Book Review: Mate

I read and loved Ali Hazelwood’s Bride last year, but honestly I don’t remember all the details of the book! I just remember loving it and that Lowe is a Were and an alpha for his pack and Misery is his mate, but she’s a Vampyr and they had a sort of arranged marriage. Anyway, I’ve been excited to read the spin-off sequel, Mate, since it was announced. It recently released and I just finished it a few days ago.

So I didn’t remember all the details of Bride, but I vaguely remembered the side characters Serena and Koen, who are the main characters of Mate. Serena is Misery’s best friend and towards the end of Bride she (and we) learn that she’s actually a hybrid – half human half were. Koen is the alpha of the Northwest pack and they realize they are mates.

When this novel begins, Serena is now living in the Northwest, but in a secluded cabin. She told Koen she needed some time alone to process all the changes in her life, but in reality, she’s been having a lot of health problems and since she’s a hybrid and no one really knows what the biology of that is, she doesn’t know what’s really going on with her so she doesn’t want to be around people. When it becomes apparent that a bounty is on her head – because of her rare hybrid nature – Koen forces her come back to his base where he and his seconds can all watch over her. The novel follows as Serena and Koen get to really know each other, she navigates her new life and being part were, copes with and figures out her health struggles, and tries to stay alive from all those who are after her.

I loved the banter between Serena and Koen. He comes off as this grumpy, alpha were, but his responses to Serena were always really quick and hilarious. The tension between the two was also delicious since they were both trying to avoid actually getting together. It made for a very slow burn romance, which is funny since they already knew they were mates.

The last third or so of the book was action packed and I do wish there was a little more action going on during the other parts of the book. It was heavily focused on them being mates, which yes I realize is the title of the book! But, I think a little more action would have made the book more fun instead of the focus being so heavily focused on them navigating being mates.

Overall, I still had a really fun time reading this book and I loved Serena and Koen.

Read this if you want a spicy paranormal romance with good banter.

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