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Echo's Wolf #1
Prisoner
This is the old cover for the Kindle edition
231 pages
First published June 30, 2014
169 people are currently reading
339 people want to read
About the author
Lia Silver
5 books64 followersThe author works as a therapist, specializing in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “Lia Silver” is a pen name. She also writes for teenagers under the name of Rachel Manija Brown.
When she isn’t working, reading, or writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, horseback riding, martial arts, and cuddling her cats.
If you'd like to be alerted when a new book comes out, copy this to get on Lia Silver's mailing list: http://eepurl.com/Yfvtz
If you would like to read my books in a non-Kindle format, please email Lia at liasilvershifter@yahoo.com.
When she isn’t working, reading, or writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, horseback riding, martial arts, and cuddling her cats.
If you'd like to be alerted when a new book comes out, copy this to get on Lia Silver's mailing list: http://eepurl.com/Yfvtz
If you would like to read my books in a non-Kindle format, please email Lia at liasilvershifter@yahoo.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
July 10, 2015
It's an interesting concept: make a gung-ho military guy into a werewolf, toss a secretive Evil Government Agency into the mix, and finally, add a genetically engineered superwoman. It seemed to me that there were an awful lot of tropes in this mix, which can make it tough to create a story that's not standard and superficial. But the author made it work surprisingly well by including a thoughtful treatment of PTSD and other stress disorders, and by doing some fairly intricate worldbuilding for the werewolves and their culture. There's a distinction between "born werewolves" and "made werewolves" and their abilities that was a unique take on the genre, and (apparently) every werewolf has some sort of superpower, which aren't always so super to have (e.g., everyone you touch suffers a deadly allergic reaction?).
The EGA (Evil Government Agency) was so thoroughly vicious and heinous that it never felt quite real to me, so that element was a bit of a fail for me as a plot device. But I enjoyed the main characters and their slow-burning romance. They were both flawed human beings (if you can call them that), but very likeable. Their relationship wasn't insta-love and didn't take over the story, so plus points for that as well.
I'm not generally fond of books that tell half the story and require you to go buy the second book to get the rest of the story. I'm pretty much over cliffhangers. At least this book doesn't leave the characters in immediate, life-threatening peril. Just know going into this, though, that you're only getting the first part of the story.
3.5 stars. It's not terribly deep, but reasonably well-written and thoughtful, and it was an interesting and enjoyable read. Recommended for those who like paranormal adventure/romances with buff military guys. Or werewolves. Or both. And it's a Kindle freebie, so if this sounds good to you, give it a shot!
Content advisory: Frequent F-bombs, a fair amount of violence and a somewhat explicit sex scene.
The EGA (Evil Government Agency) was so thoroughly vicious and heinous that it never felt quite real to me, so that element was a bit of a fail for me as a plot device. But I enjoyed the main characters and their slow-burning romance. They were both flawed human beings (if you can call them that), but very likeable. Their relationship wasn't insta-love and didn't take over the story, so plus points for that as well.
I'm not generally fond of books that tell half the story and require you to go buy the second book to get the rest of the story. I'm pretty much over cliffhangers. At least this book doesn't leave the characters in immediate, life-threatening peril. Just know going into this, though, that you're only getting the first part of the story.
3.5 stars. It's not terribly deep, but reasonably well-written and thoughtful, and it was an interesting and enjoyable read. Recommended for those who like paranormal adventure/romances with buff military guys. Or werewolves. Or both. And it's a Kindle freebie, so if this sounds good to you, give it a shot!
Content advisory: Frequent F-bombs, a fair amount of violence and a somewhat explicit sex scene.
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July 25, 2014This is the first volume in what will be a longer series, but doesn't drop you off a cliff. The ending made me smile--and anticipate the next.
It takes its time setting up the characters and situation. All characters are complicated, especially the main two. Both have serious emotional damage as a cost of becoming supremely badass. We begin in Afghanistan with DJ Torres having to turn his best Marine buddy into a werewolf to save his life, in spite of the extreme danger of so doing. Their helicopter has just crashed, and they are waiting to be medivac lifted out.
DJ is put under, and wakes up in a lab. He finds out very soon that it is a secret lab, and he runs . . . and nearly dies. Echo, the emotionally distant, hyper efficient assassin, is sent to bring him back, and she does.
The evil lab holds them both by their loyalties to others, and DJ has terrible trouble adjusting; then he meets a very messed up bunch of made-wolves, and mayhem ensues.
Silver took the time to give personality and reasonable human motives to the ordinary workers at the lab, which steps the novel to another level for me. The subsidiary characters are not mere human-figures in a video game, meant to be blown away without thought by the rampaging heroes. Every action has consequences, which for me rachets up the stakes for what is going to happen next. I can hardly wait.
It takes its time setting up the characters and situation. All characters are complicated, especially the main two. Both have serious emotional damage as a cost of becoming supremely badass. We begin in Afghanistan with DJ Torres having to turn his best Marine buddy into a werewolf to save his life, in spite of the extreme danger of so doing. Their helicopter has just crashed, and they are waiting to be medivac lifted out.
DJ is put under, and wakes up in a lab. He finds out very soon that it is a secret lab, and he runs . . . and nearly dies. Echo, the emotionally distant, hyper efficient assassin, is sent to bring him back, and she does.
The evil lab holds them both by their loyalties to others, and DJ has terrible trouble adjusting; then he meets a very messed up bunch of made-wolves, and mayhem ensues.
Silver took the time to give personality and reasonable human motives to the ordinary workers at the lab, which steps the novel to another level for me. The subsidiary characters are not mere human-figures in a video game, meant to be blown away without thought by the rampaging heroes. Every action has consequences, which for me rachets up the stakes for what is going to happen next. I can hardly wait.
Read
August 30, 2014Lia Silver is the pen-name for a friend, so no rating, as per my "policy".
I enjoyed this even more than Laura's Wolf, for reasons which probably have little to do with any semi-objective merits of the two. Part of it, I think, was that Prisoner has fewer of the typical straight romance novel traits, while still having a very satisfying romance. There's plenty of story along with the romance, which was also true of Laura's Wolf, but it felt as if we get more time with DJ and Echo developing a working partnership of trust and understanding before the romance really kicks in. It was also just a lot of fun laughing at DJ for his early statements about his ideal girlfriend! There seemed to be more humour all round, in fact, and I loved the banter. (Platypus shifter seriously cracked me up.)
As in Laura's Wolf, the details of the two types of werewolf, the biology and social, pack aspects both, were very satisfying. No matter how nasty the evil scientist figures were, what they're hoping to study made sense, rather than being just the whims of your stock evil scientist figure.
I'd kind of expected that this would pick up where Laura's Wolf left off, give or take a bit of action, but in fact they start in roughly the same place. That's not any kind of problem, as I think it's good either book can be read first, though there is an element of spoiling either way. It's possible that having got to know DJ a little first made him a more immediately attractive protagonist, but I think that Echo is initially a bit of a stereotype: the ice-cold, emotionless super-assassin. She develops very quickly, though, and, despite having good reason to protect herself from feeling too much, doesn't linger irritatingly long in that kind of denial-of-emotion. They're both really good people, loyal and caring, like Roy and Laura, but also very different characters.
I see there's an explanation about reading order and story-arcs on the page for Partner now. Looking forward to reading it - and book 4 (I want the whole story, not just the temporary HEA of book 3!) very much.
I enjoyed this even more than Laura's Wolf, for reasons which probably have little to do with any semi-objective merits of the two. Part of it, I think, was that Prisoner has fewer of the typical straight romance novel traits, while still having a very satisfying romance. There's plenty of story along with the romance, which was also true of Laura's Wolf, but it felt as if we get more time with DJ and Echo developing a working partnership of trust and understanding before the romance really kicks in. It was also just a lot of fun laughing at DJ for his early statements about his ideal girlfriend! There seemed to be more humour all round, in fact, and I loved the banter. (Platypus shifter seriously cracked me up.)
As in Laura's Wolf, the details of the two types of werewolf, the biology and social, pack aspects both, were very satisfying. No matter how nasty the evil scientist figures were, what they're hoping to study made sense, rather than being just the whims of your stock evil scientist figure.
I'd kind of expected that this would pick up where Laura's Wolf left off, give or take a bit of action, but in fact they start in roughly the same place. That's not any kind of problem, as I think it's good either book can be read first, though there is an element of spoiling either way. It's possible that having got to know DJ a little first made him a more immediately attractive protagonist, but I think that Echo is initially a bit of a stereotype: the ice-cold, emotionless super-assassin. She develops very quickly, though, and, despite having good reason to protect herself from feeling too much, doesn't linger irritatingly long in that kind of denial-of-emotion. They're both really good people, loyal and caring, like Roy and Laura, but also very different characters.
I see there's an explanation about reading order and story-arcs on the page for Partner now. Looking forward to reading it - and book 4 (I want the whole story, not just the temporary HEA of book 3!) very much.
June 26, 2014
Prisoner is a fun, action packed companion story to
Laura's Wolf
.
A government “evil” lab, all in the name of nationally security, has been and is violating our citizens as well as our military heros. Experimentation, genetic mutations and unsanctioned missions are just a few of the labs purposes. Prisoner is DJ's perspective of the imprisonment of himself and his buddy Roy Farrell when it is discovered they are werewolves during an Afghanistan Marine helicopter crash.
I loved the bi-play between Echo and DJ. Silver takes witty banter to an entirely new level, making the genetically altered super soldier and a werewolf 100% relatable. Echo is an amazing character, full of strength and family loyalty. DJ is a super soldier that oozes that uber alpha protectiveness to those he cares about. Combine these characters and you have a highly entertaining and wonderfully fun read. I can't wait to find out what happens next...
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
A government “evil” lab, all in the name of nationally security, has been and is violating our citizens as well as our military heros. Experimentation, genetic mutations and unsanctioned missions are just a few of the labs purposes. Prisoner is DJ's perspective of the imprisonment of himself and his buddy Roy Farrell when it is discovered they are werewolves during an Afghanistan Marine helicopter crash.
I loved the bi-play between Echo and DJ. Silver takes witty banter to an entirely new level, making the genetically altered super soldier and a werewolf 100% relatable. Echo is an amazing character, full of strength and family loyalty. DJ is a super soldier that oozes that uber alpha protectiveness to those he cares about. Combine these characters and you have a highly entertaining and wonderfully fun read. I can't wait to find out what happens next...
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
September 25, 2014
Prisoner is a completely absorbing, completely satisfying adventure-thriller featuring the most likable protagonist--bar none--to ever be blackmailed into serving a shadowy government agency's dubious needs. DJ Torres is a werewolf . . . and a Marine. Don't conjure up a cross between Twilight's Jacob and Arnold Schwarzenegger, though--DJ is neither the brooding type nor the musclebound type: he's open with his feelings, gets the better of his foes through jokes and disarming honesty, and isn't one to suffer in silence. But he's no weakling and no coward: he'll endure torture for a friend and manage to put a positive spin on it. I challenge anybody to not-like DJ. You may think he's not your type, but you're going to love him.
DJ's co-protagonist is Echo, a genetically engineered assassin already an unwilling tool of the evil government agency that gets its hands on DJ. She's supermodel-beautiful and keeps her feelings tamped way down lest she give in to grief, anger, and despair, but DJ makes her laugh. Consider their first encounter--she's trying to stop him from escaping:
What makes this book special is that it populates an adventure-thriller environment (secret base, evil scientists, etc.) with engaging, three-dimensional characters . . . who have superpowers--but that's not an astonishing thing in their reality. Being a werewolf, for DJ, is more natural than being a Marine: he was born a werewolf but had to try three times to make it into the Marines. Same with Echo. One of five clones, she's grown up in the secret base. It's home. A horrible, abusive home, but home all the same.
And because DJ and Echo are so real, and because we meet the people they care about and see them in action, we really understand the fears DJ and Echo have for their loved ones' well-being. There are scenes in this book you won't make it through without tears.
Prisoner is part one of a trilogy titled Echo's Wolf, a companion to Silver's Laura's Wolf, which tells the story of DJ's friend Roy. (It doesn't matter the order you read these in.) Although Prisoner doesn't end in a cliffhanger, things are still very much up in the air, and I look forward to part two, Partner.
Two footnotes:
(1) Sexiness. Sexy times are very few, but when they come, they're explicit.
(2) Wolf stuff. There's less from a wolf perspective in Prisoner than there was in Laura's Wolf, less of the joy of scent and movement, but in compensation, we see more of werewolf traditions and culture.
DJ's co-protagonist is Echo, a genetically engineered assassin already an unwilling tool of the evil government agency that gets its hands on DJ. She's supermodel-beautiful and keeps her feelings tamped way down lest she give in to grief, anger, and despair, but DJ makes her laugh. Consider their first encounter--she's trying to stop him from escaping:
"Come on!" DJ yelled to cover up the footsteps. "I'm a wolf! What are you? A cobra? A--ow!--a leopard? A black widow spider? A duck-billed platypus?"
The woman's pale eyebrows rose incredulously, her ice-blue eyes fixing on his. "A platypus?"
"The cuteness is deceptive," said DJ solemnly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a guard peer round the corner, raise a dart gun, and take careful aim at his back. "Don't underestimate them. They're small, but fierce. Like me."
What makes this book special is that it populates an adventure-thriller environment (secret base, evil scientists, etc.) with engaging, three-dimensional characters . . . who have superpowers--but that's not an astonishing thing in their reality. Being a werewolf, for DJ, is more natural than being a Marine: he was born a werewolf but had to try three times to make it into the Marines. Same with Echo. One of five clones, she's grown up in the secret base. It's home. A horrible, abusive home, but home all the same.
And because DJ and Echo are so real, and because we meet the people they care about and see them in action, we really understand the fears DJ and Echo have for their loved ones' well-being. There are scenes in this book you won't make it through without tears.
Prisoner is part one of a trilogy titled Echo's Wolf, a companion to Silver's Laura's Wolf, which tells the story of DJ's friend Roy. (It doesn't matter the order you read these in.) Although Prisoner doesn't end in a cliffhanger, things are still very much up in the air, and I look forward to part two, Partner.
Two footnotes:
(1) Sexiness. Sexy times are very few, but when they come, they're explicit.
(2) Wolf stuff. There's less from a wolf perspective in Prisoner than there was in Laura's Wolf, less of the joy of scent and movement, but in compensation, we see more of werewolf traditions and culture.
July 18, 2014
Cliffhanger:
HEA:
Cheating:
Rape:
Violence:
POV: 3rd person limited shifts between hero and heroine, but also there's a chapter in 1st person
Sensuality level (1 being kissing only and 5 being Penthouse Letters graphic::
Grammar errors/typo level (1 being what you'd see in any book, 5 being this read like a rough draft): 1
Would I re-read?: No, but I'll read the next two after they're both released.
June 30, 2014
With certain authors, you know exactly what you’re getting when you start a book. You know that the heroine will fit a certain mold, the hero will be alpha, but a big softie when it comes to his one, true love, and together they will face conflict and little angst, but everything turns out just as you expected in the end. There is nothing wrong with this type of book. Personally, I love them; it’s comforting sometimes to just sink into something familiar and know that you’re not going to have any real curve balls thrown your way.
So here’s the thing with Lia Silver. I know exactly what I’m getting into when I pick up her books, but it’s not because they follow a formula. It’s because they are excellent, exceptional books. Prisoner totally threw me for a loop, but in a great way. After reading and being pleasantly surprised by Laura’s Wolf, I think I was expecting a similar type of story. The only thing that was the same here was the quality of the writing.
Silver created new, interesting, incredibly compelling characters who broke my heart in a hundred different ways even as they made me laugh, and even swoon just a bit. DJ and Echo were so unique, and their voices were so distinct and realistic, I completely forgot that I was supposed to be reading a paranormal romance and got lost in the story.
Although I am absolutely dying to know what happens next with DJ and Echo, I have confidence in Ms. Silver as an author and know that wherever she takes the story next, and whatever curve balls she throws my way, the story is in good hands.
So get ready to expect solid writing, insightful characters, and a gripping plot, but leave the rest of your expectation at the door.
I was provided with an ARC for review.
So here’s the thing with Lia Silver. I know exactly what I’m getting into when I pick up her books, but it’s not because they follow a formula. It’s because they are excellent, exceptional books. Prisoner totally threw me for a loop, but in a great way. After reading and being pleasantly surprised by Laura’s Wolf, I think I was expecting a similar type of story. The only thing that was the same here was the quality of the writing.
Silver created new, interesting, incredibly compelling characters who broke my heart in a hundred different ways even as they made me laugh, and even swoon just a bit. DJ and Echo were so unique, and their voices were so distinct and realistic, I completely forgot that I was supposed to be reading a paranormal romance and got lost in the story.
Although I am absolutely dying to know what happens next with DJ and Echo, I have confidence in Ms. Silver as an author and know that wherever she takes the story next, and whatever curve balls she throws my way, the story is in good hands.
So get ready to expect solid writing, insightful characters, and a gripping plot, but leave the rest of your expectation at the door.
I was provided with an ARC for review.
June 25, 2014
I have a love/hate relationship with werewolf books. So many of them use endless sex scenes to make up for the fact that there's no plot, character development, or world-building. But I keep reading, because now and then I stumble across a gem like this.
Prisoner is a companion book to Laura's Wolf, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. With some of the same themes (PTSD and the war in Afghanistan), Prisoner also expands the world-building out to follow a born wolf who has a very severe form of dyslexia. Once again, the author's experience as a therapist makes the difficulties our hero goes through realistic and believable, but the real reason I loved the book was the characters.
Prisoner is told from two points of view, which I usually hate but which worked well here since I loved both the hero and the heroine. The latter isn't a werewolf, and we meet her when she's forced to assassinate a supposed terrorist. Echo is definitely the spunky heroine I'm always looking for, tough on the outside but who will do anything to protect her romance-novel-reading sister.
There are lots of little funny bits, plenty of relatively non-gory action, and one love scene near the end. I read the whole thing with a little smile on my lips, which makes it definitely a five-star book. As the author explained, "It's a full-length novel, but the first of three books in a mini-series, 'Echo's Wolf.' It has a happily-for-now ending. The third book will have the happily-ever-after."
Highly recommended for those of you who enjoy werewolf fantasy with a hint or romance (rather than werewolf romance with a hint of fantasy).
Prisoner is a companion book to Laura's Wolf, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. With some of the same themes (PTSD and the war in Afghanistan), Prisoner also expands the world-building out to follow a born wolf who has a very severe form of dyslexia. Once again, the author's experience as a therapist makes the difficulties our hero goes through realistic and believable, but the real reason I loved the book was the characters.
Prisoner is told from two points of view, which I usually hate but which worked well here since I loved both the hero and the heroine. The latter isn't a werewolf, and we meet her when she's forced to assassinate a supposed terrorist. Echo is definitely the spunky heroine I'm always looking for, tough on the outside but who will do anything to protect her romance-novel-reading sister.
There are lots of little funny bits, plenty of relatively non-gory action, and one love scene near the end. I read the whole thing with a little smile on my lips, which makes it definitely a five-star book. As the author explained, "It's a full-length novel, but the first of three books in a mini-series, 'Echo's Wolf.' It has a happily-for-now ending. The third book will have the happily-ever-after."
Highly recommended for those of you who enjoy werewolf fantasy with a hint or romance (rather than werewolf romance with a hint of fantasy).
July 10, 2014
finally here, and it so didn't disappoint. even more h/c tropes than in the first book, starting with 'experiments by evil scientists in an evil government lab' and going up from here, two unlikely partners finding companionship and comfort and each other, a lot of nicely understated spine-crawling creepiness in the setting, and a strong accent on kindness and decency blooming in the most uninspiring circumstances ever. i loved dj torres, who's competent, strong without being in-your-face macho about it, charming like a hurricane in a very miles vorkosigan way, and determined without being obsessed; and i loved echo, the created-for-assassination clone, who loved her surviving sister and grieved for her dead ones, clung to her identity even while trying to deny having feelings at all, and found it in herself to be - well, good - when there was a slightest possibility for it. the book was more action/adventure with secondary romance plot than other way around, but the romance just fit, and was more about two people learning to love each other as people, not just about physical chemistry.
it's a first book in a projected trilogy, and i can't wait for the next one.
it's a first book in a projected trilogy, and i can't wait for the next one.
July 6, 2014
I had found myself intrigued by DJ when reading Laura's Wolf so I was so excited to read Prisoner.
Wow. Just......wow.
I do not recall the last time I was so emotionally invested in 2 characters as I was DJ and Echo. The fact that they were so different, that he was so strong in a non alpha in your face way, that they both had to deal with not being willing to sacrifice people they love to be together.
Snappy dialog, real emotion, compelling story, total page turner.
My one complain was that when I finished, the next was not waiting on my Kindle already! Consider me hooked by the two books in this series thus far.
Wow. Just......wow.
I do not recall the last time I was so emotionally invested in 2 characters as I was DJ and Echo. The fact that they were so different, that he was so strong in a non alpha in your face way, that they both had to deal with not being willing to sacrifice people they love to be together.
Snappy dialog, real emotion, compelling story, total page turner.
My one complain was that when I finished, the next was not waiting on my Kindle already! Consider me hooked by the two books in this series thus far.
February 9, 2025
4.5 stars. Great short read, and I loved the characters. Will definitely be looking out for sequels to find out what happens!
July 23, 2014
THIS WAS SO GREAT. DJ is a marine and a werewolf; when the second part is discovered, he ends up in a secret government lab where the researchers want to study him and make use of him in black ops. He's partnered with Echo, a clone who's been genetically engineered to be the perfect assassin. They both have people they care about being held as hostages to enforce their cooperation – for DJ, it's Roy, his best friend and fellow Marine. For Echo, it's Charlie, her sister and also a clone, the only other one who's still alive (genetic engineering not always working out so well). There are all sorts of fun tropes: werewolf packs! Angsty backstories! Dramatic treks through the desert! Heat stroke! Torture by mad scientists! Super powers! Deathbeds! But what I really loved was how funny it was. I liked this bit in particular:
He threw himself on his bed and flipped through his iPod, cheerily telling her that he’d once gotten hooked on a Norwegian death metal band and only belatedly learned that the members were white supremacists.
“Oops,” DJ said, laughing. “It was embarrassing, I’d been enjoying the neo-Nazis for weeks before someone tipped me off. At least I hadn’t played them in clubs. By the way, if you ever want to hear some incredible stories, look up Norwegian black metal. Murder, suicide, arson, cannibalism, lawsuits over a guy getting hurt when the band flung a decapitated sheep head into the audience, you name it. Anyway, the song I’m going to play is by the group I got into as a substitute. They have a similar sound, but they’re not evil.”
He paused. “I may have phrased that wrong. They’re Satanists. But they’re not Nazis.”
DJ and Echo have fantastic banter with each other, familiar and friendly and funny. It's the sort of thing that conveys attraction and compatibility better than a thousand descriptions of beating hearts or longing glances, and it feels so much more realistic. DJ is an amazing character; he was my favorite part of the book. He's bouncy and restless and lighthearted and a little bit flaky, but still deeply loyal and kind. I love him and would read a thousand books about him. Instead I have to wait for the sequel, alas.
He threw himself on his bed and flipped through his iPod, cheerily telling her that he’d once gotten hooked on a Norwegian death metal band and only belatedly learned that the members were white supremacists.
“Oops,” DJ said, laughing. “It was embarrassing, I’d been enjoying the neo-Nazis for weeks before someone tipped me off. At least I hadn’t played them in clubs. By the way, if you ever want to hear some incredible stories, look up Norwegian black metal. Murder, suicide, arson, cannibalism, lawsuits over a guy getting hurt when the band flung a decapitated sheep head into the audience, you name it. Anyway, the song I’m going to play is by the group I got into as a substitute. They have a similar sound, but they’re not evil.”
He paused. “I may have phrased that wrong. They’re Satanists. But they’re not Nazis.”
DJ and Echo have fantastic banter with each other, familiar and friendly and funny. It's the sort of thing that conveys attraction and compatibility better than a thousand descriptions of beating hearts or longing glances, and it feels so much more realistic. DJ is an amazing character; he was my favorite part of the book. He's bouncy and restless and lighthearted and a little bit flaky, but still deeply loyal and kind. I love him and would read a thousand books about him. Instead I have to wait for the sequel, alas.
July 16, 2014
I liked that DJ is Filipino-American - I found it hilarious that his nickname is Lechon and he listens to Pinoy hiphop. I did find it a bit weird that he calls his mom "Nanay" but he doesn't call his grandma "Lola". It was interesting how different DJ's personality is from his best friend Roy. He's much more outgoing and playful than Roy. It was also interesting to see a different perspective to the same war experiences that Roy had in the first book. DJ is the perfect match for Echo, who has tried to distance herself from emotions after losing her sisters. It was fun to watch them get to know each other and form a friendship. For some reason, I thought this was going to be a standalone and was surprised to find out that it's the first book in DJ and Echo's trilogy.
Read
July 5, 2017Reread July 2017: Well, I guess this just goes to show how much I've changed because I enjoyed this a lot. Way more than what I remember of this book. I love DJ and Echo's relationship, and I loved the sensitive portrayal of PTSD/trauma/combat stress. I LOVE DJ. Loved how werewolves are portrayed. What a great book.
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well-written, enjoyable romance
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well-written, enjoyable romance
March 3, 2017
Would be as good as "Laura's Wolf" if it didn't lose half a star for the barely-HFN ending
DJ and Echo are very different characters from Roy and Laura (of Werewolf Marines, Book 1, Laura's Wolf), dealing with very different circumstances, but they're just as well-developed and appealing.
DJ is very open, talkative, and optimistic, even in the worst circumstances. As Echo muses, he's the sort who, in fiction, is usually relegated to being the sidekick, never the lead, because he's not tall, arrogant and tortured enough. :-) Thankfully, Lia Silver recognized that he's a great hero in his own right. He has overcome ADHD and severe dyslexia, as well as family attempts at dissuasion, to become a Marine liked and respected by his teammates, and he's sure he'll find a way out of this black-ops-agency prison, too.
Echo has lived her whole life with no choice in what to do. It's "Follow orders, or your sister[s] will suffer." To handle being an assassin, she's closed off her emotions toward anyone but open-hearted and girly Charlie, whose life-expectancy is short despite the best treatment that the base doctor-scientists can give her. Therefore, Echo has long planned that once Charlie dies, she'll take out as many of their evil controllers and experimenters as she can before they inevitably kill her.
It's certainly not insta-love when the two meet (actually, fight, and enjoy the surprising challenge of it), since Echo isn't looking for anyone, and DJ considers Echo beautiful but not at all his type. However, over talk and music (amazingly eclectic music that makes me glad *I* don't have to share quarters with DJ!), shared enemies, humor, and combat stress, they grow closer, despite knowing a future is impossible. The book ends with nothing truly resolved beyond the "I love you"s, and DJ's vow that he/they WILL find Roy (who, he's been told, is hostage for his own obedience), figure out a way for Charlie to survive on the outside, then get all four of them out.
There is an unhappy pack of made wolves in this story, too, but since unlike the would-be supervillain of book one, the U.S. government/ military has mainly gotten recruits for the 50%-50% proposition from operatives and soldiers who were already dying, their success rate has been even lower. Most of the survivors are left with serious side-effects — made worse by the fact that the only one who can control the pack sense, i.e., be an alpha, is a bitter and grieving kidnapped born-wolf civilian. The choices they make, and how they sometimes lose control, lead to much of the action and sadness in this volume.
Once again, the author's career as a trauma therapist shows in hows she explores different reactions and coping methods, though the symptoms here aren't the same as in Book 1, nor as dominant a part of the plot. Her afterword explains what unusual aspects or speculations have been made for the sake of the story, and shouldn't be considered reliable IRL.
ETA: I forgot to mention that, as in book 1, gender, ethnic, and sexual-orientation diversity are represented here, without feeling forced.
The editing is also still very good. I'm not sure whether it was a publishing-house release, or just proof that indies CAN do it.
Now it's on to "Partner" for me!
DJ and Echo are very different characters from Roy and Laura (of Werewolf Marines, Book 1, Laura's Wolf), dealing with very different circumstances, but they're just as well-developed and appealing.
DJ is very open, talkative, and optimistic, even in the worst circumstances. As Echo muses, he's the sort who, in fiction, is usually relegated to being the sidekick, never the lead, because he's not tall, arrogant and tortured enough. :-) Thankfully, Lia Silver recognized that he's a great hero in his own right. He has overcome ADHD and severe dyslexia, as well as family attempts at dissuasion, to become a Marine liked and respected by his teammates, and he's sure he'll find a way out of this black-ops-agency prison, too.
Echo has lived her whole life with no choice in what to do. It's "Follow orders, or your sister[s] will suffer." To handle being an assassin, she's closed off her emotions toward anyone but open-hearted and girly Charlie, whose life-expectancy is short despite the best treatment that the base doctor-scientists can give her. Therefore, Echo has long planned that once Charlie dies, she'll take out as many of their evil controllers and experimenters as she can before they inevitably kill her.
It's certainly not insta-love when the two meet (actually, fight, and enjoy the surprising challenge of it), since Echo isn't looking for anyone, and DJ considers Echo beautiful but not at all his type. However, over talk and music (amazingly eclectic music that makes me glad *I* don't have to share quarters with DJ!), shared enemies, humor, and combat stress, they grow closer, despite knowing a future is impossible. The book ends with nothing truly resolved beyond the "I love you"s, and DJ's vow that he/they WILL find Roy (who, he's been told, is hostage for his own obedience), figure out a way for Charlie to survive on the outside, then get all four of them out.
There is an unhappy pack of made wolves in this story, too, but since unlike the would-be supervillain of book one, the U.S. government/ military has mainly gotten recruits for the 50%-50% proposition from operatives and soldiers who were already dying, their success rate has been even lower. Most of the survivors are left with serious side-effects — made worse by the fact that the only one who can control the pack sense, i.e., be an alpha, is a bitter and grieving kidnapped born-wolf civilian. The choices they make, and how they sometimes lose control, lead to much of the action and sadness in this volume.
Once again, the author's career as a trauma therapist shows in hows she explores different reactions and coping methods, though the symptoms here aren't the same as in Book 1, nor as dominant a part of the plot. Her afterword explains what unusual aspects or speculations have been made for the sake of the story, and shouldn't be considered reliable IRL.
ETA: I forgot to mention that, as in book 1, gender, ethnic, and sexual-orientation diversity are represented here, without feeling forced.
The editing is also still very good. I'm not sure whether it was a publishing-house release, or just proof that indies CAN do it.
Now it's on to "Partner" for me!
January 4, 2023
As part of a GR challenge I've read several books in the past 10 days with a very similar theme: military werewolf gets captured by an evil secret governmental agency and is the subject of their experiments. Yeah, I know. Happily this is the best of the bunch. The MCs are both really interesting people. And the author has added some great details to the werewolf-verse such as individual scent names and differences between born wolves and made ones. The only problem I saw with the book was the doctor and manager (?) at the secret evil governmental agency were 2-dimentionally evil and thus more felt more like cartoon characters than real people. They practically twirled their moustaches.
I do need to mention that this is the first of a two-part story. The precis does a good job of warning the reader, but it's a happy-for-now and you need to read the 2nd book (also Kindle Unlimited) for a HEA.
I do need to mention that this is the first of a two-part story. The precis does a good job of warning the reader, but it's a happy-for-now and you need to read the 2nd book (also Kindle Unlimited) for a HEA.
February 21, 2018
This was an odd book. I had no idea it was book two of a trilogy, but that didn't cause any issues in reading. This story was about a marine who was also a werewolf. He got caught by Evil US Government Group and blackmailed into becoming an assassin for them. He also fell in love with Other Assassin.
Good points: I enjoyed all the werewolf-y stuff and the worldbuilding around that. All except the fact that every werewolf gets some superpower for some reason. It could be good, like super strength, or it could be bad like setting yourself on fire. Interesting, but I have no idea why a werewolf would automatically get a superpower.
Bad: Kind of everything else. The Evil US Government Group was over the top and silly. Other Assassin/Love Interest didn't work for me (mega powerful woman).
I couldn't even figure out what kind of book this was -- romance? urban fantasy? DNF
Good points: I enjoyed all the werewolf-y stuff and the worldbuilding around that. All except the fact that every werewolf gets some superpower for some reason. It could be good, like super strength, or it could be bad like setting yourself on fire. Interesting, but I have no idea why a werewolf would automatically get a superpower.
Bad: Kind of everything else. The Evil US Government Group was over the top and silly. Other Assassin/Love Interest didn't work for me (mega powerful woman).
I couldn't even figure out what kind of book this was -- romance? urban fantasy? DNF
November 11, 2020
Technically a stand alone, DJ was introduced in Laura's Marine which I (highly) recommend reading first. DJ is a born werewolf while Echo was engineered to be a super human. They meet when DJ tries to escape the lab that captured him and created Echo. She can't leave without sentencing her sister to death and he's desperate to escape to save his teammate. Forced to work together by their captors, they discover a love neither thought they truly needed or would ever find. Desperate to save their loved ones yet trapped by their circumstances, can they find a way out or is their love doomed from the start? These two kick a$$ while stealing your heart. A HFN and I can't wait to read the conclusion of their story.
December 16, 2022
Dj and echo
This book time jumps back to when DJ saves Roy turning him into a wolf both men are separated for a few weeks (might be two months) this book we follow DJs journey.
Warning this book just ends you don't even see DJ with Roy ( that's not a spoiler because book one tells you DJ escaped and was searching for Roy,plus he meets up with him in the cabin in book one) I found the hang out in Vegas stupid (maybe he was sent there so he doest learn of Roy escaping?) But wouldn't you be searching or setting up a car by the base ready for escaping.maybe calling in some marines?
This book time jumps back to when DJ saves Roy turning him into a wolf both men are separated for a few weeks (might be two months) this book we follow DJs journey.
Warning this book just ends you don't even see DJ with Roy ( that's not a spoiler because book one tells you DJ escaped and was searching for Roy,plus he meets up with him in the cabin in book one) I found the hang out in Vegas stupid (maybe he was sent there so he doest learn of Roy escaping?) But wouldn't you be searching or setting up a car by the base ready for escaping.maybe calling in some marines?
March 23, 2020
Omg what a ride
Prisoner: Werewolf Marines book 2
By Lia Silver
Kindle unlimited
This book starts right back in Afghanistan when DJ had to bite Roy (from book 1) to save his life after the helicopter was shot down. We get to experience Dj's side of the story. From Afghanistan to Dj and Echo gaining their freedom. What a ride, these two books have taken a toll on me. But the ride isn't over. Next book, Partner, is already rented and I'm reading it next.
Prisoner: Werewolf Marines book 2
By Lia Silver
Kindle unlimited
This book starts right back in Afghanistan when DJ had to bite Roy (from book 1) to save his life after the helicopter was shot down. We get to experience Dj's side of the story. From Afghanistan to Dj and Echo gaining their freedom. What a ride, these two books have taken a toll on me. But the ride isn't over. Next book, Partner, is already rented and I'm reading it next.
October 23, 2020
Hilarious Wolf
Echo and DJ are about as unexpected as Laura and Roy were. However, they make a great team and share some characteristics. I'll leave readers to find them for themselves. Really good story!
Echo and DJ are about as unexpected as Laura and Roy were. However, they make a great team and share some characteristics. I'll leave readers to find them for themselves. Really good story!
April 14, 2019
Good to see a dyslexic hero
These books are a little more involved that those written under an alternative pen name. I do like the imperfect heroes.
These books are a little more involved that those written under an alternative pen name. I do like the imperfect heroes.
September 10, 2019
Enjoyable
Very well done. Can't wait to read the next one to see what happens . Lots of action and intrigue.
Very well done. Can't wait to read the next one to see what happens . Lots of action and intrigue.
May 21, 2020
Good read
Really good 👍 story Relaxing intriguing and suspenseful Could not put it down Looking forward to the next story Thank you
Really good 👍 story Relaxing intriguing and suspenseful Could not put it down Looking forward to the next story Thank you
September 29, 2014
I am becoming such a fan of Lia Silver. Prisoner is the second book I have read by her and I am very, very impressed. Ms. Silver’s strength in writing a great story are the characters that she creates. They are unbelievably real with real flaws, hang ups, and problems.. They would be just like regular folk if they weren’t werewolves and assassins!
Speaking of werewolves, Dale “DJ” Torres is a Marine and a born wolf. When his plane over Afghanistan is shot down and his best friend, Roy is critically injured, he makes the decision to bite him and save his life by making him a furry beastie. The two are soon separated and DJ wakes up and finds himself in a mysterious lab being questioned and prodded by one Dr. Sempler, a sadist, if readers need to know the truth. And a real bitch. Not the fuzzy wuzzy kind either.
D.J. does the one thing his instincts tell him to do : he escapes, and while doing so he runs into a tall, menacing, white-haired woman with ice blue eyes, who attempts to stop him. They scuffle and he manages to escape into the blazing hot sun of the desert.
In comes Echo. She is an assassin for Dr. Dowling, who heads the laboratory and who manipulates her into snuffing people out, under threat that her last surviving sister, Charlie will be harmed if she doesn’t.
Echo is sent to hunt and retrieve DJ and when she successfully brings him back (not without some valiant struggles by DJ, which is a hoot!), the evil bastard, Dowling, also threatens DJ with the life of his best bud, Roy, who is being held somewhere in the facility.
Forced into being partners with the headstrong Echo, DJ has no choice but to obey the evil clowns until the right moment presents itself to flee.
I loved this story . I loved the characters. It is utterly refreshing to see fictional people relate to each other without the use of the same old idiotic gender stereotypes. Ms. Silver makes DJ so likeable. Warm, friendly, FUNNY, loyal, a bit of a hyper chatterbox, and if I must say, a bit needy. Of course, that may be the doggie side of him. But I doubt it. Even in human form he is so cuddly. He’s totally adorkable and he doesn’t care. He’s also a good Marine and jerkweed-free…..i.e. not an abusive wienie.
And Echo, she was perfect. Strong, a bit stand-offish. She doesn’t let her emotions rule her. She is programmed to fight and kill. She is as determined and stubborn as DJ. She is a great heroine. She takes care of herself and doesn’t need a man. I loved that she wasn’t falling over DJ at the first sight of him. But I also liked it when she was assertive and aggressive and made the first move. She takes what she wants, when she wants it. She and DJ are true equals in every way.
There wasn’t one thing that I didn’t like about Prisoner. It was pretty much perfect. The witty repartee between Echo and DJ had me laughing out loud at times. Platypuses? Tree-shifters? Really?? Really. Sort of. Heehee.. The dialogue between these two protagonists alone is enough for the 5 star rating it has earned.
In addition to the humor, there is action, death, a pack of out of control lab wolves, and the constant implied threats by the evil scientists that keep DJ and Echo under their control. Dirty bastard clowns!
Readers beware that there is no real solution at the conclusion of Prisoner. It sort of just ended with the characters contented for the time being.(And that is all this reviewer is saying) Bear in mind that there are one or two other books to follow starring DJ and Echo, in which they will (hopefully) get out of the mess that they are in. And, in this reviewer’s opinion, the books are worth waiting for.
I highly recommend Prisoner. It will be a quick read once a reader gets involved. But I also HIGHLY recommend Ms. Silver’s other book, Laura’s Wolf, which tells Roy’s story and the aftermath of the Afghanistan crash and what happened to him. Readers may want to read that first.
Speaking of werewolves, Dale “DJ” Torres is a Marine and a born wolf. When his plane over Afghanistan is shot down and his best friend, Roy is critically injured, he makes the decision to bite him and save his life by making him a furry beastie. The two are soon separated and DJ wakes up and finds himself in a mysterious lab being questioned and prodded by one Dr. Sempler, a sadist, if readers need to know the truth. And a real bitch. Not the fuzzy wuzzy kind either.
D.J. does the one thing his instincts tell him to do : he escapes, and while doing so he runs into a tall, menacing, white-haired woman with ice blue eyes, who attempts to stop him. They scuffle and he manages to escape into the blazing hot sun of the desert.
In comes Echo. She is an assassin for Dr. Dowling, who heads the laboratory and who manipulates her into snuffing people out, under threat that her last surviving sister, Charlie will be harmed if she doesn’t.
Echo is sent to hunt and retrieve DJ and when she successfully brings him back (not without some valiant struggles by DJ, which is a hoot!), the evil bastard, Dowling, also threatens DJ with the life of his best bud, Roy, who is being held somewhere in the facility.
Forced into being partners with the headstrong Echo, DJ has no choice but to obey the evil clowns until the right moment presents itself to flee.
I loved this story . I loved the characters. It is utterly refreshing to see fictional people relate to each other without the use of the same old idiotic gender stereotypes. Ms. Silver makes DJ so likeable. Warm, friendly, FUNNY, loyal, a bit of a hyper chatterbox, and if I must say, a bit needy. Of course, that may be the doggie side of him. But I doubt it. Even in human form he is so cuddly. He’s totally adorkable and he doesn’t care. He’s also a good Marine and jerkweed-free…..i.e. not an abusive wienie.
And Echo, she was perfect. Strong, a bit stand-offish. She doesn’t let her emotions rule her. She is programmed to fight and kill. She is as determined and stubborn as DJ. She is a great heroine. She takes care of herself and doesn’t need a man. I loved that she wasn’t falling over DJ at the first sight of him. But I also liked it when she was assertive and aggressive and made the first move. She takes what she wants, when she wants it. She and DJ are true equals in every way.
There wasn’t one thing that I didn’t like about Prisoner. It was pretty much perfect. The witty repartee between Echo and DJ had me laughing out loud at times. Platypuses? Tree-shifters? Really?? Really. Sort of. Heehee.. The dialogue between these two protagonists alone is enough for the 5 star rating it has earned.
In addition to the humor, there is action, death, a pack of out of control lab wolves, and the constant implied threats by the evil scientists that keep DJ and Echo under their control. Dirty bastard clowns!
Readers beware that there is no real solution at the conclusion of Prisoner. It sort of just ended with the characters contented for the time being.(And that is all this reviewer is saying) Bear in mind that there are one or two other books to follow starring DJ and Echo, in which they will (hopefully) get out of the mess that they are in. And, in this reviewer’s opinion, the books are worth waiting for.
I highly recommend Prisoner. It will be a quick read once a reader gets involved. But I also HIGHLY recommend Ms. Silver’s other book, Laura’s Wolf, which tells Roy’s story and the aftermath of the Afghanistan crash and what happened to him. Readers may want to read that first.
July 24, 2014
Molto, molto buono.
Di solito evito i romanzi con protagonisti che sono o sono stati soldati e le agenzie supersegrete non solo non mi interessano ma il più delle volte le trovo buffe (non so, mi sembra sempre di stare leggendo un libro con James Bond, con il cattivone pelato che accarezza il gatto con mano ingioiellata e risata satanica) ma in questo caso ho fatto una eccezione e non me ne sono pentita.
Ero già rimasta colpita da Laura's Wolf. Il romanzo così come la debole trama paranormale erano una scusa per parlare approfonditamente di persone ferite, danneggiate, che tuttavia riescono grazie alla loro forza interiore a superare ostacoli e sofferenze e a trovare una loro serenità.
In Echo's Wolf ci viene raccontata la storia di DJ, il migliore amico di Roy. La trama paranormale, così come la parte avventurosa sono meglio integrate nella storia che ha il pregio di affrontare con molto più approfondimento non solo i personaggi ma anche l'evolversi della relazione tra DJ e Echo.
Dj è completamente diverso da Roy e, per molti aspetti, anche dal tipico eroe di UF/SciFi. E' coraggioso e eroico etc. etc., ma è anche dolce, complicato, fragile, e, udite udite, è Americano-filippino e trovare un eroe che sia di altra cultura è davvero dura. Echo è per alcuni aspetti più "tipica" del genere: la classica eroina che nasconde cuore e sentimenti dietro una facciata sarcastica e aggressiva. Solo che in questo caso se lo può permettere visto che è frutto di un esperimento genetico volto a produrre un supersoldato.
Come nel libro precedente contano più i personaggi che la storia, ma il dipanarsi del racconto su tre libri permette, in questo caso, di approfondire tutti gli aspetti con maggiore equilibrio. Aspetto i prossimi due libri con trepidazione :)
Very, very good.
Usually I avoid novels with protagonists who are or were soldiers and super secret agencies not only don't interest me but most of the time I find them funny (It always seems to me I'm reading a James Bond film, with the bald bad guy caressing the cat with a jeweled hand amd a satanic laughter) but in this case I made an exception and I have not regretted it.
I was already impressed by Laura's Wolf. The paranormal plot was an excuse to talk of deeply injuried people, damaged peaple, which, however, thanks to their inner strength are able to overcome obstacles and pain and traumas and to find their own peace of mind.
Echo's Wolf is about DJ's, the best friend of Roy (H of laura's wolf). The paranormal aspects, as well as the battle scenes, are better integrated into the story that has a lot more depth: not only the characters are better defined but also the evolution of the relationship between DJ and Echo is.
Dj is completely from Roy and for many aspects from the tipical UF - ScyFi hero. He is brave and heroic and a valiant combatant etc. etc.., but it's also sweet, complicated, fragile, and, surprise surprise, is American-Filipino. And to find a hero who is of another culture is really tough in this genre.
Echo is in some ways more "typical": she is the classic bad-ass heroine who hides behind a facade her feelings. She is sarcastic and aggressive, but also loyal and caring. And she is entitled to be a bad-ass: she is the result of a genetic experiment designed to create a super-soldier!
As in the previous book the characters are a lot more interesting, imho, of the overall plot (but there's a lot of adventure and battle scenes and banters between the H and h), but the unraveling of the story in three books allows to examine all aspects with more balance. Looking forward to the next book :)
Di solito evito i romanzi con protagonisti che sono o sono stati soldati e le agenzie supersegrete non solo non mi interessano ma il più delle volte le trovo buffe (non so, mi sembra sempre di stare leggendo un libro con James Bond, con il cattivone pelato che accarezza il gatto con mano ingioiellata e risata satanica) ma in questo caso ho fatto una eccezione e non me ne sono pentita.
Ero già rimasta colpita da Laura's Wolf. Il romanzo così come la debole trama paranormale erano una scusa per parlare approfonditamente di persone ferite, danneggiate, che tuttavia riescono grazie alla loro forza interiore a superare ostacoli e sofferenze e a trovare una loro serenità.
In Echo's Wolf ci viene raccontata la storia di DJ, il migliore amico di Roy. La trama paranormale, così come la parte avventurosa sono meglio integrate nella storia che ha il pregio di affrontare con molto più approfondimento non solo i personaggi ma anche l'evolversi della relazione tra DJ e Echo.
Dj è completamente diverso da Roy e, per molti aspetti, anche dal tipico eroe di UF/SciFi. E' coraggioso e eroico etc. etc., ma è anche dolce, complicato, fragile, e, udite udite, è Americano-filippino e trovare un eroe che sia di altra cultura è davvero dura. Echo è per alcuni aspetti più "tipica" del genere: la classica eroina che nasconde cuore e sentimenti dietro una facciata sarcastica e aggressiva. Solo che in questo caso se lo può permettere visto che è frutto di un esperimento genetico volto a produrre un supersoldato.
Come nel libro precedente contano più i personaggi che la storia, ma il dipanarsi del racconto su tre libri permette, in questo caso, di approfondire tutti gli aspetti con maggiore equilibrio. Aspetto i prossimi due libri con trepidazione :)
Very, very good.
Usually I avoid novels with protagonists who are or were soldiers and super secret agencies not only don't interest me but most of the time I find them funny (It always seems to me I'm reading a James Bond film, with the bald bad guy caressing the cat with a jeweled hand amd a satanic laughter) but in this case I made an exception and I have not regretted it.
I was already impressed by Laura's Wolf. The paranormal plot was an excuse to talk of deeply injuried people, damaged peaple, which, however, thanks to their inner strength are able to overcome obstacles and pain and traumas and to find their own peace of mind.
Echo's Wolf is about DJ's, the best friend of Roy (H of laura's wolf). The paranormal aspects, as well as the battle scenes, are better integrated into the story that has a lot more depth: not only the characters are better defined but also the evolution of the relationship between DJ and Echo is.
Dj is completely from Roy and for many aspects from the tipical UF - ScyFi hero. He is brave and heroic and a valiant combatant etc. etc.., but it's also sweet, complicated, fragile, and, surprise surprise, is American-Filipino. And to find a hero who is of another culture is really tough in this genre.
Echo is in some ways more "typical": she is the classic bad-ass heroine who hides behind a facade her feelings. She is sarcastic and aggressive, but also loyal and caring. And she is entitled to be a bad-ass: she is the result of a genetic experiment designed to create a super-soldier!
As in the previous book the characters are a lot more interesting, imho, of the overall plot (but there's a lot of adventure and battle scenes and banters between the H and h), but the unraveling of the story in three books allows to examine all aspects with more balance. Looking forward to the next book :)
July 14, 2015
Yeah, I'm as shocked as anyone that I read a book where "werewolves," "marines," and "romance" are key words in the description. I mean, "Hullo, Wisconsin called; it wants its cheese back." It's the kind of premise that demands a grunting, simian hero and stupid schmaltz.
Uh...but I liked it. Hero is alpha without the asshole; a happy-go-lucky macho-man who sometimes turns into a wolf. Heroine is a bad-ass assassin. No insta-lust. Friends to lovers storyline with a genuine connection between hero and heroine.
Better yet, it gently mocks romance novels:
The novel begins in Afghanistan, where DJ Torres, a Marine has just turned his dying comrade into a werewolf, hoping the extra boost of power from being wolfy will keep him alive. DJ's friend does survive, but not without first turning into a wolf in the evac helicopter and catching the interest of a mysterious, and very evil government agency.
DJ, also wounded in battle, wakes up in a hospital bed, now a prisoner of said agency. He tries to escape, but almost dies from heat stroke as he flees into the surrounding desert (Death Valley). The evil agency, which collects werewolves, sends their pack out to find him, but, ultimately, DJ is rescued/re-captured by Echo, a genetically engineered human assassin.
Love happens.
It's a simple story, but it works because it often subverts romance land tropes. For instance, instead of an embittered, PTSD-riddled alpha-hero who communicates in growls, DJ is unflappably optimistic, usually cheerful, and empathetic. He's like a big, silly-happy puppy, and it's impossible not to like him.
At first, I thought I was going to hate Echo, especially her relationship Charlie, her sister. Charlie is the last of Echo's genetically engineered siblings. The evil agency uses Charlie to control Echo. I expected Charlie to be the stereotypical, sickly, and insufferably sweet sister. Instead, she's opinionated, funny, and the kind of woman who goes after what she wants, sexually. So instead of me grumbling, "Who gives a fuck about your worthless, moronic sister?" I understood why Echo would do anything to protect her.
Not much happens, story-wise, but I enjoyed the growing friendship between Echo and DJ so much that the non-plot didn't matter.
On the downside, the evil agency folks are horrible, and the lack of resolution--I wanted to see them strangled with their own entrails--is disappointing.
Also...Echo is my dog's name, which made for some surreal moments.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Uh...but I liked it. Hero is alpha without the asshole; a happy-go-lucky macho-man who sometimes turns into a wolf. Heroine is a bad-ass assassin. No insta-lust. Friends to lovers storyline with a genuine connection between hero and heroine.
Better yet, it gently mocks romance novels:
The cover showed a woman with lots of cleavage plastering herself to a man riding a motorcycle along a mountain road. He wore leather pants, an unzipped leather jacket, no shirt, and no helmet. She wore a crop top, a miniskirt, and no helmet. DJ imagined the title: Our Worst Road Rash Ever. Or maybe Future Organ Donors in Love.
The novel begins in Afghanistan, where DJ Torres, a Marine has just turned his dying comrade into a werewolf, hoping the extra boost of power from being wolfy will keep him alive. DJ's friend does survive, but not without first turning into a wolf in the evac helicopter and catching the interest of a mysterious, and very evil government agency.
DJ, also wounded in battle, wakes up in a hospital bed, now a prisoner of said agency. He tries to escape, but almost dies from heat stroke as he flees into the surrounding desert (Death Valley). The evil agency, which collects werewolves, sends their pack out to find him, but, ultimately, DJ is rescued/re-captured by Echo, a genetically engineered human assassin.
Love happens.
It's a simple story, but it works because it often subverts romance land tropes. For instance, instead of an embittered, PTSD-riddled alpha-hero who communicates in growls, DJ is unflappably optimistic, usually cheerful, and empathetic. He's like a big, silly-happy puppy, and it's impossible not to like him.
At first, I thought I was going to hate Echo, especially her relationship Charlie, her sister. Charlie is the last of Echo's genetically engineered siblings. The evil agency uses Charlie to control Echo. I expected Charlie to be the stereotypical, sickly, and insufferably sweet sister. Instead, she's opinionated, funny, and the kind of woman who goes after what she wants, sexually. So instead of me grumbling, "Who gives a fuck about your worthless, moronic sister?" I understood why Echo would do anything to protect her.
Not much happens, story-wise, but I enjoyed the growing friendship between Echo and DJ so much that the non-plot didn't matter.
On the downside, the evil agency folks are horrible, and the lack of resolution--I wanted to see them strangled with their own entrails--is disappointing.
Also...Echo is my dog's name, which made for some surreal moments.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
July 25, 2014
First, let me say that I have NEVER read a book with a half-naked man on the cover until this one, and this was only because the book was recommended to me. When I checked it out, it sounded light on the romance, and so I decided to read it in the hope of finding some good characters with cultural variety. The cultural variety is the reason I'm posting the review on my blog as well as on Amazon and Goodreads.
D.J. Torres is a werewolf in the Marines, and as a result of being shot down, he's taken to a secret government facility where powers-that-be intend to change his life, and not for the better. There's not much I can say about the specifics without spoiling, but overall it was a cool story with some suspense and interesting characters. People with superhuman abilities are always fun, and I often enjoy a good government conspiracy, so it was a nice read for me. There's some clever banter, though not enough to make a claim of comedy. Since I don't know much about real life military (and certainly not SECRET military) operations, I don't know if the details were authentic or not, but the writing was confident and came across as being realistic, aside from the obvious exceptions of werewolves and genetically modified assassins.
The characters were likeable and kept me following the story without ever feeling like I needed to take a break. There were very few typos or awkward sentences, so thumbs up on the writing itself.
Language: R. They use the 'F' word like it's about to be repossessed, but although I don't like reading it, I think it was used in a realistic way to help give the story weight. Still, if you don't like profanity, this isn't the book for you.
Sexual Content: OK, so I'm going to gripe about this one. I'm NEVER a fan of explicit sex scenes. I know how it works, already, I don't need a documentary. In general I just skip them and move on, but still, it annoys me to have to find the end. In this case, skipping the sex was more challenging than usual. I can't go into the reason for this without giving things away, but just take my word for it. I would much prefer to have a 'pan away' scene.
Overall Message/Plot: Aside from some kind of obvious set-ups to get the two main characters together, the plot was pretty solid. The author provided believable reasons for the characters to get themselves into their situations, and while the reasons weren't super original, the characters were life-like enough to make me overlook that. Overall, a good read, and never boring.
EDIT: When I went to post my review on Amazon I saw that the book has a new cover. No more half-naked man.
D.J. Torres is a werewolf in the Marines, and as a result of being shot down, he's taken to a secret government facility where powers-that-be intend to change his life, and not for the better. There's not much I can say about the specifics without spoiling, but overall it was a cool story with some suspense and interesting characters. People with superhuman abilities are always fun, and I often enjoy a good government conspiracy, so it was a nice read for me. There's some clever banter, though not enough to make a claim of comedy. Since I don't know much about real life military (and certainly not SECRET military) operations, I don't know if the details were authentic or not, but the writing was confident and came across as being realistic, aside from the obvious exceptions of werewolves and genetically modified assassins.
The characters were likeable and kept me following the story without ever feeling like I needed to take a break. There were very few typos or awkward sentences, so thumbs up on the writing itself.
Language: R. They use the 'F' word like it's about to be repossessed, but although I don't like reading it, I think it was used in a realistic way to help give the story weight. Still, if you don't like profanity, this isn't the book for you.
Sexual Content: OK, so I'm going to gripe about this one. I'm NEVER a fan of explicit sex scenes. I know how it works, already, I don't need a documentary. In general I just skip them and move on, but still, it annoys me to have to find the end. In this case, skipping the sex was more challenging than usual. I can't go into the reason for this without giving things away, but just take my word for it. I would much prefer to have a 'pan away' scene.
Overall Message/Plot: Aside from some kind of obvious set-ups to get the two main characters together, the plot was pretty solid. The author provided believable reasons for the characters to get themselves into their situations, and while the reasons weren't super original, the characters were life-like enough to make me overlook that. Overall, a good read, and never boring.
EDIT: When I went to post my review on Amazon I saw that the book has a new cover. No more half-naked man.
June 12, 2015
Sherwood Smith's review pointed me at this one (two, actually because 'Partner' is a direct continuation of the story and takes up where Prisoner leaves off. (I'm only just starting on that one). This combines adventure thriller with supernatural romance. DJ Torres is a 'born' werewolf and a marine who, when his helicopter is shot down in Afghanistan goes against everything he's ever been taught and bites his badly wounded best buddy, Roy, to try and save his life. Having given away his secret, DJ finds himself imprisoned by a shadowy government agency somewhere out in the desert where he's partnered with tough-as-nails superspy and assassin, Echo, one of two surviving experimental clones. Echo has superstrength and lightning fast reflexes. DJ and Echo are both physically capable of escaping but Echo is held back by her frail clone sister who is gradually succumbing to the defects of her body, and DJ is held back because the bad guys have Roy stashed in some secret lock-up and threaten him with torture if DJ steps out of line. Things are complicated by a pack of unhappy 'made' wolves, each one of them with a power and a problem.
What could be a fairly standard adventure romance is lifted above the average by the exploration of dyslexia, and PTSD and the psychological effects of warfare and violence. (The author is a therapist in real life, specialising in PTSD.) DJ has been shaped by marine culture: never leave anyone behind and pack principles. Echo, born in a test tube, raised by carers, bottles up her emotions and is used to working alone. She's watched three of her close sisters die as their bodies failed them, now her last sister, the only person she cares about, is a fragile invalid. When the sister dies her controllers will lose their last hold on Echo, so they try and team her up with DJ to give her something - or someone - else to care about.
This is slight in terms of page count, but high in emotional intensity. Lia Silver is a pen name. The author also writes as Rachel Manija Brown. I've been hearing good things about her books from a number of people. This one certainly didn't disappoint.
What could be a fairly standard adventure romance is lifted above the average by the exploration of dyslexia, and PTSD and the psychological effects of warfare and violence. (The author is a therapist in real life, specialising in PTSD.) DJ has been shaped by marine culture: never leave anyone behind and pack principles. Echo, born in a test tube, raised by carers, bottles up her emotions and is used to working alone. She's watched three of her close sisters die as their bodies failed them, now her last sister, the only person she cares about, is a fragile invalid. When the sister dies her controllers will lose their last hold on Echo, so they try and team her up with DJ to give her something - or someone - else to care about.
This is slight in terms of page count, but high in emotional intensity. Lia Silver is a pen name. The author also writes as Rachel Manija Brown. I've been hearing good things about her books from a number of people. This one certainly didn't disappoint.
April 4, 2015
DJ Torres is a werewolf who joined the Marines. Echo is a clone genetically engineered to be "super" human. Both are being held by a secret government agency that they can't risk escaping for the sake of those they love.
I found this book very read-able and very human. To be honest, reflecting on it, there isn't a huge amount that actually happens in the book and yet everything that does feels very gripping. I read this book quickly - and then went and bought the second one.
I enjoyed the characters. Despite the fact that in some ways this follows an urban-fantasy template, I thought it brought a lot more to the table. DJ's experience of war - and training - feels very real, and the accounts of combat stress and PTSD were very interesting. They added a very unusual facet to this book, which I appreciated.
Neither DJ nor Echo felt like paper cut-outs, nor did their loved ones, Roy and Charlie. The imaginary details of this world in terms of werewolf-lore, for instance, also feel well-developed and add interesting elements to the book.
The main risk I see from this book is the over-simplification of the villains and the "evil" government agency. However, Echo's reflections in her opening sequence of the novel (plus the viewpoint of a CIA agent-turned-werewolf) helped me to hope that it would turn out a lot more complicated than DJ's perceptions of it.
This book was for free. In my experience, this normally means badly-written, horribly-edited or hugely-derivative. I wouldn't have picked it up except that Sherwood Smith mentioned it in a blog and I enjoyed another book she recommended. It absolutely defied my expectations of a free book, and I would heartily recommend that if you are reading this review and you feel even slightly tempted, you 'buy' it and actually read it.
[My only complaint is that every description of this book and its sequel have comments about the ending so be careful about reading the "official" material.]
I found this book very read-able and very human. To be honest, reflecting on it, there isn't a huge amount that actually happens in the book and yet everything that does feels very gripping. I read this book quickly - and then went and bought the second one.
I enjoyed the characters. Despite the fact that in some ways this follows an urban-fantasy template, I thought it brought a lot more to the table. DJ's experience of war - and training - feels very real, and the accounts of combat stress and PTSD were very interesting. They added a very unusual facet to this book, which I appreciated.
Neither DJ nor Echo felt like paper cut-outs, nor did their loved ones, Roy and Charlie. The imaginary details of this world in terms of werewolf-lore, for instance, also feel well-developed and add interesting elements to the book.
The main risk I see from this book is the over-simplification of the villains and the "evil" government agency. However, Echo's reflections in her opening sequence of the novel (plus the viewpoint of a CIA agent-turned-werewolf) helped me to hope that it would turn out a lot more complicated than DJ's perceptions of it.
This book was for free. In my experience, this normally means badly-written, horribly-edited or hugely-derivative. I wouldn't have picked it up except that Sherwood Smith mentioned it in a blog and I enjoyed another book she recommended. It absolutely defied my expectations of a free book, and I would heartily recommend that if you are reading this review and you feel even slightly tempted, you 'buy' it and actually read it.
[My only complaint is that every description of this book and its sequel have comments about the ending so be careful about reading the "official" material.]
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