world in ways that make it better in blazing spite of the opposition. Beautiful piece and am impatiently patiently waiting for the next in the series.
January 11, 2021
As the author describes it, this is a “queer, disabled-centric, polyamorous love story.” As a queer someone that does battle with chronic illness and injury, I was utterly unprepared for how deeply affected I would be seeing characters like me in print.
It took me a little bit of effort to get into it, likely because it was such a dramatic shift from what I usually read, but I am tremendously grateful for this piece of work. I dearly, dearly hope there will be a sequel.
It took me a little bit of effort to get into it, likely because it was such a dramatic shift from what I usually read, but I am tremendously grateful for this piece of work. I dearly, dearly hope there will be a sequel.
February 1, 2021
You need to know one thing about this book.
GET IT.
GET IT RIGHT NOW.
It is so good????? I am so so glad there is gonna be a sequel ohhhhhmygod. The characters are amaZING, the world building is *chef kiss*, the prose is so engaging you wanna LIVE THERE. Oh this goes right into my 'must reread' pile!
GET IT.
GET IT RIGHT NOW.
It is so good????? I am so so glad there is gonna be a sequel ohhhhhmygod. The characters are amaZING, the world building is *chef kiss*, the prose is so engaging you wanna LIVE THERE. Oh this goes right into my 'must reread' pile!
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