Ezra Santos is tired of running. Of burning bridge after bridge and going through new names like used matches. He desperately wants something he was never destined to have—a future all his own. Having escaped his hell of a home two years ago, he can’t go a day without looking over his shoulder. Putting down roots was never in the cards when the family that raised Ezra relentlessly hunts him across the country. Right as he’s about to restart the cycle—new name, new life, the whole nine yards—his plans come to a screeching halt when he crosses paths with a mysterious and charismatic vampire, Killian Hale. He promises a way out from a life on the run. Ezra knows there’s no helping a man with the devil on his heels—but there’s something about Killian that makes him believe he could finally break free of the Espinas once and for all. It’s only a matter of time before the clock winds down and the rest of Ezra’s troubles come home to roost. There’s something sinister in his blood—a dark fate passed down through generations. Can the two survive an ancient family curse or will Ezra doom them both?
[I received a digital arc from Netgalley for an honest review]
Cutting Your Teeth is the debut novel by Caylan MacRae. A Queer New Adult paranormal adventure with vampires, werewolves, and a slow burn side romance.
Ezra is on the run from his family and getting ready to make his next move in locations. However, they catch up to him and he almost doesn’t survive the counter. He wouldn’t have if it hadn’t been for Killian turning him into a vampire and giving him a second chance at “life.” But Killian has motivations of his own and when those surface the relationship the two have built will be destroyed. Killian won’t give up on him, but might be too late from stopping the future destined for Ezra.
“I promised you, Ezra. I’ll keep my word if it kills me.”
There is much more going on than what I summed up in my little recap above, but I didn’t want to give away spoilers. The story is faced paced from beginning to end. Packed with violence, danger, and life or death situations for our main characters. Don’t worry, there are some breathing moments in between where our characters get to enjoy themselves.I was here for the slow reveals and all the pieces being put together. The book has a story arc that has a Happy For Now conclusion but there’s bigger picture things going on at the end which will obviously be the focus of book 2.
Killian’s warmth drew him in over and over like a moth to a brilliant flame.
I want to gush about our Queer MCs for a bit. Ezra is a whole jumble of anger, guilt, and fear with a warm heart at the center. He doesn’t want to tangle up anyone else in his bad situation, and if he’s going down he wants it to have purpose. Killian 🙂 our Irish vampire who has secret not so nice intentions when he first puts himself in Ezra’s path, but quickly regrets them when he interacts with him. Killian made me swoon every time he used Gaelic terms of endearment towards Ezra. The two have a slow burn romance where they are each holding back for their own reasons. Unfortunately there’s isn’t much of a pay off besides a steam kiss and then events happen that result in them restarting from the beginning. I think that might be one of the things holding me back from giving it a higher rating. I really wanted the slow burn to pay off and I hope it does in the next book.
“Mo stor,” Killian sighs. He curls a hand over Ezra’s heart and sinks his fangs in deep.
Cutting Your Teeth by Caylan MacRae is a strong debut novel. A Queer New Adult Paranormal filled with quality found family, Bi rep, promises, dances, vampires, nightmares, a faithful Irish Wolfhound, dangers, secrets, lies and betrayal.
“If I wanted to go somewhere, would you follow me?”
“Over the moon and back again, sunflower.”
—Written by Amanda—
OnceUpon_A_BookDream 