Life has not been easy for Serena after finding out she’s half Human and half Were. Between the kidnappings and attempts on her life, she’s got a lot going on. There’s also the fact that Northwest Alpha Koen Alexander claims that she’s his mate, and yet acts like he wants nothing to do with her. Which bothers her for some reason…
After months of waiting, another addition to Ali Hazelwood’s well-received Bride universe is finally here! I know personally, as a big fan of the first book, I was foaming at the mouth as the release date got closer and closer. Now that it’s here I cannot wait to share my thoughts after finishing the novel.
Spoiler warning!
The following review will contain some spoilers for the novel. If that doesn’t bother you, then by all means continue on. Just wanted to get that out of the way before continuing on. Additionally, I will also note my own biases before continuing.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge vampire lover. Ever since my youth, there was something about these mythical creatures that I couldn’t help but admire. And while I also like werewolves, it’s not to the same degree. When I read Bride, it became an instant favorite. I mean, a romance novel by one of my personal favorite authors with a vampire protagonist? Yeah it quickly became a top 5 favorite book. But, I still eagerly awaited this fully Were novel and was not disappointed.
Recap of Bride
For those unaware, Mate is a companion novel to Bride. Meaning this novel happens in the same universe, but is told from the perspective of a different character from the first book.
In Bride, we read from the perspective of Vampyre Misery Lark. In the events of the novel, she marries Lowe Moreland, Alpha of the Southwest pack, to form a peace treaty between Weres and Vampyres. At first things are tense for these natural enemies. Weres give Misery dirty looks, and is restricted in what she can do in their territory. Feeling more like a prisoner than a bride on her honeymoon.
We find out Misery only agreed to the marriage to find her foster sister Serena Paris, who went missing months prior. The only clue she has to go on is a note written in a code only Misery and Serena know; L.E. Moreland. As Lowe and Misery grow close, we find out that Lowe’s younger sister Ana is half Were and half Human. Ana, also known as Lilliana Esther Moreland, was who Serena was looking for. Because, as we find out by the end of the novel, Serena is also half Were and half Human.
In the epilogue of Bride, written from Lowe’s perspective, fellow Alpha Koen Alexaner drops of Ana back to Lowe’s territory. We witness Koen’s reaction to Serena’s scent. Essentially figuring out that she is his mate. We end Bride with Lowe thinking, “This (…) is going to be an issue.” What a cliff hanger. One that left readers desperate for more.
Where does this leave us in Mate?
In Mate we read now from the perspective of halfling Serena Paris, Misery’s foster sister and best friend. The events of the second novel start a few months after Bride‘s ending, in the middle of the woods where Serena is staying in a cabin alone. Through some flashbacks, we learn that she gave a public interview coming out as a hybrid being. While this opened a dialogue for more peaceful times between Humans, Weres, and maybe even Vampyres, it also effectively painted a target on her back for anyone opposed to said peace. Cue Vampyre attack in the middle of the night that Koen fortunately assists with.
After it becomes clear someone on the Vampyre Council is behind the attack, Serena decides to ask Koen to let her stay in his territory to avoid bringing any suspicion to Lowe’s sister Ana; another secret hybrid who is only 7 years old. Cue the forced proximity trope.
We learn that Serena decided to move out to the soliary cabin after receiving news that she has a Were diease and will unlikely be able to survive it, planning to die away from loved ones to make it easier for them. Or so Hazelwood attempted to lead us to believe. (I knew it from the start and wasn’t fooled for a moment.)
In actuality, Serena is going through heat. Bit of an awkward mix up. Even more awkward, the only one she wants to help her through her heat is Koen. The Alpha was made a vow of celibacy per his pack’s traditions. Yikes. That’s not even mentioning the unfolding mystery of Serena’s birth family possibly being part of a Were cult bent on getting rid of Koen. No biggie.
The odds should be stacked against Koen and Serena, and yet they can’t seem to stop enjoying each other’s company and crave it more and more. A different take on the doomed to fail love trope that we got in Bride, but one I really loved to read.
Speaking of, let’s get on to the review.
Things I loved
There were plenty of elements of this book that I really really liked. Some parts I’d even re-read a few times before moving on because of how much I loved it. While I must acknowledge that Mate doesn’t hold my heart as much as Bride does, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Right off the bat, I loved the progression of Koen’s character. Seeing how much he softened up for Serena, but maintained his more rough personality was definitely one of my favorite parts of this book. The little moments of vulnerability he allowed himself with her were delicious.
In that vein, I loved the continuation of the little snippets of the male lead’s thoughts as pictured above. Seeing his perspective in these very poetic little moments adds to the chapters so much. And I love the epilogues being from Koen’s perspective. In fact, I think the epilogue might be one of my favorite parts of the novel as a whole. His reaction to her biting him and hoping it scars. I had to put the book down to kick and scream in my pillow for a little bit. Hazelwood really knows how to write a man who knows how to yearn, and I am here for it. More please!
I also loved the found family element of the story, specifically the way Serena really becomes part of the pack. When the seconds all come to eat dinner with her, I was so happy for her. It probably cured a little of the past loneliness she felt. Not to mention the way they all adore her! It was nice to see compared to the hostility Misery had faced after she married Lowe. Doesn’t hurt that we occasionally get jealous Koen from it.
And last thing to note, while I most definitely didn’t approve of Serena keeping her death scare a secret from everyone, I did not mind getting two different reckonings; one from Koen and one from Misery.
The one from Koen was so raw and primal in a very butterflies in stomach way. It really cemented for me that so much of the things he has said and done was just an act to make it easier for him because of the covenant (more on that later), but at the end of the day he was already so gone for her.
Misery’s had a different energy (naturally) but was just as coated in love for Serena. The way Misery opened up about her own insecurities to show Serena how warped Serena’s perspective of Misery’s life was from her own was so emotional. Not telling her she was wrong, but just letting Serena in on some of her more darker negative thoughts. The speech about how no one else in their lives will truly understand each other like they do. It was so loving and reminded us of the love they share that made Misery agree to her marriage in the first place. Each time they referred to each other as sisters my heart squished from joy.
Things I didn’t love as much.
When it came to things I didn’t love about this book, there was really mainly one thing. And even as I say I didn’t exactly like this plot point, I also feel conflicted as I see why it is there. I’m talking about the Covenant.
The Covenant is essentially a celibacy vow that the Alpha of the Northwest abides by. The thought behind it is that it will help the Alpha stay clear-minded so as to continue their duties. Instead of being emotionally corrupted by those the Alpha may put before the pack. Because finding one’s mate is actually rare, usually it isn’t too hard to uphold. But of course things change for Koen after he meets Serena.
I am conflicted on this point for a handful of reasons. One, I totally can see why this oath would be helpful in a Were society. Animalistic instincts come with the territory. So it makes sense in an objective way. But in the context of this novel, it almost feels like an unnecessary obstacle. While it was briefly mentioned in Bride, it still felt like a last minute addition for some reason. Maybe because it was such an offhand comment in the previous book and then not mentioned again until later in Mate.
I almost would have preferred if Koen pushed her back solely because of what happened to his parents. And him being scared that would happen to her. But at the same time, I enjoyed that scene where the assembly kind of just broke into his house.
Of course that is only my opinion, and it didn’t prevent me from still liking the book as a whole. And for those worried this means less spice compared to Bride, do not fret. There is still spice in the book. Just more scandalous with The Covenant.
To summarize
I really enjoyed this book and do not regret at all pre-ordering the book and ticking it off of my TBR. Do I love it as much as its predecessor? No. But I had a feeling I wouldn’t purely because of the decrease in vampires.
I HIGHLY recommend that any romance novel lovers give it a read! However, if you’re not exactly sold by this book no worries. Feel free to read this review on Teenage Girls Can Be Demons on Trill Mag. Perhaps it is more up your alley!
Happy reading!
