Linsey Hall

TW/CW: Sex, loss of a parent

RATING: 2/5

REVIEW: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily writing an honest review.

How to Fake Date a Vampire is the story of Emma – a witch – and Alaric – a Duke and a Vampire – who enter into a fake-dating relationship.

This book is unfortunately a bit of a mess. I was really excited going into it, but it just didn’t deliver like I hoped it would.

First, other than occasionally drinking blood with his wine, there was absolutely nothing to differentiate Alaric from a normal human being. There was little to no vampire mythology, which I found very disappointing.

Second, I didn’t buy the relationship at all. It was InstaLove (which is a huge pet peeve of mine), and beyond that the main characters kept shifting back and forth in their feelings – it was confusing and didn’t make a lot of sense. I often wondered why they were doing the fake relationship at all, because that didn’t really make sense either.

Thirdly, there was no tension in this book. Every little bit of tension was resolved SO quickly, and that made it really, really dull.

I did like the idea of this book, I just wish it had been executed a little better. I do not recommend this book, but that’s not to say there won’t be people out there who enjoy it!… (meer)

I've already read The Huntress series which is the first one in the Dragon's Gift universe and I was unimpressed.
The Huntress series had a few intriguing and entertaining ideas and had a few very enjoyable pieces of world-building that seemed well planned through but in other places, there were gaping holes in the plot and a lot of handwaving and plot-conveniences which ultimately lead me to drop the third volume.

I hoped the world had matured and the author improved since then and I could just reenter the universe later on but sadly there really is no difference to the first series.
My complaints are basically identical and I won't continue reading books set in the Dragon's Gift universe.… (meer)