Tag Archives: werewolf

Book Review: Rogue Wolves Prison, by Eva Brandt & Cara Wylde

I grabbed a copy of Rogue Wolves Prison, by Eva Brandt and Cara Wylde one one of it’s Amazon freebie days…or maybe it’s a perma-freebie. Either way I picked it up for free on Amazon.

Once, I knew what my future was going to be like. I was bound to mate an Alpha chosen by my father, to be his Omega and have his pups. But I changed that future when I dared to fight off my would-be mate. When I killed him and became a rogue wolf.

There’s only one place left for me now – Rogue Wolves Prison. The penitentiary built for the most vicious, unrepentant werewolves alive. It’s not a place where I can expect to survive sane, let alone find love and a soulmate.

But all my expectations, hopes and fears are torn apart the moment I meet Killian Wolfsbane.

He’s fierce, destructive, stronger than any werewolf I’ve seen. He’s the leader of The Killers, the gang that holds almost as much power over the prison as the Warden. He looks at me with yearning and protects me, but can’t seem to bear my presence. I can see myself in his grief.

It’s foolish to pursue the attraction between us. It’s foolish to hope. It’s foolish to expect salvation. But maybe it’s not foolish to believe in him. Rogue Wolves Prison might be hellish, but there might be a future for me here.

I’ll admit that I picked this book up thinking it was another with a similar plot. But by the time I realized my mistake I decided to just go with it. But, ya’ll, this book is a mess. It’s underdeveloped, cheesy, and simplistic.

Angela seemed to develop abilities as-needed…in fact, whole plot points that made no sense popped up as-needed. The villain that showed up at the prison seemed to be evil for no apparent reason and showed up to be maniacally and actively evil for, again, no apparent reason. I almost got whiplash from the ‘I did this, no, my family did that, no, they’re good after all.’ It made the whole thing feel inconsistent.

Worst of all, that same back-and-forwards left Angela feeling utterly without agency. Sure, not every heroine has to be a strong character, but she’s basically a limp rag. Killian had a little more character, but not much.

All in all, I’m just glad to be finished with it.

Other Reviews:

A review of “Rogue Wolves Prison: An Omegaverse Romance” by Cara Wylde and Eva Brandt

Book Review: They Had Eyes of Silver, by S E Davis

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I accepted a review copy of S E Davis‘ They Had Eyes of Silver, as part of it’s blog tour with Rachel’s Random Resources. The book as also featured over on Sadie’s Spotlight. So, you can pop over there for more information on the book and author.

A secret lineage. A family cursed. A forbidden love that can’t be denied.

Veterinarian Reina Kirke is exhausted. So, when her best friend suggests a European vacation, she doesn’t hesitate. A much-needed break and a chance to investigate her mysterious family tree sound perfect. Too bad she’s in no way prepared for what she finds. The fairytale town in Belgium hides family secrets grounded in the supernatural. Legends of werewolves and witches surround her, and a taboo love affair threatens to pull her into a danger she might not be able to handle.

What seems like a chance encounter with Blaise Woodward, a brooding hunk with his own secrets, sets up a sequence of events that could unravel both of their families as they realize their deep connection to each other is generations old. But only one thing is certain.

Their lives will never be the same…

I am trying to walk a very narrow line with this review. Because I have to acknowledge that a lot of readers like predictability. Certain tropes and plot types are used frequently because they are enjoyed, but also because they are comforting in their predictability. For a lot of readers it’s a feature, not a bug.

But I’m not one of those readers. And when the villain was introduced—the first page they appeared—I said, that’s the villain. I even had a fairly good guess at what their motivation would turn out to be. And almost every other aspect of this book is as transparent as the villain. There is absolutely nothing new or unpredictable about this book—not in the plot, not in the world, not way wolves shift (the legend of the wolf-strap with evil origins is from Germany and Poland), not the romance, not the mystery, not the heroine’s deus ex machina save at the end, not the conclusion, etc. Nothing. I read on in hope that there might be at least one red herring in there, but there isn’t. It’s all just as obvious as at first glance.

But, again, I’m not calling it a bad. Because a lot of people really do enjoy this in a book. It’s safe. And I would say the same for other aspects of the book, not just the predictability. The characters adhere to all the right mores and characterizations and the the undercurrent of kindness and care hits the right notes to appeal to those who enjoy over-arching sweetness and light in their stories. No one’s worldview is going to be challenged. Again, it’s safe…if that’s your thing.

The writing is fine. Names and endearments are used a little too often occasionally, creating an unneeded formality. But it’s mostly fine and the editing is without issue. So, whether you enjoy this book or not will come down to the question of whether you are a reader who enjoys knowing there will be no unpleasant surprises, or one who would rather go in blind and risk it.

Other Reviews:

eBook Review: They Had Eyes of Silver by S E Davies*

Book Review: Charley’s Christmas Wolf, by C.D. Gorri

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I picked up a copy of C.D. Gorri‘s Charley’s Christmas Wolf as an Amazon freebie, in order to add a little paranormal to my otherwise Contemporary Romance heavy Christmas Reading Challenge.

Rafe Maccon is the Alpha of the Macconwood Pack, for now. His rule is being questioned by a rogue Wolf who wants him ousted for breaking an ancient law that states the Alpha must be mated!

He must find a mate in order to keep his position. Seeing their Alpha in trouble, Rafe’s Wolf Guard take it upon themselves to find one for him.

Charley Palmieri works a dead end job and lives alone with her cat until one night when her world is changed forever.

Instant attraction sparks between them. Can Rafe convince Charley to be his before the meeting of Pack elders on Christmas Eve? Will she be his one true mate, for life?

I’ve mentioned before that years ago, before we had kids and evening responsibilities, my husband and I used to indulge in something we called Good Wine, Bad Movie Night. The idea was that there is a certain brand of cheesily bad movie, that when watched just a little drunk turns marvelously horrid. So, one of us would pick up a Good Wine (or what passed for good for a broke couple) and the other would pick a Bad Movie. Then we’d drink and be merry. We watched a lot of B-grade sci-fi and questionable anime. But it was fun.

I mention this memory because Charley’s Christmas Wolf has many of the same qualities as the bad movies of Good Wine, Bad Movie Night. It is bad. There is no getting around that fact. We’re talking the heyday of Ellora’s Cave bad. But there is also something gloriously indulgent in accepting it for what it is. You have to laugh at it, but stop short of doing so mockingly, because it knows what it is. It’s not trying to be something else and you have to respect that.

The whole thing is super rushed. The love is instant. There is no character or plot development. The sex is questionable. The book tries to be both a dub-con and a hot romance and fails at both. The dialogue is atrocious, etc. But throughout it all, if you take another sip of wine and relax into it, it’s worth the good-natured laugh.