Review copy was received from Publicity team. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Coven of Ill Repute by SL Prater Series: Eternal Enemies #1
Published by Self-Published on May 3, 2024
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 288
Format: eARC
Source: Publicity team
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The Duke of the Damned is dead. When my coven is blamed for his murder, I’m desperate to clear their name before my sisters are arrested and I lose the only family I’ve ever known. But I only have one week to find the culprit, and the new heir to the duchy is none other than Detective Liam Rorick, my enigmatic ex-partner and archenemy.
It doesn’t matter if Rorick is a competent investigator. He’s the most cantankerous vampire I’ve ever had the displeasure of knowing. There’s a reason I swore I’d never work with him again. And yet that’s exactly what I have to do.
Now we’re trapped together in the malevolent castle he’s just inherited, trading insults and fighting magical monsters to survive. I want nothing more than to go back to pretending he doesn’t exist . . . but Rorick protects me like I’m precious and keeps looking at me like he regrets our past.
Coven of Ill Repute is the first story in a continuing series that is a little bit detective novel and a little bit gothic romance between a witch and a vampire. This is full of funky happenings in a cursed Castle as Quiet and Rorick try to solve a murder mystery.
Quiet and Rorick were partners over a year ago. But they had a falling out after an unfortunate event. He is a vampire; she is a witch; you might be able to guess what happened. They are again thrown together as Quiet only has a week to solve a double homicide and save her Coven of Witches from being expelled from the town. Rorick has a detective agency and has been hired by the constabulary to assist in the investigation.
One problem, once they went into the Castle it appears there is no way out and they will be stuck together until they figure out how and why the castle is curse and hopefully who killed the two people in it.
I had such a good time with this book. Quiet’s menagerie of insect helpers was unusual and so interesting to the story. How they assisted her in her various parts of the investigation was so inventive. Rorick also was completely interesting as a character. A Vampire detective, who doesn’t really remember his life before he was turned. I enjoyed the relationship between Quiet and Rorick as they try to work out some things from the past and find their way to be together. The reader can see right away why these two are perfect for each other and the slow burn as the churn themselves together was wonderful to be a part of.
“I don’t think it’s a failing on your part that you’re not everyone’s preference,” he insisted, shaking my hand to firm up his point. “You’re so intelligent there’s few people you can talk to without making them feel like absolute fools. Not everyone is equipped to handle all the ruthless competence in on person. And why should you have to accommodate their lesser minds?…”
The ghosts, things that go bump in the night and all of the other magical parts of this book were interesting and some extremely unique. I will never look at clowns the same way again. There is a really great twist at the end that left me reeling a bit just to be the cherry on top of the story.
I can wait to see what is in store for these characters next!
“I’m not a fan of heights. You know I won’t ride on your –“
She cut me off with one threatening finger raised to me lips. Her scent was strong coming off er skin, citrus and herbs. “It’s a powerful artifact. Don’t you dare disrespect me and call it a–“
“–broom!” I hadn’t intended to be contrary, but then she’d gone and goaded me, hadn’t she.
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This sounds like a fun one and I like how you describe the pair, Robin.
Totally unusual and interesting. 🙂
Very unique find!! 😀
Yes! I was quite happy with it. Sometimes there are just some really cool gems out there.
Pretty cover! Glad you liked it, great review!
I love when you read a book and then the cover makes even more sense.