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Alyxandra Harvey is the author of Hearts at Stake, the first book in the Drake Chronicles. She studied creative writing and literature at York University and has had her poetry published in several magazines. When not writing, she is a belly dancer and jewelry-maker. She lives in an old farmhouse with her husband, hawk, and two dogs.

www.alyxandraharvey.com

www.thedrakechronicles.com

It's been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix barely survived the French Revolution. Now she's made her way back to the living and she must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who left her for dead the day she turned into a vampire. That's if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks.

The clans are gathering for Helena's royal coronation as the next vampire queen, and new alliances are beginning to form now that the old rifts of Lady Natasha's reign have started to heal. But with a new common enemy, Leander Montmarte—a vicious leader who hopes to force Solange to marry him and usurp the power of the throne for himself—the clans must stand together to preserve the peace he threatens to destroy.

This second adventure in the Drake Chronicles—told from both Logan's and Isabeau's perspectives—has all the same butt-kicking action, heart-pounding romances and snarky humor that readers loved in Hearts at Stake, as well as exciting new revelations about the vampire dynasties to keep readers coming back for more.

Children's Literature

Isabeau St. Croix has spent the past 200 years buried in the ground. Now she is back and seeking revenge on Greyhaven, the vampire who turned her and then left her in a grave. Isabeau's tribe, the Hounds, joins forces with the Drake clan to try to defeat the evil and power-hungry Montmartre, who is determined to make Solange Drake his queen. Isabeau is disturbed to find herself falling for Logan Drake because she does not want anything to distract her from her mission. Logan and Isabeau prove to be a cunning and fearsome team, especially when it comes to the final battle. The narrative alternates between Logan and Isabeau, which helps move along the prolonged fight scenes. Many chapters are flashbacks to Isabeau's life during the French Revolution, before she became a vampire. Isabeau lived on the street and picked pockets to get enough money for her passage to England. These flashbacks add very little to the main narrative, but are well-written and perhaps even more interesting than the vampire storyline. This is the second book in "The Drake Chronicles," but readers can easily follow the plot without having read the first one. Though not the most original book, this will have widespread appeal (especially with a female audience) and fans of the genre will likely be won over. Readers who like a lot of action and a strong female lead will appreciate Isabeau's fierce strength, and readers who like romance in their vampire stories will swoon over Logan. Reviewer: Amanda MacGregor