The End of Hatred by Rebecca Hefner

Get yourself a copy of this exciting paranormal romance NOW. It’s got Vampyres, Slayers and Deamons. What else could you possibly need to get you in the mood for Halloween?

What’s it About? 

These are dangerous times on Etherya’s Earth…Slayer Princess Miranda, heir to the throne, has hated the Vampyres for a thousand years. Since the Awakening, she’s fought to protect her people, choosing to be a warrior more than a royal. When a female Vampyre washes up on the shore of her compound’s riverbank, she seizes the moment to take the offensive.

Sathan, King of the Vampyres, distraught at his sister’s disappearance and captivity, agrees to travel with Miranda to resect the Blade of Pestilence, also hoping to change his people’s state of endless war. Although the woman hates him due to the constant raids on her compound for the Slayers’ life-giving blood, he can’t help but admire the stubborn and strong princess.

As their journey progresses, both begin to understand that they are aligned in their hatred of Crimeous, leader of the Deamons, as well as their hope for peace between the Slayers and Vampyres. Determined to fight their growing attraction, they forge a tentative truce. But old wounds run deep and trust is scarce. Their faith in each other must remain strong or all will be lost…

First Impressions

Wow, wow, this book pulled me in from opening bell and simply would not let go. When I first read the synopsis I thought, mkay a beautiful bad-ass female slayer falls for a sexy alpha male vampire. Let the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel comparisons begin. Not that there’s anything wrong with that mind you, I was definitely looking forward to it! What I didn’t expect though was for the author to succeed in creating a unique world that manages to not only incorporate some of the paranormal elements we’re familiar with when it comes to blood-sucking entities, but even more than that to develop an enchanting mythology to provide a history for why Slayers and Vampyres have been pitted against each other for centuries. It’s an addictive read that is so much more than a battle between species. It involves putting aside long-held animosities, learning to trust enemies, standing up for what’s right, and sometimes questioning that which we always believed to be true.

Finding Peace…to go to War

Miranda, Princess of the Slayers, is fed up with the constant fighting plaguing her people, and she’s determined to finally bring peace to her land. Unfortunately for her, succeeding in this endeavor will require her to partner up with those who she’s been taught to hate her entire life. The dynamic between Miranda and Sathan, the Vampyre King, is definitely one of the highlights of this novel. I loved that they didn’t just throw away centuries of hatred after one lustful glance, but rather their road to trust, and eventually love, is a long and difficult one. It doesn’t happen overnight, and there are still moments of doubt which arise throughout which make us question if they’ll ever succeed in their quest for peace. Eventually they realize that they must rely on each other in order to achieve their common goal, and it’s only after they start to trust each other that they allow themselves to acknowledge the stirring of lust which has been humming just below the surface.

Another aspect of the novel that I appreciated was the fact that their journey for peace is also a tumultuous one filled with twists and turns, as well as a slew of compelling characters who will capture your attention with the turn of every page. There are times where you never really know who you can trust, or if Miranda and Sathan will eventually come out on top in their desire to destroy a common enemy, the Deamon King. It’s in their arduous search for the ultimate weapon that Miranda and Sathan learn to put aside their differences, but this leads to yet another difficult task in convincing their people to do the same. We do reach a point in the middle of the book where things start to drag a little bit as Miranda and her army trains for the final battle against the Deamon King, and she also struggles to teach her people how to forgive their Vampyre enemy. However, at the same time this was an absolute necessity to demonstrate that the end of hatred isn’t easy or quick.

*A copy of this book was provided for an honest review*

Series: Etherya’s Earth, book 1. I needed book 2 like, yesterday. This first novel lays the groundwork for each of the couples who will be featured in a future novel, and I honestly can’t say which one I’m looking forward to the most!

Final Impressions: This is a unique world that manages to turn some classic elements of Vampyres and Slayers on their head. It’s definitely not a predictable read, and presents us with some lovable characters, yet also some flawed ones who don’t always get a happily ever after. We’re presented with a delicious build of anticipation throughout the book, and while things culminate in a heart-stopping battle, the larger war is far from over. I’m excited to see how this theme might continue throughout the rest of the series!

Smut Level: The road for Miranda and Sathan to go from enemies to lovers is a complicated one, and while it takes some time before they eventually fall into bed together, we do get some mouthwatering teasing and flirting that will make you grin with delight. Once they do finally give into their desires, my goodness will it cause your toes to curl. They’re passionate, possessive, and not afraid to rough things up a bit.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $4.99 Kindle Price. Self-Published. 330 Pages