Review by Sadonna

TITLE:  Dire Straits and Entwined Fates

SERIES:  Fanged Mistakes

AUTHOR:  Alice Winters

NARRATOR:  Michael Ferraiuolo

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  10 hours and 29 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  June 17, 2024

BLURB:

Julian
When did fake-then-real dating an ancient vampire become the easy part?
Casimir’s ridiculously sweet now that he’s conquered “the art of the flirt,” as he calls it. He tries hard to fit in with my family—if we forget about those silly threatening chocolates he sent my father—and he even makes me popcorn… okay, he tried. I know, I know, I’m just bragging at this point.
Everything is perfect until we stumble upon a half-dead vampire who is being hunted by someone. And I’m afraid the person hunting him knows all about Casimir’s history. Casimir has fought so hard to drive the darkness away, but we both know that he needs to bury his past… one last time.

Casimir
I never saw myself in a relationship, let alone with a pesky werewolf. He’s funny and sweet, has questionable friends, and phenomenal taste in dog bandanas. After five hundred years, I think I’ve finally convinced myself that I deserve this.
However, someone else isn’t quite certain I do. Julian has assured me that it’s time to move forward, but when there’s a masked man waiting in the shadows for me, I find it hard to ignore my past mistakes.
But I have something I didn’t have the last time I faced him.
Someone who loves me.

Dire Straits and Entwined Fates has a cheerful werewolf who seems to have an aversion to clothes; a vampire leader who overuses speedy delivery services; board games with a little too much exhibitionism; and animals that are too cute to be eaten.

REVIEW:

Note:  This is the second in a series that really needs to be consumed in order.  You will be lost otherwise.

Julian and Casimir have been together for a while now.  Things are going great.  Casimir is delighting in pissing off Julian’s dad.  He really likes the rest of Julian’s family.

Then Casimir’s past seems to reappear.  After finding a nearly dead vampire, scenes and dreams from Casimir’s distant past – from before he was even turned – keep coming up.  And then that past seems to be reincarnated and wreaks havoc in Casimir’s life.  Whoever this mystery villain is, he has it out for Casimir and is determined to burn his life to the ground.  That means Julian could be in danger too!

As they pursue this guy and try to figure out who he is and what his end game is, Julian has to squeeze the truth out of Casimir.  Casimir is terrified that something will happen to Julian and is reluctant to share his past.  Their friends – Ezio and Cyrus and then Yorick are there to help when things are getting dicey.

OMG!  What a wild ride.  So many things happening.  So many hilarious moments.  So much violence and death.  Yorick calling Julian “Puppers” killed me every time.  The emotional highs and lows almost gave me whiplash.  Casimir’s past is indeed dark.  There are reveals here that kept me guessing.  Things start off pretty calm but then we’re off to the races here and it’s a total rollercoaster of emotions as Casimir and Julian fight to keep things from going completely off the rails.  I was laughing out load SO many times – I really cannot listen to these audios on my commute on the bus.  People look at me like I’m crazy 🙂  I wouldn’t have it any other way.  This is another great example of why this author is so beloved.  The worlds she comes up with!  Brilliant!

And what would Casimir and Julian be without Michael Ferraiuolo’s brilliant interpretation to complete the madness of this world.  Every scene, every accent, every completely bonkers scenario he delivers with his usual deft voice.  I laughed so many times. I honestly do not know how he is able to completed these jobs because I could not do it.  I’d be laughing waaaay to hard to finish them.  The fact that he can do that and then turn around and deliver a tender declaration between Julian and Casimir?  Just fabulous.  There is no better duo and Alice Winters and Michael Ferraiuolo.  Highly recommended.  Also I cannot wait to find out what happens next 😉

RATING: 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon

Audible