Hidden

The Amplifier Chronicles #1

by Jillian Rink

Two years. That’s how long I’ve thought them dead. Oliver and I are figuring it out the only way I know one day at a time. Nevermind that he’s sick and getting worse. Nevermind that my only friend has left me. Life has stabilized, even if it’s not glamorous. And then the knock. Now everything is turned upside down. I’m desperately tracking down answers for us both. Nevermind the Shifters with me saying I’m special and powerful. Nevermind the deadline ticking in the back of my mind. They say they want to help, but I’ve learned to never trust a Shifter.

Genres: Paranormal, Audiobook, Shapeshifters, Why Choose, Wolves

406 pages, Paperback

Published September 11, 2024

Reviews

[╰☆☆Kara☆☆╮ Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly this was so bad but I'm not (usually) a quitter and I was mildly curios where the plot was going. The whole premise was a bit absurd, tbh. Like, I don't buy a mother who goes weeks out of her way for a shot in the dark cure to avoid the one place that's a surefire cure for her son. I feel like finding her true mates have rotted the mothering side of her brain. The writing and interactions within the group were so difficult to follow sometimes - all the signing, gasping, growling, crying out, etc were unnecessary. I'm going to read the next book simply bc I am *hoping* the FMC finds more stability in herself - I'm hoping for a healing arc and for her to find her strength so we shall seeeee.

[Melo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This writing style is just not for me. How can one person literally have panic attacks every 2 to 5 minutes about everything? The crying the shaking, really??? The heroine lived alone for 2 years with a baby and there were no earth quakes due to her powers. Suddenly men show up and she's a wilted flower that needs more attention than the baby. I started rolling my eyes so much I had to stop torturing myself.

[SiSi ❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really tried to like this because I do enjoy paranormal romance, I started loving reads like this when I was younger on Wattpad actually.
I just couldn't get into it, it was much slower than I thought it would be and I thought the why choose trope of it would be better honestly. It just seemed to drag for me and when I thought it was going to pick up, it just didn't. I also predicted the end when the texts started. I love that the author sent me an ARC and I'm glad she's getting positive reviews, I just wish it would've been positive for me.

[Jenna🦇 · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️.5

addison, an amplifier, is hiding away with her son in the mountains of montana after her pack was savagely attacked & murdered. she’s traumatized, not only from the attack but from her whole life. she was taught to always submit, never question your alpha, that she was bottom of the food chain. but the truth? she’s rare and is the top of the chain. three men from her old pack who survived come find her one day and tell her her son needs to come back to the pack lands, he’s too far from them and it’s killing him. so they set off on an adventure back to colorado.

overall, i liked this! the pacing was off at times. i think it could have gone abit quicker. the threat on addie is what keeps the story going. the spice is great, but i’m a thirsty bitch and want MORE. i just know dec is a FREAK IN THE SHEETS. this is a great start to the series!


tropes:
🥀 why choose
🥀 secret baby
🥀 forced proximity
🥀 fated mates
🥀 shifters

tw:
* anxiety/panic attacks
* revenge porn
* attempted kidnapping
* blood/blood magic
* grooming (off page)
* physical/emotional abuse (off page)
* child death (off page)
* dubious consent (off page)

i received this book as an arc from the author in return for a honest review. thank you jillian!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check Trigger Warnings! This book contains a lot of triggers so be aware!
That being said, I really enjoyed this book. I was given an ARC of book 2: Haunted. However, I had not read the first book in this series so I was fortunate to find it on KU.
I really enjoyed the trio of male shifters characters: Tobias, Kane, and Declan. They seemed to perfect trinity for having to care for Addison.
I was not a fan of Addison in the beginning. I understood she had some trauma in her past but it was so much and so constant that I just wanted to see her a bit stronger or that type of growth due to her new independence and then the support of these three men. However, as the story progressed and more of her backstory was given I understood the deep levels of abuse and trauma she had suffered and why she seemed so skittish and "weak". It made sense and what she goes through is just horrible.
I am curious to see where this book goes. And in case anyone is wondering, while I think the three guys are great, I hold a special place in my heart for Declan. He was fun and awkward in his almost brutish ways.

[Kam Burkett · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤍 Why Choose
🤍 Shifters
🤍 Dead Ex- Mates Brother
🤍 Forced Proximity
🤍 Single Mom

After an ambush that kills her mate and entire pack Addison goes into hiding finding out she is pregnant. For almost 2 years she has lived in hiding until reality knocks on the front door. 3 men who she thought died in the ambush have found her just in time, her son is sick and needs to get back on pack lands. Coming to terms with these three men surviving the ambush she also has to unravel and skim through a life of lies not only from her parents but her mate as well. She is an Amplifier, one of the most powerful. She struggles with trauma and abuse. She has a lot to discover and learn not only about herself but her powers. All while receiving threatening text, trying to juggle a sick toddler and discover who she is. Tobias was her bonded protector prior to the ambush and their chemistry is off the charts. She is drawn to Kane and Declan immediately too. I can’t wait to watch her growth and her relationships flourish with these men! I literally can’t wait for the next one.

[Holly's Bookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Addie has hidden for the past 2 years with her baby boy in the mountains. She believed that her old pack was murdered and had help hiding away. 3 men from her pack show up at her house claiming that they are alive and her son is the new alpha. The pacing was very slow and the magic system was very confusing. We are automatically thrown into this world without any world building or any explanation on how everything worked. It made it very difficult to get through since I couldn't understand half of what was being said. Addie was deeply traumatized and constantly had panic attacks after every single movement or word said by her or her men. If I have to read the line "deep breath in, hold, deep breath out." one more time I might scream. I really wanted to like this book but found it lacking.

[Lulu · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Hoopla) Another "just ok" book. 😐 I am not even sure why I couldn't get into it more. The characters and world building were ok. The plot twist was slightly predictable. The pacing felt a bit off? Like, why is it taking so long to get to Denver? If it is an emergency for the baby, why are they just renting a home and riding the carousel? I guess I just didn't quite grasp the magical end of things either. I think using the "blood magic" to ward a room for safety makes sense - but why are they using it to do the dishes? And these "shock waves" the amplifier sends out...put her child at risk of shifting...and normally upset him a great deal. . . . unless he's on the playground at the mall, then he doesn't even notice! I dunno. It was all just kind of odd... enough to have me going "meh" over the book instead of getting sucked in. Probably will not bother with book 2.

[Andrea Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addie and her son are in hiding from the past until 3 men show up at her doorstep bringing reality with them. She has no choice but to leave, not only to save her son but herself. With the assistance of her ex-husbands brother, a man who was to protect her, and two men who were apart of her pack that she left behind, she begins to unravel what happened that day that changed everything she's ever known.

With the tropes of why choose, fates mates, ex-husbands brother, shifters, road trip and more, you cant go wrong with this book. By a debut author, she created a world where the main character not only faces personal trauma but discover herself and her power with the help of her three men.

[Jian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading my first Shifter book, definitely was not a disappointment! I had put this book off for so long and I deeply regret that!!

The first few chapters had been slow for me as a first time reader, but once I got through it I instantly fell in love! I recommend to just keep reading!! It is a slow burn, and every little touch between Addie and her three men, I was loosing it!

Being introduced to the Shifter world is something I did not expect to absoloutly love and be addicted to, but this is what the book did to me, I say keep an open mind and give it a try...

Slow Burn, Cliffhanger!! a lot of people are put off by this, but I promise, it's soooo worth it!

[Amanda Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives you all the feels. The FMC is hiding out with her son dealing with some trauma and some men from her past come back into her life saying they need to protect her and the story get intense and wonderful from there. This story has it all. Why choose, fated mates, trauma, a hurt but strong as everything fmc. I definitely can't wait to read more from Jillian in the future. The characters and story are wonderfully written.

[Julianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this just didn't hit the mark for me.. It's hard to understand what was going on a lot of the time because there wasn't any real world building.. When there is magic and paranormal stuff going on world building is so so important.

Also the FMC just didn't do it for me. I love a good traumatized FMC, but she was just kind of annoying with it. How is it even possible that the FMC lived on her own for 2 years when she can barely take care of herself? It's just not believable.

[angsreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I wanted to say thank you to the author for sending me this as an ARC. This book consists of why choose, slow burn, a single mom, and a few triggers which I highly recommend reading before diving into! If you’re okay with the triggers, I highly suggest this book to you! I overall enjoyed it, it was just a slower read for me! But I still recommend!

[Joanna Paris · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my first shifter read, I must say Jillian has set the bar high! I devoured this book in a day and absolutely loved it. This book is a sloooow burn but it was completely worth it.

Slow burns are generally not my favourite trope but it made everything worth it! I cannot wait to read the next book!

[Everything Bookish Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook. The narrators held so much emotions in their voices. I was pulled into the story and never set free. Each character was their own unique self. It was a paranormal romance but it had a bit of an original twist that I really enjoyed. Seeing her come into her own was awesome!

[Kiki ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes: why choose - single mom - slow burn !

“You are bone of my bone. Flesh of my flesh. “

I am trying to formulate the words that are stirring in my head! The book was… bewildering! 🖤 (in the best way!) I definitely think there is intentional distance between us and some pieces of the story! Trust me when I say, the further you get in the more if all just starts connecting and making sense!

Please, read the the triggers before picking up the book. But I highly recommend it! Especially as we are going through the pain with Addie, someone who has been wronged and abused.

-slow burn ! (When you finally get to the slice 🥵) trust me the slow burn is worth it!! Pg 309 👀🫢

Things to know 🖤
-multi pov!
- fated mates

I should mention that the MC has a child from a previous relationship (a flaming trash can of a ex). I know that can be off putting for some.

[J M Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well written

This is the first Jillian Rink book for me. Eagerly downloading the next in this series. The characters are complicated and completely realized. The situation is multifaceted, and the FMC is not whiney. So I'm loving it. The amplifier is an original concept.

[Melissa Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Start!

Loved reading about Addy and her fantastic guys! The storyline is unique and great character development! I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

[Maries.artcreations · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all of them but my favorite is Tobias.

[Corrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

This is such a unique take on the shifter trope. Addi is such an incredible survivor, and there are lots of unanswered questions.

[꧁ Brutally Honest ꧂ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh joy another book about breeding. Sums up the entirety of 2024 authors.

[Morgana Pendragon · Rating 2 out of 5]

THAT WAS EXAUSTING!!!

[Ceara Nixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess you can say the mc is a very emotional character

[Kaylie Helfrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story and the cast of characters, but it was a little bit slower paced than what I typically read. This book was a lot of introductions and character building. The FMC doesn't know the truth about this world so the reader learns about the world with her. I am excited to see where this story goes in book 2.

[Grace Willows · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like why choose, single mom, forced proximity, dead ex mates brother, shifters and slowburns then this book is for you!

Please read the triggers before you read this book! The writing is phenomenal! There was so much character growth in the FMC as she faces her past trauma. I absolutely can not wait for the next book!

[Doom Sunshine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been quite some time since a new take on the Shifter universe has graced the shelves. Hidden has injected some of the old familiar with a new perspective on how shifters packs work.
Our FMC (Addison) is what is called an Amplifier and has unfortunately suffered trauma from the time she was born until we meet her. She was abused as a child, made ignorant of her powers, and sold off for marriage to an abusive alpha for the power that she has.
This is a SLOW BURN. Emphasis on SLOW. But, with good reason. Addison is full of trauma and her guys allow her to make decisions on her own and make them with knowledge (after all knowledge is power).
Hidden is a 4 star read for me. It missed the 5 star mark for some pretty significant issues. First, the book was centered TOO much on Addisons trauma, as if her trauma was all that there is to her. Second, Addison has a child but we don't really interact much with him. He's a toddler, but not very active or present in a lot of the scenes. He is the catalyst to why Addison has to leave her secluded cabin, but other than that, he's like a background set piece.
What Jillian Rink does very well is the SHOWING and not telling us about her world. Addison has had what her powers are and what she is hid from her, so as Addison discovers what she can do, so do we. Most authors do a huge lore dump to explain the world, but not Jillian Rink. We're on the adventure together with Addison as she finally comes into her own.

[Angelbabybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! I can’t wait to see where her journey takes her with her son and 3 true mates. This is my first book with fated mates and shifters and I am not disappointed! I can’t wait for book 2!