Blood and Broken Bones

Gabe, a doctor in a small Colorado town, is attacked by a vampire named Lucien, who leaves him broken and bleeding. Soren, a beautiful, unsettling vampire, intervenes, using his powers to heal Gabe and calm his panic. This traumatic event shatters Gabe's sense of reality, introducing him to a hidden world of vampires and supernatural danger. The attack is not random—it's a message to Gabe's brother Danny and his vampire husband Roman, hinting at deeper threats. Gabe's initial terror and confusion set the stage for his complicated relationship with Soren, who is both his savior and a source of new fears.

Reluctant Housemates

A year later, Danny and Roman leave for a honeymoon, asking Gabe to house-sit and care for their puppy, Ferdy. Gabe must stay in his childhood home—now shared with Soren, who unsettles him with his beauty and supernatural presence. Gabe's discomfort is palpable; he's wary of Soren's powers and intentions, haunted by the memory of his attack. Yet, family duty and guilt over past failures keep him from refusing. The forced proximity is fraught with tension, but also opportunity: both men are isolated, carrying emotional wounds, and their proximity becomes a crucible for change.

Panic and Pancakes

Gabe's anxiety, especially around visiting his mother with dementia, overwhelms him. Soren, surprisingly gentle, helps Gabe through a panic attack using grounding techniques, not compulsion. This act of care breaks down some of Gabe's defenses, leading to a breakfast outing where Soren's playful, nonjudgmental attitude offers Gabe rare comfort. The two begin to see each other's humanity beneath their facades—Gabe's beneath his gruffness, Soren's beneath his brattiness. Their dynamic shifts from adversarial to tentative trust, setting the stage for deeper intimacy.

Unlikely Comfort

Living together, Gabe and Soren fall into a domestic rhythm. Soren cares for the puppy, cooks, and even crochets, revealing a softer side. Gabe, used to being alone, finds himself drawn to Soren's company and stories. They open up about their pasts—Gabe's guilt over his mother and brother, Soren's centuries of running from trauma. Soren's presence soothes Gabe's anxiety, while Gabe's acceptance gives Soren a sense of belonging he's never known. Their emotional walls begin to crumble, and physical attraction simmers beneath the surface.

Seduction and Secrets

The tension between Gabe and Soren erupts into physical intimacy, first through a massage that turns into a hand job, then escalating to mutual pleasure and vulnerability. Soren reveals his age and traumatic history with his creator, Hendrick, who treated him as property. Gabe, in turn, admits his fear of inadequacy and his struggle to accept the supernatural. Their sexual connection is intense, but it's the emotional honesty that cements their growing bond. Both are surprised by how safe and seen they feel with each other.

The Bite and the Bond

Soren, needing to feed, asks Gabe for permission to bite him. The experience is intensely pleasurable for both, blurring the line between predator and lover. The act is more than physical—it's a ritual of trust and surrender, deepening their emotional and supernatural bonding. Gabe's jealousy over Soren's past feedings surfaces, but Soren reassures him: he's been celibate since meeting Gabe, fixated on him alone. Their relationship becomes exclusive, both sexually and as vampire and donor, echoing the fated mate bonds of vampire lore.

Shadows from the Past

Soren receives ominous messages from Hendrick, his abusive creator, signaling that he's being hunted again. Soren's fear and trauma resurface, threatening the fragile happiness he's found with Gabe. He confides in Gabe about his past, the den of vampires who treated him as property, and the cycle of abuse and escape. Gabe's protective instincts are triggered, but he feels helpless as a human. The threat of Hendrick looms, casting a shadow over their newfound intimacy and forcing both men to confront the limits of their strength.

Jealousy and Confessions

Gabe's jealousy flares when he suspects Soren of feeding on and sleeping with a coworker. Soren, amused and touched, reveals he's been celibate for Gabe, and they reaffirm their exclusivity. Their sexual connection intensifies, culminating in Gabe offering his blood willingly. The act is both erotic and symbolic—a mutual claiming. Soren's trauma makes him wary of belonging to anyone, but Gabe's gentleness and respect begin to heal old wounds. They confess their feelings, though neither uses the word "love" yet.

The Stalker Returns

Hendrick, having tracked Soren, attacks. He uses Gabe as leverage, injuring him and threatening his life. Soren, desperate to protect his mate, surrenders to Hendrick, pretending indifference to Gabe to save him. The sacrifice is devastating for both—Gabe is left broken, Soren is taken by his abuser. The emotional stakes are raised: love is no longer just a comfort, but a reason to fight and survive. Gabe's helplessness as a human becomes unbearable, and he resolves to change it.

Sacrifice and Surrender

Gabe convinces Jay, Soren's gentle vampire friend, to turn him. The process is agonizing, but Gabe's motivation is clear: he will do anything to save Soren, even give up his humanity. The transformation is both physical and symbolic—Gabe is reborn, stronger and more attuned to Soren through the mate bond. His first act as a vampire is to hunt for Soren, driven by rage and love. The power dynamic shifts: Gabe is no longer the protected, but the protector.

Turning Point

Soren, trapped with Hendrick, finally fights back. Drawing on the rage he feels through the mate bond, he kills Hendrick in a brutal, cathartic battle. The act is both vengeance and self-liberation—Soren is no longer a victim, but a survivor who chooses his own fate. Gabe arrives too late to save Soren, but in time to help him burn the body and the past. Their reunion is raw and honest, both men changed by what they've endured and done for each other.

Mate's Fury

The aftermath is a whirlwind of passion and relief. The mate bond, now fully realized, drives them to claim each other physically and emotionally. Their sex is primal, cathartic, and healing—an affirmation of survival and belonging. Both men confess their love openly, no longer afraid of vulnerability. The trauma of the past is not erased, but it is transformed into strength and intimacy. They return home, ready to face the future together.

Fire and Freedom

With Hendrick gone, Soren and Gabe are free to build a life together. They reveal their relationship and Gabe's transformation to Danny and Roman, who are shocked but ultimately supportive. Jay, too, finds a place in their chosen family. The group forms a new kind of vampire "den"—one based on love, consent, and mutual support, rather than dominance and fear. The theme of found family is foregrounded, as each character finds healing and belonging in the group.

Family of Monsters

The new family navigates the challenges of vampire life—feeding, secrecy, and the logistics of immortality. Gabe and Soren's relationship deepens, blending domesticity with supernatural passion. They support each other through visits to Gabe's mother, who no longer recognizes him, and through the everyday struggles of adapting to a new existence. The trauma of the past lingers, but is softened by love and community. The group's acceptance of each other's flaws and wounds is a quiet triumph.

Healing and Homecoming

Soren and Gabe move into a new home, close to Danny and Roman, symbolizing their commitment to both each other and their chosen family. Soren, once rootless and afraid of belonging, finds peace in stability and love. Gabe, once anxious and avoidant, embraces vulnerability and connection. Their relationship is marked by mutual care, playful banter, and deep trust. The mundane and the magical coexist: they bicker over home decor, share meals, and navigate the quirks of vampire life together.

New Beginnings

Months later, Soren and Gabe are thriving. Their love is open, playful, and enduring. They talk of marriage, joke about their "vampiversary," and continue to support each other through life's challenges. The story ends not with a grand battle, but with quiet, hard-won happiness—a testament to the power of love to heal, transform, and create family. The past is not forgotten, but it no longer defines them. Together, they look to the future, secure in the knowledge that they are each other's home.

Characters

Gabe Kingman

Gabe is a doctor, older brother, and the emotional center of the story. Haunted by guilt over his mother's illness and his perceived failures with Danny, he is anxious, avoidant, and desperate for control. His initial fear and mistrust of vampires mask a deep longing for connection and safety. Gabe's journey is one of vulnerability: he learns to accept help, confront his trauma, and ultimately chooses transformation—not just into a vampire, but into someone capable of love and trust. His relationship with Soren is both a catalyst and a reward for his growth, offering him the family and acceptance he's always craved.

Soren Iversen

Soren is a centuries-old vampire, outwardly flamboyant and mischievous, inwardly scarred by trauma. Turned and abused by Hendrick, he has spent his existence running, never allowing himself to belong or be vulnerable. Soren's defense mechanisms—teasing, seduction, and emotional distance—mask a deep need for safety and acceptance. Gabe's gentleness and respect begin to heal Soren's wounds, allowing him to trust and love again. Soren's arc is one of reclaiming agency: he fights back against his abuser, chooses his mate, and builds a family on his own terms.

Danny Kingman

Gabe's younger brother, Danny is a newly turned vampire, married to Roman. He is warm, empathetic, and the emotional glue of the family. Danny's acceptance of his own transformation and his unwavering support for Gabe and Soren model healthy adaptation and unconditional love. He represents the possibility of joy and normalcy even in the face of supernatural upheaval.

Roman

Roman is Danny's husband and a powerful vampire, once isolated and fearful of his own nature. His relationship with Danny anchors him, and he serves as a mentor and protector to the group. Roman's past with Soren is one of friendship and mutual support, and his acceptance of Gabe and Soren's bond is crucial to the formation of their new family.

Hendrick

Hendrick is Soren's maker, a vampire who embodies the worst of supernatural power: possessive, cruel, and incapable of love. He represents the trauma and fear that haunt Soren, as well as the threat of violence that shadows the group. His eventual defeat is both a literal and symbolic liberation for Soren and the others.

Jay (Johann)

Jay is a sweet, naive vampire from Soren's old den, who escapes abuse and finds a place in the new family. His innocence and kindness contrast with the darkness of the past, and his presence offers hope for healing and new beginnings.

Ferdy

The puppy, while not a central character, represents the possibility of normalcy and joy amidst chaos. His care brings Gabe and Soren together and grounds the supernatural drama in everyday life.

Gladys Kingman

Gabe and Danny's mother, suffering from dementia, is a catalyst for much of Gabe's guilt and anxiety. Her decline forces both brothers to confront their past and their responsibilities, and her presence lingers as a reminder of love, loss, and the limits of control.

Lucien

The vampire who attacks Gabe at the start, Lucien is a reminder that the supernatural world is dangerous and unpredictable. His actions set the plot in motion and foreshadow future conflicts.

Alicia and Chloe

These minor characters—barista and nurse—represent the normal world Gabe and Soren are both part of and apart from. Their presence highlights the tension between the mundane and the magical, and their acceptance (or ignorance) of the supernatural offers moments of levity and connection.

Plot Devices

Forced Proximity

The narrative uses the classic romance device of forced proximity—Gabe and Soren are compelled to share a home, leading to emotional and physical closeness. This structure accelerates their relationship, forcing them to confront their fears and desires.

Supernatural Bonding

The fated mate trope is central, providing both a literal and symbolic connection between Gabe and Soren. The bond amplifies emotions, drives the plot, and serves as a metaphor for trauma recovery, trust, and chosen family.

Trauma and Recovery

Both protagonists are shaped by trauma—Gabe by family loss and anxiety, Soren by abuse and abandonment. Their relationship is a space for mutual healing, with each helping the other confront and overcome their past.

Jealousy and Exclusivity

Jealousy is used to surface insecurities and deepen commitment. The exclusivity of feeding and sex becomes a ritual of trust, transforming potential conflict into intimacy.

Sacrifice and Transformation

Gabe's decision to become a vampire is both a plot twist and a thematic culmination. It's an act of agency, love, and self-acceptance, resolving his arc from avoidance to embrace of the unknown.

Chosen Family

The formation of a new "den" is a key device, contrasting the abusive vampire den of Soren's past with the loving, supportive family he and Gabe create. This device underscores the novel's message about the power of chosen family to heal and transform.

Narrative Structure

The story alternates between Gabe and Soren's points of view, allowing deep psychological insight and emotional resonance. Time jumps (e.g., "one year later") are used to show growth and change, while flashbacks reveal crucial backstory.

Analysis

Soren is a queer paranormal romance that uses the supernatural as a lens for exploring trauma, healing, and the transformative power of love. At its core, the novel is about two wounded souls—one human, one vampire—who find in each other the safety and acceptance they've always craved but never believed possible. The fated mate bond, a staple of the genre, is reimagined here as a metaphor for trauma recovery: it is not just destiny, but a hard-won connection built on trust, vulnerability, and mutual care. The narrative subverts traditional power dynamics—Gabe, the human, becomes the protector; Soren, the ancient vampire, is the one in need of rescue. Their journey is marked by honest communication, consent, and the slow dismantling of emotional walls. The novel's treatment of found family, queer identity, and the struggle to accept both the magical and the mundane in oneself and others is both timely and timeless. Ultimately, Soren is a story about choosing love over fear, building family from brokenness, and finding home not in a place, but in another person.

Last updated: May 28, 2025