Duty of the Winter Wolf

Guardian of the Winter Stone #1

by Arizona Tape

Librarian Note: older edition of B0CWZ8KW8G.

After twenty years of being an outcast in her Wolf Clan, Akira finds herself chosen for the greatest honour possible. She's to become a Guardian Wolf. Suspiciously, a sacred relic needed to complete the ritual has gone missing.

Suddenly it's her duty to retrieve it. Alone.

When she sets off on her journey across continent, she couldn't be less prepared for the perilous and traitorous nature of her quest. An odd group of lone wolves quickly take her in and two of them even claim to be her fated mate, but can they really be trusted?

Akira will have to find out the hard way.
****
Duty Of The Guardian Wolf is the first book in the Guardian Of The Winter Stone series and is an epic fantasy with romance, wolf shifters, and fated mates. It has themes of found family, redemption, and a romantic plot where Akira must choose between her enchanting true mate and a growly alpha wolf.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Fiction, Romantasy, Amazon, Shapeshifters

94 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 22, 2024

About the author

Arizona Tape lives her dream life hanging out with her dog and writing stories all day.

Her favourite books to write are urban fantasy and paranormal romances with queer leads, stories that she wished were around when she was younger.

When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking up a storm in the kitchen, watching shows that make her cry, or trying her hand at her new hobby of the week.

She currently lives in the United Kingdom with her girlfriend and her adorable dog who is the star of her newsletter. Sign up here for adorable pictures, free books, and news about her books: www.arizonatape.com/subscribe



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Her books are available on all retailers and can be requested from most public libraries.

Reviews

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer]

Duty Of The Winter Wolf is the first book in the new re-released series guardian of the winter stone by Arizona Tape. In the book we meet Akira, Who is picked to be the guardian of the Winterstone, but first she has to go on a journey to find it. Akira was born with a wolf spirit inside of her and although she can feel the wolves emotions shifting is something, those like her can no longer do or at least that is what her parents and the elders of the village have told her. With the exception of her mother she has never known a kind word nor had a friend. So when she sees an injured wolf caught in a trap, her first instinct is to help him. She knows what it’s like to be alone and hurting. At first she is very afraid of the wolf despite she can see its keen intelligence and almost looks as if he understands what she’s saying. It is through the wolf where Akira will meet her first real friend, find her mate, find inner strength but will she ever learn to trust? It seems despite gaining companions on her trip she has no experience mingling with others especially strangers and despite the way she feels for one of them is finding it hard to trust. This was a great read I love that I love those authors Novelas I love the fact that Ashley was her mate Akira didn’t just blow caution to the wind and mate with her but wanted to get to know and trust her first something that has yet to happen and I cannot wait for the next book in this awesome new re-released series. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

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

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duty of the Winter Wolf is a novella, but it’s really more like the first installment of a serial novel. It introduces us to Akira, an outcast in her remote and isolated village even among her own family due to having been born with the soul of a wolf. She’s inexplicably chosen as the new Guardian of the Winter Stone (also the name of the series), and is tasked with finding said stone, an ancient relic that’s missing.

Despite never before having left her village, Akira sets off alone on a journey to find the stone. As she travels she comes across some other interesting characters, and discovers that what she’s been taught to believe may not actually be the truth. The installment ends in a cliffhanger, but definitely left me wanting to read on.

I received a free ARC from the author, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.

[TaniaRina Valdespino · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to follow the Great Wolf
I found this to be an interesting commentary of how sects diverge from the main branch. Mysteries abound in religious rituals, leaving our heroine confused when she meets co-followers. But do they truly follow the same Great Wolf if their beliefs and acts differ from each other?

The author gives us just enough to whet the appetite for discovering the answers – and sets up ‘Choice Of The Winter Wolf’ (expected after mid-September).

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Much Better!

I read the original series, a couple of years ago, and there were several things I didn’t like about it.

But now, here we are, with an updated series, and wow – I can already see the improvements!

The simplification of the relationships helps a lot, as the partnerships became confusing in the original (if you know you know). I’m unsure what will happen next right now, but it’s not looking so dire (haha), even though this instalment has ended on a cliffhanger. It leaves me curious and expectant for the rest.

Final rating: ★★★★☆ – Really liked

*I received a free digital ARC via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

[Jacqueline Halle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novella book 1 of the journey for Akira on her Guardian quest. Akira learns more about herself but this does have a cliffhanger.

Looking forward to book 2 and continuing the characters stories.

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book one of the Guardian of the Winter Stone series and the main character is Akira, who has been an outcast in her Wolf Clan village for as long as she could remember. Even her own family treat her badly, due to her having the soul of a wolf within her, which made her an abandoned descendant of the Great Wolf and brought shame to her father’s home! Her mother gives her a special outfit to wear the next day, for the ceremony to choose the next Guardian Wolf, a position of great prestige. Her sister is too old and this is the last one Akira has to take place in due to being almost twenty-one. Her father tells her that if she is not selected, hen she can either marry an old man in the village, who has lost his latest wife, or leave. He will no longer allow her to stay in his home! Amazingly, the Elders of the village choose her amongst all who have come from near and far, to become the next Guardian, to protect their sacred Winter Stone. It is a duty of honour and sacrifice, with the rest of her family now to enjoy an elevated place within the village, after treating her as little more than a dog, apart from her mother. Akira is soon going to find out, that her new role of protecting the sacred item is going to be a little bit more difficult to start with, as first she must find it! It was stolen some time before and with the previous Guardian sent off on a quest some seven years ago and never returning, it seems the elders have been keeping a few secrets!

She is given no idea of what it actually looks like, nor what her actual duties as Guardian are, just time to prepare that night, to start off on her quest the next day, in wintery conditions and not in a very fit state, after only being fed scraps for years! Luckily, it seems the elders have the pick of the supplies, and she has food in her pack, better than anything she has tasted before, and a tent to camp in along the way. She is all alone on her trek, with a limited number of coins, not that she has ever used any before, and the knowledge that she can’t tell anyone her true purpose in travel at this time of year, and alone! She is soon far past anywhere she has ever gone before, even managing to cross the rickety bridge over the river, that brings her great fear. After a couple of days, she is set up for the night, when she hears a wolf howl as if in pain, so she goes to check it out. A wolf has become stuck in a hunter’s trap, like the ones her sister said she would trap her in and she wants to help it. Her people worship the Great Wolf and it would be good karma for her quest, if she manage to help a wild wolf and set him free. As she approaches the wolf and speaks to it, trying to calm it down, she could swear it could understand every word she was saying! It doesn’t run off once freed, but sits and stares at her, then it doesn’t stop following her, even on three legs it manages to turn up shortly after her!

She gets used to the wolf being her companion for the next few days, until she meets another female traveller, seemingly alone in the woods, but carrying two packs. She seems to know the wolf she has befriended and calls him Aspen, explaining she is Ashleigh, and she is travelling with her brother and some other friends they are due to meet at another village. Akira is about to have her whole view of the world she has lived in and the beliefs her village follow, completely turned on their head. Ashleigh and Aspen also have the soul of a wolf within them, but also so much more, that seem to be only distant stories and legends of old, where Akira is from. She finds it hard to believe what she is told and wonders if she can trust either of them with any details of her actual quest. Wolf shifters able to change from human to wolf and back, as well as stories of fated mates of long ago, were all just fiction in her village, but now Ashleigh and Aspen are telling her it is all real and that Akira is the fated mate of one of them. Their friends have not arrived, leaving them worried and overhearing some of their conversation, leaves Akira wondering just who exactly she can trust and what they might know of her sacred mission. The Winter Stone is in more demand than any of them could know and what powers it can provide those possessing it are unknown. A nice opener with a twist on the normal wolf shifter and fated mate scenario. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout, and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[O'Livia Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I love the concept of Duty Of The Winter Wolf by Arizona Tape. It was very well written and thought out. I love how in this book by Arizona Tape we get to meat Akira a 20 year old female who was born with a wolf spirit and due to that she is an outcast amongst her people. Once Akira is chosen as a Guardian Wolf her fate changes the status of her family. But is everything as it seems to be? Akira is slowly realizing that being a Guardian Wolf just might not be everything that it’s cracked up to be and once she is given the impossible task of going to find an ancient relic, she knows that is not going to be a good situation. So will Akira be able to recover the ancient relic and gain favor in her clan, or will she fail and become the thing that everyone already thinks that she is a failure? I guess that you will have to read Duty Of The Winter Wolf to find out what happens.

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

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outsider in her village, despised by her family, Akira lives a dismal life. Approaching 21, she has one last chance to prove to be of value, to be chosen as a Guardian. Little does she know how much her life is about to change. While surprised to be chosen, she is shocked to learn a sacred relic is missing and she must retrieve it or remain outcast forever. Unprepared and alone with winter setting in, she leaves the familiarity of her village behind. Encountering and then saving a trapped wolf leads to her acquiring some companions, one who claims to be her fated mate. But they have secrets if their own and Akira learns that all is not as it seems and everything she thought she knew about her heritage may be a lie.

Duty of the Winter Wolf begins Arizona Tape’s expansion and re-release of an earlier story. Akira is a compelling heroine, who has suffered much in her young life due to having a wolf spirit inside her. Despite that she is shown to be resourceful and compassionate. The world building is well done with much groundwork laid for future storytelling. I found the story to be gripping with nice pacing. The book does end on a cliffhanger of sorts as more questions are raised than answered. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment and following Akira on her journey.

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

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Akira is an outcast in her family and town due to having been born with the soul of a wolf. It's her last chance to become the Guardian of her people's sacred artifact, and she is selected by the Elders, only to find out that the artifact is missing and she needs to go searching for it.

I enjoyed this book, although it is worth noting that it ends on a cliffhanger! Be prepared for that if you're going to read this. The characters of Ashleigh and her brother were interesting, and I thought the bit where she got to know Ashleigh's brother while he was still in wolf form was amusing and fun. The worldbuilding is interesting and I'm looking forward to learning more about how shifting and being a follower of the wolf god truly works, as it looks like our main character Akira has been pretty significantly misinformed. The way the fated mate connection between Akira and Ashleigh works was sweet as well.

Thank you to Arizona Tape for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Laura Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent start to a new series! I was totally fascinated by this world. Akira is the odd one out in her family as she has the soul of a wolf and as her 21st birthday is coming up, it is her last chance to be chosen as the Guardian Wolf for her village. Anyone in the nearby villages that have a soul of a wolf are all looked down upon. Even family members treat them as unwanted and give them little. Learning about the history of it all and watching the story unfold, I felt for Akira. Being picked on and treated that way by your own family is heart breaking. I had tears in my eyes a lot during this book. The book is about Akira’s quest as the Guardian Wolf. She is sent away and has to journey alone. I was sickened by what she had and has to go through. On this journey she meets other people and there are loads of surprises. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

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

[Susan Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of epic fantasy since I read LoTR in fifth grade, so I was happy to review Duty of the Winter Wolf by Arizona Tape. Even though the title page indicates this is Book 1 of an intended series, I was expecting the resolution of at least one plot line. Rather, the book ends with more questions than answers, thus making me impatient for the next book. I liked the main character, Akira, a lot. She grew up an outcast, so much of the story involves her breaking out of her shell and trying to trust someone. The character development felt natural, not a case of kindness from one person making Akira an open person instantly. I found the lone wolves intriguing and can’t wait to see how they connect to Akira. The author has created an interesting world based on wolves in a way new to me. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When our heroine is called upon to retrieve a lost artifact, she has no idea how difficult the task is going to be. Almost as difficult as dealing with two potential mates.

This is book one of the series, so all good there.

This is an urban fantasy story featuring shifters. The story is well written and easy to read with an intriguing setting. The setting is well developed and it is fun getting to explore it a bit. The characters are well developed and fit well within the story. The plot moves at a solid pace and involves a nice blend of action and mystery. Overall, a fun story and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

Highly recommended.

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

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will never understand why we humans make such a fuss over being different. Yes, I have been guilty of it myself and I never liked that about myself. The characters in this story have so much potential and I am looking forward to reading the next book. The plot is straightforward and a bit bleak. The premise is finding the Winter Stone stolen by the Coyotes and the village elders send a young 20 yr old to find it. This is all in the name of their obscure religion, they themselves didn't seem to believe in. I think the readers will enjoy this book as much as I have. I do recommend this novella.

[Sara Sigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Akira was an outcast because she had a soul of a wolf mistreated by her family. Went to the picking of the wolf guardian and was told that she was it but then since the winter stone was stolen and who did it. She was sent on a mission that she couldn’t tell anyone about to get the stone back. She met Aspen when a wolf and got him out of a trap then his sister Ashleigh showed up. Ashleigh told her they were mates so for awhile they traveled together to the city the twins were headed and told Akira was a wolf shifter. She overheard them talking about going to her mountain and steal the stone.

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

[Rose Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first installment introduces Akira, a village outcast. Born with the soul of a wolf, she becomes the Guardian of the Winter Stone, but it's missing. Akira embarks on a journey alone to retrieve the relic. Arizona Tape has given us this short captivating drama, with a mix of fated mates, and intriguing situations, luring the reader deeper into this adventure, woven through with, heartbreaking revelations, danger, and mistrust. I can’t wait to see what the next installment holds.

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

[Looby Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an intriguing first book of a series about Akira who is chosen to be the guardian of a missing stone and sent straight away to go and find it. Her travels bring her into contact with twins Aspen and Ashleigh, the latter being her fated mate.
Everyone had secrets and the book ends not on a cliffhanger but more on a blumming ummer why isn’t there more pages?
Looking forward to getting some answers in the next book.

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

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Akira has always been the outcast of the group but things change when she's called on by the elders. The elders have chosen Akira to be a guardian wolf and she must go on the journey to find the Winter Stone. This book took a bit for me to get into but once I did I read nonstop until the final page. The writing is good, the characters are interesting and the story held my attention until the final page. This is a great start to the Guardian of the Winter Stone series and after that ending I can't wait to read the next book to see what happens next. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Anne Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Akira has always been an outcast - so when she is chosen to be the Wolf Guardian, she is hoping for a better life. But the Winter Stonbe has gone missing - and she has to find it. When she meets Aspen and Ashleigh, she has no idea of what is to come. Will they betray her? Or will they help her on her quest? Loved it - cant wait to find out more!.

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

[J.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Akira was told she was an outcast from her "father" .

Akira was chosen from the elders to be a guardian otherwise her"father " was going to kick her out of the house. Akira found out that the Winter Stone had been stolen and her new job/task was to go look for or don't comeback! On her journey she comes across people she had been told were not supposed to be able to shift and a finds someone who tells her she is her mate. O.M.G. What else is she going to find out? Enjoy!

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. It is an interesting start to the series. Akira is sent on a mission to find a sacred relic and finds her mate Ashleigh. However there is a mystery that Ashleigh and her twin Aspen are involved and the little Akira overheard is not good. I hope Akira can find out more about herself as she wasn't told all by her village.

[Ash_Azalea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting first book with 18 chapters. I love fated mates and fantasy romance books. This story gives off that things will get complicated. Starting with a quest, and a group that may not be what they seem to be. This definitely leads you to the next book to find out more about where this series will go next.

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

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Akira is picked as the Guardian, however there is a catch. Her duty is to go looking for the stolen Wolf stone and bring it back, on her adventure she meets Aspen and Ashleigh and learns that she has been lied to all her life. This was a good start to the series and ends in a cliffhanger. It will be interesting to see if they will work together or go their separate ways.

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

[Monna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, the beginning of the story... The beginning of the quest for Akira, newly anointed Guardian. She has a wolf soul and is basically an outcast in her village and family. She must find the Winter Stone and return it to the village. Easier said than done when she is given very little information or direction. She doesn't even know what it looks like! She sets out into the forest looking for the Stone. She finds companions of a sort. She finds her mate. Her journey has just begun.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect read on a snowy, cold evening. I became immersed in Akira’s story and the interesting details of the world quickly. Just enough is shared about her past to sympathize with her because of how her family treats her, and I felt glad she had a quest to leave it all behind. I was also intrigued by the wolf religion and temple. I am looking forward to more.

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

[Tahnia Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being born a wolf shifter, Akira had been treated as an outcast for 20 years. When she is chosen to become a Guardian Wolf, Akira is tasked with finding the sacred Winter Stone that the Elders of her clan think was taken to Coyote Country. So begins Akira's journey. This quick read has action and romance, ending with a cliffhanger. Very highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Faryn Schneider · Rating 3 out of 5]

i thought this book was amazing. i couldn't put it down. Akira got the highest honor of her pack. she is to become a guardian wolf. but she has to go on this journey to find the stone alone. while on this journey she runs into another pack that take her in.

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

[CMLH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Akira has been on the outside looking in for her entire life so when she’s selected to become a Guardian Wolf, well, she isn’t quite trusting that it is for good reasons. On her journey, she encounters lone wolves and supposedly her fated mate. This is not a simple or easy journey but it is very interesting. Looking forward to the next one.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a series. It was well written with interesting characters, however, I didn’t give it a five because it’s not really my type of story. For those who enjoy shifter paranormal romance, you should enjoy this.

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

[Sophie Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the prequel (Heart and Soul of the Wolf) first, I was intruiged as to how the series was going to develop. I really enjoyed the progession of Akira as the main character, and the new tentative relationships she has formed with Aspen and Ashleigh. I have started the second book in the series (Choice of the Guardian Wolf) already!

[Shandra McClanahan · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I had paid for this book I would be mad. It's not a full story, just the first third. It is not well written. The character is uninteresting and inconsistent. What feelings are expressed don't really make sense, and the ones you are hoping for never arrive. None of the story is concluded by the end of the book and I don't trust the author to read any more.