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nineinchnails's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
this wasn’t what i was expecting but i loved it! i really enjoyed the writing style and the characters i just wish there was more tension and development. i think i’d like it more with a reread and managed expectations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, and Ableism
Moderate: Violence and Sexual harassment
Minor: Transphobia, Rape, and Sexual violence
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
3.75
Content Warnings: Sexual situations, ableism, violence, sexism, misogyny, sexual assault, sexual harassment, child abuse, transphobia, toxic relationships, and domestic violence.
Mention of: rape, death of parents, murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, eugenics [in the form of killing anyone considered weak or "damaged", and captivity.
I instantly liked Una and her personality and wanted to punch Killian where it hurts 😤
The pack history was interesting, angering but interesting...and you don't find many shifter books where mated pairs sleep with other people...so that was something I wasn't expecting.
Loved that Una constantly challenged Killian and didn't back down from his BS...which was A LOT. haha Really wish he'd done more groveling tbh 😤
Overall it was a fun read and I'll most likely be checking out the rest of the series 💜
Mention of: rape, death of parents, murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, eugenics [in the form of killing anyone considered weak or "damaged", and captivity.
I instantly liked Una and her personality and wanted to punch Killian where it hurts 😤
The pack history was interesting, angering but interesting...and you don't find many shifter books where mated pairs sleep with other people...so that was something I wasn't expecting.
Loved that Una constantly challenged Killian and didn't back down from his BS...which was A LOT. haha Really wish he'd done more groveling tbh 😤
Overall it was a fun read and I'll most likely be checking out the rest of the series 💜
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Sexism, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Transphobia
Minor: Rape, Death of parent, Murder, and Kidnapping
flohbeutel's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Das ist so ein Buch, das man liest, weil ein Bagger das Glasfaserkabel beschädigt hat und die ganze Stadt ohne Fernseher, Internet, oder Telefon dasteht, so dass man das einzige Buch, das ungelesen auf dem Tablet ist, lesen muss, und es ist zufällig dieses hier, auch wenn es voll furchtbar ist, aber man hat keine Wahl * **
* Diese Geschichte beruht auf einer wahren Begebenheit
** WTF für ne Scheiße habe ich hier lesen müssen ***
*** Das einzige HEA hier wäre, wenn Werwolfjäger alles plattmachen würden und anschließend die Asche salzen
* Diese Geschichte beruht auf einer wahren Begebenheit
** WTF für ne Scheiße habe ich hier lesen müssen ***
*** Das einzige HEA hier wäre, wenn Werwolfjäger alles plattmachen würden und anschließend die Asche salzen
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Trafficking, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Rape, and Transphobia
unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book had absolutely NO BUSINESS BEING THIS GOOD.
This title, this cover, this concept? None of it looks like a book I would like and yet - I stayed up way past my bedtime finishing it. The pacing is great and the characters are so so so realistic (lol yes, I am saying that about wolf shifters, fated mates, magic and uhhhh…knots).
Anyway, if you need me I’ll be busy making this series my whole personality.
👍🏻Recommended!! If you love groveling and modern fantasy with gripping plots and incredible tension? This is for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Abandonment, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Transphobia, and Sexual assault
mx_virg's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A rejected mate story where the heroine actually has some back bone and the hero grovels? Yes, please and thank you.
🐝 Una Hayes is a great heroine. She's a fighter, a survivor, in a way her pack will never truly appreciate. She has a bad leg and that's all they see, but she doesn't let it stop from taking care of herself and her packmates. She also has that resilience, that quiet determination to keep on moving and living. Her wolf is also a riot.
🐺 I ended up actually really liking Killian and empathize with the path he's taken. It's easy to just focus on the bad and how at times he should have known better. But when you read about how the pack worked before he became alpha, the amount of work and energy he had to put into the pack to get them out of the caves, protect the weak, earn enough money so everybody's taken care of... That required a single-minded focus and determination that unfortunately made him oblivious to other things. Seriously, he can be really dense, especially in the first half of the book. But his hard work also paved the way for Una's ability to take care of her packmates.
💞 They make a really great pair. While he was busy with the big issues in the pack, she made sure the weaker and forgotten wolves were taken care off instead of just left alone. They both grew into strong, resourceful people who complement each other very well. I'll probably read other books in the series just to see how well the pack is now doing thanks to their partnership.
💗 I really like the rejected mate trope here. In many books, this trope is used to have a bully romance where the hero treats the heroine like trash but she's still coming back to him because "the bond makes me do it". It's gross. You have a bit of that here, there were some moments where I didn't understand the dynamics or the choices made (the biology/magic behind the fated mates bond is wonky, no one really knows much about it it seems, plus the wolves have a mind of their own), but overall Una doesn't just give in, and Killian doesn't just demand. It helps that Killian is never an absolute asshole, or is being mean just for the sake of being mean. He hasn't done anything that I see as unforgivable, and he tries to make amends for the harm he's done.
🗒️ I also quite liked the writing. Not overly descriptive, direct and to the point. There are some cringey moments (especially from Killian's POV in the first half), but I really enjoyed the writing overall.
↘️ My main complaint is how little is known/explained around fated mates and their bonds. Between the baffling relationship we see between already existing fated pairs, the ramblings of the crone and her magic... It feels like the author has been purposely vague so she could do with it what she wanted when she wanted it. It was confusing and not very satisfying.
🐝 Una Hayes is a great heroine. She's a fighter, a survivor, in a way her pack will never truly appreciate. She has a bad leg and that's all they see, but she doesn't let it stop from taking care of herself and her packmates. She also has that resilience, that quiet determination to keep on moving and living. Her wolf is also a riot.
🐺 I ended up actually really liking Killian and empathize with the path he's taken. It's easy to just focus on the bad and how at times he should have known better. But when you read about how the pack worked before he became alpha, the amount of work and energy he had to put into the pack to get them out of the caves, protect the weak, earn enough money so everybody's taken care of... That required a single-minded focus and determination that unfortunately made him oblivious to other things. Seriously, he can be really dense, especially in the first half of the book. But his hard work also paved the way for Una's ability to take care of her packmates.
💞 They make a really great pair. While he was busy with the big issues in the pack, she made sure the weaker and forgotten wolves were taken care off instead of just left alone. They both grew into strong, resourceful people who complement each other very well. I'll probably read other books in the series just to see how well the pack is now doing thanks to their partnership.
💗 I really like the rejected mate trope here. In many books, this trope is used to have a bully romance where the hero treats the heroine like trash but she's still coming back to him because "the bond makes me do it". It's gross. You have a bit of that here, there were some moments where I didn't understand the dynamics or the choices made (the biology/magic behind the fated mates bond is wonky, no one really knows much about it it seems, plus the wolves have a mind of their own), but overall Una doesn't just give in, and Killian doesn't just demand. It helps that Killian is never an absolute asshole, or is being mean just for the sake of being mean. He hasn't done anything that I see as unforgivable, and he tries to make amends for the harm he's done.
🗒️ I also quite liked the writing. Not overly descriptive, direct and to the point. There are some cringey moments (especially from Killian's POV in the first half), but I really enjoyed the writing overall.
↘️ My main complaint is how little is known/explained around fated mates and their bonds. Between the baffling relationship we see between already existing fated pairs, the ramblings of the crone and her magic... It feels like the author has been purposely vague so she could do with it what she wanted when she wanted it. It was confusing and not very satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexism, Sexual content, Ableism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Murder, Bullying, and Blood
Minor: Sexual violence, Transphobia, and Pregnancy
elfsteel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Ableism
Moderate: Transphobia
cluckieduck's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As I branch out from my typical genres, I believe this is my first “rejected mate” trope. While I enjoyed the setup in the beginning and most of the story up to ~75%, once I finished there’s just something…meh about it.
I enjoyed both leads and the dual POV narration. Una is a spunky lead, just trying to keep a low profile while she works towards her independence outside of being a ‘lone female reject.’ Her and ‘her girls’ are a lovely breath of fresh air in this pack ruled by strength. Killian gives a first impression as a big, dumb, brutish Alpha, but there’s more than meets the eye, especially once we’re treated to some heartbreaking flashbacks that really flesh out his character. They’re also both pretty darn funny - I found myself chuckling out loud at times, especially once Killian starts trying to win Una back.
I definitely wasn’t expecting how much of a slow-burn this story would be. The language is so crude, with so much sexual imagery and tension right from the get-go, but the actual romance between the two leads takes a loooong time to get going. Not necessarily a bad thing, what with Una giving the big ol’ FU to Killian for the initial mate rejection, just not what I was expecting!
Anyways, perhaps once I get a few more of this trope under my belt I may feel differently. I’m moving onto book 2 right away, and I do think I will give this a re-read at some point.
I enjoyed both leads and the dual POV narration. Una is a spunky lead, just trying to keep a low profile while she works towards her independence outside of being a ‘lone female reject.’ Her and ‘her girls’ are a lovely breath of fresh air in this pack ruled by strength. Killian gives a first impression as a big, dumb, brutish Alpha, but there’s more than meets the eye, especially once we’re treated to some heartbreaking flashbacks that really flesh out his character. They’re also both pretty darn funny - I found myself chuckling out loud at times, especially once Killian starts trying to win Una back.
I definitely wasn’t expecting how much of a slow-burn this story would be. The language is so crude, with so much sexual imagery and tension right from the get-go, but the actual romance between the two leads takes a loooong time to get going. Not necessarily a bad thing, what with Una giving the big ol’ FU to Killian for the initial mate rejection, just not what I was expecting!
Anyways, perhaps once I get a few more of this trope under my belt I may feel differently. I’m moving onto book 2 right away, and I do think I will give this a re-read at some point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Vomit
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