Scan barcode
nicolerene's review against another edition
5.0
When I began reading Alpha, the final book in the amazing Shifter series by Rachel Vincent, I knew I would shed some tears. I also knew that no matter how the love triangle was resolved, I would feel eartbroken right along with Faythe. This book did not disappoint in any way, shape, or form.
Vincent managed to wrap up her series with a dynamic, action packed novel, full of surprises and emotional scenes. I think the most amazing thing about this series is the incredible way Faythe’s character has developed and grown throughout each book. After I read Stray, the first book in the series, I loved it so much I gave it to my mom to read. My mom gave it back after reading a few chapters and said she thought the character of Faythe was spoiled rotten. Boy has Faythe changed! She has gone from being an unruly, immature girl to a mature, confident leader and a strong woman.
If you are looking for a “and they lived happily ever after” ending to this series, you may be a little disappointed in Vincent’s approach. Yes, she provides closure for all the major plot elements in her series, but the ending is realistic rather than fairy-tale-ish. I admire Vincent’s resolve to finish her series with this book while the characters and the storyline are still fresh and interesting, rather than dragging it out for another 5 books like some authors would.
If you haven’t read the Shifter series, you are missing out on an amazing Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy series. I look forward to future books by this incredible author.
Vincent managed to wrap up her series with a dynamic, action packed novel, full of surprises and emotional scenes. I think the most amazing thing about this series is the incredible way Faythe’s character has developed and grown throughout each book. After I read Stray, the first book in the series, I loved it so much I gave it to my mom to read. My mom gave it back after reading a few chapters and said she thought the character of Faythe was spoiled rotten. Boy has Faythe changed! She has gone from being an unruly, immature girl to a mature, confident leader and a strong woman.
If you are looking for a “and they lived happily ever after” ending to this series, you may be a little disappointed in Vincent’s approach. Yes, she provides closure for all the major plot elements in her series, but the ending is realistic rather than fairy-tale-ish. I admire Vincent’s resolve to finish her series with this book while the characters and the storyline are still fresh and interesting, rather than dragging it out for another 5 books like some authors would.
If you haven’t read the Shifter series, you are missing out on an amazing Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy series. I look forward to future books by this incredible author.
misslover's review against another edition
5.0
Well - there it is. In all it's guts and glory.
This series took me 4 years to finish. Yep, you heard that correctly. Four. There was no specific reason for it. I didn't dislike the series. In fact, I loved this series so much.
I thought about actually writing a review for this book, because in all honestly, it's such an old book that I didn't think there was a need for it. But, for myself I knew I would have to write about my thoughts and feelings so that another 4 years down the road I can be reminded of how this book affected me.
Let's start with Faythe. She has been one of my favorite female leads for years and I will be officially adding her to my "best female leads of all-time" list. The hate, revenge, sadness, and gut wrenching feeling that this girl had to go through in this book was at an entirely new level. I felt every single emotion right along with her. Fury doesn't even seem to cover how I felt almost 70% of the time, while 20% was heartbreak and sadness and the last 10% was happiness and love.
The relationships, alliances and war were all laid out for the entire universe to see. Tons of bloodshed, tears and trust completely exposed. Faythe, Marc and even Jace were put through the biggest test of their lives. Hell, the entire were-cat pride was put to the test. I am happy to say that although some decisions that were made, were not my favourite, it ended in probably the best way possible.
I love Marc on such a different level than I did with Jace - and for that I could only hope and pray Faythe made the right decision.
Another amazing series from Rachel that I will re-read and remember for a really long time.
This series took me 4 years to finish. Yep, you heard that correctly. Four. There was no specific reason for it. I didn't dislike the series. In fact, I loved this series so much.
I thought about actually writing a review for this book, because in all honestly, it's such an old book that I didn't think there was a need for it. But, for myself I knew I would have to write about my thoughts and feelings so that another 4 years down the road I can be reminded of how this book affected me.
Let's start with Faythe. She has been one of my favorite female leads for years and I will be officially adding her to my "best female leads of all-time" list. The hate, revenge, sadness, and gut wrenching feeling that this girl had to go through in this book was at an entirely new level. I felt every single emotion right along with her. Fury doesn't even seem to cover how I felt almost 70% of the time, while 20% was heartbreak and sadness and the last 10% was happiness and love.
The relationships, alliances and war were all laid out for the entire universe to see. Tons of bloodshed, tears and trust completely exposed. Faythe, Marc and even Jace were put through the biggest test of their lives. Hell, the entire were-cat pride was put to the test. I am happy to say that although some decisions that were made, were not my favourite, it ended in probably the best way possible.
I love Marc on such a different level than I did with Jace - and for that I could only hope and pray Faythe made the right decision.
Spoiler
Thank god she stayed with her sole mate. Which I really truly believe was Marc. Her and Marc until the end!Another amazing series from Rachel that I will re-read and remember for a really long time.
bhookjunkhie's review against another edition
5.0
WOW, what can I say. That was amazing! How many times can you cry in a book? How many times can your heart break, your heart race in anticipation! That was an absolutely heart-rending crazy ride!!! I loved it, all of it Every single page;). I wish there was more!
trudyd's review
5.0
All previous books in The Shifter was leading up to the crescendo within the Alpha. There are certain territorial leaders that want the control over tabbies and to dictate how thing are run.
In the conclusion of Shifters you will be sitting on the edge of your seat, biting your nails. People will die. Challenges will come. A war will come. The out come will depend on the allies each side has and the determination to succeed.
This is the best ending to a series that I have ever read. I am not wondering what happened to certain characters. I am not guessing about outcomes left dangling. I am not full of "what ifs." I will not be tossing and turning at night wondering. With Alpha; I got the ending that completed the series.
In the conclusion of Shifters you will be sitting on the edge of your seat, biting your nails. People will die. Challenges will come. A war will come. The out come will depend on the allies each side has and the determination to succeed.
This is the best ending to a series that I have ever read. I am not wondering what happened to certain characters. I am not guessing about outcomes left dangling. I am not full of "what ifs." I will not be tossing and turning at night wondering. With Alpha; I got the ending that completed the series.
birdloveranne's review against another edition
4.0
I finally finished....was so hard to read. Very depressing. But have tears in my eyes at the end. I want to read more, want to read some good things happening....but the series is over.
aclawlor's review against another edition
4.0
As much as I would love to give this book 5 stars I just can't. I am so disappointed at the abrupt ending of this book! I was hoping for so much more, such as the consequences of actions incurred. It was a fantastic story and a book which kept me absorbed right till the end. But the end was such a disappointment. If there was another book I would be so pleased but unfortunately I find nothing of the sort, guess I need to leave it to my imagination.
amym84's review against another edition
5.0
Overall I enjoyed this series. The characters all went through a lot and changed a lot throughout the course of the series. I think this will be a series that I will definitely read again. This story was the culmination of events that have been building since at least book 3, some that have been building since book 1.
The final fight with Calvin Malone was a long time coming, and often times irritating. Everything he did was so corrupt it was dificult to see people take his side. This is probably the reaction towards Calvni Malone that Rachel Vincent wanted and to that I have to say she did a good job. She did well also with all the political implications throughout the series. The south-central Pride believe they have Malone backed into a corner and he comes up with plausible oppositions.
The actual fight was well written and dramatic. Our characters went through a lot and sacrificed a lot. Even though losses were inevitable I think to not have them would undermine the seriousness of the conflict that was going on. There were a few times when I wished that things went better for our characters. A couple times I felt we were going through the same routine over and over again. I thought it became a bit redundant after a while, but in the end I was completely satisfied.
One of the other issues that was solved was who Faythe would end up choosing in the end. Marc or Jace. I have to say (trying not to give spoilers) that I was happy with who she ended up choosing. I wish that the choice would have come a lot sooner so we could see her be in her choice for a while. I understand why Vincent waited until the end it had that feeling of everything / everyone was starting anew. With hope for the future. So it's not a bad place for Faythe to make her decision, but personally I would have liked them to be together more on the page in a happy way.
Towards the end I became worried that she was going to settle, which is precisely what everyone kept telling her NOT to do. When she couldn't make her decision (after an already long decision-making-process) one of our guys made it for her. While I do think that the process of her choosing was drawn out a bit, I understand her hesitancy and the fact that there was a lot going on besides who she wanted to be with. But the minute her choice was taken away I knew who she had to choose (for my sake anyway). I think that helped Faythe figure it out as well. Take one out of the equation and see how your feelings change in either guy's direction. In my opion there was only ever one choice for her, and when all the love trianlge stuff really started (after book 4 for obvious reasons), looking back I can see all the subtle hints and comments that Faythe made throughout the series, and I can't doubt that's who she should end up with.
I wish that there was more to the story. It certainly left off with that possibilty. It's good to end where it does because it ends with hope for the future. All the readers can speculate about what will happen in things to come. Nothing is out of the question, and if there were to be another story I would read it, but it would take away from all that. I do, however, look forward to reading more from Rachel Vincent.
The final fight with Calvin Malone was a long time coming, and often times irritating. Everything he did was so corrupt it was dificult to see people take his side. This is probably the reaction towards Calvni Malone that Rachel Vincent wanted and to that I have to say she did a good job. She did well also with all the political implications throughout the series. The south-central Pride believe they have Malone backed into a corner and he comes up with plausible oppositions.
The actual fight was well written and dramatic. Our characters went through a lot and sacrificed a lot. Even though losses were inevitable I think to not have them would undermine the seriousness of the conflict that was going on. There were a few times when I wished that things went better for our characters. A couple times I felt we were going through the same routine over and over again. I thought it became a bit redundant after a while, but in the end I was completely satisfied.
One of the other issues that was solved was who Faythe would end up choosing in the end. Marc or Jace. I have to say (trying not to give spoilers) that I was happy with who she ended up choosing. I wish that the choice would have come a lot sooner so we could see her be in her choice for a while. I understand why Vincent waited until the end it had that feeling of everything / everyone was starting anew. With hope for the future. So it's not a bad place for Faythe to make her decision, but personally I would have liked them to be together more on the page in a happy way.
Towards the end I became worried that she was going to settle, which is precisely what everyone kept telling her NOT to do. When she couldn't make her decision (after an already long decision-making-process) one of our guys made it for her. While I do think that the process of her choosing was drawn out a bit, I understand her hesitancy and the fact that there was a lot going on besides who she wanted to be with. But the minute her choice was taken away I knew who she had to choose (for my sake anyway). I think that helped Faythe figure it out as well. Take one out of the equation and see how your feelings change in either guy's direction. In my opion there was only ever one choice for her, and when all the love trianlge stuff really started (after book 4 for obvious reasons), looking back I can see all the subtle hints and comments that Faythe made throughout the series, and I can't doubt that's who she should end up with.
I wish that there was more to the story. It certainly left off with that possibilty. It's good to end where it does because it ends with hope for the future. All the readers can speculate about what will happen in things to come. Nothing is out of the question, and if there were to be another story I would read it, but it would take away from all that. I do, however, look forward to reading more from Rachel Vincent.