Mate
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: A-
What I’m Talking About:
Mate opens with a flashback to the night young Serena was taken from her home where she lived with her negligent mother and her abusive werewolf boyfriend. A group comes in, kills the werewolf, and takes her.
Next we are in present day, which is a few months (or so) after the conclusion of Bride. We learn that the world knows about Serena, who is a hybrid werewolf, human, something that isn’t supposed to be able to exist. This puts a target on her back, and there are Vampyres actively tracking her down to bring her in for experimentation. It’s up to Koen, the Alpha of the Northwest pack, to protect Serena because she is his mate. Although he wants nothing to do with her.
Mate is a slow-burn, passionate romance, and I enjoyed it so much. Due to forced proximity, Serena and Koen develop a friendship. Their banter is absolutely fabulous. Serena is all energy and spunk, while Koen is dry and serious, but he isn’t cruel and also shares a wicked sense of humor.
Since the story is only shared via Serena’s point of view, we don’t learn Koen’s true feelings, other than from short third person POV snippets at the start of each chapter. This gives the tale a very forlorn, unrequited feel as Serena falls in love with Koen while he denies any feelings or chance of romance. Serena is the ultimate martyr heroine. She had a shitty childhood, she was kept in the dark about her true nature, she was outed against her wishes, she wants to protect those she loves by isolating herself, and she is mates with a wolf she could love if only he’d give her the time of day. She just wants to be left alone, but she’s constantly reminded by most everyone around her that she doesn’t belong.
Due to *circumstances* things finally progress between the couple and it’s explosive! I love these characters. Hazelwood writes with such passion, giving us characters that care so much it hurts. They are good people who are wiling to sacrifice their own happiness to ensure the happiness of others. The story is well-paced, the sexual tension rising and building until it literally explodes.
While this is all happening, Serena learns more about her past (she is an orphan) and is the victim of an unsavory group who will do stop at nothing to possess her. This threat gives the story a solid external conflict, bringing Serena and Koen closer together.
In the end, I absolutely adored Mate and hope Hazelwood pens more stories in this amazing world.
My Rating: A-
Jen
About the Book:
Serena Paris is orphaned, pack-less, and one of a kind. Coming forward as the first Human-Were hybrid was supposed to heal a centuries-long rift between species. Instead, it made her a target, prey to the ruthless political machinations between Weres, Vampyres, and Humans. With her enemies closing in on her, she has only one option left—if he’ll have her.
As Alpha of the Northwest pack, Koen Alexander commands obedience. His authority is so absolute, only a fool would threaten his mate. It doesn’t matter if Serena doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, nothing will stop him from keeping her safe.
But power-hungry Vampyres and Weres are not the only threats chasing Serena. Sooner or later, her past is bound to catch up with her—and Koen might be the only thing standing between her and total annihilation…
Release Date: October 7, 2025
Publisher: Berkley
Series: Bride #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): paperback (464 pages), e-book, audiobook
Book Source: purchased with my own funds