If you’re looking for a captivating read to add to your spooky season lineup, Other Worlds by Kay Freeman might just be the escape you need. As part of Bewitching Book Tours’ Haunted Halloween Spooktacular Tour, this gothic romantasy offers an enthralling blend of passion, danger, and self-discovery. Check out my review and Luna Lord's recipe for healthy carrot muffins below and enter the book giveaway!
My Review
Other Worlds takes readers to the mystical, shadowed town of Assisi, Italy, where Luna arrives to piece together the fragments of her life. After her marriage to a famous actor unravels, she yearns for solace but instead finds herself thrust into a supernatural realm teeming with vampires and werewolves. A dark and foreboding gothic villa catches her eye—and it’s here that she meets its enigmatic vampire owner. He offers her something impossible: immortality. But Luna’s dilemmas don’t end there. In the nearby woods, a werewolf pack leader watches her with predatory interest, wanting to claim her as his mate.
The story is more than just a romance; it explores themes of longing, self-discovery, and the value of life and love. Luna’s journey is as much internal as it is external, leading her to confront her past, her passions, and her future.
What I Liked:
I don’t read a lot of romances, but Other Worlds completely swept me away. Kay Freeman does a masterful job of creating an atmosphere that feels both familiar and foreign, with Assisi standing out as a place you can almost feel yourself wandering through. The love triangle trope—often hit or miss—was handled exceptionally well, with each of Luna’s potential lovers representing starkly different choices and consequences. Freeman’s writing is rich, dark, and immersive, with just the right amount of “spice” to make the chemistry between characters sizzle.
I especially loved Luna. She’s flawed but relatable, and her growth throughout the novel felt natural and engaging. The supporting characters, especially the vampire and werewolf, had well-defined arcs that made their attraction to Luna more than just surface-level infatuation.
What I Didn’t Like:
While the romance elements were strong, as a thriller fan, I did find myself craving a bit more suspense and tension. There were moments where the story leaned heavily into the romance, which, while beautifully written, occasionally made me yearn for more chills or edge-of-your-seat danger. However, that could be due to my personal tastes as a thriller enthusiast. Despite this, the storyline never felt lacking, and Freeman’s pacing kept me invested.
Characters and Relationships:
The characters in Other Worlds are one of its highlights. Luna is a passionate and complex protagonist torn between desire and danger. Both her love interests—the mysterious vampire and the intense werewolf leader—bring a unique flavor to the storyline. This isn’t just a surface-level love triangle. It’s an exploration of identity and belonging, with each romantic choice representing a different path for Luna’s future.
The supporting characters also add depth to the novel’s gothic world, each contributing to the eerie, almost magical atmosphere. Luna’s connection to her past with her soon-to-be ex-husband adds an extra layer of realism and complexity, preventing the novel from falling into clichés.
Final Thoughts:
Other Worlds is a compelling blend of gothic romance, fantasy, and self-discovery. Kay Freeman has crafted a world that feels both haunting and enticing, where vampires and werewolves are more than just myth—they’re part of a broader story about love, loss, and choices. Fans of the enemies-to-lovers and Beauty and the Beast tropes will find plenty to love in this novel.
If you’re seeking a novel that balances romance with just a hint of danger and has a beautifully immersive setting, Other Worlds is the perfect pick. While the chills may not be intense enough for die-hard thriller fans, the emotional stakes and supernatural elements are more than enough to keep readers hooked.
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