A Fun Return to the VLG World—A Review of “Fray” by Laurann Dohner

Today I'm sharing with you another review in the VLG series. I don't think I've mentioned this before but Laurann Dohner was the first paranormal romance author I ever come upon, and I instantly fell in love with her stories. While the New Species series will always be my favorite, the VLG (Vampire Lycan Gargoyle) series is a close second.

What I loved

I’ve always had a soft spot for the GarLycan twins since Aveoth, and Fray has been my favorite with his easygoing and hilarious personality. This book gives us more of Fray, which I loved.

The premise in Fray is intense and engaging—gargoyles kidnapping human women to breed a colony. It’s creepy in the best way, and Dohner does a great job of making you love to hate these villains. I also appreciate how she jumps right into the action without wasting time on info dumps, which always hooks me right away. The world-building in this series is top-notch, and I always enjoy diving back into it.

What Didn’t Resonate with Me

As much as I enjoyed Fray, there were a few things that didn’t sit quite right. For one, the book felt shorter than the others in the series, and the ending wasn’t what I expected. It left me feeling like something was missing.

Another issue I had was with the romance—or rather, the lack of it. Len’s crush on Fray was a big part of the setup, but they barely spend any time together as a couple. Most of the book focuses on dealing with the evil gargoyles, and while that added some tension, it took away from the romantic development that I was really looking forward to. There was also a lot of unnecessary conflict with side characters that got resolved too quickly to really matter.

Themes and Tropes

The book is packed with action, danger, and that classic battle between good and evil. The GarLycan twins bring a fun dynamic to the story, balancing out the darker elements like the gargoyles’ kidnapping plot. There’s also a theme of misunderstanding and discovery, especially with Len’s initial belief that Fray and his crew were criminals, only to find out she was way off base.

In terms of tropes, we’ve got a bit of the “fated mates” vibe, although it’s not as strong as in some other paranormal romances. The hidden supernatural world is a staple of the series, and while there’s a hint of “enemies-to-lovers,” it’s not fully realized here due to the limited time Len and Fray actually spend together.

Conclusion

All in all, Fray is a decent addition to the VLG series, especially if you’re already a fan of the GarLycan twins. It wasn’t as strong as some of the earlier books, mainly because the romance took a backseat to the action, and the ending felt a bit rushed. That said, the world is still fascinating, and the characters are as fun as ever. I’m definitely hoping for more in this series, especially Chaz’s story. If you love paranormal romance with a mix of humor and action, Fray is worth checking out.