How to Wake an Undead City (Hailey Edwards) - ★★★★☆

This series was such a guilty pleasure. Urban fantasy usually doesn't have that much depth, and the romances are usually horrible. And when I say horrible, I mean cringe-worthy romances with extremely violent, nauseatingly attractive, possessive, and controlling Alpha males (who may or may not also be complete assholes, violators of consent, or male chauvinists). And of course, all those qualities would be considered attractive to the female protagonist (perhaps not initially, as many such romances begin with the protagonist resisting, and then falling victim to the charms of the Alpha Male).

So what I really loved about this series was that FINALLY the female protagonist DID NOT end up with the Alpha Male. Yes, Grier was infatuated with Boaz (the sexually promiscuous, bad-boy type Alpha male in question) for the first three books, but eventually, the truth came out and Boaz was exposed as a lying, two-faced asshole. And then she ended up with the guy who actually cared about her and didn't try to possess her, control her, or restrict her autonomy in any way, while also being secure enough in his self-esteem to avoid trying to be macho or hyper-masculine. Finally, a romance I can get behind.

[Note: I apologize for the run-on sentences and ranting, but I really hate the societal normalization of characteristics such as:

- Controlling behaviors (which are unhealthy in a relationship and an indication of later abusive behaviors)

- Toxic masculinity (pretty self-explanatory)

- And displays of violence (especially in the name of "protecting" a female)]