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alejandra_guerrero's review
dark
mysterious
2.0
This book left me with more questions than answers.
What the hell is a star ball? I don’t know. It’s never explained, and how it works changes through the book, contradicting scenes. SpoilerFor example, in the beginning, she has her “star ball” divided, using a dagger that is “one third of her soul”. She loses that dagger and nothing happens. She retrieves it, and that’s it. In later chapters, though, she lends a part of her sword (formed from her “star ball”) to Gunner, and when he drops it, she can’t move, speak, nor concentrate enough to recall that part of her soul. Why? it didn’t happen before. She didn’t even have to concentrate on the dagger to recall the fragment of her soul).
What’s the difference between a two-legged and a four-legged shifter? The shifters in question are both in human form when these terms were thrown around, so it wasn’t in reference to human vs wolf. It was constantly mentioned in the first couple chapters, only to be forgotten later and never mentioned again.
Are there any other types of wolves other than alpha? If so, why call them that? It means nothing if all of them are alpha werewolves. Just call them werewolves. It’s quite confusing, since packs seem to have a leader, who they call alpha, so it makes it seem that they’re like allies from different packs, but no, they’re packmates. In fact, some of these “alphas” are underlings of Gunner, who is also called “alpha”, but he’s subordinate to his brother, who is also “alpha”. The word is used so much it’s lost its meaning.
The nature of the werewolves isn’t explained, let alone the kitsune, since not even the kitsune protagonist seems to know much about anything. Others seem to know way more about kitsunes than she does. The author seems to rely on the reader’s knowledge of werewolves and some elements like alpha-compulsion and doesn’t explain much. Which is confusing because these shifters seem to be unconventional for the genre, so you can't really apply previous knowledge to them, can you?
Why is it a death sentence if the werewolves find out Mai and her sister are foxes? Nobody seems to know.
Why is Gunner so hellbent in protecting Mai? I don’t know, and for that matter, why did he and his brother appear in the arena Mai fights at? Why does Gunner think Mai can catch the serial killer? She has zero abilities that could make someone think so. And speaking of the killer, they use baking soda to completely eliminate their smell. I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works. And we end the freaking book not knowing who they are or even whether they’re male or female. Frustrating.
The sister is a horrible person. She’s thirteen, so I would expect some teenager behavior, but this kid is awful. She seems to only exist to get fMC into trouble one way or another. She barely appears on the page unless she’s causing some issue. But worry not, because Gunner or one of his underlings is there to solve it everytime, in the most unbelievable way possible.
I don’t understand the need for Gunner’s brother to exist (I can’t even remember his name), the guy seems to exist only to provide a possible suspect, but even then he’s mentioned like twice. Gunner acts more like the leader.
The mother’s “ghost” (just a voice fMC sometimes hears, so calling it a ghost is somewhat misleading) says nothing of value, and I guess it was there just to throw in some Japanese proverbs the author thought were cool and wanted to include.
Also, they seem to have a very keen sense of smell except when it comes to the sisters. Mai can smell the wolves in them, but they can’t smell that she isn’t one, but a fox? Too convenient. But hey, baking soda makes smells disappear for them, so maybe they’re not so good in that department.
And finally that stupid ending that just made the story feel incomplete, since nothing is revealed, nothing is solved and nobody is in any immediate danger. It’s like the author wrote a complete book, and then arbitrarily divided it without consideration for the story or the readers so they could sell more books. I know some of what happens, since I read the first book of the Samhain shifters series, and Tank (who appears, unscarred, here), is the MC in that one. Now, that story was way better. Obviously the author improved since this thing, so maybe I’ll read something else from her later on. Not this series, though.
What the hell is a star ball? I don’t know. It’s never explained, and how it works changes through the book, contradicting scenes. SpoilerFor example, in the beginning, she has her “star ball” divided, using a dagger that is “one third of her soul”. She loses that dagger and nothing happens. She retrieves it, and that’s it. In later chapters, though, she lends a part of her sword (formed from her “star ball”) to Gunner, and when he drops it, she can’t move, speak, nor concentrate enough to recall that part of her soul. Why? it didn’t happen before. She didn’t even have to concentrate on the dagger to recall the fragment of her soul).
What’s the difference between a two-legged and a four-legged shifter? The shifters in question are both in human form when these terms were thrown around, so it wasn’t in reference to human vs wolf. It was constantly mentioned in the first couple chapters, only to be forgotten later and never mentioned again.
Are there any other types of wolves other than alpha? If so, why call them that? It means nothing if all of them are alpha werewolves. Just call them werewolves. It’s quite confusing, since packs seem to have a leader, who they call alpha, so it makes it seem that they’re like allies from different packs, but no, they’re packmates. In fact, some of these “alphas” are underlings of Gunner, who is also called “alpha”, but he’s subordinate to his brother, who is also “alpha”. The word is used so much it’s lost its meaning.
The nature of the werewolves isn’t explained, let alone the kitsune, since not even the kitsune protagonist seems to know much about anything. Others seem to know way more about kitsunes than she does. The author seems to rely on the reader’s knowledge of werewolves and some elements like alpha-compulsion and doesn’t explain much. Which is confusing because these shifters seem to be unconventional for the genre, so you can't really apply previous knowledge to them, can you?
Why is it a death sentence if the werewolves find out Mai and her sister are foxes? Nobody seems to know.
Why is Gunner so hellbent in protecting Mai? I don’t know, and for that matter, why did he and his brother appear in the arena Mai fights at? Why does Gunner think Mai can catch the serial killer? She has zero abilities that could make someone think so. And speaking of the killer, they use baking soda to completely eliminate their smell. I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works. And we end the freaking book not knowing who they are or even whether they’re male or female. Frustrating.
The sister is a horrible person. She’s thirteen, so I would expect some teenager behavior, but this kid is awful. She seems to only exist to get fMC into trouble one way or another. She barely appears on the page unless she’s causing some issue. But worry not, because Gunner or one of his underlings is there to solve it everytime, in the most unbelievable way possible.
I don’t understand the need for Gunner’s brother to exist (I can’t even remember his name), the guy seems to exist only to provide a possible suspect, but even then he’s mentioned like twice. Gunner acts more like the leader.
The mother’s “ghost” (just a voice fMC sometimes hears, so calling it a ghost is somewhat misleading) says nothing of value, and I guess it was there just to throw in some Japanese proverbs the author thought were cool and wanted to include.
Also, they seem to have a very keen sense of smell except when it comes to the sisters. Mai can smell the wolves in them, but they can’t smell that she isn’t one, but a fox? Too convenient. But hey, baking soda makes smells disappear for them, so maybe they’re not so good in that department.
And finally that stupid ending that just made the story feel incomplete, since nothing is revealed, nothing is solved and nobody is in any immediate danger. It’s like the author wrote a complete book, and then arbitrarily divided it without consideration for the story or the readers so they could sell more books. I know some of what happens, since I read the first book of the Samhain shifters series, and Tank (who appears, unscarred, here), is the MC in that one. Now, that story was way better. Obviously the author improved since this thing, so maybe I’ll read something else from her later on. Not this series, though.
lokes's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I was given this book in a giveaway to review and I did not like it.
There was too much running around getting kidnapped here and jumped there and kidnapped again without ever furthering the story, and none of the characters were relatable in any way, much less sympathetic.
It was a quick read, so it’s not too bad if you need something to get your mind off of things, but there is no consistent or logical plot in here and sadly it shows.
There was too much running around getting kidnapped here and jumped there and kidnapped again without ever furthering the story, and none of the characters were relatable in any way, much less sympathetic.
It was a quick read, so it’s not too bad if you need something to get your mind off of things, but there is no consistent or logical plot in here and sadly it shows.
emilys_reading_endeavors's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
dreamerfreak's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Racism, Violence, and Kidnapping
dana_arctica's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
barnfieldkatherine033's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
smammy815's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the uniqueness of this book and the fun world the author has created. Mai is a great heroine and I loved her inner monologues. I only wish the dialogue at the end had been more... just more. So many questions I hope are answered in book 2.
connie_gatzke's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I received this book as a giveaway in audio format. Although it was fun to listen to a story, I have discovered I much prefer to read my books myself.
That aside, I enjoyed the story. It was fun and action packed. I did feel it ended quite abruptly and left me feeling like it was not complete. I'll have to check out the next book to see where this story leads.
That aside, I enjoyed the story. It was fun and action packed. I did feel it ended quite abruptly and left me feeling like it was not complete. I'll have to check out the next book to see where this story leads.