aquadoozy 's review for:

Power Shift by Hannah Cowan

3.5

emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

For the author's first omegaverse I think she did a great job. There was really only 1 little part that bothered me (but honestly that's more of a character flaw than a disagreement with a omegaverse "rule").

I enjoyed the first half much more than the 2nd half though. And the last third felt like it was practically just smut. There wasn't enough conflict and drama happening from the outside, so it felt like there wasn't really anything going on. The book definitely felt like it could have been cut down a bit. 500 pages felt like a lot, especially the 2nd half, dragged a little.

The book also felt uneven character-wise. I LOVE me a good why choose. But there was too much focus on Ronan & Landon. Especially in the first half. Landon, made sense since most of the pack drama revolved around him. And Ronan also made sense since

he found Briar first, if we dont count Landon's "meeting"

and I loved Ronan, he was my favorite Lil stalker character don't get me wrong. But in comparison, Dash and Jasper don't get anywhere close to as much time.

Dash kinda got made up for it in the 2nd half, kind of. Dash and Briar have one good

spicy scene with mild cockwarming (one of my fave microtropes, so it was a little disappointing how meh and lackluster the scene was, like just as it started, its over)

But really, that's about it, other than his big character development/relationship moment with Briar. He doesnt get much focus otherwise.

And since Jasper was the MMC with the opener, introducing us to his messed up pack, and how lovesick he was for an omega. I expected big things from his character, and was a bit disappointed.
He got abandoned super quickly it felt like, once Briar came into the picture. Ronan got much, much, more of a focus. I couldn't even nail down Jasper's personality. Other than lovesick puppy with mild, mild, golden retriever vibes. But he came across as kinda plain, a little boring.

There was also a weird, Langdon's controlling, rich, former washed up superstar living through his son's success, dad plot that went absolutely nowhere

until the extended epilogue

It was the kind of parental introduction that I wouldn't have been surprised if:
*NONE OF THESE ACTUALLY HAPPEN*
-Dad forbids Landon & the pack from getting an omega, to focus on hockey & the playoffs.
-Dad setting up a different omega (famous, rich, pretty, business partner's daughter etc. etc.) for the pack for best optics for fame. And OWD occurs.
-Or anything of the like really.

But, it literally goes nowhere. There's some tense dinner drama, and Langdon's Dad is pissed that Ronan wore ripped jeans and not a nice suit to dinner, and Ronan hates the man so he doesn't give a fuck. But that's literally it. I kept expecting the dad to make a reappearance and start drama with the pack's obvious lack of focus on hockey, but nothing ever came of it. So I don't know why SO many pages were spent on it, when the only real drama was Langdon's bitch of a mother. Like nearly everything about it could have been cut.

I also HATED the side characters. Briar's "not a friend" Clover. And the minor pregnant omega Sadie they're helping.

I didn't understand their "business"/nonprofit/jobs at all.

They were a non-profit organization, to help pregnant omegas. But their building/business seems SO empty and not at all busy?? One would assume in a sector like that, with poorer, lower class, who might not be able to afford regular health care, they would be nearly overrun?? But from what it sounded like it was literally only Clover, the actual medical doctor, Briar the doula, and the receptionist???

It was later explained that they relied mainly on government funds and grants, which explains some holes and issues I had, but even still, I thought it was very much brushed over how Briar even afforded her shitty car & apartment while her only source of funds came from the nonprofit she ran.

And there is ZERO chance her friend Clover is actually making headway on any of her medical school loans.

And Briar never gives Clover heads up on anything.

-Hey I'm having heat spikes FYI. Just in case this becomes a big deal with our pregnant patient due any day now.
-Hey my apartment was broken into and OUR CLIENTS PRIVATE MEDICAL FILE WAS MESSED WITH. KINDA OF IMPORTANT TO KNOW.

Anyways.

The minor character Sadie. I hated her so much.

She has an active restraining order against her ex-pack/alphas/boyfriends.

They are actively breaking the restraining order.

She fears for her life and for her baby's life.

So what does she do?

NOT call the police.

No. Let's call my nonprofit doula and obgyn doctor. (They aren't a private care system???? They should have had way more cases than just Sadie's to worry about, but Sadie is like nah, it's them or bust. Acting like the two are her private personal medical care. Even though they are BOTH OMEGAS. LIKE BITCH. WTF ARE THEY GOING TO DO AGAINST TWO OF YOUR EX PACK MEMBERS??????

CALL.
THE.
FUCKING.
POLICE.

I could have understood Sadie/Clover calling to ask for Briar's alphas to come deal with them. But that's not what happens.

And even when they arrive and take care of the situation, Sadie STILL doesn't want to call the police and report the broken restraining over because "She can't deal with it".

I'm sorry?????

Meanwhile she is terrified of what actions he'll do because he thinks he's entitled to their baby.

And she was domestically abused.

And she's not going to even TRY??????

It was such bullshit.

Like, sorry I'm not going to do anything, but you two omegas should definitely do something though.

Finally, neither Clover or Briar came up with any contigency plan if Sadie was in labor while Briar went into heat??? Like it never came up. And Briar keeps mentioning that her heat is due any day, and in the same breath also mentioning that Sadie is due to deliver any day too. And no one involved is ar all concerned.

Then Briar

putting her foot down and semi giving an ultimatium that she needs to go to work even though she is ACTIVELY IN HEAT. No its not just a little cramps, or feeling a little hot and feverish, like in other omegaverses with stubborn omegas. No this bitch is in active heat, was just knotted at the stadium. And is demanding how dare they refuse to let her work. Like BITCH. The shithole alpha Greg from the begining who didnt want you to work at all and stay home & bored all day, and your scent matched pack not wanting you to WORK WHILE IN ACTIVE HEAT, ARE NOT THE SAME. THEY ARENT EVEN CLOSE. She also isn't even the medical doctor on the case???? Clover is. She's there for moral support. And Clover is a shit ass friend for not immediately sending Briar back home to her pack. And Briar came across super selfish. Like you're going to be around 2 more omegas, 1 of which whom is already in a stressful situation. Maybe they don't want to be around you while you're panting for a knot and giving off fuck me vibes???? Briar came off so inconsiderate  there.

And Briar's whole reasoning is ass meanwhile she knows the baby daddy is going to cause an issue like he has been the whole time. Like thats th3 whole reason theyve upped security for the center???? And shes so dismissive like its no big deal, no one will be there. Really? Really. Not the asshole baby daddy you have been fighting against this whole time and whom broke into your apartment? But nah. No alphas but the 1 security guard will be there 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄😮‍💨

Would I recommend?

Ehhhhh.

I liked the first half, didn't really like the 2nd.
The MMC's characters weren't treated fairly, which is super important to me in a why choose.
It was a little long, bringing up extended family members for plot sake and doing nothing with them (Langdon's dad and Ronan's mom/sister).
Hated the side characters. I absolutely won't be continuing the series with Clover's story.