Rating: 3.5🌈
I’ve always enjoyed Arden Steele’s fated mates series, Blackhaven Manor. They are entertaining, have a fast/instant connection, fated mate romance with a neat twist or two found within the story. The location, Blackhaven Manor, is a safe haven location destination for otherworldly beings run by dragon siblings.
I have my definite favorites here so it’s nice that the author often brings characters/couples back from the previous stories to share in the new couples romance. Which absolutely happens here.
What the Hex as a whole has some wonderful elements and has some things that are problematic. The beginning , that utter rushed mated matchup, left both the reader and the mates, especially one, with no connection to each other, no time for anyone to learn much about the other characters. Just boom and done. Without us even being sure we liked the actor.
It actually takes a crisis, a visit to a family, and a couple of hilarious scenes later in the story where the couple acquire their own depths of personality, growth in character, and honestly, a bit of chemistry, that it feels believable. But much has passed in the narrative to get to that point.
Storm Black (actor) and Kingston Mathers (human) are the fated pair. King has several issues that include self consciousness about his body image, dysfunctional parenting, and basic insecurities. However, these get treated both ways here . Hes a good character, where the author has built a foundation for his underlying issues. But solves them too easily.
I get part of that is the book length but mate bond shouldn’t be a panacea for deep development problems.
The romance between them does become cute as they become more familiar with each other. I liked this aspect of the book.
But the one thing at the end about the semi-villain (nice twist) is odd. Either Steele is going to include him in the next book or this just doesn’t make sense. If there’s no future plans for him, then the way this is handled is plain annoying.
So I’ll wait for the next book to come out and see who the main characters are.
Check out the full list below.
Blackhaven Manor:
- Purrfect Harmony #1
- Night and Fae #2
- Dragon It Out #3
- Grin and Bear It #4
- Pixie Little Liar #5
- Dead Over Heals #6
- Silent Knight #7
- Pain in the Ice #8
- Walking a Tight Rope #9
- Royally Flocked #10
- What The Hex? #11
Sequel/adjacent series:
Hunter’s Hollow:
- Angels and Anarchy #1
- Beauty and Bad Blood #2
Buy link
What the Hex (Blackhaven Manor Book 11)
Blurb
Driven and ambitious are not words anyone would use to describe Kingston Mathers, but he’s content with his lot in life. So, of course, fate throws him a curve ball that threatens to wreak havoc on his carefully constructed neutrality. Because there’s no way in heaven or hell that someone like him should end up mated to an internationally beloved actor with legions of adoring fans.
Fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Storm Black can attest to that. Even after years of monitoring his every word, action, and even his facial expressions, the lifestyle doesn’t come naturally. Frankly, he’s still not entirely sure how he stumbled into the limelight in the first place. When his latest role leads him right into the arms of his destiny, however, he’s never been more grateful for the detour.
But strange things are happening at Blackhaven Manor. When Storm suddenly forgets everything about who he is, it’s up to King to find the answers. He just hopes that when the hex is finally lifted, his mate’s newfound obsession with him doesn’t disappear with it.
- Publisher: PECCAVI PRESS (August 29, 2024)
- Publication date: August 29, 2024
- Language: English
- Print length: 150 pages
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 