What do you think?
Black Moon Rising
The federal agents waiting outside my ecology classroom are there for me.
One of them is an enraged Alpha.
I’ve been dodging the agents for days, and Conall Segerson seethes with impatience. His Pack children are disappearing, but the wolf shifter has few clues and no leads.
He doesn’t care about exposing an unregistered, no-name Cognizant if it will help him find his missing cubs.
As we race to recover the children, I become an invaluable tool in his arsenal.
His wolf’s obsession.
And a target.
Conall pledges to protect my secrets, but enemies are closing in. And the most vicious betrayals are those we never see coming.
*The first book in the thriller urban fantasy romance series where a deadly investigation leads to seduction and betrayal.
Black Moon Rising is book one in the Riley Blackthorne Series. This book ends on a cliffhanger and contains power imbalances, a slow-burn romance, spicy scenes, and violence.
For fans of Ali Hazelwood, Lola Glass, and Patricia Briggs, who love smart, action-packed supernatural novels.
One of them is an enraged Alpha.
I’ve been dodging the agents for days, and Conall Segerson seethes with impatience. His Pack children are disappearing, but the wolf shifter has few clues and no leads.
He doesn’t care about exposing an unregistered, no-name Cognizant if it will help him find his missing cubs.
As we race to recover the children, I become an invaluable tool in his arsenal.
His wolf’s obsession.
And a target.
Conall pledges to protect my secrets, but enemies are closing in. And the most vicious betrayals are those we never see coming.
*The first book in the thriller urban fantasy romance series where a deadly investigation leads to seduction and betrayal.
Black Moon Rising is book one in the Riley Blackthorne Series. This book ends on a cliffhanger and contains power imbalances, a slow-burn romance, spicy scenes, and violence.
For fans of Ali Hazelwood, Lola Glass, and Patricia Briggs, who love smart, action-packed supernatural novels.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2026
About the author
J.L. Brannick
11 books71 followersJ. L. Brannick works as an attorney by day and detoxes at night with crunchy Cheetos and red wine. She's an introvert who likes to socialize but then needs a few days to recover. J. L. lives in the mountain desert with her family and hikes every day to keep her dog happy. Her favorite stories have smart, quick-witted characters and enough spice to curl your toes. Visit her website to sign up for new releases, updates, and bonus material.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
September 29, 2026
I feel like this is the kind of story that would make an interesting movie, but it doesn’t make a very good book. It’s written more like a movie, and it doesn’t have very descriptive writing. I appreciated the imagination and creativity of the author in coming up with this story and the characters, but I just didn’t enjoy the writing. I got an ARC for the third book, so I’ll keep going with the series mostly because I don’t like to DNF ARCs, but if it wasn’t for that copy I would have stopped reading it here.
It’s more like 2.5 stars from me, rounded up to 3.
It’s more like 2.5 stars from me, rounded up to 3.
January 18, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ 🌑✨ Started off as a five-star read… landed at a 3.5 for vibes alone.
Let me start by saying I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There wasn’t a single character I didn’t like. Our MMC was a bit of an asshole — and I see absolutely zero flaws with that. Our FMC was a badass who stood her ground in her opinions, even if she was a little flighty in her actions at times… but honestly, I completely understood why.
In addition to our main characters, the family/found family really made this book. I found myself laughing out loud (talk about awkward) more times than not!
The drop in rating comes from a writing standpoint, not the story itself. It wasn’t bad — there were just a few things I couldn’t get past.
1. The time jumps.
They felt unintentional. One second characters were mid-conversation and the next, a week had passed. Or they’d pull off the road and suddenly be at a gate in the next sentence. No paragraph break, no chapter change. I found myself rereading sections to make sure I hadn’t missed something, which kept pulling me out of the story. Some formatting changes would really elevate the reading experience.
2. The ending.
It was… an ending. I won’t spoil anything, and I want to be clear — the plot itself was GLORIOUS. It just ended oddly? Like there should have been more. Almost as if a chapter was missing in printing, not that the author didn’t write it.
That said, I finished this book at 10pm and stayed up until 1am just thinking about it — which tells me everything I need to know. It was clearly good 😂 I’m really hoping the next few months fly by because I will absolutely be reading book two.
——————
Thank you to NetGalley and J.L. Brannick for providing the ARC! 🖤
Let me start by saying I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There wasn’t a single character I didn’t like. Our MMC was a bit of an asshole — and I see absolutely zero flaws with that. Our FMC was a badass who stood her ground in her opinions, even if she was a little flighty in her actions at times… but honestly, I completely understood why.
In addition to our main characters, the family/found family really made this book. I found myself laughing out loud (talk about awkward) more times than not!
The drop in rating comes from a writing standpoint, not the story itself. It wasn’t bad — there were just a few things I couldn’t get past.
1. The time jumps.
They felt unintentional. One second characters were mid-conversation and the next, a week had passed. Or they’d pull off the road and suddenly be at a gate in the next sentence. No paragraph break, no chapter change. I found myself rereading sections to make sure I hadn’t missed something, which kept pulling me out of the story. Some formatting changes would really elevate the reading experience.
2. The ending.
It was… an ending. I won’t spoil anything, and I want to be clear — the plot itself was GLORIOUS. It just ended oddly? Like there should have been more. Almost as if a chapter was missing in printing, not that the author didn’t write it.
That said, I finished this book at 10pm and stayed up until 1am just thinking about it — which tells me everything I need to know. It was clearly good 😂 I’m really hoping the next few months fly by because I will absolutely be reading book two.
——————
Thank you to NetGalley and J.L. Brannick for providing the ARC! 🖤
February 6, 2026
Title: Black Moon Rising: An Urban Fantasy Shifter Romance
Author: J.L. Brannick
ARC being published: February 12, 2026
—— pre-read thoughts ——
This is my first ever ARC and I am incredibly thankful to NetGalley. The synopsis sounded too good to pass up. And you can’t go wrong with an adult werewolf shifter story. Believe this is the first book in what will be a series.
started: January 31, 2026
reading format: ebook
—— reading log ——
› so far is seems we have shifters and humans with different abilities (cognizant categories) and our FMC is a very powerful one hiding in plain sight
› I’m enjoying the mystery aspect of this. It’s like a criminal minds episode but with wolfs and humans with enhanced abilities
› the action scenes felt like a movie & I became engrossed
finished: February 6, 2026
⤷ rating ★★
—— post reading thoughts ——
That ending… I did not see that coming. This book started off so strong for me. But fell off a little over half way through. The plot and storyline was great but the execution fell short. I plan to read book two because I am curious to see what happens between Riley and Conall. The found family aspect is what really made me enjoy this book.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
Author: J.L. Brannick
ARC being published: February 12, 2026
—— pre-read thoughts ——
This is my first ever ARC and I am incredibly thankful to NetGalley. The synopsis sounded too good to pass up. And you can’t go wrong with an adult werewolf shifter story. Believe this is the first book in what will be a series.
started: January 31, 2026
reading format: ebook
—— reading log ——
› so far is seems we have shifters and humans with different abilities (cognizant categories) and our FMC is a very powerful one hiding in plain sight
› I’m enjoying the mystery aspect of this. It’s like a criminal minds episode but with wolfs and humans with enhanced abilities
› the action scenes felt like a movie & I became engrossed
finished: February 6, 2026
⤷ rating ★★
—— post reading thoughts ——
That ending… I did not see that coming. This book started off so strong for me. But fell off a little over half way through. The plot and storyline was great but the execution fell short. I plan to read book two because I am curious to see what happens between Riley and Conall. The found family aspect is what really made me enjoy this book.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
May 24, 2026
I really liked this book :)
Our MMC Connel forces a college student Riley (MFC) into helping him possibly find young resonent shifters from his pack who had gone missing. (Shifters who had extra magical abilities). This exposes her to the very people she's been hiding from and when a secret is revealed he doggedly 😏 tries to force her into living with his pack. After a while a mutual respect is established as she navigates pack life and they work together to take down a resonent testing lab.
There is some good push and pull with a little bit of angst (but I wouldn't lable this book as angsty).
*There's a lot more too this, but ... Its early.
Our MMC Connel forces a college student Riley (MFC) into helping him possibly find young resonent shifters from his pack who had gone missing. (Shifters who had extra magical abilities). This exposes her to the very people she's been hiding from and when a secret is revealed he doggedly 😏 tries to force her into living with his pack. After a while a mutual respect is established as she navigates pack life and they work together to take down a resonent testing lab.
There is some good push and pull with a little bit of angst (but I wouldn't lable this book as angsty).
*There's a lot more too this, but ... Its early.
January 25, 2026
This book is gonna consume my every waking thought until I get the sequel.
I feel privileged to have been granted access to read it but I’m also currently cursing the author for leaving it on the cliffhanger even though I knew it was coming.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC that I received in exchange for an honest review.
I feel privileged to have been granted access to read it but I’m also currently cursing the author for leaving it on the cliffhanger even though I knew it was coming.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC that I received in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Quick Summary: An ish, bomb diggity, sci-fi/paranormal romance
My Review: Black Moon Rising: An Urban Fantasy Shifter Romance by J.L. Brannick is book #1 in the Riley Blackthorne Series. It is scheduled for release on 2/12/26.
About the Book: "...federal agents...an enraged Alpha... Pack children are disappearing...
[A] wolf shifter [and] an unregistered, no-name Cognizant...
The first book in the thriller urban fantasy romance series where a deadly investigation leads to seduction and betrayal."
In My Own Words: Gifted children with special abilities are being kidnapped off pack lands. When an Alpha and his team decide to enlist the help of a young woman with a number of abilities herself, they get more than they bargained for.
About the World Building: I loved the contemporary settings that this story featured. I loved that it went from the college setting to the national forests to the metro. I loved that it presented the beauty and diverse habitats of Colorado, Utah & Nevada. I loved that it introduced pack territories and dynamics.
About the Characters: Where do I begin?!? There were a number of characters in book #1. J.L. had a lock on the protagonists and the antagonists. They were all intriguing. They were layered in such a way that I wanted to learn more about each one. It just kept going, and I ate it up. In fact, there were some twists that I did not see coming. I was shook.
Supporting characters of interest: Parker, Madison, Sawyer, Ash, and Anna (I can fill in the blanks for some, but I know their stories will be goooooodddd!!! Bring it on.)
I would also like to mention that the group of kids with their special abilities captured my attention in a big way. I loved how they connected with Riley, in particular. However, there was one boy who had an interesting dynamic with Conall, and there was a little girl who greatly bonded with Riley. I am interested in seeing how their stories play out.
About the Main Characters:
Riley Blackthorne - > Strong willed, driven, able to defend self, resilient, has a heart for children, loves deeply, guarded, doesn't trust easily; she is a warrior in all the ways that count
Conall Segerson - > Alpha, military history, wealthy, focused on mission, can be vague which contributes to conflict, holds on to family/legacy, determined to get the girl, hidden depths
About the Couple: Riley and Conall had some major tension and some major heat in this installment. Initially, they could be seen as having an angsty enemies vibe, but that soon changed due to the nature of the case they were working on together. They became partners who worked closely together. Eventually, the inevitable slow burn gave way to a medium burn exchange, with a hint of more to come.
About the Conflict/Action/Suspense: Oh my gosh, the conflict arc was insane. While the primary investigation was being conducted, the struggle was real between the leads. External pressures and unseen dark forces were like shadows over everything and everyone. The action, the levels of conspiracy, the tug of war between the packs, the triangle that was and wasn't - it all came together in an explosive way. That cliffhanger did me in, though. April cannot get here fast enough.
My Final Say: This is a hit. It was brilliantly written. It had grit and texture. The characters were captivating. The setup for more was done superbly. I am a fan, and I will be following this series until the very end.
This novel has earned a diamond in the rough rating.
Other: Readers who enjoy stories with shifters, supernatural powers, Alpha energy, grumpy golden hearts, secret hierarchies, and conspiracies in plain sight will definitely like this book.
Potential readers should read any and all content warnings associated with this novel. It does contain some triggering content.
Special Note: This will be amazing as an audiobook listening experience. I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Level: 💎
Heat Factor: 🌶️
Character Chemistry: 💖
Cliffhanger: +
Pacing: M
Format: 📱
Series: Yes
Cover: +
Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Smart Mouth Publishing LLC), and to NetGalley. Thank you so very much for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was an absolute pleasure to review. I am excited about reading more books in this series. I am also looking forward to becoming better acquainted with this writer's work.
My Review: Black Moon Rising: An Urban Fantasy Shifter Romance by J.L. Brannick is book #1 in the Riley Blackthorne Series. It is scheduled for release on 2/12/26.
About the Book: "...federal agents...an enraged Alpha... Pack children are disappearing...
[A] wolf shifter [and] an unregistered, no-name Cognizant...
The first book in the thriller urban fantasy romance series where a deadly investigation leads to seduction and betrayal."
In My Own Words: Gifted children with special abilities are being kidnapped off pack lands. When an Alpha and his team decide to enlist the help of a young woman with a number of abilities herself, they get more than they bargained for.
About the World Building: I loved the contemporary settings that this story featured. I loved that it went from the college setting to the national forests to the metro. I loved that it presented the beauty and diverse habitats of Colorado, Utah & Nevada. I loved that it introduced pack territories and dynamics.
About the Characters: Where do I begin?!? There were a number of characters in book #1. J.L. had a lock on the protagonists and the antagonists. They were all intriguing. They were layered in such a way that I wanted to learn more about each one. It just kept going, and I ate it up. In fact, there were some twists that I did not see coming. I was shook.
Supporting characters of interest: Parker, Madison, Sawyer, Ash, and Anna (I can fill in the blanks for some, but I know their stories will be goooooodddd!!! Bring it on.)
I would also like to mention that the group of kids with their special abilities captured my attention in a big way. I loved how they connected with Riley, in particular. However, there was one boy who had an interesting dynamic with Conall, and there was a little girl who greatly bonded with Riley. I am interested in seeing how their stories play out.
About the Main Characters:
Riley Blackthorne - > Strong willed, driven, able to defend self, resilient, has a heart for children, loves deeply, guarded, doesn't trust easily; she is a warrior in all the ways that count
Conall Segerson - > Alpha, military history, wealthy, focused on mission, can be vague which contributes to conflict, holds on to family/legacy, determined to get the girl, hidden depths
About the Couple: Riley and Conall had some major tension and some major heat in this installment. Initially, they could be seen as having an angsty enemies vibe, but that soon changed due to the nature of the case they were working on together. They became partners who worked closely together. Eventually, the inevitable slow burn gave way to a medium burn exchange, with a hint of more to come.
About the Conflict/Action/Suspense: Oh my gosh, the conflict arc was insane. While the primary investigation was being conducted, the struggle was real between the leads. External pressures and unseen dark forces were like shadows over everything and everyone. The action, the levels of conspiracy, the tug of war between the packs, the triangle that was and wasn't - it all came together in an explosive way. That cliffhanger did me in, though. April cannot get here fast enough.
My Final Say: This is a hit. It was brilliantly written. It had grit and texture. The characters were captivating. The setup for more was done superbly. I am a fan, and I will be following this series until the very end.
This novel has earned a diamond in the rough rating.
Other: Readers who enjoy stories with shifters, supernatural powers, Alpha energy, grumpy golden hearts, secret hierarchies, and conspiracies in plain sight will definitely like this book.
Potential readers should read any and all content warnings associated with this novel. It does contain some triggering content.
Special Note: This will be amazing as an audiobook listening experience. I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Level: 💎
Heat Factor: 🌶️
Character Chemistry: 💖
Cliffhanger: +
Pacing: M
Format: 📱
Series: Yes
Cover: +
Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Smart Mouth Publishing LLC), and to NetGalley. Thank you so very much for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was an absolute pleasure to review. I am excited about reading more books in this series. I am also looking forward to becoming better acquainted with this writer's work.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
’Black Moon Rising’ – Or ’The Case of the Vegetarian Wolf’
➤ Plot and world-building - 3 or 4 stars
➤ Characters, Execution, Romance/Spiciness - 2 or 3 stars
Final rating: 3 stars
Clearly women over 30 are not the audience for this book or maybe it's just me.
If you enjoy books where the dialogue doubles as a character sheet, you’re in luck. The introductions are painfully telegraphed. It feels less like storytelling and more like a police lineup where everyone feels the need to describe themselves out loud. You know the vibe: “Hi, I’m the Alpha of the Pack…,” said the tall, handsome, black-haired, grey-eyed, perfect-bodied man who is also the best tracker. Subtlety? Never heard of it.
First things first - the Vibe: Patricia Briggs Meets Ali Hazelwood: The tragedy here is that the world-building actually gives off Patricia Briggs energy, which is high praise.But then the romance walks in wearing an Ali Hazelwood trench coat, and it all falls apart, it’s excruciating (both romance and spiciness, much similar to Hazelwood’s style). There is absolutely no slow burn here. We are talking insta-lust, tingles, and blushing from the very first sniff.
Next, characters: Edgy snowflakes: Let’s talk about Conall, our MMC. He is a wolf shifter. He is an apex predator. He is... a vegetarian. Gods, how many edgy traits can we pack into one guy? I know we want our monsters to be relatable, but a wolf abstaining from meat? It tries so hard to be unique that it loops right back around to absurdity. But don’t despair, the book explains why he eats tofu, even though any human with two neurons firing could guess the reason without the lecture.
The characters are all ‘tortured souls’ and special snowflakes, yet somehow entirely generic. The POV choices (1st person for Riley, 3rd person for Conall) gave me whiplash and made it impossible to settle into the narrative. I didn’t feel any connection to any of them, but maybe that’s because I already read about these characters in about dozens other novels.
As for our FMC (Riley), I won’t even bother anymore to explain why it just didn’t work for me. Think of all other witty, snarky, badass wannabe heroines in all Romantasy novels and that’s her.
The plot follows Riley (a Cognizant with special powers, obviously) helping the Pack find missing children. Naturally, this puts her in danger, which triggers the most tired trope in the book: forced proximity.“Oh no, you’re in danger! You must stay at my house!” We need a new name for this cliché because my eyes rolled so hard I saw my own brain stem.
Info-Dumps and more Alpha cringe: The story itself isn't terrible, it’s just executed with the grace of a sledgehammer. The world building is genuinely interesting (Pack politics, humans with special powers), but the author is terrified we won’t get it, so she dump-trucks information into the middle of casual conversation. It’s hard to feel immersed when the characters are constantly reciting the rulebook to each other.
Speaking of rules, my poor human brain hurts. Wolves mate for life, but can have multiple mates, but can refuse the bond, but Alphas can enforce the bond? The lore contradicts itself so much I started wondering if the author was making it up as she typed just to justify the forced proximity.
By the last third, the book devolves into a soap opera cringe-fest. We get jealous she-wolves, bullying pack members and enemies (how else can Riley be more of an oppressed character without these?), and an Alpha screaming, "Don't touch her/Insult her or I'll rip out your [insert any organ] and feed it to you!"
The Good stuff:
➤ Plot & world-building (disregarding the execution)
➤ The spicy scenes are short (thank the gods, because they are awkwardly written)
➤ The ending was surprisingly unpredictable
I’m not going to lie, I’ve read similar fanfictions (if not better), this felt more like that written by a young adult who just discovered the Omegaverse. Great concepts, poor execution, and please…enough with the “mine”, "mate", “growling”.
Many, many thanks to J. L. Brannick, Smart Mouth Publishing LLC, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.
➤ Plot and world-building - 3 or 4 stars
➤ Characters, Execution, Romance/Spiciness - 2 or 3 stars
Final rating: 3 stars
Clearly women over 30 are not the audience for this book or maybe it's just me.
If you enjoy books where the dialogue doubles as a character sheet, you’re in luck. The introductions are painfully telegraphed. It feels less like storytelling and more like a police lineup where everyone feels the need to describe themselves out loud. You know the vibe: “Hi, I’m the Alpha of the Pack…,” said the tall, handsome, black-haired, grey-eyed, perfect-bodied man who is also the best tracker. Subtlety? Never heard of it.
First things first - the Vibe: Patricia Briggs Meets Ali Hazelwood: The tragedy here is that the world-building actually gives off Patricia Briggs energy, which is high praise.But then the romance walks in wearing an Ali Hazelwood trench coat, and it all falls apart, it’s excruciating (both romance and spiciness, much similar to Hazelwood’s style). There is absolutely no slow burn here. We are talking insta-lust, tingles, and blushing from the very first sniff.
Next, characters: Edgy snowflakes: Let’s talk about Conall, our MMC. He is a wolf shifter. He is an apex predator. He is... a vegetarian. Gods, how many edgy traits can we pack into one guy? I know we want our monsters to be relatable, but a wolf abstaining from meat? It tries so hard to be unique that it loops right back around to absurdity. But don’t despair, the book explains why he eats tofu, even though any human with two neurons firing could guess the reason without the lecture.
The characters are all ‘tortured souls’ and special snowflakes, yet somehow entirely generic. The POV choices (1st person for Riley, 3rd person for Conall) gave me whiplash and made it impossible to settle into the narrative. I didn’t feel any connection to any of them, but maybe that’s because I already read about these characters in about dozens other novels.
As for our FMC (Riley), I won’t even bother anymore to explain why it just didn’t work for me. Think of all other witty, snarky, badass wannabe heroines in all Romantasy novels and that’s her.
The plot follows Riley (a Cognizant with special powers, obviously) helping the Pack find missing children. Naturally, this puts her in danger, which triggers the most tired trope in the book: forced proximity.“Oh no, you’re in danger! You must stay at my house!” We need a new name for this cliché because my eyes rolled so hard I saw my own brain stem.
Info-Dumps and more Alpha cringe: The story itself isn't terrible, it’s just executed with the grace of a sledgehammer. The world building is genuinely interesting (Pack politics, humans with special powers), but the author is terrified we won’t get it, so she dump-trucks information into the middle of casual conversation. It’s hard to feel immersed when the characters are constantly reciting the rulebook to each other.
Speaking of rules, my poor human brain hurts. Wolves mate for life, but can have multiple mates, but can refuse the bond, but Alphas can enforce the bond? The lore contradicts itself so much I started wondering if the author was making it up as she typed just to justify the forced proximity.
By the last third, the book devolves into a soap opera cringe-fest. We get jealous she-wolves, bullying pack members and enemies (how else can Riley be more of an oppressed character without these?), and an Alpha screaming, "Don't touch her/Insult her or I'll rip out your [insert any organ] and feed it to you!"
The Good stuff:
➤ Plot & world-building (disregarding the execution)
➤ The spicy scenes are short (thank the gods, because they are awkwardly written)
➤ The ending was surprisingly unpredictable
I’m not going to lie, I’ve read similar fanfictions (if not better), this felt more like that written by a young adult who just discovered the Omegaverse. Great concepts, poor execution, and please…enough with the “mine”, "mate", “growling”.
Many, many thanks to J. L. Brannick, Smart Mouth Publishing LLC, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Black Moon Rising absolutely wrecked me in the best way. I closed the book sometime around 7am after staying up all night, staring at the ceiling and replaying that ending in my head. That cliffhanger was cruel. Wicked. Perfect. I am not okay, and I love that for me.
Riley Blackthorne is easily one of my favorite FMCs in a long time. She is blunt, practical, and refreshingly non whiny. You can feel the influence of being raised by her Marine uncle in the way she handles herself. She is tough, capable, and more than willing to stand her ground, yet underneath all of that grit is someone deeply soft and fiercely protective. When federal agents show up outside her ecology classroom and make it clear they are there for her, she does not crumble.
Even when one of them is an enraged Alpha wolf shifter radiating impatience and suspicion, she holds her own.
Conall Segerson is driven by desperation. His Pack’s children are disappearing and he is running out of time, leads, and patience. He is willing to expose Riley as an unregistered Cognizant if it means finding his missing cubs. That moral tension adds such a sharp edge to their dynamic.
Riley becomes essential to the investigation, not just a bystander but a crucial piece in unraveling what is happening. And in the process, she becomes more than an asset to Conall. She becomes his wolf’s obsession and a target for enemies closing in from all sides.
I like Conall. I really do. But he drops the ball with Riley more than once. She slips past him, outmaneuvers him, and lands herself in danger while he is busy trying to control everything. His guilt is going to eat him alive. You can already see it building. The power imbalance between them is clear, yet Riley never feels weak. If anything, she constantly proves she can match him in her own way.
The investigation itself is dark and heavy. The story deals with child death in conversation, not in graphic detail, but it is there and it adds weight to every decision Conall makes. The urgency is real. The stakes are not abstract. Every scene feels charged because the missing children are never far from anyone’s mind.
The slow burn romance works beautifully against the backdrop of violence, betrayal, and shifting loyalties. As Riley and Conall race to recover the children, secrets pile up and enemies tighten their circle. The betrayals, especially the ones that blindside you, hit hard. By the time the final pages roll in, the ground has shifted completely.
Now I am sitting here with theories and no confirmation, desperate to start book two because I need to know if I am even close to guessing what is coming next. This was one way to end a first book. Brutal. Addictive. Completely worth the sleepless night.
Riley Blackthorne is easily one of my favorite FMCs in a long time. She is blunt, practical, and refreshingly non whiny. You can feel the influence of being raised by her Marine uncle in the way she handles herself. She is tough, capable, and more than willing to stand her ground, yet underneath all of that grit is someone deeply soft and fiercely protective. When federal agents show up outside her ecology classroom and make it clear they are there for her, she does not crumble.
Even when one of them is an enraged Alpha wolf shifter radiating impatience and suspicion, she holds her own.
Conall Segerson is driven by desperation. His Pack’s children are disappearing and he is running out of time, leads, and patience. He is willing to expose Riley as an unregistered Cognizant if it means finding his missing cubs. That moral tension adds such a sharp edge to their dynamic.
Riley becomes essential to the investigation, not just a bystander but a crucial piece in unraveling what is happening. And in the process, she becomes more than an asset to Conall. She becomes his wolf’s obsession and a target for enemies closing in from all sides.
I like Conall. I really do. But he drops the ball with Riley more than once. She slips past him, outmaneuvers him, and lands herself in danger while he is busy trying to control everything. His guilt is going to eat him alive. You can already see it building. The power imbalance between them is clear, yet Riley never feels weak. If anything, she constantly proves she can match him in her own way.
The investigation itself is dark and heavy. The story deals with child death in conversation, not in graphic detail, but it is there and it adds weight to every decision Conall makes. The urgency is real. The stakes are not abstract. Every scene feels charged because the missing children are never far from anyone’s mind.
The slow burn romance works beautifully against the backdrop of violence, betrayal, and shifting loyalties. As Riley and Conall race to recover the children, secrets pile up and enemies tighten their circle. The betrayals, especially the ones that blindside you, hit hard. By the time the final pages roll in, the ground has shifted completely.
Now I am sitting here with theories and no confirmation, desperate to start book two because I need to know if I am even close to guessing what is coming next. This was one way to end a first book. Brutal. Addictive. Completely worth the sleepless night.
September 15, 2026
yes to Riley no to the toxic Alpha
Rating:4⭐️
I enjoyed Black Moon Rising, the first in the Riley Blackthorne urban fantasy series by J. L. Brannick. Brannick’s another new urban fantasy author for me so I was excited about this book.
The character of Riley Blackthorne doesn’t disappoint here. She’s 24 I believe, trying to finish her degree in college while staying under the “radar “ of law enforcement agencies of all kinds due to her as yet unregistered powers.
That’s about to end.
Werewolf children are missing and the Alpha needs her help with the investigation. He won’t take no for an answer.
I absolutely love Riley. Life has been tough for her, she’s been raised by her uncle. Her background is filled in more in the second novel than the bits the author allows here. But it’s tantalizing hints that give depth to Riley and strengthens her character. She’s independent, intelligent and with the ability to make decisions for herself.
She’s absolutely the best thing about the book.
Now to the most problematic. That would be the Alpha. And their dynamic. Conall Segerson is the overbearing Alpha here. I’m sure in the trope he’s the powerful dominating male. But let’s be real.
In any other context, he’s toxic. He doesn’t let her make her own decisions. He withholds key information “because it’s for her own good “. He isolates her because it’s for “her own welfare “. And continues to ignore real issues within his pack that put her life at risk.
And when things go south, as they do.
It’s all about what his “wolf” wants and what he wants. Not exactly what is good for her.
Hint: This aspect of the series and the characters relationship is going to be even worse in book 2.
So for every character, Ash, or the hellhounds, that I found engaging, there was Conall sapping the joy right out of the narrative because I found his so offensive.
Yes to her. Yes to the plot minus any aspect of the story about Conall.
It ends on a cliffhanger. Which you know won’t end well for her.
The other books are out. Read it for a terrific woman character, and an interesting plot. The author has spent some time defining her different types of Cognizant traits. Check out the beginning of this book. Too bad she didn’t start with DARVO.
Cover designer Maggie G. Jackson
Riley Blackthorne series:
Black Moon Rising #1
Cold Moon Burning #2
Crimson Moon Falling #3
Rating:4⭐️
I enjoyed Black Moon Rising, the first in the Riley Blackthorne urban fantasy series by J. L. Brannick. Brannick’s another new urban fantasy author for me so I was excited about this book.
The character of Riley Blackthorne doesn’t disappoint here. She’s 24 I believe, trying to finish her degree in college while staying under the “radar “ of law enforcement agencies of all kinds due to her as yet unregistered powers.
That’s about to end.
Werewolf children are missing and the Alpha needs her help with the investigation. He won’t take no for an answer.
I absolutely love Riley. Life has been tough for her, she’s been raised by her uncle. Her background is filled in more in the second novel than the bits the author allows here. But it’s tantalizing hints that give depth to Riley and strengthens her character. She’s independent, intelligent and with the ability to make decisions for herself.
She’s absolutely the best thing about the book.
Now to the most problematic. That would be the Alpha. And their dynamic. Conall Segerson is the overbearing Alpha here. I’m sure in the trope he’s the powerful dominating male. But let’s be real.
In any other context, he’s toxic. He doesn’t let her make her own decisions. He withholds key information “because it’s for her own good “. He isolates her because it’s for “her own welfare “. And continues to ignore real issues within his pack that put her life at risk.
And when things go south, as they do.
It’s all about what his “wolf” wants and what he wants. Not exactly what is good for her.
Hint: This aspect of the series and the characters relationship is going to be even worse in book 2.
So for every character, Ash, or the hellhounds, that I found engaging, there was Conall sapping the joy right out of the narrative because I found his so offensive.
Yes to her. Yes to the plot minus any aspect of the story about Conall.
It ends on a cliffhanger. Which you know won’t end well for her.
The other books are out. Read it for a terrific woman character, and an interesting plot. The author has spent some time defining her different types of Cognizant traits. Check out the beginning of this book. Too bad she didn’t start with DARVO.
Cover designer Maggie G. Jackson
Riley Blackthorne series:
Black Moon Rising #1
Cold Moon Burning #2
Crimson Moon Falling #3
Review of advance copy
A huge thank you to BookSirens, NetGalley, and J.L. Brannick for the ARC of this first book in a captivating urban fantasy series.
I could hardly put this book down. Taking place primarily in Colorado, a place near and dear to my heart, and having the MMC be a horse guy (lifelong horse girlie here)? This book was already off to a great start for me. Add in shifters, a unique magic system, and clever plotting? I was captivated.
Things I really enjoyed about this book:
- The somewhat familiar settings. It was so cool to be imagining shifters and cogs in places that I have been before.
- The relevance of the biases against cogs and how it compares to those that we see in every day life against marginalized communities.
- Conall is a horse guy! Who is sweet with his horses and takes Riley on rides! We need more of these.
- The suspenseful edge brought about by the case that is trying to be solved throughout the book and all of the twists that it takes.
Things that could have been better for me:
- I enjoyed the alternating POV, but it was a bit odd that it shifted between first person for Riley’s chapters and third person for Conall’s chapters.
- The ending (epilogue, mainly) seemed quite out of nowhere. Without giving away too much, it definitely left me on edge to read the next book but I would have appreciated something from Conall’s POV to give some insight into how things changed so drastically.
Overall this is a fantastic urban fantasy shifter romance filled with adventure, magic, and beautiful scenery!
I could hardly put this book down. Taking place primarily in Colorado, a place near and dear to my heart, and having the MMC be a horse guy (lifelong horse girlie here)? This book was already off to a great start for me. Add in shifters, a unique magic system, and clever plotting? I was captivated.
Things I really enjoyed about this book:
- The somewhat familiar settings. It was so cool to be imagining shifters and cogs in places that I have been before.
- The relevance of the biases against cogs and how it compares to those that we see in every day life against marginalized communities.
- Conall is a horse guy! Who is sweet with his horses and takes Riley on rides! We need more of these.
- The suspenseful edge brought about by the case that is trying to be solved throughout the book and all of the twists that it takes.
Things that could have been better for me:
- I enjoyed the alternating POV, but it was a bit odd that it shifted between first person for Riley’s chapters and third person for Conall’s chapters.
- The ending (epilogue, mainly) seemed quite out of nowhere. Without giving away too much, it definitely left me on edge to read the next book but I would have appreciated something from Conall’s POV to give some insight into how things changed so drastically.
Overall this is a fantastic urban fantasy shifter romance filled with adventure, magic, and beautiful scenery!
Review of advance copy
This was an entertaining story! I absolutely loved the world details the author created.
Riley is a complex (and powerful) person and is doing her best to complete her degree and get back home to Utah with no extra stops in between. She gets emotionally blackmailed into helping out with some kidnapped shifter kids and does her best not to get too entangled with the Northwestern Pack Alpha. Whoops. Easier said than done.
Conall has a lot on his plate, with shifter kids in his pack getting taken from their homes, so he really doesn't need a complication of a mysterious beautiful woman. The chemistry between Riley and Conall was interesting, because it was apparent, but also a slow burn.
I enjoyed the dual POV of the story with perspectives from both Riley and Conall. It offered better insights and really kept the story going! There are more chapters from Riley's POV, and I'd have liked a few more from Conall.
This book does end on a small cliffhanger for those who might not like them. And I am absolutely looking forward to the next installment!!
Riley is a complex (and powerful) person and is doing her best to complete her degree and get back home to Utah with no extra stops in between. She gets emotionally blackmailed into helping out with some kidnapped shifter kids and does her best not to get too entangled with the Northwestern Pack Alpha. Whoops. Easier said than done.
Conall has a lot on his plate, with shifter kids in his pack getting taken from their homes, so he really doesn't need a complication of a mysterious beautiful woman. The chemistry between Riley and Conall was interesting, because it was apparent, but also a slow burn.
I enjoyed the dual POV of the story with perspectives from both Riley and Conall. It offered better insights and really kept the story going! There are more chapters from Riley's POV, and I'd have liked a few more from Conall.
This book does end on a small cliffhanger for those who might not like them. And I am absolutely looking forward to the next installment!!
Review of advance copy
This author is new to me. I like her writing style. To me this is a darkish story. There are triggers to watch out for. Also the way the wolves get information out of other wolves or their "enemies" is not traditional torture.
I loved Riley. I loved her brash , unfiltered attitude. She is smart and has been trained by her uncle and another to be able to defend herself. Even though she gets injured quite a bit. I loved Jamie's nickname for her. She has more than one gift which she has hidden until she met Conall.
Conall is an alpha through and through. His wolf sees Riley as more before he does. I liked him until the end of the story, and yes it has a cliffhanger.
I loved the action, intrigue and mystery evolving around missing children. Slow burn to the romance. A splash of humor. It will be interesting to find out more about Riley.
I was given a free copy of this book via Booksiren and am voluntarily leaving my review.
I loved Riley. I loved her brash , unfiltered attitude. She is smart and has been trained by her uncle and another to be able to defend herself. Even though she gets injured quite a bit. I loved Jamie's nickname for her. She has more than one gift which she has hidden until she met Conall.
Conall is an alpha through and through. His wolf sees Riley as more before he does. I liked him until the end of the story, and yes it has a cliffhanger.
I loved the action, intrigue and mystery evolving around missing children. Slow burn to the romance. A splash of humor. It will be interesting to find out more about Riley.
I was given a free copy of this book via Booksiren and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
watdafawkkkkkkkkk omgggg I don’t even know how to feel rn this was amazing. I didn’t realize I was craving urban fantasy until I started reading and suddenly hours has passed. I was engrossed with the story from start to finish, and if it wasn’t for having to work, I would have read it all in one sitting. The plot was engaging, the stakes were high, the conflict was nerve wrecking, and the romance was steamy.
I was actually so invested in these two I don’t now how to describe it. I adore Riley, I loved how complex she was and how she slowly opened up to Conall, even if it was kicking and screaming. When I tell you the gut punch I got in the last sentence of the final chapter and the epilogue, I cannot wait for April now. Whatdafawkkkk there is a lot of splaining to do.
Overall an amazing read and such a blast of a time. I cannot recommend this enough! Still reeling from everything, but this was a 5 star read for me.
I was actually so invested in these two I don’t now how to describe it. I adore Riley, I loved how complex she was and how she slowly opened up to Conall, even if it was kicking and screaming. When I tell you the gut punch I got in the last sentence of the final chapter and the epilogue, I cannot wait for April now. Whatdafawkkkk there is a lot of splaining to do.
Overall an amazing read and such a blast of a time. I cannot recommend this enough! Still reeling from everything, but this was a 5 star read for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you like Romantasy & books about shifters, alphas & wolf packs... you will enjoy this book!! I never knew until recently how much I enjoy these types of books & this one didn't disappoint!!
The characters are so well written & wonderful - Conall is immediately taken with Riley & knows he wants her to be his mate... Riley is not a shifter & it takes her a bit longer to get on board with it, but finally falls for him.... the only thing I was disappointed with is that we have to wait until Book 2 comes out to read more!!!! Not left on a terrible cliffhanger... but still.... (also, I will say...the description said there were spicy scenes & I found the spice to be very mild...just my 2 cents)
Thanks to the author (J. L. Brannick), publisher (Smart Mouth Publishing LLC) & Netgalley for the ARC read. All opinions are my own.
The book is scheduled to be published February 12th, so mark your calendars! You won't want to miss this book!
The characters are so well written & wonderful - Conall is immediately taken with Riley & knows he wants her to be his mate... Riley is not a shifter & it takes her a bit longer to get on board with it, but finally falls for him.... the only thing I was disappointed with is that we have to wait until Book 2 comes out to read more!!!! Not left on a terrible cliffhanger... but still.... (also, I will say...the description said there were spicy scenes & I found the spice to be very mild...just my 2 cents)
Thanks to the author (J. L. Brannick), publisher (Smart Mouth Publishing LLC) & Netgalley for the ARC read. All opinions are my own.
The book is scheduled to be published February 12th, so mark your calendars! You won't want to miss this book!
February 15, 2026
Black Moon Riding is a wild, gritty ride that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. J.L. Brannick blends danger, passion, and raw emotion into a story that feels like a high-speed chase, not just on the road, but through the heart.
The characters are fierce and multidimensional, with edges that are rough enough to cut. Their chemistry burns slow and steady, but once it ignites, it’s impossible to look away. Brannick knows how to build tension, emotional, physical, and psychological, in a way that keeps the pages turning.
What makes this stand out is its balance of heart and chaos. Yeah, there’s heat and danger, but there’s also vulnerability beneath the bravado. It’s not just about riding fast, it’s about confronting the darkness inside and choosing who to trust with your scars.
If you’re craving a dark romance with intensity, depth, and characters that feel like they’ll keep riding long after the last page, Black Moon Riding delivers.
The characters are fierce and multidimensional, with edges that are rough enough to cut. Their chemistry burns slow and steady, but once it ignites, it’s impossible to look away. Brannick knows how to build tension, emotional, physical, and psychological, in a way that keeps the pages turning.
What makes this stand out is its balance of heart and chaos. Yeah, there’s heat and danger, but there’s also vulnerability beneath the bravado. It’s not just about riding fast, it’s about confronting the darkness inside and choosing who to trust with your scars.
If you’re craving a dark romance with intensity, depth, and characters that feel like they’ll keep riding long after the last page, Black Moon Riding delivers.
July 5, 2026
The problem with this two book series is that it's just too long. It feels like Twilight fanfiction because of the amount of suffering the heroine has to go through, without even very much pleasure to make it worthwhile. At some point her level of distrust also just got annoying. Like, you can read people to figure out whether they're lying, and you still don't have trust? Then there's no hope for the rest of us.
It seems like the author wanted to put every single obstacle imaginable in these people's paths, and why? It's not enjoyable to read. I read this entire book, but I found the abrupt and jarring ending to be very upsetting and had to immediately get the next book and skim it for something gratifying after everything that this first book had already put me through. That just feels manipulative.
It seems like the author wanted to put every single obstacle imaginable in these people's paths, and why? It's not enjoyable to read. I read this entire book, but I found the abrupt and jarring ending to be very upsetting and had to immediately get the next book and skim it for something gratifying after everything that this first book had already put me through. That just feels manipulative.
August 28, 2026
Conall is the typical alpha character: hunky, gruff, and a blockhead some of the time. Riley was the typical FMC: snarky, independent, wounded, and secretly powerful. Even though they might be a little predictable, Riley was a really relatable character. The chapters were presented as Riley's view (first person) and Conall's view (third person), which meant we connected with his character less.
The plot was pretty dark, lots of people died and betrayed those who trusted them. There are torture scenes. There's an immediate mystery (kids disappearing) and a long-term mystery (the disappearance of her father years ago). However, the solution was never very mysterious.
The worldbuilding was pretty good, although it's unclear if all supernaturals, including shifters, are public knowledge or if it's just the government that knows.
Altogether, it was very engaging, definitely a page turner.
The plot was pretty dark, lots of people died and betrayed those who trusted them. There are torture scenes. There's an immediate mystery (kids disappearing) and a long-term mystery (the disappearance of her father years ago). However, the solution was never very mysterious.
The worldbuilding was pretty good, although it's unclear if all supernaturals, including shifters, are public knowledge or if it's just the government that knows.
Altogether, it was very engaging, definitely a page turner.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank You Netgalley!!
Meet Riley and Conall as they try to solve what is happening to pack children. Riley gets messed up in pack business as she learns her way around their laws and customs but also trying to remember herself.
-------
I really did like the plot of this book. Understanding the abilities and how the shifters work was great and watching the characters come together was beautiful.
But Holy ass ending. whattt? I'm going to need book 2 to understand what just happened.
--------
There are some weird things with the book, like her chapters are first person and his are in third person. Also some information is repeated weirdly.
------
If you can get through that, then read it for the plot. I need somebody to talk to about what I just ended with.
Meet Riley and Conall as they try to solve what is happening to pack children. Riley gets messed up in pack business as she learns her way around their laws and customs but also trying to remember herself.
-------
I really did like the plot of this book. Understanding the abilities and how the shifters work was great and watching the characters come together was beautiful.
But Holy ass ending. whattt? I'm going to need book 2 to understand what just happened.
--------
There are some weird things with the book, like her chapters are first person and his are in third person. Also some information is repeated weirdly.
------
If you can get through that, then read it for the plot. I need somebody to talk to about what I just ended with.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Arc Review
Black Moon Rising by J.L. Brannick
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Smart Mouth Publishing LLC for providing this book for review purposes via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I went into this book with some really high hopes, and it was as good as I thought it would be for the most part. Don't get me wrong I loved the story and the characters were fantastic. I just really didn't enjoy the time jumps, for me there were to many and it made reading a little hard. I also felt they could have been used a little more intentionally. Like if they were placed in just the right areas of the story they could have done a lot more to elevate the book. But I still really loved reading this and hope to see more from this author!!
#BlackMoonRisingAnUrbanFantasyShifterRomance #NetGalley.
Black Moon Rising by J.L. Brannick
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Smart Mouth Publishing LLC for providing this book for review purposes via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I went into this book with some really high hopes, and it was as good as I thought it would be for the most part. Don't get me wrong I loved the story and the characters were fantastic. I just really didn't enjoy the time jumps, for me there were to many and it made reading a little hard. I also felt they could have been used a little more intentionally. Like if they were placed in just the right areas of the story they could have done a lot more to elevate the book. But I still really loved reading this and hope to see more from this author!!
#BlackMoonRisingAnUrbanFantasyShifterRomance #NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was intrigued by the blurb, maybe not so much the cover, but I had to give it a try since it seemed to fall into what I wanted to read. At first, I was very happy that I started it. I was engaged immediately, liked all the characters, and was interested in the story. However, after a little while, I was so captivated, I didn’t want to put it down! Conall and Riley are such a great couple who are going to have to overcome many obstacles to stay together, and Conall already has stepped into it by the end. I can’t say much about the end, but I can say that I loved the suspense, the romance, and the high stakes action that is in the book, and I am so very eager to read more. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
February 18, 2026
Interesting story. Riley is a Resonant and when she is requested by the FBCI agent Conall and his partner to help them find missing children. Conall turns out to be Alpha of a large pack and is looking for the children taken from them. Riley knows after being at a scene that they are strong Cognizants. This story has Riley promising to help, but the attraction between Conall and Riley will test their connection and Riley's determination to finish school and return home.The book is full of drama, danger, emotions and ends in a cliffhanger. I look forward to the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 22, 2026
Riley Blackthorne, #1
Paranormal with magic, shifters, mystery, mf romance. First in unfinished series at this time. We meet Riley at age 24 when she's trying to finish her university degree so she can join the forest service like her missing father. Riley is one of their society called a Cog, because she has special cognitive powers. Not everyone has such power and those with more than one kind, like Riley, are feared and imprisoned or killed. Her powers assist the local wolf shifter Alpha in finding his missing pack children and a romance ensues. I enjoyed Riley as a main character and the world building is refreshing. On to the next.
Paranormal with magic, shifters, mystery, mf romance. First in unfinished series at this time. We meet Riley at age 24 when she's trying to finish her university degree so she can join the forest service like her missing father. Riley is one of their society called a Cog, because she has special cognitive powers. Not everyone has such power and those with more than one kind, like Riley, are feared and imprisoned or killed. Her powers assist the local wolf shifter Alpha in finding his missing pack children and a romance ensues. I enjoyed Riley as a main character and the world building is refreshing. On to the next.
Review of advance copy
This book kept me up after I finished it. Riley was so easy to like and respect. I’m frankly tired of FMC’s who are flaky, make stupid choices, and just aren’t likable. She was raised by her slightly different hinged Marine uncles, she lives in an urban dystopian world, and needs to avoid the government because she is “less than” in their eyes. The slow burn, desperate mystery, cast of characters, and that cliffhanger from hell make this a high recommend.
I received a free ARC copy and am leaving a review
I received a free ARC copy and am leaving a review
February 13, 2026
Riley’s luck had finally run out. The agents finally had her cornered. As soon as Conall touched her I immediately knew he was gonna be our guy to fall in love with. Riley was planning on doing what she could to stay under the radar and disappear before she would have to register. I loved Riley as she’s such a fantastic character. This book is great with the mystery, suspense and a little bit of spice. I knew this book was going to end on a cliffhanger but I wasn’t prepared. Truthfully I never am. So now I have to wait until the end of April to know what happens!!
February 26, 2026
I throughly enjoyed the storyline of this novel. It felt very well paced and I did not find myself getting bored at any point. Which is great. Additionally, I enjoyed the found family aspect of the book and would love to see where this is going between our main characters Riley and Cornell.
Now what I loved and hated was the time jumps. They did at times feel unintentional. One minute our characters are having a full conversation and the next thing I know a week has passed or the time passage during driving scenes. No paragraph breaks or chapter changes was the pull back for me and I had to make sure I hadn’t missed something. Some small formatting changes would help the story I think.
I did not see the ending coming at all! The plot and storyline were fantastic. Definitely something I would not change at all!
I will be returning for the next book for sure!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Now what I loved and hated was the time jumps. They did at times feel unintentional. One minute our characters are having a full conversation and the next thing I know a week has passed or the time passage during driving scenes. No paragraph breaks or chapter changes was the pull back for me and I had to make sure I hadn’t missed something. Some small formatting changes would help the story I think.
I did not see the ending coming at all! The plot and storyline were fantastic. Definitely something I would not change at all!
I will be returning for the next book for sure!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 1, 2026
This was such a great start to a new series. The characters and the world were well developed and I think the hellhounds might be my favorite characters, not including Riley, Conall and Ash.
There is a lot going on and most of it is heartbreaking but I definitely recommend it. I wasn’t crazy about the cliffhanger, but it was foreshadowed.
I would like to thank Smart Mouth Publishing LLC and NetGalley for a copy. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always, I wish you happy reading!
There is a lot going on and most of it is heartbreaking but I definitely recommend it. I wasn’t crazy about the cliffhanger, but it was foreshadowed.
I would like to thank Smart Mouth Publishing LLC and NetGalley for a copy. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always, I wish you happy reading!
April 24, 2026
I literally went to bed non stop thinking about the ending. I am WHAT!??? I have so many questions!!!!
Okay, I will slow down. The beginning I struggled with the language, I found the FMC to be quite blunt, but I think there was a reason for that I won’t say, in the end it didn’t bother me. But it did affect me getting a rhythm into reading this story.
After starting off confused, I actually really liked the magic system and powers, kinda a cool way to looking at it all.
I really do recommend this book, especially if you like werewolves.
Now I NEED to read book 2!
Okay, I will slow down. The beginning I struggled with the language, I found the FMC to be quite blunt, but I think there was a reason for that I won’t say, in the end it didn’t bother me. But it did affect me getting a rhythm into reading this story.
After starting off confused, I actually really liked the magic system and powers, kinda a cool way to looking at it all.
I really do recommend this book, especially if you like werewolves.
Now I NEED to read book 2!
September 16, 2026
A Good Start
This was a good start to a series with a unique world and characters. Some of the typical were tropes were there but the addition of humans with powers made for an interesting twist. Unlike most fantasy novels, the powered characters weren’t witches and no vampires showed making this a new take on modern fantasy. There are definitely some new author issues with writing but there’s no big grammar or editing issues and I believe that the tell, not show will improve in the next book. Well worth the read.
This was a good start to a series with a unique world and characters. Some of the typical were tropes were there but the addition of humans with powers made for an interesting twist. Unlike most fantasy novels, the powered characters weren’t witches and no vampires showed making this a new take on modern fantasy. There are definitely some new author issues with writing but there’s no big grammar or editing issues and I believe that the tell, not show will improve in the next book. Well worth the read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is an amazing read! I have a new author on my "must read" list. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Riley is cunning, gifted, strong and wounded. Letting people close is something she doesn't do. Until Conall and the missing children. She's attacked repeatedly and holds her own each time but not without injury. I read this book in one sitting as I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend.
Review of advance copy
CONAL AND RILEY (SHIFTER AND POLYMORPH)
I received this book for free and am giving my honest and voluntary review.
I liked this story as it delves into the paranormal. The cruelty of human nature and scientists show that humanity doesn’t always believe in the rights of children or people who are different. It is drawn out in this story. The only drawback I find is that it is a cliffhanger.
I received this book for free and am giving my honest and voluntary review.
I liked this story as it delves into the paranormal. The cruelty of human nature and scientists show that humanity doesn’t always believe in the rights of children or people who are different. It is drawn out in this story. The only drawback I find is that it is a cliffhanger.
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