You know those gray, rainy fall days when all you want to do is curl up indoors, sipping something warm, and devouring a good book? When that moment finally arrived, I knew I had to choose one of the most highly anticipated books on my shelf: Mate.
It's been almost a year since we closed the final pages on the first book in the series, Bride - a book which I genuinely adored and couldn't get enough of, so I was thrilled to get to settle in with her newest release! As a huge fan of paranormal romances, I'm always on the hunt for a story that can deliver high-stakes, phenomenal world-building, and of course some spice.
Did Koen and Serena's highly anticipated romance story live up to the hype? Let's dive into my spoiler-free review and find out!
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Synopsis
Meet Serena Paris: Orphaned, alone, and the world's only known Human-Were hybrid. She was supposed to be the bridge between two species, but instead, she's become prey in a ruthless political war between Weres, Vampyres, and Humans. With enemies closing in, her only hope lies with an Alpha who's just as dangerous as the threat itself.
Koen Alexander is the Alpha of the Northwest pack, and his word is law. He has claimed Serena as his mate, and whether she likes it or not, no one, and nothing, will keep him from keeping her safe. But the political maneuvering is the least of their problems. As the dangers and secrets from Serena's past begin to catch up wit her, Koen might be the only thing standing between his mate and death. Get ready for a high stakes action, full of fierce possessiveness, and a bond these two can't afford to break.
Strengths
Where Mate truly excels is in the intense, irresistible dynamics of its characters. I especially loved getting to see Koen's layers peel back as he evolves from the intimidating alpha to a softy at heart, especially when it comes to the fierce, martyr Serena who will do anything to protect the ones she loves. Furthermore, the spicy scenes definitely delivered on the high heat promised by the series, and helped to cement their intense chemistry. For fans of Bride, the cameos of characters such as Misery were an absolute treat! Finally, the story had me hooked from the very first page, leaving me on the edge of my seat.
Weaknesses
While Mate delivered on the heat and the heart, I do have a couple of minor critiques. Because this is a companion novel releasing almost a year after Bride, I found myself feeling very confused at times. The narrative immediately throws you back into the highly intricate political landscape and dense world-building, assuming the reader can perfectly recall every detail from the previous book. A little more organic refresh of the plot points might have been helpful in order to avoid having to pause and try to remember what events or people are being referred to from the previous book. Secondly, while I generally enjoy Ali Hazelwood's humor, some of the jokes and internal dialogue felt a little cheesy and fell flat for me, occasionally pulling me out of high-tension filled atmosphere that the rest of the plot contained.
Would I Recommend It?
So, after all the high-stakes, and steamy scenes, would I recommend adding Mate to your shelf? The answer is absolutely yes! This book delivers everything the paranormal romance (and omegaverse) genre promises, providing an intense, rewarding experience with fantastic chemistry, and of course those great character cameos. However, I want to be perfectly clear on one point: because the narrative throws you so quickly back into the complex plot, I highly encourage a reread of Bride first. Taking that time to reread will help you avoid the moments of confusion that I experienced, and will allow you to fully appreciate the plot and world-building, leaving you with nothing to distract from Koen and Serena's story. It was still the perfect book to snuggle up with on my rainy day indoors, and met my expectations for my cozy reading session.
Ratings
Overall Rating: 3.75/5
Spice Rating: 3/5
Some Photos From My Cozy Reading Day
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