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Remnants : The Forsaken Goddess & The Eternal Flame
Set in a world where love defies boundaries, Remnants introduces readers to two intertwined love that of Amaya and Eve—a romance shaped by cosmic forces and betrayal—and Julianne and Billy, whose connection begins on earth amidst the struggles of self-discovery and societal judgment.
In the celestial realm, Amaya and Eve’s love story unfolds with mythical complexity. Torn apart by envious kin, Eve ascends as a phoenix, her memories erased under divine decree. Amaya, cursed to wander as a wolf bound to the ancient house of Khaldun, carries the weight of their lost love. Guided by a shaman, she embarks on a quest to reclaim Eve and uncover the mysteries that haunt their bond. Even as an animal, Amaya learns that love can transcend form—expressed through companionship, loyalty, and gestures that reach Eve’s heart in ways words never could.
Meanwhile, Julianne and Billy’s budding romance adds another layer to the narrative, grounded in the challenges of identity and acceptance. Outcasts in their coastal town, Julianne and Billy are drawn together, each finding solace in the other’s presence. As they grapple with their shifting feelings, they learn that love can be a force for transformation and healing, helping them embrace their true selves and confront the weight of expectations.
Remnants invites readers into a world where love is unconditional, timeless, and unwavering. Blending ancient mythology with contemporary themes, this story offers cosmic secrets, quests for redemption, and emotional twists that keep hearts racing.
In the celestial realm, Amaya and Eve’s love story unfolds with mythical complexity. Torn apart by envious kin, Eve ascends as a phoenix, her memories erased under divine decree. Amaya, cursed to wander as a wolf bound to the ancient house of Khaldun, carries the weight of their lost love. Guided by a shaman, she embarks on a quest to reclaim Eve and uncover the mysteries that haunt their bond. Even as an animal, Amaya learns that love can transcend form—expressed through companionship, loyalty, and gestures that reach Eve’s heart in ways words never could.
Meanwhile, Julianne and Billy’s budding romance adds another layer to the narrative, grounded in the challenges of identity and acceptance. Outcasts in their coastal town, Julianne and Billy are drawn together, each finding solace in the other’s presence. As they grapple with their shifting feelings, they learn that love can be a force for transformation and healing, helping them embrace their true selves and confront the weight of expectations.
Remnants invites readers into a world where love is unconditional, timeless, and unwavering. Blending ancient mythology with contemporary themes, this story offers cosmic secrets, quests for redemption, and emotional twists that keep hearts racing.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2024
5 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 3, 2025
This is an ambitious story of two different loves... one couple cursed to be apart and another couple just discovering love. The tale is told from multiple viewpoints and features a lot of different elements: high school, family, and small-town conflicts and drama, plus wolf-shifter politics and disputes. It ends with a cliffhanger.
Elements I liked:
Many of the descriptions were truly lovely. The story's premise about the couple cursed to be apart with one not even remembering their connection was intriguing. I enjoyed how some characters grew throughout the story, and discovering the found family was satisfying.
Elements I struggled with:
Too often, my immersion in the story was broken by execution issues, including odd phrasing, incorrect words, typos, and incorrect line breaks. Many descriptions were repetitive and overshadowed the tale. Explanations of the meanings of various descriptions quickly grew irritating. Consistency issues also interrupted the flow: varying spellings of a name, characters popping up without clues to who they were, and characters seemingly knowing something then later apparently not knowing it. The story hopped a lot from viewpoint to viewpoint, usually without clearly indicating whose viewpoint was the focus.
Overall:
I liked this story, although the prevalent issues hampered my immersion and made for some frustration while reading. It would benefit from more proofreading and editing.
(I read this book through Kindle Unlimited.)
Elements I liked:
Many of the descriptions were truly lovely. The story's premise about the couple cursed to be apart with one not even remembering their connection was intriguing. I enjoyed how some characters grew throughout the story, and discovering the found family was satisfying.
Elements I struggled with:
Too often, my immersion in the story was broken by execution issues, including odd phrasing, incorrect words, typos, and incorrect line breaks. Many descriptions were repetitive and overshadowed the tale. Explanations of the meanings of various descriptions quickly grew irritating. Consistency issues also interrupted the flow: varying spellings of a name, characters popping up without clues to who they were, and characters seemingly knowing something then later apparently not knowing it. The story hopped a lot from viewpoint to viewpoint, usually without clearly indicating whose viewpoint was the focus.
Overall:
I liked this story, although the prevalent issues hampered my immersion and made for some frustration while reading. It would benefit from more proofreading and editing.
(I read this book through Kindle Unlimited.)
April 6, 2025
I don't believe in giving X.5 star ratings, so when something is on the line between two numbers, I flip a coin. In this case, it landed with the higher score granted by a heads.
The story has some strong points, the main one being the cool premise of a curse on lovers where one dies and is reincarnated without remembering the other, who must constantly try to reconnect. That's cruel. I loved the idea. Sadly, that story took a back seat. Other strong points were the graphic depictions of scenery and action scenes. The scenery did get to a waxing poetic purple prose at times, but many will enjoy the cool combinations of the English language in sentence form. I also enjoyed some of the little things, like werewolves having stashes of clothes at entrances to their homes, in case they need to dress quickly after a shift.
Unfortunately, there were more issues than strengths. The structure of the book is awkward at points, with people speaking but their dialogue in a new paragraph or sections that were bolded for emphasis. The hardest was the dialogue quotation marks. Sometimes they didn't exist. Sometimes only one, but not because a speaker continued into a new paragraph. It got hard to follow who was speaking sometimes because the same person would have multiple paragraphs, quoted fully, without any narrative breaks or responses from other characters.
The characters didn't behave properly in many bombastic situations. Eve is the Phoenix, but she doesn't know it. When she's given this information, something that would likely unsettle the typical teenager, she immediately accepts it as fact. So did her mother, who is always called "Mrs. Summers" for some bizarre reason. They got high and drunk together when Eve admitted she knew she was adopted, as one tends to do, I suppose, in that situation. Not so much as one joke about needing another mother/daughter puff or sip when the Phoenix revelation landed. I feel like one is significantly more jarring than the other. At least throw in some PTSD or denial.
Speaking of being an immortal goddess, Eve cared more about the love Amaya had for her and that she presumably would have for Amaya. Um, excuse me! You have superpowers! Wouldn't any rational person want to know what those powers can do? She never practices. Never inquires. It's like having a hot immortal girlfriend is the only question that needed answers. It wasn't like rival werewolf clans were trying to kill them all. Oh, wait.
Mrs. Summers, no first name given, is addressed as such by all the other immortals. Yes, they look like teenagers, but their minds are thousands of years old. Mrs. Summers would be an infant a few weeks old in comparison. Shouldn't she be "Sharon" or something? Also, why does one of the immortal teenagers have the hots for her?
Everyone gets hit with instalove faster than ever. Usually after flicking the switch on their backs from evil to good. Literally, they change their demeanors in a few sentences. Jennifer is introduced as Eve's best friend. Literally on the same page she screams at Eve for being a jerk and gets into a fistfight with her. The rest of the book has her acting like the most privileged idiot ever, making me wonder why she and Eve were ever friends. Billy starts as a big bully, then instaloves hard with Julianne after she decides hunting Leo can wait because it's wrestling season. By my count, Jennifer, Billy, Leo, and Adrian switched sides without much effort, and everyone just went with it.
I'm willing to accept immortal goddesses, curses, and werewolves. I love stories with these elements. I can't accept wrestling co-captains caring about a meet when a murderous cursed beast is prowling Alaska looking specifically for them. The first half of the book was about Eve and Amaya meeting and being in love. Then the focus shifted to Julianne and Billy going from enemies to lovers in a few scenes for the back half. I wish more effort had gone to the first part. It would have been a more fulfilling story without an awkward cliffhanger before book 2.
The story has some strong points, the main one being the cool premise of a curse on lovers where one dies and is reincarnated without remembering the other, who must constantly try to reconnect. That's cruel. I loved the idea. Sadly, that story took a back seat. Other strong points were the graphic depictions of scenery and action scenes. The scenery did get to a waxing poetic purple prose at times, but many will enjoy the cool combinations of the English language in sentence form. I also enjoyed some of the little things, like werewolves having stashes of clothes at entrances to their homes, in case they need to dress quickly after a shift.
Unfortunately, there were more issues than strengths. The structure of the book is awkward at points, with people speaking but their dialogue in a new paragraph or sections that were bolded for emphasis. The hardest was the dialogue quotation marks. Sometimes they didn't exist. Sometimes only one, but not because a speaker continued into a new paragraph. It got hard to follow who was speaking sometimes because the same person would have multiple paragraphs, quoted fully, without any narrative breaks or responses from other characters.
The characters didn't behave properly in many bombastic situations. Eve is the Phoenix, but she doesn't know it. When she's given this information, something that would likely unsettle the typical teenager, she immediately accepts it as fact. So did her mother, who is always called "Mrs. Summers" for some bizarre reason. They got high and drunk together when Eve admitted she knew she was adopted, as one tends to do, I suppose, in that situation. Not so much as one joke about needing another mother/daughter puff or sip when the Phoenix revelation landed. I feel like one is significantly more jarring than the other. At least throw in some PTSD or denial.
Speaking of being an immortal goddess, Eve cared more about the love Amaya had for her and that she presumably would have for Amaya. Um, excuse me! You have superpowers! Wouldn't any rational person want to know what those powers can do? She never practices. Never inquires. It's like having a hot immortal girlfriend is the only question that needed answers. It wasn't like rival werewolf clans were trying to kill them all. Oh, wait.
Mrs. Summers, no first name given, is addressed as such by all the other immortals. Yes, they look like teenagers, but their minds are thousands of years old. Mrs. Summers would be an infant a few weeks old in comparison. Shouldn't she be "Sharon" or something? Also, why does one of the immortal teenagers have the hots for her?
Everyone gets hit with instalove faster than ever. Usually after flicking the switch on their backs from evil to good. Literally, they change their demeanors in a few sentences. Jennifer is introduced as Eve's best friend. Literally on the same page she screams at Eve for being a jerk and gets into a fistfight with her. The rest of the book has her acting like the most privileged idiot ever, making me wonder why she and Eve were ever friends. Billy starts as a big bully, then instaloves hard with Julianne after she decides hunting Leo can wait because it's wrestling season. By my count, Jennifer, Billy, Leo, and Adrian switched sides without much effort, and everyone just went with it.
I'm willing to accept immortal goddesses, curses, and werewolves. I love stories with these elements. I can't accept wrestling co-captains caring about a meet when a murderous cursed beast is prowling Alaska looking specifically for them. The first half of the book was about Eve and Amaya meeting and being in love. Then the focus shifted to Julianne and Billy going from enemies to lovers in a few scenes for the back half. I wish more effort had gone to the first part. It would have been a more fulfilling story without an awkward cliffhanger before book 2.
September 30, 2025
I genuinely enjoyed this story from start to finish. What stood out to me most was the way the author layered in the background history of the characters and their world. That foundation didn’t just feel like filler—it gave every moment of conflict and action more weight because I understood what was at stake and how deeply tied each character was to the unfolding events.
The main character, a werewolf FMC, completely captured my attention. Her journey wasn’t rushed or overly simplified—it was messy, powerful, and transformative. Watching her peel back the layers of who she thought she was, only to grow into her true self, felt raw and believable. By the time she stepped fully into her power, it wasn’t just a personal victory—it was world-shaking. Her transformation carried ripple effects that altered the entire fantasy setting in ways that made me feel like I was witnessing history within the book’s world.
I also appreciated the pacing of the story. The buildup was steady, with just enough intrigue and tension to keep me invested, and when the action hit, it hit hard. It was the kind of payoff that feels earned because of all the groundwork the author laid in the beginning.
Beyond the action, what kept me hooked was the emotional depth. This isn’t just a tale of battles and supernatural forces—it’s also a story of resilience, identity, and the cost of becoming who you’re meant to be. The mix of mythology, werewolf lore, and divine elements gave it a fresh spin that kept it from blending into the sea of fantasy romances out there.
Overall, Remnants: The Forsaken Goddess and the Eternal Flame is an empowering and immersive fantasy read. It’s perfect for readers who love strong heroines, layered worldbuilding, and stories that balance raw emotion with epic stakes
August 8, 2025
Can I give 3.5 stars? I more than “liked it” but I definitely had some issues with this book that keep me from saying I “really liked it.” If you love detailed and vivid descriptions in your stories, the author of this novel should tick that box for you. She paints a picture of everything you “see” while reading.
“At the pinnacle of the fountain stood a womanly figure adorned with a lovely golden ivy leaf headdress, her graceful form holding a pot in the shape of a lily wrapped in ivy vines, from which the waterfall flowed into the sparkling pool below. Around the base of the fountain, carved children reached upward, their tiny hands outstretched in awe.” (p.159)
I got more than I bargained for with this one! I was very intrigued by the idea that a Phoenix had no memory of her eternal love for a goddess. I loved that the goddess, now at the head of a shifter family, was still in the life of the Phoenix, Eve, hear in present day and hoping she would remember their love. I got exactly what I expected for the first 70% of the story. I learned what had caused Eve’s last death and felt the story had come to its climax. I turned the page and expected to discover how Eve and Amaya lived the rest of their days….but that wasn’t what I got!
The next 15% of the book didn’t mention Eve at all. Suddenly, the story was about one of Amaya’s Lieutenants and her relationship with a human. It’s another three chapter before we find out that Eve was overwhelmed by all the discoveries about her life and stayed home from school for weeks. In the meantime, the book takes on a very YA “Outer Banks” kind of feel for a bit where all the characters truly act high-school aged.
“At the pinnacle of the fountain stood a womanly figure adorned with a lovely golden ivy leaf headdress, her graceful form holding a pot in the shape of a lily wrapped in ivy vines, from which the waterfall flowed into the sparkling pool below. Around the base of the fountain, carved children reached upward, their tiny hands outstretched in awe.” (p.159)
I got more than I bargained for with this one! I was very intrigued by the idea that a Phoenix had no memory of her eternal love for a goddess. I loved that the goddess, now at the head of a shifter family, was still in the life of the Phoenix, Eve, hear in present day and hoping she would remember their love. I got exactly what I expected for the first 70% of the story. I learned what had caused Eve’s last death and felt the story had come to its climax. I turned the page and expected to discover how Eve and Amaya lived the rest of their days….but that wasn’t what I got!
The next 15% of the book didn’t mention Eve at all. Suddenly, the story was about one of Amaya’s Lieutenants and her relationship with a human. It’s another three chapter before we find out that Eve was overwhelmed by all the discoveries about her life and stayed home from school for weeks. In the meantime, the book takes on a very YA “Outer Banks” kind of feel for a bit where all the characters truly act high-school aged.
August 26, 2025
The story opens in Sitka, with a blend of romance, mythology, and cosmic twists— all told from multiple viewpoints.
The story opens with Eve. She has just had a major fight with a school chum. Nothing seems to be going right. She doesn’t feel she belongs. Could it be it’s because she been adopted and has never really fit in? Then the story jumps to her encounter with a bear and a wolf. The wolf is Amaya, a shape shifter who loved Eve in a former life. Next, Julianne and Billy are introduced along with their growing attraction to one another.
For me, while the story had many strong dramatic scenes, but they didn’t always feel well-stitched together. Nor was it always clear whose point of view was being portrayed without reading on and then rereading.
I wish the author had started with the opening scene of the story rather than an explanation of why she wrote the story and a forward that didn’t invite me into the tale. By the time I got to the story I felt like I do when I go to see movie (one I really want to see) and must sit through a half hour of advertisements and previews before the movie starts. The advanced info would have worked better after the story.
The overall story idea, while ambitious, has promise but I felt like I had to work to keep it all sorted. Perhaps a bit of judicious editing would turn this into a five-star story.
The story opens with Eve. She has just had a major fight with a school chum. Nothing seems to be going right. She doesn’t feel she belongs. Could it be it’s because she been adopted and has never really fit in? Then the story jumps to her encounter with a bear and a wolf. The wolf is Amaya, a shape shifter who loved Eve in a former life. Next, Julianne and Billy are introduced along with their growing attraction to one another.
For me, while the story had many strong dramatic scenes, but they didn’t always feel well-stitched together. Nor was it always clear whose point of view was being portrayed without reading on and then rereading.
I wish the author had started with the opening scene of the story rather than an explanation of why she wrote the story and a forward that didn’t invite me into the tale. By the time I got to the story I felt like I do when I go to see movie (one I really want to see) and must sit through a half hour of advertisements and previews before the movie starts. The advanced info would have worked better after the story.
The overall story idea, while ambitious, has promise but I felt like I had to work to keep it all sorted. Perhaps a bit of judicious editing would turn this into a five-star story.
September 7, 2025
Remnants is a romantic fantasy. The main narrative is about former lovers, Amaya and Eve (formerly a goddess and a phoenix). In the celestial realm, their love is cursed, and Amaya is sent to Earth as a wolf, and Eve as a human (teenager at this point in the story). While Eve recollects nothing, Amaya recovers her memories and watches over Eve in the hope of reviving the connection they once had. Although there is some fine descriptive prose, at times it is overdone, which can break immersion.
Amaya and Eve's relationship builds slowly after they meet, but after a strong start, the story dwindles, and I would have liked to see more development between them. In the latter half of the book, the primary focus shifted away from Amaya and Eva to a budding new relationship between Billy and Julianne, which seemed distracting.
The story builds, ending on a cliffhanger, to set up the sequel. In summary, it is an entertaining story, aimed primarily at young adults, but some polished editing would greatly improve it.
Amaya and Eve's relationship builds slowly after they meet, but after a strong start, the story dwindles, and I would have liked to see more development between them. In the latter half of the book, the primary focus shifted away from Amaya and Eva to a budding new relationship between Billy and Julianne, which seemed distracting.
The story builds, ending on a cliffhanger, to set up the sequel. In summary, it is an entertaining story, aimed primarily at young adults, but some polished editing would greatly improve it.
October 29, 2025
I’m a sucker for all things Alaska. Throw in a romance with an ancient race of shape-shifting wolf/humans, and you have my attention. Tameka E. Wesley’s Remnants: The Forsaken Goddess & The Eternal Flame weaves two love stories separated by time and corporal form. Wesley spends equal time outside, building fantastical worlds with lush descriptive imagery, and inside the lead characters’ heads, understanding their complexities and yearnings.
I found Eve and Amaya’s relationship, as Amaya dealt with her transformation from goddess to wolf and Eve struggled to realize her true powers, especially compelling. The parallel earthbound romance between Julianne and Billy left me a little flat by comparison. But I think readers who enjoy layered fantasy, shapeshifter lore, and inventive mythology will find Remnants immersive and satisfying. Wesley’s rich, rhythmic prose is like comfort food.
I found Eve and Amaya’s relationship, as Amaya dealt with her transformation from goddess to wolf and Eve struggled to realize her true powers, especially compelling. The parallel earthbound romance between Julianne and Billy left me a little flat by comparison. But I think readers who enjoy layered fantasy, shapeshifter lore, and inventive mythology will find Remnants immersive and satisfying. Wesley’s rich, rhythmic prose is like comfort food.
September 3, 2025
Epic Fantasy with Depth and Heart
Remnants: The Forsaken Goddess & The Eternal Flame is an immersive journey into a world brimming with divine conflict, ancient powers, and human resilience. Tameka E. Wesley crafts a tale that blends mythic grandeur with emotional storytelling, pulling readers into a saga of gods, destiny, and sacrifice.
What stood out most was the rich world-building—you can feel the history and weight of every choice the characters make. The Forsaken Goddess herself is both tragic and powerful, a character you can’t help but feel for, while the Eternal Flame embodies hope and struggle in equal measure.
Some pacing moments may feel heavy with detail, but those who love deep, layered fantasy will find this a rewarding read. It’s not just a story of magic and gods—it’s about survival, redemption, and the threads of fate that tie us all together.
Remnants: The Forsaken Goddess & The Eternal Flame is an immersive journey into a world brimming with divine conflict, ancient powers, and human resilience. Tameka E. Wesley crafts a tale that blends mythic grandeur with emotional storytelling, pulling readers into a saga of gods, destiny, and sacrifice.
What stood out most was the rich world-building—you can feel the history and weight of every choice the characters make. The Forsaken Goddess herself is both tragic and powerful, a character you can’t help but feel for, while the Eternal Flame embodies hope and struggle in equal measure.
Some pacing moments may feel heavy with detail, but those who love deep, layered fantasy will find this a rewarding read. It’s not just a story of magic and gods—it’s about survival, redemption, and the threads of fate that tie us all together.
May 9, 2025
A Powerful Blend of Fantasy and Identity
Remnants: The Forsaken Goddess & The Eternal Flame is a beautifully imaginative and emotionally rich story. I was immediately drawn in by the world's creativity and the characters' depth. As an adopted person, I resonated deeply with the adoption themes woven into the story—they were handled with heart and authenticity.
The writing pulled me in and made me feel connected to the characters, keeping me turning the pages, eager to find out what would happen next. It’s a story that blends fantasy, emotion, and identity in a way that stays with you.
I highly recommend it to anyone who loves character-driven fantasy with heart.
Remnants: The Forsaken Goddess & The Eternal Flame is a beautifully imaginative and emotionally rich story. I was immediately drawn in by the world's creativity and the characters' depth. As an adopted person, I resonated deeply with the adoption themes woven into the story—they were handled with heart and authenticity.
The writing pulled me in and made me feel connected to the characters, keeping me turning the pages, eager to find out what would happen next. It’s a story that blends fantasy, emotion, and identity in a way that stays with you.
I highly recommend it to anyone who loves character-driven fantasy with heart.
May 27, 2025
Remnants: The Forsaken Goddess & The Eternal Flame (The Remnants Sagas) by T.E.W. Tameka E. Wesley (Goodreads Author) features characters such as Amaya, Eve, Billy, Julian, and Julianne while some of the characters possess their inner traits in themselves that manifest in the supernatural. But in the meantime, the same characters adjust to a high school-age environment. This book is out of the genre I typically read.
December 12, 2025
They say every story has already been told, that each new story is just a reimage. let me just say that this is not the case with Remnants: The Forsaken Goddess & The Eternal Flame, in this gripping tale you will read Amaya and Eve’s, through thick and thin, this story will have you gripping the seat and biting your fingernails as you wait to flip the page.
I, personally can not wait to see where this story goes.
I, personally can not wait to see where this story goes.
April 12, 2025
"Remnants" weaves two compelling love stories: a cosmic, mythical romance between Amaya and Eve, and an earthly connection between Julianne and Billy. The book explores themes of unconditional love, identity, and acceptance, blending fantasy, mystery, and romance effectively. The complex characters and intriguing plot kept me engaged throughout.
April 2, 2025
Girl! This book is amazing 💜 it paints the picture for each scene, the characters have such amazing stories and anyone that comes across this you’ll love it! I mean who doesn’t love goddesses, shifters, and phoenixes? This author captures each characters POV perfectly, you don’t just have Amaya and Eve, you get the connections with all the characters. I cursed at the end, maybe even teared up 🥺, I need book two like yesterday!
November 19, 2024
Fantastic!!!!
November 19, 2025
This is amazing story i love the whole book i can't wait for the next book for this too come out
May 21, 2025
If you are a fantasy lover, a fantasy story it is. I saw an adult form of dark and deep nuances of "Beauty and the Beast" in some of the settings. The characters are interesting, the scenes imaginative and the descriptions are elaborate to the point of excess. Though detailed images are invoked, it tends to take away from any feeling of suspense. Love is the theme, though that also seemed in excess to the point of obsession. I found it difficult to switch back and forth between fantasy and realism at times. Some may find the story compelling, however I had issues with the seemingly shifting plot and lack of cohesiveness.
September 20, 2025
The author’s Preface to this book states that she “…wrote Remnants to promote unconditional love and diversity.” That is certainly evident in the book, which features a lesbian romance in a more or less present-day setting, as well as many situations in which unconditional love is discussed and expressed.
The setting is a fictional version of Sitka, Alaska. Several scenes occur in nearby forests, which are described in lush and vivid language. The town does in fact have two high schools, and both feature in the plot.
The author’s enthusiasm for the story and characters is evident on nearly every page. It takes the form of intense and extensive description of characters, their surroundings, their clothing, and especially their emotions. “Bushes rose high against stark vines of branches,” is said of a forest. A main character’s eyes are described as “two obsidian orbs” with “milky depths.” In the middle of a conversation, “Her soul cracked and splintered into ravines, leaving jagged edges along her heart.”
These examples represent one of the main problems I had with reading the book: there is way too much description. Action scenes and conversations are paused while the narrative voice explains what characters are thinking and feeling. When a character enters a scene, action freezes for a detailed description of their clothing and footwear. More than once, I had to back up and find the place where action or dialogue left off in order to remind myself what was happening.
The Prologue explains that the goddess Athena was cursed because of her love for a female deity who ultimately becomes the Phoenix. The curse separates them, and Athena becomes a wolf in Louisiana. Somehow, she turns into an individual named Amaya with the ability to shift into wolf form when she is adopted by a clan in Sitka who also have a connection to the Middle East, hence their name of House of Khaldun.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix is Eve Summers, a high school student in Sitka, who has forgotten her divine origins and powers. The first part of the book is about Amaya and her twin cousins Julian and Julianne taking on identities as transfer students to one of Sitka’s high schools in order to protect Eve. Amaya also wants to prompt Eve to remember her true identity and thus rekindle their love.
I found it difficult to suspend disbelief while trying to reconcile all these diverse plot elements. The action veers from teenage bullying and problems in school sports teams to discussions of rival wolf clan politics in the Khalduns’ luxurious Manor House. Characters struggle with the threat of accursed family members in one scene and read magazines or go jogging in the next. Revelations that should be unbelievable or shocking (You are an immortal, powerful being. I can shift into wolf form.) are accepted without question. These abrupt changes and unlikely situations eventually disengaged me from the story.
Another thing I found unacceptable was a sudden shift about three quarters of the way through the book to what seemed like an entirely different story involving a romance between two of the secondary characters. This happens right after a frantic hunt by everyone for two other characters who fall off a cliff. One of these individuals is scarcely mentioned after that, and the reader also loses sight of the two main characters, Amaya and Eve, for several chapters.
Turning to more mundane considerations, there are problems with use of quotation marks when a character’s speech goes into a second paragraph. Sometimes it’s hard to know who is speaking. Frequent point of view shifts add to the confusion. Scenes don’t always connect smoothly, and I noticed references to past events that weren’t previously mentioned, making me wonder if I was reading a sequel.
Finally, the story ends with a double cliffhanger. One character disappears, and a climactic event which has been predicted never happens, but supposedly will if the story continues in a sequel. While I recognize that this book is a passion project of its author, I found it an unsatisfying read because of the problems I’ve noted.
The setting is a fictional version of Sitka, Alaska. Several scenes occur in nearby forests, which are described in lush and vivid language. The town does in fact have two high schools, and both feature in the plot.
The author’s enthusiasm for the story and characters is evident on nearly every page. It takes the form of intense and extensive description of characters, their surroundings, their clothing, and especially their emotions. “Bushes rose high against stark vines of branches,” is said of a forest. A main character’s eyes are described as “two obsidian orbs” with “milky depths.” In the middle of a conversation, “Her soul cracked and splintered into ravines, leaving jagged edges along her heart.”
These examples represent one of the main problems I had with reading the book: there is way too much description. Action scenes and conversations are paused while the narrative voice explains what characters are thinking and feeling. When a character enters a scene, action freezes for a detailed description of their clothing and footwear. More than once, I had to back up and find the place where action or dialogue left off in order to remind myself what was happening.
The Prologue explains that the goddess Athena was cursed because of her love for a female deity who ultimately becomes the Phoenix. The curse separates them, and Athena becomes a wolf in Louisiana. Somehow, she turns into an individual named Amaya with the ability to shift into wolf form when she is adopted by a clan in Sitka who also have a connection to the Middle East, hence their name of House of Khaldun.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix is Eve Summers, a high school student in Sitka, who has forgotten her divine origins and powers. The first part of the book is about Amaya and her twin cousins Julian and Julianne taking on identities as transfer students to one of Sitka’s high schools in order to protect Eve. Amaya also wants to prompt Eve to remember her true identity and thus rekindle their love.
I found it difficult to suspend disbelief while trying to reconcile all these diverse plot elements. The action veers from teenage bullying and problems in school sports teams to discussions of rival wolf clan politics in the Khalduns’ luxurious Manor House. Characters struggle with the threat of accursed family members in one scene and read magazines or go jogging in the next. Revelations that should be unbelievable or shocking (You are an immortal, powerful being. I can shift into wolf form.) are accepted without question. These abrupt changes and unlikely situations eventually disengaged me from the story.
Another thing I found unacceptable was a sudden shift about three quarters of the way through the book to what seemed like an entirely different story involving a romance between two of the secondary characters. This happens right after a frantic hunt by everyone for two other characters who fall off a cliff. One of these individuals is scarcely mentioned after that, and the reader also loses sight of the two main characters, Amaya and Eve, for several chapters.
Turning to more mundane considerations, there are problems with use of quotation marks when a character’s speech goes into a second paragraph. Sometimes it’s hard to know who is speaking. Frequent point of view shifts add to the confusion. Scenes don’t always connect smoothly, and I noticed references to past events that weren’t previously mentioned, making me wonder if I was reading a sequel.
Finally, the story ends with a double cliffhanger. One character disappears, and a climactic event which has been predicted never happens, but supposedly will if the story continues in a sequel. While I recognize that this book is a passion project of its author, I found it an unsatisfying read because of the problems I’ve noted.
September 9, 2025
Remnants is a paranormal romance with a compelling central idea: two former lovers, Amaya (a werewolf) and Eve (a phoenix), are cursed to roam Earth without memory of each other. Amaya has recovered her memories and now watches over Eve – who believes she’s just a normal schoolgirl – hoping that their connection will eventually return. It’s a strong and emotionally intriguing premise that had me hooked at first.
There’s a wider cast of supernatural characters, including Amaya’s wolf family, as well as some antagonistic humans.
The writing itself isn’t bad, but the structure and pacing made the story feel a bit incoherent. Dialogue was occasionally hard to follow due to inconsistent punctuation, and some scenes felt repetitive. I wanted more development in Eve and Amaya’s relationship, which felt rushed after a strong start. We also don’t get a deep understanding of Eve’s phoenix abilities, although she begins training near the end.
The latter part of the book is focussed on the relationship between Julianne and Billy. I was especially puzzled by Julianne’s attraction to Billy; his personality shift felt sudden, and his earlier behavior didn’t make the connection convincing.
That said, I did enjoy some of the characters – especially Julian – and I found the premise genuinely fresh. At times where the pacing was good, I found it quite a fun read. The book ends on a cliffhanger, so fans of slow-burning paranormal sagas might find themselves eager for the next installment.
There’s a wider cast of supernatural characters, including Amaya’s wolf family, as well as some antagonistic humans.
The writing itself isn’t bad, but the structure and pacing made the story feel a bit incoherent. Dialogue was occasionally hard to follow due to inconsistent punctuation, and some scenes felt repetitive. I wanted more development in Eve and Amaya’s relationship, which felt rushed after a strong start. We also don’t get a deep understanding of Eve’s phoenix abilities, although she begins training near the end.
The latter part of the book is focussed on the relationship between Julianne and Billy. I was especially puzzled by Julianne’s attraction to Billy; his personality shift felt sudden, and his earlier behavior didn’t make the connection convincing.
That said, I did enjoy some of the characters – especially Julian – and I found the premise genuinely fresh. At times where the pacing was good, I found it quite a fun read. The book ends on a cliffhanger, so fans of slow-burning paranormal sagas might find themselves eager for the next installment.
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