Dark Alpha's Night by Donna Grant

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I was graciously given an ARC copy of Dark Alpha's Night from NetGalley and St Martin's Press in exchange for my honest opinion. Dark Alpha's Night by Donna Grant is book five in the Reaper series. Dark Alpha's Night could be read as a stand-alone as all past information is summarized but I would not suggest it. These books take place in conjunction with the Dark Kings and have crossed over characters on occasion. The Reaper series is worth the experience and should be read in its entirety if possible.

The Reapers are Death's secret executioners of the Light and Dark Fae. Reaper Bran broke Death's rule of secrecy when he told his fae lover of their existence. Bran attacks and kills his fellow Reapers following his lover's execution for his transgression. Death imprisons Bran, but centuries later he escapes. The current Reaper faction is trying to thwart Bran's attempts to gain influence and steal Death's magic.

The latest Reaper installment reveals things on the continuing subplots, and I read in part for these insights. Rhi is again confirmed to have great significance in the wars going on. Death finds herself facing a choice that will affect not only her but her Reapers as well. I enjoy plots about a bigger world, and Donna Grant's Dark World is one of the best. 

Daire has been on a side mission for Death for most of the Reaper series. I worried Daire would get too attached to the one he was sent to observe during this assignment. Thankfully this story alleviated the concern I had for Darie's affections, and I am pleased how things ended for him. 

The seductive power of the Reapers, or any fae for that matter, is intense and Daire is no exception. Each romance in the Reaper books gets right to the point, partly I think due to their novella status. I typically have an issue with declarations of love expressed only days after the couple meets. These books don't bother me too much when this occurs. These characters have been alone for so long they should take the opportunity for love when it presents itself. And I am invested in their lives so wish it for them as much as I hope they can find what they need to defeat Bran.

I enjoy how Donna Grant writes her fae. The Reaper series continues to hold my attention and I suggest giving them a try. All opinions are my own and may not be identical to others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions.

Ride by Allison Gatta

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The first story in the Wild Hearts series is the novella Ride by Allison Gatta. I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Quinn decides to leave her fiancee without telling her sister Zoe just minutes before the wedding. Zoe blames Ian, Quinn's best friend, for Quinn's fleeing, so Zoe demands Ian help her find and bring Quinn back. Ian drives Zoe to places he tells her Quinn may be and the couple starts to see each other in ways different than before.

Zoe and Ian start off in conflict. I enjoy a story where the main characters begin hostile with each other, and then it develops into something more. Reaching the point when the couple begins to click it was believable. At the height of this, I got a little teary-eyed by the sweetness when Zoe met Ian's parents. Of course, it all comes crashing down, and it was at this point I felt less connected to the characters. You couldn't exactly call it love at first sight since Zoe and Ian know each other through Quinn, but the story jumped right to that shared declaration of love. It is a possibility, especially because of the close quarters Zoe and Ian spent with each other for three days, but I always have a hard time with that cliché. Here their story did not quite convince me of the truth in it.

Despite my reservation, I still enjoyed Zoe and Ian's tale. Perhaps if the story was a novel and they interacted more prior to looking for Quinn, their journey would have felt different for me. Either way, Ride was worth a read. All opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions.