Mate Me is the first book in the Immortal Vices and Virtues: Shadow Shifter Bonds series. Every book is an interconnected standalone with a new main couple, and is written by a different author. In this book, Reagan has inherited half of the soul of the primordial known as the Soulless One or The King of Monsters, after it was stolen from him. Imprisoned in Tartarus, the Soulless One, Caius, escapes and goes to retrieve his soul from Reagan, but is shocked to discover that they are fated mates. She denies their bond, so he uses her cousin as bait, forcing her to spend six months in Tartarus pretending to be his mate and queen so that he can persuade her to give him a chance.

This was such a fun, easy read and I binged it within 24 hours (as opposed to the intended month-long readalong). I enjoyed Caius's unexpectedly sweet personality (he's the King of Monsters but he's more like the King of Sweethearts) and how patient he was with Reagan. It also successfully swerved my two pet peeves: third act breakup and miscommunication. I loved that they properly talked! They still argued occasionally but it was never dragged out and I really appreciated that they talked things through.

I enjoyed the plot a lot, and was very pleased that I'd guessed things in advance. But honestly I was unsure if I would end up being right about the villain or if it was all a diversion. It was a fun read either way though. There was such a good group of side characters too, and looking at the blurbs of other books in the series, quite a few of them get their own book which makes me very happy!

As well as 8 books in this particular series already available (or coming out imminently), there are also two other related series: Immortal Vices and Virtues and Immortal Vices and Virtues: Her Monstrous Mates. And they're all available on Kindle Unlimited! So if you have KU and love paranormal romance connected standalones, there are 25 books on there across the 3 series!

This book was ok.

Caius and Reagan are cute together but I did think they warmed to each other a bit too quickly. Clara and Pol were also really cute together.

The Guardian and the Mate situation was interesting to read and I enjoyed the worldbuilding. Although Reagans powers and relationship with Eres was all very convenient at times.

This book!!! Was brilliant. I love gods and primordials. I love shifters and romance. Villains and good guys. Reincarnation and love!!!! This book had everything. Go and read it. Quick.

Ooof, I reallly tried to push through but I found myself skipping over parts and I got frustrated I was only at 68% and not 98%. So I decided to DNF bc there’s just too many books to read and so many more I enjoy a helluva lot more than this one.

For me, this book was hard to get into. I could put it down and then comeback to it later…. At least in the beginning. Once the book got started, a few chapters in, it took off and then you couldn’t put it down.

I love reading Kel and Aurelia’s work. Their books tend to you needing more of their writing. This book is no different. The characters grow leaps and bounds in this book and by the end you can’t help but love every single one of them.

J'ai bien aimé cette lecture, simple, rapide et sans prise de tête. Le mythe de Hades et Persephone est ici revisité et ils se nomment Reagan et Caius. J'ai apprécié l'intrigue autour de nos héros qui sont en danger perpétuel dans le royaume de Tartare. J'ai ri avec les personnages secondaires et notamment Nog ! Et j'ai été ravie de revoir très brièvement Danny et Elias de leur autre titre : Rejette-Moi.
Dans l'ensemble, c'est une lecture fun avec des personnages attachants et une romance sympathique. J'aimerais bien une histoire entre Clara et Pol !

I’m discovering that any book in the IVV world is a good book. This one packs:

Grave diggers.
Ancient curse.
Pranks.
M@te-biting.
Non-con.
Mythology.
Tartarus.
Rejected m@tes.
Magic.
Mystery, betrayal, scandal.

Overall:
This was a mostly fun read, I especially liked the bits that were set in Tartarus, as I found that a bit interesting, and the authors put an interesting twist on some myths and legends.

A bit slow-paced, and the writing could be a bit stronger, but ultimately, mostly enjoyable and there were some likable characters to boot. Particularly, I liked Caius—he was a well-designed male lead.

3.5 stars.

3.5 stars, closer to 4.

Reagan, a “contracted grave robber”, has been told all her life that she is a guardian. She houses half a soul to one so evil that the main purpose to her life is to hold a ward and then pass it on to her child by the age of 25. She simply said no, that won’t be my life, and took it into her own hands. Or at least she tried.

Caius, the Soulless One, has been living thousands of years without half of himself. He has always intended on getting that part of him back at any cost but when he finds himself faced with the Guardian, and she happens to be his mate, he throws all his plans out the window.

For him, it is that simple. For her, it’s the opposite. She was raised on certain beliefs that when she’s faced with different truths she is in denial. Caius has now made it his mission to make her believe and has gotten her to agree to 6 months in Tartarus.

What they don’t count on are outside forces wanting to ruin anything they may be able to build.

This world has already been built, with the other 2 sets of series, so this one doesn’t have much work to do. I feel like the relationship between Reagan and Caius is superficial, there should have been more on page wooing. I also feel like it could have used more work on Reagan and Eres’s relationship instead of her denying and refusing anything to do with that part of herself. Overall this was an easy read and as usual, for me, I loved the secondary characters.