Category Archives: Challenges

wolf marked x3

Wrapping up the Wolf Marked reading challenge

I had a lot of fun with the Wolf Marked reading challenge. As a reminder, three different books titled Wolf Marked were promoed on Sadie’s Spotlight fairly close together and I joked on Twitter that I should just read and review them all. Well, what started as a joke soon became reality and I decided to see if I could get hold of all of them. The last was a challenge since it wasn’t released yet. But I managed it and the battle of the wolf marked was on.

I set out to read Veronica DouglasWolf Marked, Alexis Calder’s Wolf Marked, and Harper Brooks’ Wolf Marked. I’ve accomplished it and it’s time to wrap the challenge up and call it done.

Being only three books long, I don’t know that it really needs a wrap-up post. But I think I do. It’s not until I write such a post that my mind stops going, “Oh, there’s another Wolf Marked (or whatever the challenge is), maybe I can add it in.” For example, I stumbled across Isabeau CrossWolf Marked book, and undoubtedly would have added it to the challenge if it was actually available now instead of next April.

So, to put a period on this challenge and call it truly finished, I’m bringing all three Wolf Marked reviews together.

Book Review: Wolf Marked, by Veronica Douglas

Book Review: Wolf Marked, by Alexis Calder

Book Review: Wolf Marked, by Harper A. Brooks

I’m reluctant to declare a winner. I didn’t love or hate any of them. If I was truly forced to rank them it would probably go Calder, Douglas, Brooks. But they’re all pretty neck-to-neck honestly. They did have a lot in common though. All the heroines were pretty close in age, there were a disproportionate number of red-heads with freckles, and (of course) they’re all destined to love werewolves (though not all did by the end of the book).

All in all, I’d call the whole endeavor a success.

 

veronica douglas wolf marked banner

Book Review: Wolf Marked, by Veronica Douglas

Veronica DouglasWolf Marked was promoed on Sadie’s Spotlight. And when I received the book tour packet from Xpresso Tours, it included a free ecopy of the book. Though I didn’t agree to review it for the tour, I did decide to read it. It’s the first book titled Wolf Marked that I am reviewing for my mini Wolf Marked Reading Challenge. I’m reading three books with this same title.

wolf marked veronica douglas

Werewolves are hunting me.

I was just an ordinary girl waiting tables in a small-town bar. I had no idea magic was real. That was, until I backed my car over a werewolf a couple times.

In my defense, the wolf was trying to murder me, and I was all out of mace.

Now I’ve got a cult of rogue wolves on my heels, and the only one who can protect me is Jaxson Laurent—the leader of the Chicago pack.

He suspects I’m special and can’t take his eyes off me, but the problem is—he’s the sworn enemy of my family. Every time we get close it feels like something is going to rip out of my soul, but the heat between us is irresistible.

With danger around every corner and wolves howling in the night, I need to master my magic and stand my ground, or I’ll be dead before the next moon rises.

An action-packed urban fantasy, Wolf Marked features a kick-ass heroine, a dangerous hero, and a steamy slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance.

This story is set in the wider Dragon’s Gift universe created by Linsey Hall, and if you enjoyed the archaeology, history, and daring in her books, this adventure is for you!

wolf marked veronica douglas

Review:
I largely enjoyed this, but thought it was a little unfocused; depending on the back and forwards between Sav and Jax to carry the tension. But I just felt a little whip-lashed between their supposed attraction and overt dislike of one another. I didn’t particularly feel their chemistry. But I liked them both. I liked how independent Sav was and how willing she was to go out on her own. And I liked that Jax was legitimately trying to protect his people and Sav, even if he wanted to strangle her too. I also thought Casey was hilarious and appreciated the abundance of strong female pack members, especially since jealousy over male attention wasn’t included as a plot device.

The book is set in a world created and opened by another author, Linsey Hall apparently. I suppose that makes this a spin-off of a sort and you feel it. Certainly, the death of Jax’s sister felt like it is the plot of another book somewhere. I don’t know if it is, mind you, but it feels like it is. The book is perfectly readable though, just kind of has that spin-off feel.

I found the villain easy to guess and the mystery around Sav is fairly obvious, even if we’re not technically told what it is here in this book. Plus, there’s some annoying repetition in the writing, All in all though, I had fun and will happily read another book in the Magic Side: Wolf Bound series.

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wolf marked challenge

A new reading challenge: Wolf Marked

Oh you guys, I found a new reading challenge. You know how much I love to build little reading challenges for myself!

I generally keep See Sadie Read and Sadie’s Spotlight fairly separate, so that promoting books won’t compromise the integrity of my reviews (or even give the impression of it). But lets be honest, I find a lot of new books over at Sadie’s Spotlight and end up reading and reviewing them here. I mean, give an obsessive reader access to tons of new book posts and she’s bound to find a few (hundred) that interest her.

Well, that’s what is happening now. The idea actually started as a joke. I noticed that there had been three different books with the same title on Sadie’s Spotlight within a short time of one another.

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So, I took to Twitter to share the fun. And to my delight I wasn’t the only one who was amused.

Well, when @rhoderedpvd agreed, seeing them “duke it out” seemed like an excellent idea after all…and feasible.

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I already had a copy of Veronica DouglasWolf Marked, as Xpresso Book Tours included a copy with the tour material, and I was able to buy a copy of Alexis Calder’s Wolf Marked. That only left Harper Brooks’ Wolf Marked as a hold out. It isn’t actually released until Sept. 9. But, Lady Amber’s PR came through with a review ARC. So, this reading challenge is on.

Here’s how they break down. All are in the Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance arena. Calder’s calls itself New Adult, while the other two don’t. But Books’ heroine appears to be in her twenties. So, it very easily could be, and Douglas doesn’t specify in the blurb. But I’m anticipating a lot of early twenties female leads and growly wolf love interests. (We’ll have to wait and see if I’m right or not.)

To be a little more detailed, here are the actual blurbs:

Wolf-Marked harper brooks

Description:

The cycle of the moon can bring love… or death.

Time is running out for Astrid. If the wolf-shifter doesn’t find her soul’s mate before her twenty-fifth Blue Moon rises, the consequences will be fatal. With only three weeks left, things aren’t looking good… until Erec, a smooth-talking rogue wolf, lands at her feet.

The strange spark between them leaves Astrid wondering if this mysterious man could be the one meant to break her curse. But can she trust him?

From the moment Jerrick killed the only man Erec ever looked up to, Erec vowed to stop the crazed wolf. Partnering with the west-side pack seemed the logical move to accomplish that goal. But he never expected to fall for the alpha’s beautiful daughter, and now this lone wolf is wondering if she could be the one to save him from the curse.

With imminent dangers looming and the swirling patterns on their skin marking them for death, can Astrid and Erec save the west-side pack from the encroaching pack before their last Blue Moon rises in the sky?


Wolf Marked Alexis Calder

Description:

They tried to break me. Now I’m going to break them.

Cursed to never shift, the only thing I was looking forward to about the First Moon Ceremony was that the magic sealing me into Wolf Creek would break, and I could finally leave.

Instead, the ceremony reveals my true mate: Tyler Grant, future leader of my pack and the man responsible for my most recent concussion and black eye. He’s as brutal as he is handsome and fate is a bitch to put us together.

There’s a rumor that a mating bond could break my curse and just as I’m getting my hopes up, Tyler destroys them all.

Instead of bonding with my mate, I’m beaten and left for dead.

A hot-as-sin feral shifter finds me and helps me back on my feet. But his help comes with a cost and I’m not sure I’m willing to pay the price.

With my former pack hunting me down, even an enemy might be a better ally than trying to stay alive on my own.


wolf marked veronica douglas

Description:

Werewolves are hunting me down.

I was just an ordinary girl working tables in small-town Wisconsin. I had no idea magic was real. That was, until I backed my car over a werewolf a couple times.

In my defense, the wolf was trying to murder me, and I was all out of mace.

Now I’ve got a pack of rogue wolves on my heels, and the only one who can protect me is Jaxson Laurent—the Chicago Alpha. He suspects I’m special and can’t take his eyes off me, but the problem is—he’s the sworn enemy of my family and every time we get close it feels like something is going to rip out of my soul.

With danger around every corner and wolves howling in the night, I need to master my magic and stand my ground, or I’ll be dead before the next moon rises.


Stay tuned to see how it all plays out!may the best wolf marked win