The Fast and the Furies: a paranormal shifter romance

by Luna Joya

Nolan Bankston isn’t just a cocky gunslinger with a badge and secrets tangled up in my family’s worst tragedy. He’s a wolf shifter and my fated mate. No way this will end well.

Three years ago, a rogue wolf shifter slaughtered me and my family. I swore a blood oath to serve an immortal Fury straight out of mythology in exchange for a second chance at life and brutal vengeance against anyone involved in my family’s murder.

Nolan, a wolf shifter who thinks he’s the gods’ gifts to women, needs my help. Only he’s more than a marshal—he was the best friend of the dead wolf who murdered my family. Except he has proof the real killer is still alive and here in Syn City.

I’m a mortal Fury, a divine dealer of execution for crimes that must be avenged. Even if the signs point to the killer being my fated mate.

A Steamy Enemies-to-Lovers Romance with a Murder Mystery, A Wolf Shifter Cop, The Mortal Version of a Mythological Fury, Wings, Action, and Roller Derby

Genres: Romance, Fantasy

247 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2023

About the author

Luna Joya writes steamy romances that are "wickedly delightful" (Publishers Weekly).

The "delightfully devious" Luna writes "action-packed paranormal romantic thrillers, singing with magical power and humming with sensuality that will leave readers breathless." (InD'Tale Magazine). A survivor of traumatic brain injury with steel body parts, Luna lives in SoCal with her combat veteran husband and their two-pound terror of a rescue pup.

Reviews

[Heather Kruczek · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a page turner! I certainly lost sleep because I wanted to finish this. The Fast and the Furies is the third in the Syn City Shifters series, but can be read as a standalone. It has some spice, romance, mystery, and action! I didn't read the prior two books, but I didn't feel like I was missing out, as the author provided a nice short background of Dottie & Chase, and Kiva & Stone. It didn't detract from Nolan and Sadie's story, but gave the reader an understanding of how Dottie and Kiva ended up as Sadie's Fury sisters. Great paranormal romance read; worth the read!

The story follows Nolan, a wolf marshal, who is assigned to a case of a string of shifter murders, which Nolan believes is connected to the horrid murder of his brother, his fiance, Hazel Tucker, and her family. The new murders take him to Syn City, where Sadie Tucker is a roller derby star, and a mortal Fury, reincarnated after her murder. When Sadie turned 15 in her first life, Nolan went from brother figure to knowing they were mates; unfortunately, Nolan was 8 years her senior and couldn't act on it. He continued to push her away, which confused Sadie. After the massacre of the Tucker family and Nolan's brother, Nolan was the first on the scene. It's been 3 years since Sadie's murder and Nolan needs her help in identifying clues about her killers. Nolan is met with anger and hatred from Sadie as he steps back into her life, but after one drunk night of some love potion, they finally kiss, partially opening their mate bond. The two go down a whirlwind of locked memories, chaos, and accidents in an effort to find the murderers in a matter of days.

I received a free copy of this book via City Owl Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Megan (BookWorldFox) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fast and the furies is book 3 of a series and can be read as a standalone. This story was a page turning mystery that kept me captive until I was at the end and wondering where the time went. The characters in this novel were engaging and a delight to get to know as the story progressed. Nolan has been a Marshal ever since he was a teenager devoting his life to solving crime and protecting innocents. What he hadn’t prepared himself for was the brutal murder of his brother and his mates entire family. With one dead shifter and four dead humans with one missing no one wanted to get their hands dirty and covered up the scene placing Nolan’s brother in the villains seat. Determined to clear his brother’s name and stop the grizzly murders that begin cropping up with the same MO Nolan pours himself into work. That is until he finally gets his hands on the case he’s been after for years, a case that leads him to the one person he never thought he’d see again. Sadie Tucker is a fury but she wasn’t always, she was once a witch who was murdered and offered a second chance to avenge her own death and that of her family. Together the two unravel the murder mystery and a few mysteries of their own. Some spice in this Fated Mates story. Great for anyone who loves a good paranormal murder mystery with a splash of romance. I couldn’t put the book down and cannot wait for the next in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dcw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating is 4 1/2 stars. Coming in with reading this third book of the series without the first two beforehand, I was somewhat at a disadvantage but the movement of the story brought enough background that I caught up. Sadie is now a Fury which means she had to die first and get brought back in order to enact vengeance for her death and her family’s. Nolan was the brother of another who had gotten killed in the massacre and the fiancé of one of Sadie’s sisters. The brother was blamed for the entire atrocity. Nolan was a marshal determined to find the guilty, sure that it was not his brother. There are many entities involved in this tale. Some are shifters, some humans and some other worldly beings. It took a little while to sort them all out as it was my first intro to them but easy enough as the story progressed. I thought it a bit repetitious in the retelling of Sadie’s family’s killing and would have appreciated less reiteration. For me, the book took off about three-fourths of the way into it and drew me quickly to the ending. I recommend this book but also recommend reading the previous ones before doing this if possible.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have missed this world; I didn’t realize how much until I got to immerse myself in it again. This time we follow Sadie, the last of her triad’s sisters to be reunited with her mate. If you thought the previous couples had a rocky road to happiness, they had nothing on this pair. Fated mates or no, Sadie and Nolan sure seemed like they hated each other. It was a shame to waste all that passion on such negative emotions. I was really glad to see these two finally working out their differences and learning to value the connection between them. Their story also wraps up an arc I didn’t realize was happening in the background of the series. That made me sad at the prospect that this could be the end, but I’m happy to discover that it sounds like there are more Syn City shifters on the horizon.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book from start to finished, I could not put this book down. Nolan lost his brother and his brother’s family, someone murdered them but made it look like a murder and suicide. But he knew better. Also Nolan’s fated mate was changed into a Fury on that day so she is the only witness. Sadie Tucker does not remember who killed her family but she wants revenge. She is living in Sun City and is a Roller Derby star. Nolan’s secret is keeping him and Sadie apart but fate will intervene. There is someone killing shifters, all who are killed are important to the pack alphas. Nolan and Sadie will work together to find out who is causing the panic and chaos. I was surprised when the murderers are found out and the characters involved. A really good ending! I received an advanced copy and the views and opinions are my own.

[Space Station Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly, my favorite part of this book wasn't the romance--if you hate the 'mating bond' trope, stay clear--but the use of mythology, particularly the idea of the Furies as women back from the dead to seek revenge on their killer(s), to truly upend a social order. Also, besides the female protagonist being a Fury, the male protagonist is a Wolf shifter marshal, part of the establishment. That contradiction, and how the characters deal with it, is well borne out. Plus, love all the creative uses of mythological creatures and divinities and how they're reinvented in this world where we see mostly urban but also rural settings, and glimpses of all the different shifter cultures--never heard of mountain lion or rabbit shifters before!

[Bookish Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great paranormal romance series! I have loved following each fury as she gets her revenge and leans into her new sisterhood. I’ve been so excited for Sadie’s sorry and it does not disappoint! Nolan is a shifter and a Marshal and has been trying to solve the godly murder of his brother, his fiancée and her entire family. When the trail leads Nolan to Sadie sparks light and so does their connection. There is spice and mystery and all the intrigue you want in a paranormal romance. I have loved the original idea of the roller derby Fury and the women being able to get revenge! A great series I definitely recommend! I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

[Crystal Lobetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadie was a witch who was killed along with her whole family. She ends up as a Fury so that she could have vengeance on the wolf who killed her family. Nolan is a police officer who thinks he is Gods gift to women. The evidence points to Nolan's brother as the killer and Nolan is trying to prove that it wasn't him. For being fated mates it was like they hated each other at first. Definitely recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revenge At Last

Sadie died and came back as a Fury, but she doesn’t remember who killed her and her family. Nolan was there, at her family’s crime scene, just like he’s been as a family friend, but this time with a vow for vengeance. Years later, they’ve both changed, but the same killers are on the loose. I loved this story, with all it’s red-hot pain, golden flirty-ness and intense danger. This series has been a blast to read, with the intensity ramping up in every book. A fantastic action-packed read.

[ajscenic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great story in the series.
This centres around Sadie and her mate Nolan.
This is a super plot that keeps you engrossed from start to finish.
You are treated you a real love story, with a dash of vengeance stirred in!
I loved this story and highly recommend it.

[Seara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good! At first it was a little hard to get into, but then I really enjoyed it! I can't wait for the next one to come out!!

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young love crushed, fated mates, betrayal, death, and revenge - what's not to like about this book? Whenever I see Ms. Joya's books, I know I am going to have a fun ride. I also figure I'm going to experience a bit of heartbreak because she seems to really enjoy death and betrayals. She delivers again in spades with this book. This is the 3rd in the series and can be read as a standalone.

To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.



*provided by NetGalley