Title: Once Burned
Series: Night Huntress Universe #9, Night Prince #1
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Date of Publication: June 26th, 2012
Goodreads
My Rating:
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Blurb
She’s a mortal with dark powers…
After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person’s darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude…until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world’s most infamous vampire…
He’s the Prince of Night…
Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don’t call him Dracula. Vlad’s ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him—a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.
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2.5 stars
“I’m the only authentic Vlad.
Everyone else is merely an envious imitation.”
My Thoughts
Once Burned is the story of Vlad Tepesh, the most intriguing side character in the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost.
Once Burned is the first installment of the Night Prince series, which is Night Huntress spin-off, and the 9th book of the Night Huntress Complete World series.
Now I’ll try to sum up what I liked and disliked in Vlad’s story.
LIKED
- Vlad’s authority, ruthlessness, power and abilities. He is hot, and adorably arrogant. I like his limitless self-confidence. His character is not overdrawn. After all, he is a 600-year-old vampire lord. As he says, being still alive is not purely due to luck or coincidence.
“I come from a line of princes who all have one thing in common: they were murdered. I’ve been surrounded by death, betrayal, and power coups for hundreds of years, yet I’ve survived and kept my people safe by being smarter and more ruthless than my enemies.
- Leila’s extraordinary abilities.
- Vlad helps Leila to improve her abilities, and to become more aware of using her powers. Leila suppressed her powers for years in order to fit in the human world, but in Vlad’s world not being able to use them could be fatal. Now she is provoked to use them.
- Leila’s inner comments and the dialogues are really entertaining.
- Secondary characters: Marty, Maximus, Shrapnel.
- When Leila frees Marty and herself from Rend.
- I like the slow development of Leila and Vlad’s relationship. Not ending with a hasty love confession – it is great! It would be too early.
DISLIKED
- Leila’s personality. She is too childish, theatrical, and melodramatic. I understand that she has no experience of dating because of the consequences of her accident, but for God’s sake, she should have some common sense. Blackmailing an incredibly hot man with not having sex with him – it’s insane. Hopefully she will attain maturity on the side of Vlad in the following installment(s).
- The villain is one-dimensional, and flat for me. I hope Vlad and Leila will face more serious enemies in the following installments.
- Final fight – actually it is not a fight, only a battle of words, and an explosion.
- I was happy for the appearance of Bones, Cat, Mencheres, and Kira, but their visit was kind of pointless. As if some episodes were omitted.
- I feel the same in the case of Leila’s father and sister.
The next book of the series is going to be Twice Tempted. Expected publication is Spring 2013.
See my favorite quotes on my Tumblr page,
Daily Quotes by Exina.
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