⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. The excellent world-building from the first book is expanded here, with exhilarating action and well-developed characters.

Sometimes you need to take a walk on the dark side. Everything changes for Rowan Mallor, defense magic specialist, when he learns of the teenage daughter he never knew he had – a daughter who’s been traded to the villainous vampire Nixon Castor. Evee Barrett is convinced that Rowan is a liar and a cheat and cannot be trusted. Unfortunately, her father, Headmaster Barrett, believes Rowan when he promises to help find the students that have been mysteriously vanishing from the Academy. Even worse, her father hires him to become the new defensive magic teacher. With the two forced to work together, it’s a war of words and mistrust – Rowan will use any means necessary to steal the precious Book of Damned to save his daughter and the missing students, even if he has to seduce Evee to accomplish it. Meanwhile, Evee is determined to unearth Rowan’s secret and see him rot in jail. But to save not only the school and students but society as they know it, the pair must put aside their differences and do something neither desires – work as a team to save what’s most precious to them.

MY THOUGHTS

I liked Rowan and Evee, as individuals and as a couple. Both had integrity in spades and a yearning to make up for past mistakes. They were very competitive, and neither wanted to cede the upper hand, but they had each other’s backs when it mattered most.

The author made full use of the characters’ magical and physical abilities, which I always appreciate. As much as Rowan started this rescue mission on his own, he called in reinforcements when necessary, and it was fabulous seeing them all work together. Their familiars were so impudent and amusing.

This book was quite harsh at times with more than one scene alluding to sexual assault and degradation. I’d say that it added gravitas to the bleak situation of the victims and the cruelty of their captors, but it was difficult to read.

I can highly recommend this series if you like magic, suspense, and steamy romance. You don’t have to read them in order, but the first book does an excellent job of setting up this world and is well worth reading first.

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Fantasy Romance
Published: August 9, 2024
Sensuality Rating: Hot
Series: Book 2 of Clayridge Chronicles
Other books in the series: Love Spells, Full Moons, and Silver Bullets, Tails from the Clayridge Fountain