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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
FMC (Annie): 1.5 (I was really intrigued by an FMC dealing with severe anxiety and PTSD, but the way it was written made her seem totally incompetent and insufferable; I wish we had seen more of her growth, especially in the 5 years they were apart)
MMC (Justus): 3.75 (he would be higher but his jump from walking away for 5! years due to a single interaction to being totally obsessed with her was faster than light speed; I did love his little hat box of thoughtful gifts tho)
š: 2.5 (this one really didnāt get me until the end in terms of their pairing complementing each other; not the weakest couple but also not the most convincing or compelling; we spend most of our time in their respective heads and their own fears and insecurities instead of interacting with each other and dealing with their feelings)
Plot: 3 (I was really interested in the Last/First Pack history and seeing how all of these different groups/packs operate in Wellsā world, but nothing of substance actually occurs between the MCs and certain threads are left totally unattended - ex: Abertha calling in the IOU from Annie; loved the non-judgmental, on-page abortion)
š¶ļø: 2.5
Writing: 2.5 (one of Wellsā weaker entries due to the poorly constructed/plotted structure of the novel - I would have recommended either condensing the āprologueā portion to one chapter or cutting it entirely and diving straight into the present to leave more room for character growth)
MMC (Justus): 3.75 (he would be higher but his jump from walking away for 5! years due to a single interaction to being totally obsessed with her was faster than light speed; I did love his little hat box of thoughtful gifts tho)
š: 2.5 (this one really didnāt get me until the end in terms of their pairing complementing each other; not the weakest couple but also not the most convincing or compelling; we spend most of our time in their respective heads and their own fears and insecurities instead of interacting with each other and dealing with their feelings)
Plot: 3 (I was really interested in the Last/First Pack history and seeing how all of these different groups/packs operate in Wellsā world, but nothing of substance actually occurs between the MCs and certain threads are left totally unattended - ex: Abertha calling in the IOU from Annie; loved the non-judgmental, on-page abortion)
š¶ļø: 2.5
Writing: 2.5 (one of Wellsā weaker entries due to the poorly constructed/plotted structure of the novel - I would have recommended either condensing the āprologueā portion to one chapter or cutting it entirely and diving straight into the present to leave more room for character growth)
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
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
I adored this book; it's my favourite Five Packs book since Una and Killian's book, the first in the series, came out. Coming from what we know as the Last Pack, Justus brings a fresh perspective to the "normal" pack life we've seen in the previous books in the series, and I loved getting to know Annie more deeply than we had a chance to in previous books. And I'm really excited about the glimpses at future books we get at the end of the book and in the epilogue...
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
WOW (!!!) y'all CCW is really doing the work in this book and this series. You can see a shift (pun intended) as she starts to move a larger story arc forward. And the underlying social commentary and imagery is so poetic, yet subtle enough as to not detract from the romance and slow burn we've grown to love from this series.
I've wanted something special for Annie since we first met her and had no idea how CCW could pull it off. But she gave us the perfect mate in Justus. He understands what it means to be support your pack, to support your mate. He knows what it means to be strong and to be a true alpha.
This is a story about healing and trust and finding a safe place to call home. Absolutely loved it.
I've wanted something special for Annie since we first met her and had no idea how CCW could pull it off. But she gave us the perfect mate in Justus. He understands what it means to be support your pack, to support your mate. He knows what it means to be strong and to be a true alpha.
This is a story about healing and trust and finding a safe place to call home. Absolutely loved it.
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
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
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Blood
When I'm looking for a shifter rejected mates story, this is what I'm looking for. I don't know how this author always manages to hit the spot, but even the books I liked the least in this series have been fantastic rejected mates stories.
And don't get me wrong, I do wish there had been a liiiiittle more grovel before the FMC was forgiving the MMC for his cruel words and actions as a teen (though she still was very afraid of him and wary at that point), but I truly love the way that these two came together and grew to care for each other. I love the silly way his wolf acted to get her to relax around him. I love how gentle and mindful he was with her as a human. I love the way she came to care for his pack and feel safe with all of them. I adore how protective she was of the younger ones, even when she herself was terrified. She wasn't just one thing, she had many facets to her personality that were shown at different times.
This has to be one of my favorite shifter series ever. I love how each pack is so completely different from the others while still existing and operating in the same world with the same rules. I keep thinking one pack (and their traditions and way of life) might be my favorite and then the next pack is shown.
This pack is truly my favorite though. It felt like a treat getting to see shifters through this lens. Fresh, not done in quite this way and with this much unity. I want to live there.
I'm not sure if this one beats book 1 for me (I'm not sure any of these can do that), but it was a wonderful escape.
And don't get me wrong, I do wish there had been a liiiiittle more grovel before the FMC was forgiving the MMC for his cruel words and actions as a teen (though she still was very afraid of him and wary at that point), but I truly love the way that these two came together and grew to care for each other. I love the silly way his wolf acted to get her to relax around him. I love how gentle and mindful he was with her as a human. I love the way she came to care for his pack and feel safe with all of them. I adore how protective she was of the younger ones, even when she herself was terrified. She wasn't just one thing, she had many facets to her personality that were shown at different times.
This has to be one of my favorite shifter series ever. I love how each pack is so completely different from the others while still existing and operating in the same world with the same rules. I keep thinking one pack (and their traditions and way of life) might be my favorite and then the next pack is shown.
This pack is truly my favorite though. It felt like a treat getting to see shifters through this lens. Fresh, not done in quite this way and with this much unity. I want to live there.
I'm not sure if this one beats book 1 for me (I'm not sure any of these can do that), but it was a wonderful escape.
Plot 3/5 solid, but mostly focused on characters
Enjoyment 3/5 as someone with generalised and social anxiety, Annieās anxiety can be triggering for me
Art 4/5 Cate C Wells writes so well that I read things out of my comfort zone and like them anyway, but not in such a way that I notice the writing (which as long as it doesnāt interfere with the enjoyment of the story, is what makes a five for me)
Characters 5/5 I do love the way she writes full characters (they have quirks that you quickly associate with them and start getting warm fuzzies when you see them crop up) and dual PoV.
Heart 4/5 thereās sweetness and PTSD and being young and stupid and getting smarter
Setting 3/5 for this book (mostly because itās already been established and isnāt built on much with this book), but probably 4/5 for the series
3.6āļø
Enjoyment 3/5 as someone with generalised and social anxiety, Annieās anxiety can be triggering for me
Art 4/5 Cate C Wells writes so well that I read things out of my comfort zone and like them anyway, but not in such a way that I notice the writing (which as long as it doesnāt interfere with the enjoyment of the story, is what makes a five for me)
Characters 5/5 I do love the way she writes full characters (they have quirks that you quickly associate with them and start getting warm fuzzies when you see them crop up) and dual PoV.
Heart 4/5 thereās sweetness and PTSD and being young and stupid and getting smarter
Setting 3/5 for this book (mostly because itās already been established and isnāt built on much with this book), but probably 4/5 for the series
3.6āļø