Author: Jennifer Harlow
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads Summary:
He's come for me. My savior, my heart, and ultimately, my devil.
As a child, Anna Olmstead is rescued from her life of poverty and drugs by a vampire named Asher. Over the years, she grows to love Asher, first as a father and later as a lover. But soon trouble interrupts her once-perfect life. While Anna wants to settle down, Asher wants a more voyeuristic, party-driven lifestyle.
When Anna leaves him, Asher does everything he can to bring her back to him--including murder. Even as she finally escapes and starts a new life with a special agent of the F.R.E.A.K.S., Asher makes a new move to kidnap Anna and her children. This time, she may not be able to escape him.
My Thoughts:
Don't let this cutesy cover fool you - inside lurks some pretty intense material. I originally thought this book might be some sort of supernatural romance, and it kind of is, I guess, but not the kind you might be looking for. This book is more about obsessive, dangerous love, love that is bad for you, the kind of love that might get you killed.
From the moment Anna meets Asher, she loves him. She is just a little girl, who doesn't know much of the world except pain and disappointment. Until Asher. He whisks her away from her life with neglectful parents, into one where he provides her with everything she could want. From pauper to spoiled princess, Anna's life is changing for the better. Their relationship as father/daughter is cute, and then goes a bit squidgy when Anna hits puberty, when Anna decides their relationship needs to evolve and turns up the Lolita. This behavior continues, without a like reaction from Asher, until she is a little older and of a more acceptable age to the reader. Then their relationship shifts again. and once they become lovers, it really goes dark.
Anna would do anything for Asher. She is obsessed with him, she wants nothing more for them to live a solitary, happy, normal life. But Asher is a vampire, a really old vampire, who despite his best intentions is really not that honorable. Anna stays with him through some really messed up years, until finally, she knows she needs to leave him. And like some abusive relationships, Asher doesn't want to let her go, and as a vampire, has more murderous ways of keeping her with him. Anna is also supernatural herself, as a witch, but she doesn't really do anything with her witchiness.
This book was dark and creepy and had some gross parts, but I did enjoy it. I felt it dragged a little near the ending, but overall, I liked it. I recommend it to anyone who likes vampire stories that aren't always sugarcoated and sparkly shiny, as this one is a bit dark and seedy.
Hmm, you can't tell by the cover what this book is really about. Sounds a bit intense to me. Not sure I would like it, but glad you did!
ReplyDeleteIt had its intense moments, for sure. It was not quite as light as I thought it was going to be, but I was still riveted. Lol. I don't see this book as being a read for everyone though.
DeleteI'm really confused about why a book about vampires has a pun about witches in the title? Did the witch part of the title make sense once you'd read the book?
ReplyDeleteYes, the main character is a witch, but you almost forget that she is because she doesn't really do anything witchy, at least not that often.
DeleteI updated my review to include the fact she is a witch - for some reason I thought it was in the Goodreads blurb and then I totally forgot to mention it as well! Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
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