The Lunatics

Lunatics #1

by Navessa Allen

From the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Lights Out comes a gripping paranormal romance, perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood's Bride.
Layla Fitzpatrick lives a simple life, for a werewolf. And that's just how she likes it. Her childhood was less than ideal. She'd like to spend her adult years flying under the radar of more powerful preternatural creatures. After all, she knows from experience what happens when they notice you.

But then everything changes when she attends a ritual bonding ceremony meant to join two werewolves together for life. Midway through, the spell becomes corrupted and she finds herself unexpectedly mated to the stuffiest shifter she's ever laid eyes on.

Michael Kolbeck is more man than wolf. He spends his days in a skyscraper, building his family's empire. At night, he prowls the streets of Boston, a city where shifters, witches, and vampires walk a delicate tightrope of ceasefire masquerading as peace. Little do they know that Layla's arrival will act as the spark that ignites the fire, and that the city's thin veneer of peace is about to vanish . . .

Readers LOVE The Lunatics!
'It's like Navessa Allen has been rooting around inside my head and plucked out every single item on my wish list' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Couldn't put it down! . . . The story drew me in and I am here for it' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'OBSESSED' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I loved it will all my heart' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Truly bingeable . . . I absolutely could not put it down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Unexpected, sweet and brimming with mystery. I absolutely love the world she's created' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The pacing, tension, sub plots and slow burn are magnificent' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lights Out, No. 1 New York Times bestseller, April 2025.

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Fiction, Romantasy

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 26, 2019

About the author

Navessa Allen lives on a 200-year-old farm in rural New England with her husband, their cats, and an assorted collection of farm animals.

To keep up with her latest projects, check out her Patreon Page or subscribe to her website.

Reviews

[Navessa]

The Lunatics (Volume One) is now available on Amazon and Smashwords.

The official release date is November 26. As a reminder, you can read advanced chapters of it over on Patreon. This is fast-paced paranormal romance meets urban fantasy in serialized form, so each installment is between 70-80k words.

Volume One is the first 21 chapters, and Volume Two will start on Chapter 22. I plan to continuously post this series to the site, so anyone too impatient to wait for the release of the next installment doesn't have to!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge paranormal romance and urban fantasy fan so I knew going in that this was going to be just my kind of story but it's like Navessa Allen has been rooting around inside my head and plucked out every single item on my wish list for this kind of book then meshed it all together into The Lunatics. We have a strong, independent, intelligent heroine who knows what she wants from life and isn't afraid to go looking for it. Then there's a hero who is alpha without being over the top about it, he's sexy but in a more subtle way than a lot of heroes you read about and he doesn't mind when a woman is physically stronger than him. Throw in fantastic world building, a society where race, sexuality and gender seem to matter very little and a great cast of side characters and I'm hooked.

Layla and Michael are thrown together by circumstance, having a mate is not something either of them was ready for but they both accept the situation when they're accidentally bonded in a ceremony gone wrong. Neither of them is willing to rush into a relationship no matter how attracted they are to each other or how much their new bond is messing with their emotions but they're not pushing each other away or fighting it either. Instead they take time to get to know each other, they gradually build trust between them and they discuss the possibilities for their future like adults so that they're both fully on board with every choice they make. I love the slow build of their relationship, the chemistry is simmering along nicely in the background pretty much from first sight but it takes a long time before they're willing to take that step into a physical relationship.

Layla is really laid back and much more relaxed than Michael, she fully accepts her werewolf side and is happy to spend time both as a wolf and as a human. She enjoys spending time with her family and her pack and is happy to live a fairly simple life. Michael on the other hand has grown up learning how to suppress his wolf instincts, his family live in the city and they spend nearly all their time as humans. It's a careful balancing act in Boston with territory split between the werewolves, vampires and witches while the human population is completely oblivious to their very existence. For Layla living in the city is a real test, the sights, sounds and scents are completely overwhelming to her senses and she's walking on a tightrope over a field full of political landmines having no idea what wrong move could set off an explosion. Michael tries hard to help her fit in but it's fair to say his family are a nightmare and I think things are only going to get worse before they get better.

While the story doesn't end on a cliffhanger it did leave me desperate to get my hands on Volume Two so I'll be eagerly awaiting the next instalment. I have a feeling this is going to become one of my favourite series!

In interests of full disclosure I have to point out that Navessa is a very close friend of mine, however that hasn't affected this review or my rating. I purchased this book myself and these are my honest opinions of the story.

______________

One of my closest friends is officially a published author! Not that this is the first book that she's written, but it is the first one to go up on sale on Amazon. I'm so happy for her

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

If you’ve followed my reading habits for any length of time, you know I’m a huge fan of the strangers marry trope. When I saw that The Lunatics is one step up from that with a forced mating of werewolf shifters, I was so in. That is my favorite trope but on steroids.

The Lunatics: Volume One is the first part of a serial story in a published format. It is the tale of how Layla and Michael, two very different kinds of werewolves, went to a mating ceremony to support someone close to them and ended up mated together against their will. Not only do they lead very different kinds of lives, neither was looking to complicate it with another person.
There seems to be some foul magic afoot either from the goddess herself, witches or maybe the vampires. But before any of that can be addressed, they have to go up against something else…their new in-laws.

Layla comes from a pack in the woods, they live simply and with the land. Michael’s pack is in the city, they have different rules, priorities and ideas about shifting. Each will have to make compromises for the other and find a way to balance between the wild of Layla and the control of Michael.

I enjoyed getting to know the two characters and getting some hints of the challenges they will be facing. Between the danger from other pack members, the witches and the Vamps there looks to be plenty of obstacles stacked against them.

“Then it will get out eventually,” Ronald said. “You know it’s better to get ahead of her. Put it out yourself. That way you can control the way it’s done and we won’t find ourselves in an unplanned shitstorm.”
I couldn’t help it. “Which is somehow better than a planned shitstorm?”
Ronald looked at me and nodded, expression flat. “At least in a planned one you know where to stand with the umbrella.”

The way the mating bond worked throughout the book was also interesting and I thought it was nuanced and added to the overall story. How would marriage be if you could really tell some of the thoughts and all of the feelings you spouse was really having?

This does end at a semi-dramatic place, not really a cliff hanger but something that would make you want to pick up the next chapters right away if they were available.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

11 May 2020: $0.99 on Kindle
24 January 2020: FREE on amazon this weekend!! Trust me, you want this book!’

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great beginning to the series. It had a slow burn between the mates we get introduced to and it has me salivating for the next entry.

I loved the idea of the accidental/forced bonding of these two wolves and I loved how they handled it and were so respectful to each other.

Well I find it hard to fully judge, since this very much is volume 1 of Michael and Layla's story, I highly recommend this book if you love Fated Mates and paranormal stories.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be perfect if it didn't end on a cliff hanger, and get me excited to dive into book two, only to find out that I have to pay per chapter on patreon and it never got finished. My frustration is so real because I was really enjoying the story and characters.

[Mónica BQ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

Very fast paced first installment of an addictive urban fantasy/paranormal romance that totally got me hooked and ready for the rest. Both Layla and Michael are characters I liked and I am now cheering up for.

I'm totally on board with the paranormal world being built up here and I am completely into the whole werewolf pack wars and battles against evil vampires with magic on top of it. This is exactly the kind of reading I'm looking for right now.

My only two issues with it are that certain topics were introduced kinda in a preachy way, that I didn't appreciate. And that I'm uncomfortable with the way the romance and the relationship development is left in this book. Seeing as I am reading primarily for the romance, I am particularly disappointed by this, because Volume 2 isn't even written yet.

I am tentatively excited for the next part, hoping there's more romance to it.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHERE IS BOOK TWO?!

This had me hooked and I got left on a cliffhanger! Werewolves, vampires, witches. I have so many questions.

[Jessica Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a story! I was super intrigued just from the synopsis, but I didn't realise how easily I'd fall into this story and world. And let's start there. The world created here was interesting and exciting. There was a lot to establish, but it wasn't done in an overwhelming way. It felt easy to follow and understand. The story was also a unique take on a shifter/paranormal story. Layla's eyes were a great vehicle to see this world through. She was a heroine who was strong, smart, and brave, but also realistic, understandable, and patient. I think her and Michael's relationship was one of my favourite parts of this book. They were honest, open, and respectful of each other. Also, their chemistry which bubbled in the background for the entire book was so well done. I also loved that this didn't fall into the cliché of women hating on women, of having the alpha male have to be the strongest at all times, and then feeling emasculated when a woman proved she could be much stronger. Michael is a hero that isn't intimidated by a strong woman and isn't threatened by one. Drool!! This clearly is an adult book written for adults! Plus there was so much humour! I craved Michael's smiles and amusement as much as Layla did, and his snarky lines always delivered.

So, I definitely recommend you picking up this book. The writing is sharp and easy to fall into, the plot is interesting and exciting, the romance is fun, the secondary characters well-rounded, and while it ends somewhat in the middle of the story, it doesn't feel like a frustrating cliffhanger. To me, it feels like a promise of the crazy things still to come. I can't wait for more!

[CJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, know that this is NOT a complete story, it is part one of an ongoing serial of which parts two and onward have not yet been released. I did not know this when I purchased it as no mention of being incomplete and part of a serial was made in the book description.

That being said, this was an intriguing story with interesting characters and drama. If this story ever gets completed published as a single book, I will buy it because it was that good, otherwise I will not as waiting for weeks/months/years to get the next chapter is not something I enjoy.

[2TNWalkers · Rating 2 out of 5]

this story grabbed my attention and held it. No grammatical issues, well thought out plot…only negative ended on a cliffhanger and no date for a next book considering this book was published in 2019..and I am not paying to join her platform to finish this story…

[Kristina Nichole]

I have no clue what this is, but am I going to read it?

YESSSSSSSSS

[Jae Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 5 This was a fun read that didn't require a great deal of mental lift. I am definitely going to be reading the next book. Layla and Michael are well marched. I am eager to see how their story plays out. Her parents are quite funny and his are quite the opposite.

[Caroline Main · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥
The Lunatics: Vol 1
by Navessa Allen

I’ve absolutely loved Navessa Allen’s Into Darkness series so I’ve been slowly making my back through her previous works. This one was a bit different from her and it’s apparent that it was written earlier in her writing days. That said, I still enjoyed it a lot and wish that there had been a continuation/conclusion of the series. I found the storyline super interesting - wolf shifters who get mated against their will in a twist of fate from a goddess only one of them believes in. Maybe someday we’ll get the rest🤞🏻

[slay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is just a first half of the entire book.

I liked this author's book "Lights Out" and I thought that this one will be like that. Sadly this book did let me down a bit. The writing wasn't on the level of "Lights Out", the interactions between the characters also wasn't at that level (I know that in this book, they don't know eachother like that, but their interactions weren't described at the same level like "Lights Out", it was seriously lacking), the smut also not on that level (once again, yes they're strangers and good thing that it wasn't instant attraction, BUT once it happened, it wasn't as well portrayed as it was in "LO") and this book could have used more editing for grammar (being that this one is actually finished and "Lights Out" only had the first 14 chapters of an unfinished work, where you would actually expect mistakes).

What I liked about this book: MMC always treated the FMC right, they were strangers, so he was polite. Later on, he was always super helpful and kind to Layla. The scene (them holding hands in a cave, while she tries to help him with his powers) where she discovers that he likes her is priceless, it was so cute. The chemistry at some points was good and had me giggling and kicking my feet lol.

What I disliked: the scenes were too fast paced. They arrive at his house, they go eat with the family, they run away, they are at that apartment, they encounter the vampire, they go to her parents, they run together, they discover their shared powers, they go back to her parents, the killer vampire comes, dumps stuff on her, deletes her memories, he is all of a sudden very cold, they return to the city, he is away from her, his sister picks her up -THE END-

I won't be reading the next book.

[Razan Zher · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is so much repetetive and unimportant info in this book that its killing me slowly, but I love shifter Romance and I love that the mates themselves weren’t toxic which isn’t a given in this genre of books , loved allen from lights out and the width of the characters is still here and I love all the funny moments. Butttt and a big but , it was such a slow romance i wanted to die also she kept asking questions about him and her had with Voice in them out, and I just couldn’t anymore. I love sister romance, but this one flopped so hard. Like how can you write something so beautiful but then can read this book don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t that bad, but it still was bad (for me) . at one point I was skipping long paragraphs because nothing was happening and also what the fuck is happening in Boston and I will not be reading the second book.

[Miranda Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

crap!! I did not need this to end on a dang cliff hanger!! I am a Navessa slut and I will forever stand on this rock. Right now. I need more and more information about what the hell is about to happen next because I am dangling on this cliff!!!!!!!!

[Sigrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️,5 🐺🧛‍♀️

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

SUMMARY:
Layla Fitzpatrick lives a simple life, for a werewolf. Everything changes when she attends a ritual bonding ceremony meant to join two werewolves together for life. Midway through, the spell becomes corrupted and she finds herself unexpectedly mated to the stuffiest shifter she's ever laid eyes on. Michael Kolbeck spends his days in a skyscraper, building his family's empire. At night, he prowls the streets of Boston, a city where shifters, witches, and vampires walk a delicate tightrope of ceasefire masquerading as peace. Little do they know that Layla's arrival will act as the spark that ignites the fire, and that thin veneer of peace is about to vanish.

REVIEW:
The Lunatics is only the first part of what I'm guessing supposed to be either a duology or series. Layla and Michael are total opposite werewolves that are accidentally bonded in a ritual bonding ceremony that they both came to just to support their loved ones. The moment that Layla finds out that she has mate bonded with Michael was a bit funny as they are total opposites that in the end could be what the other needs as a life mate. I really enjoyed the moment that Layla had to sit on Michael's wolf with her jaw on his neck to get him to calm down.

The moment that Layla and Michael were able to truly let their bond both emotional and physical take over was just what they needed. I enjoyed reading all they both had to go through to make this very unexpected mating bond work for them both since Layla is a very powerful werewolf from a mostly extinct back and Michael is a mystic werewolf that has many secrets. I enjoyed the reading this book but I just hate that it ended on a cliffhanger that I know is not going to be completed as the author has moved onto other stories with some of the second part on her Patreon that you need to pay to access.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW. The Lunatics is a an exceptional UF/PR novel from indie author Navessa Allen. I basically inhaled the book in two sittings and I cannot wait for the sequel! The story is well written, the characters are great and very engaging. Layla and Michael are pretty cool characters and I loved reading about his feelings through their bond - it was really well done and a nice variation on the defrosting ice prince trope. I like the fact that Michael was not written as stand-offish, arrogant asshole but as somebody who is just very reserved and shy (and also with good reason, as the story reveals later on). That was such a refreshing change from the frequent ashhole-douchebag-but-not-really-but-kinda-really in the genre.

The author clearly spent a lot of time on research regarding locations and preparing the backstory & mythology and I think this really elevates this novel from so many stories in the shifter/werewolf genre.. I have come a lot of shifter stories which are basically "real world plus shifters but with no background story and mythology so let's get straight to the sex" and this so different and so worth it. The story setup is very ambitious - I read the very first (public?) iteration of the author's earlier work, Scandal, years ago and it is very satisfying to see how much Allen has developed her craft. This is good. If I had to compare this to anybody else, I would probably say that Lunatics measures up to the scale and potential of Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series paired with a touch of Anne Bishop's The Others. I cannot wait for the sequel!

[Gena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite liked this, a slightly different take on the fated mates idea. Michael and Layla were open in working through the issues. Of course the book ends on a few secrets and sets up for book two but this didn't leave me disappointed.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I had enjoyed volume one.. I can’t say I was too happy about being left with quite the cliff hanger only to find out volume two is not on Amazon or even complete. Turns out the author didn’t like the ending and decided to rewrite it a couple years ago. Ok. I get that. But then I was directed to Patreon where I was to sign up for the minimum of $2 a month to access the rewrite. So I did. Prior to signing up it implied chapters were being released weekly. Which it appears at one point they were. It gave me access to the first nine chapters. Then she just stopped. In November 2021. Which isn’t disclosed until after you sign up. I sent a message on Patreon since it’s supposed to be a direct path to the author asking for some sort of explanation prior to review to be fair. Will it ever be completed? Why offer book one on Amazon with cliff then note on here that volume two can be read there for a few when that is not the case? Am I missing something? No reply. So even though this author has talent and this series has potential, I will no longer be “supporting” on Patreon nor anywhere else since I have not been shown the same respect. Or any for that matter. Show some respect for your readers authors! We work for our money and our time has value as well.

[Mads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Honestly this book satisfied my werewolf craving. I liked the portrayal of a love interest that fit outside the norm in this genre. Michael is not this tall hulking man, he’s the same height as Layla. He’s calm and steady and not drama. So refreshing. She is strong and powerful and easygoing and not whiny. It was so nice to not have an annoying character. Her parents were fantastic, best friendship was a priority and not immediately lost when a boy entered the picture. Not every character was cis and white 😂 loved the inclusion. I loved the story. My only issue now is I NEED volume two. Will it be published on kindle as well?

[HTL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up. I liked it, but didn't realize it was "incomplete" so that's a bummer. There's a LOT going on in this book and I just wanted more smooching, honestly. Right when the smooching happens the book ends! With a cliffhanger!

[Lori Emelio · Rating 1 out of 5]

really..

I would if given more stars. But the author should of mentioned from jump street that this story would end and in order to read the rest you had to download another app where you have to pay a mouthy fee to continue this story. Never seen this before and hope I never do again. DONT START THIS BOOK.

[L · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I would have read the reviews before I started the book or at least notice that it was published on 2019 and the sequel is not out yet. This was half a book that was left on a cliffhanger to have people go to another app and pay a monthly fee to read the rest. Feels a little like I got scammed.

[Sophie Li · Rating 2 out of 5]

It just felt like people in cars, and having conversations about where they were going for the first 80% of the book, then they finally shag (underwhelmingly written might I add) and there’s a reveal which I was like cool👍🏻, won’t be reading the next book which is a shame cos I really liked this authors writing in another of hers that I read

[Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting premise, but the pace dragged. I was so bored, and the couple had no chemistry. I get that they were strangers and it was a slow burn, but it just didn’t work for me.

[真里 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been following Navessa Allen's reviews for a while when she announced the release of The Lunatics. She's one of the reviewers on Goodreads whose opinion I trust the most. Knowing nothing about the premise, I immediately went on Amazon to buy it. It sat on my TBR list for a long time as I tried to overcome my anxiety about possibly not liking it.

Werewolf books have never been my thing. Most of the ones I read are populated by Mary Sues and are set in generic worlds. The males tend to be macho douche bags and the females either badass bitches or hormonal, emotional wrecks. I've tried to find at least one werewolf series to get into, but I always ended up disappointed.

But not with The Lunatics.

It starts off on the right foot with world building, introducing readers to the world little by little from the beginning. It doesn't do so in a lecture or an info dump (although this does happen later). It leaves plenty of room for readers to learn about the world along with Layla in a realistic and digestible fashion.

I'm tired of seeing the name "Layla" in fantasy books, but this Layla is pretty great. She's snarky at appropriate times but knows when to STFU. She's afraid of things that she should be afraid of, but she's no coward. Her flaws include not knowing how to control her emotions and looking down on other werewolves who choose to live differently from what she knows. Layla is a solid protagonist.

I wasn't sure about Michael at first because he talked like a Medieval knight and that part is never really explained. If the rest of his family (or even just his parents) talked like that too, then I'd understand, but they don't. I liked that he didn't show his emotions but still felt them. It reminds me a lot of my boyfriend, so it was endearing. Generally, I thought he was an interesting character but didn't connect with or care about him as much as I did Layla.

There was a good balance of romance, action, and humor. It made me laugh a few times, which isn't easy to do apparently (according to my distaste for other books that people find funny). The two main characters had good chemistry but definitely no insta-love, which is impressive considering they're literally bonded to each other, haha.

There are a lot of other things I want to gush about, but in particular I have to mention how Allen wrote in heightened senses. This is hard to do well, but in The Lunatics it was surprisingly on point. If a werewolf told me that I smelled "spiky" when I was afraid or surprised or "itchy" when I was nervous, I'd think they're weird AF but I'd get it.

I'm not a fan of the serial style in which The Lunatics is currently being published. I probably won't be continuing this series if it's only available by subscription or Patreon funding, which is a shame because this is the only werewolf series I've ever been into. Also, this version still needs editing to correct common grammar mistakes such as "to" instead of "too" and "of" instead of "off."

Navessa Allen is an excellent reviewer but an even better writer. I wouldn't be surprised if she becomes a household name in the future.

[bookish_royal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ★★★★★
Spice: 0.5

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:

I read this is one sitting, it could not be put down. I HAD TO KNOW only I now don’t know and I need to swiftly move on to vol 2.

MMC is what I’d call a special case. Not many men are like him and not many fictional men are like him. Michael is so controlled and I love that little bits slip out to just Layla. It feels like you’re let in on the secrets of his personality with her.

Also, the way FMC are wrote in her stories are what I always want to read. I love when women are a little/lot dominant and the man doesn’t mind it one bit, even encourages it. Layla is my kind of character and I’m really rooting for her and their relationship in vol 2.

I’m really enjoyed the MC’s relationship and I can’t wait to see what happens for them in their relationship and to them separately in vol 2.

His mam needs a chill pill and some therapy but I reckon she’d just manipulate the therapist into thinking what she needs her to think. So that would be a waste of time. I just need to see how Layla would handle her, please I am begging for something badass to happen between them.

Anna, literally met you for 2 seconds but I could tell if we met in real life I would lay down my life for you. (I don’t care if it’s a glamour).

I’m really really really enjoying Navessa’s writing style and stories, I’m ready to just read them all right here and right now. So see ya, while I go start vol 2.

EDITED: WHERE IS VOL 2, I am devastated about this unforeseen circumstance. I’m still glad I read vol 1 but I would love to read what happens next. (Navessa if you read this, I love your writing please write the rest of vol 2 for me *fingers and toes crossed forever in hope*)