Red-Haired Ash Reads

In the aftermath of war, there is a fragile peace between the Kurjan nation and the Realm. Vero Phoenix is determined to protect his newfound brother and king, and that means continuously putting himself in dangerous positions as his enforcer. But while he is focused on protecting his brother and finding peace for the Kurjan nation, he is also dealing with his growing feelings for a captivating human. 

It was so nice jumping back into this world to learn what is happening after the defeat of Ulric and a new Kurjan leader taking the throne. This is the first book that is told completely by a Kurjan and in the Kurjan nation, so I really enjoyed learning about this group that has been the enemy for the majority of the series. 

I was instantly sucked into Vero’s story of protecting his newfound brother and king, and struggling with his feelings for Lyrica. Vero is protective, strong, and a bit traumatized from his past. He is struggling a bit under all the changes to his life, and his growing feelings for Lyrica. I liked seeing him grow closer with Paxton and actually act like a brother to him, not just his king. What we learn of Vero’s past was tragic and I liked seeing him overcome the trauma with the help of his brother and Lyrica. Also, his friendship with Hunter was very emotional but I like that we see him start to forgive Hunter for betraying him. 

Lyrica was an independent, controlling, and a bit hard-headed woman who kind of believes that all men are untrustworthy and that marriage is a shackle not a partnership. It was interesting getting to know her and see her overcome her fears of relationships. My biggest issue with Lyrica was that we never get a real good reason why she is so mistrustful of relationships and marriage. 

This was a bit of a slow-building romance because they both are determined to not find a mate. They actually start with a temporary contract for a fling but that doesn’t last long at all. Once Vero realizes she is his mate he goes all in and is determined to win her over, which I really liked. I enjoyed how protective he was of her and even though she pushed back against his protection, he also seemed to understand her need for control. It really felt like these two had to work for their relationship because they both had baggage they had to overcome before they were ready to go all in with their mating. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and how it finally presented us with a Kurjan’s POV. Vero and Lyrica were a very interesting couple that I enjoyed. I also really enjoyed seeing how the future of the Realm after the war and how they are working to actually bring peace between all the nations. I don’t know if there will be more books for this series, but I look forward to them if there are. 

TW: gun and bomb violence; death; kidnapping; mention of rape and forced marriage; mentions of child abuse;

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Previous books and reviews for the series:

#1 Fated
#2 Claimed
#2.5 Tempted
#3 Hunted
#4 Consumed
#5 Provoked
#5.5 Twisted
#6 Shadowed
#6.5 Tamed
#7 Marked
#7.5 Teased
#7.75 Tricked
#7.8 Tangled
#7.9 Talon
#8 Vampire’s Faith
#9 Demon’s Mercy
#9.5 Vengeance
#10 Alpha’s Promise
#11 Hero’s Haven
#12 Guardian’s Grace
#12.5 Vampire
#13 Rebel’s Karma
#14 Immortal’s Honor
#15 Garrett’s Destiny
#15.5 A Vampire’s Kiss
#16. Warrior’s Hope