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A review by bryckklovesbooks
Vale by Mia Michele
5.0
In my opinion, Dystopian/Paranormal Romance is a very difficult genre to write. It takes an author with an extraordinary imagination, a true gift for creating characters that evolve throughout the story, and they must be able to conjure a bold, new world outside of our own reality, whereas the standard norm no longer exists. There are not many authors that can excel at crafting stories with these key elements. However, Mia Michele is one of the few authors that I have read that managed to succeed. This story is flawless.
VALE is the story of immortal vampire named Alexander Vale. As an Archon, an elite class of vampire and Commissioner for the Dominion, Alex remembers a time when the territories were in virtual chaos. In light of this tumultuous history, he strives to maintain complete order amongst the current caste system in place to maintain order. He follows the new laws to the letter and having existed for one-thousand years, Alex believes he has pretty much seen and experienced in his entire existence. That is, until he becomes enraptured by the sound of a mellifluous songbird he hears singing in a church choir. Enter: An Esne named, Maire.
A free spirit, Maire has always wanted more aside from what her life was destined to be given her station in the Dominion. After catching the eye of the most powerful vampire in the Dominion, Maire is reluctant to engage given her illegal status but feels an instant connection to Alex. She throws caution to the wind and marries him after he proposes. Only to discover that her impulsive actions connect her to a stranger who does not share the same world views as he. Further, unbeknownst to her, has ties to her past that she may or may not be able to forgive.
This story sunk its hooks into me from page one. Alex has a commanding presence as soon as he comes on page and his need to maintain order and peace consumes him to the point of having tunnel vision where his subjects are concerned. Maire opens his eyes and shows him the other side of assumptions on the people he serves and has the gumption to challenge him and his thinking.
The power exchange is seen throughout this novel as Alex becomes more and more vulnerable and Maire becomes bolder and more assertive in her convictions. The conversations had between Alex and Maire are thought-provoking and vital to the development of both characters throughout the story. These two characters compliment and feed off one another, literally and figuratively for their survival; emotional and physical. As tragic as this may sound, the way it's written by the author, it's a thing of beauty to behold.
This book went so far as to challenge my own thoughts about society and the way I viewed my own reality. VALE gave me a lot to think about. This in itself makes VALE one of the best books I’ve read this year. Even though I finished it weeks ago, it’s still in my thoughts. Bravo, Ms. Michele! Mission Accomplished. I shall never, ever forget this book.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves creative, world building, emotionally charged dialogue between main characters, and an honest to goodness love story where love triumphs and endures over societal rules, its caste system, and everything in between. I loved it!
Happy reading!
VALE is the story of immortal vampire named Alexander Vale. As an Archon, an elite class of vampire and Commissioner for the Dominion, Alex remembers a time when the territories were in virtual chaos. In light of this tumultuous history, he strives to maintain complete order amongst the current caste system in place to maintain order. He follows the new laws to the letter and having existed for one-thousand years, Alex believes he has pretty much seen and experienced in his entire existence. That is, until he becomes enraptured by the sound of a mellifluous songbird he hears singing in a church choir. Enter: An Esne named, Maire.
A free spirit, Maire has always wanted more aside from what her life was destined to be given her station in the Dominion. After catching the eye of the most powerful vampire in the Dominion, Maire is reluctant to engage given her illegal status but feels an instant connection to Alex. She throws caution to the wind and marries him after he proposes. Only to discover that her impulsive actions connect her to a stranger who does not share the same world views as he. Further, unbeknownst to her, has ties to her past that she may or may not be able to forgive.
This story sunk its hooks into me from page one. Alex has a commanding presence as soon as he comes on page and his need to maintain order and peace consumes him to the point of having tunnel vision where his subjects are concerned. Maire opens his eyes and shows him the other side of assumptions on the people he serves and has the gumption to challenge him and his thinking.
The power exchange is seen throughout this novel as Alex becomes more and more vulnerable and Maire becomes bolder and more assertive in her convictions. The conversations had between Alex and Maire are thought-provoking and vital to the development of both characters throughout the story. These two characters compliment and feed off one another, literally and figuratively for their survival; emotional and physical. As tragic as this may sound, the way it's written by the author, it's a thing of beauty to behold.
This book went so far as to challenge my own thoughts about society and the way I viewed my own reality. VALE gave me a lot to think about. This in itself makes VALE one of the best books I’ve read this year. Even though I finished it weeks ago, it’s still in my thoughts. Bravo, Ms. Michele! Mission Accomplished. I shall never, ever forget this book.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves creative, world building, emotionally charged dialogue between main characters, and an honest to goodness love story where love triumphs and endures over societal rules, its caste system, and everything in between. I loved it!
Happy reading!