| Title | : | Desire in His Blood (Brides of the Kylorr, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 428 |
| Publication | : | First published November 1, 2022 |
Gemma Hara is drowning under the weight of her father’s debts. Working herself to the bone, she knows that if she doesn’t pay them off in time, the sadistic creditors will take everything: their home, their respected name, and, worst of all, her two beautiful sisters.
To save her family, Gemma agrees to do something reckless: marry a wealthy and mysterious stranger, who offers her a wicked bargain she can’t afford to refuse.
However, his bargain comes with one terrifying catch. Because her husband-to-be is a Kylorr.
One of the most fearsome alien races in the Four Quadrants, the Kylorr are beastly monsters, all muscle and menace, with powerful wings, depraved cravings, and berserker-like rages. The worst part?
They survive on blood.
Cold and cruel, Azur of House Kaalium, the High Lord of Laras, demands Gemma as his blood bride. To feed from her. To use her body in whatever way he wishes. For paying off her family’s debts, he expects her complete submission.
What neither of them predicts is how his bite doesn’t bring pain—it fills Gemma with more exquisite pleasure than she’s ever known. And as she finds her footing on a strange new planet, the one thing Gemma thought she’d never surrender might be at risk after all.
Her heart.
Too bad her new husband can’t seem to decide if he wants to break it…or keep it forever.
Desire in His Blood (Brides of the Kylorr, #1) Reviews
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space vampire with wings is the type of men i go for in 2023
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3.75 Smut Stars
I enjoy Zoey Draven books. They are just wacky alien and/or omegaverse smut-fests and therefore right up my alley. This was the first one in a new series that promises to be delicious. Cannot wait for the next one.
Here's to smut for smut's sake, friends. -
A forced marriage to pay off her father’s gambling debts but add vampire aliens with wings and horns… oh and knotting…
I was OBSESSED with Zoey Draven’s Horde King’s of Dakkar series so I was really excited to read this book. It did not disappoint! It is in the same universe and has the same vibe to her other series but it completely stood on its own. They have a more advanced lifestyle than the Horde Kings but not overly futuristic which I loved.
This is a true hate to love romance, (I wouldn’t call it enemies to lovers because for me, there needs to be history of them attempting to basically kill each other but, there was definitely a lot of hate). Azur loathed Gemma and her family so much he refused to see anything else. There was a lot of resistance trying to deny the little cracks in their hearts for each other. Their relationship development was perfection. It never felt like they were going too fast or that we were missing anything crucial to their story but it never felt too slow either. I could really feel their connection. The banter was just as fun to read about as the sweet moments and they just seemed to fit together really well.
It sounds like it’s going to be similar to her other series where each book is a stand alone but all has one bigger plot connected throughout. I can’t wait for the next one coming out early 2023!! -
✦ expected to love this because helloooooooo have you seen the sexy winged alien man on the cover... but it was sadly disappointing.
✦ this was so dragged out i started skimming at like 40%. it just got boring.
✦ the hero and heroine had their blood bond, which made them constantly horny for each other, but that is basically ALL they had. they had absolutely no actual chemistry or connection. 🫣 -
“Because I will take it. When it comes to you, I will take whatever I want”
Gemma is having trouble with her father's debt and works really hard to save her family while also taking care of her sisters.
With the need for money to save her family, Gemma accepts an offer to marry a Kylorr known for their scary, ruthless, depraved cravings and their need for blood.
Azur of House Kaalium demands Gemma be his wife. To do whatever he wants from her and also to feed from her. All of these were necessary for Gemma to finally pay off her father's debts, but then things got interesting when Azur found out that Gemma is actually his blood mate.
“I will break you,” he promised me softly, those eyes rapt on me. “It is only a matter of time.”
I liked it especially the first half of the story. Gemma even though she's a victim but she's a fighter. Azur is mean to her. He despised her. So, at first, I really enjoyed their story. The world building and getting to know their world. I thought it was going to be another 5 star read, but then when entering the second half, it's really dragging the never-ending sex scenes, chapters after chapters like yeah i get it you guys are mates and all BUT HEY WHO AM I TO JUDGE🫡 MATES HAHA WHATS THAT CANT RELATE
“I did want to hurt you,”
“But not now?”
I held my breath as he shook his head.
“No, not now.”
Gemma is selfless and brave, and she loves her family and sisters. She would literally do anything to keep them safe. :')
Then his wings spread, nothing more than a whisper as they stretched. Completely encasing us within the alcove, his wings were like a barrier, a door, that allowed nothing else in. Even the wind outside seemed to soften, as if it didn’t dare to disobey him.
Azur, I can understand the pain he's going through. He also loves his family so much and has his own way of protecting and saving them.
“You think I don’t want to be without your blood, wife? I don’t want to be without you.”
All the breath whistled from my throat when I whirled back to face Azur.
“My maddening, stubborn, frustrating, wonderful little human wife,” he finished, his voice a dark deep rumble. “Today has already been hell without you.”
I love their dynamic tbh, they're so perfect for each other. It warms my heart to see them overcome their deepest pasts to be the best version of themselves.
Anyway, this is good overall, and I'm kind of curious about the rest of the series: is it going to be his brothers? because I am personally curious about Azur's twin🤭.
And hey, if you are looking for a very hot vampire smut (with wings and horns), this is for you🫡🫡 -
THIS BOOK?!?!?!!???
Zoey Draven knew what had to be done, and she did it. FLAWLESSLY. I know her keyboard had imposter syndrome after being used to type this masterpiece.
Whatever Gemma wanted, Azur gave it to her. He could not, would not, deny her. I was rooting for him, and he did NOT let me down. His hatred begrudgingly turning into love was a treat, and the cherry, caramel, fudge, and sprinkles on top was him feeling & expressing genuine remorse for his actions.
I have a totally reasonable request for 15 more books of this series to be out right now, thank you.
★★★★★ -
Ok, the cover totally sold me on one-clicking the book, and I DID NOT regret it. Also, KU makes it so easy to try out new to me authors.
All the things I really enjoyed about this book:
Big alpha male, with a big mushy heart when it comes to his loved ones.
Fangs, blood, and sexy times.
Loved the relationship between h and H.
Strong-willed heroine, smart, loving, and just the right person to tame her man.
Low on relationship drama.
Great storytelling and writing.
World building that was just right.
The book was very enjoyable, fast and easy read. The writing was just right, pulled me in, kept me invested, and I absolutely loved the development of their relationship. The couple actually figured out how the other one ticked - which makes for a low angst read. My favourite kind!!! -
For some reason I always giggle when I pick up an alien romance kwhrowjdjekej
Also, one of my absolute favorite new-to-me authors this year has been Zoey Draven. When I picked this up, I actually thought it was by Grace Draven (another author I love). Half way through the book however, I realize that this was the same author who wrote “Captive of the Horde King”, which I read earlier this year and absolutely loved.
Moral of this story is: All women whose last name is “Draven” are excellent story-tellers and shall be trusted from now on.
Side note: Somebody please change the covers though. They’re truly horrendous🥲 -
Desire in his Blood is my first sci-fi romance and what an introduction to the genre it was. I was completely mesmerized and hooked on this story.
Fabulous enemies to lovers banter between Gemma and Azur along with a slow burn of a story. These two was so much fun and intense.
Azur feeding on Gemma was highly erotic especially because of their special connection and how into it Gemma was.
The world building was so well done and the side characters got a good introduction that I’m very excited to continue this series.
Azur and Gemma gave me deep emotions, fabulous steam and character development that elevated this story. I’ve found a new author and genre. -
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: Arranged marriage, fated mates, revenge, enemies to lovers
Angst: 😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥
Desire in His Blood is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year! Beautiful storytelling that sets the stage, pulls you in, and holds you there until the end. There is tons of action and emotional ups and downs. The world building is fantastic and it makes you so excited for what's to come. Desire in His Blood is angsty, emotional, and gut wrenching in parts and in other places you just find yourself smiling while reading. I definitely love how much the storyline reminded me of my old school, historical faves complete with the plain, spinster heroine ❤️.
I absolutely love Azur and Gemma. Love how dedicated to his family Azur is and how protective. I love how he married Gemma as a tool for revenge, but how he can't help but fall for her in spite of himself. And he's completely perplexed by his feelings. Not the fact that he lusts after her because of the mating bond, but true feelings. This is a true hate to lovers on his side, but you can't help but love Gemma - and neither can he :). Gemma is practical, a hard worker, and selfless to the ones she loves. TONS of chemistry between these two and hot, panty melting smexy, despite it being a bit of a slow burn. All that biting, nipping, and licking, lol ** shivers**. I didn't know how Ms. Draven was going to surpass the Horde Kings of Drakkar, but she completely blew me away. I truly can't wait to see what's next!
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes contain spoilers -
So so good!
Nothing gives a good dose of escapism from reality than a wonderfully written alien romance.
If you love Marriage of convenience trope: you should absolutely read this book. It has everything I love in a good romance book.
Strong, loyal and honourable protagonists, alien planet, different and fascinating customs and cultures, colourful and wonderful secondary characters, solid plot, angst, drama, passion, emotion and scorching love scenes!
Azur and Gemma were soulmates.
They had a rocky start and I loved how their relationship progressed and how much they fought for their love. Especially Gemma. She had so many difficult obstacles and hard choices to overcome and I loved how Azur supported her through it all.
I could feel the dilemma and turmoil of Azur and how he wanted to do right by everyone. Similarly Gemma’s bewilderment and confusion regarding Azur’s initial behaviour. All because of the fantastic writing style of Zoey Draven. It’s no secret that I absolutely love (and eagerly wait for) her books.
I also enjoyed the amazing depiction of their alien world. The world building and different species and their beliefs were all so fascinating and interesting.
God, just gimme the next book already!
Recommended, Kindle Unlimited and safe.
P.s I need a book for every characters introduced in the book please.
I received an advance copy for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily. -
DESIRE IN HIS BLOOD is the first book in Zoey Draven’s brand new adult fantasy/sci-fi romance series—Brides of the Kylorr—and it was nothing short of brilliant. I discovered Zoey with her Horde Kings of Dakkar series and immediately fell in love with her story-telling. I devoured that series and I have been obsessed with her writing ever since. DESIRE IN HIS BLOOD was absolutely everything I wanted it to be. I read it in one sitting, I was just unable to stop reading.
I think Zoey’s writing is amazing, the way she is able to bring these characters and world to life is unparalleled, the way she makes me feel while reading is something I don’t often come across. I have a few favorite authors that I love and would literally read anything they publish, Zoey is now one of them.
I absolutely loved the story of this book, it’s not your typical “human-woman-gets-abducted-by-aliens-and-sold-to-the-mysterious-alien-king” — not that there is anything wrong with these stories, it’s just not what this book is about. What I love with this book and Zoey’s Horde Kings series, is that humans already live out of space among other alien species, they’ve lived there for centuries and this has always been their life. It’s refreshing and, for me, makes the story much more interesting.
DESIRE IN HIS BLOOD is the story of human woman Gemma, who in order to save her sisters from her father’s never-ending debts, decides to marry a Kylorr, berserker-like aliens who survive on blood, have grey skin, horns, and giant wings. I know, it’s hot.
Just please read the blurb. It explains the story way better than I ever could.
I loved the heroine, Gemma. She is thirty, would do anything to protect her family, but isn’t a pushover either. She is full of compassion, brave and extremely smart. I loved everything about her. I loved how even when she was scared shitless, she always put on a brave face, I loved how compassionate and kind she could be, but also fierce and unyielding when needed. It’s rare for me to love the heroines as much as I usually love the heroes, I know, it’s not my best trait, but I can’t help it. I often find them annoying. I have never felt this way while reading Zoey’s books. She always manages to write such amazing and nuanced heroines, almost like I could put myself in their shoes and make the same decisions. I don’t know if that makes sense, but it makes sense to me.
Azur, the hero, was just as you would expect a big bad alien to be. At first, he is not the nicest, but that’s kind of how I like them. Okay, okay, I need therapy, whatever. But you quickly discover another side of him, and not everything is how it seems. He is strong, and hot, like seriously hot, I think it’s very important to mention that. But he’s also very smart, and compassionate, and bossy, and hot, did I say hot already? Anyway, I don’t want to reveal too much, so you’ll have to read the book to fully enjoy the magnificence that is Azur of House Kaalium, the High Lord of Laras.
Zoey wrote these characters to perfection, the way their relationship evolved felt so organic and so real. I loved them together. The pacing of this whole book was perfect, I wouldn’t change a thing. I loved how we got to explore their relationship at the same time as them, how we got to see it evolve from being an arranged marriage, to companionship, and finally love. One thing I love as a reader is being able to enjoy the couple actually together for a little while, and not have them get together just at the end. To me that’s frustrating because I always end up wanting more, to see them happy as a couple, to read about it some more, and Zoey gave me that. I absolutely adore that in a story and this one didn’t disappoint.
As for the storyline itself, once again, Zoey didn’t miss. I love a good romance, of course, but I also enjoy a good plot. As I’ve said, I was hooked from the start, be it for the romance or the storyline. I thought it was super interesting, from the way Zoey describes the Four Quadrants and how everything works, to why Gemma has to marry, and why the Kylorr is interested in her in the first place. And when she gets to Laras, Azur’s home, I was done for. Zoey describes everything so vividly without it being too much, and I could picture myself there.
As you can probably tell from this never-ending review, I really really loved this book. And something I haven’t talked about, is how freaking hot it was. Like, blood-sucking-while-fucking-hot. Don’t think I can put that in my amazon review, but I don’t care. I’ll change the word. Anyway, it was HOT, the angst, the sexual tension, the world building, everything, I loved everything and can’t recommend it enough. Please, go read it and thank me later.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. -
The story follows Gemma a human girl who's father is drowning in debts, and Azur the fearsome Kylorr High Lord. He wants Gemma as his bride in order to execute his long awaited plans, alongside his family's revenge.
Draven brings to life interesting stories, and I enjoy her writing style. I was excited to hear she planned the new series. Her books are a wondrous mix of a fantasy and sci-fi, and in this case a paranormal too.
Sadly, the read did not deliver. Taking into account the main reason behind this arranged marriage, the pace of the relationship from enemies to lovers was completely implausible. I had a hard time believing the main leads. Instead of truly getting to know each other and resolving this major issue, we get the convenient blood mates. They are simply craving, converting and foreplaying through this 17-year old wound, and then they are head over heels. It was underwhelming. I also wish we could have seen more of the development between Gemma and other side characters, especially Azur's sister. If felt like a gap in the story.
Overall, a bland read. I wish I liked it more. Still, I love Draven's storytelling and I'm eager to se what the next book may bring.
2.75 stars -
Welp. This was utterly fantastic in every way. True enemies to lovers with some wonderfully swoony moments and plenty of steam balanced with an intriguing soft sci fi world.
This was a GREAT time. I'm very impressed with this author a d so happy to see she has quite an extensive backlist.
Seriously this book was fantastic, I'm a big fan. -
4.5 STARS!
"We were fated from the very beginning."
Zoey Draven never disappoints! There's always that sharp edge to her stories that keeps me glued to the pages. -
This was a fabulous read it’s the first book in a new series and worked for me in every way. It’s a sci-fi enemies-to-lovers alien romance with an arranged marriage and strong revenge trope.
Gemma of house Hara is the oldest daughter and carries a heavy burden. She alone is responsible for keeping her family’s heads above water whilst her wastrel father squanders and gambles their business and estate away. Unbeknownst to her two sisters, the family is now in dire straights which is the only reason she reluctantly agrees to marriage with a male she's never met on the understanding that he will clear her family’s debts.
Azur is a Kylorr an alien berserker a race that has a violent reputation. Equipped with horns wings and fangs they exist on a diet of blood that supplements their regular diet. This pastime also helps to strengthen and sustain them. No source is more powerful than that of their blood mate which is their ideal match in every way. Something Azur now discovers he possesses in his new human wife and considering the less than honest reasons he married her for this information is definitely not a welcome addition.
This initially had a somewhat grey undertone with the way that Azur acts towards his new bride but this does gradually give way to feelings of intensity and attraction which Azur due to his initial feelings of apathy fights strongly.
In this, the sins of the father have literally been inherited by the daughter and it’s her father's past actions that now place Gemma firmly in her new husband's crosshairs. Not understanding why Azur seems to hate her intensely Gemma tries to make the best of it. But the intense attraction she feels especially when her husband feasts on her blood is something Gemma hadn’t ever anticipated. Equally, Azur is also fighting his equally intense evolving feelings a blood-mate should be a gift but with the vows of vengeance already promised elsewhere, he’s greatly conflicted.
This had passion and chemistry and plenty of primal behaviour. I loved the initial push-pull of Azur and Gemma’s situation and the enemies-to-lovers evolution felt authentic and believable.
The characters themselves felt fully fleshed and both were very relatable.
I liked that Gemma had a backbone I was slightly worried initially considering she acted the doormat with her family but it soon became apparent that she was more than a match for Azur.
I liked how different in appearance Azur was and though he started this with such vengeance and hatred and behaving the way he did towards someone wholly innocent he does manage to turn it around and by the time this concluded I totally believed in his full devotion and care towards Gemma. He definitely did a one-eighty and now had her back one hundred and ten per cent.
I definitely recommend this if you like well-written engaging sci-fi romances that come complete with a strong dominant possessive male and I will now be continuing on with those series.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/63435390 -
… Zoey Draven, you magnificent genius.
Please, please, PLEASE let early 2023 mean Craving In His Blood comes out January 🥵
Look. I am a very simple reader. You promise vampire alien and you deliver vampire alien?
*internally screaming*
I’ve been waiting for the next vampire romance and it has been a drought, looking at new releases and older works, so THANK YOU ZOEY DRAVEN FOR READING MY MIND.
Like honestly. These neck sucking scenes 😮💨😮💨😮💨 Zoey did not come here to play. She said every 👏🏽 scene 👏🏽 we’re pulling hair, baring necks 🧛♂️
And honestly that’s the blood play I’m into. So hot 🤭🤭🤭 That’s why I read vampire romance. For the vampire link of domination, the “special” blood, the hunger 😩😩😩
The vampire alien also has WINGS. So beautiful, I hope we hear more and do more with the wings. Also they have horns. Small claws. Beautiful eyes that I think with no irises or at least they disappear. Hero has ember eyes 😙
Also bonus points for black haired heroines. I’m on a kick for black haired heroines. Witch vibes let’s go. She’s not a witch though. Just a human.
The world-building includes fated mates ie blood mates, and this is the planet from where the famous lore plant comes from. Excited for the world-building! The lore and the Halo orbs remind me of Dune.
Side Note: Yes, more sexy scenes but much of it is neck play. This work is much more in line with the Horde King series than her writing in her other alien works where there was no fantasy writing style, and it was more sci fi/alien smut.
I would also add that the hero has a scheme for vengeance but even as the heroine notes, his bark is worse than his bite.
Let’s hope for a big bad kylorr in this series 😈 -
Tropes:
~legit enemies to lovers
~arranged marriage (heroine is bought by hero)
~revenge
~royalty
~monstrous alien hero (almost like a vampire mixed with a gargoyle, and he also has a berserker mode)
~size difference 🍆
~biting/feeding kink 🩸
~knotting 🥵
My first 5⭐️ read of 2023!! I can’t believe this is my first time reading a Zoey Draven book, but I can tell you it won’t be my last! I’m about to dive headfirst into her backlist, because this gave me soooo much of what I look for in an alien romance!
We have a scary af looking hero who is a bit villainous at the beginning, and acts as terrifying as he looks (which can be so hard to find in the swarm of scary-looking heroes who act like instant cinnamon rolls). This is also an ACTUAL enemies to lovers in the beginning, with the hero set on revenge against the heroine’s father for a reason we don’t fully learn the details of until pretty far into the novel. But when we did learn why he haaaates her father, his actions throughout the book made so much sense.
Also, the chemistry between these two was off the charts and the smut was 🔥 I loved that we got a lot of build up that made this feel almost like a slow burn, even though there were plenty of bite-induced orgasms leading up to it 😏
Now excuse me while I go lament over the fact that vampire/gargoyle/berserker alien men don’t actually exist to buy me as their wife and whisk me away to a far-off planet. Le sigh 😢 -
6 🌟’s!
📝 tropes: fated mates, arranged marriage, enemies to lovers/hate to love, angst, alien-vampire berserker hero, revenge
🌶 spice: 4/5 (biting, knotting)
❌ CW: death of parent, suicide, depression, alcoholism
did i start this book at 7am and binge it? ✅
was i in pain because i finished it so quickly? ✅
do i have any regrets? ❌
i officially declare myself a devoted passenger on the #rideordieforzoeydraventrain because holy shit you guys, this new series of hers is FUCKING PHENOMENAL.
I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE HELL ZOEY DOES BUT every single damn book in her horde king series has been 4-5🌟’s and NOW, SHE’S DONE IT AGAIN with this alien-vampire berserker series AHHHHHHH!!!!!
truly one of my favorite authors solidified now because she writes some of the best tropetastic books with angst and the perfect level of spice and slow burn enemies to lovers romance i LITERALLY CRYYYYYY at the sheer mastery of it.
this first book follows Gemma, the eldest-daughter of our hero, Azur’s, enemy .. in order to get revenge, an arranged marriage takes place between both and the most delicious hate-to-love/enemies to lovers romance ensues!
i absolutely adored these two omg. they are both such fiery personalities with a stubborn streak a mile wide.. i ate up but also KNEW that Gemma would never back down from ANYONE, even a fearsome Kylorr.. it made their interactions so HAWTTT and magnetic LOVED IT 🥵 on the flip side, all that stubbornness hid the vulnerability and suffering that both deal with, particularly our girl Gemma - #eldestdaughtertings of having to DO EVERY SINGLE DAMN THING IN THE WORLD and never being able to let go … so relatable. it broke my heart seeing her cry after always having to lock it away in order to take care of her younger sisters/the family problems 🥺😭 and i especially loved that Azur became a safe space (eventually lol) for her to go to and cry and be vulnerable (and vice versa). the angst at the start of their romance when Azur obviously tried denying his growing feelings towards her but every time she’d look like she’d cry, he’d literally died inside UGH that’s the SHIT I LOVEEEE 😩
- “I was making small noises I’d never heard before, like a snarling, sad little beast.”
- “For once, her voice went wobbly. She had the uncanny ability to keep her voice sword-sharp, even when she was crying or upset. But hearing it waver now made my chest squeeze. No. I didn’t want to feel anything for this female.”
the slow build up of him realizing he’s falling for her is TRULY my addiction .. him pining for her if they’re separated for too long or when they got into an argument and he said some mean shit and had to apologize UGH YESSSS GROVEL ON UR KNEES BEGGGGG (esp when all the side characters side eye him for making her upset LOL like Kalia and Rivin😂)
- I was pining. At night, I stood outside the door to her rooms, hoping to catch a tendril of her scent, debating with myself in silent, drawn-out, maddening arguments right in the hallway.
- “I am sorry,” I told her. Apologizing the way my own mother had taught me to. Holding one’s eyes, looking deep, and not rushing the words. Elongating them, even, dragging them out until they were gentle and soft.
- I didn’t care much for steam cakes. I thought the sweetness was sickening, but I had forced one down my throat when my wife had handed me one, watching her smile widen as I did. Since when did it please me to see her pleased?
also can we talk about the storm scene BC HELLO TOP FAVE SCENES UGH. another similarity we both share and that I ADORE seeing in romances (hey bridgerton S2) is the FMC having a fear of storms and the hero comforting her LIKE OMGG IT WAS TRULY SO FUCKING HEART ACHY BUT BEAUTIFUL UGHKJFG😭
- “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice oddly soft. Gentle.
- “I’d always been so focused on making sure my sisters were watched over during a storm that I’d never truly noticed my own deep, deep fear of them. Until now. Right now. In this place, in this keep.
the scene where he first flies her over the sea… absolute fucking magic and you could tell he was in love far before he ever admits it… I ADORED THAT SCENE and loved that GEMMA got to experience that pure joy.. being with Azur and having him take care of her instead of her shouldering all the burdens was so fucking wonderful and emotional to see ugh😭🥺
- A graceful arm reached out, and I watched with bated breath as she skimmed her fingertips across the water, sending sparks of the salty sea rising in their wake. Gemma laughed, low and husky before it was carried away by the wind. She was burned into my memory. Just l like this. I didn’t think I would ever forget this. How could I have ever thought her plain
- when I’d found the discrepancies in these records, I’d felt that familiar creeping of nausea
and dread. Another problem to solve. Another anxious ridden thing that would eat me up inside until it was dispelled. But not with Azur. He’d taken it from me in the blink of an eye. He’d taken control. It was freeing.
- “You’re here,” I whispered, wiping my tears shamelessly against his vest, “and I feel like such a mess.” His arms tightened. Softly, Azur said, “You don’t have to worry anymore, kyrana. I’ll take care of everything. I’ll take care of you. I promise.”
ofc ofc the romance was truly perfection but equally so, the SPICE. gurllll!! so HAWT with the biting action and the possessiveness and blood mate situation … i will put quotes to ✨exemplify✨:
- “Your cunt feels so fucking good, kyrana. Wet and hot and tight for me. Perfect.”
- “Too much,” she whimpered. But there was a fire building in her eyes. I growled. “Too bad.”
- "..when I slapped my cock head on her clit, her body jerking, her thighs trembling. Slap, slap, slap. She huffed. The sound was obscene. Wet. Delicious. “Learn this cock,” I growled, palming her hip, dragging her closer. “You’ll come to know it well, wife. You will take every inch of it with your cunt, with your mouth, with your tongue, with your hand. You’ll know it so well by the time I’m done with you.”
- “I pushed her thighs wide. Then, without hesitation, I buried my face between them.”
- “Azur had had me splayed out on his desk. I’d been holding his horns tight, using them to grind my cunt into his mouth.”
- “Where have you been?” she asked, glaring. No—demanded. Her tone immediately made my hackles rise. Images of punishing her for that mouth flooded into my mind. I would make her kneel at my feet. Shove my cock between her lips to keep that mouth stuffed and full so she couldn’t sass me.
ahem. so, yes. i absolutely adored this book and i understand this review is truly incoherent and lacking organization but i just have all the disparate but raging thoughts and love for this book and i SO SO SO recommend it and all of Zoey’s romances! pls go buy and read it :) ’tis all, goodbyeee. -
I picked this up because i wanted some toxic goodness and the cover just looked right up my alley. I ended up loving it much More than i expected .
Our fmc Gemma is basically sold off to marry a Vampire Alien to settle her fathers debts. Azur has set out to make her miserable to get revenge for something Gemma knows nothing about.
Obviously things do not go as planned. 😏
Theres some really hot and sweet moments .
5/5 🌶️
Cant wait for the next installments -
✨4.5 stars✨
Alien romance is my ultimate guilty pleasure. A well written one, that is. And this one was very well-written.
Although, at first I was dissuaded by its cover, then the book length and then the stupid trope of exacting father's revenge out on his daughter. But if you look past them all, you can see Zoey Draven doing her thing. For, once this thing between the MCs gets going, it sails right off.
The only bad thing is now I have to wait for the entire series as it is only the start (┬┬﹏┬┬) -
I really like this author and after enjoying her Horde King series… I snatched this up. She’s excellent with world building and character growth, but damn she takes her time getting things moving along which can be torture for my impatient reading brain.
The blurb sets this up, Gemma is a human with a dead beat/gambling father that has put their family in huge debt. Desperate, she agrees to an arranged marriage with Azur, a prince of sorts for the Kylorr, a berserker/vampy-ish alien race. I went into this blind and skip this spoiler if you want the same, but his reasoning is revealed within the first few chapters which sets the tone of the book…..
Bottom Line- Strong start to her new series. I liked it and didn’t skim, but I struggled some in the first half. I’m not a big fan of taking the scenic route to relationships (unless they’re spending loads of time together) and started getting restless when these two got stuck in the dancing around each other holding pattern... but things pick up, and I'll definitely continue with the series. It's free to read with KU. -
3.5 stars
Super solid fantasy romance, this feels like a interesting vampiric/winged-alien remix of A Court of Thorns and Roses. Highly recommend to ACOTAR fans and romance readers. Full review to come! -
- plain Jane, spinster h. 30. Has a heart of gold, and she’s a strong female.
Her younger sisters are the beauties, and she’s considered the plain and drab sister who takes care of everyone.
- phony, manufactured attraction between the MCs (which is usually the case in plain Jane + hot H stories, he’s physically attracted because the author said so), seems like he is more attracted to her for her blood than her, because of their blood bond.
He even said he found her plain and anything spectacular to look at, “Her pouting lips were perhaps the most pleasing of her features to look at—plump and pursed—but they couldn’t save the rest of her appearance.”
“I’d heard they were great beauties of their race, but I couldn’t see it in Gemma/h”
“The ferocity with which hunger had gnawed at me was surprising, considering looking at her made me feel vaguely nauseous.”
They had lots of sex, but he only started desiring her after realizing that she was his fated mate after a feeding, before this, he didn’t feel any attraction to her,🤦🏼♀️
-H is a rich and powerful vampire asshole, or a mosquito, since he can fly?😂
He’s a compete douchbag though to the poor h, who made the ultimate sacrifice for her ungrateful family. I really liked her, and hated her family and him in the beginning.
Other wise a decent Alien book.
Edit, giving this book another star because for once, the h was a strong AF woman, and not a doormat. -
January 2023 Patreon Read
Exclusive Review for Patreon.
5 stars
3.5 on the spice scale -
“Desire in His Blood” by Zoey Draven
5⭐️/5⭐️
4🌶/5🌶
“Good wife…so f*cking wet for me, kyrana.”
Gemma Hara has sacrificed her entire life to slowly save her family from debt. Her father, a former war hero, has a gambling addiction and is continually hurting his family with his accumulating debts. Suddenly, Gemma has the opportunity to make all the debt go away: marry a Kylorr. However, this is no easy solution. Kylorrs are vicious, bloodthirsty warriors, who go into frenzies when provoked. Azur, the head of House Kaalium, has asked for Gemma’s hand in marriage, but once the contract is signed he seemingly wants nothing to do with her. Nothing, except her blood. And after feeding from Gemma, Azur realizes this is no ordinary human. Gemma is his blood mate, his destined partner in life. How can Azur reconcile that his blood mate is the daughter of his most hated enemy? And why does Azur hate House Hara so much?
-This was such a fun story! An intense scifi gothic romance, with what Zoey Draven does best: cinnamon roll alpha heroes, badass FMCs, unique alien culture, and hot spice. Zoey is my favorite scifi author when it comes to creating alien culture that is so intricate, but also approachable. The language used by each alien race in her books is nothing short of genius.
-The MMC, Azur, is a bit of a mystery at the beginning of the story. He starts off so cold and uncaring, it really makes you wonder if he has the ability to open his heart to Gemma. But by the end of the book readers are witness to a truly beautiful character arc. Azur has had to take on so much responsibility as the eldest in his family, and the family as a whole has suffered tremendously. The pain that House Kaalium has experienced is really heartbreaking, and once all the pieces are laid out before the reader, you start to understand why Azur is so cold toward Gemma.
-Gemma, the FMC, is such an admirable character. She is strong, smart, kind, selfless (to a fault), and so brave to go through with this arranged marriage.Gemma is also the eldest in her family, and has had similar struggles to Azur. I think Zoey did such an amazing job creating two different, yet incredibly similar, characters. They both experienced familial pain, have had to take on extra responsibilities, and have had to sacrifice their happiness for others. But unlike Azur, while Gemma does have a strong character arc, she learns to be a little more bold and speak up for herself.
-The tension between Gemma and Azur was off the charts! It’s some of the best sexual tension I’ve ever read, and when they finally give in to those feelings? My goodness, it’s some really hot spice. There’s the extra layer of spice given that Gemma is Azur’s blood mate, and whenever Azur feeds from her it sends her into an orgasmic state. I love that, I loved that they were able to connect physically prior to emotionally, and that the physical aspect was complex.
-I think this is the perfect late fall-early winter read. It’s unlike any scifi romance I’ve read before, so if you’re looking for a totally unique story, this is the book for you. I’m very excited to see all the other books in this series! I think there are so many possibilities for future stories and couples. -
This is my first Zoey Draven book and I’m sold. First, look at that cover? You’re gonna tell me you don’t want to read it??? It’s amazing.
Second, the WORLD BUILDING. It’s so incredibly captivating and I wasn’t expecting it to be so extensive. Usually when you pick up this genre there’s more romance than plot. While there is a lot of romance in this book, it’s a slow gradual build. Where you get to learn so much about the world, it’s people while watching this couple learn each other. I’m blown away and I can’t wait for more books in this series.
You’ll be catching me reading Zoeys entire back list. Like, I can’t get over how fantastic this book is. I will be thinking about this couple forever! -
Desire in His Blood is book 1 in the Brides of Kylorr series and it was filled with smutty goodness. There is nothing more delicious than a winged alien berserker who bites and knots. Gemma is a young woman who has been drowning in debt caused by her father's gambling. So, when an opportunity is presented to her father to pay off all his debts, he jumps at it even though it forces his eldest daughter Gemma to marry a Kylorr who are known to be dangerous and violent. Azur has been waiting for his chance at vengeance and he believes he finally has it, but Gemma is nothing like he assumed she is actually so much more. I really enjoyed this book; it grabbed my attention from beginning to the end. Gemma and Azur were wonderful together and I loved all the characters we were introduced to. This is definitely a series I plan to follow.
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This was okay. Not that the writing was bad, I just could not connect with the characters. I didn't really like them. I ended up doing a lot of skimming. Even when they had their co-mingling it wasn't really "hot". It seemed to be missing an element and I couldn't put my finger on it. I didn't feel the chemistry. 😐
I see I am in the minority, with this, so maybe it was just me? Again, I just didn't connect with the characters. -
4 stars
What to do on the day the new series of Zoey Draven starts? Forget everything and start reading of course! Ever since the Horde Kings of Dakkar series, I have been a huge fan of her work. And in Book 1 of her new Kylorr series, she does not disappoint. Same stunning storytelling skills, exciting and complex world building, engaging main characters and smokey hot smut!
Since the blurb is yet to be added to the GR page, this new story is about Gemma being forced to marry a mysterious and likely dangerous Kylorr, Azur, in order to have the debts of her father repaid and her family saved. Wary of the bloody legends surrounding the Kylorrs, Gemma enters the marriage with fear of her future but also determination to forge on. Azur is determined to break her as revenge against her father for all the pain and sorrow he caused his family.
Kylorrs are big aliens who feed on blood as their meal of choice. I was a bit dreading the vampires' references, but ZD took it into an original direction as blood consumption is described as a way to enhance the energy and battle strength of Kylorr warriors. It is often a luxury to Kylorrs and there is nothing barbaric or brutal about it on the homeworld of Azur. In fact, Kaalium's society, the rich Kylorr nation on Krynn that Azur and his family rule, is pretty civilised being an agricultural nation. Yet, Kaalium's Kylorrs are also warriors having to defend their borders from other Kylorr nations on Krynn. I loved that the story is set in the same universe as the Horde Kings, only perhaps I am guessing a bit farther in the future since technology seems to have spread throughout the universe recounted in the book. The bigger universe and its politics were shown more clearly in this new series. And perhaps these will be playing a bigger role in this series than in the Horde Kings where the plot was more insular.
The romance between Gemma and Azur felt fresh and quite atypical. Gemma was a very determined h, keeping her calm and always forging on despite her apprehension towards her new husband. She was no helpless h and was always bent on resolving issues. Azur proved to be a big, devoted cuddly bear as he soon realised that Gemma was his blood mate and hence he could not go through his original plan anymore. They are both described as older leads (30 and 35) and it reflected in the more mature way their romance was explored. They had friction but they always strove to bridge gaps between them and learned to care for and love each other. There were some angst and heart aching moments but nothing real serious to threaten their relationship - even the big reveal as to why Azur originally set out to execute a vendetta against her father had pragmatic consequences rather than over melodramatic ones.
The spicy scenes were steamy and frequent (possibly more than the previous series). I appreciated that several scenes demonstrated that Azur's love for his bride was not restrained to her giving him her blood, or that Gemma only sought him out because his blood taking got her off. No, the emotions in their bond building were also explored and it was beautiful to read. ZD's magic writing at work again!
Definitely an excellent book to kickstart this new series. I am guessing the series will focus on Azur's brothers/sister (and maybe also his friend Rivin) with the backdrop of possibly a pending war with other Kylorr nations (or possibly even a greater evil scheme involving outer planet masterminds?) over the control of the precious 'lore' and Kaalium's fertile lands. If I believe my experience of the Horde Kings series, the overarching danger sub-plot is never revealed in the first books and only appears crescendo as the series develops. Obviously, exciting times ahead 😎!
P.S. The cover is not yummy (unless you are a monster reader afficionado) but it has the merit of being commissioned work! And it actually reflects how Azur looks. So, yes having an author making the effort to commission an original cover deserves to be lauded 👏👏👏!
