Thorns and Fangs by Gillian St. Kevern

Gillian St. Kevern - Thorns and Fangs CoverTitle: Thorns and Fangs

Series: Thorns and Fangs #1

Author: Gillian St. Kevern

Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy

Length: Novel (372 Pages)

Publisher: NineStar Press (January 18, 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts

Blurb: Nate is caught between two dangerously hot vampires who can compel people to do whatever they want and a ruthless necromancer who wants Nate for all the wrong reasons—and that’s only the start of his problems.

Escort Nate prides himself on two things: his ability to please his clients and his normality – living in the monster capital of the world, ordinary is rare. Hunter, a darkly charming vampire with more charisma than is good for him, decides Nate is just what he needs. Nate’s sympathetic nature and skill in the bedroom are put to the ultimate test. But Hunter wants Nate for someone else – his brother, Ben. Nate is immediately attracted by the control with which Ben holds his sensitive nature in force. Too afraid of becoming a monster to allow himself to feel, Ben struggles to resist Nate’s generosity of emotion. As a vindictive necromancer makes Ben his target of revenge, Nate discovers that making people feel good doesn’t compare to making Ben feel. As Nate’s normal world crumbles around him, and he desperately searches for a way to save Ben, Nate is unable to escape becoming the necromancer’s latest victim.

But Nate’s death is only the beginning. Coming back to life in the bathroom of Gunn, a Department Seven officer who hates the vampire family that Ben and Hunter belong to, Nate doesn’t know who to trust or even what he is. As the necromancer’s trap pulls tighter around himself and Ben, Nate is forced to let go of normal and embrace powers he doesn’t fully understand. In defiance of Ben’s vampire sire and hunted by Department Seven, Nate and Ben finally learn to trust and rely on each other. But when the necromancer succeeds in capturing Ben, Nate alone can come to his rescue.

ISBN: 978-1-91115-318-4

Product Link: http://ninestarpress.com/product/thorns-and-fangs/

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: This story did not turn out at all like I had thought it would. There was more detail to it than I thought was needed and to slow paced for me. For such a long story, I felt like I was drowning in details. I love a good paranormal, but this came off more fantasy then anything. I could not really get into the characters as I should have. It felt a bit off to me.

Nate is an escort and has come to the attention of a very powerful vampire. However the attention was not what caught my eye, it was the fact that Hunter wanted Nate to be a brother. Which is strange in itself. Now Ben had been turned by Hunter about a year ago, and now here is Nate to help them celebrate. Ben comes off a bit, well off. He is cold in a way that one would not expect, but he doesn’t really seem that happy about Nate. Especially since Nate is immune to him. Then you add in a jealous necromancer, and let’s just say it is about to get all interesting to say the least.

I hate to say that I basically had to rush through this and skimmed most of it. It didn’t really catch my attention like it should have. I also did not really care for the sex business at all, which was a downside for me. Although the way this author wrote it was a bit better than most. There really wasn’t any shame or regret shown, so that was a nice change for me.

I enjoyed the mystery that this story seemed to have going on inside of it. One would sit on the edge of their seats trying to figure it out, was a great plus. I loved the fresh new touch to the paranormal and fantasy world that this author has created, plus it was very quirky in away. So it took a few chapters to get to the point that my attention was captured but I am afraid that it just came too late for me. The ritualistic killings were a bit strange, but for this type of story it rocked. It was not written in a dark tone so that was a major hit for me, because I really can’t get into gross deaths.

I am not really sure if I will read the next book, but since this is the first in a new series I will just wait and see. For now I will just say that this book really wasn’t for me.