Dare

The Nox #1

by T.A. Foster

Choices should come easily to a queen.

Especially the queen of panther shifters. But Dare, leader of the Nox, faces the most difficult decisions of her life as she struggles to keep her freedom and keep the Nox safe.

Destined to marry when she turns twenty-two and give up the magic that is her birthright, Dare fights back, determined to change the course of history. Only along the way she falls for a human who forces her to face the reality that there are some things she can’t resist.

Zac Morgan has crossed the globe hoping to find comfort after a tragic loss has left him empty. He hopes Sullen’s Grove will give him peace and just a little taste of home. Even though he’s worked hard to keep his heart protected, he can’t stop the attraction he feels for the mysterious green-eyed college girl Dare.

When Zac is thrust into the middle of a dangerous shifter war, Dare may be the only one who can save him. Sometimes the choices we make are the ones we least expect.

Unknown Binding

First published July 5, 2015

About the author

T.A. Foster is a Southern girl whose heart and spirit are connected to the beach. She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, three children and canine kiddos.

Her long love affair with books started at an early age, and as soon as she was able, she transformed imaginative stories into words on paper.

T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing or planning her next beach trip.

Reviews

[Trader (RedHotBlueReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dare is queen of the panther shifters, and they have some unusual mating habits. Dare and her group of panthers called the Nox aren't having any of these archaic rules. It's their open disobedience of their rules that gets Dare in trouble.

She's also very attracted to a human named Zac. She tries to stay away, but she can't. Zac started out as a cool sexy dude for me, but then ... well, his anger and the need to know more about the panthers that supposedly stalk Sullen's Grove get the best of him, and he makes some critical errors in judgement you can see coming.

Dare will do anything to save herself and her female panthers from having to follow the old rules, but she just might not be able to, considering her intended spouse takes a strong action to end the book in a cliffhanger.

I thought there were some interesting paranormal elements in this and some that I've read in other books. The story was well paced, although the ending was a little flat for me, considering the amount of conflict.

Overall, I did like the story and the premise of rebelling against what has always been done in the past. I liked how the female panthers were willing to fight for what they wanted. Zac is in a bad headspace at the start of the book and things don't really get much better for him by the end...and I liked that.

So a good start to this paranormal series.

ARC provided for review.

[Ethan Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review and more available at: http://oneguysguidetogoodreads.blogsp...

***
My Thoughts:

I've been on a pretty crazy roller coaster of reads lately, switching from genre to genre to find my best 5-star read. I've read historic fictions, sci-fi, romance, and even nonfiction this summer, but have really struggled to find reads that spoke to me. All it took was one adventure back into the paranormal genre to remind me why it reigns supreme in my book. Mix in some suspense and just enough romance to keep it interesting and you've got one heck of a story on your hands. Dare did not disappoint!

While I've read several were-shifter stories, I'm not sure I've ever read one quite like Dare. These days it seems the trend to have mortals know about the supernatural members of their community. Sometimes that approach really works, but most of the time I like a good old fashioned surprise! Foster does an incredible crafting this entirely original storyline. When Queen Dare must choose between tradition and her heart, dramatics ensue. Dare was so much, on top of being a paranormal romance, it's also full of suspension, action, and drama. The storyline will leave you reeling and begging for the second installment.

My absolute favorite part of this story was the characters. Dare is a strong, independent college aged girl with a huge secret, she's the Queen of her own supernatural pack of panther-shifters. Despite being a Queen who one would usually imagine as being extremely mature and responsible and... quite often boring, Queen is just like an average new adult female. She's got a plethora of problems, from college to her love life, Dare is so much more than a figurehead. She also can kick some major butt on the battlefield! Regardless of how awesome Dare is, my favorite character in this story was the male MC, Zac. Zac and I have a lot in common. Zac is a history scholar whose crazy journey has led him to Sullen's Grove. Finding himself in the midst of a small town with a deep cultural history, Zac immerses himself in local nor and legend, only to discover himself falling for the fabled 'panther' that resides in the forest. Even moreso than Dare, Zac has a lot going on in his story that really helped to develop his character. Like all great NA characters, he has his secrets, ones I cannot wait to read unravel. Throw in some excellent secondary characters and Foster has created a cast that rocks!

While the story definitely has a strong romantic plot between Dare and Zac, it's definitely not something non-romance readers should overlook. It's not erotic by any means and the sex scenes are few and written with class. No shifter-smut here folks!

As a paranormal novel, Dare really delivers on its' promise. In addition to roaming packs of forest shifters (male and female packs), Sullen's Grove is also home to a coven of powerful witches. Foster is no stranger to writing magic, having penned the acclaimed Ivy Grace Spell trilogy. While the witches do not play a huge role in the story, they do play a very important one. It isn't often that readers get the opportunity to see any kind of collaboration between supernatural factions so this was a treat to read. Any paranormal lovers like myself will find themselves pleased with the paranormal aspect of Dare.

I'll admit, the ending left me with a lot of questions, but the biggest one was definitely 'when can I read book two?!' I have no idea what Foster's intentions for this series are, but I can definitely tell you without hesitation that I will be here ready to devour each and every passing installment of this incredible series!

If none of that convinced you to rush out and add this one to your TBR, I don't know what else will. All I do know is that this was one of the most fun reading experience I have experienced in quite some time. From cover to cover, TA Foster delivers with an original story, crafted to perfection! Get settled in folks, the Nox are here to stay!

All-in-all, I am granting Dare by TA Foster a near-perfect 5-star review. Since I had the great fortune to beta-read this novel I saw it in multiple different stages which really helped to develop the story. Foster has delivered a true bookish gift to her fans. Speaking of her fans, anyone who is familiar with her Ivy Grace Spell series will love Dare! Foster's unique style of writing is a great fit for the New Adult Paranormal Romance genre! Don't delay, add this one to your summer reads list, today!

***

[Johnaka- Amity Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dare by T.A. Foster

**contains spoilers**

Dare is a paranormal book about shape shifters with some romance. Dare is a twenty one year old girl who can shift into a she-panther. She is the Queen of her territory. Dare has gone to other territories and found other she-panther and brought them home with her. Her whole mission is to defy the Council.
Apparently when the shifter kinds came about they made up a Council. The Council monitors everyone and makes up rules they have to follow. One being the she-panthers have to marry Kings. The Kings are allowed to have more then one wife. Anyways Dare doesn't agree with entering a loveless marriage.
Dare went to other territories and found other she-panthers that don't agree with the rules as well. Together they formed the Nox.
Case who is the King and supposed to marry Dare is a complete power hungry savage. He doesn't care who he has to hurt as long as he gets Dare. He will attack Zac (Dares human boyfriend) and kidnap members of the Nox to try and convince her. What he wants he gets.
Zac as I already said is Dares human boyfriend. He knows the stories of the shifters, witches, and other paranormal like things in the area. He is a historian ironically. He knows that the she-panthers and witches are real. He just doesn't know that Dare is one. I won't lie he takes everything like a champ, and Case and his Tribe put him through the ringer. But it becomes blatantly clear that he adores Dare.
I love the idea of the Nox. I tend to be more of a rule breaker myself. I hate being told what to do when it comes to how to live my life. I am more like Vix in the story though.
One thing is I wish we would have gotten more of a back story. We have no idea who the Council actually is. The fact of Dare not even knowing does bother me. As a Queen I felt like she should know more about her kind. We don't know exactly why or how the struggles the Nox face came about. I just had a lot of questions that couldn't be answered. This is the first book in the series, so hopefully I will get more answers. I do feel that Dare lays a good foundation for the rest of the series. T.A. Foster has a book now that she can do anything with, the possibilities for this book are endless. Here are a couple of my favorite quotes;
"“I know I said I would help train your friends, but something feels wrong. Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”
"“Look, we all have the same thing in common. The Nox do. We don’t want to give up our panther life. We don’t want to marry whom the council matches us with. We don’t want to have cubs and give up our magic. That’s what this is all about. We want to make our own choices. Live the lives we want.”

Plot- 4/5
Heat- 2/5
Character- 3/5
Writing style- 3/5
Overall- 3/5

**I was given an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Seraphim Book Reviews**

[A Hopeless Romantic's Booklandia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been awhile since I've read a paranormal romance so when I came across T.A. Foster's Dare, I thought, Why not? It was nice to get back into the paranormal world and this was a good book to do it. The only wrinkle I had with it was that I couldn't fully connect to the story all the time, but I really did like reading it.

Dare is the queen of the Nox and she's trying to protect all of her girls' futures, including her own. She's so focused on that that she doesn't have much time to concentrate on anything else, well, that is until she meets Zac. He makes her forget about her responsibilities for a little while and she can relax with him. It doesn't take long for Dare to realize that Zac means something to her, but she's not quite sure how everything will work out.

I really liked Dare as the heroine. She's strong and protective, fierce and loyal, and she's completely willing to do whatever she has to do to help her Nox and keep them safe. She's selfless even when I wanted her to be a little selfish, she's the best person to be the leader of the Nox, and she's just a wonderful heroine.

Zac is running from a painful past and after moving around so much, he decides to settle in Sullen's Grove. He just wants to keep his head down, keep his nose clean, do his job, and take in all of the mumbo-jumbo legends surrounding the town with a grain of salt. He's not a superstitious guy and he doesn't believe all the stories...or at least he doesn't until he sees with his own eyes that the stories are true. And as Zac is searching for more answers, he finds Dare. She's unlike any girl he's ever known and he can't stop thinking about her.

Just like Dare is an awesome heroine, Zac is an awesome hero. He is a little bit of a mystery, but he's such a great guy. He's really understanding and patient and sweet with Dare. He's also smart and kind and into history which I love, so he really endeared himself to me. I can't wait to learn more about him.

Dare is full of mystery, action, and danger with a touch of heat and sweetness. There were times when it sucked me in completely, had my heart racing, and had me jumping and freaking out in my seat. All the times that I couldn't fully connect were more than made up for the times I could. This was a great first book and I can't wait to read more in this series and the other connecting series!

Dare does end in a cliffhanger that might drive you a little crazy or will at least make you excited to find out what happens next, it's told from both Zac and Dare's POV, and the HEA is kind of up in the air right now.

~ Sonja, 5 Stars

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Dare is the first book in a new, new adult paranormal romance series, called The Nox. I have read, and loved, a bunch of T.A. Foster's new adult contemporary romances, but I have never read any paranormal book from her. So I was really excited to see about the Nox. Dare is the leader of the Nox, a group of panther shifters that protect the town of Sullen Grove. I really enjoyed the concept of Dare. The nox are formed of all female panther shifters that don't want to fulfill the destiny laid out for them by the council (the ruling body for shifters). Basically in shifter land, each female shifter is destined to a male shifter of some kind, and when they marry, or bond, the male shifter takes over their land and moves on to get his next wife. And then when the female shifter becomes pregnant with his cub, she loses all of her power to that cub. Totally not cool.

Dare doesn't want to give up her territory, or lose her powers and ability to shift. She she gathers a group of other girls and tries to rebel, which is the set up for Dare. I love this idea and I also loved the more intricate details of the council and the bonding, which you will have to read to find out for yourself. I was fascinated by the way the magic worked with the shifters in this regard. T.A. Foster did an excellent job making Dare flow right along, and with making the nox her own.

Not to mention is has an addictive romance. I love T.A. Foster's romances, and I was happy to see that this was was just as wonderfully satisfying as her contemporary romances. Dare and Zac totally melted my heart. I love the way they were so drawn to each other. And I have to say, T.A. Foster really surprised me with several of the plot twists. Normally, I am pretty good about pinning down what is going to happen in books that are not thrillers or mysteries. And I had my idea of how this one was going to end in my head for about the whole second half of the book. But holy cow, I was totally off base! And I kind of loved that. T.A. Foster, you continue to surprise me in all the best ways! The Nox is already one of my favorite new adult/adult shifter series.This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Was Provided A ARC by Inkslinger PR
(Possible Spoilers)


A fun, exciting, paranormal romance, with action and twists around every corner.


Dare, queen of the Nox, is trying to get through the last few days of college, while protecting the town "Sullen's Groves", finishing finals, making sure her pact stays intact. And dodge the scheming of the man who shes betrothed to, Case. Dare, her best friend, Vix, and the others in the Nox, have different plans for their future, and that doesn't include Case and his pact. With the towns "Annual Storytellers Convention" fast approaching, bringing with it one tall, dark, and sexy history nerd. Things start to becoming even more hectic in Dare's life.

Zac Morgan, has drifted from town to town, trying to leave his past behind him. Coming to Sullen's Groves is another fresh start for him. The storytellers convention brings alot of talk of witches, pirates, shifters and so much more. Asked to speak and host a tour during the convention, Zac unknowingly gets drawn into a world that he thought only existed in the stories passed around campfires. But after unexplainable encounters in the woods. And setting sights on the beautiful Dare. Zac might have finally found a place to call home.


Dare was a quick, page turning, action packed read. With lots of fun paranormal elements. Romance. Secrets. Friends. With a strong female lead fighting to give her and the Nox a life they can live as their own.

Can't wait to see whats next in this series.

[Emily Goodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review....

One of my favorite genre's to read is paranormal. It's a nice change of pace to slip out of the present mundane world and into a new world full of magic. Foster does a fabulous job of drawing you into the shifter world by creating the Queen of the Nox, Dare and her she-panther shifters.
Now Dare is no ordinary she-panther, born of royalty it is Dare's mission to change the course of history and give her fellow she-panthers their own voice of choice. Dare is charismatic, self-less, and devoted to her cause. There is only one hiccup in her way... Zac, a historian at the local museum with whom she is inexplicably drawn toward.

The overall story of Dare, Queen of the Nox is an interesting one. It kept me interested throughout the story. All of Foster's characters are all well written and developed. I loved that Dare fought for her right of choice, choosing to stand up for herself and those around her- a true leader. Foster did an excellent job of creating this strong female protagonist up until the very end. I wished she would have carried that through a bit more, but we see what will become of Dare in the next book. Be forewarned... Foster will leave you in an epic cliffhanger! There are so many possibilities on where this story will go in the next book! Stay tuned!

[Jess O. (From Jess to You) · Rating 2 out of 5]

"2.5 out of 5 stars, this intense novel builds the reader up for an intriguing series. Over the last few years Dare has taken it upon herself to defy the counsel by shaking up protocol and organizing a way for she-panther shifters to choose a life for themselves instead of what is dictated to them, in doing so she created her group called The Nox. However, Chase, the jaguar who the counsel planned for her to “marry,” is determined to stick to the counsel’s plans and will do whatever it takes to become “king.” Fate has other plans for them both by having Dare meet Zac, a history buff wanderer, who makes her question her wants in regards to her personal future. What will they all decide? Will Dare give in to Chase’s demands? Can Dare trust Zac enough to let him into her world?

This novel is a good build up for its series. Intense, highly dramatic, with multiple plotlines, it definitely keeps the reader on their toes. Yet, I found this novel to be a struggle to get through.

My reasons I had trouble with this novel..."

Read more of this review and TWO TEASERS here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2015/07/disappointmentville-nox-series-book-1.html

[Julie Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC for a honest review. Shifter books are my absolute favorite genre to read. This book was fabulous. The details in the writing were spot on and the characters really did bring this book full circle.

Dare is the Queen of Nox. Along with her fellow panther shifters, they protect their territory with out fail. When her girls continue to come up missing, she turns to the cold hearted Case for explanations. Knowing full well that he has them makes her see red. The history between the two and legend says they must marry. She wants no part of that. When she meets Zac, a handsome history buff, she feels a connection immediately. She saves him more than once and when she finally decides her fate, she feels as if it is too late.

Where did Zac go?

I cannot wait to read the next book.

Excellent writing. 5 golden stars

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good paranormal read, and I love shifters, I always have, and I was really happy when the shifter books went from being mostly wolves (not that I don't love them, I Do!) to other shifters. Dare is the strong, giving, selfless Queen of the panthers of Nox, and I just love her. She, and all of the characters were so well written that you really get a feel for them. The story is also very well written, very rich in it's plot and descriptions, and just pulls you into this new world. There is a cliffy ending, but I'll let you discover what it is. I can't wait to find out where we go from here. I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,

[Alisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I didn't like how there was no backstory or really a community of shifters. It was kind of all over the place as far as history and the sense of magical community went. Needs more details and world-building.

The characters were okay as well. Again, no real building.

[Beret Brenckman · Rating 2 out of 5]

2-1/2 stars. Some errors missed in editing. It felt more like a draft then a finished product to me.