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a_reader_obsessed 's review for:
A Wolf in the Garden
by Allegra Hall
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Though this brings nothing startling new to the genre, this still stands out as one of the brighter and more romantic werewolf mate tropes when compared to the many others I’ve read, plus the fact that I haven’t stopped thinking about this a week after finishing says something.
Now I know this won’t be for everyone, especially those that abhor second chance romance, but as per the blurb, when circumstance finally allows Van to return to Ellie, their coming back together was easy but rife with plenty of hurt comfort.
In the background of this grand romance, Hall reveals details about the global Unraveling, an event that removed the magic concealing those nonhuman species amongst us - shifters, elves, orcs to name a few. It also revealed a different dimension to our reality as well, and despite the world slowly righting itself back and adjusting to the new normal over the last two years, not all creatures and not all humans are so accepting. There’s an undercurrent of racism and intolerance that runs throughout, complicating things further when the fae are revealed to have unsavory intentions - intentions that are targeted towards Ellie.
For a book that’s over 500 pages, not a whole lot occurs here. Mainly, it’s about Van and Ellie reconnecting (albeit in very very abundant spicy ways) and them starting to build a life and dealing with family pain and trauma as well as coming to terms with Ellie’s new magical powers. I loved Van in all his gentle giant powerful alpha lethality which is protective, kind, and caring, and the way he tenderly and possessively treats Ellie appealed greatly. Ellie in turn was an equally strong character with some good vulnerabilities, realistic fears, and the warmest open heart ever.
Again, this won’t appeal to everyone for various reasons (many pages, many smexy scenes, repetitiveness), but I thought it a very touching second chance romance centered on fated mates, KNOTTING, magic, and where two worlds remain at odds divided by prejudice and elitism. Hall really brought the wonderful picturesque setting (please go look at that gorgeous cover again ) of New Zealand and the Māori culture to life, making it a beautiful idyllic backdrop to Van and Ellie’s intensely fierce all consuming reconnection. I enjoyed the pack dynamics, the different take on weres versus shifters, and all the other side characters contributing to this conflicted world. I eagerly await the next installment that features dragon shifter Kaito, and all I can say about that is “yes please”!!
Now I know this won’t be for everyone, especially those that abhor second chance romance, but as per the blurb, when circumstance finally allows Van to return to Ellie, their coming back together was easy but rife with plenty of hurt comfort.
In the background of this grand romance, Hall reveals details about the global Unraveling, an event that removed the magic concealing those nonhuman species amongst us - shifters, elves, orcs to name a few. It also revealed a different dimension to our reality as well, and despite the world slowly righting itself back and adjusting to the new normal over the last two years, not all creatures and not all humans are so accepting. There’s an undercurrent of racism and intolerance that runs throughout, complicating things further when the fae are revealed to have unsavory intentions - intentions that are targeted towards Ellie.
For a book that’s over 500 pages, not a whole lot occurs here. Mainly, it’s about Van and Ellie reconnecting (albeit in very very abundant spicy ways) and them starting to build a life and dealing with family pain and trauma as well as coming to terms with Ellie’s new magical powers. I loved Van in all his gentle giant powerful alpha lethality which is protective, kind, and caring, and the way he tenderly and possessively treats Ellie appealed greatly. Ellie in turn was an equally strong character with some good vulnerabilities, realistic fears, and the warmest open heart ever.
Again, this won’t appeal to everyone for various reasons (many pages, many smexy scenes, repetitiveness), but I thought it a very touching second chance romance centered on fated mates, KNOTTING, magic, and where two worlds remain at odds divided by prejudice and elitism. Hall really brought the wonderful picturesque setting (please go look at that gorgeous cover again ) of New Zealand and the Māori culture to life, making it a beautiful idyllic backdrop to Van and Ellie’s intensely fierce all consuming reconnection. I enjoyed the pack dynamics, the different take on weres versus shifters, and all the other side characters contributing to this conflicted world. I eagerly await the next installment that features dragon shifter Kaito, and all I can say about that is “yes please”!!