Beasthood

The Hidden Blood Series #1

by A.Z. Green

The bloody, raw meat was tantalizing her; calling to her. She hated it and yearned for it all at once.
Stop, she ordered. What are you doing?!
So hungryyyyy, snarled a primal voice deep within her.
Don’t you dare! she screamed back.
But the primal hunger ignored her pleas and took over her body, forcing her rational voice deep within the crevices of her mind.


What would you do if you discovered you weren't human? That you turned into a bloodthirsty monster against your will?
What if your instincts, emotions and desires were torn between your own and the dark, dangerous animal lurking inside of you?
If it could make you yearn for someone you shouldn't, make you say and act in ways you wouldn't and overwhelm your whole existence?
If everything you'd ever known about your life was a lie?

In a world where a deeply hidden community is swathed in mystery, deadly secrets, betrayal and murder, Jaz Barker struggles to fight against the dangerous Beast within her and the emotions and desires it thrusts her way.

When tensions ride high and people she cares about are put in danger, she will have to decide how much of her newly awakened animal-side she's willing to let in.

And if it is worth the risk...

Genres: Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Werewolves, Young Adult, Horror

390 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 22, 2013

About the author

A.Z.Green was raised up north in Derbyshire, UK, flew the nest aged sweet sixteen with her beau and eventually settled down south near the sea. Despite being mum and wife, she still acts like a kid and appreciates those moments when she can hide away to escape reality, either by reading her fantasies, or writing them.

You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beasthood is book one in The Hidden Blood Series by A.Z. Green. This is the first book by Ms. Green and wow, is she off to an amazing start! It is a very interesting and different look into the werewolf or shifter world, their laws, their community, their relationships. I was gripped immediately by the prologue. Wow! And the rollercoaster didn’t let up until the final page.

Jasmine Barker had a good, happy life with friends she adored and parents that loved her. But everything changed that night. The night she woke up covered in blood. She thought it was a dream. But it felt so real. And where did all the blood come from? And ever since then, she is afraid to close her eyes. The nightmare is always there. She is forced to go to therapy but that isn’t helping. She can’t talk to her friends about it. And then, all of a sudden, an Aunt she never knew existed comes into her life claiming to have been estranged from her father and that they have finally reconciled. She offers to take Jaz away for a vacation. That getting away will surely help. But this is one vacation that most definitely didn’t turn out the way she thought it would.



Jaz is taken to Deer Creek. She is basically locked in a room and held prisoner. They claim its just until they can explain to her who and what she really is. That she was adopted. That her blood parents used to be part of this community. That she has another side to her, a side that is beyond her wildest imagination. That she is really a were, a beast.



This book is full of twists and turns, of hidden agendas and traitors. But also strength, acceptance and even the possibility of love. I enjoyed watching Jaz as she first fought and then slowly accepted what she was. She was strong and brave, even with all she was forced to handle. I am still not completely sure what they are, if it’s a classic werewolf or a form thereof. But, I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout, wondering who she could trust, what would happen next.

And of course we have the strong, sexy pack leader, Nik Driver. There is a connection to Jaz’s family that will shock you. And there is a strong attraction between Nik and Jaz. Could she be the possible mate to the pack leader?

This book was fast paced and intense. I loved every minute of it. Thank you so much to A.Z. Green for allowing me to read this for an honest review. I can’t wait for the next book.

[Cora Tea Party Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

It says something that the un-edited version of this gets a solid four stars, don't you think? So look out for my review of the edited version in a few months.

This has been sat on my kindle, staring at me, for a few months. I was a little wary - werewolves and the such are usually not my cup of tea unless they are of the Parasol Protectorate ilk - so I kept putting it off. But oh my, AZ Green does them so well. If they're even werewolves. I'm sure they're not, but they are a were-something. This story is unique and engaging.

Right from the start, this engaged me. There was a squiffy scene when Jaz is at her aunt's therapy session that threw me a bit as perspectives changed, but a slower re-read of the page clarified it for me.

I guess what I liked most about this was the writing style. I was reminded of my own and it made this easy to read, comfortable to read. I loved the descriptions, the turns of phrase. I loved the way Jaz's thoughts were presented. She felt like a normal girl.

It was a shiny, black Mercedes but that was as far as her knowledge about cars could gather.

I could identify with her most of the time, even though she was in the middle of this fantastical situation, fighting an inner battle with herself and feeling at war with those around her.

She was stunned. After the way she'd viewed this place. Her prison, her hell. It was strange to see something so innocent as children playing.

The characters are complex - just when you think you have one figured out then BAM! You're smacked in the face with a frying pan of unexpected complexity. It keeps you on your toes and suspicious of every character and their motives, making almost every twist and turn a surprise.

The pace is excellent too. It undulates naturally as the story progresses and sometimes is so fast, sop exhilarating, that you can't put Beasthood down. But never, not once, is it overwhelming. It's just right.

I will admit there are a few errors in this story - the odd misspelled word or misplaced bit of punctuation. But it didn't detract much from the story and this is in the process of a thorough edit. I will be re-reading this once the edit is finished as it's that good it deserves a re-read.

I can't wait to re-read this and read the next one.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Beasthood is a book that grabs you from the very start, and doesn't let go. I read the prologue, and I was hooked, because I could tell that I would love this story. Beasthood had some very interesting world building, I felt that the whole storyline was rather original. I was especially pleased with the description of the appearance of the Weres. I think that in the beginning of the book too many characters were introduced too fast, and I was a little confused. Although that didn't last long because all of my confusion was cleared up pretty quickly.

I loved the main character Jaz, she is a strong individual, which is something I value both in real life and in books. The mistrust Jaz has for her pack is spot on with the way she was treated in the beginning, I'm really glad that she didn't just fall right into step with the rest of the pack. A.Z. Green does a great job portraying the animal side of Jaz warring with her human side. The character's reactions were rather accurate for their personalities. There were definitely parts of this book where I gasped out loud, and parts where the suspense was so much that I was up much later than intended. The ending of this book left me with so many questions, I hope the next book in the series comes out soon!

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Click on Banner to Enter! OPEN INTERNATIONALLY!

Do you read the prologues in a book or do you skip right to chapter one? Let me tell you, if you miss this one, you WILL miss a classic “hook” into what follows. Jaz has a nightmare that feels real, even manifests itself as real in an eerie way. Is she losing her mind? Will therapy help? Enter the aunt she has never met, her father’s sister, who offers to take Jaz away for some rest and relaxation, to a “spa.” Instead she is held prisoner, treated brutally and told she is NOT human and “they” are trying to “help” her. If not human, what is she? Why should she trust these people who keep her chained, defenseless and naked. They have poked prodded and examined her, violating her body, all “for her own good.” Oh, and Jaz had a twin sister, who was murdered, along with her unborn child and it happened exactly as her dreams had shown her. Can she trust the pack leader, the father of her sister’s baby? He can be ruthless and cold one minute and warm and caring the next. Jaz can’t even process what is happening around her, but down deep, she knows the truth, after all, she had her own secrets that make her a target for death. Her attraction, the love/hate thing she has with Nik is intense, very intense. What is the mystery behind who killed Jaz’s sister? Is there a traitor in their midst? Who is just waiting on the sidelines to make his move and bring an end to Nik’s pack? Enemies and betrayal are everywhere. Yet Jaz finds a confidant who has her back, no matter what, who would die for her. Will Jaz find her place in a life she never knew existed? Will she find love with Nik? Will we find out who the dark enemy is, more important, will the foe be vanquished?

Beasthood by A. Z. Green is NOT one of those light and fluffy cookie-cutter dark paranormal romances. You will not flash through this tale. It is one of those stories that, the more you savor its flavor, the more subtleties you will pull out of it. What may seem chaotic at one moment becomes clearer as each layer is folded back and all of the complex pieces and players come together. Ms. Green has created her own style of writing that will wrap around your brain and pull you into each scene, no matter how dark or how tender. She has taken a well-travelled road and claimed a piece of it as her own. Her tale will make you uncomfortable while peaking your curiosity to this unique group of paranormal creatures that are unlike any you have read about before. Did I mention you will love Jaz’s character, her intense strength of will, her desire to survive, her colorful dialogue, both mental and verbal? She has some rough edged thoughts she is not afraid to share, love that girl!

How does an author build the promise of a fascinating, dark series? A. Z. Green started with a firm foundation, filled with vivid details, a plot that never allows the reader to become overconfident that they have it “all figured out.” She added a large cast of characters that each fit into place in their own way, some more important than others, yet the sheer number indicates how large her world can grow.




I received a review copy from A. Z. Green in exchange for my honest review.

Series: The Hidden Blood Series
Publication Date: May 22, 2013
Publisher: A.Z.Green
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Number of Pages: 390
Available from: Amazon

[Cheryl Duval · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a real page turner. I loved it! The prologue of Beasthood grabbed me right away and set the tone for what was to come. This isn't the typical werewolf story. There is an entirely different world presented to us as to how they live and work as a community. We learn about their traditions and beliefs.

Jaz, the main character, was scared, angry and confused by what happened to her. She didn't know who to trust or what she was to become. I enjoyed watching her evolve and become stronger and more courageous. I really liked her. She could hold her own.

Nik, on the other hand, I'm still not sure about. He needs to do what is right for the pack but some of his decisions confused and frustrated me. He seems to be holding back too much, I think he needs to take a step back and let Jaz in more. I feel he could have done more to help Jaz with her transition even if he thought she wanted no part of him.

The story is well written with very visiual details. I could picture the community and the characters. The characters were well developed and I wasn't sure who I could trust and I like that in a book, it keeps the story interesting.

This story really worked on my emotions - fear, anxiety, frustration, anger. I was very emotionally invested in the characters and the story. The most disappointing thing is that there is not yet a sequel, I was all set to buy the next book. I need more! I loved the book and highly recommend it.

[Ivan Amberlake · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEASTHOOD Review

I had a great time reading Beasthood by A.Z. Green. I had no idea what to expect from this book before I started reading it, but after the Prologue and a few chapters I knew it would be an enjoyable read.

Jaz, the main character, is tormented by a nightmare where she has a miscarriage. All of a sudden, an aunt she’s never known arrives at her place and takes her away from her parents. Jaz finds out she’s been kidnapped, and she has to go through terrifying ordeals before her kidnappers inform her of her true identity, and tell her she had a twin sister Lora who died after giving birth to a stillborn child.

Jaz learns about the Were world she knew nothing about, and soon she’s pulled into a dangerous game as a possible mate for Nik Driver, the Leader of Deer Creek Pack. There is a traitor within their group who assists the neighbouring rival pack, and no one knows who he/she is. I had several possible suspects throughout the book—my list was changing constantly—but I still didn’t figure out who the traitor is as the author didn’t reveal the one.

A.Z. Green has crafted an impressive manuscript with a cast of memorable characters that are easy to relate to. Jaz is without a doubt my favourite character. She’s brave, passionate, hard-to-intimidate, and still vulnerable. Nik Driver is quite a mysterious, but still likable character. There are a few scenes in the book where they argue heatedly, and Jaz is not sure whether she loves him or not, and also trying to deny her feelings for Nik because of Lora. I must say I’ve enjoyed those scenes immensely. The book is also abundant in action scenes and fights, which makes it a real page-turner.

Beasthood is written in the omniscient point of view where the author provides the readers with the thoughts and feeling of the main characters, giving a much broader view of what is happening in each scene. There is a lot of detailed description of the surroundings and main and minor characters, which shows that the author has a clear picture of what and who she writes about. I’m sure Beasthood will greatly appeal to Young Adult and New Adult readers. I look forward to reading Book 2 in the series.

[Carrie (Book Fairy) Fort · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite Line “Being a 'potential mate' was something rather different and much more complicated. It was when two people had the potential to become like one person, knowing each other's moods and feelings in a way no one else could. Being aware of their presence in a crowded room was just one example. If they were sad or angry, their mate would sense it to a point of feeling the emotion themselves.”

“Don't let your fear hold you back, Jaz.”

“But I feel like I could not live... if you weren't in my life.”

“Those beautiful, green-blue eyes that change colour like they're bewitched, and look deep into my soul, making me see my true self. Right now, I don't like what I see.”

“I'm waiting for the piece of shit to crawl out from under his rock. If it is who she said it is, then I'll be there to kick the throne from beneath his filthy, lying, murdering backside.”

This book was so like books I love and so different and made me like it more! Jaz had a traumatizing night and her family thought she was crazy. She wasn't crazy she is something more! Something that can be pretty scary but Driver the alpha of the pack helps her through it.
I've always loved any kind of shifter book and this one is something different! Driver is an amazing alpha and when he sees Jaz everything in him stills. These shifters aren't like your normal shifters. In my mind they look more like the wolf man then shifter. I can't wait to see how this series continues. Someone is betraying this pack and I am dying to know who it is! I have my ideas but I don't know if I'm right.

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review

FOUR BEAST FAIRIES

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 2 out of 5]

**Long, slightly spoilerish review**

I was really hoping to like this novel. The idea seems promising and it has an interesting cover. However, despite a lot of wonderful potential in the story and characters, the whole thing fell completely flat for me...even worse, I actively disliked a lot of it. Partly because I spent at least half of it confused and partly because I spent most of the second half becoming increasingly annoyed at certain aspects of it.

But before I get into all that I want to stress that this book has a lot of great reviews. So, it's obvious that some readers love it. It's possible that the book and I simply didn't mesh and another reader would enjoy it as much as I didn't.

For starters, editing was an issue. According to Amazon, this is a re-edited edition (I even checked to ensure I was reading the most recent one.) but there were still a lot of missing commas, almost uninterpretable formatting around dialogue (so it's hard to tell when speakers change), and misused or just not quite right words.

I hate to say this, but the writing felt amateurish. Not necessarily the mechanics of it, an editor could have helped, but I mean the pacing and fleshing out of the story. For example, the actual narrative style was inconsistent. Green utilised both first person diaries and 3rd person storytelling, which is a fair stylistic choice, but occasional first-person thoughts thrown in just confused matters.

The way the POVs were so random and uncontrolled was also a big part of the reason. It wasn't just head-hopping, which is bad enough, but it felt like the POV just went where ever the author happened to glance, with no forethought. For example, the POV would shift to someone on the other end of a telephone conversation for one thought by someone who had never previously been given a POV and then back again. It's completely jarring. Plus, there was absolutely no character development or world-building and the endless internal thoughts were disruptive.

A lot of time was spent relaying day-to-day nonevents, like going to the gym, eating, picnicking, building a barbecue, etc and then important events were just glossed over. For example, we spend chapters and chapters seeing Jaz resist her situation and Driver. Then we're just told weeks pass and they spend time together. No, I want to see them spend time together, see how the frost between them melts.

We're shown a fight between Jaz and Skye, but never the making up. They just are suddenly hanging out again. Also Jaz isn't told she's a werewolf, in fact she pointedly never asks and no one seems to want to tell her until she does. OK. But then Skye just drops it into a conversation all easy like and Jaz doesn't comment or react in any way and then it's used freely after that. I suppose she's supposed to have figured it out at some point.

These are important, pivotal scenes, far more important than the endless details were given about everyone's wardrobe, the exact shape of their lips, hairstyles and such. At one point, several pages were spent describing a kitchen and less than a page of events in said kitchen. The whole focus of the book seems just a little off and, frankly, it felt very much like all the exciting events were left out in lieu of the boring stuff.

It also leapt around a lot and was really hard to follow, especially in the beginning. This did get better as the book progressed. But there is very little explanation given for the hierarchy of the packs/council. I often didn't know who was in charge when. For example, Driver shows up as a...well, a driver when Jaz is picked up. There were hints he's more, but that's it at the time. You don't even get his name until then. He's just "the younger man" at a council meeting. He's bossy, but you don't find out he's the alpha until 30% into the book. So, for a very long time I was left wondering who was in charge. I assumed it was Arik as we'd been introduced to him as the council head (though I didn't know council of what at the time).

My point is that it's very sketchily explained and confusing as hell. There are also a lot of characters who pop in and out with no introduction and I often had no idea who they were. As a further example, it was at least 30% in before I realised Nik was Driver's first name and thus the same person. I spent that whole time wondering who Nik was whenever he was mentioned.

I found a lot of the book either confusing or unbelievable. For example, Jaz was essentially kidnapped and then locked in a room for 3-4 days. During this time, her kidnappers watch her and assure eachother she'd come to trust them and everything would work out. However, despite watching her starve herself because she's afraid the food is drugged, no one even once tries to speak to her, or convince her the food was fine, or explain to her what was happening. Nothing. They just locked her in a room and watch her. How does that make sense?

What's more, it made the whole thing hard to swallow. We're told Driver is very concerned for her, disturbed to see her cry, etc but we see no evidence of this. In fact, this whole first 25% or so of the book feels like nothing more than a hollow sketched out idea, because we're told what people are supposed to be feeling, but see none of it. So ,we have confusing actions that aren't supported by what we're told they feel. Like locking up and not attempting communication with someone you care for.

Then there was the whole hybrid, halfblood, halfbreed thing. I THINK werewolves are born as twins, one is a halfbreed one is a were (maybe) and the weaker usually dies. Or maybe it's what happens when a human and a were breed. I never was clear. But I was certain both of Jaz's parents were full werewolves, she was convinced her sister was a halfbreed and so was she. But with two full werewolf parents I can't figure out how. She should be full werewolf. This is either a plot-hole, too weakly explained or a mystery for a future book. Either way, I was confused.

Then there were just a whole host of personal irritants. The way information and identities were skirted around ("the contact," "the young man," "the older man," "the mature light-haired woman," "his dark-haired source," etc instead of names) was a big one. It felt like the reader was being purposefully kept in the dark. Of course, they often are in books, but you really felt it here and it began to feel manipulative and irksome. Especially when it was carried all the way to the end and the identity of an important character was left untold.

Also obvious questions weren't asked (reference to a pack leader, but not asking who, being told you're not human and never asking what you are instead) and it was a clear ploy to preserve the mystery. It felt like the scaffolding of the story was still showing.

As it happens, I strongly dislike the use of Hollywood comparisons to describe people—Angelina Jolie lips, Chad Kroeger beard, like an older Gwenith Paltrow, like Viggo Mortensen, etc. Part of why I read is to avoid the all-pervasive reach of the visual media. I haven't watched television in over two years. I have no idea what Chad Kroeger looks like and resent the easy assumption that everyone does. What's more, I think it's a lazy way to write characters, like you're using ready-made templates instead of creating something new and original.

Jaz displayed more than a little Too Stupid To Live behaviour. For example, while living on a werewolf commune and being told explicitly not to go in the woods after 11 she then runs right out and does just that. Of course she encountered werewolves and almost died. Or being told a particular jar of herbs is very dangerous and could kill her and then sneaking back to get it. STUPID and this type of stupid puts me right out as a reader

Lastly, the "oh dearest virgin, you are holy" trope annoys me. What the hell does it matter if she's a virgin or not? It was not at all relevant to the story.

So, as you can see, I had a lot of complaints about this book. I probably could have been less longwinded about it in this review, but oh well. I did like that Jaz was described as a size twelve and considered skinny and weak. Being soft and delicate wasn't considered to anyone's benefit. Instead, a woman who was strong and capable was valued. Right on. And Jaz's anger felt real to me. In fact, her frequent outbursts were the most realistic part of the book.

As I said before, there is a lot of potential here. I think it could be worked into a really good story, but the one I just read wasn't.

[Navdha · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you’re searching for a book to read, what is it that makes you pick it up? It’s cover, definitely. Or is it the title? Either way, the first thing you do after picking it up is read the blurb. The blurb is the deciding factor for most of us. But even then if we’re not satisfied, it’s the starting prologue or chapter that makes it or breaks it. Why so picky while choosing a book? Since that very book is going to be our companion during our long traveling hours, during the nights we can’t sleep, during the hours we want to just sit by that favorite place and lose ourselves in a world that is so different from ours and yet one that grows so familiar to us.

When I read the title Beasthood, for some reason I thought it was going to be a rip-off from Beauty and the Beast. But then the cover told a different story. If it was going to be anything like the Beauty and the Beast, wouldn’t it have two people in the cover? Or even if it had only one, wouldn’t that be a beast rather than a girl? I was intrigued, wondering if this time Beauty referred to a guy and Beast to a girl. However, I couldn’t help but chuckle at my own thoughts when I hastily got to the blurb. It definitely does justice to the book. And if for a minute, I had second thoughts about reading it, they were soon replaced after I got to the prologue.

The story kick starts with our MC Jaz having a terrible nightmare which turns out to be an event so traumatic that she finds herself in therapy, while trying to keep up with her normal life, family and friends. The first chapter throws light into Jaz’s life and makes the reader familiar with her character all at once. Jaz’s life is normal, if a little troubled, until that one day her Aunt Erica comes barreling into her life, promising a vacation that would help her feel better and give her a much needed break. Jaz can’t help but feel a little skeptical over her parent’s behavior to her aunt but deciding that she was actually in need of some time out, decides to trust her aunt. Soon enough she finds out what a terrible decision it was.

In the beginning, there are two stories going simultaneously; one, that focuses on Jaz’s journey with her Aunt and a mysterious Driver whom she feels a certain unexplained connection to, and second, which is setup in the past and focuses on a group of people who seem to be discussing Jaz’s fate which leads to the present events. To be honest, it was a little disconcerting switching between two stories and it took me some time to figure out who was who. But as the story unfurls, it becomes evident that Jaz is not just a normal human.

Everything that Jaz faces after her world is set upside down was nauseating and hard to gulp down in the beginning. It felt exceptionally cruel that her captives would do something like that to a person they claimed they wanted to help. The author has done a remarkable job in describing Jaz’s emotions as she comes to terms with her new life and her new capabilities. As for Jaz’s character, she was a really strong headed person who wouldn’t ever go down with a fight. She might be panicked or distressed but she held on and that made me respect her character. After Jaz finds out more about a sister she never knew, the story takes an interesting turn.

The unpredictability quotient of this book is exceptionally high. You don’t know what to expect and there are moments when you find yourself slack-jawed, re-reading a few lines just to make sure that you read it right. The beginning chapters are wholly dedicated to Jaz and her adapting to the new environment and pack. I admit, it was a little slow for my taste, however, I don’t hold many grudges because the author makes up for it with her vivid descriptions and strong characterizations. Every character plays an important role in the story and even though a few might seem pure evil at first, they’re actually not one-dimensional, psychopathic monsters like most villains are. Instead, they are well-fleshed out characters with more to the surface than meets the eye.

There is a lot of action in the second half of the story, be it in the romantic sense or the ass-kicking sense. Jaz continues to struggle with her emotions towards the Pack Leader who happens to be the one guy she doesn’t want to get attached to. (Not that it works.) There is a lot of sexual tension in the air, despite which Jaz and Nik (who’s the male lead btw) don’t throw themselves at each other and respect each other’s personal space. That was something I really appreciated about both the characters. They worked together, got to know each other and developed a friendly relationship which didn’t seem platonic or rushed or insta-lovey-dovey at all. As for the ass-kicking, Jaz turns out to be a bad-ass. The scene in the arena had me sitting on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, hoping that nothing bad happened to the good guys. (Not that my prayers were heard.)

Furthermore, there is the whole suspense of what happened to Jaz’s sister, the looming threat of another leader trying to wipe out Nik, the big fight, the traitor lurking in the sidelines, Jaz’s actual parents, her transformation, her secrets, her acceptance and then revulsion over the Pack dynamics; all wrapped up in the second half. It is too much and it is too good! The cliffhanger! OMG! I wasn’t expecting Nik to be one step ahead but he is and dude, respect! The ending chapters were overwhelming and I still couldn’t get enough of it.

As for the few things that didn’t do it for me? Well, for one, there were too many characters and that led to me not relating to anyone. I usually grow fond of fictional characters but I couldn’t really bring myself to care about Nik or Erica or Fraya, well anyone except maybe Jaz in the beginning. Other thing was how sometimes the story was slow and I was waiting for something exciting to happen. I couldn’t also understand the importance of Jaz’s friends. Are they going to play some role in the coming books or were they just..there?

Anyways, I am actually very excited to read the next book and see how things turn out and who the big bad guy is. My actual rating for this book would be 3.5 stars.

[chucklesthescot · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Updated Review:

*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have since read the book for a second time as a new version of it has been released and it was just as good to go back to it again, so it is one that you could take down from the shelf to read over and over.*

This is a really hard book to classify into a genre. It's not really horror, urban fantasy or paranormal romance but it has shifters, and elements of several genres. Dark fantasy is the best description I think. Not all books can sucessfully bridge several genres at once but this is an example of it being done well. It is very much a character based slow burner where the tension and plot build towards the end so don't expect action packed sequences all through it. That does not mean boring as there is always something happening that takes the story forward. And yes, you will need to read book 2 to get some of the answers!

Let's start with the good stuff! First, the characters. I liked Jaz-feisty, stubborn and scared witness when weird stuff happens to her, which is what you'd expect. We get a lot of what she is thinking, her conflicted feelings, her less than sensible thought processes, so you learn a lot about her as a person. I like that she is flawed and normal and freaking out all the time, given her circumstances. I liked Alf, Ronnie, Skye and the gang a lot and they are well developed so that you care what happens to them as the story progresses. The sequence at the river had my heart in my mouth, especially concerning Ronnie and Alf. I don't want to give spoilers but it was the first time I was seriously worried for any of the gang and that shows that you have bonded with the characters. Fraya is good as the bad girl because she doesn't come across as just evil for the sake of it, she has a history that makes her that way, which I liked. She seems like a complex character and you see quite a few sides to her as the plot develops. Nik is also a complex character. He has to be the tough Pack Leader and have discipline and control, but he is also human and has flaws. There are no perfect characters which adds to the realism of the book cast. You want flawed characters as they are more interesting and it creates interesting conflicts. I like the kidnap scene going wrong, as it shows that even the best plans made by supernatural beings can be royally screwed up.


I liked that the author has done something different with the shifter genre as well, which isn't easy given their popularity. They aren't a bunch of sex mad monsters constantly howling at the moon, mating and fighting, they are people who are different. They talk, they work, they have fun, they show a whole range of emotions. The story flows smoothly though you must pay attention to the first few chapters as the flashbacks go back a full year and if you aren't paying attention, you might get confused. It is well written and when the tension starts building in the last third of the book, it really becomes absorbing. The whole arena scene was pretty nerve jangling as you didn't know what was going to happen next and I was quite upset about what happened to one of my favourites! I was also trying to think through who the traitor was and certain clues were given ie eye colour, that I might need to go back and look at again as I have two suspects in mind. My short term memory is not very good so I can't hold all the info to let me solve the puzzle!

Dialogue is obviously important to the author and a lot of seemingly innocent conversations or diary entries prove important later on so pay attention to detail. Readers who skim will miss the clues and it's fun to try and put the clues together even if you turn out to be wrong. There is also humour in the writing which I enjoy in a dark story.

The bad? Nothing that I would call bad to be honest. It does get off to a slower start than the action packed urban fantasy that I usually read so I was a bit worried that I might not get into it, but that didn't happen so that was good. The author approached me about reading the book, saying she thought I would enjoy it based on my book tastes and she showed good judgement there because I did enjoy it. Like I said it was different from my usual reads but in a good way and I will be interested in reading book 2 for sure. I would recommend this book to fans of dark fantasy, paranormal romance, urban fantasy and shifter stories.

[Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Beasthood' by A.Z. Green was a strange book. It really did have a strong potential to be a good, even great book. The thing is, for me, it was all really confusing. The going back and forth between time and different pov's.. it all somehow became too much. The book was slow and had a lot of information that was hard to remember and even a little unnecessary. And frankly, too long, as well. The book was dragged out too long and so little happened that for me, it became boring and hard to continue to read.

I was constantly thinking of making this book to a 'dnf' book, but i was able to finish it. And i'm glad i did too :) Though if you ask me if it would have read it again? No. Will i continue to read this series? Perhaps, but i'm pretty sure i will just read other reviews for the next book to see what will happen. So for me, the book was simply too boring and too long for my taste.

The characters was okay. Jaz is usually a character i would love. Strong, independent young woman, don't take crap from anyone and has awesome snarky comments. But there too, it became too much. She was too freaking stubborn, and confusing. I really wonder how she menage to live with that brain of her. Don't get me wrong, Jaz was a sweet, innocent woman, virgin even, but she could be so mean to people who were trying to help and protect her. And frankly honest, she was sometimes selfish. All she actually thought of was her own feelings, what she was going through, but not once thinking of how other around her have it too. Like Nik, having had lost his mate and unborn child just a year ago, and now he has to look at her twin, being reminded of her all the time. I feel sorry for him. He was really trying, but Jaz made it so f*cking hard for him. Jaz wasn't able to see think for his prospective, she wasn't able to put herself in his shoes and in his world. And she never once, actually gave him a chance. All she did was blame him.

There was some sexual frustration between Nik and Jaz, we only got one kissing scene. Which was not enough, at all. I needed some streamy hard and wild sex.. . Nik seemed like a great alpha leader. Cruel and brutal, when had to be, but nice and caring when he wanted to be. But i'm a bad-boy kinda girl :P But still, i liked Nik, and with all the hate/cruelty Jaz thrown at him, made me perhaps, love him. But, umm, he was nowhere near my type of guy, with his looks and all, but i can't decide what i think of him..

I have to say that i'm still having some trouble understanding the plot of this book. Like i said, it was confusing... Was it about resisting the beats? The feeling the beast felt, like the attraction Jaz felt for Nik? Was it about Jaz finding out who she was? Which she did early, though didn't believe it right away? Was it love? What was it? I'd be happy if someone actually told me, so i can understand it more.

I do believe that, perhaps if i have read this book on another day, that i would have liked it more. That i simply read it on the wrong day and at the wrong time. Do i recommend it? Yes, cause i actually believe other will like it, but it just wasn't for me at the moment. Will i give it another shot? Perhaps re-read it? I have no idea, though i'm quite curious on what will happen between Nik and Jaz! :) And i do really wonder who 'Black Cloak' is...

Rate: 2/3 stars. Though it'll probably change, cause i can't decide what i think of the book.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal)

[Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, what a prologue! I don’t think I have ever read one like it, and it certainly makes you sit up and pay attention, its short but my word it packs a punch!

The first few chapters, flick between present day with our main character Jaz (I really like her) who has found herself in therapy following a terribly disturbing nightmare a year ago, and the past (around the same time as the nightmare) with a group of unknown people discussing Jaz’s fate. These few chapters were a little disorientating at first and I was struggling to work out who was who, but I thought “no Lou, read these chapters again” and on the second read (having paid attention to the dates at the start of the chapters!) I got it and I have to say it is very cleverly done by the author, these chapters had me trying to put the pieces together to try and work out where the author was going and what had happened and begged me to read on, so I did….

Jaz is immediately likeable, she is sarcastic (love that) and has a faulty brain-to-mouth filter (a bit like my own), some of the things she says or thinks in the book have you really laughing. This book follows her journey through mistrust as she discovers the lies from the people she thinks are her family, little does she know that a lot of what she thinks is real is not and she’s not even the “person” she thought she was, add to that a delicious but moody love interest, although this isn’t your typical romance, and you have a book that sucks you in and doesn’t spit you back out until your finished – ha ha managed that without a spoiler whoop whoop!!

The characters are fabulous I wish I could go into more detail about some of them (one in particular) but it really would ruin the book for you before you read it (you will understand what I mean when you read it), the chemistry between Jaz and “the one I won’t describe” is intense but seriously conflicted, the story is immense and so well thought out and there are many plot twists and things that make you go ooh I hadn’t thought of that.

I love that it is set in England and that I know some of the places mentioned, also I like that the author uses phrases that I would use so for me reading it felt ‘comfortable’ and I really like her writing style. Her character and location descriptions are brilliant and each character really has their own personality that pops out of the page at you.

And then the cliffhanger, you're just about to find out who…………

Book two ASAP please!! :0)

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this book free, in exchange for an honest review*

Jasmine has a secret. A secret she doesn't even know. Ok, maybe more than one secret.

One day her Aunt shows up out of thin air and whisks her away to a Day Spa. Well at least that is what she tells Jaz and her parents. Instead she is taken to a place very different than any she has ever experienced. A place where she learns what she really is and that she had a twin sister; Lora. It is within this Pack that she learns what she is, what they all are and about her secret. We watch Jaz as she goes from fear to acceptance of what she really is. The change is hard for Jaz to swallow, but little by little she does it and understands. She just wants to belong. Deep down that is all she wants.

The characters are well written. Jaz starts off as a smart mouth kid who knows everything. As the book goes we see her mature and understand her rage and anger. Nik, the pack leader is assertive and aggressive when he needs to be, but gives space when space is needed, he had a nice balance. The other cast of characters were good too; Skye, Ronnie, Alf, Fraya, all of them.

The beginning of this book was slow. It took awhile for the author AZ Green to build everything up and explain things to us. The last three quarters of the book is amazing and high action. I will say there were several editing/grammar problems within the book. At times I wasn't sure who was speaking, so I'd reread a few times and then would figure it out.

All in all it's a good book and I am looking forward to the sequel. I need to know what happens to Jaz.

[K.S. Marsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaz is content with her lot in life, she has reasonably normal parents and a small but loyal group of friends.
Even with her severe iron deficiency that leaves her struggling with fatigue and on pills for the rest of her life is ok. The nightmares and regular visits to a therapist means that her life is far from perfect, but Jaz has accepted all of this, and is making the most of her life.
Until she is kidnapped and dragged into a world of Weres and shifters she never knew existed.

I thought this book was fantastic and thought-provoking. Oh, and not for the faint-hearted; if you want a cozy read, go elsewhere.
I realise that I have a habit of giving slightly shorter reviews when I actually like a book, because I'll let you in on a little secret - sometimes I struggle to explain what I like about a book without giving away plot and details, I like the idea of the reader going through the same process as me.
But with Beasthood, Green has given more to like than just the story itself.

First of all, the originality. Yes, this book feels like something original and new in a category that is currently overflowing. There's a lot of love for werewolves, paranormal, and paranormal romance at the moment. But Green throws all that away and doesn't allow herself to be influenced by current trends. This. Is. Original.

I also love how dark this story is. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't class it as a horror, but it feels real. Which is a refreshing change after all the eye-roll-inducing fluffy pieces where girl meets bad wolf, is terrified + fight (a.k.a. sexual tension) = rainbows.
When Jaz is kidnapped, it is a completely terrifying experience. She is drugged and examined, and the whole scene made me sick. At no point does Green romanticise something as terrible as kidnapping.

Jaz is a great character. She's falling into a crazy world, with new politics and rules that she can barely grasp; instead of curling up into a ball crying, she survives with a quiet (sometimes not so quiet!) strength.
Her human moralities and upbringing casts the world of Weres in a very harsh and unforgiving light. She sees them as the monsters they are, and she's in no rush to join them. She is truly repulsed by what's inside of her.

The "romance". Yes, there is the romantic aspect of the "creepy but hot" Driver, a guy that unsettles Jaz and not in a good way. Add the fact that he was involved in her kidnapping, and has the brutish Were morality mind-set (plus some other negative tidbits); you have a very unappealing hero.
There were times that I held my breath, wondering if Beasthood would copy so many paranormal romances where the woman overlooks all the flaws to be so totally in love. All I can say is congratulations on that front; the outcome was more than satisfactory!

The not-so-brilliant bits:
The major issue I had that dropped it a star, was with the flow of the story. The chapters jumped around on the timeline - sometimes I felt for no real reason.
One moment you're with Jaz today; the next you're with her aunt last year. One moment you're with Fraya next week; the next with Jaz "the evening before".
Primarily, I found it hard to work out what day it was. The chapters are titled with "the day before", but it didn't always click with me the day before what, until halfway through the chapter.
I understand the author wants to add a bit of background, and that certain information should only come to light at certain points; but it just broke the flow for me.

Ok, so anyways, this comes out at about a 4-4.5 for a cracking debut... Oh hell, let's round this up to a nice 5. It is a very confident piece for a new author and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!

[Hellvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beasthood opens with a powerful prologue that hits harder than a wrecking ball, leaving the reader wide eyed and slack-jawed.

The Author's writing style is exceptionally descriptive, drawing the reader in with vivid imagery along with fluid dialogue as the story continues into Chapter One where `Jaz', the MC is in the midst of a diary entry which she is writing at the request of her therapist. The diary is a great introduction for Jaz's character, giving an insight into her personality, her thoughts and feelings about both family and friends along with her relationships with them - relationships which have nose-dived sharply since the events of the prologue transpired.

Each event leads smoothly on to the next, keeping the story moving forward at a decent pace - regardless of whether the chapter is action packed or more conversational and informative in its nature. Each character has clearly defined characteristics and traits which are consistent throughout the story and have obviously been carefully thought out.

Jaz's chapters make up the majority (she is the MC after all), but she doesn't steal all the limelight, as her chapters are woven around those of other key characters, which all connect with the main story line. These chapters written in such a way that they raise questions about the involved characters feelings and motives or, in some cases, where their loyalties lie.

As far as the setting and world-building is concerned, its different elements are described in vivid technicolour detail allowing the reader to easily create a mental image without being bogged down with filler and fluff. Dialogue and spelling along with certain terms and phrases are quintessentially and unmistakably British - it's bloody marvellous!

Jaz's `kidnapping' (as she refers to it) and subsequent integration into the world she is soon to become a part of is incredibly sudden. At first, it seems cruel until more information is revealed and it becomes clear that Jaz could become a real danger to both herself and others. Considering the alternatives, the `kidnapping' was a necessary evil.

Throughout the integration, she undergoes subtle mental and physical changes in addition to developing feelings for another which she fights to deny, though it seems inevitable. There are some brilliantly subtle bits of humour tucked into the story line alongside hints and clues about the plot itself (`Wolfing down a steak' being one such example).

The community Jaz has become part of - to me, at least - feels like it has two very different sides. On the surface there is a wholesome self sufficient community for Jaz's 'kind', working together for the good of each other and to protect the land that has been theirs for generations. The other side is almost cult-like and sinister in a "You're free to leave at anytime, but you'll be a danger to the people you love... They're safer with you here..." kind of way as if people think they have free will, but are really being guided towards a preferred outcome. Great pains were taken and personal sacrifices were made in order to hide Jaz from this community for so long.

As Jaz discovers who - or what - she is, key members of the group discover they have a traitor in their midst who seems hell bent on destroying not only the community, but also its members and they won't let anything or anyone get in their way...

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that once you start reading you have a hard time putting it down. This is the first book in the series. I can't believe how action packed this book is . The first part of the book is where we meet Jasmin. A young woman, who had it all , a loving family that adored her and some great friends that were always there for her. Until the day that she woke up covered in blood . Wondering what the hell happened , thinking it was a dream she couldn't figure out where all the blood came from. Scaring her so badly that she was so scared to even close her eyes. She didn't want to fall asleep because of the dreams. She couldn't tell her family or eve her friends about what was going on. She thought she was going crazy until the day her aunt showed up . An aunt that know one knew of. She tells everyone that she was estranged from Jaz's father and they have put the past behind them and reconciled . Which is all well and good for the family. Then she offers to take Jaz with them on a vacation. Which Jaz thinks might help her with her nightmares . Well how wrong she was , this vacation was anything that was expected at all .

Once at Deer Creek poor Jaz is basically being help prisoner in a room. Her aunt claims its for her own good , until they can explain to her about her past and what she is. They tell her that she was adopted and that her parents were a part of the community of Deer Creek.

As she finds out what is lurking inside her. She meets Nik Driver , the sexy hot alpha of the pack . There is a strong, connection between the two of them . But, Nik is connected to Jaz's family in some way. I am really thinking that Jaz could possibly be Nik's mate . Crossing fingers cause they are hot together and I mean hot. Nik is yummy too , trust me you will want him when you read him.

This book was a fast read for me , once I started I couldn't put it down until I was finisher. There are so many twists and turns in this book. The author has a way of letting us go one way and bam we turn in a different direction all together. Trust me there are hidden agendas and mystery and traitors out for no one but themselves. But there is also a lot of good, acceptance strength and maybe a possibility of that one true love . The way Jaz slowly comes to terms with what she is, watching her grow into her new life, she becomes a very strong person. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. You will fall in love with Nik and Jaz and what they go through. This is a great twist on the werewolf story I know you will all like . So check her out . I can't wait for book two in the series . The continuation of their story .

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that you have to stop yourself from devouring in one sitting. It is very tempting to do that since 1) the story reads so well and 2) the characters are so well written that you want to know what will happen to them. But I think that taking the time to really delve into this will make it all the more enjoyable and really help you pick up some of the nuances of this fantastic story. I loved the time leaps throughout the novel. Just when you thought you might know everything about what is happening there will be a flashback that that adds depth to current situations or highlights something that will be important later but might not have been on the radar of the primary characters. And the switches work seamlessly, although you do have to pay attention to the time and dates at the beginnings of the chapters to really appreciate them. I think that Jaz and Driver are such strong characters. They are complex, honest, and real. You want to know everything about them and you want to see where they are going and what they will become, both as individuals and in terms of what they might mean to each other. And it is not just the two of them - almost every character that we meet is interesting and layered. So much so that at times I wished that we could just follow the story of each of Jaz’s friends and family members - all would be utterly fascinating. I love the way that the story plays out throughout most of the novel, not rushing moving along at a nice steady pace. Which I think is why I was a little surprised by the ending when everything sort of rushed out. While this was thrilling and had me turning pages like a mad man it also felt disconnected in some way and felt more like the set up to the next novel rather than the end of this one. That said I cannot wait to read the next installment to the series, I know that we have only begun to touch on the real mysteries of this story and am excited to see where it will go! I would gladly recommend this to anyone looking for something new from the supernatural.

[Demelza Carlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A raw shifter story that kept me on edge from start to finish.

I love Green's use of multiple perspectives in this - as opposed to ruining the suspense, switching the viewpoint only builds it. Plus the perspective always shifts just as someone's about to reveal something I'd really like to know...

I admit to skipping over a fair bit of the description, mostly because I didn't need to know as much of the detail to appreciate the story. My imagination simply isn't that vivid, but if you need to know what people look like in a story, this one definitely delivers.

Jaz's personality confuses me a little, I believe because she's so different to her twin, Lora. Lora seemed far more adult at twenty or even younger, as the story does include some flashbacks, than Jaz does at twenty-one. I'd liken her to a sulky teenager in some scenes - but that's simply who and what she is. She has all a teenager's logic and emotional response - but in an adult body and a dangerous one, at that. It certainly makes for a turbulent tale that had me hooked early. Or perhaps I should say she dug her claws in deep and didn't let go...

I don't do spoilers, but I will say this ended with a cliffhanger. Not the unsatisfying kind where a story has no real ending - more a case of the author opening up a fresh can of worms in the final scene, when everything seemed to be resolved for the moment. Now I really want to read the next book in the series.

If you're into raw, intense shifter or werewolf stories, you should read this. And if, like me, you're as inexperienced as Jaz when it comes to shifters and werewolves...you should still read it. It's well worth it.

[Shelly Schulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beasthood is a wonderful urban fantasy book with some great horror/mystery elements to it as well. This is a quick read full of twists and turns and no one is who they say they are. The prologue sets up a great driving plot and also introduces the bit of intrigue and mystery into the story. Jaz is a great character. I like that she’s well developed, has a backbone and frankly doesn’t take too much crap from anyone. What really fuels my slight obsession with this book is the werewolf culture. These shifters are different from others that I’ve read, and I really appreciate that. I like their society and reading about their laws and the way that they act with each other.

There’s a lot going on, but the story doesn’t seem rushed at all. It’s beautifully thought out, paced well and there’s always just enough hinted at to keep me engaged and wanting to read. I didn’t want this book to end, and I’m sorry to say that the second hasn’t been released. I love the scenes between Jaz and Nic and I want more. This is a great fast paced story. It kept me guessing to the end and wanting to keep reading long after it was over.

See other reviews like this one at my blog

I was sent a copy of this book for review. I am not compensated or influenced in any way.

[Kori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say I love it when you get a completely different take on the supernatural. The book definitely does that and so much more. Jaz is the main girl and if you read the prologue to this book you will be hooked to figure her out. By far she is my favorite female character. Her reactions seemed realistic and not over done and being able to read how she processed everything gave me a better understanding and depth to her character.

This is also one of those books where you have to question all the characters because once you think you have them figured out they will completely turn on you!! But that's what makes it so good and keeps you hooked until the last page.

[Amy Lou]

ANNOUNCEMENT

Beasthood, the new edition, will be available on Amazon on the 17th of Feb! Look out for it and update it on your kindles!



Ice (A.Z.Green)

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am one of those readers who want more. I want more emotion, action, suspense, intrigue, humor, love, foreshadowing and the list just goes on…Books are my escape from reality and I want that escape to be filled to the brim with a fascinating place where I make new friends and feel every gamut of emotion. I want authors to show me this world they are creating, not tell me. Do I have high expectations? Hell, yes! Am I Ms. McJudgypants? Maybe.

Every once in a while, you find a book that you become completely absorbed in. Reality is just a notion that lives miles away. The character’s emotions, become your emotions. The book becomes your sole existence. Laundry? What laundry? Beasthood is exactly that kind of book.

What would you do if almost everything you knew about yourself was a lie? This is the dilemma that surrounds Jaz . Kidnapped, her normal life is about to be blown apart. Who is she? And, more importantly, what is she?

“All I can tell you is that more things will happen to you... changes... physical and mental . Like your feet, and your extreme hunger.”

And, then there is Nik. Her kidnapper. Her confidante. Who doesn’t absolutely love possessive, protective, hot alpha males? I felt every single conflicted feeling that Jaz experienced. Her hatred, her confusion, her curiosity and eventually, her lust.

She told herself she didn't care, forgot everything else but the pain and trauma and life-changing knowledge she'd endured these few days in hell, and cried. The sobs were quiet, drowned out mostly by the flowing water. She slid down the wall between the shower and sink until she met the floor. The cool stone soothed her throbbing butt cheek. Her hands shook as she held them over her mouth and she just... let go; releasing everything she'd held back in the room with him. Pressing her hand to her mouth she muffled the snivelling sobs as she went through the stages of her emotions: anger, fear, shock, relief, elation, self -loathing. Anything she felt, she had a tear for it.

Is it possible that Nik is her true mate? The one person placed on this planet just for her?

Thirsty, craving heat fizzed through his body, centralizing in his groin. He'd never wanted someone so badly. He studied her pale face which was luminous in the light from the window; her bright eyes marking him, discerning his every move. He saw how beautiful she was, how the light caressed her delicate frame, her soft, pink lips, her narrow cheekbones , her long dainty neck, slinky , sweeping shoulders, slim arms. Her chest, her waist, her curvy hips. All were tensed, ready to run- though he knew if she was going to, she would have by now. He tried to absorb everything he could about her whilst she stood there, enabling him to study her openly; all barriers momentarily stripped from between them. They both gazed at one another with the same yearning -despite Jaz trying to fight it. It felt like electricity shooting from one person to the other. A continuous circuit.

As Jaz sorts through her feelings for Nik, danger becomes imminent. People are dying and no one knows who to trust. I absolutely love how the author leaves breadcrumbs for the reader to follow. Nothing blatant, just subtle tidbits that make you think, “hmm…” Trying to figure out who the nemesis is becomes part of the fun.

And, this book is fun and entertaining and emotional! I laughed, cried and decided that Nik is my new book boyfriend. I just have to figure out how to get Jaz out of the way… Beasthood seems to have it all: paranormal, romance, mystery, suspense, family values and friendship. I must admit that it took a few chapters to get accustomed to the use of the author’s “Queen’s English” (she’s from the UK). And, there is that small fact that most readers tend to hate: a cliffhanger! But, this book was worth every second of it. If you like paranormal romance, this is a MUST read. No spoilers here. I want you to experience every delectable morsel for yourself.

Excerpt:

I want to die. Please, please just let me die. Nothing else but those words repeated over and over again in her head. Her insides were screaming for the attack to stop. Her muscles writhed and cramped and felt like they were being ripped apart by poker-hot claws. Her bones crunched as they dislocated and clicked grotesquely back into place; focusing mainly in her spine, her hips and then her ankles, fingers, knees, wrists and heels. The pain was so unbearable she blacked out several times, only realizing she was lucid when Edda's face appeared through the clouded screen of her vision. After her body stopped fighting itself like a wild, raging animal, ripping its way through her bones, muscles, organs and skin – a thought that horrified her as it wasn't that far from the reality- she continued to convulse uncontrollably. Her limbs shook as if she was lying naked in the snow, in the midst of a violent snowstorm, deep in the arctic Alaskan desert. But she was far from freezing. Her body dripped with sweat, causing her to slip around on the wooden floor as her limbs jerked and shivered. Her skin was on fire and bright red as the blood rushed to it. Lying in bed, she touched her raw throat; her fragile body wrapped in layers of blankets. She now felt severely cold; her body heat spent. Her throat burned. It was so sore from all her wailing and howls. She'd never heard herself make such sounds. They'd barely sounded human. She thought she'd really Changed into a horrible Beast. Like the flashing image in the public toilets. She shivered. Not from the cold, or her attack, but from terror and repugnance. “What's... happening... to me...” she sobbed quietly. It wasn't a question, just a release. Like exhaling.
She'd been warned. Driver had tried to tell her. She'd been too much of a coward to ask about it. To get his or Maria's advice. She'd shunned any that was given to her. She'd made anyone stop if they spoke about it, changing the subject or bluntly telling them to move on. Now she regretted it wholeheartedly. Through her snivelling, she asked herself, “Why didn't I just suck it up and listen?” She knew why. Because I'm a coward. Because I wanted to believe it wasn't real. But I always knew. I can feel it. She was referring to the Beast inside of her. The animal side that had fully awakened, fighting for control the moment she had come here. The animal that -even before coming to Deer Creek- she'd felt from time to time when something or someone angered her or made her feel threatened. And she'd never felt more threatened than when she'd been trapped inside that 'cell'. That was when she first felt the power of it. She didn't want to eat raw, bloody meat, it did. She didn't want to jump Driver's bones, it did. She didn't attack Alf, it did. She wanted to stay away from Fraya whilst it wanted to rip her throat out. Now it was getting its own back and taking over her body. That's what she could feel. And like the ripping sensation inside her, and the power of it as it tried to take over, it all freakishly reminded her of a parasite writhing under her skin. Her whole body felt like it was going to split apart to make way for the monster brewing inside of her. She knew how offensive that would sound to anyone in the community if she ever tried to confide in someone about it, so she kept it locked away inside.

http://www.amazon.com/Beasthood-Hidde...

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beasthood is the story of Jaz Barker and a hidden community of wolf shifters living in Northern England. There is a great deal going on within the shifter community called Deer Creek, whispers of half-breed exterminator/Cur hunters, rival packs moving in and traitors amongst the Deer Creek pack.

A.Z Green does a good job of slowly building up those whispers into deeper stories of mystery, dark tales and romance. She weaves together a story full of twists and turns, starting the book off with a bloody bang. I definitely wanted to read on after the intense prologue. The story includes flashbacks and flash-forwards, setting up two separate story lines, one in the past that focuses on Lora through her diary entries, and one in the present that focuses on Jasmine/Jaz. It’s an interesting take on story telling but it did make it hard to connect to some of the characters. The abrupt transitioning between past and present was jarring at times.

The first time we are introduced to the feisty main character Jaz Barker she’s waking up from a nightmare covered in her own blood. She’s mourning the loss of a child she wasn’t even carrying but one she experienced the physical and emotional pain of losing.

Initially, I wasn’t thrilled with Jaz. She had the impression of someone rather immature and selfish for a 21 year old. However, as the story develops her personality expands beyond naïve pouty teenager and flourishes into a sarcastic, independent, strong and defiant woman.

Jasmine’s life seems normal but it’s full of secrets that she isn’t even aware of until a mysterious Aunt Erica shows up and invites her on a spa holiday. While Jasmine’s parents are visibly uncomfortable and suspicious, Jasmine excitedly agrees to go off with her Aunt Erica.

The spa holiday quickly turns into a kidnapping ordeal from hell. Jasmine finds herself trapped, desperate, confused and angry. She’s going through experiences she doesn’t understand, locked up in a cell by her own Aunt, and she’s developing a hunger for bloody raw meat!

As the story starts to unfold things quickly go from confusing to smack me upside the head overwhelming.

Jaz discovers that her parents aren’t her biological parents and that her nightmare of losing a child was a REAL event experienced by her twin sister Lora who died giving birth. A twin sister she didn’t know even existed who belonged to this secret community of shifters. Before Jasmine can stop and take in the revelation of being adopted, having biological pure breed shifter parents who are still alive and having had a twin who has died, she is introduced to other extended family members who are part of the Deer Creek pack, an Uncle named Garik and a grandmother named Maria.

Jaz attempts to settle in at Deer Creek, but she remains in denial of her shifter side and fears becoming a beast. She doesn’t understand the violent traditions or the strict rules of the pack. Despite her trepidations she ends up developing a tight knit friendship with fellow shifters Alf, Skye, Ronnie, Kenna, and Kelda, who have grown up within the community.

The leader of the pack is Nik Driver. He’s hot, elusive, and mysterious. He has his eyes set on Jasmine but he doesn’t want to make his feelings toward her publicly known, for her safety and his sanity. The two share some heated moments but they have a list of hurdles to jump over before Jaz is ready delve into her feelings for a man who has a great deal of secrets he has yet to reveal about himself and the pack.

Overall, the book was a good read. Some of the character descriptions were awkward. I will admit I internally cringed every time I read Fraya, the cold-hearted antagonist of the story described as “Oriental eyes.” I’m not exactly rushing to read the next books in the series but the story has potential so I do plan on eventually reading them. I definitely want to know who Black Cloak is and why hybrids/half breeds are being hunted. I’m hoping at some point in the other books A.Z Green delves deeper into Nik’s personality allowing us to connect more to him beyond his position as leader and potential mate. I want to read more about Nik’s handsome brother Swain, and the mysterious rival Viking leader of the Red Sword Pack, Njord Rasmussen, what is he up to and how is he connected to the hybrids.

Copy provided for review.
Reviewed by Joy for Crystal's Many Reviewers

[JC82 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 Stars!!
WOW!
What a complex and refreshing take on the paranormal Were Genre. The very beginning of this story pulls you in immediately. You are thrust into this nightmarish retelling of the horrible ordeal that Jaz, our main character experiences in the middle of the night and it sets the stage for the rest of this book.

Beasthood is a mixture of paranormal meets The Godfather meets Clue. There are revealed secrets, strong family ties, rivaling packs, betrayal, vicious plotting, murder, Were politics and traditions, and there is of course the underlying cause of all heartache; love. So if you are following there is a whole lot going on in this story. Jaz is thrown into a world she knows nothing about, a hidden community of Weres. There she finds out that everything she knows is a lie. She learns about her true family and who or what she will become. When she meets the mysterious and quiet but deadly Driver, Jaz can’t seem to keep herself away and soon she finds that the feelings that compel her to him are not just desire but something deep and instinctual felt in every fiber of her being. As more and more is revealed Jaz will have to decide where she truly belongs and if she is willing to become and accept who she really is in order to protect those she has come to admire and love.

There is so much to like about this book, Green is a wonderful storyteller. There is so much detail and description in every aspect of this book, from the landscape to the looks of the characters and emotions felt by each. Green spends time in developing the plot of the story and back stories for the characters; she doesn’t flutter through the storyline or try to wrap things up quickly but rather expands and drags you deeper into the mystery just making you want to unravel every itty bitty detail. Even when you find yourself thinking “A HA, I know who did it!” you are then slapped with another layer of deceit that will leave you slack-jawed and cursing. The further down the rabbit hole the plot went I felt more invested in story that I found myself feeling like a pack member worrying about what might happen to my fellow characters. The ending of this story packs a major punch, there is an explosion of action and truth that you might need some time to recover and reflect. There is also so much heartache and emotional distress portrayed by the main character that as a reader your heart literally breaks for her and you can’t help but feel every ounce of her confusion and agony.

The one small issue I have with this book is that there is an abundance of characters we are introduced to; some more briefly then others and at times I found myself a little confused trying to follow the family ties of each. I think perhaps in the second book it would be helpful to have a family tree or some kind of glossary to keep up. I understand it can’t be done in the first book as some relations are revealed slowly through the plot and some are meant to be surprises. But it would be a great addition for the second book in my opinion.

I enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see what will be revealed in the next installment. This is a new, interesting and well done take on the Were paranormal world.

[R. Archie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typically I would watch something in this genre over reading it, but the book description piqued my interest from the beginning. First off, let me say kudos to the author for writing such an intriguing dark fantasy. The plot centers around Jaz, a teenage girl that is about to experience a life changing discovery.

The book starts off with an intense incident happening to Jaz and she has strong hesitation in accepting the given explanation. This presents such a problem it disrupts her livelihood sending her into therapy with her mom’s sister. The story builds with each chapter. Then enter her dad’s sister, an aunt she knew nothing about who shows up offering to take her on a trip to a spa resort. She goes with her aunt; however, the trip is not as she thought and instead of relaxing as she had planned, she finds herself held captive. Only she doesn’t get it is a safety precaution, for herself and others until she is willing to accept newfound information about her origin. And, the fact that she is so stubborn doesn’t help matters. Weeks continue to pass by and accidentally, she gains possession of a diary, a book that holds valuable information and answers questions from the past and gives insight to current situations she’s facing.

I like how A.Z. vividly describes every little detail in-depth perfectly. There are numerous characters throughout the book, though I only connected with the main ones in the center of the storyline. And, let me say she does them proper justice in providing layers of their presence so that readers can get to know them well. Her book doesn’t tell it shows one hundred percent. Every emotion I felt, as well as every event taking place, held graphic elements, which intensified my reading experience with this story. There are two that stand out the most: 1) A fight scene between Jaz and Fraya. The intensity level can be compared to watching a WWE match. 2) The other was a scene toward the end of the book in which Jaz play tug and war with conflicting emotions. It was easy to relate with her in having to deal with the effects of decisions made by one key person playing a prominent role in her life. My opinion is A.Z. did a splendid job bringing that moment out to the fullest.

The only issue that left me unhappy was the partially unresolved ending. And let me be clear, the ending wasn’t bad. It’s just a preference thing on my part for I like things cleared up at the end. Overall, Beasthood is a well written book from beginning to end. I gave the story four stars, and I wish there was more flexibility to do something in between, if so I would have given it 4.75 stars. So I look forward to following the series (I need my answers:-) and Miss Green you’ve gained a fan here.

[MeaganC. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of a Read for Review so I'm going to try to be as honest as possible without giving too much away.

I'll start off by saying that when I finished the book I was left with the feeling of "I like this storyline and I can't wait to see what happens next." I say this because the last half of the book was the BEST part and the part that kept me reading continuously, asking questions, and wondering when Jaz and Nik would just go for it!!! The ending was a perfect cliffhanger to the story/whodunit.

The most well written components of the book were the characters and the action. Green does a good job building suspense, developing characters, and really does a good job with imagery and description. I could picture the most important scenes and moments and found myself getting really into the relationships and conflicts. I'm really rooting for Jasmine and Nik and for someone (anyone) for my favorite character Alf (maybe, Ellie...I dunno that's quite the leap but I need a mate for him stat!) I found myself most intrigued by Edda and I liked how she didn't take any of Jaz's BS like everyone else seemed to. I love the way Green developed Jaz, although that part of the story took FOREVER. She gave her flawed family members the quirky friends we all love, and a take no crap attitude which I could respect as a reader.

That leads me to what I disliked. I was often annoyed with Jasmine's anger. I mean I get it, if someone kidnapped me, cut off my toenails, conducted a gyno session on me and locked me on a compound with no phone or internet I'd be pissed off too. But, after her initial blowup she goes on and on, and I mean get over it already. I want to see her mature more in the next book. I think she placed a lot of blame on those closest to her and I'm curious to see what she does when she comes face to face with Eliza and Thorpe.

The author does a lot of playing with time, flashbacks, flash forwards, foreshadowing, prologues...all in all it got a little confusing to keep up with the storyline, however I like the way that it kept me guessing in a Sherlock Holmes sort of way. I think in the future this will have to be lessened to be used for the most impactful side stories such as Lora's. I was so interested by her and her experiences that I'd almost like the parallel experiences/clues from her experience that are meaningful for Jaz's current problems with the Cur Hunters, backstabbers, etc.

Bottom line: Good beach read, ready for book two!

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I were to choose my favorite mythological creature it was definitely be werewolves. There is something very interesting about the concept of a person who has a dual nature with one fighting the other for dominance. "Beasthood" is an interesting take on the werewolf legend. The story is mysterious and intriguing tale chocked full of action, despair, forgiveness and hope.

Jazz or Jasmine had an episode a year ago where she woke up in her bed bleeding profusely after having nightmares of dying in childbirth. Her parents looked upon her with disappointment telling her she had a miscarriage. However, Jazz knows the truth she couldn't have miscarried because she's still a virgin.

Then, Erica, an Aunt she has never met comes to town asking her if she would like to take a trip with her to a spa. Of course Jazz agrees even though she detects the discomfort of her parents. Aunt Erica's driver gives her the creeps and it doesn't help when he doesn't give her his name. However, this is the least of her worries as she begins to realize she has been kidnapped and they have drugged her with something that has made her violently ill.

Jazz soon discovers her fleets have been operated on and she has been given a vaginal exam while the driver was in the room. She is mortified and hurt vowing never to forgive her Aunt or eat until she is released. She quickly begins deteriorating especially since she has not had access to the iron tablets she needs to treat her anemia. However Driver puts a raw steak in her cage and she cannot believe that she ate it.

After living in Drivers house it is revealed she had a twin sister who was mated to Driver and died during childbirth. She refuses to accept she is a were and when she begins reading Lora's journals she begins to understand the dynamics of her new existence.

It soon becomes clear she has enemies at this camp and if she is to survive she must learn to protect herself just the way she protects her heart from the growing attraction to Nik or Driver.

Here's the thing, I really enjoyed this story except for a few minor things. There is plenty of action and I literally spent most of the read on the edge of my seat. However, what I didn't enjoy was the continuous flashbacks the author uses. There was too many and too often. With that being said, I highly recommend this book and I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

[Kristin & Sue Ellen ~ GirlyGirlBookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The name of the book Beasthood along with the cover is a little mysterious in the sense that even though you only have a woman on there but for some reason she covers her face had me curious to see what is in this story. Why would such a beautiful women cover her face unless she has hidden secrets! The cover in my opinion was a great pick up for this novel because after reading the blurb I wanted to know more. Jaz introduction was definitely a shocking one and the life she has had to live through for the past year because of it. Nobody is willing to believe her and thinks she is lying about it (or they make her think it). You actually feel sorry for her because to have a whole year change all of a sudden and then everyone around you act like you are crazy makes it worse. She has learned to grow into herself and become strong because of this, but also deep down I think she is hurting and angry. When she is given a chance to go on a mini vacation by her aunt, but is kidnapped by her and taken deep into the woods her life is thrown into a hurdle. When she learns that everything in her whole life has been a lie, she is not sure what to make of the truth because it is very overwhelming. Driver (Nik) is the alpha male of the pack and has had to deal with the loss of his child and mate but hopes that Jaz is his true mate. Only problem is the fact that he had a hand in kidnapping her and so she is definitely not on a very trustful manner right now. The way the author reels you into the novel is amazing with the storyline. I have to say it is definitely unique within itself because the paranormal world she has created here has also other characteristics that I have not read before. Her descriptions of not only the surrounding areas, but of the characters themselves give you enough so you know what exactly is going on and how they look. There were many characters in this story that could also eventually be built into another story line if the novel chooses to. I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to others. The only downfall is that now I have to wait for the next book to find out what is going to happen between Jaz and Nik. Especially since there seems to be more mystery to be solved by what is happening within the pack! I know I am rooting for these two.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Beasthood is a story that when reading, you find you can't put down. From the beginning, it grabs you and pulls you in. It's an adventure into the werewolf world. Where they live, work, and love - full of their laws, history, and traditions.
The premise of the story is good. It is well written and I could tell that a lot of thought had gone into the characters - you want to know what will happen to them and what makes them tick. They are certainly individuals with distinct and well developed personalities.

The character of Jaz grew on me. I wasn't sure about her at first, but she turned out to be strong, courageous, and loyal. She was scared, angry and confused by what happened to her. She didn't know who she could trust or what to make of the "fairytale" world she was thrust into. I enjoyed watching her evolve and become stronger and more courageous. By the end of the story, I really liked her. And thoroughly enjoyed watching her hold her own.

Driver (Nik) is a strong character. He is complex, honest, real and an incredibly handsome alpha male.
When combined, he and Jaz - you find yourself wanting to know everything about them and see where they are going, what they will become, and what they grow to mean to each other.

The story has layer upon layer of interest as seen through the lives of the various characters.
Alf, Carr, Fraya and the other characters added so much color to the story. Through exiles and executions, you watch the story unfold. There are kidnappings and adoptions, good friends and evil angst. I liked the whole kidnap sequence and the adoption theme. The intrigue leaving you wondering who the "Cloaked Man" is.

The visual details are fantastic. The descriptions vivid, so that the minds eye can picture exactly what is taking place. The emotions are on a roller coaster as well. The reader will coast from fear to frustration in minutes. It was very easy to become emotionally involved and invested in the story.
The flashbacks add depth and detail - and highlight things that later seamlessly blend in to the story.
I cannot wait to read the next installment to the series.
This is certainly a new twist on the supernatural!

[Melonie Merritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

***** I was gifted a copy of this book for an honest review*****

Jaz decides to go on a trip with her aunt and it turns out going horribly wrong or maybe it turns out to be horribly right in the end. she ends up held against her will. She finds out things about her life that were hidden from her and has to learn to deal with the betrayal of everyone she knows and also how to deal with the new life that is set before her.

Nik thought he had everything he was supposed to have but after tragedy strikes he realizes that maybe he was wrong, and maybe Jaz is who is supposed to be with. Can she ever accept him for what he is and accept her future or will this end in even more tragedy?

I loved this book! I give it a 4.5 Star review( rounded up) . The characters pulled me in and couldn't let go of them. A.Z. Green did an amazing job at pulling the reader in and making them feel the emotions right along the with the characters. There was so much detail in the book that while I was reading it was almost like watching a movie in my head, This book puts a whole new spin on this genre for me. It is completely different from anything I have ever read. There are twist and turns around every corner and I did not want to put it down. All I wanted to know was what was going to happen next.

Jaz is a strong, independent, and feisty! I fell in love with her right away even if there were a few times that I wanted to slap her! She is so new to everything going on around her. I felt like I was on the journey with her while she discovers who she is.

I am so in love with Nik! (Where can I get one?) He is everything that you expect out of an Alpha. I didn't always agree with the things he did and said but he is amazing!

The only reason I could not give a full 5 stars on this book was because for me the time jumps in the beginning were hard to follow and left me confused. After I got to know more about who the main characters were and how things fell into place the time jumps were less and i was able to follow along more. I would highly recommend this book to all my friends and other readers!