Leave it to Katee Robert to give us a reverse harem book with vampires that freaking slaps. Court of the Vampire Queen follows Mina, who only ever wanted to escape her father’s control. As half human, half vampire, Mina has lived her life eternally torn between two worlds. When her father chooses to use her as a pawn in his latest political move, Mina is gifted to the darkly and powerful Malachi Zion.
Ruling with an iron fist and with a well-known reputation of dark sins in his past, Mina is sure she won’t survive him. But the longer she spends in his presence, the more she realises that what society sees isn’t the real deal—and that Malachi is far from being a monster. As lust turns to trust and eventually love, Mina finally finds a home: not only with Malachi, but with his two closest friends and companions. Surrounded by her three men, Mina finally finds the power to rid the world of the real monster: taking down her father and taking what’s rightfully hers.
Heavy on the smut, light on the plot, this is the perfect way to get started with Robert if you haven’t had the pleasure of reading her books before. Since this is a bind-up of the previously released three novellas, the story moves super quickly and we get right into the thick of it instead of getting boggled down with info dumping. Instead, Robert seamlessly combines the intrigues and political schemes of Mina’s father with the consequences it has for not only her and her siblings but for vampires like Malachi and his closest friends. But of course, the romance takes front stage in this novel and I’m not mad about it. From Mina building a trusting bond with Malachi and being taken over by lust to…getting to know his two friends (who are amazing), this book delivers on the spice. If you’re squeamish when it comes to blood play and biting then this might not be the book for you, but if you ever wanted to see three vampires and a half human, half vampire get it on, then you need this book in your life.
Aside from the smutty side of things, we also have wholesome “if you touch her, I’ll kill you” vibes (we love to see it) and sweet moments between the four who plot to take on Mina’s father and make Mina the queen she was supposed to be all along. As always, Robert’s female protagonists have agency and the themes of empowerment and personal growth are strong and make for a great reading experience. If you’re a long-time reader of Robert, you’ll also see tiny hints about other stories in her universe (The Dragon’s Bride, for example) which I loved because it’s such a cool thing to make the connections while reading and wondering how other series will develop in this world.
If you’re in the market for a compelling reverse vampire harem story, some smutty goodness, the iconic “if you touch her I’ll kill you” trope and “overthrowing the patriarchy” vibes, then Court of the Vampire Queen is the book for you!
Court of the Vampire Queen is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 6th 2022.
Will you be picking up Court of the Vampire Queen? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Three Powerfully Alluring Vampire Men
And One Queen to Rule Them All
All Mina ever wanted was to escape her father’s control. Half human, half vampire, she lived eternally torn between two worlds, never fully experiencing the pleasures of either—until her father chose her as the pawn in his latest political move, gifting her to the darkly powerful and dangerously seductive Malachi Zion.
Malachi is not a vampire to be trifled with. He rules with an iron fist and has a reputation for the darkest of sins. But the longer Mina spends with him, the more she realizes he’s not the monster she first thought—and as fear bleeds into lust, then trust, then something more, Malachi opens Mina up to a world she never knew could be hers for the taking: including the love of Malachi’s two closest friends and companions.
Now surrounded by all three men, the center of their shockingly seductive world, Mina may finally have the power to face down her father and take back the life—and crown—that by all rights should be hers.
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN.
