What do you think?
Rate this book
Luna Lake #1
Forbidden: A Novel of the Sazi
USA Today bestselling author Cathy Clamp reboots the Sazi universe in Forbidden, a tightly-paced, high-tension urban fantasy thriller.
Ten years have passed since the war that destroyed the Sazi Council and inflicted a horrible "cure" on thousands of Sazi, robbing them of their ability to shapeshift.
Luna Lake, isolated in Washington State, started as a refugee camp for Sazi orphans. Now it's a small town and those refugees are young adults, chafing at the limits set by their still-fearful guardians.
There's reason to fear: Sazi children are being kidnapped. Claire, a red wolf shifter, is sent to investigate. Held prisoner by the Snakes during childhood, Claire is distrusted by those who call Luna Lake home.
Before the war, Alek was part of a wolf pack in Chicago. In Luna Lake he was adopted by a parliament of Owls, defying Sazi tradition. The kidnappings are a painful reminder that his little sister disappeared a decade ago.
When Claire and Alek meet, sparks fly—but the desperate race to find the missing children forces them to set aside their mutual attraction and focus on the future of their people.
Ten years have passed since the war that destroyed the Sazi Council and inflicted a horrible "cure" on thousands of Sazi, robbing them of their ability to shapeshift.
Luna Lake, isolated in Washington State, started as a refugee camp for Sazi orphans. Now it's a small town and those refugees are young adults, chafing at the limits set by their still-fearful guardians.
There's reason to fear: Sazi children are being kidnapped. Claire, a red wolf shifter, is sent to investigate. Held prisoner by the Snakes during childhood, Claire is distrusted by those who call Luna Lake home.
Before the war, Alek was part of a wolf pack in Chicago. In Luna Lake he was adopted by a parliament of Owls, defying Sazi tradition. The kidnappings are a painful reminder that his little sister disappeared a decade ago.
When Claire and Alek meet, sparks fly—but the desperate race to find the missing children forces them to set aside their mutual attraction and focus on the future of their people.
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 11, 2015
18 people are currently reading
683 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Clamp
39 books149 followersAlso known as Cat Adams
Hi!, I’m USA TODAY and Nielsen Bookscan bestselling author Cathy Clamp. I write urban fantasy/paranormal romance for Tor Books, including the Tales of the Sazi (shapeshifter urban fantasy romance) series, The Thrall (vampire) trilogy, the Blood Singer (urban fantasy, as Cat Adams) series—through book 6, and the new Novels of the Sazi series, beginning in August, 2015.
I’ve won a bunch of awards for my books over the years. My favorite was the Career Achievement Award for Paranormal Romance in May, 2008 from RT Bookreviews Magazine. I also shared the win for several co-authored books with C.T. Adams of the Book Buyer’s Best Award, the RT Bookreviews Reviewer’s Choice Award, the Reviewers International Award of Excellence, the Texas Gold Romance Award, the Write Touch Readers Award, and several others. It’s gratifying and humbling to win awards for books that you put your heart into, and I hope you enjoy them as much as other readers have!
I’ve also written several stand-alone novels, not in series, including my very first novel, The Road To Riches, an historical fiction about a railroad race in Colorado’s Silver Boom period, and Magic’s Design, the first urban fantasy published as Cat Adams.
I also write short stories, which is a whole different kind of writing.. I like writing in a lot of different genres, and it’s in short stories where I let my wings spread. I have published short stories in horror, science fiction, mystery, literary, Young Adult, romance, thriller, fantasy and western
Hi!, I’m USA TODAY and Nielsen Bookscan bestselling author Cathy Clamp. I write urban fantasy/paranormal romance for Tor Books, including the Tales of the Sazi (shapeshifter urban fantasy romance) series, The Thrall (vampire) trilogy, the Blood Singer (urban fantasy, as Cat Adams) series—through book 6, and the new Novels of the Sazi series, beginning in August, 2015.
I’ve won a bunch of awards for my books over the years. My favorite was the Career Achievement Award for Paranormal Romance in May, 2008 from RT Bookreviews Magazine. I also shared the win for several co-authored books with C.T. Adams of the Book Buyer’s Best Award, the RT Bookreviews Reviewer’s Choice Award, the Reviewers International Award of Excellence, the Texas Gold Romance Award, the Write Touch Readers Award, and several others. It’s gratifying and humbling to win awards for books that you put your heart into, and I hope you enjoy them as much as other readers have!
I’ve also written several stand-alone novels, not in series, including my very first novel, The Road To Riches, an historical fiction about a railroad race in Colorado’s Silver Boom period, and Magic’s Design, the first urban fantasy published as Cat Adams.
I also write short stories, which is a whole different kind of writing.. I like writing in a lot of different genres, and it’s in short stories where I let my wings spread. I have published short stories in horror, science fiction, mystery, literary, Young Adult, romance, thriller, fantasy and western
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 20, 2015
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/08/20/b...
UPDATED: details of US giveaway of FORBIDDEN running from 8/20/15 to 8/30/15 http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/08/20/b...
As someone who was totally new to Cathy Clamp’s work, I was very excited about the opportunity to read Forbidden, book one in a new series set in the Sazi universe. A “reboot” of sorts, the novel takes place ten years after the events at the end of The Tales of the Sazi, featuring a new story and new characters – a fresh start, essentially, and a perfect jumping-on point for a newcomer like me.
Indeed, there’s not much you need to know before starting this series, and any required knowledge is helpfully provided by the author. For example, I found it interesting that the two protagonists of Forbidden actually first appeared in the original series as relatively minor characters. According to Clamp’s afterword, the heroine Clarissa Evans (who goes by Claire Sanchez here) was in Moon’s Fury as one of the young victims of a child abductor. All grown up now and an agent of the Wolven, Claire is being sent to investigate a string of missing children cases in the remote town of Luna Lake.
For obvious reasons, the mission hits a bit close to home, and Claire finds herself struggling to deal with unpleasant memories on top of trying to figure out the complex hierarchy of her new pack. The community at Luna Lake is unlike anything she’s had to deal with before, on account of it being a former refugee camp for displaced Sazi and lost orphans. Shapeshifters of all sorts live together here, including owls, falcons, bears, cougars, and of course wolves like Claire herself. On her first day, she meets another wolf named Alek, a Sazi orphan who grew up in Luna Lake after being adopted into a family of owls. Sparks fly between them immediately – both the good and bad sort – but whatever attraction or differences they have between them, solving the mystery must come first…before it’s too late for the missing kids.
Right away, I was captivated by the magic of this world. There are all sorts of Sazi, like those who can turn into wolves, big cats, birds of prey, snakes, etc. There were also the little things that charmed me, like the fact they can talk in their animals forms, or use food smells (most often desserts, I find. Or maybe I just notice them more because of my sweet tooth) to identify the emotional states of other Sazi.
I was also amazed by the social dynamics of Luna Lake. You don’t have to be familiar with the Sazi series to understand that it’s a very special community. The bird shifters aren’t big fans of the cats, the cats don’t much like the wolves, and the wolves can’t stand the smell of the birds, but at Luna Lake all the groups manage to live in relative harmony because that’s the only way to ensure survival. For Alek and other Sazi like him who were adopted by the Williams, the town is literally one big family. Even though he is a wolf, Alek is a big brother to owls, eagles, bobcats, other wolves and more, and there’s this sense of solidarity and togetherness about Luna Lake that gave me all the warm and fuzzy feels. Yet, there’s also a cost to that peace. Over the years the pack has developed a way to identify their “omegas”, and these low ranked individuals are treated poorly and forced to do all the dirty jobs in town. It made me feel really unsettled and angry towards Luna Lake’s leaders and those townsfolk who turn a blind eye to this blatantly unfair and broken system.
Be aware too that while Forbidden is described as an Urban Fantasy mystery, in some ways it actually reads more like a paranormal romance. Claire and Alek’s relationship is often the focus of the story, and the mystery elements of the plot are in truth not that substantial. To really get into the story, you would need to buy into the chemistry between Claire and Alek, and that was perhaps my problem; I didn’t feel like I got a chance to know either of them very well before they were thrust together, and right on the heels of them falling in lust came the obligatory plot contrivances to introduce conflict between them. I also found Alek too self-absorbed for my tastes and Claire too much of a “special snowflake”, which all made it harder for me to care about their developing relationship. That said, I’m not a big reader of PNR so there may be a lot genre norms and nuances that I’m not accustomed to, so feel free to take my opinion on the romance with a grain of salt!
The world of the Sazi does have the benefit of being fully fleshed out and realized though, from all the groundwork that has been established by the original series. Just this little taste of it has gotten me hooked, and I find myself wanting more. Certainly if you have a love for stories about shapeshifters, you need to check this one out for the many different kinds of creatures alone. Recommended for urban fantasy/paranormal romance readers and fans of strange and beautiful magic.
UPDATED: details of US giveaway of FORBIDDEN running from 8/20/15 to 8/30/15 http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/08/20/b...
As someone who was totally new to Cathy Clamp’s work, I was very excited about the opportunity to read Forbidden, book one in a new series set in the Sazi universe. A “reboot” of sorts, the novel takes place ten years after the events at the end of The Tales of the Sazi, featuring a new story and new characters – a fresh start, essentially, and a perfect jumping-on point for a newcomer like me.
Indeed, there’s not much you need to know before starting this series, and any required knowledge is helpfully provided by the author. For example, I found it interesting that the two protagonists of Forbidden actually first appeared in the original series as relatively minor characters. According to Clamp’s afterword, the heroine Clarissa Evans (who goes by Claire Sanchez here) was in Moon’s Fury as one of the young victims of a child abductor. All grown up now and an agent of the Wolven, Claire is being sent to investigate a string of missing children cases in the remote town of Luna Lake.
For obvious reasons, the mission hits a bit close to home, and Claire finds herself struggling to deal with unpleasant memories on top of trying to figure out the complex hierarchy of her new pack. The community at Luna Lake is unlike anything she’s had to deal with before, on account of it being a former refugee camp for displaced Sazi and lost orphans. Shapeshifters of all sorts live together here, including owls, falcons, bears, cougars, and of course wolves like Claire herself. On her first day, she meets another wolf named Alek, a Sazi orphan who grew up in Luna Lake after being adopted into a family of owls. Sparks fly between them immediately – both the good and bad sort – but whatever attraction or differences they have between them, solving the mystery must come first…before it’s too late for the missing kids.
Right away, I was captivated by the magic of this world. There are all sorts of Sazi, like those who can turn into wolves, big cats, birds of prey, snakes, etc. There were also the little things that charmed me, like the fact they can talk in their animals forms, or use food smells (most often desserts, I find. Or maybe I just notice them more because of my sweet tooth) to identify the emotional states of other Sazi.
I was also amazed by the social dynamics of Luna Lake. You don’t have to be familiar with the Sazi series to understand that it’s a very special community. The bird shifters aren’t big fans of the cats, the cats don’t much like the wolves, and the wolves can’t stand the smell of the birds, but at Luna Lake all the groups manage to live in relative harmony because that’s the only way to ensure survival. For Alek and other Sazi like him who were adopted by the Williams, the town is literally one big family. Even though he is a wolf, Alek is a big brother to owls, eagles, bobcats, other wolves and more, and there’s this sense of solidarity and togetherness about Luna Lake that gave me all the warm and fuzzy feels. Yet, there’s also a cost to that peace. Over the years the pack has developed a way to identify their “omegas”, and these low ranked individuals are treated poorly and forced to do all the dirty jobs in town. It made me feel really unsettled and angry towards Luna Lake’s leaders and those townsfolk who turn a blind eye to this blatantly unfair and broken system.
Be aware too that while Forbidden is described as an Urban Fantasy mystery, in some ways it actually reads more like a paranormal romance. Claire and Alek’s relationship is often the focus of the story, and the mystery elements of the plot are in truth not that substantial. To really get into the story, you would need to buy into the chemistry between Claire and Alek, and that was perhaps my problem; I didn’t feel like I got a chance to know either of them very well before they were thrust together, and right on the heels of them falling in lust came the obligatory plot contrivances to introduce conflict between them. I also found Alek too self-absorbed for my tastes and Claire too much of a “special snowflake”, which all made it harder for me to care about their developing relationship. That said, I’m not a big reader of PNR so there may be a lot genre norms and nuances that I’m not accustomed to, so feel free to take my opinion on the romance with a grain of salt!
The world of the Sazi does have the benefit of being fully fleshed out and realized though, from all the groundwork that has been established by the original series. Just this little taste of it has gotten me hooked, and I find myself wanting more. Certainly if you have a love for stories about shapeshifters, you need to check this one out for the many different kinds of creatures alone. Recommended for urban fantasy/paranormal romance readers and fans of strange and beautiful magic.
August 11, 2015
Having not read the original series I was a little apprehensive jumping right into this new series. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about.
Ms. Clamp did an amazing job not only explaining past events but also exactly what the Sazi were. I never felt lost, confused, or wondering what was going on. Instead I was intrigued by the strangeness of the town, the events that took place, and the mystery behind it all. Drawn into the story after the first chapter, this story was one that was hard to put down simply because I had to know what in the world was going on.
Captivating every bit as it was unique, I truly had a great time reading this from the beginning to the very end.
Luna Lake was like no place I have ever been before, the residents even more so. Strange to the extreme but oh so interesting, this was a read unlike anything I have read in the genre, from the beast that lurked in the shadows to those that lurked in the very heart of the town itself, this was a fun and entertaining UF series.
*An Copy of this was provided by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Ms. Clamp did an amazing job not only explaining past events but also exactly what the Sazi were. I never felt lost, confused, or wondering what was going on. Instead I was intrigued by the strangeness of the town, the events that took place, and the mystery behind it all. Drawn into the story after the first chapter, this story was one that was hard to put down simply because I had to know what in the world was going on.
Captivating every bit as it was unique, I truly had a great time reading this from the beginning to the very end.
Luna Lake was like no place I have ever been before, the residents even more so. Strange to the extreme but oh so interesting, this was a read unlike anything I have read in the genre, from the beast that lurked in the shadows to those that lurked in the very heart of the town itself, this was a fun and entertaining UF series.
*An Copy of this was provided by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
September 17, 2015
I really liked the Sazi series, which this one is spun off of and set years later. But as I read it I was really bored, in fact it took me 3 hours to get 100 pages, which is a long time, I should be almost finished in that amount of time.
I didn't like how even the town seemed, how everyone seems out for Claire, even her supposed "friends and family". I gave up when the family noticed a rouge shifter and called out battle stations, expecting Claire to help in a major role after having been there less than a day and been in a big car accident.
In the end this one just isn't for me.
I didn't like how even the town seemed, how everyone seems out for Claire, even her supposed "friends and family". I gave up when the family noticed a rouge shifter and called out battle stations, expecting Claire to help in a major role after having been there less than a day and been in a big car accident.
In the end this one just isn't for me.
March 9, 2020
Wow! Just... wow! I was so extremely thrilled to be one of the few people to get an opportunity to read and review this book that I do believe I told everyone I know I got the ARC copy. I bounced around with it even. Hugged the book a few times. Squealed more when I saw it was signed. If I could have married it, I probably would have. I was that freaking excited.
Once I started reading, I quickly found out that I was not going to be disappointed.
My copy is an uncorrected proof, so I won't do my usual comments on major technical writing issues. Not that there were many or anything. But it's irrelevant to this review.
I am even more thrilled once I learned Cathy kept the food smells to describe emotional scents the Sazi can pick up on. I absolutely loved how original that was - and EXTREMELY descriptive to us poor humans with poor noses who are reading the novels. It was the best innovation in a shapeshifter novel I had ever seen when it first showed up in the very first Sazi novel. However, I did notice that after the first quarter of the book the mentioning of food scents for emotions tapered off a bit.
Now, storywise...
I LOVED it. Cathy went above and beyond in the mystery department in this novel. I had no freaking idea who the bad guys were (or even WHAT they were) until the end of the story. Seriously! She surprised me with who was the big bad in this story and let me tell you, that is hard to do. I usually suspect who or what or even when and what happens a lot. In TV, movies, AND books, this happens to me a lot. That Cathy took me by complete surprise is a-freaking-mazing. I have to applaud her talent for suspense (or mystery) there!
As for characterization, once again I wasn't disappointed. Or at least not much. I loved Claire and felt and understood her and even related to her quite a lot. Alek on the other hand, started out great! But I felt he was a lacking through the middle of the novel, but then it picked up to great by the end of the novel, with his distraction and reason for it.
All of the supporting characters were awesome, especially the elderly Sazi that kicked some serious ass.
Now, I'm pretty sure the story of Claire and Alek continue in the next novel, Illicit, simply because it seems a bit unfinished. Since I can't explain why it seems a bit unfinished without giving away anything, and as usual I try not to give spoilers, so I'm sorry, there you go. No idea if Illicit is the continuation of Claire and Alek or not. But I am willing to bet it is, following in the tradition of the Tales of the Sazi series.
Now I am dying to know if the issues get resolves, or learn why Alek's little brother is such an asshat to Claire a bit more, the explaination in the book didn't feel finished to me. All these unfinished issues are why I didn't rate this five stars, because I'm not positive it was continuing or if it was a single couple per book type series. If it is complete and moving on to another couple without finishing the issues, it's a 4 star book. If it continues on to resolve this issue, it is definitely a 5 star book!
I received a free ARC of Forbidden in exchange for an honest review.
Once I started reading, I quickly found out that I was not going to be disappointed.
My copy is an uncorrected proof, so I won't do my usual comments on major technical writing issues. Not that there were many or anything. But it's irrelevant to this review.
I am even more thrilled once I learned Cathy kept the food smells to describe emotional scents the Sazi can pick up on. I absolutely loved how original that was - and EXTREMELY descriptive to us poor humans with poor noses who are reading the novels. It was the best innovation in a shapeshifter novel I had ever seen when it first showed up in the very first Sazi novel. However, I did notice that after the first quarter of the book the mentioning of food scents for emotions tapered off a bit.
Now, storywise...
I LOVED it. Cathy went above and beyond in the mystery department in this novel. I had no freaking idea who the bad guys were (or even WHAT they were) until the end of the story. Seriously! She surprised me with who was the big bad in this story and let me tell you, that is hard to do. I usually suspect who or what or even when and what happens a lot. In TV, movies, AND books, this happens to me a lot. That Cathy took me by complete surprise is a-freaking-mazing. I have to applaud her talent for suspense (or mystery) there!
As for characterization, once again I wasn't disappointed. Or at least not much. I loved Claire and felt and understood her and even related to her quite a lot. Alek on the other hand, started out great! But I felt he was a lacking through the middle of the novel, but then it picked up to great by the end of the novel, with his distraction and reason for it.
All of the supporting characters were awesome, especially the elderly Sazi that kicked some serious ass.
Now, I'm pretty sure the story of Claire and Alek continue in the next novel, Illicit, simply because it seems a bit unfinished. Since I can't explain why it seems a bit unfinished without giving away anything, and as usual I try not to give spoilers, so I'm sorry, there you go. No idea if Illicit is the continuation of Claire and Alek or not. But I am willing to bet it is, following in the tradition of the Tales of the Sazi series.
Now I am dying to know if the issues get resolves, or learn why Alek's little brother is such an asshat to Claire a bit more, the explaination in the book didn't feel finished to me. All these unfinished issues are why I didn't rate this five stars, because I'm not positive it was continuing or if it was a single couple per book type series. If it is complete and moving on to another couple without finishing the issues, it's a 4 star book. If it continues on to resolve this issue, it is definitely a 5 star book!
I received a free ARC of Forbidden in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2015
Forbidden is the first book in a brand new urban fantasy series called Luna Lake, which ties in with the Tale of the Sazi series. I had never read a book by Cathy Clamp before, so I went into Forbidden without any knowledge of its background story.
Claire is sent to Luna Lake by her alphas to investigate shifter children going missing. When she arrives in the little secluded town, she discovers there is more wrong than just a few runaways.
The start of Forbidden is rather rocky. You know that authors are advised to start in the action? This book does just that, and it falls into the trap of having too much going on without reference. I had no idea who I was looking at and why before things started to hit the fan. I experienced a disconnect between me and the characters, simply because I had no idea what they were talking about. I suspect that it would have been easier if I had read one of the other Sazi books before. Now, however, I was forced to get to know the characters, make sense of the world-building, and keep track of the action on top of that.
Forbidden straddles the line between paranormal romance and urban fantasy. I think there is too much romance (and too much cheesy lust-at-first-sight) for it to be a proper urban fantasy, yet there is not enough of the urgency and focus for me to convincingly call it paranormal romance. The main pairing is between two wolf shifters, and the moment they meet, they do the whole wolf mating thing. My issue with this was that the first time the hero sees the heroine, she is half dead and not breathing. He gives her mouth-to-mouth and basically makes out with her while she is unconscious. This really did not sit well with me, and their budding romance did not work for me.
The reason I did still enjoy the book is the action/mystery part of the story. The inner workings of the town of Luna Lake slowly unfold, and the sense that there is something fundamentally wrong there was very well done. I loved reading about the corruption that runs through it. One ceveat: trigger warnings for abuse all over the place.
One of the nicest things about shifter books in my opinion is the familial bond that most shifters have with each other. Reading about groups of people who are close to each other is one of my favourite things - whether they're friends or family. Forbidden features a large adoptive family, filled with contrasting characters and personalities, which I enjoyed getting to know.
Forbidden is a quick romantic shifter book, which is easy on the eyes and fast-paced. It has some problems (cliched insta-lust, wolves/owls that can speak while in animal form), but I enjoyed the slow unfolding of the mystery in a small-town setting.
Claire is sent to Luna Lake by her alphas to investigate shifter children going missing. When she arrives in the little secluded town, she discovers there is more wrong than just a few runaways.
The start of Forbidden is rather rocky. You know that authors are advised to start in the action? This book does just that, and it falls into the trap of having too much going on without reference. I had no idea who I was looking at and why before things started to hit the fan. I experienced a disconnect between me and the characters, simply because I had no idea what they were talking about. I suspect that it would have been easier if I had read one of the other Sazi books before. Now, however, I was forced to get to know the characters, make sense of the world-building, and keep track of the action on top of that.
Forbidden straddles the line between paranormal romance and urban fantasy. I think there is too much romance (and too much cheesy lust-at-first-sight) for it to be a proper urban fantasy, yet there is not enough of the urgency and focus for me to convincingly call it paranormal romance. The main pairing is between two wolf shifters, and the moment they meet, they do the whole wolf mating thing. My issue with this was that the first time the hero sees the heroine, she is half dead and not breathing. He gives her mouth-to-mouth and basically makes out with her while she is unconscious. This really did not sit well with me, and their budding romance did not work for me.
The reason I did still enjoy the book is the action/mystery part of the story. The inner workings of the town of Luna Lake slowly unfold, and the sense that there is something fundamentally wrong there was very well done. I loved reading about the corruption that runs through it. One ceveat: trigger warnings for abuse all over the place.
One of the nicest things about shifter books in my opinion is the familial bond that most shifters have with each other. Reading about groups of people who are close to each other is one of my favourite things - whether they're friends or family. Forbidden features a large adoptive family, filled with contrasting characters and personalities, which I enjoyed getting to know.
Forbidden is a quick romantic shifter book, which is easy on the eyes and fast-paced. It has some problems (cliched insta-lust, wolves/owls that can speak while in animal form), but I enjoyed the slow unfolding of the mystery in a small-town setting.
October 22, 2015
Three and a half stars: A good UF book with interesting characters and an eerie setting.
Claire is feeling more and more anxious as she nears Luna Lake. Then she realizes the overwhelming sense of fear is radiating off Danielle, the young lady who is escorting her to her new home. Danielle is in a panic, her two younger siblings recently turned up missing, and a search by the town has turned up nothing. Claire is sympathetic and eager to help. She is actually an undercover agent sent in by the Wolven council to find out what is actually going on in the town. Children are missing and something doesn't smell right, but before Claire and Danielle get to the isolated town outskirts, their car is attacked by some unknown beast lurking in the darkness. Will Claire survive her stay at Luna Lake?
What I Liked:
*I was a bit hesitant going into Forbidden since this is a first book in a spin off series of Ms. Clamp's popular Sazi Series. I was quickly able to immerse into the story, and I never felt overwhelmed or lost as the author did a good job filling the reader in on the back story. Whether you are an old fan, or a new one, you can easily pick up this book and dive right into this interesting world.
*What drove this book was the eerie setting of Luna Lake. At first glance, Luna Lake is a quiet, isolated shapeshifter community nestled away from prying eyes. What sets this town apart is that it is a place where shapeshifters of all species live and work together. It isn't often that cats, wolves and birds live together in harmony. However, once Claire settles in, she recognizes that there is something terribly wrong in town. There is something dark and sinister at work, and Claire starts noticing unsettling behavior from the residents. I was immediately drawn into this strange community, and I was intrigued by the sense of wrongness. I thought the mystery of the town was terrific, and I liked the suspense.
*I liked that this book had a strong cast of shifters. Yes, you get wolves, but there are also bobcats and lots and lots of owls and birds. Normally, shapeshifters tend to be of the four legged type, so I pleased to see so many bird shifters. I liked that the cast was eclectic and interesting. Surprisingly, my favorite character ended up being the elderly trio of owl shifters, they shine at the end.
*I loved the way that scent played such a big part of the book. The author did an excellent job of tickling your senses by using sense of smell. Her descriptions of certain scents were fantastic.
*I appreciated the strong focus on family. I liked that the shifters accepted one another no matter their animal, and that they bonded and looked out for one another.
*For all of you action lovers, there is plenty of action and danger. It is apparent from the get go that something isn't right, and as the book progresses, the action, danger and suspense continue to notch up, leading to an exciting climax and finish.
*After a big action packed scene, the dust settles, leaving the reader with a few tidbits to follow up in the next installment. There isn't a cliffhanger, and most of the questions are cleared up. I will be interested to read the next book.
And the Not So Much:
*There is a romance in this book, and I unfortunately, I wasn't the biggest fan of the romance. It ended up starting off with insta lust. I felt like it moved too quickly, and I never thought the two connected. Two much insta love or lust if you will. I also didn't like for an UF that it was such a strong focus. I would have been better if it focused more on establishing trust and friendship instead of lust. I was also a bit put off by the one sided mating bond. There was a bit too much drama with the romance, especially considering this is supposed to be a UF book, not a Paranormal Romance.
*Even though this is a spin off, and for the most part, I wasn't lost, I found myself wishing a time or two for a bit more information and detail on the plague and the Wolven. The author does give some helpful information at the end of the book in her afterword, but I think it would have been better if she had woven it in the story, or included it in a introductory section.
*After the big finish, I thought the book wrapped up a bit too quickly, and I was left with a few nagging questions. I wanted to know if the person who seemed to be second in command to the dark force was in on it all along. I was also confused about the character who was somewhere between a parakeet and a falcon. I didn't understand her role, and her strange revelation at the end.
*I wasn't a fan of the darker tones of this book. There was a lot of violent abuse, especially directed toward the Omegas.
Overall, Forbidden was an exciting, fast paced, UF book with a creepy atmosphere and terrific suspense. I enjoyed the characters and the story, but I wasn't a big fan of the romance. I am hoping the romance will settle out and get better. I appreciated that I was able to pick up this spin off series without having read the other books, I didn't feel lost. Whether you are a new reader or a long time reader, this is a book you can pick up and enjoy, especially if you are a fan of Urban Fantasy.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Claire is feeling more and more anxious as she nears Luna Lake. Then she realizes the overwhelming sense of fear is radiating off Danielle, the young lady who is escorting her to her new home. Danielle is in a panic, her two younger siblings recently turned up missing, and a search by the town has turned up nothing. Claire is sympathetic and eager to help. She is actually an undercover agent sent in by the Wolven council to find out what is actually going on in the town. Children are missing and something doesn't smell right, but before Claire and Danielle get to the isolated town outskirts, their car is attacked by some unknown beast lurking in the darkness. Will Claire survive her stay at Luna Lake?
What I Liked:
*I was a bit hesitant going into Forbidden since this is a first book in a spin off series of Ms. Clamp's popular Sazi Series. I was quickly able to immerse into the story, and I never felt overwhelmed or lost as the author did a good job filling the reader in on the back story. Whether you are an old fan, or a new one, you can easily pick up this book and dive right into this interesting world.
*What drove this book was the eerie setting of Luna Lake. At first glance, Luna Lake is a quiet, isolated shapeshifter community nestled away from prying eyes. What sets this town apart is that it is a place where shapeshifters of all species live and work together. It isn't often that cats, wolves and birds live together in harmony. However, once Claire settles in, she recognizes that there is something terribly wrong in town. There is something dark and sinister at work, and Claire starts noticing unsettling behavior from the residents. I was immediately drawn into this strange community, and I was intrigued by the sense of wrongness. I thought the mystery of the town was terrific, and I liked the suspense.
*I liked that this book had a strong cast of shifters. Yes, you get wolves, but there are also bobcats and lots and lots of owls and birds. Normally, shapeshifters tend to be of the four legged type, so I pleased to see so many bird shifters. I liked that the cast was eclectic and interesting. Surprisingly, my favorite character ended up being the elderly trio of owl shifters, they shine at the end.
*I loved the way that scent played such a big part of the book. The author did an excellent job of tickling your senses by using sense of smell. Her descriptions of certain scents were fantastic.
*I appreciated the strong focus on family. I liked that the shifters accepted one another no matter their animal, and that they bonded and looked out for one another.
*For all of you action lovers, there is plenty of action and danger. It is apparent from the get go that something isn't right, and as the book progresses, the action, danger and suspense continue to notch up, leading to an exciting climax and finish.
*After a big action packed scene, the dust settles, leaving the reader with a few tidbits to follow up in the next installment. There isn't a cliffhanger, and most of the questions are cleared up. I will be interested to read the next book.
And the Not So Much:
*There is a romance in this book, and I unfortunately, I wasn't the biggest fan of the romance. It ended up starting off with insta lust. I felt like it moved too quickly, and I never thought the two connected. Two much insta love or lust if you will. I also didn't like for an UF that it was such a strong focus. I would have been better if it focused more on establishing trust and friendship instead of lust. I was also a bit put off by the one sided mating bond. There was a bit too much drama with the romance, especially considering this is supposed to be a UF book, not a Paranormal Romance.
*Even though this is a spin off, and for the most part, I wasn't lost, I found myself wishing a time or two for a bit more information and detail on the plague and the Wolven. The author does give some helpful information at the end of the book in her afterword, but I think it would have been better if she had woven it in the story, or included it in a introductory section.
*After the big finish, I thought the book wrapped up a bit too quickly, and I was left with a few nagging questions. I wanted to know if the person who seemed to be second in command to the dark force was in on it all along. I was also confused about the character who was somewhere between a parakeet and a falcon. I didn't understand her role, and her strange revelation at the end.
*I wasn't a fan of the darker tones of this book. There was a lot of violent abuse, especially directed toward the Omegas.
Overall, Forbidden was an exciting, fast paced, UF book with a creepy atmosphere and terrific suspense. I enjoyed the characters and the story, but I wasn't a big fan of the romance. I am hoping the romance will settle out and get better. I appreciated that I was able to pick up this spin off series without having read the other books, I didn't feel lost. Whether you are a new reader or a long time reader, this is a book you can pick up and enjoy, especially if you are a fan of Urban Fantasy.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
July 30, 2015
Something mysterious is happening in Luna Lake and Claire has been sent to investigate and just in time too for children are missing in this electrifying urban fantasy.
When Alek rescues Claire after a “weird car crash,” he’s instantly attracted to her and the reader can’t help but get caught up in the story as their attraction is set aside in a desperate race to find the missing children and uncover the truth behind the mysterious happenings in Luna Lake. Claire an Alek certainly has a sizzling attraction for each other but with the evil they are up against it could be a deadly distraction and these strong, compelling characters demand your attention as they try to stay alive in a town gone haywire. The fast paced, smooth flowing plot crackles with energy both evil and good keeping readers on the edge of their seat with lots of suspense, magic, excitement and romance.
Expectation and intrigue builds lots of electrifying tension throughout the story as the plot thickens and it soon becomes obvious that evil has this town in its grip and has no intention of letting go. Unexpected twists keeps readers guessing and emotional turmoil adds lots of depth to the story while the well written scenes and details paint vivid images that capture the imagination bringing the story to life while the thrilling suspense guarantees the reader becomes completely immersed in the unfolding intrigue.
If you are a fan of the Tales of Sazi series then you know just how excited I was for the Sazi world to continue and I have to say that it far exceeds my expectations and promises that this new generation of Sazi will be just as spellbinding as the first. If you haven’t read the first series, don’t despair, the story does give you enough clues of how the series left off for you to enjoy this one but you will be missing out on the original world building and how the Sazi reached the point where they are now.
When Alek rescues Claire after a “weird car crash,” he’s instantly attracted to her and the reader can’t help but get caught up in the story as their attraction is set aside in a desperate race to find the missing children and uncover the truth behind the mysterious happenings in Luna Lake. Claire an Alek certainly has a sizzling attraction for each other but with the evil they are up against it could be a deadly distraction and these strong, compelling characters demand your attention as they try to stay alive in a town gone haywire. The fast paced, smooth flowing plot crackles with energy both evil and good keeping readers on the edge of their seat with lots of suspense, magic, excitement and romance.
Expectation and intrigue builds lots of electrifying tension throughout the story as the plot thickens and it soon becomes obvious that evil has this town in its grip and has no intention of letting go. Unexpected twists keeps readers guessing and emotional turmoil adds lots of depth to the story while the well written scenes and details paint vivid images that capture the imagination bringing the story to life while the thrilling suspense guarantees the reader becomes completely immersed in the unfolding intrigue.
If you are a fan of the Tales of Sazi series then you know just how excited I was for the Sazi world to continue and I have to say that it far exceeds my expectations and promises that this new generation of Sazi will be just as spellbinding as the first. If you haven’t read the first series, don’t despair, the story does give you enough clues of how the series left off for you to enjoy this one but you will be missing out on the original world building and how the Sazi reached the point where they are now.
August 7, 2015
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Dark, eerie and mysterious urban fantasy/paranormal romance mixture. This novel was full of mystery and action so it didn’t slow down one bit. The amount of abuse the main character does through may turn readers away.
Opening Sentence: Fear wasn’t something Claire Evans thought she’d ever feel again, but an all-too-familiar buzzing filled her ears while bile rose into her throat.
The Review:
Forbidden is an urban fantasy novel set in a strange paranormal world unlike anything I have ever seen before. This world is shrouded in mystery, tragedy and terror. If you dislike abuse of any kind, you may want to stay away from this novel. The amount of abuse that the main character goes through was infuriating even though it is demonstrated to show how terrible the things in Luna Lake have gotten out of hand. Forbidden is a spin-off of the paranormal romance Tales of the Sazi by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp. It is set ten years after a virus tore apart the Sazi community. Sadly, I haven’t read this series but Forbidden has me intrigued enough that I really want to see how this world began and what it was like before the virus.
Claire Evans, red wolf and Wolven agent, is going undercover in Luna Lake to investigate the disappearances of children and to find out what exactly is going on in this remote Sazi settlement. Luna Lake is an oddity in the Sazi world, a settlement that combines all races of shapeshifters. The shapeshifters often don’t get along and separate themselves to keep them from hunting each other. As soon as Claire arrives in Luna Lake she can tell all isn’t as it should be. She is attacked by a mysterious black force. The townfolk seem to like her but that soon changes.
Alek moved to Luna Lake when it was created. He was in his middle teens at the time. Alek and his brother, also wolves, were raised by a pack of Owls. Alek has no idea what is going on in Luna Lake. When he meets Claire he is immediately drawn to her and her strength.
Claire is designated as an Omega in an unfair test. Why is this important? Omega status is basically a town slave (just in Luna Lake). Omega’s do all the cleaning and chores in town. Omega’s also get the living daylights beaten out of them on a daily basis. Claire is strong enough to take the beatings but she has to take them in order to find out the crazy mystery in town.
I like a good mystery but the mystery in this novel drove me crazy. It seemed like absolutely no questions were being answered, just more and more questions were getting piled up. Then to top it off the townspeople were forgetting important things i.e. Missing Children! What?!? What is going on here?
I will say, between the crazy mystery and actual action scenes this book doesn’t slow down. The actual events of the novel taken place in less than a week’s span of time. I was entirely engrossed and I had to know how this novel was going to end. Also, the main villain was quite different from anything I had seen before.
The setting is bleak and remote and it really translates to how Luna Lake is seemingly outside of the rule of the other paranormals in this world. There is a real hierarchy to the shapeshifters and how they operate within their own packs and how the phases of the moon allow certain people to shift over others. The one thing I thought was funny, was how they could talk in their shifted forms. I broke down laughing over trying to see in my mind’s eye a wolf, owl, and cougar talking.
I was a little indifferent towards Claire. I waffled between really liking her and just thinking she was a wallflower. Yeah, she solved the mystery but she took a lot of beatings and kept justifying it because she couldn’t reveal why she was in Luna Lake to begin with. As for her relationship with Alek, I thought it was a little electric and I was shocked on how that played out later. Even the romantic structure was a bit weird for me so I’m a little iffy on if this series will stay with Claire and Alek or move on to someone else. It was definitely written more like a paranormal romance with Claire and Alek both getting their own third person point of views.
Overall, I would recommend this to urban fantasy/paranormal romance readers who want to try something a little different with shapeshifters. The synopsis says this is an urban fantasy and not a paranormal romance like the previous series was so I am really intrigued about what is next.
Notable Scene:
“Let me explain how things work up here, Ms. Sanchez.” The chief’s voice grew rough, his scent angry to the point of fury. “You’re the Omega. You’re nothing. You have no rank, no prestige, no standing until you earn some. You will swear your allegiance to Mayor Monk, as your Alpha, for the remainder of your stay here and will have no contact with your old pack.” She felt a moment of panic, did her best to suppress it. “You will not meet the eyes of any other pack member, regardless of their gender, rank, age, or species.” In a blur of motion, her head rocked to the opposite side from a second vicious slap, and white flowers erupted in her brain. This time she did fall, her knees slamming into the floor with a shock of pain. “You don’t seem to understand your station. You looked at the principal, the secretary, nearly every teacher in school today, along with the waitress in the restaurant.”
Wait. What? How was she supposed to serve food if she could only stare at the floor? “You are forbidden to interact with any town resident for the next week other than the mayor, me and Rachel, who will be your guide during your training. You will listen and do as you’re told, when you’re told, and how you’re told. You are forbidden to refuse or disobey direct orders and will do whatever you’re instructed to do by your superiors.”
Within reason, surely, she thought. The mayor was in her mind in an instant; she screamed and raised her hands to her ears, feeling that her brain was going to explode. The chief kicked her backward sharply, sending her sprawling on the floor, and pulled out of head at the same time. She remained where she landed, mostly because his foot came down on her throat.
She fought to breathe and tried to turn her head so she could get air. He ground his foot on her neck in response. “You breathe when I let you, Claire. You think what your Alpha allows you to think. There is no within reason in this town. Do you understand?”
Claire didn’t answer, wasn’t sure if it was another trick. How had the chief known what had been in her mind? Who was the Alpha here? She held her breath until she couldn’t anymore, keeping her eyes on the ceiling, not meeting his eyes.
He lifted his foot, seeming to be satisfied. “You may answer.”
It took two tries to get her jaw to work. When she spoke, she made sure there was no fear in her voice, only anger. That seemed to both amuse and excite him. “Yes.”
FTC Advisory: Cathy Clamp graciously provided me with a copy of Forbidden. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Dark, eerie and mysterious urban fantasy/paranormal romance mixture. This novel was full of mystery and action so it didn’t slow down one bit. The amount of abuse the main character does through may turn readers away.
Opening Sentence: Fear wasn’t something Claire Evans thought she’d ever feel again, but an all-too-familiar buzzing filled her ears while bile rose into her throat.
The Review:
Forbidden is an urban fantasy novel set in a strange paranormal world unlike anything I have ever seen before. This world is shrouded in mystery, tragedy and terror. If you dislike abuse of any kind, you may want to stay away from this novel. The amount of abuse that the main character goes through was infuriating even though it is demonstrated to show how terrible the things in Luna Lake have gotten out of hand. Forbidden is a spin-off of the paranormal romance Tales of the Sazi by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp. It is set ten years after a virus tore apart the Sazi community. Sadly, I haven’t read this series but Forbidden has me intrigued enough that I really want to see how this world began and what it was like before the virus.
Claire Evans, red wolf and Wolven agent, is going undercover in Luna Lake to investigate the disappearances of children and to find out what exactly is going on in this remote Sazi settlement. Luna Lake is an oddity in the Sazi world, a settlement that combines all races of shapeshifters. The shapeshifters often don’t get along and separate themselves to keep them from hunting each other. As soon as Claire arrives in Luna Lake she can tell all isn’t as it should be. She is attacked by a mysterious black force. The townfolk seem to like her but that soon changes.
Alek moved to Luna Lake when it was created. He was in his middle teens at the time. Alek and his brother, also wolves, were raised by a pack of Owls. Alek has no idea what is going on in Luna Lake. When he meets Claire he is immediately drawn to her and her strength.
Claire is designated as an Omega in an unfair test. Why is this important? Omega status is basically a town slave (just in Luna Lake). Omega’s do all the cleaning and chores in town. Omega’s also get the living daylights beaten out of them on a daily basis. Claire is strong enough to take the beatings but she has to take them in order to find out the crazy mystery in town.
I like a good mystery but the mystery in this novel drove me crazy. It seemed like absolutely no questions were being answered, just more and more questions were getting piled up. Then to top it off the townspeople were forgetting important things i.e. Missing Children! What?!? What is going on here?
I will say, between the crazy mystery and actual action scenes this book doesn’t slow down. The actual events of the novel taken place in less than a week’s span of time. I was entirely engrossed and I had to know how this novel was going to end. Also, the main villain was quite different from anything I had seen before.
The setting is bleak and remote and it really translates to how Luna Lake is seemingly outside of the rule of the other paranormals in this world. There is a real hierarchy to the shapeshifters and how they operate within their own packs and how the phases of the moon allow certain people to shift over others. The one thing I thought was funny, was how they could talk in their shifted forms. I broke down laughing over trying to see in my mind’s eye a wolf, owl, and cougar talking.
I was a little indifferent towards Claire. I waffled between really liking her and just thinking she was a wallflower. Yeah, she solved the mystery but she took a lot of beatings and kept justifying it because she couldn’t reveal why she was in Luna Lake to begin with. As for her relationship with Alek, I thought it was a little electric and I was shocked on how that played out later. Even the romantic structure was a bit weird for me so I’m a little iffy on if this series will stay with Claire and Alek or move on to someone else. It was definitely written more like a paranormal romance with Claire and Alek both getting their own third person point of views.
Overall, I would recommend this to urban fantasy/paranormal romance readers who want to try something a little different with shapeshifters. The synopsis says this is an urban fantasy and not a paranormal romance like the previous series was so I am really intrigued about what is next.
Notable Scene:
“Let me explain how things work up here, Ms. Sanchez.” The chief’s voice grew rough, his scent angry to the point of fury. “You’re the Omega. You’re nothing. You have no rank, no prestige, no standing until you earn some. You will swear your allegiance to Mayor Monk, as your Alpha, for the remainder of your stay here and will have no contact with your old pack.” She felt a moment of panic, did her best to suppress it. “You will not meet the eyes of any other pack member, regardless of their gender, rank, age, or species.” In a blur of motion, her head rocked to the opposite side from a second vicious slap, and white flowers erupted in her brain. This time she did fall, her knees slamming into the floor with a shock of pain. “You don’t seem to understand your station. You looked at the principal, the secretary, nearly every teacher in school today, along with the waitress in the restaurant.”
Wait. What? How was she supposed to serve food if she could only stare at the floor? “You are forbidden to interact with any town resident for the next week other than the mayor, me and Rachel, who will be your guide during your training. You will listen and do as you’re told, when you’re told, and how you’re told. You are forbidden to refuse or disobey direct orders and will do whatever you’re instructed to do by your superiors.”
Within reason, surely, she thought. The mayor was in her mind in an instant; she screamed and raised her hands to her ears, feeling that her brain was going to explode. The chief kicked her backward sharply, sending her sprawling on the floor, and pulled out of head at the same time. She remained where she landed, mostly because his foot came down on her throat.
She fought to breathe and tried to turn her head so she could get air. He ground his foot on her neck in response. “You breathe when I let you, Claire. You think what your Alpha allows you to think. There is no within reason in this town. Do you understand?”
Claire didn’t answer, wasn’t sure if it was another trick. How had the chief known what had been in her mind? Who was the Alpha here? She held her breath until she couldn’t anymore, keeping her eyes on the ceiling, not meeting his eyes.
He lifted his foot, seeming to be satisfied. “You may answer.”
It took two tries to get her jaw to work. When she spoke, she made sure there was no fear in her voice, only anger. That seemed to both amuse and excite him. “Yes.”
FTC Advisory: Cathy Clamp graciously provided me with a copy of Forbidden. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
February 14, 2023
On her first mission as a Wolven agent, the heroine is sent in undercover to a secluded pack to investigate strange disappearances of children. The topic is one that's close to heart as she herself was kidnapped as a girl and held prisoner and tortured before escaping and fostering under a pack in Texas. To this day she still has pretty severe night terrors where she relives the horrors she experienced. On the way into town, she and her escort are attacked by a brutally strong but unseen creature that hides in the darkness. Bloody and near death, they are saved by the hero who was driving by on his motorcycle.
The hero is surviving on zero sleep and on his way to bail his brother out of jail when he comes upon the attack in progress. The thing, whatever it is, is massive but unseen in the darkness and he knows it's not natural. It runs off and leaves him to try desperately to save the beautiful woman's life. From the second he sees her he is utterly captivated by her. He even becomes lost in her scent while she lies dying- much to his personal shame. And later in the hospital the connection and desire he feels for her has only grown stronger.
The heroine, however, is not there for romance but to do her job. A job that's becoming harder and harder to do with the strange and barbaric customs of this pack. They live under a strict Alpha and Omega guild line where the Omega is basically a non-person, a slave. Anything and everything can be said and done to them including routine beatings and horrible secret abuse. Much to the heroine’s shock and fury, she forfeits the challenge to grant her Alpha status and is demoted to Omega. This she blames on the hero who she's convinced purposely set her up for failure.
The hero however feels really bad about the heroine's demotion, no initially wanting her to fail. And he himself is now demoted to Omega as well so together they experience the abuse and beatings first hand. The heroine is slow to warm up to the hero but eventually she realizes that as Omega she'll be able to slip around more easily without being detected. And she can still work on her mission. Missing children who have vanished without a trace. Cultish practices and shady villains abound- making mothers and family forget their babies are even missing. Horror abuse and oppressive rules governed to keep people under lock and key.
The heroine certainly has her work cut out for her. And she doesn't know who to trust and who's involved in what's happening in this small town. But she wants to trust the hero. He seems like a decent man. He's hard working, kind, the type of man to stand up for justice and fight for what he believes in. Maybe he's a bit too honest. It does get him in all kinds of trouble. And when it comes time to reveal her profession, the hero becomes her partner. He also becomes her mate but their bond is one sided- his side. The heroine isn't quick to want to bond herself to anyone and she's uneasy about bonding herself to a male she doesn't completely know. But regardless of personal feelings they have a job to do and bit by bit the mystery unravels until the truth is revealed.
I liked this book but I could have done with more romance- funny enough. At first, that first meeting after the attack where the hero can't help but bury his nose in her hair, I was excited. I loved the passion and I felt the connection he felt towards the heroine. But from then it tapered off. Very little in the way of romance for most of the book. An odd kiss here and there but the main focus was on the mystery. That's not my thing, I want romance and I felt it was lacking. In fact, the heroine was reserved with her feelings, denying the mate bond and honest about her indecision with whether what she felt for the hero was anything more than friendship. While I admired her character and her levelheadedness I couldn't believe she considered turning away a man like the hero. The overall story was very interesting though. Made me angry as hell, but anger is better than indifference. It made my skin crawl to read about the oppression and the complete control the villains had over the entire town. I really wished one of the characters could have just said fuck it and stood up for themselves but they were once again thinking long term. It didn't stop me from grumbling and groaning. I guess it's my rebellious spirit- wanting me to fight the power and stick it to the man. Overall, I found it was more Urban Fantasy than romance. Maybe it's supposed to be, I’m not sure. But the previous books of the Sazi were 'Romance' and that's what I was expecting so I was disappointed.
The hero is surviving on zero sleep and on his way to bail his brother out of jail when he comes upon the attack in progress. The thing, whatever it is, is massive but unseen in the darkness and he knows it's not natural. It runs off and leaves him to try desperately to save the beautiful woman's life. From the second he sees her he is utterly captivated by her. He even becomes lost in her scent while she lies dying- much to his personal shame. And later in the hospital the connection and desire he feels for her has only grown stronger.
The heroine, however, is not there for romance but to do her job. A job that's becoming harder and harder to do with the strange and barbaric customs of this pack. They live under a strict Alpha and Omega guild line where the Omega is basically a non-person, a slave. Anything and everything can be said and done to them including routine beatings and horrible secret abuse. Much to the heroine’s shock and fury, she forfeits the challenge to grant her Alpha status and is demoted to Omega. This she blames on the hero who she's convinced purposely set her up for failure.
The hero however feels really bad about the heroine's demotion, no initially wanting her to fail. And he himself is now demoted to Omega as well so together they experience the abuse and beatings first hand. The heroine is slow to warm up to the hero but eventually she realizes that as Omega she'll be able to slip around more easily without being detected. And she can still work on her mission. Missing children who have vanished without a trace. Cultish practices and shady villains abound- making mothers and family forget their babies are even missing. Horror abuse and oppressive rules governed to keep people under lock and key.
The heroine certainly has her work cut out for her. And she doesn't know who to trust and who's involved in what's happening in this small town. But she wants to trust the hero. He seems like a decent man. He's hard working, kind, the type of man to stand up for justice and fight for what he believes in. Maybe he's a bit too honest. It does get him in all kinds of trouble. And when it comes time to reveal her profession, the hero becomes her partner. He also becomes her mate but their bond is one sided- his side. The heroine isn't quick to want to bond herself to anyone and she's uneasy about bonding herself to a male she doesn't completely know. But regardless of personal feelings they have a job to do and bit by bit the mystery unravels until the truth is revealed.
I liked this book but I could have done with more romance- funny enough. At first, that first meeting after the attack where the hero can't help but bury his nose in her hair, I was excited. I loved the passion and I felt the connection he felt towards the heroine. But from then it tapered off. Very little in the way of romance for most of the book. An odd kiss here and there but the main focus was on the mystery. That's not my thing, I want romance and I felt it was lacking. In fact, the heroine was reserved with her feelings, denying the mate bond and honest about her indecision with whether what she felt for the hero was anything more than friendship. While I admired her character and her levelheadedness I couldn't believe she considered turning away a man like the hero. The overall story was very interesting though. Made me angry as hell, but anger is better than indifference. It made my skin crawl to read about the oppression and the complete control the villains had over the entire town. I really wished one of the characters could have just said fuck it and stood up for themselves but they were once again thinking long term. It didn't stop me from grumbling and groaning. I guess it's my rebellious spirit- wanting me to fight the power and stick it to the man. Overall, I found it was more Urban Fantasy than romance. Maybe it's supposed to be, I’m not sure. But the previous books of the Sazi were 'Romance' and that's what I was expecting so I was disappointed.
March 20, 2016
Claire Sanchez, a new wolven agent, is sent to Luna Lake's to investigate the kidnappings of children and finds that the mayor and police chief are both very powerful alphas. They run the pack with brute hierarchy, through a ritualized monthly competition. You can either rise in the ranks or be placed as the lowest member of the pack. When Claire is forced to compete, she fails and becomes the pack Omega, the lowest ranking pack member. This almost causes her to fail her mission. But with her head held high, she fights to finish her job. The biggest problem is Alek, her attraction to him is undeniable.
Alek Siska has been trying to become an officer of the law, in a town that is corrupt from the inside out. He slowly starts to wake from the fantasy that the town is perfect when Claire arrives. He must save this stranger's life, little does he know she is about to change everything.
Luna Lake is supposed to be a sanctuary for the Sazi (shapeshifters), but when children go missing things aren't as safe as they seem.
This book has so many things going on from magic, shifters, secret agents, and kidnappings. You could not possibly add more to this book, without crossing a line at some point.
At some point in her past, Claire was kidnapped and tortured. She went through such an ordeal herself, I was surprised she did not have some psychological issues. After everything she was put through, I was very impressed to read that she showed up in this town with the goal of finding the missing children. She was willing to fight and stand up for the people in this town, no matter the cost. I think that Claire is a very strong character and she fights for the things that matter to her. This character is someone who would not go down without a fight.
In the beginning of the book we are lead to believe that Alek knows everything that is going on in this small town. Honestly, he is a little naive about everything that is around them. He doesn’t notice that his friends are being beaten, he was wrapped up in his own world he didn’t see what was going on around him. One of the things I loved about this character was the fact he was dedicated to his family. He was always looking out for his little brother and he never gave up looking for his little sister.
The main thing I loved most about this story, was I got the see these characters grow. There is nothing I love more than character development. The story as a whole was very active and had a constant flow of events. It leaves you guessing until the end.
Review COurtesy of Romance Junkies
Alek Siska has been trying to become an officer of the law, in a town that is corrupt from the inside out. He slowly starts to wake from the fantasy that the town is perfect when Claire arrives. He must save this stranger's life, little does he know she is about to change everything.
Luna Lake is supposed to be a sanctuary for the Sazi (shapeshifters), but when children go missing things aren't as safe as they seem.
This book has so many things going on from magic, shifters, secret agents, and kidnappings. You could not possibly add more to this book, without crossing a line at some point.
At some point in her past, Claire was kidnapped and tortured. She went through such an ordeal herself, I was surprised she did not have some psychological issues. After everything she was put through, I was very impressed to read that she showed up in this town with the goal of finding the missing children. She was willing to fight and stand up for the people in this town, no matter the cost. I think that Claire is a very strong character and she fights for the things that matter to her. This character is someone who would not go down without a fight.
In the beginning of the book we are lead to believe that Alek knows everything that is going on in this small town. Honestly, he is a little naive about everything that is around them. He doesn’t notice that his friends are being beaten, he was wrapped up in his own world he didn’t see what was going on around him. One of the things I loved about this character was the fact he was dedicated to his family. He was always looking out for his little brother and he never gave up looking for his little sister.
The main thing I loved most about this story, was I got the see these characters grow. There is nothing I love more than character development. The story as a whole was very active and had a constant flow of events. It leaves you guessing until the end.
Review COurtesy of Romance Junkies
November 11, 2015
"Same, but different" really fits this book well. It felt wonderfully familiar sliding back into the Sazi universe, reading many of the same characteristic elements I loved in the original 8 books. At the same time, I met a new community of shifters who have been changed by the war that almost ended their race.
Clamp expanded the 5 year publishing gap between series into a 10 year span in the book and it works. Those familiar with the original series are able to see how the "cure"/plague has affected the Sazi, while those unfamiliar with the universe will not be lost. Clamp does a great job revealing necessary details throughout the book, reminding old fans of relevant events without overwhelming new readers with massive amounts of information. I also loved the little not-so-hidden gems that would pop up from time to time -- brief conversations with Cara, Lukas & Amber, memories and descriptions of events from Nikolai's hotel
I'm thrilled that Cathy Clamp is able to continue writing in the Sazi universe even without her previous writing partner and book 2 is already on my to-buy list.
Clamp expanded the 5 year publishing gap between series into a 10 year span in the book and it works. Those familiar with the original series are able to see how the "cure"/plague has affected the Sazi, while those unfamiliar with the universe will not be lost. Clamp does a great job revealing necessary details throughout the book, reminding old fans of relevant events without overwhelming new readers with massive amounts of information. I also loved the little not-so-hidden gems that would pop up from time to time -- brief conversations with Cara, Lukas & Amber, memories and descriptions of events from Nikolai's hotel
I'm thrilled that Cathy Clamp is able to continue writing in the Sazi universe even without her previous writing partner and book 2 is already on my to-buy list.
December 11, 2015
Clair is going undercover as a Wolven agent (shapeshifter cop) in a small shifter town. Something is not right, and she needs to get to the bottom of it fast. Children are disappearing and there isn't any time to waste.
Why I started this book: I loved Hunter's Moon and the rest of the Sazi books, so I was excited for a spin off series.
Why I finished it: You know when you pull out a favorite sweater that you haven't worn in months and it doesn't fit right? Or when you go to a favorite restaurant after years and you realize that your favorite doesn't taste like you remembered it? And you're left wondering if it was your memory that was faulty or if something has changed to the recipe... Reading this book felt like that. Still good, but not as good as I remember.
Why I started this book: I loved Hunter's Moon and the rest of the Sazi books, so I was excited for a spin off series.
Why I finished it: You know when you pull out a favorite sweater that you haven't worn in months and it doesn't fit right? Or when you go to a favorite restaurant after years and you realize that your favorite doesn't taste like you remembered it? And you're left wondering if it was your memory that was faulty or if something has changed to the recipe... Reading this book felt like that. Still good, but not as good as I remember.
July 25, 2015
I was given this ARC for an honest review. I loved this book. Ms. Cathy Clamp is such a fabulous writer that you feel the fog when it comes in, and try to hide from the creatures in the dark.
Ten years ago there was a war that destroyed the power of the Sazi Council and its members to shift. Seems the "cure" was no such thing, but rather a curse on them.
Claire Evans has come to Luna Lake in Washington state disguised as a school teacher, but not all is right with this little town and she and her friend, Danielle, are attacked before they arrive into town. And it just gets worse from there.
Ms. Clamp maintains a very high level of tension throughout this fast paced book that you do not want to put down. The world she has created is dark and broody and I loved it.
Ten years ago there was a war that destroyed the power of the Sazi Council and its members to shift. Seems the "cure" was no such thing, but rather a curse on them.
Claire Evans has come to Luna Lake in Washington state disguised as a school teacher, but not all is right with this little town and she and her friend, Danielle, are attacked before they arrive into town. And it just gets worse from there.
Ms. Clamp maintains a very high level of tension throughout this fast paced book that you do not want to put down. The world she has created is dark and broody and I loved it.
August 19, 2023
Well, this was a disappointment....
After the blurb, I really expected something a bit more. Yes, I've never read the author before, but you never know, right? My bad for going in with expectations, I guess.
Anyway, not to be too rough, it wasn't necessarily a bad book, it was just meh (with a little bit of annoying on top). The characters didn't make me like them too much and the plot was a disappointment, although the idea behind it was good. Maybe it's the writing style, and this author will grow and become better in time.
I won't go on with the series, but if you already have the book, it's worth a try. Who knows, maybe you'll like it more than me. It's not a series where I would definitely say no.
After the blurb, I really expected something a bit more. Yes, I've never read the author before, but you never know, right? My bad for going in with expectations, I guess.
Anyway, not to be too rough, it wasn't necessarily a bad book, it was just meh (with a little bit of annoying on top). The characters didn't make me like them too much and the plot was a disappointment, although the idea behind it was good. Maybe it's the writing style, and this author will grow and become better in time.
I won't go on with the series, but if you already have the book, it's worth a try. Who knows, maybe you'll like it more than me. It's not a series where I would definitely say no.
September 20, 2017
So, I finished it, though it was touch and go for a while. My first Scazi book, not sure I will read another. Something was just sort of off for me. Interesting idea, but maybe the "keeping the reader in the dark about every dang thing going on" was just too annoying. Not only were we in the dark on what the lead didn't know, we were in the dark on what she knew as well.
Anyway, paranormal romance, some will quite enjoy, lots of action and mysterious goings on...
Anyway, paranormal romance, some will quite enjoy, lots of action and mysterious goings on...
January 28, 2023
This was a fun twist on shifters with a mystery added and that was really interesting.. it’s not often that there’s multiple species of shifters living together or side by side and I enjoyed that aspect!
The mystery wasn’t such a mystery but it was fun to along the ride with them of them catching the bad guys..
the way the author did the mating part I didn’t care for. To be mated should mean both parties.. it really made no sense
The mystery wasn’t such a mystery but it was fun to along the ride with them of them catching the bad guys..
the way the author did the mating part I didn’t care for. To be mated should mean both parties.. it really made no sense
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2018
Made me what to go re-read the Original Sazi series.
June 30, 2023
DNF!
This is the only book so far that I have not finished.
It is absolute crap, don’t bother reading it.
This is the only book so far that I have not finished.
It is absolute crap, don’t bother reading it.
September 17, 2015
3.5*s
Review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
Forbidden is the first book in the Luna Lake series that has ties to the authors other series and I thought it was an intriguing start.
We begin the story with a car journey that brings Claire – a wolf shifter – to Luna Lake. She is there undercover because the local children are going missing and she immediately senses that something is wrong, a sense of danger and urgency she can’t quite put her finger on. Before they reach the town, they are hurled off the road by an unseen force with immense power…. Could this be what is taking the kids? At the same time, a series of events brings Alek – another wolf shifter – to the road where the wreckage is…. And he feels the same danger, urgency and unseen power that Claire did and ends up in the crosshairs. Thankfully he is able to save Claire…. Just… and a bond is formed.
As Claire heals, she stays with a foster family headed by Owls who take everyone in and love them, it’s their kids that are missing and Claire vows to find them. It’s no surprise that Claire ruffles a few feathers by sticking her nose in, something is seriously wrong in Luna Lake and when she finds herself as omega of the place, she finds out just how messed up the place is….. it has one advantage though… it allows her to snoop around, work with Alek and find out what is really going on.
So, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I liked the set-up of Luna Lake and why it was established – it should have been a good place, it was meant to be but as always… it never lives up to expectations. I like that a lot of the ‘Sazi’ kids were taken in, regardless of who they shifted into and there was a definite sense of family throughout where everyone looked out for one another and helped without question. It was still a change for Claire and really different from what she was used to at home. I thought she dealt with everything really well, she showed a maturity in how she handled herself but also gumption on how she asserted herself. She was likable and relatable which helped her fit straight in with her hosts. I’m really curious about her background and what happened to her when she was younger. Romance came by way of Alek, they shared an immediate chemistry and bond which intensifies over the course of the story. I’m glad that the romance didn’t take over the actual story but it was a nice balm to what was happening. Now I have to say that I like my wolves to have soul mate bonds, you can more or less guarantee that these will find a mate for life but this bond confused me – there’s a one sided bond where one loves the other but the other doesn’t necessarily have to love their mate back or be with them, plus that non bonded mate can bond with another and fall in love with that person or you can get the double bonding where they both love each other and make a commitment. Now that one sided bond is not a happy one for me, I want loyalty, I want chemistry I want my two main characters to be bonded, in love, having lots of sexytime and hopefully babies….. but that is not happening here and I’m not happy!
The actual story was great and I really enjoyed it! It had an air of mystery that followed you right through the book; why are the kids going missing? Who is taking them? Why are they being taken? They are the first things that come to mind but then when we actually spend some time in the community you can feel that something isn’t right there, something is being hidden and it’s sinister. It’s clear that some people in power know more than they’re letting on and that is the worst kind of foe to go up against because Claire is put in danger time and time again. She risks everything to find out what is going on, she’s abused, she’s shunned, she’s bullied…. But she is determined and it seems like she and Alek are the only ones that aren’t affected by the weirdness of Luna Lake. Along with the mystery, there is plenty of danger, violence aplenty, seedy secrets, misdirection…. But also some sexytime to offset the drama. By the end, the world is opened up even more, we find out exactly who Claire is and what she’s up to and a hint at a possible future for her. I would read a sequel but I wished I had been familiar with the authors other series before I read this so I knew what had happened in their world beforehand.
Review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
Forbidden is the first book in the Luna Lake series that has ties to the authors other series and I thought it was an intriguing start.
We begin the story with a car journey that brings Claire – a wolf shifter – to Luna Lake. She is there undercover because the local children are going missing and she immediately senses that something is wrong, a sense of danger and urgency she can’t quite put her finger on. Before they reach the town, they are hurled off the road by an unseen force with immense power…. Could this be what is taking the kids? At the same time, a series of events brings Alek – another wolf shifter – to the road where the wreckage is…. And he feels the same danger, urgency and unseen power that Claire did and ends up in the crosshairs. Thankfully he is able to save Claire…. Just… and a bond is formed.
As Claire heals, she stays with a foster family headed by Owls who take everyone in and love them, it’s their kids that are missing and Claire vows to find them. It’s no surprise that Claire ruffles a few feathers by sticking her nose in, something is seriously wrong in Luna Lake and when she finds herself as omega of the place, she finds out just how messed up the place is….. it has one advantage though… it allows her to snoop around, work with Alek and find out what is really going on.
So, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I liked the set-up of Luna Lake and why it was established – it should have been a good place, it was meant to be but as always… it never lives up to expectations. I like that a lot of the ‘Sazi’ kids were taken in, regardless of who they shifted into and there was a definite sense of family throughout where everyone looked out for one another and helped without question. It was still a change for Claire and really different from what she was used to at home. I thought she dealt with everything really well, she showed a maturity in how she handled herself but also gumption on how she asserted herself. She was likable and relatable which helped her fit straight in with her hosts. I’m really curious about her background and what happened to her when she was younger. Romance came by way of Alek, they shared an immediate chemistry and bond which intensifies over the course of the story. I’m glad that the romance didn’t take over the actual story but it was a nice balm to what was happening. Now I have to say that I like my wolves to have soul mate bonds, you can more or less guarantee that these will find a mate for life but this bond confused me – there’s a one sided bond where one loves the other but the other doesn’t necessarily have to love their mate back or be with them, plus that non bonded mate can bond with another and fall in love with that person or you can get the double bonding where they both love each other and make a commitment. Now that one sided bond is not a happy one for me, I want loyalty, I want chemistry I want my two main characters to be bonded, in love, having lots of sexytime and hopefully babies….. but that is not happening here and I’m not happy!
The actual story was great and I really enjoyed it! It had an air of mystery that followed you right through the book; why are the kids going missing? Who is taking them? Why are they being taken? They are the first things that come to mind but then when we actually spend some time in the community you can feel that something isn’t right there, something is being hidden and it’s sinister. It’s clear that some people in power know more than they’re letting on and that is the worst kind of foe to go up against because Claire is put in danger time and time again. She risks everything to find out what is going on, she’s abused, she’s shunned, she’s bullied…. But she is determined and it seems like she and Alek are the only ones that aren’t affected by the weirdness of Luna Lake. Along with the mystery, there is plenty of danger, violence aplenty, seedy secrets, misdirection…. But also some sexytime to offset the drama. By the end, the world is opened up even more, we find out exactly who Claire is and what she’s up to and a hint at a possible future for her. I would read a sequel but I wished I had been familiar with the authors other series before I read this so I knew what had happened in their world beforehand.
February 11, 2017
Originally reviewed at Dark Faerie Tales: http://darkfaerietales.com/early-revi...
Quick & Dirty: Dark, eerie and mysterious urban fantasy/paranormal romance mixture. This novel was full of mystery and action so it didn’t slow down one bit. The amount of abuse the main character does through may turn readers away.
The Review:
Forbidden is an urban fantasy novel set in a strange paranormal world unlike anything I have ever seen before. This world is shrouded in mystery, tragedy and terror. If you dislike abuse of any kind, you may want to stay away from this novel. The amount of abuse that the main character goes through was infuriating even though it is demonstrated to show how terrible the things in Luna Lake have gotten out of hand. Forbidden is a spin-off of the paranormal romance Tales of the Sazi by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp. It is set ten years after a virus tore apart the Sazi community. Sadly, I haven’t read this series but Forbidden has me intrigued enough that I really want to see how this world began and what it was like before the virus.
Claire Evans, red wolf and Wolven agent, is going undercover in Luna Lake to investigate the disappearances of children and to find out what exactly is going on in this remote Sazi settlement. Luna Lake is an oddity in the Sazi world, a settlement that combines all races of shapeshifters. The shapeshifters often don’t get along and separate themselves to keep them from hunting each other. As soon as Claire arrives in Luna Lake she can tell all isn’t as it should be. She is attacked by a mysterious black force. The townfolk seem to like her but that soon changes.
Alek moved to Luna Lake when it was created. He was in his middle teens at the time. Alek and his brother, also wolves, were raised by a pack of Owls. Alek has no idea what is going on in Luna Lake. When he meets Claire he is immediately drawn to her and her strength.
Claire is designated as an Omega in an unfair test. Why is this important? Omega status is basically a town slave (just in Luna Lake). Omega’s do all the cleaning and chores in town. Omega’s also get the living daylights beaten out of them on a daily basis. Claire is strong enough to take the beatings but she has to take them in order to find out the crazy mystery in town.
I like a good mystery but the mystery in this novel drove me crazy. It seemed like absolutely no questions were being answered, just more and more questions were getting piled up. Then to top it off the townspeople were forgetting important things i.e. Missing Children! What?!? What is going on here?
I will say, between the crazy mystery and actual action scenes this book doesn’t slow down. The actual events of the novel taken place in less than a week’s span of time. I was entirely engrossed and I had to know how this novel was going to end. Also, the main villain was quite different from anything I had seen before.
The setting is bleak and remote and it really translates to how Luna Lake is seemingly outside of the rule of the other paranormals in this world. There is a real hierarchy to the shapeshifters and how they operate within their own packs and how the phases of the moon allow certain people to shift over others. The one thing I thought was funny, was how they could talk in their shifted forms. I broke down laughing over trying to see in my mind’s eye a wolf, owl, and cougar talking.
I was a little indifferent towards Claire. I waffled between really liking her and just thinking she was a wallflower. Yeah, she solved the mystery but she took a lot of beatings and kept justifying it because she couldn’t reveal why she was in Luna Lake to begin with. As for her relationship with Alek, I thought it was a little electric and I was shocked on how that played out later. Even the romantic structure was a bit weird for me so I’m a little iffy on if this series will stay with Claire and Alek or move on to someone else. It was definitely written more like a paranormal romance with Claire and Alek both getting their own third person point of views.
Overall, I would recommend this to urban fantasy/paranormal romance readers who want to try something a little different with shapeshifters. The synopsis says this is an urban fantasy and not a paranormal romance like the previous series was so I am really intrigued about what is next.
Quick & Dirty: Dark, eerie and mysterious urban fantasy/paranormal romance mixture. This novel was full of mystery and action so it didn’t slow down one bit. The amount of abuse the main character does through may turn readers away.
The Review:
Forbidden is an urban fantasy novel set in a strange paranormal world unlike anything I have ever seen before. This world is shrouded in mystery, tragedy and terror. If you dislike abuse of any kind, you may want to stay away from this novel. The amount of abuse that the main character goes through was infuriating even though it is demonstrated to show how terrible the things in Luna Lake have gotten out of hand. Forbidden is a spin-off of the paranormal romance Tales of the Sazi by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp. It is set ten years after a virus tore apart the Sazi community. Sadly, I haven’t read this series but Forbidden has me intrigued enough that I really want to see how this world began and what it was like before the virus.
Claire Evans, red wolf and Wolven agent, is going undercover in Luna Lake to investigate the disappearances of children and to find out what exactly is going on in this remote Sazi settlement. Luna Lake is an oddity in the Sazi world, a settlement that combines all races of shapeshifters. The shapeshifters often don’t get along and separate themselves to keep them from hunting each other. As soon as Claire arrives in Luna Lake she can tell all isn’t as it should be. She is attacked by a mysterious black force. The townfolk seem to like her but that soon changes.
Alek moved to Luna Lake when it was created. He was in his middle teens at the time. Alek and his brother, also wolves, were raised by a pack of Owls. Alek has no idea what is going on in Luna Lake. When he meets Claire he is immediately drawn to her and her strength.
Claire is designated as an Omega in an unfair test. Why is this important? Omega status is basically a town slave (just in Luna Lake). Omega’s do all the cleaning and chores in town. Omega’s also get the living daylights beaten out of them on a daily basis. Claire is strong enough to take the beatings but she has to take them in order to find out the crazy mystery in town.
I like a good mystery but the mystery in this novel drove me crazy. It seemed like absolutely no questions were being answered, just more and more questions were getting piled up. Then to top it off the townspeople were forgetting important things i.e. Missing Children! What?!? What is going on here?
I will say, between the crazy mystery and actual action scenes this book doesn’t slow down. The actual events of the novel taken place in less than a week’s span of time. I was entirely engrossed and I had to know how this novel was going to end. Also, the main villain was quite different from anything I had seen before.
The setting is bleak and remote and it really translates to how Luna Lake is seemingly outside of the rule of the other paranormals in this world. There is a real hierarchy to the shapeshifters and how they operate within their own packs and how the phases of the moon allow certain people to shift over others. The one thing I thought was funny, was how they could talk in their shifted forms. I broke down laughing over trying to see in my mind’s eye a wolf, owl, and cougar talking.
I was a little indifferent towards Claire. I waffled between really liking her and just thinking she was a wallflower. Yeah, she solved the mystery but she took a lot of beatings and kept justifying it because she couldn’t reveal why she was in Luna Lake to begin with. As for her relationship with Alek, I thought it was a little electric and I was shocked on how that played out later. Even the romantic structure was a bit weird for me so I’m a little iffy on if this series will stay with Claire and Alek or move on to someone else. It was definitely written more like a paranormal romance with Claire and Alek both getting their own third person point of views.
Overall, I would recommend this to urban fantasy/paranormal romance readers who want to try something a little different with shapeshifters. The synopsis says this is an urban fantasy and not a paranormal romance like the previous series was so I am really intrigued about what is next.
August 12, 2015
4.25 Stars!! Sincerely enjoyed being back in the Sazi World. Full review will be posted closer to the release date.
Forbidden picks up 10 years after the last of A Tale from the Sazi series book ends! Forbidden starts with action right away!
What I liked: First off I have to say that the Sazi series was and is one of my all time favorite series. As a matter of fact when reducing my book collection, the series is one I kept and I've re-read it so many times some of the books are falling apart. I really need to get them in e-book form.
Forbidden starts with immediate action and really doesn't stop. Since I was familiar with the Sazi world, I wasn't lost at all and I think a new reader might need to have just a bit of patience OR start with the original series (nudge, nudge). The whole premise with the Sazi is to stay hidden so they take care of all their own problems. However, the "cure" devastated their numbers and now they are a bit overworked.
Claire, the heroine of Forbidden, is a new Wolven agent (this is the law enforcement agency for the Sazi) and normally wouldn't have been sent on such an assignment so early in her career and especially alone. However, Sazi children that survived the cure are being kidnapped and Claire is sent into the former refuge to find out why, and who and stop the kidnappings.
Alek has been in Luna Lake (the former refuge) since the cure/plague decimated his pack in Chicago. What's more, he was adopted by the Owls and not wolves. Basically, due to the plague, different clans had to step up and protect children of different clans to keep them safe.
Ms Clamp really steps up with the continuation of the Sazi. Her characters are interesting and appealing. Of course, there are always the few you just want to smack for being so stupid but otherwise, I enjoyed all the characters. Since the characters are so well done, it's hard to think any of them might not be all they seem. This is where Ms Clamp shines. I had absolutely no idea of any of the bad guys or why. But the story didn't bog down, it flowed and kept my interest and had me rooting for all the characters.
What I didn't like: I read a copy provided to me by Ms Clamp before ARCs were available so I can't really comment on the editing, etc. I know the only thing that frustrated me with my copy was, I couldn't (or didn't know how) to take notes. It was a bit funny actually because I had to resort to pen and paper, the horror!
The whole idea of the Sazi is completely different from any other Urban Fantasy I've read. It's completely believable, to me and I bought into it for the long haul. I'm very hopeful that more of the characters from the previous series will make it into this series. I'm that invested in them as characters and as part of the story!
I can't express how much I recommend you read A Tale of the Sazi series first. You won't be sorry, but entertained for hours!!
Highly Recommended!!!!!
Forbidden picks up 10 years after the last of A Tale from the Sazi series book ends! Forbidden starts with action right away!
What I liked: First off I have to say that the Sazi series was and is one of my all time favorite series. As a matter of fact when reducing my book collection, the series is one I kept and I've re-read it so many times some of the books are falling apart. I really need to get them in e-book form.
Forbidden starts with immediate action and really doesn't stop. Since I was familiar with the Sazi world, I wasn't lost at all and I think a new reader might need to have just a bit of patience OR start with the original series (nudge, nudge). The whole premise with the Sazi is to stay hidden so they take care of all their own problems. However, the "cure" devastated their numbers and now they are a bit overworked.
Claire, the heroine of Forbidden, is a new Wolven agent (this is the law enforcement agency for the Sazi) and normally wouldn't have been sent on such an assignment so early in her career and especially alone. However, Sazi children that survived the cure are being kidnapped and Claire is sent into the former refuge to find out why, and who and stop the kidnappings.
Alek has been in Luna Lake (the former refuge) since the cure/plague decimated his pack in Chicago. What's more, he was adopted by the Owls and not wolves. Basically, due to the plague, different clans had to step up and protect children of different clans to keep them safe.
Ms Clamp really steps up with the continuation of the Sazi. Her characters are interesting and appealing. Of course, there are always the few you just want to smack for being so stupid but otherwise, I enjoyed all the characters. Since the characters are so well done, it's hard to think any of them might not be all they seem. This is where Ms Clamp shines. I had absolutely no idea of any of the bad guys or why. But the story didn't bog down, it flowed and kept my interest and had me rooting for all the characters.
What I didn't like: I read a copy provided to me by Ms Clamp before ARCs were available so I can't really comment on the editing, etc. I know the only thing that frustrated me with my copy was, I couldn't (or didn't know how) to take notes. It was a bit funny actually because I had to resort to pen and paper, the horror!
The whole idea of the Sazi is completely different from any other Urban Fantasy I've read. It's completely believable, to me and I bought into it for the long haul. I'm very hopeful that more of the characters from the previous series will make it into this series. I'm that invested in them as characters and as part of the story!
I can't express how much I recommend you read A Tale of the Sazi series first. You won't be sorry, but entertained for hours!!
Highly Recommended!!!!!
August 31, 2015
Disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
I haven’t read the original Sazi series by Clamp, and while Forbidden is somewhat a continuation of the series, it focuses on new characters, location, and overall plot making it easy for new readers to join and follow along. Clamp did a great job explaining the history of how the Wolven agents formed and how the hierarchy of the Sazi Council works. Sazi is a term used to describe shifters, and Luna Lake, is full of all sorts of Sazi living together from owls, wolves, cats, bear etc. And that’s exactly what makes Luna Lake different from all other Sazi communities. Most Communities comprise of one type of Sazi, since most Sazi are known not to get along with another species. But it isn’t the only reason why Luna Lake is different. The town’s Major enforces strict and harsh rules that make it difficult for newcomers to adjust to. Our heroine, Claire (a.k.a Clarissa) is sent there to investigate a string of missing children and is in for a rude awakening when she is made the town’s omega.
I’ve read some of Clamp’s other work but in my opinion they weren’t as good as Forbidden. I really like the Sazi World, and the foundation, world building and characters seemed more well-rounded and better developed. I also like the two leads. Claire and Alex are strong, independent, compassionate and kind characters, which made them both likeable. I’ve seen some people write, why is it so importable to have likeable character? Well, for me it’s a must. If I don’t like them, then I wouldn’t care for them. And if a reader didn’t like or care about the characters, then why read it in the first place…right? But back to the point, Claire and Alex make a good team. They never got carried away from the most important task at hand, which is to find the missing kids. The supporting cast was just as great from Dani to the former omegas Rachel and Scott. I wouldn’t mind getting a Rachel or Scot story, I would definitely be interested in them.
Overall, Forbidden was a great, solid reintroduction (or introduction for newbies) to the Sazis. I highly recommend this new urban fantasy series to those looking for great characters and an engaging plot/story. I look forward to reading more of the Sazi/Luna Lake world…it’s certainly something worth checking out!
I haven’t read the original Sazi series by Clamp, and while Forbidden is somewhat a continuation of the series, it focuses on new characters, location, and overall plot making it easy for new readers to join and follow along. Clamp did a great job explaining the history of how the Wolven agents formed and how the hierarchy of the Sazi Council works. Sazi is a term used to describe shifters, and Luna Lake, is full of all sorts of Sazi living together from owls, wolves, cats, bear etc. And that’s exactly what makes Luna Lake different from all other Sazi communities. Most Communities comprise of one type of Sazi, since most Sazi are known not to get along with another species. But it isn’t the only reason why Luna Lake is different. The town’s Major enforces strict and harsh rules that make it difficult for newcomers to adjust to. Our heroine, Claire (a.k.a Clarissa) is sent there to investigate a string of missing children and is in for a rude awakening when she is made the town’s omega.
I’ve read some of Clamp’s other work but in my opinion they weren’t as good as Forbidden. I really like the Sazi World, and the foundation, world building and characters seemed more well-rounded and better developed. I also like the two leads. Claire and Alex are strong, independent, compassionate and kind characters, which made them both likeable. I’ve seen some people write, why is it so importable to have likeable character? Well, for me it’s a must. If I don’t like them, then I wouldn’t care for them. And if a reader didn’t like or care about the characters, then why read it in the first place…right? But back to the point, Claire and Alex make a good team. They never got carried away from the most important task at hand, which is to find the missing kids. The supporting cast was just as great from Dani to the former omegas Rachel and Scott. I wouldn’t mind getting a Rachel or Scot story, I would definitely be interested in them.
Overall, Forbidden was a great, solid reintroduction (or introduction for newbies) to the Sazis. I highly recommend this new urban fantasy series to those looking for great characters and an engaging plot/story. I look forward to reading more of the Sazi/Luna Lake world…it’s certainly something worth checking out!
August 19, 2015
A gripping combination of paranormal intrigue, clever worldbuilding, moving characters, and hot action with a pinch of mouthwatering romance.
I was happy to encounter action from the start, heavily laden with mystery that never slows down. The detailed paranormal hierarchy and history of the shapeshifters are seamlessly interwoven as the plot advances. I really liked to know how Claire's magic works, what she can smell due to her wolf nature or the things that happened during and after the plague that affected her kin so appallingly.
However, that was not the only remarkable feature of the story. The many characters are relatable, interesting, they all interact wonderfully to enliven the mysterious plot that threatens Claire from the first moment she sets foot, not too softly, in town with a mission that rubs everybody the wrong way. Except Alek, who will turn to mean a lot to her in a very unexpected twist.
To my surprise, Claire's stay in town is marked with not only undercover investigation and lots of characters, but a huge dose of violence. Some of the traditions there seem gruesome and unjust. Of course, that served to have me glued to everything that was happening to her and around her.
I was really into the events while the mystery surrounding some kids and the mixed creatures-population took place. The only thing that bothered me somewhat was that a bit ugly truth is revealed in a very anticlimactic way, only to reveal it again as a dramatic surprise in a dialogue between Alek, Claire and another cat character. It had lost its edge by then, I'm afraid.
Throughout the story, there is a vibrant physical attraction between the two wolf-shifters, Alek and Claire, that was vividly described. Nice. And it's appealing on several levels, including a beautiful, poignant emotional scene linked to mating rituals and repercussions.
The final one hundred pages almost shake with the intensity of the discoveries, the magic, the violence and the wild emotions. I was as exhausted at the end as the characters. They all had to fight and bleed to come out alive of the veritable avalanche of terrible things that fell down on them.
Forbidden really convinced me in terms of plot, characterization and quasi-romance. The soft cliffhanger is just enough encouragement to read the next adventure.
I was happy to encounter action from the start, heavily laden with mystery that never slows down. The detailed paranormal hierarchy and history of the shapeshifters are seamlessly interwoven as the plot advances. I really liked to know how Claire's magic works, what she can smell due to her wolf nature or the things that happened during and after the plague that affected her kin so appallingly.
However, that was not the only remarkable feature of the story. The many characters are relatable, interesting, they all interact wonderfully to enliven the mysterious plot that threatens Claire from the first moment she sets foot, not too softly, in town with a mission that rubs everybody the wrong way. Except Alek, who will turn to mean a lot to her in a very unexpected twist.
To my surprise, Claire's stay in town is marked with not only undercover investigation and lots of characters, but a huge dose of violence. Some of the traditions there seem gruesome and unjust. Of course, that served to have me glued to everything that was happening to her and around her.
I was really into the events while the mystery surrounding some kids and the mixed creatures-population took place. The only thing that bothered me somewhat was that a bit ugly truth is revealed in a very anticlimactic way, only to reveal it again as a dramatic surprise in a dialogue between Alek, Claire and another cat character. It had lost its edge by then, I'm afraid.
Throughout the story, there is a vibrant physical attraction between the two wolf-shifters, Alek and Claire, that was vividly described. Nice. And it's appealing on several levels, including a beautiful, poignant emotional scene linked to mating rituals and repercussions.
The final one hundred pages almost shake with the intensity of the discoveries, the magic, the violence and the wild emotions. I was as exhausted at the end as the characters. They all had to fight and bleed to come out alive of the veritable avalanche of terrible things that fell down on them.
Forbidden really convinced me in terms of plot, characterization and quasi-romance. The soft cliffhanger is just enough encouragement to read the next adventure.
July 6, 2015
10 years have passed since the Sazi world changed forever. Many refugee camps were formed to help orphaned Sazi people and children after the war and the plague. Luna Lake is one such place in Washington, isolated and insular. Claire Evans, a Wolven agent for the enforcement part of the Sazi Council, is sent in undercover to find out why the Sazi agent stationed at Luna Lake isn’t reporting anything unusual, including the people missing from the town roster, not even reporting the two kids missing for three days. When Claire is on her way to the town, she and her escort are brutally attacked by something she can’t smell, very unusual for a wolf shifter. She is saved by Alek Siska, a resident of Luna Lake. Also a wolf shifter, he wants to be a Wolven agent and is almost irresistibly drawn to Claire. Claire and Alek are soon neck-deep in trouble. Will they find out what’s going on Luna Lake and what happened to the missing children? Will they be able to explore their attraction? Or will the evil forces in town kill everyone?
Overall, I really, really enjoyed this book. It was great to be back in the Sazi world. The characters were well-drawn, the plot fast and enjoyable, and the suspense was just right. There were a couple things that bothered me a little. The feel of the book left me a little confused: was it supposed to be new adult or adult? I felt it was more adult than new adult, but that could have just been me. I forgot they were supposed to be fairly young. Also, by the blurb on the back, I wasn’t quite expecting the true feel of the book. I was jarred enough to be pulled out of the book rather quickly when the people were shown to be different than I expected (can’t say much more than that or I’ll give things away!). But, I soon readjusted the reality of what the book was supposed to be and settled back in. Don’t let those two things drive you off. This book was excellent and I can’t wait to read more in this series. And read her other books. Those were excellent as well. 4 1/2 stars. Thanks very much to the author for giving me an ARC!
Overall, I really, really enjoyed this book. It was great to be back in the Sazi world. The characters were well-drawn, the plot fast and enjoyable, and the suspense was just right. There were a couple things that bothered me a little. The feel of the book left me a little confused: was it supposed to be new adult or adult? I felt it was more adult than new adult, but that could have just been me. I forgot they were supposed to be fairly young. Also, by the blurb on the back, I wasn’t quite expecting the true feel of the book. I was jarred enough to be pulled out of the book rather quickly when the people were shown to be different than I expected (can’t say much more than that or I’ll give things away!). But, I soon readjusted the reality of what the book was supposed to be and settled back in. Don’t let those two things drive you off. This book was excellent and I can’t wait to read more in this series. And read her other books. Those were excellent as well. 4 1/2 stars. Thanks very much to the author for giving me an ARC!
September 5, 2016
**Received ARC in exchange for an honest review**
When I saw that I could get an ARC of this book I jumped right on it, because I was looking for a new Urban Fantasy series. I hadn't read the "A Tale of the Sazi series" which is the world where Forbidden takes place in. But I saw it was a new series so thought it wouldn't really matter AND it didn't matter!
This book is about Claire who is going undercover in the small town Luna Lake to investigate missing kids. I really liked that the whole story took place in a small town. I really love reading paranormal/shifter books in this setting. So I was really excited about that. Their is chemistry between Claire and Alek from the start. Alek has some really strong feelings for Claire.
The action in this book was pretty strong and it wasn't predictable. I was really left in the DARK for a while, which I really liked. There were really strange things going on in town, Claire caught on really fast. I really liked her character, she is someone that wants to help others and feels connected with victims of kidnapping/abuse because she was held prisoner herself. She is also an empath so she feels others emotions/feelings. This really helped her make a distinguish between enemy and friend.
One thing I didn't like was Alek, multiple times it was mentioned he has thing ALPHA personality. But I didn't really get that feeling a lot (the reason for that can be because I have read a lot of books with MAJOR alphas). Being an Alpha also means putting others first, which he did.
There are some unfinished business so I THINK that we will continue with Claire and Alek being the main characters in the next book in this series. I am not sure, but I hope they are because I want to see them develop as individuals and as a couple.
If you are looking for a new Urban Fantasy series with suspense/mystery then definitely make sure you get your hands on this book when it is released in August!
When I saw that I could get an ARC of this book I jumped right on it, because I was looking for a new Urban Fantasy series. I hadn't read the "A Tale of the Sazi series" which is the world where Forbidden takes place in. But I saw it was a new series so thought it wouldn't really matter AND it didn't matter!
This book is about Claire who is going undercover in the small town Luna Lake to investigate missing kids. I really liked that the whole story took place in a small town. I really love reading paranormal/shifter books in this setting. So I was really excited about that. Their is chemistry between Claire and Alek from the start. Alek has some really strong feelings for Claire.
The action in this book was pretty strong and it wasn't predictable. I was really left in the DARK for a while, which I really liked. There were really strange things going on in town, Claire caught on really fast. I really liked her character, she is someone that wants to help others and feels connected with victims of kidnapping/abuse because she was held prisoner herself. She is also an empath so she feels others emotions/feelings. This really helped her make a distinguish between enemy and friend.
One thing I didn't like was Alek, multiple times it was mentioned he has thing ALPHA personality. But I didn't really get that feeling a lot (the reason for that can be because I have read a lot of books with MAJOR alphas). Being an Alpha also means putting others first, which he did.
There are some unfinished business so I THINK that we will continue with Claire and Alek being the main characters in the next book in this series. I am not sure, but I hope they are because I want to see them develop as individuals and as a couple.
If you are looking for a new Urban Fantasy series with suspense/mystery then definitely make sure you get your hands on this book when it is released in August!
August 22, 2015
4.25 stars
"Forbidden" by Cathy Clamp is Book One of the ‘Luna Lake’ urban fantasy series. The story features Claire Evans, who has traveled to Luna Lake, in Washington State, to investigate disturbing occurrences. She is handicapped by her unfamiliarity with the rules and rituals in the town, but she has resources that they don’t know about as well. Unfortunately, the Sazi have had significant changes, and Alek Siska is still striving to deal with the repercussions. The last thing he expects is to not only be teamed up with Claire, but to be drawn into the complications that accompany her arrival. There are many dangerous undercurrents in Luna Lake, and if they’re not careful, both Claire and Alek may not survive the evil that threatens all of the residents.
This inventive and fantastical tale resumes the saga of the Sazi, in a very different world. The rich history that these shifters have shared has faded as their powers and alliances have altered and things are strangely dark in this part of the world. This is an intense and sometimes uncomfortable tale, with disconcerting violence and evil in both the present and the past, that captures one’s attention and draws one into the complicated world that has a plethora of intriguing individuals—who are closely linked to their animal natures. There are surprising twists to the relationships that form, and threads that link to the past and establish a framework for even more tales about these compelling beings. It would be nice to have a little more depth to the characters and I am not thrilled with the acceptance of the way the omegas are treated, but I definitely enjoyed following the mystery as it unfolded. The world presented is intriguing, and will appeal to those who like intense and somewhat dark paranormal tales that involve strong determined individuals who are not afraid to challenge evil and fight for those weaker than they are, but be forewarned, this is definitely not a tale for the squeamish.
A copy of this story was provided to me for review.
"Forbidden" by Cathy Clamp is Book One of the ‘Luna Lake’ urban fantasy series. The story features Claire Evans, who has traveled to Luna Lake, in Washington State, to investigate disturbing occurrences. She is handicapped by her unfamiliarity with the rules and rituals in the town, but she has resources that they don’t know about as well. Unfortunately, the Sazi have had significant changes, and Alek Siska is still striving to deal with the repercussions. The last thing he expects is to not only be teamed up with Claire, but to be drawn into the complications that accompany her arrival. There are many dangerous undercurrents in Luna Lake, and if they’re not careful, both Claire and Alek may not survive the evil that threatens all of the residents.
This inventive and fantastical tale resumes the saga of the Sazi, in a very different world. The rich history that these shifters have shared has faded as their powers and alliances have altered and things are strangely dark in this part of the world. This is an intense and sometimes uncomfortable tale, with disconcerting violence and evil in both the present and the past, that captures one’s attention and draws one into the complicated world that has a plethora of intriguing individuals—who are closely linked to their animal natures. There are surprising twists to the relationships that form, and threads that link to the past and establish a framework for even more tales about these compelling beings. It would be nice to have a little more depth to the characters and I am not thrilled with the acceptance of the way the omegas are treated, but I definitely enjoyed following the mystery as it unfolded. The world presented is intriguing, and will appeal to those who like intense and somewhat dark paranormal tales that involve strong determined individuals who are not afraid to challenge evil and fight for those weaker than they are, but be forewarned, this is definitely not a tale for the squeamish.
A copy of this story was provided to me for review.
September 14, 2015
OMG the Sazi are back. I love this series and this one was no exception. Even though this is part of a series it can be read as a standalone because this is a reboot and happens 10 years after the first books in this series. Claire is an intriguing heroine there is way more to her than meets the eye. We get bits and pieces of her history in this story. And it sets the stage for the books to come of which I am looking forward to. This story is a shifter book but they aren't like most shifters. When they mate they can have a one sided mating or a double mating. Its completely like normal humans in that they can love someone else but mate someone entirely different. That adds a complexity that I like. Since the war and the "cure" this town has integrated many different shifter types into a single town and now children are missing and no one seems concerned. When Claire goes to investigate she meets Alek and though he aware that something is going on in the town he cannot pin it down. As Claire and Alek works through finding the kids and figuring out what's going on with the town with some outside help they also have to deal with Alek mating Claire and her not mating him in return. But Alek is a great hero not perfect mind you but he really steps up and does what needs to be done. almost to point of losing his life. They finally resolve the issues in the town and this book ends with a happy for now. So I am impatiently waiting for the next book.
I was given this book by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review and I give it a 4 star review.
I was given this book by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review and I give it a 4 star review.
April 10, 2015
**I was sent an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
Overall I really enjoyed this book. There was a strong story that was very intriguing. I always appreciate a story that leaves me guessing until the very end:)
Claire is sent to a small town in Northeastern Washington state. The town was originally a refuge for many different types of Sazi shifters after the plague. The Council and Wolven leaders are worried that something strange is going on in the town. Claire is a new agent who is suppose to be deep undercover for this assignment. Alek is a alpha wolf in the town who hopes to become a cop and a Wolven agent. He is dedicated, honest, and always willing to help out whoever is in need. The story starts with a bang: Claire is attacked on her way into town right after she finds out that two children are missing. Claire and Alek end up working together to try and find the children and deal with who or what took them to begin with.
This story does have a couple of cameo appearances from characters featured in past books. This is really focused on Claire and Alek. I enjoyed seeing a bit of how the Sazi recovered from the plague and were able to move forward. I also enjoyed seeing the "kids" from some of the earlier books grown up and becoming their own people. I hope the series continues and look forward to future books.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. There was a strong story that was very intriguing. I always appreciate a story that leaves me guessing until the very end:)
Claire is sent to a small town in Northeastern Washington state. The town was originally a refuge for many different types of Sazi shifters after the plague. The Council and Wolven leaders are worried that something strange is going on in the town. Claire is a new agent who is suppose to be deep undercover for this assignment. Alek is a alpha wolf in the town who hopes to become a cop and a Wolven agent. He is dedicated, honest, and always willing to help out whoever is in need. The story starts with a bang: Claire is attacked on her way into town right after she finds out that two children are missing. Claire and Alek end up working together to try and find the children and deal with who or what took them to begin with.
This story does have a couple of cameo appearances from characters featured in past books. This is really focused on Claire and Alek. I enjoyed seeing a bit of how the Sazi recovered from the plague and were able to move forward. I also enjoyed seeing the "kids" from some of the earlier books grown up and becoming their own people. I hope the series continues and look forward to future books.
November 15, 2015
Mean shifters, pack hierarchy, hormones, and a mystery. That sums up the Sazi world and I'm so glad to have it back. Claire is a red wolf sent in to investigate shifty stuff going on in Luna Lake (shifty, get it?). Within the first few pages we hit action that intensifies the feeling that if you're a shifter you're gonna feel pain. Enter Alek, a wolf all about law and order and being the good guy. Alek and Claire have chemistry enough to taste. Really, I wanted them to hurry up and get things going day 2. There's potential in the ensemble cast especially with the older/nutty shifters. Alek drove me a little crazy because he never really listened to anyone and ended up either daydreaming or doing his own thing. Seemed very un-Alpha to me. But Claire stole the show with her strength of character. I'm hoping she rubs off on Alek in the future (oh the puns). We have new players if you're a follower of the series, if not you can still jump in with Forbidden. Happy reading, folks. I can't wait for more.
November 6, 2016
I started reading this new book in the Sazi world Cathy Clamp had created so many 'moons' ago, and was immediately hooked. Taking place 10 years after events that happened in "Serpent Moon", a new young Wolven agent is sent to go undercover to investigate some strange happenings in the town of Lunar Lake which has caused children to go missing, and people have forgotten them.
Being thrown into an Ascension after barely surviving an attack/car accident, Claire is told to ask for a mentor before she starts, but due to bad timing, both her and her mentor Alek become the new Omegas, and things get much worse for both of them.
This was a gripping read, and I found I couldn't put the book down, as I wanted to see how the mystery of the Darkness, and the evil plaguing the town. It was easy to step into this world again, even though it's been awhile since the last novel was written. Happily looking forward to more in this series!
Being thrown into an Ascension after barely surviving an attack/car accident, Claire is told to ask for a mentor before she starts, but due to bad timing, both her and her mentor Alek become the new Omegas, and things get much worse for both of them.
This was a gripping read, and I found I couldn't put the book down, as I wanted to see how the mystery of the Darkness, and the evil plaguing the town. It was easy to step into this world again, even though it's been awhile since the last novel was written. Happily looking forward to more in this series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews