Anwyn sucks. ( )

Read this book if you have read the previous book in this series. If you are getting this as a Goodreads Recommends or are reading this review out of context of the rest of the series, then don't start with this book, this is the second book in an arc within a long series. So, you need to AT LEAST read book #5 - Vampire Mistress. If you have read any of Joey Hills other series, then you are familiar with her types of stories and how great they are. This is no different.

Now - I know that when I first came to this series, I wasn’t too keen on the idea of a male submissive. In fact, this is what kept me from reading it sooner than I had. I like my hero’s alpha. The "submisives" in this series (the men at least) are all alpha. I won't get into it, but trust me the dynamics work out perfectly and you won't get squicked out if the idea of a male submissive isn't your thing. So, if you are holding out because of that, don't. It isn't a problem to worry about.

This book is paranormal fiction, it isn't a romance in the strictest sense. It isn't light and fluffy, it isn't a PNR series in the normal sense - there aren't a group of vampire men who are in a group that is trying to save the world against a big baddie and each book in the series is a predictable romance between one of the vampires and some woman. This isn’t PNR it’s Paranormal Fiction.

This book - like all the book in this series- is complicated, full of emotion, and angst. Serious angst. There is a building relationship between three beings who wouldn’t have come together in the way they have normally, but it seems that fate has her own ideas on what paths some people need to take.

There are a couple of scenes of MM - strong, explicit MM scenes, but they aren't overwhelming the story. Also, in this book they are MMF scenes. Since it is a continuation of the previous book in this series, you need to check out that review "Vampire Mistress". If it is something you might be interested in, then read it, if you find you like it, then read this one. There are scenes of BDSM - extreme BDSM, not the slap and tickle you get in other books, not the abuse-disguised as BDSM you have read previously. Not BDSM written by someone who has never done it in the past (I can only assume Joey W. Hill knows BDSM because she goes where no novice has gone) No one has had to be talked into doing the things in this book that are BDSM. It is RAK rules, but no one is getting harmed. This book is about the peeling back of the layers of pain, hurt and old scars to get to the jewel underneath.

This series is full, lush and filled with humor, angst, pain, love, emotion, intrigue, hot sex, dirty talk, banter and everything else that makes a book/series better than the pale imitations that have been sent out over the past 5 years. It contains complicated feelings and emotions, tremendous character growth and all the feels. Be prepared to laugh, cry and fan your face.

Joey Hill is still writing books in this series, and you can skip some, but the ones you really should read are #1, #2 and #5 if you are going to read this one. But - Reading every book up to this one wouldn’t be a hardship. I have read every book (well most of them) in this series, but the first 6 in this series are the best and really set the tone for a lot of the back and future stories. However, if you aren't really up to a lot of books, then at least read the one before this one. If you keep seeing her books in your Recommends lists then read this series and get out of a book slump. Lucky you if this is the case, I wish I could find a new author/series that will become my favorite.

This is a direct continuation of the previous book "Vampire Mistress". So, again, if you are coming across this review because it is a "book you might like" recommendation but you haven't read any other book in this series, you need to at least read "Vampire Mistress". You can get away without any other books - you won't be totally lost, but you really need to go back to the beginning eventually. Still, the first two books, "The Vampire Queen's Servant" and "Mark of the Vampire Queen" are the foundation to the series and the events and characters in those two books are pivotal to pretty much every other book in this series.

This book is amazing, this series is amazing, and I totally recommend it to anyone who likes erotica with brains and heart. ( )

My favorite of the series - I absolutely love the dynamic between Anwyn, Daegen and Gideon. ( )

Continuing their story as Anwyn must learn to control her demons with Gideon and Daegan's help and go to the Vampire Council to be validated. These three have a lot to learn and overcome. Excellent reading, didn't want to put it down, even though I've read it before. Joey really touches the mind behind D/s relationships
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Due to the subject matter -- including fantasy!BDSM which is not necessarily safe, sane OR consensual (if someone says "no," thinks "no," but subconsciously is on-board.... I lean towards listening to the "no" even when mindreading is involved) and crazy amounts of self-created drama on the parts of two out of three characters -- I don't exactly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. But I did thoroughly enjoy it. ( )