Pretty When She Destroys

by Rhiannon Frater

[littleread1]

This was a change for me, as I had listened to, and LOVED the first two, on audio book. So switching to ebook was a little hard for me, I am a bit OCD about sticking with one format for a series. But I got through, and am happy to say I enjoyed this final installment in the Pretty When She Dies Trilogy.

Amalyia and Cian are perfect together. They balance one another well, don't judge the other, and really, are the perfect vampire couple. There is none of that whining "I don't know how I can live with the things I have done" BS that is so prevalent in vampire stories recently. I love it that they are not only OK with what they are, but that they are HAPPY with what they are. AND they have a realistic view of what forever means?! It is refreshing.

I did have a hard time, switching from audio to reading, keeping track of some of the side characters. The narrator had done such a good job giving everyone different voices that I associated more with that than their names. But it didn't take me long to get all caught up and figure things out. There are so many wonderful side characters that I am not going to take the time to list them all out, except to say I am a bit disappointed that the obvious ... I don't know how to say that without spoiling the story. Let's just say there were some painfully obvious theories and I was hoping for a different outcome.

The Summoner - the big bad - is a scary as hell bad guy. And I love it. He is unapologetically evil. And he surprised me around every turn. As well as gave me the heebie-jeebies ALL THE TIME. *shivers* All I can say is that I am so glad I didn't have to go up against him because folks - the world would have come to an end early in the story. I have no shame in saying I would have tucked tail and RUN.

Frater does not shy away from death and destruction, and I was a little surprised there wasn't more in this story. Not that it was lacking by any means, but I kept expecting more. When we got to the big showdown I was on the edge of my seat, terrified for everyone, hoping my favorites would survive and not sure if anyone was safe, or even if they would beat the bad guys. And let me tell you, nothing. :-) You will have to read it to find out.


All in all, this is a great trilogy, that takes vampires back to the unashamed killers they always have been and should be. But they are also human, in a sense, that they are still relate-able to the reader, and even though they are not perfect, you find yourself rooting for them all the same.