So, after reading Mongrel I was expecting more of what I know Lee writes best. Paranormal fantasy adventure, where the characters are on adventure or quest.

So I was surprised that this book is different. This time things are a little slower (not that much), and though there is no quest to solve as such, there is still plenty of magic and danger around.

All woven in the magic of Lee’s writing style.

As with all Lee’s books, the characters are well developed and portrayed. The initial awkwardness and mistrust between the two main characters Sebastian and Dominus is so real. The time it takes them to surrender to the attraction of each other felt natural.

The story worlds continue to be vivid both visually and atmospheric as we are taken back in history (I can’t remember the period off my head), but it felt real.

The story starts with Sebastian a fae changeling on the run with a Vampire who has been charged with bringing Sebastian to the safety of The Dozen (a ancient vampire council) Where he will mix with fae and be allowed to learn to control his magic.

But Ivaz has to attend another problem, and so leaves Sebastian at a brothel run by a incubus friend Dominus. Unfortunately, Dominus is non too pleased, having a hatred of the fae, who were responsible for the incubus being limited to the land they are born on.

What follows is a slow thawing of relations, lots of mixed signals which when it is time for Sebastian to continue his journey, they each want the other to be together. But neither voices their thoughts.

Whilst at the Dozen Sebastian learns how to control and use his magic, whilst trying to heal his broken heart. He also meets two Vampires Remy and Laurence’s from Beyond the Open Arc book (another fabulous story by Lee).

All the while Dominus is pining and starving himself out of heartache, until Ivaz forces him to write a letter to Sebastian about his true feelings.

As is standard with this authors stories, there are many threads woven together, the Enemies To lovers, Forgiveness, Finding oneself, Learning to Trust and found family to name a few.

I loved the supporting cast, Rizpah the no nonsense Cook who does not even let her boss Dominus off the hook. She is a fun character. Then there is Leonis the cat shifter who befriends Sebastian and is one of Dominus most trust friend. I really liked Loenis’s protective streak. Then of course there is Remy and Laurence who are all kinds of fun.

I really like to see characters from different books pop up in other stories as Remy and Laurence did in this one. I am a really big fan of large story worlds, so I hope we get more established characters showing up in future books and series.

I highly recommend this book and all of Lee’s books if you love exciting paranormal fantasy romances with vivid characters and storyworlds.