Cursed to be a Three Form, blessed to be a True Mate, Austin's life is a nightmare. He is hated and bullied by his pack because under his timid exterior lies the strength and savagery of a Hybrid werewolf. Only the thoughts of his True Mate, and his desperate desire to escape his pack, sustain him through the daily abuse.
When Cristiano finds Austin, things go from bad to worse. The True Mates must keep their connection a secret as Cris is inducted into a conspiracy for rebellion. The pack's trust in Cris grows even as their loathing for Austin spirals into escalated violence. Soon Cris and Austin are drawn into a battle for control over Austin’s pack. Both sides will gladly exploit Austin -- his strength, the venom in his claws and bite, and his inability to leave the pack.
However, though Austin is both gentle and savage, more than anything he is vulnerable. He and Cris have one last chance at getting away and finding a new pack to take them in. Because unless he and Cris can get out, neither of them is likely to survive the coming storm.
Darren Endymion was born 28 years ago (a number that has not changed in several years) on the beaches of California. He was raised by a gaggle of harpies that helped breed into him a sarcasm so natural that he would likely die without it. They taught him how to read and write at a very young age, and instilled in him a love of horror movies, fantasy novels, writing, and man-flesh. For some time he tried to deny his true nature, but he has since settled back into writing and chasing boys.
Let's face it: gay books can be like gay cinema - lighthearted, somewhat shallow, and can't withstand close scrutiny, but we read (or watch) them because they are all we have and because they are usually cute. I think that, as a m/m book reading community, we have become used to this lower standard and allow it to shape our perceptions. So, when a book with deep characters, multiple plot lines, and logic comes around, it shocks us from our preconceived notions.
This is such a book.
It’s not your typical m/m read (despite the somewhat tired, common subject of werewolves). It has depth, something sorely lacking in the genre at large. It challenges the common werewolf mythology. It has multiple, fleshed out characters. It has more than one linear plot line going on. The result is a rounded experience, one that gives us a clear view into this world and into the characters who inhabit it. It is probably not a game changer or something that will shape the future of m/m books, but it’s a book that wouldn’t be ashamed to sit on a book shelf with better, more mainstream works.
People don’t like change. When people come up against something they are unfamiliar with, the most diehard (usually the ones who ONLY read m/m books) are instantly disapproving. The very depth that draws most readers in repels them. It’s not what they want. It’s not what they expected. And so they close their minds, skim the book, remain purposefully aloof, and reject the book. And I think doing so is a disservice.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and this is mine: This is a fantastic book, and amazingly rounded for a first time author. I think people should toss out expectations and try this book with open minds. I think if we do, we will find that this is good, deep, and satisfying. And, if you’ll forgive the double entendre, who doesn’t want that? ;)
Once I started Winter’s Trial I didn’t want to put it down. I am a huge fan of M/M Fantasy/Supernatural Romance, but an issue I’ve had with some other novels in this genre is that they tend to be a bit flimsy with regard to plot; and development is only focused upon gratuitous, cookie-cutter sex scenes.
Winter’s Trial was titillating, intriguing, and yet intellectual without being pretentious. I found myself reacting verbally to certain situations, laughing aloud at others, yet also seething with rage due to the words and actions of various characters. It’s hard to imagine anyone being unaffected by the work.
I appreciate novels that manage a well-woven formula of exciting characters, thought-provoking storylines, and hot men mingling in interesting ways. I am looking forward to delving deeper into the author’s world, and I also hope that this is a clear indication that the bar has been raised for this genre.
I was interested to read this story as from the description it appeared the author had written a whole new take on werewolf lore. The length of the story was rather daunting, however, but as this was a new author to me, I thought it might be fun to take the chance. Not to mention that just the description of Austin made my heart hurt for him and the constant abuse he has suffered. The concept of True Mates being drawn to one another even across thousands of miles and hearing the Call was certainly a new idea in the shifter genre to me. I was familiar with the Three Form but in this author's world, that form is despised, feared and hated, which was a totally new change for me.
Austin is hated as a Three Form, but he's blessed to be a True Mate as they are rather rare, he's the Omega, and he's treated horribly by basically everyone in the pack except for the alpha and the matriarch. I was a little confused as to why neither of those two did anything about his abuse, but I believe that was to simply keep the drama ongoing. He has tried so hard to find another pack to take him in and all he gets are rejections. Council law states that Three Forms always have to be in a pack so Austin is stuck somewhere he despises and is miserable, suffering horribly from the beta, Tim, and his crew. Which, in an aside, Tim and his cronies are pretty much the embodiment of all redneck stereotypes.
Cristiano is a True Mate and because of that he is treated wonderfully by his pack from the moment of his birth which is how it's supposed to be. Cris has gotten to the point where he can no longer resist the Call, so he packs up and leaves his home and pack in Brazil and heads to find his True Mate. When Cris meets Austin he knows there's something he's hiding but until Austin has a nightmare and changes to his third form, Cris isn't sure what it is. Once he knows, Cris understands Austin's fear and even goes so far as to agree to meet the pack without telling them he is Austin's mate, trusting that Austin will explain the reasoning.
What unfolds is a hazy and convoluted drama that involves Cris, Austin, the alpha, the matriarch, and Tim and his bozos trying to use Austin to take over the pack and then kill Austin. It was a pretty intricate plot that was made somewhat confusing by quite a bit of back and forth in the writing and it took me a while to unravel all the knots so I could understand. While this is going on, Cris and Austin are subtly making friends and petitioning to join another pack so they can leave this insanity behind.
This was definitely a different view of the werewolf world. I liked Austin and Cris along with a number of the secondary characters. The ending was done really well with some unexpected sadness. There were a lot of repeats of the same information which grew a little stale. However, if you like long paranormal stories about greed and desperation along with the lore of the true mate and love, then this might be for you.
NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
1.5 stars - Well, this book turned out to be quite the mess. The plot was just too jumbled to be riveting, and it took FOREVER to unravel, making me feel every one of its numerous pages. Too many scenes seemed pointless or repetitive, and I ended up skimming the pages more than once. There were also scenes that were abrupt in nature, just throwing you into the mix without warning, which left me confused and slightly annoyed. When I finally finished the book, I actually felt somewhat cheated to find out that the story wasn't really over. I just wanted it to end, which says a lot. But alas no, it seems like there's going to be more to this tale. Should've known really, since there were too many holes purposely left wide open in the story, an obvious indication that there's more to come. It's a ploy that just won't work with me, I'm afraid, since I felt nothing for this story, or its MC's. I will say that I liked some of the supporting characters, such as Taylor and Quinton, but even their ensuing comic relief became tedious and tiresome after a while. So yeah, I'm definitely disappointed with this one, especially since the premise seemed so promising.
This book was awesome. It was a little long but it was great for a debut story. I laughed, got irritated, and cried like a baby at one point...*sigh*...I dont usually cry but, yeah, it totally happened. I had to grab some tissues and collect myself. Deep stuff. The cover initially threw me off but the saying dont judge a book by its cover is absolutely true in this case. There were some parts that got a bit repetitive but that just added to the angst in the story. Cris and Austin made great MC's and all of the supporting characters were amazing. I think there will be another book in the series and I really can't wait to hear more about Taylor and his mate. Its a bit different from typical werewolf stories which makes it even better in my opinion! The depth of the story and all of the characters is really inspiring if you read it all. *Ugh* I cant wait to read more from this author... :) *psyched*
Austin's life has been hell ever since his first change and he was discovered to be a Three Form, hated and bullied he has lived with daily abuse and the only thing he has had to cling to is the promise of his True Mate. Cristiano has been lavished with love and honor, he is a True Mate and has lived the life of one of the blessed, when the urge to find his True Mate becomes too strong he heads to America to find the man he will love forever. When Austin and Cris meet the connection is instant, but Cris discovers it isn't going to be as easy as he hoped to settle with his mate. Austin has to show his mate the truth about his life and they both have to hope that they can get away from a pack bent on violence.
This story is absolutely amazing, the brutality and prejudice, the abuse and despair, along with the thread of hope and love just jump off the pages as we are told the tale of Austin and Cris. Cris really has no clue what he is heading into when he begins the journey to find his True Mate, he never imagined that his mate would have lived a life of abuse or that he would be a Three Form, the most fear and hated wolf. Austin has lived with the hope of his True Mate for many years, it is the only thing that keeps him going each day and the only reason that he doesn't turn on his abusers.
Austin and Cris are a brilliant couple but they face manage challenges as they maneuver through pack politics, prejudice, danger and psychotic pack mates. We are pulled into a story that is much more than just a love story, and we get a wealth of information about the structures of the packs and their backgrounds and roles. Austin's pack is a mess compared to others and as it begins to implode Austin and Cris get caught up in it, even as they try to leave. We are with them every step of the way as they try to find a pack who will take them, it isn't easy because of Austin being Three Form and somebody doing their best to sabotage them, we are with them as they make new friends and fight against the pack who won't let them go. We are also with them and their friends as they face loss and suffering and Austin finally finds his place in the world.
I loved this story, it was just so involved and we get a full story even though it would have been easy to have split it into two books. We meet a wealth of characters who enrich this story and I would love to see get their own stories. We feel frustration and anger at Austin's pack and we feel gratitude to the pack who are willing to give them a chance. And at the end we find it very hard to find pity for those who have hurt Austin when the full story emerges, you really can't help but feel that they got what they deserved.
I recommend this to those who love shifters, danger, finding an escape route, working through difficulties to get what you want, love and happiness, fantastic characters and a brilliant ending.
"Here it is. Something with benzoyl peroxide in it. Acne medication. He said the venom in the claws works like bacteria, but not a normal one. It's like one of those zits--the ones that hurt and get beneath your skin."
In Winter's Trial, Darren Endymion has written a powerful and compelling book that tells a story of heartbreak, loss, abuse, sadness, loyalty, madness, predjudice, and ultimately hope and happiness. The blurb covers the basics of the story, but it's like the tip of an iceburg-there is so much more to the story than what you can see on the surface. To really appreciate the beauty, depth, and rich detail of this tale, you need to check it out for yourself.
This is a character driven book with a sutlely smooth plot flow. The main and secondary characters are so vivid, three dimensional, and complex that-except for being wolf shifters-they are as real as anyone you could meet on the street, or have as your neighbors. Watching Austin's heartbreaking journey to, with Cris' love and support, overcome years of physical, and emotional abuse by the pack that was supposed to nurture and protect him made me want to give him a big hug and kick some major ass! Told in a skillful blend of past and present, the backstory fills in any gaps and lays a strong foundation for the storyline. The sex is mostly behind the scenes, but still passionate.
The author's style of writing is eloquent, original, and very concise. I love how he is able to deftly and seamlessly transform a ordinary shifter story into a powerful and moving tale of pain, heartbreak, hope and happiness, with an ultimate HEA ending for the MCs. If you're looking for a beautiful and emotionally satisfying shifter story that is anything but ordinary, then I can DEFINITELY recommend this book to you.
A really hard book to rate (between a 2.5-4 stars). There's a lot going on in this book and throughout you'll probably experience heart wrenching, nerve wracking moments twinged with frustration and anxiety. But there are also parts of the story where you're likely to be amused, I know I was. This will definitely be a hit or miss book for a lot of readers.
The plot was interesting and the werewolves in this story were a bit different from the usual shifters we read about. It was fun learning about all the official positions within a pack, the three forms, and the difference between fated mates and chosen mates.
There were moments when it felt like the book didn't flow well and there was one part about Tim's mating that had me curious
I loved this book. I can't believe how much I loved it considering how long it was. I read it in one day. I didn't even want to stop for food. It dragged a bit at the beginning but that's because I've gotten a little too used to the regular mm book where very little time is spent with the main characters apart. In this book we get to meet both protagonists in their respective lives before they meet each other. We get characterizations and back stories. The ending was clearly set up for a sequel or series and I can't wait for it to continue.
I thought it was an excellent book. Very different from other werewolf books. I enjoyed Cris and Austin's fight for their relationship. The pain of being an outcast is made very real through out the book. Taylor and Quinton are great supporting characters. I will read it again.
Austin is a wolf reviled. At the age of 14 he took on his first change, but instead of turning into a wolf, he transformed into the much dreaded 3rd form. 3rd form wolves are both hated and feared, being able to change from human to wolf, and from wolf into a half man/half beast is a powerful yet terrible gift. Fearing Austin ,his pack kick him out and he's taken in by a new pack. The new pack is filled with those who hate him, most who fear him, and many who want to use him for their own gains. 11 years pass under a blur of humiliation and terrorization for Austin, his one shining beacon in this dark, the tattoo on his shoulder, proclaiming him a True Mate. He knows, no matter how hated he is, that out there somewhere is a man who is his other half, who will love and protect him.
This book is full of wolf prejudice, pack intrigue and a powerful struggle to free Austin from the machinations of those bent on capturing power, and an old conniving alpha intent on maintaining it. If you're looking for the typical fluffy M/M shifter read, this isn't it. It's not light, and it's not always easy. This book is full of love, love of mates, love of family, and love of pack. However, it's not chalk full of your typical M/M dose of sex( think fade to black moments).
I loved how complex the character were, no one was a card board prop. I truly felt like I had insight into everyone from the MC's to Karen and Josie. Austin and Chris are true mates, but they are also men, and human. Their connection, while instantaneous was also not easy, and both had to give way to more selfish egocentric emotions. There were no perfect characters, no ultra beautiful flawless (female) male lead, as well as no totally evil for the sake of evilness bad guys... which btw, I thought was awesome :) my only complaint would be I thought this really could have used a good editor, it was just a bit too long for me, and some scenes (mostly summing up events for other characters) ended up feeling a bit repetitive.
All in all, I'm so glad I took a chance on this, and can't wait to read more by this author :)
The author did a wonderful job weaving the storylines together in this book. There is the Cris and Austin story, the whole coup attempt, Austin’s past and the future of two packs on the line. The supporting cast in this novel was phenomenal. There is a snarky sixteen year old Omega, Taylor, and his family, a seventy something year old shewolf that bows to no one and a five year old little girl that does exactly what she wants, damn the consequences. There is great potential for this story to turn into a wonderful series and I for one will be reading any other books that come along in this universe.
My biggest complaint about this book is that there isn't a sequel. This author is new to me and since the book released in 2013 I wanted to buy the next book as soon as I finished this one. There is no cliffhanger but there are some secondary characters that need their own book and there are also a few questions that I'd love to know the answer to.
The writing is good but a little uneven in a few places, sex is off page, characters are very well drawn. There is violence but there is also love - definitely a romance.
This was a really hard book to rate. (4 or 5 stars...) I enjoyed it alot (stayed up till 6 am to finish reading it even!!) but there were definitely questions at the end of the book that I do hope get answered in a sequel. I really, really want Taylor's story though, so when I can read that, I will be very happy :)
Even in a book with male true-bond shifter soul mates, one evidently must be bisexual. I just don't get it. It's a really, really good story though that pushes all of my favorite mm buttons, which is why the tired, bisexual trope hurts all the more.
4 star book that gets 3 stars for not having two gay characters. So disappointing.