Alkaid

I wasn't sure what to make of this book at first. I loved Carmilla and the web series loosely based on it, so I was eager to give this a try. The poetry angle and dual POV threw me off however, but the latter wasn't too much of an issue. Nor the poetry, as that thankfully didn't take away from the story overall.

I did feel like the book dragged on in the first half, and was tempted to drop it after the sixth chapter. The whole "rivals to lovers" thing just isn't my thing, but I pushed on and I'm rather glad I did.

For me, the book greatly improved once Carmilla was turned, and the events around that really kicked things up a notch. It's just a shame it took so long.

Oh and uh...the sex scenes were very nice. 👍🏾

I wasn't wild about the addiction side plot, but I understand it was relevant overall and relatable to those who have struggled with addiction. My only experience with it involved being raised in a home with an alcoholic who dabbled in other drugs.

I was also a bit disappointed that we didn't get to see the POV of a character I loved from the previous book, but it makes sense in retrospect. That also fits well with the title.

Overall, I liked how the book wrapped up, and appreciated the less chaotic nature compared to the first book.