Christine Feehan's novel, "Leopard's Wrath," is the latest exhilarating story in her exquisitely written leopard's series. This novel is as exciting and thrilling as the previous books.. I love these ferocious Russian amur leopards and those of the Amurov family. Former defectors from the most violent and blood-thirsty lairs, this book centers on Mitya Amurov, cousin to Timur and Fyodor Amurov.
Mitya has lived a hard and dangerous life and he and his cousins are in the U.S. and stalked by Mitya's violent and vengeful father lazar. Mitya has given up any hope of a life of peace or a family of his own, he is dedicated to the protection of Fyodor and his mate, Evangeline. Mitya is recovering from being severely wounded when he stepped in front of bullets meant for Fyodor.
The heroine, Ania Dover, is a young woman forma loving family and following the suspicious deaths of her grandparents and illness of her father, Ania is running the family business of detailing and driving luxury cars for wealth clients. however, Ania is also a woman on a mission that she has been training herself for the past three years, and her laser focus is on her mission not on a relationship with a dangerous leopard shifter.
Unbeknown to Ania, she is coming into her first life cycle, she suspects that she's a shifter since father is one, and her leopard is introduced as Jewel. Jewel is a frisky little minx but also protective of Ania. Though jewel accepts her mate she is scoping out other male leopards and refuses to fully emerge because she thinks to protect Ania from Mitya and his scary mean leopard, Dymka. It will take a lot of persuasive communication and action for Jewel and Ania to trust their mate.
I loved Ania, she was a beautiful and determine young woman who took it upon herself to run her family business while caring for her ailing father and teaching herself to become a sharp and accurate sniper. She was confident as well as gracious and compassionate. She stood up for herself when Mitya was a little too overbearing yet she was willing to compromise when he listened to her and talked to his leopard, who was causing some trouble with his demanding ways.
Despite the pain and darkness that Mitya was raised in, he maintains his core of humanity by wanting to be better. Ania reaches something that is buried deep inside him and she feels the empty spaces with hope and light. I loved these two as a couple because they each relied on the other's strength, Ania sniper skills saved Mitrya's ass more than once.
All is not as it seems though in the Leopard world, however, as there is an insidious plot to turn friends against friends and playing on the suspicions and mistrust of the outsider Russian shifters. So-called evidence has been subtly planted to through shade on the bussing partners ships between the Russian shifters and their new friends, Jake Bannaconni, Drake Donovan ( and his security company) , and Joshua Tregre. There was even some question of the loyalty of my beloved young leopard Jeremiah! I liked the introduction of the new leopard families, the Carusos and Anwars, but I am leery of both because of some of their actions and behaviors. It will interesting to see who is actual friend or foe in later books.
But on a comforting note, it was wonderful to touch base with the other amur shifters and their mates, Evangeline and Ashe and it was heart-warming that Ania was so warmly welcomed and embraced by the other two women. I cannot wait for Evangeline's twins to be safely born. Despite all the danger that surrounds the shifters, the bonds of family and community are their saving grace. Excellent work Ms. Feehan, looking forward to the next leopard book!