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shelf_possesed's Reviews (56)
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am surprised that I didn't DNF this one. I was all set up for dark, tense, and emotional, but it just couldn't deliver. Strong start. Weak finish. The shock and horror of the subject matter was out of sync with the character and plot development. Not a fan.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved this book! The author weaves strands from popular myths and legends into the story to build a mysterious fantasy world shrouded in secrecy and veiled from humans. It's medium paced with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers intrigued. There is a deep connection between the MFC and the MMC that is present. Their relationship is complicated. It is epic in nature and remains mostly unexplored, at least during the first book, so if you are looking for more spice than plot, this one isn't for you.
The FMC, Noa, believes herself to be flawed and damaged beyond repair. Without a wolf, she has been living in the human world, isolated and left without the protection of a pack. She knows there is something powerful that inhabits the wolf-shaped void inside her and fears it. Stalked by an unknown source and plagued by visions, she hopes to find sanctuary on lands controlled by her grandfather's pack. Not knowing what she is or what she is capable of leads to conflict and growing suspicion among members. The MMC is Grayson. As the pack's Alpha, he recognizes her power and the potential for it to be weaponized by those who would exploit it. To protect his pack, he offers her his protection in exchange for her loyalty and cooperation.
Like all good fantasies, there is a quest with all the adventure and excitement to go along with it. The first book ends in a cliffhanger. I would have appreciated reading more from Grayson's POV, thus the 4.5 instead of 5.0, but I can't wait to read the second one.
The FMC, Noa, believes herself to be flawed and damaged beyond repair. Without a wolf, she has been living in the human world, isolated and left without the protection of a pack. She knows there is something powerful that inhabits the wolf-shaped void inside her and fears it. Stalked by an unknown source and plagued by visions, she hopes to find sanctuary on lands controlled by her grandfather's pack. Not knowing what she is or what she is capable of leads to conflict and growing suspicion among members. The MMC is Grayson. As the pack's Alpha, he recognizes her power and the potential for it to be weaponized by those who would exploit it. To protect his pack, he offers her his protection in exchange for her loyalty and cooperation.
Like all good fantasies, there is a quest with all the adventure and excitement to go along with it. The first book ends in a cliffhanger. I would have appreciated reading more from Grayson's POV, thus the 4.5 instead of 5.0, but I can't wait to read the second one.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Typical Sandra Brown novel. Lots of twists and turns. Just enough spice to enhance the plot rather than carry it.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a trilogy, so books 1 and 2 end with a cliff hanger. All 3 are a 5 on the spicy scale, but character and plot development is strong. I typically hate cheating, but I will make an exception for this one. The FMC gave up her freedom and married a verbally and physically abusive narcissistic psychopath to save the man she thought she loved. She starts an affair with the MMC because she needs an outlet to help her cope with the pathetic shitshow her life has become. Both characters are strong-willed, demanding, and temperamental. They each know what they want out of life and are unwilling to compromise, but as the story unfolds they begin to grow in a way that compliments each others strengths and weaknesses.
I would have rated it higher, but sometimes the FMC's demanding, whiny moments were childish and the confusing and conflicting signals the MMC was sending was such a mixed bag of angst that I wanted to pull my hair out in frustration. There were more than a few moments when I wanted them to just cut the bullshit already and skip ahead to their happy ending.
I would have rated it higher, but sometimes the FMC's demanding, whiny moments were childish and the confusing and conflicting signals the MMC was sending was such a mixed bag of angst that I wanted to pull my hair out in frustration. There were more than a few moments when I wanted them to just cut the bullshit already and skip ahead to their happy ending.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow! I feel like I've been on an emotional rollercoaster for the last couple of hours. That ending isn't a cliffhanger, it's a dangling climax. OMG! Book 2 isn't available yet. J.L. Beck, what are you trying to do to me?
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was pleasantly surprised. This turned out to be a very enjoyable read. Lyssandra is a badass vampire hunter with a secret to protect. The story is told from her POV. Asher is bit of an enigma. I would have loved to have known what he was thinking. The supporting characters are loveable in different ways. The plot had some unexpected twists and turns. It ends with a loose thread that will most likely continue throughout the series. I can't wait to read the next one!
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The second book in this series is on the slow side of the medium paced scale and more character than plot driven. It could have been an angsty, suspenseful, romantic thriller, but it isn't. Instead it focuses more on the characters, their flaws, and overcoming their commitment phobias. It wasn't bad enough to DNF, but it was a struggle. The psychological two-steps forward and one-step back loop the FMC and MMC were trapped inside as their relationship creeped in the right direction had a middle school saga quality to it that made me want to throw the book across the room. The only angst and suspense came from my frustration and whether I was going to finish it.
emotional
mysterious
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:
No
This is a great "who-dun-it" mystery. I had suspicions in the first half and mostly figured out by about the 65% mark. However, the author threw enough twists and turns into the last quarter of the book to make me second guess my powers of deduction. The main characters are well developed, but static. In my opinion, third person POV limited the depth of the characters. There's some chemistry and spice, but it's definitely plot driven. Developing supporting characters into the main characters of future books in the series won't be hard to do.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Who doesn't like a good vampire fantasy romance? This one is a great escapist read. It isn't a Tolkien, but few are. I appreciate the thought that went into world building, character development, and plot. I'm hooked. Can't wait to read book 2.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was different from anything else I have read by this author. Like her other books, it's balanced, but it's a little more dark and plot driven.