I was surprised at how hard I had to shake myself to come out of this world when the book finished. It ended with an open unanswered revelation cliffhanger!!! Before that, it was all doom and gloom with a mixture of the FMC world collapsing around her.
This is book 1 in a 5 book series. It's paranormal, so far just shifters and mainly wolves, reverse harem, bond/fated mate, broken traumatic pasts, slow burn but with plenty of spice, Academy trope.
The initial plunge into this book had me a tad confused, taking me some time to realise the FMC past is unknown and this is her life, full of beatings bullying rejection and threats. Even so, she's kept a light in her and along with her wolf takes each day and keeps going, keeps learning keeps living.
She's accepted to Silver Falls University, which is great although a surprise when she never applied.
Her first interaction with someone from the university is an instant connection. I wouldn't call it insta-love, more just an instant bond that clears the way to trust and attraction. It was refreshing having the MMC's POVs being all about getting to know her, being possessive, worried and noticing her strengths and worth, while trying not to mess up the chance they have.
It's all still developing, and because there's an instant bond mate element, it soon opens up questions of intention and self-worth.
It is a book filled with cosy moments that make me want to be Effiy at the moments in the MMC's POV. The resulting good centring feeling the FMC gets from them, I want! It was just nice!
Oh and don't get me wrong, there is plenty of darkness and danger in the past, current and future. There is a mystery surrounding her as she has no memories before being bitten. There is a mystery behind all the MMCs, some more surprising as we glimpse some trauma in their POVs. As well as the different wolves, getting my head around how some can't shift and seem to be more of an omegaverse element with the power of the wolves but no shifting ability.
I may even little break, it was both easy and intense a read, with conflicting emotions and I'm a little exhausted in a good way
4.5 stars