Bride review
“You know what makes Alphas good leaders?” he asks without looking up.
“No clue.”
He huffs out a laugh. “Neither do I. But at times, there are decisions that feel right, deep in the marrow of my bones.” He wets his lips. “You are one of them.”
Ali Hazelwood - Bride, Chapter 10
It’s a well-known fact amongst my inner circle that the author Ali Hazelwood can do no wrong in my eyes. In fact, I would gladly and humbly read her grocery lists. So imagine my delight once she announced Bride, a paranormal omega-verse romance… which she then published during my birthday month!
Hazelwood is best known for her STEMinist modern love stories. (The Love Hypothesis, her first published novel, is Reylo fanfiction.) ((Reylo = Kylo Ren and Rey of Star Wars, for the uninitiated.)) I have adored experiencing Hazelwood’s growth in character development. Don’t get me wrong – she catches flak for writing the same story over and over again. (Grumpy/Sunshine, some miscommunication, rivals- or enemies-to-lovers.) I still eat it up every time.
Apply those familiar formulas to Bride and you have an arranged marriage between a Vampyre and Were. Misery Lark, the vampire and P.O.V. character is sarcastic as hell and loyal to a fault. Lowe Moreland, the werewolf and love interest, is a family-oriented Alpha leader. While they are diametrically opposed political enemies in the midst of a Cold War-esque struggle, the two find common ground in protecting those they love.
“It must be tiresome, being a decent person, and I can’t relate. I revel in my moral flexibility.”
Chapter 12
The chemistry between the two leads is palpable, and the omega-verse aspects add that animalistic element. For instance, scent plays a huge role in attraction and sexual tension. Biting, of course, too comes into action. Hazelwood drives home the fact that at our core we are animals – pheromones, scents, tactile sensations – and these elements can create so much fun to the romantic experience. Lowe’s animal territorialism versus icky toxic masculinity. Misery’s need to feed on a strong partner versus succubus-like emotional draining. Y’know? Fair warning: “knotting” is an omega-verse staple, and it might weird some people out. (If it weirds you out, you’re boring.) ((Just kidding - we can still be friends, I guess.))
But there isn’t only the physical – Misery and Lowe have fantastic banter and emotional vulnerability. Here is a note I wrote in the book verbatim: “One thing I will never undervalue in Hazelwood is her mastery of ‘little contacts,’ a term I just made up. The way she incorporates tiny gesture (Ana cuddling Misery, Lowe making a sandwich for Ana) into her stories with subtlety lend realism and relational honesty I think other authors (mostly romance authors) forget. We are creatures of a thousand infinitesimal actions.”
Have I made my point clearly, intensely enough? I love this book. Simple.
