What do you think?
Rate this book
Taken on the Wing #1
Wingspan
Jenn Klein was raised in the human world unaware of her gryphon heritage or the legacy before her. Devastated by the death of her twin brother, she makes the uncharacteristic decision to find emotional connection with a stranger, a man she knows only as Talon in the cave-like sleeper cab of his rig. But no sooner is she introduced to the gryphon world they’re meant to share than she’s violently taken and forced to fight, delicately balancing the human world she knows with the world of the gryphons.
Born and reared a proud warrior, Talon’s life takes the turn of most male gryphons; that of a rogue, existing in both the human world and on the fringes of his adopted Rocky Mountain eyrie. After proving himself to the beautiful but emotionally damaged rogue female in his truck they part ways. He’s haunted by her presence in his heart until they’re reunited in his eyrie. When she’s torn from his arms he’ll stop at nothing to have the woman he now calls Shadow returned to his side.
Born and reared a proud warrior, Talon’s life takes the turn of most male gryphons; that of a rogue, existing in both the human world and on the fringes of his adopted Rocky Mountain eyrie. After proving himself to the beautiful but emotionally damaged rogue female in his truck they part ways. He’s haunted by her presence in his heart until they’re reunited in his eyrie. When she’s torn from his arms he’ll stop at nothing to have the woman he now calls Shadow returned to his side.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2013
33 people are currently reading
858 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Munro
19 books238 followersElizabeth Munro lives in the rainforest on Vancouver Island, Canada with her husband and kids. She has published six books, the three volume Chronicles of Anna, a contemporary time travel/reincarnation fantasy, Wingspan and Skyfall, gryphon shifter romances and her science fiction romance Constant.
She’s a recent fan of Aussie spec fiction and loves finding unusual stories set in common places. And watches too much true crime on TV. She used to ride a crotch rocket, silver with blue flames, a sweet ride. Her summer writing den has a view of the mountain in the background of the train scene in the new Godzilla movie. So far no rumours the view has affected her writing. She has several novels in the works, stay tuned.
She’s a recent fan of Aussie spec fiction and loves finding unusual stories set in common places. And watches too much true crime on TV. She used to ride a crotch rocket, silver with blue flames, a sweet ride. Her summer writing den has a view of the mountain in the background of the train scene in the new Godzilla movie. So far no rumours the view has affected her writing. She has several novels in the works, stay tuned.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 9, 2016
This novel was a lovely introduction to griffons. Munro found herself a niche in the realm of supernatural literature without getting hung up with the mainstream supernatural beings. She also develops a unique mythology to go with her characters. Everything regarding the culture and history of the griffon is laid out for her audience, but she does so in a very entertaining and captivating manner.
Munro’s characters are quite well developed. You get to know the main characters inside and out. They all have their own unique backstory that makes them who they are. I also appreciate the dual personalities that are present within the griffon. Although you can see the difference between the two, they complement each other. No one’s griffon persona is completely off the wall from their human persona.
The Canadian Rockies made the perfect setting for this novel. Not only can you picture multiple eyries within the range, but you can also picture the range itself. Based on this fact, Munro was able to spend less time developing the setting and more time developing her story and characters. Don’t get me wrong, Munro describes some phenomenal scenery in this novel. We also get to know exactly what everyone’s house looks like, as well as the interior of multiple eyries. Munro’s descriptions leave little to the imagination, but in a very good way. By the end of the novel, after reading everything that Munro had set before me, I felt like I had actually visited these places.
As a whole, this was an awesomely unique story. I can honestly say that I’ve never read anything similar before. I thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait to read the sequel.
Please note that I won this book through Goodreads First Reads program.
Munro’s characters are quite well developed. You get to know the main characters inside and out. They all have their own unique backstory that makes them who they are. I also appreciate the dual personalities that are present within the griffon. Although you can see the difference between the two, they complement each other. No one’s griffon persona is completely off the wall from their human persona.
The Canadian Rockies made the perfect setting for this novel. Not only can you picture multiple eyries within the range, but you can also picture the range itself. Based on this fact, Munro was able to spend less time developing the setting and more time developing her story and characters. Don’t get me wrong, Munro describes some phenomenal scenery in this novel. We also get to know exactly what everyone’s house looks like, as well as the interior of multiple eyries. Munro’s descriptions leave little to the imagination, but in a very good way. By the end of the novel, after reading everything that Munro had set before me, I felt like I had actually visited these places.
As a whole, this was an awesomely unique story. I can honestly say that I’ve never read anything similar before. I thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait to read the sequel.
Please note that I won this book through Goodreads First Reads program.
Want to read
April 18, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/18/2023)! 🎁
June 13, 2013
I received this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
The story follows Jenn/Shadow, a human/gryphon woman who falls in love, finds her long lost family, and takes her place as a royal leader of her family's eyrie.
The beginning of the book is very confusing, and not just because of the frustrating writing style and poor editing. The gryphon lore the author bases the story on is very complex and unfamiliar to me, with very little explanation or background provided. It wasn't until about halfway through the book that I felt like I had a grasp of what was happening.
For those, like me, who aren't familiar with gryphons: they are a magical species with almost bipolar personalities consisting of their human persona and their gryphon persona, which are basically people with wings, claws, tails, and big egos? I always though gryphons were half lion/half eagle…maybe that's what they are in this book too, there's not much clarification from the author so I'm not entirely sure. They live in eyries high up in the mountains of western Canada in very tightly ordered matriarchal social structures with the royals at the top and rogues (the story's antagonists) at the bottom. The royal females can do magic but no one else can, and their magic varies depending on individual/family/eyrie? That's another aspect that's not very clear. They have complex mating rituals where during sex he bites her and she cries and then somehow they're mated for life. I didn't really get that part either.
The story begins when Mark/Talon and Jenn/Shadow meet by chance and have a one night stand in the cab of his semi truck. He doesn't tell her that he's actually mating with her for life or realize that she has no clue of who or what she really is, as she and her twin brother were raised in foster homes as humans. The beginning is very "Twilighty," which is the only way I can think of to describe the way that they fall in instantaneous love at first sight with no real insight as to why. Although this is annoying, it gets better in the second half of the novel as more of the gryphon culture is understood.
All in all, the story is interesting and captivating. The horrible editing of the edition I read, however, limits my review to only three stars. Also, the story randomly alternates point of view from Mark/Talon to Jenn/Shadow and it is very unorganized and hard to follow. All of this added together, made me very frustrated while reading, as I am normally a very fast reader and had to slow down just to understand the meaning of some of the sentences.
With some better editing and content revision this book could be fantastic. As is, however, only three for now.
The story follows Jenn/Shadow, a human/gryphon woman who falls in love, finds her long lost family, and takes her place as a royal leader of her family's eyrie.
The beginning of the book is very confusing, and not just because of the frustrating writing style and poor editing. The gryphon lore the author bases the story on is very complex and unfamiliar to me, with very little explanation or background provided. It wasn't until about halfway through the book that I felt like I had a grasp of what was happening.
For those, like me, who aren't familiar with gryphons: they are a magical species with almost bipolar personalities consisting of their human persona and their gryphon persona, which are basically people with wings, claws, tails, and big egos? I always though gryphons were half lion/half eagle…maybe that's what they are in this book too, there's not much clarification from the author so I'm not entirely sure. They live in eyries high up in the mountains of western Canada in very tightly ordered matriarchal social structures with the royals at the top and rogues (the story's antagonists) at the bottom. The royal females can do magic but no one else can, and their magic varies depending on individual/family/eyrie? That's another aspect that's not very clear. They have complex mating rituals where during sex he bites her and she cries and then somehow they're mated for life. I didn't really get that part either.
The story begins when Mark/Talon and Jenn/Shadow meet by chance and have a one night stand in the cab of his semi truck. He doesn't tell her that he's actually mating with her for life or realize that she has no clue of who or what she really is, as she and her twin brother were raised in foster homes as humans. The beginning is very "Twilighty," which is the only way I can think of to describe the way that they fall in instantaneous love at first sight with no real insight as to why. Although this is annoying, it gets better in the second half of the novel as more of the gryphon culture is understood.
All in all, the story is interesting and captivating. The horrible editing of the edition I read, however, limits my review to only three stars. Also, the story randomly alternates point of view from Mark/Talon to Jenn/Shadow and it is very unorganized and hard to follow. All of this added together, made me very frustrated while reading, as I am normally a very fast reader and had to slow down just to understand the meaning of some of the sentences.
With some better editing and content revision this book could be fantastic. As is, however, only three for now.
October 13, 2017
From the prologue, I was stunned and very much eager to see what world would unfold in front of me. Now that I am done with Wingspan, I am eager to move on to Skyfall (you just gotta love it when a movie comes out with your stuff in it - but it's not your stuff).
The GOOD - the setting of the world and the initial insertion into the story. Elizabeth put the hooks into you and your hand just moves, ever so naturally to the next page.
I was also impressed with the establishment of the MC. I can identify with her and I feel for her from the very start.
the author also does an excellent job of what I will call World Construction and Insertion. These winged creatures have their own EVERYTHING! While their dens might nor be as posh as most apartments, it serves their needs and the author creates a very solid line between the human world and gryphon world.
The NOT So Good - call me old-fashioned, but when I'm reading anything with an element of fantastical storytelling to it, there is a disconnect when I am reading it in Third Person / Present Tense.
The manuscript is in need of an edit. Aside from the typos which you find in every book out there, I found a few places where the wording felt awkward and it was unclear what the author was trying to say.
Bottom line - I am hooked and I am looking forward to reading Skyfall!!!
The GOOD - the setting of the world and the initial insertion into the story. Elizabeth put the hooks into you and your hand just moves, ever so naturally to the next page.
I was also impressed with the establishment of the MC. I can identify with her and I feel for her from the very start.
the author also does an excellent job of what I will call World Construction and Insertion. These winged creatures have their own EVERYTHING! While their dens might nor be as posh as most apartments, it serves their needs and the author creates a very solid line between the human world and gryphon world.
The NOT So Good - call me old-fashioned, but when I'm reading anything with an element of fantastical storytelling to it, there is a disconnect when I am reading it in Third Person / Present Tense.
The manuscript is in need of an edit. Aside from the typos which you find in every book out there, I found a few places where the wording felt awkward and it was unclear what the author was trying to say.
Bottom line - I am hooked and I am looking forward to reading Skyfall!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2019
I received this book for free from Goodreads Giveaways. An enjoyable tale about a young woman who loses her twin brother in a motorcycle crash. She meets a man who she feels strangely drawn to. They connect and she gets abducted by a strange creature. She finds out she is really a gryphon and a royal gryphon to boot. I really liked this story.
July 20, 2018
Amazing story. It had action, love and a little intrigue.
December 24, 2016
This book makes me sad. Why? Because there's an excellent story here, and little kernels of characters, but they never develop any real depth, and the writing is sketchy, at times abrupt, and generally quite unclear. One is never sure where a thought is going, and I don't mean that in the suspenseful, exciting way, but rather the confusing, muddled way.
And I do mean there's an excellent story. I really wanted it to be good. Sadly, it just never reaches that plateau of good storytelling. Perhaps with experience and some good advice, Monroe will grow as an author. Then she can revisit thirst characters and give them real life.
Adding insult to injury, it's written (mostly) in third-person present tense. I personally can't stand that in and of itself, but to make matters worse, Monroe often lapses into past tense, making for some difficult reading.
And I do mean there's an excellent story. I really wanted it to be good. Sadly, it just never reaches that plateau of good storytelling. Perhaps with experience and some good advice, Monroe will grow as an author. Then she can revisit thirst characters and give them real life.
Adding insult to injury, it's written (mostly) in third-person present tense. I personally can't stand that in and of itself, but to make matters worse, Monroe often lapses into past tense, making for some difficult reading.
January 3, 2014
Great story and really long but.........
I loved this book. The creation of these creatures is pretty original and really imaginative. I only noticed a few typos, and considering the size of the thing that's impressive. My only problem here is that it's written in the present tense, something that most authors don't do and it took me some time to get used to. Because of this, I got lost several times in parts of the story and had to go back and re-read. Other than that, this book is one of my favorite recent reads and since it was free that's even better. I do highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in shifter stories.
I loved this book. The creation of these creatures is pretty original and really imaginative. I only noticed a few typos, and considering the size of the thing that's impressive. My only problem here is that it's written in the present tense, something that most authors don't do and it took me some time to get used to. Because of this, I got lost several times in parts of the story and had to go back and re-read. Other than that, this book is one of my favorite recent reads and since it was free that's even better. I do highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in shifter stories.
April 9, 2013
This was just a tremendously easy read and an exciting story. I was asked if I wanted to buy her book because I had bought one before so it wasn't a lot and I did. I'm glad I did. I had a few hours to kill on Sunday and stayed up late to find out how Jenn and Mark turned out. I love the gryphon world she made. Her transition between points of view was very easy. She's just a really good writer and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this. My wife grabbed my Kindle when I was finished and started chewing through it too.
October 7, 2013
This review is my personal opinion and not necessarily true for other readers. If you are thinking about reading this book do not let this review sway you too much.
First of all I want to say that I thought it had poor writing and was also very confusing as to what was happening.
Although, I did enjoy the new concept of gryphons. The love story was also okay but it seemed somewhat unrealistic.
That is why I gave this book three stars. If the author had just spent a little bit more time editing and revising, this book would have easily gotten five stars.
First of all I want to say that I thought it had poor writing and was also very confusing as to what was happening.
Although, I did enjoy the new concept of gryphons. The love story was also okay but it seemed somewhat unrealistic.
That is why I gave this book three stars. If the author had just spent a little bit more time editing and revising, this book would have easily gotten five stars.
September 13, 2013
I won this book (free) thru Goodreads and I was soooooo happy I did! I loved this book and can't wait for book 2! After years of feeling alone, Jenn unexpectedly finds someone who could make that hurt go away. This is when Shadow is born and her coming of age helps Jenn find what she's always wanted. Family. Friends. Home.
February 6, 2017
Awesome
I really enjoyed this start of the series and if this anything to go by the series can only get better. From one frying pan into another and learning her past the heroine is perfect. Loved it and definitely recommend it to others.
I really enjoyed this start of the series and if this anything to go by the series can only get better. From one frying pan into another and learning her past the heroine is perfect. Loved it and definitely recommend it to others.
October 23, 2016
Good read
Good read
excellent characters. good story. I would have lied to read more about Terry. The first meeting between Talon and Shadow was a bit abrupt. I would have liked a bit more on that.
Good read
excellent characters. good story. I would have lied to read more about Terry. The first meeting between Talon and Shadow was a bit abrupt. I would have liked a bit more on that.
April 26, 2013
I got this book in a goodreads giveaway and I was stunned at how good it was. I can't wait for the next one to come out.
October 30, 2013
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. It was an interesting read, I hadn't read a book about gryphon/humans before. Entertaining and the author obviously did a lot of research!
Want to read
May 2, 2013This sounds so completely horrible that I HAVE to read it.
Read
March 29, 2017If you haven't picked up your copy, Wingspan is free on Instafreebie until April 30, 2017. Available in mobi, epub and pdf.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews