M's Media Menagerie

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again…

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she’s ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

Oh boy, I know what I’m in for.

OH BOY I KNOW WHAT I’M IN FOR

The Prologue hits all the best notes. Female lead is named Misery and she’s already depressed but resigned to it. A tickle of culture and a smattering of mentions that make me go ????? interesting. And then sealed with a good ol fashioned scenting and confused Wolf husband? Yeah man, I’m down. I’m so down.

Let us see if they disappoint me.

(I am not annotating, I’m just enjoying)

I am about a third through the book and I love the genius hacker Misery who has a cat she hates and a child has taken a shine on because Misery basically is the household cat. She’s looking for her best friend, her foster sister, and it’s stirring up loads of trouble.

Honestly, I’m just happy that one of the biggest romance tropes— an unwillingness to communicate— is done away with on Misery’s side and explained on Lowe’s side that it’s a delicate political nightmare and she’s a security risk. She nods and shrugs and says, okay, well, here’s my problem. It intersects with your problem. And they agree to chill the fuck out.

I’m having fun with the whole thing so far. Our MC acts reasonably— “he’s kidnapping a child. Well shit, I’m gonna go fix that???”— and despite so far the story is “sitting around” it isn’t boring. I get to learn more about Misery and how weird and alone she is (for good reason).

And Lowe is not absolutely losing his shit. He takes the whole thing pretty seriously, is honor-bound to care for her well-being, and is willing to shut up and listen. Any potential affection is expressed in small ways. He’s also described as “handsome” but not in a way that interferes with the story.

Thank gods, it is story focused. (Looks disdainfully at another book that I annotated with brutality)

Okay, I’m back after finishing the book.

1. Hehehehee
2. The fucking is good and fun, with a dash of our favorite Werewolf/Vampire typical sexy fetishes involved (biting? fuck yeah. mating? fuck yeah. KNOTTING? heheehehehehe)
   • For those that care, the consent is enthusiastic each time, including the reveal of the knot and everything.
   • The book does not feel like a vehicle for the fucking. The fucking is much more organic and natural and does not involve property damage, just horny adults with mutual feelings.
3. MC can be a bit daft, but she’s called out for it, and she works it out
4. There is the “lying to protect” thing and she’s like. Bro. Dude. C’mon. Don’t do that. And then eventually he goes… “yeah okay. That’s fair.”
5. The mate thing is very transparent and while our MC is like ??????? everyone else knows and she has a very clear reason not to know or understand. In addition, she’s just sort of thick when it comes to feelings in general, so I get it.
6. Plot twists were only a smidge predictable— author works hard to try to buck you off but I think I may have a preternatural detection skill when it comes to something like that. My bestie is the same way. Can’t watch anything without her turning to me about 30 seconds into the film and telling me the ending.
   • I worked out that Serena was a werewolf during those “disappears for days” bits. Don’t know if that was supposed to clue me in.
7. Honestly it’s cute and fun and people communicate so well. There’s a point where someone tries to question Misery and she just says “I told him already bro” and it made me laugh.
8. Speaking of, this is quite a funny read. I like it.