I always enjoy exploring new takes on vampires and werewolves, and while the premise of “Bride” might not seem too imaginative at first glance, Hazelwood imbues a light, witty twist to “Bride”. The magic lies in her narrator and heroine Misery, who brings humor and attitude to the story even with her more fantastical (or should I say, monstrous) setting. Her motivations and goals are presented well — aligned with the expository twists revealed as Hazelwood builds her characters’ world.  While I did not feel drawn into the chemistry between her and her arranged werewolf husband as much as I expected, I found the developing romance enjoyable to follow. Unfortunately the romantic conflict felt very sudden and the remainder 1/3 of the novel has a very harried pacing that made me feel rather off kilter + the final events / conclusion less impactful than they could have been… plus I would have loved a different Big Bad antagonist. As such the magic of the rest of the novel got dimmed enough that it affected my rating.