Review: Once Burned (Night Prince #1) by Jeaniene Frost

TLDR Recap:

A fluke accident with a downed power line has left Leila cursed. She not only emits an electrical charge when in contact with a person or object, but she also can divine impressions from the past, future, and connect with another’s mind. Kidnapped by a hired group of vamps, Leila is threatened with her life to reveal the name and current whereabouts of a frightening vampire that’s able to control fire from his hands. Hoping to save her life, she reveals her position to the fire-starter only to be swept away to a medieval castle in Romania by none other than the vampire that inspired the classic by Bram Stoker, Vlad Tepesh or Vlad the Impaler. As Leila works with Vlad to find the vampire after him and behind her kidnapping, she finds herself in love with the one person she can finally touch, but believes he isn’t able to love her in return. Once Burned is a GraveTells Must-Read!

• Title: Once Burned
• Series: Night Prince #1
• Author: Jeaniene Frost
• Prominent Characters: Leila, Vlad
• Recommended Reader Age: 18+
• Genre: Paranormal Romance
• Sexual Content Level: moderate

*** This review is SPOILER-FREE! Read on with confidence! ***

Thoughts:

Not wanting to hurt anyone or become a test subject/tool, Leila left her family for the anonymity of a traveling circus. Jaded by the people and objects she’s touched, Leila’s no stranger to depression and has attempted suicide. Time has allowed her to develop a thick skin, but she’s not impervious to rejection and she longs for the physical contact denied by her ability.

Leila quickly gains a  dangerous notoriety that gets her kidnapped and leads to her introduction with Vlad. Dangerous, cold, and unforgiving, Vlad lives up to all the history that’s been written about him, yet his charisma and commanding arrogance draw people to him. He’s extremely protective and loyal to those that work with and belong to him, but after the loss of his first wife he believes himself incapable of loving again.

Impervious to fire, Vlad is the only person Leila has ever been able to touch without hurting. Working closely with Vlad has left Leila in love with a man she knows can’t love her back and unsure of her future after her usefulness has ended. As the search for the vampire behind their attacks progresses, Vlad is confronted with a formidable enemy from his ancient past that threatens to take everything he holds dear.

Once Burned was thoroughly engrossing and had me fanning myself more than once. Frost’s continued ability to make me forget my surroundings and transport me onto her pages is uncanny. Her multi-dimensional characters, especially the portrayal of Vlad Tepes, were gripping to the end and left me wanting more. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoy her writing and she has a lifelong fan.

Memorable Quotes:

Only someone known as “The Impaler,” can have humor this twisted…

“He strikes me as a pawn, so he probably has no idea who sent him after you.”
I continued with my doubtful stare. He rolled his eyes. “I forgot you generation is only familiar with mobile phone games like Angry Birds. In Chess, Pawns are the lowest level of –”
“I know how to play chess,” I interrupted. “When you can’t touch a cell phone or play electronic games without frying them, you learn to make do with the classics.”
He grinned, revealing those lovely white teeth. I reminded myself that if I mentally recited that famous line from Little Red Riding Hood, he’d hear it.
“Good. If you checked your e-mail every five minutes, or keep texting and Tweeting in the middle of our conversation, I might snap your neck out of sheer principle.”

Oh, my God…

“You think my blood is the only tie between us?”
His voice was low, yet edged with palpable hunger. It seemed to rub me in places I’d only ever touched before, making my anger fade under a flash of desire. Vlad was so close that his hair was a shadowy veil all around me, and when he began to caress my face with light, sure strokes, it was all I could do not to close my eyes in bliss.
“This is our true tie,” he whispered, his breath falling hotly onto my lips. “You’re meant for me, and I will have you.”

Did it suddenly get hot in here? *fans self*

I found myself wondering if his chest had the same crisp dusting of hair as his arms, or if the hint of darkness I glimpsed was from the firelight’s shifting shadows.
His teeth bared in something too predatory to be called a smile. “You’ll soon find out.”
I stretched out my hands as if to ward him off. “Not yet. I want to know what your end game is first.”
Another flash of teeth, this time showing his fangs. “To have you screaming my name within the hour.”

Patience lost is not necessarily a bad thing…

“If I didn’t want you so much,” he said in a deadly purr, “I’d let you keep fucking me with your gaze, but you make me impatient.”

If you liked Once Burned…

If you enjoyed Once Burned and are looking for further adventures with kick-ass heroines and sexy vampires, check out Jeaniene Frost’s Halfway to the Grave, book one of the Night Huntress series, a story of a half-blood vampire hunter out for vengeance and the vampire that steals her heart. Look for the sequel to Once Burned in Spring 2013.

Final Thoughts:

Once Burned was fiery, hot, and seductive. Vlad’s story kept me riveted and definitely didn’t disappoint. Once Burned is a GraveTells Must-Read! So, go buy it already!

Rating: Once Burned