Dance of Monsters - Jagger Cole

I flew through this book in one sitting. Jagger’s writing style is so captivating that it’s impossible to put down. His universe is also deeply intertwined, so you get appearances from characters you don’t expect, which makes the reading experience even richer.

Vaughn is the classic broody MMC who has no time for love or feelings. But once Evie walks into a situation she absolutely should not have been involved in, she lands firmly on his radar and never leaves. He even tells her that isn’t a good thing.

When Evie asks for his help joining the Obsidian Syndicate, Vaughn immediately shuts her down, convinced she couldn’t handle it. She’s often painted as a pink princess, but Evie has a backbone and never backs down. The strength she shows when standing up to Vaughn was impressive. Every time he tries to break her, she just wants more.

Vaughn ended up being far more layered than I expected. The trauma and baggage he carries shaped who he is, but it’s also what draws Evie and him together. Watching those walls crack was incredibly satisfying.

Throughout the book, we also get moments with Evie’s ballet friends, and seeing them witness her growth was entertaining. Of course, there’s plenty of Val and Roman, but we’re also introduced to Vaughn’s friends, who were just as intriguing.

I knew going in that there would be twists and unexpected information, but there was even more than I anticipated. The overall story and ending hit at the same level I’ve come to expect from a Jagger book, and it absolutely delivered. I received this as an ARC and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

She's playing games with a hunter. but I'm not sure she's fully realized yet how very much the prey she is.