Book: Hot Blooded Hearts by Arisa Villar
Reviewed by ThatBookBratBethany 📚⚔️💋
Rating: 5/5
Before reading Cold Blooded Creatures, two things were true. 1. I had never heard of Arisa Villar 2. Dystopian romance wasn't really on my radar. Post-reading the Bleeding Souls duet, two things are true. 1. Arisa Villar is now an auto author of mine & I am proud to be on her street team. 2. Dystopian romance will probably be something I seek out more of.
Hot Blooded Hearts was everything & more. I am truly blown away by Arisa's ability to suck me into this world and make me feel like I was fighting alongside our trio. In book two, we journey alongside Kali, Zion, and Gedeon while they navigate war, their relationship dynamics, working as a team, and holding it together through grief. I feel like the pacing was on point in the plot & nothing felt rushed or so slow that I was tempted to skim. I was truly immersed from page 1.
All 3 of our characters underwent truly beautiful development in book 2, individually and as a trio. Kali had to let go of things that had been ingrained in her for her whole life and accept that she was no longer fighting alone. She had to accept that people who cared about you helped without the need for return, and she had to learn to accept care & affection. I was truly awed by her strength and viciousness. Zion, with his perfect booty, had to accept that having Kali & Gedeon with him was real and not a hallucination. Other than accepting good things, Zion remained his unhinged, pretty boy self, and I love that for him. He truly brings to light appreciating beauty in all things, and he made me smile so much. Gedeon had the biggest character arc, I think. He had to thaw his heart bit by bit, loosen his reins slightly so he didn't truly suffocate his possessions, and he had to accept that he could love others and fight the fear of losing them. He had to come to terms with living through the fear instead of letting it control his decisions. Furthermore, he really became a caring and affectionate man, even though he still dominated & punished!
I did have big emotions because some losses wrecked me, but I won't dive too deep into that because I don't want to spoil anything. But through tragedy, we got a beautiful ending that put me back together in the end. Also, an important sidenote - the spice was absolutely incinerating and truly filthy in the best way.
I absolutely loved this duet. It was very dark, but the struggles our characters underwent shaped them into who they became. I ate up each unhinged action taken by our trio. Because sometimes in a world so dark, beautifully depraved creatures are born, and I love it. I highly recommend reading, but definitely check the trigger warnings before diving in if you have triggers. Your mental health is the top priority!
Thank you, Arisa, for bringing us this trio's story, your beautiful words, and...Zion's pretty boy booty!!! We appreciate you so much <3