'Savage Ax (The Hidden Realm #1) by D.N. Hoxa

Savage Ax is a split POV that follows both Savage and Nikki Arelle, vampires from rival covens. They're sent out on a mission together, which is really a race against all the other rival covens to retrieve someone deemed important enough to actually team them up.

Both Savage and Nikki have reputations for being.. well.. disreputable. Savage for brutality and Nikki for losing control. Neither of them are exactly people persons, so it's no surprise that they don't hit it off well. 

Overall, the story isn't that substantial, but of course that's not what I read it for and I'm assuming the same for the average reader who'd pick up this book from its blurb. It does still make steady progress over the course of the few days the pair are out in the human world together. The fight scenes are perhaps a little overdone, making them somewhat difficult to conceive. Probably what seemed really clear in the author's mind, just doesn't transfer to page as well.. and that's not uncommon.. but it's also not super important here 

The character development is good enough considering the type of book it is. Neither character is exactly deep, but they do both have a nice (if brief) backstory. Savage's is the kind of backstory that could really dig into the reader with some time spent on it and he IS hot. All the little things are there in his nature and in the way he interacts with Nikki. 

Spicy scenes are well-placed and sprinkled throughout the book, they do not take up all the space leaving no room for story. Personally, I found the beginnings of them to be the best.. the lead-ups were great.. his darker tastes on full display, but then they'd sort of plateau. Again, not uncommon. I find most authors in the genre don't want to go too far, or don't quite know how to. Either way, it's more than enough to pacify the general smut fan.

All in all, it was a quick, easy read. Savage was a lot of fun, even when dealing with enemies and Nikki wasn't bad either. Better than the average MC. ​

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