Follow Me
Grab my feed
Posts
All Comments
Wanna Shop?
2013 Reading Challenge
Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) has
read 0 books toward her goal of 75 books.
New-To-Me Authors
2013 reading goal:
15 new-to-me authors.
1) Stacy Gail
2) Heather Massey
3) Sidney Bristol
4) Ann Mayburn
5) Thea Harrison
6) Virna DePaul
7) Mary Quast
8) Molly Harper
9) Eleri Stone
10) PJ Schnyder
11) Kait Ballenger
12) Denise L. Wyant
13) Lucy Monroe
Sunday Snippets
More Blogs
original images by marin & papaija2008 at FreeDigitalPhotos.com
banner designed by Jennifer from Books Make Me Happy
Showing posts with label Eternal Wolf Clan series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eternal Wolf Clan series. Show all posts
Friday, July 5, 2013
Review: Dire Desires by Stephanie Tyler
Dire Desires
Author: Stephanie Tyler
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Signet
Eternal Wolf Clan #3
ISBN: #978-0451240019
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (400 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
|
Jinx is a Dire wolf without a pack. Kicked out of the house by his king, and living with a vampire named Jez, Jinx has been trying to undo the damage he unintentionally caused during the reign of the Dire ghost army, which unleashed some of Purgatory’s worst monsters on the world at large. But when he hears that an unshifted Were is being held in a psychiatric hospital, he immediately drops everything to help her.
Gillian Black has no idea what’s happening to her—and Jinx discovers that she’s not just any Were, but a Dire wolf from the original Greenland pack. He helps her escape and promises to keep her safe from the men—and the wolves—who are hunting her and to teach her everything about being a wolf.
He must also fight his feelings, wanting to claim her as his mate…at least until after he defeats the supernatural enemies that threaten all of them.
What I’m talking about:
|
Gillian Black has been institutionalized for much of her teen years. Never knowing what was wrong, only that she didn’t fit, she yearns to run free, naked in the woods. When Dire wolf Jinx and vampire Jez investigate monster sightings at the institution, they discover Gillian and realize that she is a Dire wolf on the verge of shifting for the very first time.
Almost feral in nature, Gillian sees Jinx as an opportunity to escape, but doesn’t trust that he’ll keep her safe. The pair make it out of the hospital and to the Dire mansion, where the rest of the Dire clan welcome Gillian. However, she only feels comfortable with Jinx, so when he leaves, she escapes and follows him.
The third book of the Eternal Wolf Clan series starts at a fast pace and doesn’t slow down for quite a while. Not only do we learn about Gillian, but the story attempts to bring the reader up to speed with all of the happenings since the last book. One thing about this series is that there are always a few side stories that are featured almost as prominently as the “main storyline.” While I mostly enjoy this, sometimes it makes reading the story difficult to follow. For example, the first few chapters were choppy and the dialogue sometimes too vague, and if I didn't know the background it would have been tough to follow. But a recap was laid out and everything "big" from the previous two books was mentioned, so newcomers to the series could probably pick up Dire Desires without having read the first two books.
Even with the few difficulties I experienced reading the opening chapters, the storyline was pretty engrossing, and I really enjoyed the book overall. And after the first six or seven chapters, that roughness seemed to disappear, and the story flowed more smoothly.
I adored Gillian and Jinx. The fact that she is a full-blooded Dire (the first female one in the stories thus far) added dimension to her character and allowed the author to create a wonderful match between Gillian and Jinx. She was his equal (or better) physically, and her innocence and naivety never were the cause for Gillian to make poor decisions. The pair were sweet and romantic, but also hot and sexy.
The fact that Gillian was institutionalized for so long and that her parents are willing to pay an exorbitant ransom for her return when they have been so blatantly ignoring her creates quite the mystery. Trying to discover Gillian’s past and following her as she tries to remain free creates some suspense and a lot of excitement. The storyline was very entertaining.
As I mentioned earlier, there are other side storylines that are featured in Dire Desires. While it created some confusion for me at first, I enjoyed all of them. I won’t take the time to go into each, but I want to mention a couple that I discussed in my reviews of the earlier books. First, there is quiet a bit on the weres, and Liam’s quest to fulfill is place as king and reunited his packs. Together with the twins Cyd and Cain (who were trained by the Dires), the trio mature and make significant headway on their quest. Second, ex-FBI agent Angus Black is back in town, changed from his experiences detailed in the past two books. I am really happy with the direction his character is heading, and I enjoyed every moment he was featured on the pages. Well, there is one exception that comes at the very end of the book. Let’s just say I am EXTREMELY unhappy with the turn of events because Angus is left in a bit of a cliffhanger situation; however, I’m willing to overlook it for now, depending on the outcome in the next story. Even with that, both of these side stories add significant depth and interest to the book overall.
The conclusion of Gillian’s storyline was satisfactory, although a bit easy when it comes to her parents, but overall very enjoyable. As I mentioned above, some of the side stories are left open-ended, and there was an epilogue that I believe sets up the next book.
Overall I enjoyed Dire Desires, and it’s my favorite of the series thus far. Gillian and Jinx make a great pair. I liked the conflict caused by Gillian's parents and her perceived mental illness. I loved Cain and Angus, and I liked the heroic nature of vampire Jez. One great thing about the book is that much of the previous open-ended nature of the series was brought forth and either concluded, or there was significant progress made in a positive direction. Although I was not happy with what happened to Angus at the end of the book, overall Dire Desires is a wonderful read.
My Rating:
|
Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Reviews in the Series:
Labels:
Monday, November 26, 2012
Review: Dire Wants by Stephanie Tyler
Dire Wants
Author: Stephanie Tyler
Release Date: Nov. 6, 2012
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Eternal Wolf Clan #2
ISBN: #978-0451238467
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (400 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
|
The supernatural world is rising up against the human one. The weretrappers want control, and only the immortal Dire wolves stand in the way of total destruction. Stray, a Dire, and his long-lost brother, Killian, emerge as the leaders of their pack. To keep themselves and the humans safe, the Dires need a witch as powerful as Seb, who betrayed the Dires to work for the weretrappers.
They find what they are looking for in Kate, a human who survived a horrible car accident that left her back scarred with a handprint no one else can see. Stray senses Kate's abilities as a witch and recruits her to help the Dires — all the while knowing she is so powerful they will need to kill her once she helps defeat the weretrappers.
Stray doesn't expect the powerful connection that he feels with Kate, or his irresistible need to protect her. They cannot hide their feelings for each other, and what once was taboo now seems inevitable…
What I’m talking about:
|
Dire Wants is the second story in Ms. Tyler’s wolf-shifter series, The Eternal Wolf Clan. The overall story centers around the Dire Wolves, a small group of immortal wolf-shifters, each with special abilities, that are burdened with protecting the earth and humans from the evil paranormals, such as witches and demons. They differ from regular weres in that they cannot be killed, are stronger and more violent-natured, and are governed by a mythical god-like group known as the Elders. This story picks up immediately after the first book, Dire Needs.
Our book opens with a brief prologue giving the reader a snapshot into the childhood of our heroine, Kate. Clearly she’s gifted with some sort of “powers,” and her mother abuses Kate, claiming Kate is doing the devil’s work. Kate’s life changes dramatically the day she survives a massive car accident that takes the lives of her parents.
We flash forward to current day where Kate is unknowingly being used by Leo Shimmin, ring leader of a warped group of weretrappers bent on destroying the Dires and using the weres to take over the humans. Kate is rescued by Dire Brother, Stray, who finds an instant bond to Kate. He immediately recognizes that she is a witch of great power, even though Kate doesn’t have a clue about the supernatural world. Stray brings her into the Dire fold, where trust is an issue, since witches and Dires do not normally get along (especially after the Dires were betrayed by their good friend and witch, Seb).
Much like its predecessor Dire Needs, Dire Wants is full of information about the overall mythology, coupled with several characters and subplots. The first few chapters felt a bit like an information dump. The names and characters were a bit much to follow at times, but I was able to manage my way through. In the scenes that focused on interactions between the Dire brothers, the dialogue felt insincere, strained, choppy and rough. The scenes and locations shifted often, adding to confusion and the incohesive feel. However, once the story moved back to Kate and focused less on backstory, it smoothed out.
I enjoyed the pairing of Stray and Kate. Although I felt the expression of feelings of love came way too quickly (for Stray), I did like their instant connection. I enjoyed their ability to open themselves to each other, and find a friendship and peace together. The scenes when the pair discover that Stray is Kate’s “familiar” are some of my favorites. Although they couldn’t/didn’t consummate their relationship for most of the book, their scenes were still very steamy. However, as much as I enjoyed them as a couple, I was disappointed with how their coupling was ultimately received by the Elders (It is a known “fact” that mating can only occur with a Dire female).
One of the more critical subplots of the story was the return of Stray’s brother, Killian, whose existence was kept secret by Stray until recently. There is a Dire prophecy that involves two brothers with dangerous abilities, and Stray and Killian seem to fit the bill. In the end, I don’t feel that the prophecy has much baring on the storyline; however, learning more about the brother’s history is worthwhile.
The biggest threat to the Dires and humanity is the increasing power of the weretrappers. Leo controls a demon-possessed Seb, who has raised the Dire Ghost Army using dark magic. The army consists of the dead ancestors of the Dire brotherhood, and these ghosts blame their deaths on the current generation. Their violent ways and thirst for destruction have only increased since their deaths, and they are ready to destroy the brotherhood. (Which is why having Kate around is so critical - it is believed she alone can stop Seb.)
Throughout the book, there are a few interesting twists and surprises, but non more spectacular than the mutual attraction between FBI agent Angus and werewolf Cain. Let me tell you now that I want MORE of these two mismatched men. Their chemistry was raw and honest, and I couldn’t get enough. I hope we see more of this promising yet difficult relationship in future books.
One surprise that I wasn’t too keen on is the fact that pretty much the entire overall story arc wrapped up in this, the second book. I felt that the series was building towards something massively spectacular and was shocked to see so much of it be solved and concluded by the end of Dire Wants. I’m happy with the way things ended, but a little disappointed in how easily and quickly it all came to be. The third book, Dire Desires, is scheduled for a July 2013 release, so I hope the story will shift to focus more on the turmoil within the were packs and away from the Dires.
Overall, even with the ups and downs, I enjoyed the mythology created by Ms. Tyler in her Eternal Wolf Clan series. I liked the connection between Stray and Kate, and the fact that he is her "familiar" helped emphasize the "fated pair" idea. Although I was on the fence about having so much wrapped up after only two books, I look forward to seeing what happens next, especially from the weres and Angus and Cain. The book has some good storylines, but sometimes there was just too much going on and the choppiness made it hard to follow. In the end, although it took a while to get into, the second half of Dire Wants went more smoothly, and I’m definitely in for another round.
My Rating:
|
Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
Reviews in the Series:
Friday, March 9, 2012
Review: Dire Needs
Dire Needs
Author: Stephanie Tyler
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Eternal Wolf Clan #1
ISBN: #978-0451236234
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (400 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
|
The full moon is their mistress. They are predators of pleasure and pain. Feared by humans, envied by werewolves, the Dire Wolves are immortal shifters, obeying no laws but their own bestial natures. Once they were many, but now only six remain, a dangerous wolfpack forever on the hunt…
Rifter leads the pack, embracing the lifestyle and ethics of an outlaw biker even as he battles an ancient enemy who has become a new, powerful force. But with his Brother Wolf raging inside him, howling to be unleashed, he needs to satisfy his hungers. And when he meets a drop-dead gorgeous blonde drinking alone in a bar that caters to both human and inhuman, Rifter’s primal instinct is to claim her.
Gwen has her own desires, long unfulfilled. She hopes a passionate night with the leather-clad, Harley-riding biker will ease her suffering. The seizures that have wracked her body her entire life are incurable—and they’re killing her.
But none of that will matter if Rifter can’t stop the growing threat to them all — trappers who are determined to enslave humankind and use the Dire wolves as part of their nefarious plan.
What I’m talking about:
|
The story opens with Rifter, leader of the Dire Wolf Pack (a type of wolf shifter), commenting on his urge for a woman and to run wild. He cruises in on his Harley, wearing his leather, and heading to a bar. Can you say BAD BOY?! Yes, he is over six-feet of pure smexy man! The first chapter of Dire Needs was one of the best I’ve read in a while. I love a book that opens with the needs of running and f*cking! When Rifter spots our heroine, Gwen, the scene is electric. The instant steam generated between Gwen and Rifter is tangible. The story gets right to the point. Our hero is all alpha male and mmm... so swoon-worthy. The instant the book begins, you know you are in for a great ride (on his bike, come on, what did you think I meant?)
The story itself revolves around a group of six Dire Wolves (the last of their kind), a pack of “regular” werewolves, some outlaw weres, humans that hunt the weres and Dires (known as weretrappers), some evil witches, and a group of god-like “elder” Dires. Basically, there is a power struggling going on between the Dires, outlaw weres and witches. Some weres want to come out to the world (and rule the humans). They have aligned themselves with their enemies (weretrappers and witches) to take down the Dires, who are the natural leaders, peacekeepers and protectors of humans. Sound like a lot to deal with? At times it can be...
I really enjoyed the overall story and the new mythology created by Ms. Tyler. However, I felt the story got bogged down by too much world-building and repetition of the “historical facts.” I understand the need to layout the new world in a first book; however, I wish that this story had narrowed the focus on only a couple of the pieces... Gwen and Rifter and her origins, with a little less of the overall history and the entire bad guy population. A little less about each individual Dire. It would have made for a smoother read. I was also confused on the Dire’s historical timeline. Some sort of chart that includes the major events that have occurred would be useful.
Even with my frustration with the volume of information presented, the book had many great aspects. In this new world, the Dires’ wolf halves are individual entities within the human body. The “Brother” and “Sister” wolves have a separate presence within each Dire and can communicate wants/feelings/instincts to the human part.
Another wonderful part is the character, Seb. He was once Rifter’s best friend, but now is the leader of the witches. His betrayal has had a profound effect on the leader of the Dires and adds superb conflict to the storyline. Since we are privy to Seb’s POV, the reader understands that things are not so black and white for Seb, and I imagine Seb is going to be my favorite tortured soul in this series.
I also want to mention that I LOVED the nod to Larissa Ione’s Demonica Series (mention of UGH and Eidolon!)
This book was reminiscent of another favorite of mine, Dark Lover by JR Ward. A reluctant leader falling for an apparent human (who turns out to be more), the “brothers” living together in a massive compound and driving fancy vehicles, and the list goes on... Although there are a handful of similarities, Dire Needs is its own unique story. Dark Lover kicked off a great series... I think Dire Needs will do the same for the Eternal Wolf Clan.
My Rating:
|
Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
Purchase Info:
I want to take a moment to comment of the condition of some of the e-ARCs I receive from NetGalley. This has bugged me as of late and really came to head with this book. Many times, and specifically for this story, books are ill-formatted (I have the books delivered directly to my Kindle). There are no pauses or breaks when changing scenes or POVs, for example. This is not the fault of the author, and I don't consider it a factor in review; however it can significantly diminish the quality of the read. It makes a book difficult to read, especially one like this with multiple POVs and quickly changing scenes. Since I am familiar with Ms. Tyler's writing style, I was was able to work through it, but there were times I was confused. I honestly think it was the way the e-ARC was formatted and NOT because of the author’s storytelling. I hope that as more publishers turn to e-ARCs (which I LOVE), that there will be more consideration for the formatting of the text when converted to the e-book.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Grab My Button
