TRIGGER WARNING FOR THE BOOK: Kidnapping, killing, guns, mention of rape, suicide, non-con, stabbing

This is a debut novel by Katherine Diane. I thank the publisher for letting me get an ARC to review!

Passion Awakened: A Vampire Romance is about the vampire brotherhood the Hush. The main character Kyr, is the leader of the Vampire Defense Agency’s(VDA) elite ground team, he and his team has to undergo a psych evaluation, but it's not really about their mental health. Jodari Os the director of the VDA is concerned with the Hush, he knows that they are hiding something, just not what it is. Meanwhile the Hush are carrying a secret investigation, because someone has betrayed the vampires to their enemies, the demons, and the traitor is among the VDA. Female vampires are being kidnapped, and the Hush don't know who they can or cannot trust.


I will start by saying that this review seems to be very negative and pessimistic. But I tend to only focus on bad things in general. This is a fairly short book, with about 280 or less pages. The first 100 pages where pretty bland and boring to me, but it sets the groundwork a little about who the characters are, and a little about the work place, hunting demons and such. There is not much background story to be found, but I'm sure that will come up later as this series progresses.
I will just say it everything in this book is predictable, the moment we met one character I instantly knew that person was the traitor.
That instant attraction both leads have towards each other and their possible secrets that keeps them away from each other. Though that does get resolved fairly quickly, even though they still have some things to fight through to get their HEA. But I'm also a sucker for insta love and anything remotely "romantic", what can I say, I grew up reading twilight, and I loved it.
So predictable, but I still ate it all up. Really I was squealing, at the smallest interactions between Kyr and Mira. All in all I'm a hopeless romantic, and it wasn't even romantic.

Diane also has a way of writing about genitals. Diane just refers to genitals as sex, and that got really tiring to read really fast. Just I don't know maybe use some other terms instead of only sex. We did get the word c*ck a few times, so that's nice., next step is writing p*ssy or v*gina or whatever, just please stop with the sex.
And the barking, really? Why does he bark when she touches his d*ck? Are they dogs?
I mean I get the growling, not really, but many authors uses the word growling, which I applauded Diane not for doing, until I stumbled upon that word too...
We also get a few graphic sex scenes, so if you are squirmish, don't read this book, or skip the chapters, up to you.


My checklist for what pretty much all male leads in these kind of books have in common.

Insta attraction /love check

Cold and mysterious check

Tall, muscular and handsome check

Dark hair and blue eyes check

Bronze skin check

Only soft and warm with female lead check

Dominant alpha male check

Overprotective male check

Growling check

Big c*ck check

I just wish we could change that recipe up a little bit, but with them being vampires I do understand them being handsome and all that comes with it. But it's just boring. It just make them all look the same.


The names of some of the characters reminded me of Sarah J Mass characters, and some of the dynamics remind me of J.R Ward, The Black Daggerhood series, and seeing which kinds of books Diane has read on her goodreads and the ratings, I completely understand why, but I'm not a person that should judge, since I have also read and enjoyed those books, at least to some degree.

My rant on the names, and I do apologies in advance.
Can we start with the name Kyr? just why? why do they always have names that I can't pronounce.. I thought that Kyr was a bad name, but when I found out that it was short for Kyrdavian, I really lost it. Who comes up with names like that? After 60 pages I just ended up calling him Kyle whenever I had to read that name. I'm sorry, but I really couldn't wrap my head around how to pronounce it, but I did feel bad and at least tried a few more times throughout reading this book to pronounce the name Kyr.

I don't mind the name Mira but is it pronounced with me or my?

Syren is fine but, Syrenaria...

And Jodari really? Jonus?? Megaru?

I can get by the name Rhys, byt Rhysorvian Ilys?? Ilys? Very close to illyrian, or maybe I'm just overthinking. Rhysorvian kind of sounds like Rhysand when I think about it. And this Rhys is actually similar to ACOTAR Rhys, with the whole being able to hide what he is thinking, and good at acting. Like being really angry and furious, but fake it and act all happy without anybody realising.

Amarada, more like Amarantha. The evil queen. Not quite creative here are we.

Ronan sounds like Rowan, but I'm grasping at straws here.

I just really can't with these names, and I apologies if it's your name or you know someone with that name. This is supposed to be urban fantasy if I'm right, so why are all those names so weird and ugly? I mean you can make up names that sound nice but these? Really Katherine Diane?? At times it seems like Diane just took "normal" names and just changed them up for the worse.

My question is whyyyy??

I actually liked this book even though I pointed out a lot of the things that I didn't like in this review. So I'm giving this 2,5 stars, because it's not bad for a debut, and I'll be looking forward to reading more books in this series.

Title: Passion Awakened
Author: Katherine Diane
Genre: Urban Fantasy / PNR
Release Date: May 2020
⭐ rating ⭐⭐⭐/5
🌶 rating 🌶🌶🌶/5

I believe this is the author's debut novel and I was not disappointed.

This has such an interesting take on the usual vampire romance books that I have been reading of late.

The story is well written and although it took me a while to settle into the POV switches in the beginning, the writing kept me hooked.

First thoughts on the two main characters:

Mira - typical stereotyped 'officey' female lead, initially gave off serious damsel vibes but her development over the story was a welcomed surprise.

Kyr - "had some shit going on" for the first few chapters. He was likeable even with his attempts at being an ass. I'm a sucker for an Alpha with a soft side.

The rest of the Hush were introduced with enough intrigue that I'm assuming we will get a story for each. I'm interested in Ronan and Rhys the most!

Overall:

The addictive flow of the chapters kept me turning the pages until I finished this in one sitting.

I wouldn't say this is a slow burn romance, the sexual chemistry/build up just wasn't there for me. However, when they do get down to it - it's pretty hot!

The first time was a little clumsy and I loved that.

I enjoyed experiencing the different emotions of each of the characters and there were a few adrenaline filled moments where I had to rush to the next chapter!

This doesn't end on a cliffhanger as such - but certainly leaves it open for the next book, which I'm assuming will be centered around Nox.

Wish list:

I do love an Alpha male with a soft side, but for a vampire Kyr felt a little too emotional for me. I would have loved for him to have been a little darker - or hid his feelings a little better in the beginning.

More Ronan and Rhys please!

A few words felt a little repeated in the first couple chapters "sprawled" comes to mind, that, and along with the constant disposition - was part of the reason I struggled to settle into the story at first. I actually think if we came in from Mira's first scene it would have kicked it off much better for me.

Would I recommend?

Yes! I really enjoyed this book. If like me you like a little plot with your steamy PNRs, this is definitely a fun read. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

Link to review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3272493676

Kyr is the leader of a group of vampires, that hunts demons. When his group starts acting secretive, the head of the organization brings in Mira, a therapist, to help reach out and help them. A good first story, and a lot of possible stories to come with the different group members. Being the first book, a lot is set up to introduce the reader to this new reality, so at times a little slow (but needed). Didn't like the girls kidnapped (skimmed those parts), otherwise I liked the story and would recommend it. Look forward to more in the future in the series.

What a delicious and delightful vampire romance. The story was unique and well-written. A good set of main characters. Oh I just loved Kyr.

Passion Awakened explores the ins and outs of the vampire brotherhood known as "The Hush." Living in a world of vampires, demons, and humans, this story tells the tale of their leader Kyr, as well as introductions of the remaining brothers characters (hopefully a lead to multiple future novels?). The Hush work together as a subset in a vampire agency, and unfortunately someone in the midst has betrayed them, turning over vampire information to the demons (their enemies), leaving them vulnerable to be hunted down and killed. This is thoroughly enjoyable storytelling with a delightfully and intricately woven plot. Kyr's romantic interests are brought in as well, exploring the blossoming of his and Mira relationship throughout the story in some of the more mature vampire erotica I've seen written in some time. It is not cheesy at all; rather, the scenes drew me in a told their story in such a romantic way. I can not WAIT for novel 2! Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a completely unbiased review.