beckiebookworm1974 's review for:

The Return by D.B. Reynolds

5.0

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Never read this author before and got to say despite one teeny thing I bloody loved this just so much.
So brief background here the year is 4670 and Rachel Fortier a xenobiologist has come to the closed planet Harp on a mission to supposedly study their large cats.
When the team she came with capture a large cat she realises that she has been kept in the dark about there true purpose on this planet.
Rescuing the cat and then setting off alone into the surrounding forest this is where things really start to take off.
Harp is a planet of humans and shifters a closely guarded secret and the exotic cat Rachel set loose is actually Aiden one of the cat-shifters.
Not only that but the forests themselves or greens as they are known are sentient and have a symbiotic relationship with the planets cats.
So this was dual POV and was really well-written managing to capture my attention right from the start.
This was actually book two in the series but I read this as a standalone and it does work, I had no issues whatsoever following along.
The developing relationship between Rachel and Aiden felt so authentic and believable and I really liked the lack of games and found it ever so refreshing.
Character-wise I really liked Rachel she was so self-sufficient, capable and also very brave with a real sense of character.
Add in the fact that she didn't do unneeded drama and actually had a brain she was quite the girl.
Aiden grew on me despite him being a tad chauvinistic initially in both his actions and thoughts.
I did easily forgave him as he was such a cheeky charmer and his good humour and overall sense of fun did appeal to me, he was just so likeable.
I also liked how he started to put stock in Rachels own capabilities in taking care of herself.
This is a survival trek across the swamp where Aiden and Rachel will Pitt their witts together against the greens deadliest creatures.
My one issue here is the ending and epilogue.
I thought that when they finally reveal their feelings at the end here it was a tad anticlimactic.
I also was disappointed that Rachel and Aiden were not in the epilogue.
Despite that the rest I adored, this was so much better than what I was expecting and I will definitely be checking out the first book in this series.
I'm giving this the whole five stars as despite the unsatisfying epilogue and finale this was still such a compelling and enjoyable read with such impressive detail and worldbuilding and I really did enjoy it massively.
Highly recommend this one it really was a great read.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Shifter Planet: The Return (Shifter Planet #2).



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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