Job security isn’t something Addison is all that concerned with.
Death, however? Yeah, death is a major concern.
After Addison finds a nearly-dusted vampire in the garbage outside her building, her ability to stay off the paranormal radar is deader than the vamp. Almost as dead as she’ll be if anyone thinks she put him there. Even though she’s basically shoving a stake into her own chest, she has no other choice but to get him indoors before he dusts in front of a human. And just when she thinks life couldn’t possibly get any worse, she finds out who he is.
As vampire king and Prime to all races of supernatural beings in this zone, Rhyse gets what he wants when he wants it. But after being ambushed, he wakes up chained to a bed with a hole in his chest and, unfortunately, he needs help to discover who tried to kill him. His only ally is his captor, someone unaware she has the power to bring down their entire world.
While a prophesized war brews in the Heights, Addison and Rhyse must decide which carries more risk—trusting someone who could destroy you or trusting someone who could love you?
* * *
The Heights not only protects the secrecy of vampires, shifters, demons, angels, and other supernaturals, it protects the humans unaware of the world hidden within their own.
Holy shit. Yeah, you heard me right. This book totally blew my mind. I enjoy reading creative paranormal stories that create a whole world on its own. And this one here is one of the best. Forget anything you knew about the world of supernaturals. Forget what you read about vampires or demons. “Unseen” paints a new picture of the supernatural world, making it so much more interesting and mind-blowing.
Lauren Stewart created a world so detailed, so intense, that you will feel like you are living in it. And what a world it is to live in. Vampires, demons, werewolfs and other supernaturals roam the Heights, having created their own world withing the human one and their own system, that is not only meant to protect them from exposure to the human world, but also from each other as well as the humans from them. The system seems to work – at least as long as you don’t take a closer look. The system works for the ones that have the power. The lower races on the other hand are more or less prisoners of their world. That goes for seers as well – the ones that can spot and identify supernaturals.
Addison is a seer – or so she thinks. Having adjusted to the life she is forced to live, she tries to make the best of it. She knows keeping her head down and doing her job will ensure she stays alive. Dreams of a happy future or freedom to do what she wants and where she wants are not something she indulges in. She lives her life day in and day out doing what she is paid for – managing to be thankful for what she has as she knows things could be way worse as they are for some of her friends. She mistrusts anyone non-human, knowing that a human life does not hold any worth to supernaturals.
Her attitude is tested to the core when she stumbles upon a nearly staked Rhyse, the vampire king. The guy that holds all the power in the Heights. As she is unsure what to do, she ends up with him in her apartment trying to get him back to strength and right back out of her door. What she forgets though is things aren’t this easy and sometimes no matter how unreasonable it might seem, attraction and feelings might be stronger than logic. This is exactly what happens to her when it comes to Rhyse. She feels drawn to him like a moth to the fire – knowing the chances of burning to ash are quite high. She is caught up in the back and forth of her own feelings – falling for him, yet not able to trust him or let him in. Living as independently as the Heights allow, being her own boss and staying true to herself, it is hard for her to deal with his domineering, possessive and bossy attitude. She is strong and doesn’t back down, standing up to him regardless of possible consequences.
But when the truth about her life is revealed and the safety of the world is at risk, it is Rhyse she can depend on. It is Rhyse who is willing to save her no matter the consequences to his life.
Rhyse, who hasn’t loved or cared about another being for hundreds of years is suddenly realizing there are still emotions left in his undead body and soul. Waking up in Addisons apartment, he is totally out of his comfort zone when confronted with a foul-mouthed, feisty and disobedient Addison. Used to people obeying his every command and fulfilling his every wish and need, he is in for quite a shock to learn Addison does not give a damn about what he wants. While at first planning her death once she has helped him find out who tried to stake him, he soon learns that this will not be an option for him. After learning her secret and realizing she is stirring emotions in him he believed long lost, he is hell-bent on protecting her from anything and anyone that might cause her any harm. Lacking the emotional finesse after being a heartless jerk for centuries, he can come across as a cavemen with megalomaniac tendencies. So a human that stands up to him and simply doesn’t give a crap about what he wants or thinks baffles him to the core – and makes him more than just intrigued with Addison.
But just as they realize that love can work despite differences that might have seemed to be impossible to conquer, the fact that things aren’t what they seem in the Heights is highlighted as some supernaturals are willing to stop at nothing in order to gain power – threatening the lives of not only Addison and Rhyse, but other supernaturals and humans as well.
In the end, will their love be strong enough to conquer the dangers? And will it be strong enough to survive Addison finding her true calling and standing up for what she believes in?
Trust me, it is worth finding out. The story is written with so much charm and sweetness, lots of fantasy and paranormal awesomeness, humour and sarcasm as well a decent amount of swearing – which can always win my heart. There are hot angels, vampires and demons that will make you swoon and will make your panties melt. And there is sex that will make you spontaneously combust. But there is also a more serious undertone to it all, with lessons to be learned – lessons about power, love, equality, discrimination and about following your calling.
Lauren Stewart has created a masterpiece that I was sad to leave behind upon finishing the book. I cannot wait for the sequel and am looking forward to learning more about the Heights.
Now, stop reading my review, go one-click the book and allow yourself to be transported into a whole different world.
5+ demon, angels, vampires and everything in between stars.
