Creed: New Vampire Disorder Book 5, Marie Johnston

Melody has had a hell of a time, both literally and figuratively, the last couple of weeks.  She saved her little vampire charges, was dragged into the underworld, trapped by a sadistic she-demon, and has woken to that demoness' powers inside her own body and threatening everyone and everything.  She's got some tough choices ahead if she can't learn to control her new power and all the personality changes.  The one being that has stuck with her from the beginning of her own sh**storm is also the one who shattered her heart and fragile self-worth.  If she can't move beyond her past everything that's weighing on her will crush her, and if that doesn't, the Circle will.

Creed was in love with a human once.  The heartbreak that followed with her death has never left him.  No one knows of his own personal agony, least of all his team.  What he said about Melody in Stryke was as honest as it was hurtful.  While he wasn't intending for Melody to hear those words he couldn't deny that the outcome was for the best.  Until all hell broke loose, literally, and she was dragged into a situation no one as sweet and wonderful as Melody deserved.  He's willing to do everything in his power to save her from the Circle, even if it means saving her from herself at his own hands.

They're both in an untenable situation and if something doesn't give they're both going down.  Melody is struggling under rage, pain, confusion, frustration, and an increased desire for the very man who crushed her human heart.  Creed is struggling with his past and his perceptions of the old Melody versus the new Meladonna.  Can he accept her for all that she is now?  Can she get over herself in time to save herself and the family that turned their backs on her?

I really, really liked the story.  It was intense and interesting from start to finish.  Diving right back into their world and realms continuing from Demetrius to Stryke, there's a ton of upheaval and Creed and Melody are stuck right in the middle of it.  Creed comes off as aloof and pompous but it's very clear right from the start that he doesn't actually mean it.  Some habits are hard to break, but he's really all full of pain and compassion inside and the only one who has the ability to break through his facade is the person he's desperately trying to keep out.

I had a harder time with Melody.  It felt as if she were constantly devaluing her sweeter side because of the reasons behind why she was attempting to be constantly cheerful.  It negated all the power she found within herself closer to the end.  As if she wanted to be a slightly less awful version of a demon leader rather than being truly benevolent but masking that true goodness with what was more acceptable in the underworld.  It looked more like she was losing something pure and had no desire to get it back because strength and power was more important than goodness.  She recognized all the good things her bitterness was covering and overshadowing but there was never an apology or something heartfelt and good that came from her just attempting to be as truly bare for Creed as he was for her.  I was disappointed in her even though she found strength and control and could do good for the underworld.  There was just something about her sweetness and cheerfulness that I fell in love with from when we first met her and then it was like that didn't matter anymore.

So, yes, strength, power, and control is all important.  To feel valued, important, loved, needed, those are good things too.  It's also important to be honest and good.  Creed was more of all of those things than Melody by the end and while I loved him for everything he was, it was his understanding, kindness, empathy, and support that made him utterly amazing.  For all of Melody's power as Meladonna and new-found strength of will and determination, she wasn't nearly as emotionally present and stable to be the best romantic partner for Creed.  I hope that we get to see her emotional  growth and maturity increase as we see her in the periphery of the rest of the series.

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