[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Wicked as She Wants

Delilah S. Dawson comes from a long line of Roswell, GA natives. WICKED AS THEY COME is the first in her Blud series for Pocket/S&S, and a creepy paranormal YA, SERVANTS OF THE STORM, will be out with Simon Pulse in 2014. Delilah is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Georgia Romance Writers. She is also an Associate Editor at www.CoolMomPicks.com andwww.CoolMomTech.com, where she is given the more eccentric and geeky products to cover. Delilah lives with her husband, two small children, and two cats in Atlanta. Find out more atwww.delilahsdawson.com.

Wicked as She Wants, Book #2 of the BLUD series

by Delilah S. Dawson

Synopsis:

The second book in the darkly tempting Blud series, featuring a vampire princess who embarks upon a dangerous journey to claim what is rightfully hers.

When Blud princess Ahnastasia wakes up, drained and starving in a suitcase, she’s not sure which calls to her more: the sound of music or the scent of blood. The source of both sensations is a handsome and mysterious man named Casper Sterling. Once the most celebrated musician in London, Sangland, he’s fallen on hard times. Now, much to Ahna’s frustration, the debauched and reckless human is her only ticket back home to the snow-rimmed and magical land of Freesia.

Together with Casper’s prickly charge, a scrappy orphan named Keen, they seek passage to Ahna’s homeland, where a power-hungry sorceress named Ravenna holds the royal family in thrall. Traveling from the back alleys of London to the sparkling minarets of Muscovy, Ahna discovers that Freesia holds new perils and dangerous foes. Back in her country, she is forced to choose between the heart she never knew she had and the land that she was born to rule. But with Casper’s help, Ahna may find a way to have it all….

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:
*eARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for a honest review

I was wondering how I would like this book after seeing a significant range of early read ratings and comments online by Blud fans, wherein there didn't seem to be quite the amount of enthusiasm as there was for earlier installments. I personally thought it was absolutely incredible, and my only guess as to why my opinion differed slightly from other Blud series lovers is that I started the series with book #1.5, not with Book #1, and didn't actually read Criminy's story until after Wicked As She Wants.

With that all said, Delilah's series is unlike anything I've read before and each new story just sucks me in further!

Readers are introduced to Casper Sterling, a.k.a "Maestro", in book #1 of the series when he's involved with Tish (who ultimately becomes Criminy's wife). Casper's story and elaboration of his tortured character are further elaborated in book #1.6, The Peculiar Pets of Miss Pleasance. Finally, the enigma that is the Maestro is unveiled in Wicked as She Wants, and what a tale it is!

Casper has a lot of issues and even more secrets, but at his core he desperately wants to redeem himself, and he's truly a good man. He cares deeply for his charge Keen- a young orphan that he took under his wing, and even though she tried to kill him upon their first meeting, he decides to do everything in his power (and really whatever it takes) to help the Princess Ahnastasia.

Ahna is the Feodor of Freesia, rightful bloodman heir to the throne, and a truly fascinating character. She's haughty, oftentimes nasty, sometimes naive, and surprisingly vulnerable. She has an innate strength & kindness, but her circumstances have never taught her how to properly portray those qualities. She and Casper together learn countless things about themselves and each other and the growth of character is fascinating to read.

Wicked as She Wants was action packed, thrilling, and sexy, and I can't wait for Wicked After Midnight. 5 Skulls!

Wicked as She Wants