Gema: All my life, I've been taught to fear the Wildfire Pack. What I didn't expect is for me to end up living here after my home was taken over by them. Now, I'm in a forced engagement with Wildfire's Alpha heir, and all I know is I have to escape so that I can get back to Noah.
Noah: I've loved Gema my whole life, and have prayed for her to be my mate. When I find out she's taken by the Wildfire Pack, I know I have to get her back no matter the cost. I'll do anything to keep her safe and protected.
I think this book had a lot of potential.. I loved the plot, but there's quite a bit of writing mess-ups.
I was itching for some type of tension, and I didn't get it. It was insta-love from the start because they're childhood best friends. I kept expecting some sort of plot twist, and there really wasn't one.
Tropes: Wolf Shifters Childhood Friends to Lovers Evil Alpha Mental Health Rep Found Family Multi- POV Open Door Spice
Favorite Quote:
"Is she ready?" He asked, looking like he'd rather be getting a root canal than taking me to dinner.
3.5 ⭐️ Escaping Wildfire was an easy read. A book about wolves, shapeshifters, fated mates, and friends to lovers with multiple povs. Good premise with the FMC, likable characters, and character development.
Thanks to the author for a free copy of the ARC for an honest review.
An easy, fast-paced read that pulled me in right away. It’s insta-love — my least favorite trope, but honestly? It was still cute, and I didn’t hate it 👀 The writing flows well, the world-building is fun, and I loved the variety of shifter species (the mental chats with their inner beasts had me cracking up — those wolves are bratty). The FMC? Strong, confident, and resourceful — plus, major props for how unapologetically bold she is during her spicy moments. We love to see that kind of energy 💅 It’s got multiple POVs (which I adore), a solid setup for where the series is heading, and a slow build that I think is going to get real intense later on. Tropes include: fated mates · insta-love · shifter romance 🐺🔥
I very much enjoy any stories with shifters. There was a lot of great world-building in this book. As times it was overwhelming and due to that sometimes the pacing felt forced in some areas the escaping for some of the main characters did not happen until the last 15 percent of the book. So lots of build-up. But stick with it! I like the addition of different types of shifters. I am very much looking forward to future volumes. A glossary is in the back to help you with all the characters introduced. Knowing about it sooner would have been more helpful in keeping track of everyone.
I can't wait to see how the rest of this story unfolds.
I just got this book as an ARC and I just couldn’t get into the book after 2 pages as it didn’t suck me in and I am sorry to the author. I tried but I just DNF the book.
I’ll be really honest… I really struggled to get into this book at first. I felt like it was really slow to start, and I was a little confused with the “who’s-who” of the story, as there were so many characters introduced in quick succession that I couldn’t keep track of their relationships and roles. However, as the story progressed and I became more acquainted with the characters and their motivations, I started to enjoy it more.
Throughout the story, the author flits from one character to the next quite quickly, creating a dynamic yet somewhat fragmented narrative. As a result, there are only a limited number of characters that you get the chance to become truly attached to. For me, these were Gema, Noah, and Aurora, whose unique personalities and intricate backgrounds stood out amidst the rapid transitions.
I feel the FMC, Gema, was quite a strong character, and was intuitive. The way she developed from a naive young girl to a strong and independent woman was refreshing – especially after we saw her walk into an obvious trap, which initially highlighted her vulnerability. Yet, it was through these experiences that she learned to navigate the complexities of her environment, gaining wisdom and resilience. Gema’s evolution serves as a powerful reminder of the strength one can find in adversity, making her transformation both believable and inspiring as she confronts the obstacles that ultimately shape her identity.
For me, Noah is the obvious choice for being the MMC in this story. Others may believe otherwise, but I feel his ability to stay (relatively) calm under pressure and through trying times sets him above his friends, showcasing a maturity that is often rare for someone his age. His unwavering loyalty to those he calls his brothers, and to Gema, is not only admirable but also refreshing in a world where betrayal can often lurk around every corner. Throughout this book, we witness several challenging scenarios that test his character, yet he consistently rises to the occasion, proving that true strength lies in maintaining one’s principles even when the odds are stacked against them. I’m eagerly looking forward to finding out more about him in book 2.
Aurora, known as Rory by those closest to her, is a character you can’t help but love. Her sweet and loving nature, combined with an unwavering willingness to help those in need, are what make her such a lovable character in the eyes of everyone she encounters. Her ability to stay under the radar due to the perceptions of others is pivotal to the plot of the story. This skill, while protective, sometimes hinders her growth, leaving her vulnerable to the challenges around her. I am hoping that as the narrative unfolds, she grows more of a backbone for her own wellbeing, gaining the confidence to stand up for herself and assert her needs. I’d hate to see her get hurt because of her own inability to fight her corner, as it would be heartbreaking to witness such a beautiful spirit overwhelmed by the evil nature of those around her. Ultimately, her journey of self discovery is one that resonates deeply, illustrating the balance between kindness and self preservation.
Overall, I enjoyed the premise of the story but gave it 3 stars instead of 4 due to several spelling mistakes and repeated sentences that disrupted the flow. These errors caused frequent pauses to decipher meaning, pulling me out of the narrative. While the story had potential and interesting themes, the technical flaws significantly diminished my enjoyment, creating a barrier that was hard to overlook. That being said, I feel like the book was worth finishing and, despite the various technical flaws, I tried my best to ignore them while immersing myself in the story.
This one had a bit of a slow start. You have to push through a bit to get to the good. I can understand why some people didn't love it as much as I did. With the slow start, it can drag the entire experience down a lot. But, I can look past that and I see the bigger picture. And once I got through the slow sluggish parts, I really did enjoy this book.
We have Gema, she's 17, just getting started with the boy she's been in love with for what feels like eons.
Noah, on the other hand, he's just finally opened up and shared his feelings with Gema.
Gema, she's just on top of the moon because she gets to finally be with Noah, Noah wants her to be happy and hopes that they are mates on her birthday in a couple of short weeks.
As is normally the case, things don't go as planned, and Gema and Noah get ripped apart before anything ever has the chance to bloom.
Just before Gema turns 18, she is kidnapped by the Wildfire Pack after they attack her pack. She fights to escape them, trying to regain her freedom so she can take her place as the Luna as her own pack with her mate by her side.
Every character in this book is amazing and deserves love. The secondary characters stand out and shine, and I love everything this book offers.
I would recommend this book in a heartbeat. It's an easy and fun read once you get past the slow and sluggish bit. It's really very enjoyable.
3.5 ⭐️ I really liked the premise of this book. The tension and anticipation was good and was built throughout the novel. The FMC had some growth and seemed like a genuinely likable character. things I didn’t like- at the beginning of the book, the FMC character is 17 (although she turned 18 a little bit later on in the book) and there were spice scenes between her and an older boy, who was already 18. I really think this would have been better suited as a YA book, and removed the spicy scenes, as they didn’t seem to flow with the story. This was the major issue I had with this book and skimmed over those scenes. I love the fated mates trope (which this book has obviously) BUT I don’t like an underage FMC, even for just a few chapters. I understand that the shifters in this book don’t get their wolf / mate until 18, which is a major plot point for this book but I almost stopped reading because of this. Another point I didn’t like is that it felt like their were sooo many characters to keep track of, which pack they were in, what their pack status was, how old everyone was, who was related to who and so on. The author did have a character list in the back of the book but I didn't see it until the end but that is helpful. Overall, I had really high exceptions for this book, and think it would be a 4+ book if a few details were changed
This was my first read by this author and definitely not my last—I’m hooked on the Wildfire Pack already! While the story starts out a little slow, once it kicks into gear it’s an absolute page-turner. Gema is just weeks away from turning 18, finally on the cusp of discovering if Noah—the boy she’s loved forever—is truly her mate. But before they get their chance, her world is torn apart. Kidnapped by the power-hungry Wildfire Pack and forced into an engagement with their Alpha heir, Gema refuses to give up hope or her fight to get back to Noah. The tension, the danger, and the desperate push for freedom kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through.
The world-building here is rich—different types of shifters, layers of politics and pack dynamics, and so many intriguing characters (thank goodness for the glossary in the back!). Yes, the pacing can feel a bit heavy at times, with a lot of build-up before the big escape, but it all pays off in the last stretch. I loved the secondary characters just as much as the main couple, and the emotional stakes made the romance feel powerful and worth rooting for. It’s action-packed, emotional, with just the right touch of spice, and it left me eager to dive into book two. If you love shifter romance with depth, action, and heart, this one’s a must-read.
I'll be honest I struggled at the start of this book to fully remember all the different characters as there were lots and different points if views (also similar names 😅) and with being dyslexic I do struggle with remembering it all!
But as it went on I enjoyed it so much more! The MFC Gema was strong and used her brains to help herslef which I adored. Not just waiting on Noah and her brother to save her! It was also so cool how there was was Spanish in the book!
Some sections did repeat but I'm not sure if that was just my kindle playing up!
Not going to lie Alpha Marek and his Beta are gross, disgusting people. But hey that means it was written well to hate them!
‘Hey, don’t blame me for not being able to keep your cock in your pants, you dickhead.’ Hearing their wolfs talk to them was a brilliant part and really enjoyed that! Especially the banter between some of them 😅🤣
The Sense of community in this book was so beautifully done 🫶
Its not often I say “WOW” in caps. This book is one of the few . There are a couple of typos, but nothing that takes away from the enjoyment of the read or the fact that this is in my opinion a stellar read ! Gema as the lead female character is multifaceted, engaging , and well written. Noah her ( hoped to be fated mate and true love”, is well represented in this book , but due to Gema being on Wildfire pack land) is not as present in most of the book. There are many , many characters who move the story along as they deal with adversity after adversity after trauma. This is a soul crushing story with bright bursts of joy as each family/pack member is rescued via Gema’s machinations with the help of key Wildfire pack members. I enjoyed every moment of reading this book. I will say even though it ends on a quasi cliffhanger, that this is my favorite read of 2025 so far ! And I can’t wait to read book 2 Extinguishing Wildfire next ! 5✨’s !! I’d give it more if I could !!
This is my first time reading a book by this author and it won't be my last. It's book one in the wildfire series, it's a slow start but it's so worth it. I love anything to do with shifter romance and knew this book would be right up my alley.
Once I started I couldn't stop I was hooked on their story from the start. It had me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what was coming next. It's a wild ride. The characters, storyline and plot where wonderfully written and done. It's action packed with loads. And the spice hits just right.
Gema is our fmc, she's about to turn 18 in a couple weeks and she can't wait as she will find out if the boy noah she's in love with will be her mate or not. She's really hoping he is. Noah finally shares his feelings about her and they can't wait for her birthday. But before they can find out, the pack is attacked and gema is kidnapped by a power hungry pack. What will happen? Will see get to be with the one she loves? Grab the book and find out. I can't wait to read more from this series. Highly recommend!
4 Stars Escaping Wildfire book 1 in the Wildfire Series
Jump into the Wildfire Series with Escaping Wildfire. This book gives you a little bit of everything. Going into this I was expecting drama and shifters and ended up getting so much more. The tight knit family bonds (blood and friendship family) is woven perfectly into the storyline and you will find yourself wanting to be part of the pack too. With multiple povs, you are able to see various parts of the story play out in such a unique way. Cristi does an amazing job having you deeply connect to the characters through their grief, passion, and determination. Escaping Wildfire will start you off on this ride of one pack fighting to get back all they’ve lost while gaining support to start an uprising against a menacing alpha. You most certainly will be biting at the bit to get into book 2, Extinguishing Wildfire to see how even more of the story plays out.
Very fitting title for this novel, seeing as they did, quite literally, escape Wildfire.
This novel follows the adventures of wolf shifters who get kidnapped and forced to join a tyrannical camp called Wildfire. Wildfire has been operational for over 2 decades, Gem's mother's pack being one of the first packs taken over.
According to the general rules of shifting, one can't shift until their 20th birthday and this is also when the mating bond snaps into place.
I loved the romance between Gema and Noah, going from childhood friends to lovers to mates. They stayed true to each other despite Gema getting kidnapped and forged to almost marry Larkin, the rival Alphas son.
The storyline was well written and was very Hispanic heavy in dialect and certain customs. Most of the Spanish phrases had an English translation, which was wonderful.
I really enjoyed this story. I am sad to see that others didn’t love it as much as I did. But hey. Opinions. They’re always welcome.
Gema is a 17 yr old who’s live is just getting started the boy she’s been in love with for years, Noah, has finally shared his feelings for her and she gets to be with him. Hoping that they’ll become mates in her birthday in 4 weeks.
Only things don’t really go as planned. And they get pulled apart before they even begin.
I loved every character in this book that deserved love. I have already planned out who I wanted to be mated to who. Only to of course be left on the edge of my seat. I cannot wait to read book 2!
There are some MINOR editing errors. But nothing that would ruin the story experience.
I particularly love Shifters with the Fated Mates troupe, and this book certainly hit me in all the right places. The storytelling was on point; the prologue gave a history of the conflict caused by the Wildfire Pack and helped to provide a foundation for the ongoing story. I liked the characters; I found the FMC solid and fierce, the making of a good Luna, even though she is a Beta! I felt that the spicy scenes fit well into the book; they weren't overly descriptive and were appropriate to the story.
If you like wolf shifter books with young fated mates and stories that involve angst, emotional trauma, and the pulling together of multi-species, then this is an amazing read that I would fully recommend.
This is the first book I have read by Constantina Cristi and it will not be the last. I am so waiting on the next book. I usually wait until the series is complete before starting, but this one just interested me too much to wait.
This book is about a power hungry pack that attacks and takes the teenage girls and the boys of the ranked members. The oldest boys of the ranked members are at another pack for training. The oldest girl is very smart and gets the people that she loves to safety even though she is still held captive.
Will she escape? Will her mate be one of the 2 ranked members since 1 is her brother? Will she forgive her father? Who will kill the power hungry alpha? Let's finish reading to find out.
Werewolves and fated mates? Say no more you have my attention. Add in the unknown aspect of whether they can overcome the villain and I'm there with popcorn.
To say this book had me in my feels from the get-go would be an understatement. I needed to know if a certain set of people were mates or not almost as much as the set themselves. I won't deny that the amount of spicy scenes helped a bit to deal with the anticipation. The book wasnt just spice. It had heartache and betrayal that made you want to cry and punch. It also had heartfelt moments of friendship that makes you wish you had ride or dies like that. The author did a great job with world-building and keeping my attention with the characters.
Strong story and I enjoyed the characters. This was my first shifter romance and I can say that I like shifter romances. The romance was cute and there is definitely open door spice. It has childhood friends to lovers, wolf shifters, Multiple POVs, and mates. The story was fast paced and immediately pulled me in. I did give it 3 stars instead of four because there were quite a few writing and spelling errors. There would be whole sentences that were repeated. If it was just one or two it would be fine but it was quite often and kept pulling me out of the story so I couldn’t justify giving it four stars. I am excited to read the rest of the series. I am interested where it is going to go from here.
Escaping Wildfire by Constantina Cristi was an emotional and powerful read that pulled me in from the very first chapter. The author does an incredible job of creating vivid, heart-pounding tension as the characters face not just the literal wildfire, but the personal challenges that come with survival and second chances.
I loved how real the characters felt—flawed, determined, and relatable. Their journey through danger and heartbreak kept me turning the pages late into the night. The mix of suspense, emotion, and hope made this story unforgettable.
If you enjoy fast-paced, heartfelt books that balance danger with emotional depth, this one is a must-read!
I received an ARC copy and this is my honest review.
Shifter romances have my heart! Love the pack dynamics, fates mates, the way loyalty & trust are everything!
Escaping wildfire has a fierce and clever warrior FMC, found family and new friends, who become family!⠀ Driven by cruelty and a lust for power, an Alpha and a Beta duo becomes the embodiment of hatred, fueling your desire for vengeance.⠀
Constantina Cristi’s writing is enjoyable and flows effortlessly between multiple pov’s, full of world building and well written characters.
After finishing I went straight onto book 2-(Extinguishing wildlife) the need for revenge is real! I need a HEA but feel I’ve got more heartbreak and loss coming my way before I get it!
This shapeshifter romance burns with tension and longing from the first page. When the Wildfire Pack seizes her home, the heroine is forced to live among her enemies—bound by duty to marry their Alpha heir. But her heart belongs to Noah, the man who refuses to give up on her. Cristi masterfully balances pack politics, betrayal, and fierce loyalty, creating a story where every choice feels dangerous and every glance between fated lovers sparks.
The middle slows slightly as loyalties shift, but the high-stakes drama and emotional intensity make this a captivating paranormal romance that will leave you rooting for love to win against impossible odds.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is my first shifter's books & I loved it more than anything. The story line, the scenes were awesome. I loved the characters, the way the book had every main leads POV was lovely. I was interested in this book by just reading the prologue itself. The spicy scenes were perfectly plotted with the whole story. It was like a adventurous read with kept me totally involved! It's a pure addiction!! Now I'm obsessed with wolf and just gonna read the other books tooo!!🥹🫶🏻 You can give it a try if you want a wolf shifter book that makes you cry, fall in love with the characters and keeps you emotionally involved!!
The author did a great job of making me care about the characters and want to read the rest of the series to see how the other couples work out. Shifters, fated mates, characters to care about… good stuff!
I would recommend this book, I just had a few issues. For some reason, I got confused from the prologue to chapter one. Then I really enjoyed it, when I forgot how young the main characters are. And finally, the spice felt a little out of place to me. I really want to read the next few books to see how everyone’s HEA comes about!
This is the first book I have read by this author, and it will not be the last. I enjoyed reading this book. Noah and Gema’s story was great, but the ending feels unfinished for these two. I know that this is a series, but I didn’t realize that each book would not be about each couple. I might feel differently once I have read the next two book but as of now Noah and Gema’s story feels like it was just left hanging because the cliffhanger going into the next book. I still recommend reading this book it was a truly enjoyable read.
I haven’t read a lot of shifter romance so I don’t have much to compare to but I really enjoyed this one. Once again the younger characters were a bit hard to relate to for me, but ignoring that and concentrating on the story made for an interesting read. The story itself was good and I was invested in them getting through the challenges faced in the story. I’m very much looking forward to the next instalment and seeing how it all plays out. Definitely recommend this one if you’re interested in a bit of non romance related drama with your romance.
Escaping Wildfire is book one of the Wildfire Series.
Gema and Noah were couple goals. I loved their determination to be together and their honesty with each other. They have such cute moments together. Noah was the absolute best and I was happy he and Gema were able to come together. I loved his determination to get her back safe and sound. These two were perfect together and deserved each other.
There is an overarching storyline which doesn't completely get resolved in this book, but the majority about Gema and Noah does. I can't wait to see what happens next with this series.
After finishing the book, I was totally hooked on Gema and Noah's story. Gema’s stuck with the Wildfire Pack, but she’s got this fierce determination to escape and be with Noah, her true love. Their connection was everything, and I was seriously rooting for them the whole time. The world building was really solid too, and I loved how it introduced different shifter dynamics, though it did take a little while for the action to pick up. But once it did, I couldn't stop reading. All in all, it was a great mix of suspense, romance, and fantasy, and I enjoyed every bit of it!
This was my first book written by Constantina Cristi and it won't be my last!
I loved how the author took her time letting us get to know the characters, the shifter dynamics, and the politics behind the story. I'm fairly new to the shifter genre and I really liked the introduction of the variety of shifters in this book.
You fall in love with the FMC/MMC relationship, as well as the supporting characters. Highly recommend if 'found family' is one of your favorite tropes.
The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I can't wait to see what happens next in the Wildfire series.
First book of a wolf shifter series. It is action packed with a lot of high stakes drama. I liked the plot and the character development. Some of the friendships surprised me, which was a nice turn of events and not the predictable bullying trope.
There were so many spelling and grammatical and formatting errors that it was very distracting.
The ending was very abrupt, but Book 2 is already out so you can start right away where you left off. I am very interested in the plot to see what happens with the story next!