Aaron George Randolph, ruling King of the Lycans, is hell-bent on revenge for his mother’s brutal death at the hands of Vampires. But when a suspicious student takes up resident on his turf, he can’t help but be drawn to her despite knowing what she is.
Taken into custody by the ruling family of Brookedge, Mia’s life is complicated by the whole different world of mythical creatures living among humans. Now she must survive the impending civil war between old rivals, all the while learning about her true self and the power she holds. Torn between the nature of who she is and the overwhelming desire for the Lycan king, her choices are minimal.
What begins as vicious hostility changes into defying desire as Aaron and Mia are brought together by an unforgiving grudge that miraculously blooms into something unexpected that neither knew they needed.
With the war on the rise and a powerful enemy at the head of it, will their feelings for each other heal them in time? Or will they be forced to part ways and deny each other what was fated to be?
Hailing from India, Catherine is an author and law graduate, specializing in Intellectual Property & Copyright Infringement. She is passionate about Lycans, Werewolves, Witches and Vampires, and writes sizzling tales of love and betrayal.
Her love for books started from a very young age, when her loving father would gift her books like Russian Tales woven with fantasy. But it was in late 2015 when she found the books of Paranormal Romance author Cynthia Eden, whose books introduced her to the whole new world of paranormals. The more she read the more she got enticed and she penned her first novel in 2016.
When she isn’t writing, she likes to travel and read. Music and writing goes hand in hand for this night owl. Her family and furbabies are her world.
She also loves to chat with her readers and fellow authors. You can find Catherine often chatting on Twitter or on her Facebook page.
I got this eARC from Netgalley in exhange for a honest review DNF 62% It looks so badass but unfortunately it dose not live up to it`s hype. I did not really feel anything regarding Mia, she was alright? i guess? but it bothered me how quickly she just accsepted Aaron and the people there. She went so quickly from "kill me i`m a monster" to "alright, i trust you guys to train me., wich speaking of bothered me with Aaron as well he went so quickly from disliking her, not wanting her to "yeah she`s my mate!" i think it was the fact that i felt they had no chemistry that did it. If they had, had any it wouldn`t be any issue. Plus there were alot going on and i was not feeling it wich made me DNF it. I was just not invested.
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net** Lycan's Blood Queen is the first in the adult paranormal romance duology called the Randolph Duology, by Catherine Edward. I was very intrigued by the summary of this book, and I love books that feature more than one kind of creature because I really enjoy reading about different authors takes on paranormal creatures. The Randolph Duology features Lycans, Vampires and Witches. A classic mix, but we get to see a twist on one of the creatures which I really enjoyed.
Lycan's Blood Queen had a bit of a rocky start. I was confused when I first started reading. I didn't know what was going on and I wasn't getting to know any of the characters very well. Honestly, I almost put the book down and went to try something else. But I decided to keep reading to see if the pieces came together for me, and I am very glad that I did. I ended up really enjoying Lycan's Blood Queen, and I am certainly very interested in reading the next, and final book, in the duology. I can't wait to see how this is going to end. The plot of this one picked up around the time that our main character, Mia is taken to the Lycan King's castle. Once Aaron entered the picture, I was much more interested in the story. I felt like he grounded the whole plot. He was the character that I became the most vested in and got the most attached to.
Bottom line: Even though Lycan's Blood Queen had a bit of a rocky start for me, the story really built as the plot progressed. If you are a fan of mated romances, star crossed lovers, and plenty of action and magic then I think Lycan's Blood Queen is going to be a book that you really enjoy. It is a bit confusing at the beginning, but stick with it! You will eventually gain your bearings and understand the world and characters that Catherine Edward has created. All I can say is- bring on book 2! This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Mia (the MFC) has pretty much lived a quiet life. Yes she moved about a bit but shes just found a place she feels comfortable in. Finishing up at University. Her life is going well but things arent always what they seem. Neither is Mia. Shes known about the Supernatural world for a while just not how she fits into it. Through the course of this book she finds that out & god grief its a hell of a ride doing it. Loved Mia, Aaron and the rest of the characters. This book was absolutely brilliant
Lycan’s Blood Queen is a fast paced fun read. This PNR has it all: action, romance, mystery, drama!
I enjoyed following main character, Mia, as she slowly uncovers her true nature. She is both strong and compassionate, two qualities that need to go together more often in female leads (it seems they are most often one or the other).
The romance had a slow build up through the first half, then blossomed through the second. It was nice seeing the couple being what the other needed.
The over all feel of the story is very much like the Underworld movie series, but with better character development.
I can’t wait to read the sequel!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Mia has grown up knowing about mythical creatures but she has also grown up knowing she was in hiding. Her adopted father has always tried to keep her safe. Mia knows her time in town was limited but was hoping she could finish out her degree before she has to move on for her own safety. But soon she notices men are following her and then she is attacked. Her father isn't answering her calls and she just knows her time is up.
Aaron Randolph is King of the Lycans. After his mother's murder, he has taken up the mantle from his father as their whole pack focuses on taking revenge on the vampires for his mother’s death. Vampires are slowly starting to descend on their pack, leaving bodies just outside the border of their territory, and reports of captured humans and missing lycans are adding up. When Aaron gets notice that a mysterious female is living in his territory and a warlock is found living just outside it, he must bring them in for questioning. What should be a simple task turns anything but as he learns the mysterious woman is potentially the answer to all their problems.
Mia's storyline was very exciting. I loved how she slowly comes into her true self and we got to discover with her and feel with her as she discovered who and what she truly was. I felt for the girl and all her processing on her preconceived notions about her true self. I do wish we had more from Aaron on his feelings or instincts/impulses from his lycan half versus him just accepting whatever was going on with well everything. I did love that he accepted and supported Mia almost right off the bat as he discovered her true nature. He accepted her WAY faster than she did herself. I also wish Aaron's first time way more of a big deal because how often do we get a virgin male MC? I wanted it to be I guess just MORE but se la vie.
I am always on the look for new authors and new paranormal series to read. I will say this sort of reminded me of Kresley Cole's A Hunger Like No Other in that we get a similar special female storyline and a similar lycan storyline. So if you loved the Immortals After Dark series this one should be a good fit. Catherine Edward is a new-to-me author, so I will def be searching through her backlog for more of her work.
BIG warning here- this is kind of a To Be Continued ending. It's not a 100% cliffhanger situation but we definitely don't get the yummy closure we all crave. If you are the type to have no chill in these situations just know you will NEED the next book almost immediately after. It is killing me right now that I don't have it on hand. I need to know what happens! But we are in luck b/c I think book #2, The Hybrid Queen, was published recently... so I just have to figure out how I'm going to get my hot little hands on it. 'Cuz, again, I NEED to know!
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I loved this riveting tale of love between a Lycan and a Vampire.
Mia is a typical student, living the mundane life with her friends and an overprotective father. But she knows a secret, one that shook her worldview. Humans aren't the only creatures like her. There are dark mystical beings who roam the earth, creatures straight out of a fantasy movie, and they're out to get her.
Aaron is a powerful young Lycan king who unexpectedly finds himself mated to his sworn enemy. His dilemma is to choose between his loyalty to his race and pack or his twisted mate bond with the vampiress.
Mia's past is revealed and it's more dark and sinister than anyone thought. She fights with her own instincts to avoid the possibility of becoming one of the macabre monsters that haunt her in her nightmares.
Whilst she wars within, there's one brewing outside. A centuries old war between Lycans and Vampires, where a maniac and power-hungry vampire, Felipe, will stop at nothing to eliminate all the supernatural creatures in the world. The ancient fossil is the only one of his kind in the world, until Mia comes along, and he wants her as his mate.
Aaron wants to unite all packs with their true alpha and to fight their enemy together. When trouble comes knocking at their door, Mia's abilities show that there's no stopping her.
As Mia's powers grow by the minute, she's changing and turning into a being who she has no control over. The book ends on a cliffhanger with Mia chained in the dungeon and her powers bonded with the blood of the mate she loves. She desperately calls out for a saviour, someone to help control the darkness within her, someone who can get her out of the dungeon. But who is going to be her saviour? Her Lycan mate Aaron......or Felipe.
The supernatural dark romance starts slow but it picks up later, and in the end I was left wanting to read more. The characters are well written. I especially loved how Mia's inner struggles were portrayed in a nuanced way. The relationship between Mia and Aaron was amazing but in the first half I wanted to read more about the transition from their mutual attraction to love. The story was very well rounded with sufficient glimpse into the lives and pasts of all characters.
I'm eagerly waiting for the sequel to release, there are more secrets to be revealed because this isn't the end, it's just the beginning.
PS: Chapter 36 had me in splits. The fight Mia put with her instincts of blood thirst, and her change of personality everytime reminded me of a scene from a tamil movie "Anniyan" where the actor displays different changing personalities every few seconds. That was so well written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Wow! Just the title alone lured me in. But I am happy to say that this book was all that I wanted and then some! A well written story with an action filled plot and several impressive characters that kept the storyline flowing. Aaron, King of the Lycans, mortal enemies of the evil King Felipe and his vampires, has found his potential mate in Mia, a vampire-born who is clueless as to who or what she is. A rare being who was kept hidden from King Felipe and his diabolical plans for pure blood vampires. Now Aaron has his hands full dealing with his mate's emerging powers, vampire attacks in his territory and dissention within his pack caused by a vengeful spurned shewolf. An amazing tale that kept me up all night but, alas, the story isn't over. So I am anxiously awaiting the next book. Soon, I hope!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Opening chapters made me a little dizzy or even confused. Including both the hero and heroine's POVs seem unnecessary to me and even repetitive.
Introducing new characters with names and giving them some page-time seems unnecessary. I think it could use some editing to tighten the story.
The attraction between the leads felt rushed or glossed over, I don't feel emotionally invested in them. The true nature of the heroine should have had a good reveal scene instead of the constant delaying of LATER, LATER.
Mia's true nature and capabilities seem to look like a double-edged sword for the story. On the other hand, it seems too easy for things to happen like this but does provide the developments needed.
With 423 pages, really. Loads of editing would be nice. The pace at various points of the book felt either too fast, gets dragged out or moves onto the next development without a backward glance.
And there is no table of contents and the book/app keeps going back to the title page if I opened other apps. This may be a bug on Kindle :x
I end up DNF-ing at 40%.
Note: I received a free copy via Romance Rehab and Romance Remedy.
Vampires are the most viscous and hated of the supernatural races. Lycans, especially, are their mortal enemies; so when an unknown vampire is found in the Lycan king’s territory she is brought to him. Then everything goes off the rails. Mia doesn’t know she’s a vampire and Aaron’s beast wants Mia, his sworn enemy, for his mate. Not to mention the war with the vampire king and the troubles in the pack. I really enjoyed the story and the characters but there is serious need for some proofreading. Mangled sentences and extraneous words made portions of the story difficult to read. I received an advance copy of this book and voluntarily left a review.
When the author first asked if I would review this book, I read the synopsis and thought "Sounds like a great guilty pleasure." And it is.
When it comes to the "guilty" parts, there are a couple flaws in the plot that require some willing suspension of disbelief to get past. The protagonist tends to be "too much of a protagonist" meaning she has so many different special abilities and dramatic background that she even breaks the verisimilitude of a supernatural world. There's also the stereotypical "I'm going to state my intentions up front" romantic rival. Several characters will say they have a plan, but it either fails immediately or consists of... supporting someone else in their plan.
But as for the "pleasure" parts, it has the best of the genre in spades. There are multiple sex scenes (admittedly, there is a 'personal' scene involving the romantic rival that I could have easily done without) and they're sufficiently steamy. Despite the fact it's insta-love adjacent, the relationship between the love interests feels real. The protagonist's struggle against her dark and mysterious background is delightfully dramatic. I appreciated the multiple points of view and the adoptive parent aspect as well as the closeness of the family as the story progresses. And while there was only the MC and the romantic rival to begin with, several incredibly powerful female characters are introduced as the story goes on.
The ending was definitely a surprise. The protagonist is left in straits that I was SURE would be resolved by the end. But it shows daring on the part of the author and a compelling reason to read the second in the duology.
3.5 almost 4 stars I really liked the premise of this story, I liked the romance and the plot. I just felt that maybe it was a little dragged out in places and that the ending was rushed a little, I know this is a duology hey I thought the ending could have been more fleashed out more, if that makes sense. I am curious to see where the second book takes us knowing now what Mia is. I liked the characters, and the world the author has created.
Lycan’s Blood Is Queen by Catherine Edward is a well written paranormal romance between Aaron and Mia. Reading this book reminds me of Underword by Greg Cox. This book has action, suspense, romance, betrayal, and mystery. I loved reading this book and looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great characters, adventure and much, much more! I have not read any books by Catherine Edwards before but will definitely be reading more in the future. The story is unique and keeps your attention throughout.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Fantastic book to read, very well written and the storyline is superb. It has everything to a love story and how they try to be together. Things get in the way. Not to be missed I recieved a free copy and this is my honest review
Thank you to Rockstar Book Tours and the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Lycan's Blood Queen By: Catherine Edward
*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Lycan's Blood Queen is a bit different from what I normally read. I'm not a huge fan of vampires, but I decided to try this one anyway because it's not just all vampires. Mia is a magical being who may or may not be aware of what she is. No spoilers. She meets a guy, of course, and it's kind of a star crossed love thing. There are many reasons why they should not be together, but life has other plans. This is an interesting story with romance, drama, action and complexity. Place and time are nicely described, and the characters are engaging and dynamic. The plot is not predictable or boring. Overall, I was entertained and did enjoy the book. It's a good story to begin a series of romance fantasy, especially if you're like me and don't want a heavy handed vampire story. It's just a dip your toes in the pool and test the waters story. Does that make sense?
Werewolves. Vampires. Star-crossed Love. A centuries long war at the center of it all. Catherine Edward’s novel has all of the necessary ingredients for a captivating romantic fantasy. Readers follow Mia, the scared and blindsided vampire, as she navigates her terrifying new abilities, crisis of identity, and the love she finds along the way for the one man she should hate the most: Aaron, the Alpha Werewolf. Through twists and turns, and passionate developments, Edward’s novel promises an enthralling story that you won’t want to put down. And it delivers… for the most part.
From a craft perspective, this novel falls short. Edward struggles to hold onto the delicious reveals she has crafted long enough to build the tension this novel is craving. It is clear throughout the novel that she has yet to gain full control over her prose, and at times it can distract from the story she is trying to tell. But don’t let this fool you. Where Edward lacks a refinement of craft, she more than makes up for it in the passionate chemistry she brings to life between her characters. The building passion between Aaron and Mia, along with the heartbreaking desire they have to protect one another from the reality they face, is what drives this story forward, and makes it a book that you won’t want to miss. Between her fresh take on mythology and folklore, and the passion hot enough to make you blush, Lycan’s Blood Queen is sure to be your next favorite guilty pleasure read.
I ended up giving this book 3 out of 5 stars because while the plot was engaging and the characters unique, this seemed more like a sequel than the first book in a collection. I needed more establishing details for the settings and the author’s world in general — and what was given to me made it seem like there was already a book (or two) with those details, and now the author was getting into the main overarching plot. I did enjoy how the author put a new spin on the age-old tropes “forbidden love” and “vampires and werewolves are biological enemies,” but there were times where it seemed stereotypical and overdone — like the author was trying too hard.
All in all, it was a fine read, but not one I’d gravitate towards when I have down time.
ONE BLAZING ADVENTURE!!! Slow burn! Catherine totally nailed this bad boy 100% on point. Sparks fly as suspense and danger ensues in epic proportions. The drama, non-stop action, heart pounding, hard hitting wonder that spin all the pieces together brilliantly. One mind-blowing storyline and impressive plot bring this bad boy blazing to life beautifully. A vortex of churning mishaps and surprising events keep you flipping page after page. One rollercoaster with all the trials and tribulations that propels the intense emotions bursting into play smoothly. The characters are authentic, consistent and realistic with depth and qualities its easy to relate. The scenes were so graphically detailed it gives the illusion you were right there in the middle of ground zero with them. Remarkable job Catherine, thanks for sharing this little gem with us.
This is my first book by Catherine Edward and boy was this an amazing story. It is incredibly unique that is so gripping. It has get down and get dirty action in it. The story is full of drama, suspense, mystery, action, and romance. It grab you, pull you in and not let go until you reach the end. It is superb in its telling. Yes, it ends in a cliffhanger but boy is it good and so very worth reading. I can’t wait for the next one to come out.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
First, can we talk about this amazing cover?? Catherine always gets amazing covers, she's a pro.
I'll gladly snatch up any book written by Catherine, not only because it'll look great on my shelf, but because her stories are written with lots of love. I always know I'm up for a good time, and with "Lycan's Blood Queen" i was definitely not let down. Strap yourself in for an emotional ride.
Lycan's Blood Queen By – Catherine Edward Format – Paperback/ Kindle Edition available too Print Length – 454 Pages Genre – Fiction My Ratings – 4.7/5
The real meets the strange or science fiction in paranormal romance. In an urban fantasy incorporating werewolves, extraordinary aspects may be integrated into an alternate version of our own reality. I recently came across Catherine Edward’s: Lycan’s Blood Queen which is the Book 1 of Randolph Duology.
The plot revolves around Mia, a regular girl with a secret: humans aren't the only creatures in the world; there are also some dark mysterious creatures. The readers, on the other hand, are introduced to Aaron Randolph, the Lycans' King. Following his mother's murder, he has taken up his father's banner as their entire pack focuses on exacting vengeance on the vampires responsible for his mother's death.
Mia was kept concealed from King Felipe since she had no idea what her skills were or that she was a vampire. There's a lot more to come in the plot, and without giving anything away, I'd recommend picking up a copy. Also, the novel ends on a cliffhanger, so be on the lookout for the next instalment, which will contain much more for the readers.
Because of the action and thrill it contains, the novel is unique and will keep readers interested until the finish. The plot was easy to follow because both characters were described in a descriptive manner, and the plot's number of twists made it an entertaining read.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and was completely absorbed during my reading. I enjoyed the romance aspect as well, though it began slowly in the first half and then flowered in the second. It was good to see the couple providing for each other. I'm only interested in reading the second half of the storey since it has piqued my interest. I strongly urge each of you to obtain a copy of the book.
I just loved this book - shifters, witches, magic, drama, sexy romance. Everything I love to read about and more. *** So, in the beginning after the first few pages, I really felt like, ok, this is going to be a nice read. But then, after the first few chapters, it got better and better and better! I was just so in to the story that I finished the book within 2 days! I needed to learn about Mia, about Aaron and his brothers and of course I needed to find out if a certain beta female succeeds or what the hell is going on with Mia in the first place.
The style of writing kept me going and going and the story, thanks to the different povs, was just sooo good and brought all the right elements (at least for me) to the mix. And the protas are just so good, the dynamic between Aaron and Mia, I loved it, with all their ups and downs.
Now, I do have a book-hangover, and I can't wait for book 2 to be published!
*** Für alle Romantasy-Fans da draußen, ich hab es geliebt!
Aaron und Mia sind zwei tolle Protas, auch wenn ich anfangs so ein bisschen meine Probleme hatte, dass ich in die Geschichte reinkomme. Aber nach den ersten paar Kapiteln musste ich einfach wissen, wie es weiter geht und hab das Buch innerhalb von 2 Tagen verschlungen.
Die Idee ist nicht unbedingt neu, aber die Umsetzung find ich grandios. Auch die Dynamik zwischen Mia und Aaron hat mir mega gut gefallen, mit allen Höhen und Tiefen. Besonders spannend fand ich auch eine gewisse Beta-Female, die hier auch versucht, etwas Unruhe zu stiften, aber im Grunde eigentlich gegenüber dem richtigen "Problem" nur so ein Nebenbei ist ;) Hab es aber immer genossen, Szenen mit ihr zu lesen.
Ich hab jetzt einen Book-hangover und hoffe, dass das zweite Buch bald erscheint!
I love paranormal so this was right up my alley. While the author is new to me I will say that enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I'm not a bit vampire reader but this sounded far to good to pass up.
Mia is in hiding and that her adopted father has worked hard to keep her safe. Now she's being followed and he's not answering her calls. That brings us to Aaron Randolph who is avenging his mother's death at the hand of the vampires.
Mia and Aaron are great characters and I feel like I need to say that he's a virgin! It was such a big deal because I normally read a lot of alpha hero books and they are never virgins so this was an awesome change.
If you love paranormal like do then this is the book that you want to read. I wasn't able to put it down. Although, I took off a half star though because this ends in a sort of to be continued in the next book. It's not a full on cliffhanger but now I need to read the next book. My OCD won't allow me not to.
I was given this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Every book with werewolves/lycans is different. I particularly liked that in this book the author included multiple different characteristics of werewolves, such as the ranking system, mates and transformation. While she combined all these characteristics, she put her own spin on them and this was refreshing. One thing that I really liked was that the lycans didn't transform completely into wolves.
The characters in this book were very interesting especially Mia. One of the main points of the book is trying to figure out what Mia is. Is she a vampire? A lycan? Something else? Although, I will say that there were parts of this story that could use further development, like Aaron's family and how they splintered off into small packs. The last 1/4 of the story was great but I felt that just as it was starting to get exciting the story ended. I the ending was supposed to lead into the next book, but the ending needs a little more closure.
Overall I would recommend this book, readers just need to overlook the areas that need some tweaks.
“Lycan’s Blood Queen” is the first part on the “Randolph Duology” by Catherine Edward, which features the classic cast of Lycans, Witches and Vampires, but add some unexpected twists into the mix.
Mia (FMC) has a somehow unremarkable life that unbeknownst to her hides an extraordinary secret. A secret that will play a crucial role once Mia is brought into the Lycan Castle and before Aaron George Randolph the ruling King. Aaron is bent on exacting revenge on the vampires who killed his mother, who are the most vicious and hated of all supernatural races in this world. But as Aaron meets Mia, he immediately recognizes as his mate, a not so minor complication, that will shift the balance in the century old war between Vampires and Lycans.
This is good story, that uses the classical Vampire/Lycan war trope as a blueprint to develop an interesting story around forbidden relationships, blood enemies and the power of endurance and love. An interesting dark romance with a slow building burn.
This a very good book with lots of questions about who and what the heroine, Mia, really is and tons of action. We start out believing Mia is human but that soon changes when the wolf pack scents her as a vampire in their territory. Aaron is the pack alpha and soon realizes that she is possibly his mate. The chemistry between the H and h is well written with a lot of important secondary characters like Aaron's family and pack members, Mia's father and assorted witches/warlocks.
We have more than one villain in the book which makes the story rich in plot lines. Definite new world building with respect to what is happening to Mia. I would have given this book 5 stars but was not happy where the story arc ended in book 1. The book had lots of interesting events but I would have rather had them condensed so we ended the book further down in the plot. I will be reading book 2 that is certain.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Aaron George Randolph, ruling King of the Lycans, and Mia are both strong characters and likable to the reader. The first hurdle for them is that Aaron’s mother was killed by vampires and then he meets and is attracted to Mia. Lycans and vampires are normally enemies, so their slow burn romance is automatically headed for conflict if Aaron has to convince his pack that she is a proper mate for him – and if she is truly a vampire and not something else? The mystery of that situation keeps the story intriguing. Other things happening will also give them a difficult time before they can solidify their relationship.
This was a good story once I caught on to the characters and what was happening. The story line was good, slow in the beginning but getting up to a proper pace. By the end of this book, you’ll be eager to continue on to the next! Grab your copy and see if you find the answers you may be looking for!