I've had this book on my TBR list for a while now, also this series of books seems to always pop up on any recommendation list on goodreads. Maybe it was all the hype or the build-up that had the book not meeting my expectations. Or maybe it's just because it's the first book in the series and typically first books are a little rough. It takes a couple to get into it. 
 I did think that JR Ward's take on the vampire mythology was interesting. It seems to be the thing nowadays to take the "legends" built up over the years and see how you can change them into something new, but still maintain the quality. I like the idea that these vampires are born only and can't be turned. I also found it interesting that basically they are human until around age 25 and then they turn. I didn't really understand the whole pure blood thing though. I mean it's stated that Wrath is the only truly prue blood vampire left in existance. So I assume all others have some percentage of human blood in them if not directly then from somewhere down the line in the lineage. Beth (for example) had a mother who was a human and her father was a vampire so she's basically half and half, and as we can see later in the book she can go out into the sunlight. But we don't see any other vampire with this ability (at least so far, I know this is the first book), and even Wrath seems in awe of her ability, but if basically every vampire (besides himself) has some amount of human blood in them wouldn't this have been possible before? It just seemed that things like that were skimmed over and not elaborated upon. Also, the fact that human blood has not sustaining qualities for vampires. They have to drink from the opposite sex of their own kind. Honestly though we don't really see that many female vampires. Obviously they are there otherwise the species wouldn't be, but it's as though Ward tells us these stipulations in the world she's created but shows us nothing to back it up. 
 I know this book is PNR and with the word romance there's a certain outline that is followed. Most notably in romances is the fulfillment of a relationship. A couple will meet and over the course of the book fall in love and sometimes even end up married by the end. This story is no different in how it handles the relationship, but I wish that it was. I wish we could have seen more reluctance on Beth's part to get into a relationship with someone that she herself acknowledgs as dangerous. The secondary couple that pops up in the book has the same happen, instant attraction. But with them I think we are going to see more of their story develop throughout the other books until finally they get their own. I would have liked the same for Wrath and Beth. I do like their devotion to one another, but it just seemed too quick. I know that there are authors out there who can accomplish this feat and make it seem right, I just don't think Ward did a good job with it in this case. 
 Overall, I look forward to reading more in the series. I hope they only get better with each installment. There were definitely some loose ends left hanging. Some common threads that Ward can pick up in the upcoming books. I think it was good that she did that, it keeps something there for the readers who start at the beginning of the series. Keeps something for them to look at. I think Rhage is front and center in the next book, I do look forward to learning more about the demons that plague the brothers as time goes on. Until Then!