| Title | : | Graveyard Shift |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 208 |
| Publication | : | Published July 28, 2023 |
Sometimes family secrets should stay buried...
Hayley Van Helsing, a twenty something vampire hunter, has always known her destiny was to become the leader of the Van Helsing dynasty, a clan made of supernatural hunters but she has always wondered if her life was meant for a different path, wishing for a normal human mundane life.
That is until she meets Darius, a tall dark mysterious man with piercing blue eyes, in a graveyard one night and unbeknown to her, he's not just your average guy.
And he's about to take her on an adventure that will make her question everything.
GRAVEYARD SHIFT is the thrilling first instalment in a steamy upper NA paranormal vampire romance series. If you like enemies-to-lovers, LGBTQ, touch her and die, a tough female heroine, and a sexy morally grey antihero, this book is for you. Get ready for a fresh take on vampires, werewolves, and witches!
*This book is part of a series and ends in a cliffhanger. Best suited for ages 18+ due to sexual situations.
Triggers include:
Death of parents, mentions of suicide, criminal activities, gun violence, blood (minor), drugs & drinking, PTSD, general violence, smoking.
Graveyard Shift Reviews
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For anyone who grew up on Buddy and Angel, and later on Vampire Diaries. This book was such a nostalgic book for me. I enjoy the witty banter of the two main character. You meet Hayley Van Helsing who is called to wipe out vampires and werewolves. We follow her as she was recently appointed head of the clan after her parents die. After a string of attacks that are out of the ordinary and a new stranger that we don’t know much about, Hayley is faced with issues of trust, following instincts, and a horrid white outfit! About halfway through I audibly gasped. I love when I don’t see something coming! Great set up for the series as well. Mild spice, 2 scenes. Overall a great book, and will check out book 2 when it comes out.
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It was a slow start in my opinion but it quickly picked up and could not put it down! I’m not one to really read about vampires, werewolves and witches, but this book definitely caught my attention and I generally enjoyed reading it.
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I first want to thank The Bibliophilic World and the author for proving me with a digital copy of this book for an honest review.
I loved this story and I can’t wait to read the rest in this series. Witches, werewolves, vampires, hybrids, magic, betrayal, and fated mates. Do I need to say more?
Plenty of action, background story, and romance.
I’d give it 2.5 out of 5 peppers for spiciness. -
This was a fun read. Hayley is a great character and I’m excited to see her develop throughout the series. I’m also interested to see the connections in the Van Helsing lore in the next book.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 🌶️
_______
I absolutely devoured every chapter of this book. I wasn’t a fantasy reader until I read this book, and now I just need more vampire reads in my life.🤩 Were you a big fan of The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, The Originals, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or Angel? Then this book is perfect for you! Also can’t forget about the strong, badass, & independent fmc!! It was fast paced and just packed & packed with magic & action. There are several plot twist you wouldn’t see coming, & I absolutely love finding books where you don’t know what’s coming next; it makes the read much more thrilling & exciting. I loved the tension between Hayley & Darius. I loved the friendship between Hayley & Jackson. I didn’t really like Eric’s character that much from the beginning to the end. But I truly fell in love with Hayley’s story & I cannot wait until book 2 gets released to follow Jackson’s story. Although I do hope it involves Darius & Hayley’s story as well, which I’m sure it will. Jackson is Hayley’s quirky best friend. I loved this book. And I’m honored to have it be my first arc read. ❤️
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🥵touch her and I’ll kill you
⚔️bad ass FMC / tough female heroine
🪄magic/witches
😱cliffhanger ending
🤞soulmates
🙄enemies to lovers
🐺werewolves
🧛♀️vampires
💉modern Van Helsing retelling -
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Another 5 star book from Melanie Davies
Graveyard Shift is the first book in the Midnight Stakes series.
Haley Van Helsing, a vampire hunter, has been thrown into a Leader position in a clan of supernatural hunters after both her parents were killed during a mission.
She is still coming to grips with her role as leader when her worlds shifts one night in a graveyard when she meets the mysterious Darius. Little does Haley know Darius is about to take her on an adventure with twists, turns and secrets revealed.
From the first page I fell in love with Haley. She is a nonsense taking, strong and independent woman who knows what she wants. Despite her being a Van Helsing and expected to live up to the name she has also wondered what living a normal human life would be like.
Her best friend Jackson is a master witch within the clan and the banter between them just made me smile so much. I need more of Jackson in the next books.
This book has:
🌟Enemies to lovers
🌟Touch her and you dies
🌟Tough FMC
🌟Morally grey antihero
🌟Vampire
🌟Werewolves
🌟Witches
🌟Supernatural hunters
🌟Spicy moments 🥵
🌟Betrayal
🌟Cliffhanger ending that makes you want more
100% recommend if you like NA paranormal romance books -
Rating: 4.75 (no decimals on GR so rounded up)
I was very excited to receive an ARC of Graveyard Shift, Melanie Davies' first book in her Midnight Stake series. As a fan of all things Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Vampire Diaries, it has been a while since I dove into a book that had plenty of vampires and other paranormal world building. Graveyard shift delivers on all of that and more!
From the beginning of chapter 1, this book is packed with action as we meet Hayley Van Helsing, the reluctant leader of the Van Helsing clan. Hayley is everything you want in a main character and vampire slayer--she's tough, sharp, takes no prisoners and goes after what she wants without asking for permission. However, the transition from fierce warrior to leader is one that Hayley was not looking to make until tragedy struck and now it is up to her to protect her chosen family and the city, she calls home from supernatural beings of many varieties. It was interesting to read how Hayley struggles with the darker parts of herself that come along with the powers she wields –every blessing can be a curse in its own way.
Given how heavy the Van Helsing legacy weighs on Hayley, I really appreciated the comedic relief introduced in the form of Jackson, Hayley's best friend and a powerful witch in his own right. The strong bond between these two best friends and their determination to never give up on each other was heartwarming. I also loved Jackson’s fearless ability to call Hayley out when she needed it, exactly what any vampire slayer needs in her second in command.
As the vampire and werewolf attacks increase and hit closer to home, Hayley soon meets Darius, a brooding and mysterious man, whose origins are unknown and whose powers trigger Hayley’s supernatural ‘spidey’ sense. Hayley cannot fight the draw that she feels towards Darius as the two flirt, fight and Hayley is forced to question some of the fundamental truths she has been raised to follow. However, as the death toll rises and the Van Helsing enemies reveal themselves to be much closer to home than expected, Hayley must decide if she’s willing to listen to her heart and put her trust in someone whom very may well turn out to be the enemy she has been raised to hate and hunt.
I enjoyed this fast-paced read and if anything, I only wish we’d had a little more time to spend with some of the incredible reveals that happen in the last few chapters. I would definitely like to know more about Darius’ origin and I look forward to reading Book 2 in the series that will follow Jackson, who I think will definitely have an interesting story of his own.
All in all, if you want to read a book that takes you on an entertaining supernatural journey with a strong, female hero who will not apologize for who she is and will fight for the love she wants, then definitely give Graveyard Shift a read! -
📚BOOK REVIEW📚
Graveyard Shift by Melanie Davies
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️/3
Genres: paranormal romance
Tropes: fated mates, morally gray characters, vampires/werewolves/witches, enemies to lovers, deceased parents
After her parents passed, Hayley Van Helsing became the leader of the Van Helsing Dynasty (a clan made of supernatural hunters tasked with removing werewolves and vampires from the world).
During a hunt one night, she meets a mysterious and handsome stranger in a graveyard. When people at the Dynasty keep getting attacked, and the mysterious stranger keeps showing up, she begins to think the two are connected.
After confronting him, she discovers that they are connected in ways she can’t even explain. She will have to trust him in order to confront the sinister forces at play.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was an interesting read. It was definitely a very quick book. I’m a sucker for a strong FMC so I definitely felt a connection with Hayley. The plot was also very interesting and captivating, I enjoyed the unique take on paranormal romance.
Personally, I felt it was TOO short. I would have loved to see more world building and Hayley’s background, as well as the building of the relationships in the story. Especially since this is meant to be a multi-book series. The mechanics of peoples magic is unclear, like what kind of powers people have (and also why everyone’s is different). The lore about Elizabeth Gray’s creation of the Van Helsing Dynasty was also done super fast, considering how important that event was to the story. I definitely have quite a few questions still.
Additionally, the characters felt kind one dimensional. There were situations where a normal person would have shown more emotion (can’t say more without creating spoilers) and the characters barely reacted. The aspect of good guys-bad guys was very black and white as well, I would have liked to see a little gray area.
Normally I don’t like to comment on this, but it happened enough that it was making the story hard to read in some spots, and affected the flow of the book for me. I feel like this book could use another pass through editing. Mainly, there were a lot of run on sentences. The typos/grammatical errors were present but didn’t affect my reading ability the way some of the sentence structure did.
Overall, this was an interesting read. It definitely started picking up even more in the second half of the book, so I could see this becoming a pretty good series.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this to read ✨ -
A Thrilling Ride Through Shadows and Secrets -
Graveyard Shift by Melanie Davies
Melanie Davies weaves a mesmerizing tapestry of supernatural intrigue, family secrets, and personal destiny in her latest novel, "Graveyard Shift". From the very first page, you are plunged into a world where the line between the mundane and the magical blurs, leaving them hungry for every twist and turn.
At the heart of this tale is Hayley Van Helsing, a protagonist who effortlessly embodies strength, complexity, and the universal yearning for normalcy. Raised in the shadow of her family's legacy as supernatural hunters, Hayley grapples with the weight of her destiny to lead the Van Helsing dynasty. However, her heart longs for a life untethered from the graveyards and the creatures that haunt them.
Davies paints a vivid portrait of a world teeming with vampires, werewolves, witches, and an array of enthralling supernatural beings. The rich lore and intricate world-building are a testament to the author's meticulous attention to detail. From the cobblestone streets to the moonlit forests, every setting pulses with life and foreboding.
What sets "Graveyard Shift" apart is the skillful exploration of family dynamics and the repercussions of hidden truths. Davies expertly peels back the layers of the Van Helsing clan, revealing secrets that have festered for generations. The tension and revelations are expertly paced, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
Hayley's journey is nothing short of an odyssey, fraught with internal and external conflicts. As she grapples with her desires for a "normal" life, her evolution from a reluctant heir to a formidable leader is a marvel to witness. Her character is a breath of fresh air in a genre sometimes prone to stereotypes. She's not just a badass, but a three-dimensional individual whose vulnerabilities and strengths are equally compelling.
The inclusion of spicy moments adds an extra layer of authenticity to the story. These intimate scenes are tastefully written and serve to deepen the connection between characters. They are a testament to the author's ability to balance sensuality with storytelling.
"Graveyard Shift" is a symphony of suspense and emotion, and Melanie Davies orchestrates it with masterful precision. Fans of urban fantasy and paranormal romance will find themselves utterly captivated by this book. It's a roller-coaster of a read, leaving readers eagerly anticipating what Davies has in store for us next. -
✨ Graveyard Shift by Melanie Davies - ARC Review ✨
🤍Badass FMC
💙Vampires
🤍Fated Mates
💙Witches
🤍Werewolves
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶
Hayley Van Helsing is fiercely independent. She relies on her quick wit and reflexes to get out of the increasingly precarious situations that she finds herself in. Vampires and werewolves are out in increasingly large numbers. Hayley's friends Eric, a fellow supernatural hunter and Jackson, a witch, try to help her navigate the increasing pressure to step up and be the leader that she needs to be with the threats becoming more prominent, but when a handsome stranger enters her life, everyone is on high alert. He claims to be there to help her, but no one trusts him, least of all her. Until she discovers that they are connected in ways that she never knew were possible, and she realizes that she may need his help after all.
I loved the premise of this book, and it's definitely giving Van Helsing meets Buffy vibes which I totally dig. This book is perfect for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was a very quick read. I felt like I flew through it which I didn't mind, but I think it had some room for more world building and character development (which may come in future books). Delving into Hayley's past a bit more would have helped me connect to her character sooner, and I think that's an important aspect for MCs to be relatable. The spice was pretty mild, more plot-driven than anything else. There were several plot twists that I didn't see coming, and I found that enjoyable. I always like a good "Wait. What did I just read?!" moment while reading. lol Overall, it was an interesting read. It started off a little rough for me, but I think it ironed out into a decent book with really great potential for a series. -
Overall I’d give 3.5 ⭐️
The very first paragraph immediately grabs your attention by already talking about late nights and kills. The whole first chapter gives a lot of backstory and insight to who Hayley (FMC, stubborn,independent, strong willed) and her family is, how she grew up and some semblance of the way she thinks. Jackson (her best friend and 2nd in command) insists she goes to a council meeting that is at a school/academy. The more we learn about the school the more it gives me Vampire Academy/Hogwarts/Salvatore school vibes. I really liked Eric in the beginning but wtf with the balcony scene, he had me so mad, it was all hot and steamy then he just like 180 flipped into jerksville and he just gets worse from that point on. From here the book goes by so fast from one situation to the next. The timeline is a little hard to keep up with. Eric is not the guy we thought he was. Hayley and Darius seem to go from zero to 100 in the matter of a few days. I love their banter but they both seem extremely immature for how old they supposedly are which is a bit upsetting and a lot of the situations between them are a bit awkward. I love the story and the characters and so much happens in such a short amount of time. Some things were given so much detail and some weren’t given nearly enough. I did enjoy this story and would definitely say it’s worth a read but definitely more of a YA read so a bit on the immature part. It also ends very abruptly. There isn’t a cliffhanger exactly but it just ends so fast it feels like there should have been more. This is a Van Helsing retelling and I think she did a pretty decent job of it. -
°.• 4,5 ☆
If you know me until now, you already know that my obsession is books with vampires, werewolves and witches because when I was little, that's all I read. So, every time I read something that contains these supernatural creatures, I simply remember my childhood. And although books of this kind are becoming more and more cliché because the subject is already turned upside down and rewritten, I don't think there is any book with vampires or werewolves that will disappoint me.
And this book did not disappoint me.
The book surprised me at certain moments, I expected some things and others I didn't. Once you keep reading this kind of books, it's hard not to realize what will happen next. This being one of the small reasons why I didn't give it 5 stars.
The main female character, Hayley, annoyed me throughout the book. Although she is a strong character who can take care of herself, her burning desire to have a normal life and the fact that she refuses any form of help, it made me very angry. Because in the end, she still would have had to trust someone and let herself be helped.
Darius seemed interesting to me, but I wouldn't have thought it was what it is. But it was surprising. So I liked him. I won't give many details because I won't give you spoilers.
But Eric annoyed me more than Hayley and if it was after me, I would have killed him from the first page if I could.
But with all that, the book was great, easy to read, and I really enjoyed it. If I were to associate it with another series of vampire books, then The Vampire Academy would be for sure! -
Graveyard Shift is book one in the Midnight Stakes series! Please check trigger warnings before reading.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this ARC!
Right from the first page Melanie pulls you into this adventurous, fast paced and supernatural world. Our FMC Hayley Van Helsing is a very strong, and independent character. Her life and plan for herself gets thrown a curveball when she is forced into the leader role of the vampire hunter clan when her parents’ mission goes wrong. While powerful magic and supernatural beings keep attacking the hunters, she gets help from a mysterious character named Darius.
I really enjoyed this one! It’s a short one but definitely kept me on my toes on every page! The characters have so many layers and are lovable like Hayley’s best friend Jackson who is a powerful witch! The world building was seamless and so easy to follow. I really liked how the magic system works! There is some romance and I thought it was done well.The tension was my favorite part and definitely some spice!
There were so many betrayals, and plot twists that were so unexpected my jaw dropped! And the cliffhanger at the end had me wishing I had the second book in my hands! I highly recommend checking out this book if you want something fast paced, full of magic, strong friendships and romance! -
Graveyard Shift is an action-packed, paranormal, enemies to lovers romance featuring Hayley Van Helsing. She assumed leadership of the Van Helsing clan when her parents were killed a few years back. Like her parents, and the Van Helsings before her, she is a vampire hunter.
Hayley meets an alluring and mysterious stranger in a graveyard one night. He says his name is Darius, but no one seems to be able to find any information on him. He keeps popping up, like a stalker. Hayley isn't sure what to make of him, but he rubs her the wrong way. Is he a ghost? A witch? Something else entirely? When Hayley learns who he is and why he is here, her world turns upside down.
Davies takes readers on quite the adventure with this book, and a fun one at that. I love a strong, independent, kickass female lead. Hayley is all that and more. Her second in command and best friend is an awesome witch named Jackson Gates. He is powerful and determined, and 100% in Hayley's corner. It sounds like the second book in this series will be his story.
If you enjoy morally grey characters and supernatural beings such as vampires, witches and werewolves, I think you'll enjoy this fast-paced read. I know I did! -
Graveyard shift is a story about Haley & Darius 💜🖤
The very first page immediately draws you in, already talking about late nights and killings The whole first chapter gives a lot of backstory and insight to who Haley is she's stubborn, independent, strong willed and how she grew up and some insight to the way she thinks. Jackson is her best friend and 2nd in command insists she goes to a council meeting that is at a school academy.
After her parents passed, Hayley Van Helsing became the leader of the Van Helsing Dynasty, a clan made of supernatural hunters tasked with removing werewolves and vampires from the world! 🌎 During a hunt one night, she meets a mysterious and handsome stranger in a graveyard. When people at the Dynasty keep getting attacked, and the mysterious stranger keeps showing up, she begins to think the two are connected.
So she confronts him, she discovers that they are connected in ways she can’t even explain. She will have to trust him in order to confront the sinister forces at play.
This was an great read. It was definitely a very quick book. The plot was also very interesting and captivating, I enjoyed the unique take on paranormal romance. I highly recommend this book 📖. -
Thank you @tbw_booktours and @meldaviesbooks for gifting me the copy of this book - Graveyard Shift which is a thrilling tale about vampires, werewolves and witches. I enjoyed reading this steamy, enemies to lovers plot that completely gives the readers a fresh perspective into the dark worlds. The first instalment gave me so much thrill and ended on a cliff hanger, now I can’t wait for the second book!
The strong FMC, morally grey hero, the spice and the trope is also interesting and gets a 4stars from me.
Blurb:
Sometimes family secrets should stay buried…
Hayley Van Helsing, a twenty something vampire hunter, has always known her destiny was to become the leader of the Van Helsing dynasty, a clan made of supernatural hunters but she has always wondered if her life was meant for a different path, wishing for a normal human mundane life.
That is until she meets Darius, a tall dark mysterious man with piercing blue eyes, in a graveyard one night and unbeknown to her, he’s not just your average guy. And he’s about to take her on an adventure that will make her question everything she’s ever known.
Not to mention now there’s some big ass vampire Queen who is determined to crush the Van Helsing line and bring the witches to her side. -
***BOOK REVIEW***
Name: Graveyard Shift Author: Melanie Davies
Rate: 4.5/5 🌟 Genre: Paranormal Romance
~Graveyard Shift is the first book of the Midnight Stakes Series. This novel has a mix of Buffy the Vampire Slaver and The Vampire Diaries Vibes, but this is a Van Helsing retelling story. We have a strong, badass, independent FMC that will destroy any supernatural creature that crosses her path. The storyline, the plot twist will keep you wanting to know more. Now that ending thought… What a Cliffhanger!!! It will make you want to jump straight to book 2!!!
~Haley Van Helsing FMC who was gifted to be the leader of the clan of supernatural hunters at a young age after her parents were murdered on a mission. Jackson is one of her closes friends and advisors that herls her run, guide her leadership on the clan. He also helps her with other stuff as well. Their friendship is unbreakable, due to his loyalty. Now Darius MMC is a hybrid that after so many years was sent to help Haley to defeat the great evil thats upon them. But not only that Darius and Haley are destined to be together but she is in denial due to she kills his kind. The tension between them is OMG! I sure can’t wait to read Book 2. -
✨ Graveyard Shift ✨
~ Fated Mates
~ Plot Twists
~ Badass FMC
✨ My Thoughts ✨
Oh Melanie what have you done... You have made me fall in love with another badass FMC. I have fallen for Hayley. She is strong and has a lot of layers to her. I love seeing them in this book. I absolutely loved this story. It was fast paced. It had action and mystery. I also loved Darius. Just a fantastic morally grey character. I loved the banter between him and Hayley. The tension and spice was just so hot. I couldn't believe the plot twist. My heart was beating so fast at the end. I can't wait for more of this series.
Graveyard Shift is book one in the Midnight Stakes series by Melanie Davies. The book is NA and recommend for 18+. This book is quick but a great read. It is perfect for when you need just the touch of fantasy. I can't recommend it enough. This book is out on July 28th.
✨ I want to thank Melanie for this book. I received it as an ARC. I was also lucky enough to be a Beta reader as well. I have loved seeing this story develop. And I have loved watching Melanie writing grow. ✨ -
The first novel in the Midnight Stakes series, Graveyard Shift is guaranteed to grab your attention from the first page and keep you until the end.
Hayley VanHelsing, has become a part of her family's legacy in hunting wayward supernatural creatures and leading the clan. She never wanted to lead, only to be a warrior and now Hayley has to find her own balance between the two. Just as the attacks are becoming more frequent, Darius appears with what seems to be all the answers. Can she trust tall dark and handsome?
A combination of Vampire Diaries and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this retelling is sure to keep readers captivated and wishing they could read the next installment as soon as possible. Melanie Davis has done a wonderful job with creating a new world.
For me, this was a quick read at 206 pages. I would advise readers to pay attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning, as this does contain mentions of suicide, gun violence, death and a few more. On the spice meter, I would give it a 4 out of 5.
I gave this a 4 out of 5 stars based on character building, world building and over all story progression. -
I had the pleasure of BETA reading Graveyard Shift by Melanie Davies! This is the first book in a new paranormal romance series called Midnight Stakes!
It's action-packed, spicy, and has a ton of twists and turns! Definitely add this one to your TBR!🩸
This book follows along a modern-day Van Helsing. Hayley Van Helsing, to be exact, and her badass adventures hunting vampires, werewolves, and other creatures of the night!
As the leader of the Van Helsing clan, she knew her life would come to this, but it didn’t stop her from always wishing for a normal life... Life is certainly anything but normal for her, though, especially once she meets the handsome, mysterious Darius. He's unlike anyone she's ever met before. Who is he? And, why does he keep following her?
Get whisked away by Hayley, her sassy best friend Jackson, and Darius into the secrets of RavenBlack, and find out!
Graveyard Shift gets released on July 28th, and you can pre-order it today! Don't forget to submit proof of purchase over on @meldaviesbooks bio for some pre-order goodies! 💕 -
Let me start off with by saying that this is my first book by Melanie Davies and I was highly impressed so it will not be my last. This story is jammed packed with a ton of action and drama. We start off with meeting Hayley and her extremely talented self. She is a stunning character that quickly draws you in with her strength and quick mind. There were times throughout the story that I thought she lets her anger get the best of her but yet she definitely shows us that is not all she is about. I loved Jackson and how much loyalty he shows Hayley. Then we have the mysterious Darius that just intrigues you from the first meeting. This story quickly pulls you in and doesn’t let go. It is extremely well written and developed. I throughly enjoyed the uniqueness of the storyline as it makes it a bit different. Then we get towards the end and talk about twists and turns. My goodness it definitely blew the doors right open. I absolutely can’t wait to see what is going to happen next. Absolutely must read.
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Graveyard Shift by Melanie Davies
Rating: 4.5 stars
Quote: “What it looks like?! What does that mean?”
-Spoilers-
Review: I'm not one to read a retelling but when I tell you I read majority of this book in one sitting I'm not lying. All the MCs were amazing and I loved them all. Darius needs to be protected at all cost, he's so sweet and ughhh. The pace of the book was enjoyable and I feel like we got a good amount of info since this is apart of a series. I love that Hayley and Darius bickered like an old married couple it was so cute.
I also love the relationship (BFF) with Hayley and Jackson and how they are always their for each other. Melanie Davies shows how family isn't just blood but the people that we have known and been close to for years. I think everyone is gonna want a BFF like Jackson, I know I do. I'm so excited for the next book to come out so we can continue this story and where it goes.
TW: Death of parents, mentions of suicide, criminal activities, gun violence, blood (minor), drugs & drinking, PTSD, general violence, smoking. -
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
I found this book rather enjoyable. It follows Hailey Van Helsing who is a vampire hunter. She is the leader of the Van Helsing family who are all also vampire hunters with different strengths, weaknesses and abilities. This book features witches, vampires, wolves, ghouls, ghosts along with hybrids etc. Despite being the leader of the dynasty, in this book she faces the struggles of wanting a normal human life but fighting the hunger within.
The book is fast paced, action filled and will keep you guessing and wanting to find out what happens next. It takes you on a journey with the FMC with several surprises for her along the way that she must overcome. It hold deceit and betrayal and a little spice that I feel will be blossoming in the future books to come.
The only irc I found with this book is struggling to fully connect with the FMC. I found her slightly arrogant at times. I also found it slightly lacking here and there and that was the only thing that stopped me rating this higher. HOWEVER, this won’t stop me from reading the rest of the books in this series as everything else is there and I am rather excited to find out what happens next.
Overall, did I enjoy the book? Yes.
Will I read the next book in the series? Yes.
Would I recommend this series? Yes, purely for the storyline. -
As an absolute lover of all things Buffy, Anita Blake, Vampire Lestat, Supernatural, and of course True blood- I was so happy to have been able to have been gifted a wonderful ARC of book one of this series!
I will be the first to say- give the book time to warm up. I wasn't a fan of Haley Van Helsing, the main character of this story line until almost about midway through the book. I absolutely adored the cast of characters created to support Van Helsing and applaud the beautiful and realistic world-building. If you are looking for steamy immediate spicy scenes- This book won't give you that. However, while the book wasn't as spicy as it could have been, the dialogue was witty and the story line had its own interesting turn that shows a really good start to the series and there was a lovely sprinkle of spice here and there in order to keep things interesting.
All in all, I look forward to reading more about the adventures of Haley Van Helsing in books to come! -
I give this a 4.5! I loved the world building and the idea beyond this story! It makes you love the characters and want to know all about them! I love a strong willed FMC and a hot MMC! I am so intrigued with all the different powers each paranormal group has. I wish the book was a little longer so we could learn a little bit more about the history and family backgrounds a little bit because I did get a little confused at times with the history jumps. It seems like this books is supposed to take place over 2-4 weeks?! But it was hard to tell because it was written like all of this has happened in 4-5 days until randomly “were you the one who attacked me two weeks ago?”. Or so and so has been missing for 2 days when he was mentioned two paragraphs ago. The break down or the timeline and wishing a little longer for background purposes are the reason for a -0.5 star. But other than that I loved the book and can’t wait for the next one.
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I really liked the Buffy vibes from this one. It was familiar but still unique, and brought in components that I love in my fantasy books. Hayley us a Van Helsing, enhanced with Supernatural abilities but human, and destined to rid the world of vampires and werewolves. She's been forced to take over as the leader of their clan when her parents are killed, but she's recently been discovering more about herself and her enemy than she expected.
After being frustrated with zero answers, Hayley is bombarded with a ton of information all at once. Darius mysteriously appears and keeps doing so, annoying Hayley to no end. I loved watching them try and deny the pull between them. It was a great tension and made it that much better when they finally gave in.
The lore around everything was a little bit confusing but fell together by the end, and I felt like her character changed a lot really quickly, but overall it fit with the storyline. Looking forward to the next! -
The book starts off a bit confusing, but after the story has gotten moving, we learn not every human is well… human. Haley is not a normal human. She has super strength, super fast, and of course stubborn. My kind of gal. Her parents die unexpectedly and has to step up and become leader of her clan. But of course things start going wrong. All the sudden, Vampire and werewolfs start attacking and lo and behold Darius, this handsome mysterious man, shows up claiming her mother has sent him to help her. Can Haley let her stubbornness go and let Darius help her and her clan or will she let herself compromise everything.
This book has it all: a little bit of spice, enemies to lovers, tough FMC, vampire, werewolves, witches, supernatural hunters, betrayal, and unfortunately a cliffhanger that makes you want to read book two ;) -
Melanie Davies was a new PNL author to me, so I was unsure what to expect, I also decided to not look at the blurb on this book as I sometimes like going in blind and I let the cover lead me in. I have to say I was not disappointed in the least, this story gripped me from the first page, the characters the plot all interacted so well and developed at a steady pace throughout. As Mel has said if you like Buffy, Angel, The Vampire Dairies, Original's and a modem Van Helsing Retelling then you will enjoy this, and it also reminded me a bit of the Immortal Instruments.
If you like a strong female lead who takes no sh@t, the leader of the institute due to her blood lineage, and then other characters who are a mixture of warewolf, vampire, half-blood, and witch then honestly, I would delve right in.
As any hunter story goes, there is a history, and a legacy and Hayley is the leader – not really human but at a younger age than normal has had to step up and take over. She is woman who doesn’t trust easily and also doesn’t let people get close. Who can she trust, the good-looking stranger with secrets or those she has always known. Forces from within are trying to destroy them.
Looking forward to what is to come next.
