Hello everyone!
Which, I'll admit, I honestly thought I had already reviewed, but APPARENTLY, for some reason, I skipped over it?
I don't know why. Don't even start asking questions, because I probably won't be able to answer them LOL
In any event, I found out at the perfect time to be able to have a look at the book, which just so happens to be the first in a series, or at least the first in a spin-off series, because apparently, there's a heck of a lot more of them.
I also inconveniently managed to start with, like, the fourth one? Instead of the actual first? So of course I had about zero clue when I read that, and now reading this one I'm confused with some of the characterizations haha.
Still, it's an entertaining world to be in, so why don't we head on for the quick ride that's going to be Branded in Love?
Branded in Love by Silvana G. Sanchez is the first in the Bad Boy Shifters of the Unnatural Brethren series, and tells the love story of Gavriil and Luciana.
Now, apparently, Gavriil is the head honcho of a LOT of the books, and turns into a bit of a villain, so this is kind of part of his origin story really, this spin-off series, that's sort of prequel and somewhere in the middle.
The mothership seems to be Unnatural Brethren but, I have to do a bit of exploration to be sure.
In any event, Branded in Love begins with Gavriil on an evening jog when he hits upon a scent that he just HAS to follow. Think Bella to Twilight's Edward, and you'll know what I mean. Turns out, the woman it belongs to - Luciana - is cavorting with a vampire, and Gavriil wants to end said vampire right off the bat, especially when the vamp decides he wants Luciana more than he wants to allow anyone else to have her.
Seeing as Gavriil is a bear shifter and a warlock, this is a very one-sided fight, and thus Luciana gets dragged into the world of shifters and magic, more or less against her will even.
And it gets even better, because the vampire Gavriil kills? He's the son of Rome's coven leader (oh yeah, we're in Rome, by the way), and now the leader wants revenge.
This prompts Gavriil to take Luciana into his own home and call down reinforcements to protect her. Of course the close proximity also means torture for the poor guy, regardless that he takes her to his cousin Natalya, a gifted witch herself, who concocts some sort of perfume to overlay Luciana's natural scent with, so that she might better be able to hide from all the supernatural beings after her 'golden blood'.
Interrupted by Marco, Luciana's BFF, (after Luciana wraps her head around the fact she's fallen for the man they call the Ursa King, aka king of the bear shifter clan), Gavriil and Luciana consummate their relationship later, but he refrains from marking her with his bite for the time being, because he already has a tragic past behind him.
See, the woman he was initially going to tie the knot with, Bella, betrayed him with his former enforcer, Grisha, and then Grisha killed her because ... I think he's just got a few screws and bolts loose, but that's my two cents.
In any event, the arrival of Gavriil's brother Vlad (he of the Runt of the Pack fame) puts the kiboosh in a lot of things, particularly as he reminds Gavriil that, as king, he needs to make decisions not solely based on what HE wants, but what the pack needs. This, naturally, leads to an argument (although the way it's written it's definitely putting words in Gavriil's mouth by Luciana that he NEVER says, so minus points to her there) and she flounces off.
This, by the way, right after she announced that she's going with Gavriil to rescue Marco from the vampire coven that kidnapped him, because taking a defenseless and useless human woman into the belly of the beast is the brightest idea any heroine has ever had in these books, knowing she brings nothing of value to the table and she'll only be a dangerous distraction for everyone there.
But seeing as if she's made to stay behind - for her own safety, and, you know, life - she stomps her little foot and calls everybody assholes, Gavriil caves and takes Luciana with him.
After he brands her as his, natch, because apparently, great kings rise above the rules or something along those lines.
Facing off with the vampire coven leader at the gala they're all invited to while Vlad takes care of anyone left behind at the lair, Gavriil takes care of everything and makes Rome a safer place. Luciana, as predicted, serves no purpose being there other than taking a valuable fighter out of the fight as he races her to safety.
But with Marco safe and sound, Vlad promising he'll always be there for his brother, and Gavriil finally on a path of love once more with his fated mate, we leave the lot of them to celebrate and enjoy the happiness they have on-hand at the moment.
Because, oh yes, it goes downhill pretty fast afterwards. Trust me.
But happily every after for now!
And just so we're clear - I received an ARC of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Vlad was my entrance into this shifter world - but Gavriil might be why I stay. He's such a compelling character and knowing what the future holds for him breaks my heart ... but there seems to be a promise of happiness somewhere so, maybe?
I want to point out however that, despite numerous assurances to readers these books can be read on their own, with light nudges of reading others, that's not possible. These stories all span over so much time (even if the actual action in them usually takes place over a few days) that you HAVE to read them in the author's suggested reading order. That's just what I plan to do at some point.
For Gavriil. Luciana is an eh, since she usually insists she can handle everything, overriding his logical fears about her REALISTIC WEAKNESSES until what he painted out happens and she's all whoops, okay you were right. My bad, good thing I didn't die. Like MA'AM. Be serious.
Other than that, a good one.
Vlad was my entrance into this shifter world - but Gavriil might be why I stay. He's such a compelling character and knowing what the future holds for him breaks my heart ... but there seems to be a promise of happiness somewhere so, maybe?
I want to point out however that, despite numerous assurances to readers these books can be read on their own, with light nudges of reading others, that's not possible. These stories all span over so much time (even if the actual action in them usually takes place over a few days) that you HAVE to read them in the author's suggested reading order. That's just what I plan to do at some point.
For Gavriil. Luciana is an eh, since she usually insists she can handle everything, overriding his logical fears about her REALISTIC WEAKNESSES until what he painted out happens and she's all whoops, okay you were right. My bad, good thing I didn't die. Like MA'AM. Be serious.
Other than that, a good one.
xx
*image not mine
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