Rating: 3.5 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
The Ostin Prince is the second book in the Isle of Ostin series. The books have an overreaching storyline throughout the series and are best read in order. This review may then reveal plot points about the continuing storyline.
One horrific night when Arbor Ostin was nine years old, he ran for his life. He lost everything and everyone that night and he never understood what really happened. Being a homeless vampire as a child was traumatic and Arbor carries a lot of stress and pain with him. It’s been 70 years and Arbor is shocked to learn that his cousin, Theo, also survived and it’s time for the royal Ostins to claim what is theirs.
Now living on the Isle of Ostin, Arbor meets Zeke and knows that Zeke is too good and too kind for him. It’s not only attraction that is fueling their chemistry, but Arbor can’t shake the feeling that Zeke is his soulmate.
Zeke knows what it’s like to lose his family, as they disowned him when he came out. When he was barely surviving, he could only dream of a better life. But Zeke doesn’t think he’s attractive and he’s certainly not as fit as Arbor is and, besides, Arbor keeps trying to shut down what is clearly happening between the two of them. Arbor wants revenge against the vampire that destroyed his life and he doesn’t want to drag Zeke into his world of torture and violence. But due to circumstances, Zeke is more directly involved than he wants to be and, together, Zeke and Arbor may find the home they both crave.
The Ostin Prince follows The Ostin Heir and the two books are directly linked. While the romance here is a new couple with Arbor and Zeke, both were introduced in the first book and the overall storyline continues through the series.
Zeke and Arbor are opposites in many ways. Where Arbor is a vampire, Zeke is human; where Arbor is strong, chiseled, and seeking vengeance, Zeke isn’t as fit, doesn’t like violence, and cares for those around him. But they both lost their families in different ways and both want someone to love them and to be loved in return. The story focuses on the push and pull of Arbor and Zeke’s relationship and getting them to accept who they are and that they are worthy of love. It then also focuses on the larger story of what happened to Arbor and Theo’s family and their quest to get answers and seek revenge.
I like most of the characters in this series and I like the overall story. However, I struggle with the execution at times in that the dialogue is sometimes too stiff and formal in places with too many of what feels like PSAs spread out throughout the story. The book gives Zeke and Arbor their HEA with new characters introduced as the series continues with more vampires finding their partners and moving on in their quest for truth and vengeance.
