Filthy Rich Vampire: Second Rite
By Geneva Lee.
By Geneva Lee.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I chose you, not just in that moment but for every lifetime. I chose you for eternity—and I will choose you every time.”
Thea and Julian are back, considerably more complicated than before, and apparently determined to make me even more invested in their relationship.
Second Rite picks up a month after the events of Filthy Rich Vampire, with Thea attempting to rebuild the life she left behind. Her mother remains in a coma, money is becoming increasingly difficult to manage and she's trying to convince everyone around her, including herself, that she can move forwards without Julian.
Naturally, that doesn't last.
When Julian reappears, Thea discovers there was far more behind his decision to push her away than she realised. His feelings haven't disappeared, the danger surrounding her certainly hasn't gone anywhere, and staying apart becomes increasingly impossible when neither of them actually wants to.
I enjoyed this even more because I was already completely invested in Julian and Thea. Their chemistry develops considerably in this instalment, but so does their emotional connection. There is so much love and compassion between them, and I really enjoyed seeing their relationship move beyond the initial attraction and uncertainty of the first book.
Thea is also becoming much bolder. She's finding her voice within this supernatural world and is far more willing to challenge Julian rather than simply accepting his decisions. Considering Julian's protective instincts have somehow become even stronger, watching the two of them clash makes for some brilliant banter.
And Julian? 900 years old or not, I'd still marry him tomorrow.
The romance also becomes considerably steamier this time around. After all that tension in the first book, we finally get some payoff, and it was definitely worth the wait.
Beyond the romance, the wider story continues to expand. We learn more about the rules governing vampires, the Council and the consequences Julian faces for refusing to stay away from Thea. I particularly like that their relationship isn't happening separately from the supernatural storyline. Being together has genuine consequences, and Julian's willingness to risk everything for her raises the stakes considerably.
I wasn't completely convinced by the direction of the mystery surrounding Thea and whether there might be something supernatural about her. It felt slightly familiar to me, particularly having read the Sookie Stackhouse books, and I'm hoping the next instalment develops this in a way that makes it feel more distinctive within this world.
That didn't stop me racing through the book though. These are dangerously addictive reads. The combination of romance, vampire politics, family drama, magic, banter and increasingly complicated secrets makes it incredibly easy to say "just one more chapter" until suddenly there aren't any chapters left.
Then came the ending.
For a brief moment I thought Geneva Lee was going to let me finish this book feeling happy and content.
How naïve of me.
The ending takes what initially feels like a wonderfully sweet moment and promptly throws another problem into Julian and Thea's lives, leaving me desperate to know what happens next.
Second Rite is a brilliant continuation of the series, with a stronger Thea, an even more protective Julian, plenty of spice and a supernatural world that continues to grow around them. I'm officially far too invested in these two now, so naturally I'll be heading straight into book three.
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