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Tempest Academy
Running With the Pack
When Finn Ryan’s family moves from Austin, Texas, to quiet Woodland Park, Colorado, the summer before his senior year, Finn struggles to adjust. Even the altitude is hard to get used to. But when he meets Ivan Dubovasky at a farmers’ market, all that changes. Finn begins volunteering at Ivan’s family business, High Mountain Wolf and Wild Dog Center, where he forms a bond with both Ivan and the wolves they protect.
Soon Ivan’s best friend, Adrian, who’s asexual, joins their small pack, and the three of them become inseparable, even after Ivan and Finn begin dating—until a bully’s torment of Adrian goes too far. When Adrian disappears, Ivan and Finn will do anything they can to rescue their boyfriend, including relying on a special wolf to bring Adrian home.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2016
19 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
August 13, 2016
I liked it. The whole story is very sweet with only a light bit of angst and no real conflict.
I loved that this positively portrays a poly relationship. I absolutely loved that one of the characters, also very positively portrayed, is asexual. It's a very sweet YA poly relationship where the only time the characters engage in anything sexual it happens totally off page.
What didn't really thrill me was how it all comes out unicorns and rainbows...even the conflict isn't very, um, conflicting. I mean, seriously, no one close to them has a problem with them being gay, ace, or poly? Though, to be honest, in a way it's really refreshing that everyone is so accepting of their relationship. The only conflict comes from how a couple of bullies treat Adrian, but it's not very graphic, and I was a bit disappointed in the resolution.
However, the positives far outweigh anything else. I'll just have to hope that maybe we'll get another story with Finn, Ivan and Adrian a bit more grown up and living their lives together.
Advanced Review Galley copy of Running With the Pack provided by Harmony Ink Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
I loved that this positively portrays a poly relationship. I absolutely loved that one of the characters, also very positively portrayed, is asexual. It's a very sweet YA poly relationship where the only time the characters engage in anything sexual it happens totally off page.
What didn't really thrill me was how it all comes out unicorns and rainbows...even the conflict isn't very, um, conflicting. I mean, seriously, no one close to them has a problem with them being gay, ace, or poly? Though, to be honest, in a way it's really refreshing that everyone is so accepting of their relationship. The only conflict comes from how a couple of bullies treat Adrian, but it's not very graphic, and I was a bit disappointed in the resolution.
However, the positives far outweigh anything else. I'll just have to hope that maybe we'll get another story with Finn, Ivan and Adrian a bit more grown up and living their lives together.
Advanced Review Galley copy of Running With the Pack provided by Harmony Ink Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
September 8, 2016
First off, if you are thinking about reading this book you should probably know that IT IS NOT A SHIFTER STORY. I don't think I am the only one who saw that cover/title and then read the blurb and thought poly/ace werewolves, but despite my hopes, it was not to be. It is cute and I'd totally recommend it for the poly/ace angle alone, but I went in thinking werewolves! and...no. There are normal wolves, and normal people, and awesome people, and not so awesome people. But the supernatural people...not so much. :(
I think because I went into this book expecting something that clearly wasn't going to happen, that my enjoyment was a bit stunted. I kept expecting someone to go all furry...and when it didn't happen, I was confused. Had I not spent the entire book expecting that, I think I would have been able to sink into the story a bit more.
I did find these three guys adorable. And if I ever get around to rereading this, or if perhaps there is a sequel, I will totally love them more. There wasn't a lot of time to build up all three characters fully in only 180 pages, though, so I think Adrian (and even Ivan) don't really get the attention they deserve. I'd have loved knowing more about the pair.
My one pet peeve, tho (outside the whole "where's the werewolves?' thing) was the way Finn's mom/dad were so happy to welcome a known bully into her house despite the fact that Finn was really really upset about that. And I know we are supposed to have forgiven and forgotten by the end...but honestly? I don't know if I trust what the ass says. And the way everyone is all "well he was nice to the parents so he is clearly misunderstood" is a bunch of hogwash. And I don't care if the asshole was doing it just to go along with his brother. He tormented Adrian. For years. He doesn't just get to shrug his shoulders and get a pat on the back for not being an asshole for a couple hours in the house of the chick he is dating. Finn's parents really should not have just shrugged off Finn when he complained. That is asshole parenting.
But...other than that. It was good.
3.5
I think because I went into this book expecting something that clearly wasn't going to happen, that my enjoyment was a bit stunted. I kept expecting someone to go all furry...and when it didn't happen, I was confused. Had I not spent the entire book expecting that, I think I would have been able to sink into the story a bit more.
I did find these three guys adorable. And if I ever get around to rereading this, or if perhaps there is a sequel, I will totally love them more. There wasn't a lot of time to build up all three characters fully in only 180 pages, though, so I think Adrian (and even Ivan) don't really get the attention they deserve. I'd have loved knowing more about the pair.
My one pet peeve, tho (outside the whole "where's the werewolves?' thing) was the way Finn's mom/dad were so happy to welcome a known bully into her house despite the fact that Finn was really really upset about that. And I know we are supposed to have forgiven and forgotten by the end...but honestly? I don't know if I trust what the ass says. And the way everyone is all "well he was nice to the parents so he is clearly misunderstood" is a bunch of hogwash. And I don't care if the asshole was doing it just to go along with his brother. He tormented Adrian. For years. He doesn't just get to shrug his shoulders and get a pat on the back for not being an asshole for a couple hours in the house of the chick he is dating. Finn's parents really should not have just shrugged off Finn when he complained. That is asshole parenting.
But...other than that. It was good.
3.5
February 24, 2020
High school can be a confusing time of anyone’s life, and Finn has a few extra challenges: his family has moved from Texas to Colorado just before his senior year and everything is different, he is not exactly a jock nor has he ever been popular, and he is not interested in girls. As he settles in and begins to make friends, he finds out that on the one hand life isn’t as bad as he expected, but on the other it is much worse. His story is one of dealing with a teenager’s everyday obstacles, the realization that he is even more different from others than he suspected, and a lot of new experiences, both good and bad. This story focuses on the emotional side of growing up and beginning to define one’s place in the world. There is not much action or external conflict, but the inner conflict Finn faces is challenging.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
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December 15, 2018Overall this was super nice. I had a hard time with the first third of it because it was lining up to be "aces can't have alloromantic boyfriends" and it has a handful of anti-aro lines, but once you're past the rocky beginning, it pans out into a really nice story of three queer teens exploring their polyam relationship and sexuality. I really appreciate the care Finn shows in asking what Adrian might like or not ahead of time, and how both him and Ivan intend to rely on communication to keep everyone happy, informed, and comfortable. I still have some qualms with the way it implies Adrian would be forever miserable about his aceness without the two others, and there's some Allo Saviourism underlying a lot of the story, but yeah. still overall a great read. (Also, I love the the teen/parents relationships in this)
August 13, 2016
Thank you NetGalley for the copy!
Such a nice read...
It was an interesting story, with great characters and an original plot. I've never read anything with a poly relationship before, but I think it was tasteful and respectfully written. It was nice to read (and also the relationship between the guys was the cutest thing ever, even if at times I thought their closeness bordered on unhealthy clinginess, but that may have just been me).
My major complain was the conflict: I was expecting it to have a little more weight, or maybe it could have worked better had it showed up earlier, to add to the guys' dynamic earlier on.
But all the same I still enjoyed this a lot. It was awesome.
Such a nice read...
It was an interesting story, with great characters and an original plot. I've never read anything with a poly relationship before, but I think it was tasteful and respectfully written. It was nice to read (and also the relationship between the guys was the cutest thing ever, even if at times I thought their closeness bordered on unhealthy clinginess, but that may have just been me).
My major complain was the conflict: I was expecting it to have a little more weight, or maybe it could have worked better had it showed up earlier, to add to the guys' dynamic earlier on.
But all the same I still enjoyed this a lot. It was awesome.
April 24, 2023
Älskar ungdomslitteratur som fångar ren och sann ungdomsångest.
December 23, 2016
A copy of this novel was provided by Harmony Ink Press for review via Net Galley.
Running with the Pack was, in a word, sweet.
The story follows Finn, who has just moved to a new (and much smaller) town, and is a little afraid of not having any new friends at school. Enter Ivan, good looking and sweet wolf boy (not an actual wolf boy, rather a boy who takes care of wolves). Finn decides that he wants to volunteer at Ivan’s family’s wolf sanctuary after being mesmerised by the wolf he meets at the farmer’s market.
I really loved the inclusion of the wolf aspect in Running with the Pack. As a kid I was absolutely obsessed with wolves, and I still have a huge amount of love for them. So I loved reading about characters who loved wolves as much as I do. And to see Finn discover more about himself and what he wants to do with his future because of this love was incredibly sweet. If anything, I would have loved more of this wolf aspect. I did believe in Finn’s love for the wolves, and how they affected him, but I also wanted to see him interacting with them more, and learning more about them the more he volunteered at the sanctuary.
My favourite character in Running with the Pack was probably Adrian, who is introduced as Ivan’s best friend. At first, Finn isn’t sure how he feels about Adrian because wherever Ivan goes Adrian goes, and Finn has a quickly developing crush on Ivan and kind of wants him all to himself. This changes over the course of the book, and it was absolutely lovely. Finn comes to realise that he likes Ivan and Adrian, and more specifically Ivan and Adrian together. I shipped it 100%. The three boys fit together so well, and were so supportive and loving to each other. I absolutely adored how they weren’t afraid to be vulnerable with each other, and show each other how much they cared.
But back to Adrian. He’s the quiet, adorable artist who’s also asexual. The word is used on the page, and Finn actually discusses it with Adrian a few times (in order to understand his boundaries, which I think was great). The way that Adrian describes his asexuality was very nuanced, and it wasn’t just a textbook definition. I appreciated this because asexuality can be defined in a broad way, but a lot of the time it feels and looks different to everyone who uses the label.
I did have two main qualms, though. The first was how dismissive Finn’s parents were when he told them that his sister’s boyfriend bullied Adrian. Their response was that he was sweet to them. That means jack shit. Seriously. Bullies can pull out the charm like the best of them. Finn’s parents should have sat down with him and his sister and had a conversation about it at the very least. They shouldn’t have forced Finn to be nice to the guy, and to sit down and spend time with him. That is 100% not okay in any way.
The other is concerning a tiny bit of consent. Finn references Adrian as his boyfriend (thus sparking a tiny conversation with his mother about being in a polyamorous relationship), but this happens before Finn, Ivan, and Adrian have even had a conversation about being together. I guess this isn’t a HUGE deal, but I just thought that Ivan and Finn did assume that Adrian was going to be a part of their relationship before they actually asked him if he wanted to.
The ending of Running with the Pack was incredibly sweet, if not kind of magical in its perfection. But to be honest, sometimes I want that. Sometimes I want parents to accept their kids right off the bat. Sometimes I want a happily ever after. Sometimes I just want everything to turn out okay, and it did in Running with the Pack, which I really appreciated.
If you’re looking for an adorable polyamorous YA, then I’d definitely recommend Running with the Pack!
© 2016, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
trigger warning: bullying, homophobia, queerphobia, and missing friend in this novel
Running with the Pack was, in a word, sweet.
The story follows Finn, who has just moved to a new (and much smaller) town, and is a little afraid of not having any new friends at school. Enter Ivan, good looking and sweet wolf boy (not an actual wolf boy, rather a boy who takes care of wolves). Finn decides that he wants to volunteer at Ivan’s family’s wolf sanctuary after being mesmerised by the wolf he meets at the farmer’s market.
I really loved the inclusion of the wolf aspect in Running with the Pack. As a kid I was absolutely obsessed with wolves, and I still have a huge amount of love for them. So I loved reading about characters who loved wolves as much as I do. And to see Finn discover more about himself and what he wants to do with his future because of this love was incredibly sweet. If anything, I would have loved more of this wolf aspect. I did believe in Finn’s love for the wolves, and how they affected him, but I also wanted to see him interacting with them more, and learning more about them the more he volunteered at the sanctuary.
My favourite character in Running with the Pack was probably Adrian, who is introduced as Ivan’s best friend. At first, Finn isn’t sure how he feels about Adrian because wherever Ivan goes Adrian goes, and Finn has a quickly developing crush on Ivan and kind of wants him all to himself. This changes over the course of the book, and it was absolutely lovely. Finn comes to realise that he likes Ivan and Adrian, and more specifically Ivan and Adrian together. I shipped it 100%. The three boys fit together so well, and were so supportive and loving to each other. I absolutely adored how they weren’t afraid to be vulnerable with each other, and show each other how much they cared.
But back to Adrian. He’s the quiet, adorable artist who’s also asexual. The word is used on the page, and Finn actually discusses it with Adrian a few times (in order to understand his boundaries, which I think was great). The way that Adrian describes his asexuality was very nuanced, and it wasn’t just a textbook definition. I appreciated this because asexuality can be defined in a broad way, but a lot of the time it feels and looks different to everyone who uses the label.
I did have two main qualms, though. The first was how dismissive Finn’s parents were when he told them that his sister’s boyfriend bullied Adrian. Their response was that he was sweet to them. That means jack shit. Seriously. Bullies can pull out the charm like the best of them. Finn’s parents should have sat down with him and his sister and had a conversation about it at the very least. They shouldn’t have forced Finn to be nice to the guy, and to sit down and spend time with him. That is 100% not okay in any way.
The other is concerning a tiny bit of consent. Finn references Adrian as his boyfriend (thus sparking a tiny conversation with his mother about being in a polyamorous relationship), but this happens before Finn, Ivan, and Adrian have even had a conversation about being together. I guess this isn’t a HUGE deal, but I just thought that Ivan and Finn did assume that Adrian was going to be a part of their relationship before they actually asked him if he wanted to.
The ending of Running with the Pack was incredibly sweet, if not kind of magical in its perfection. But to be honest, sometimes I want that. Sometimes I want parents to accept their kids right off the bat. Sometimes I want a happily ever after. Sometimes I just want everything to turn out okay, and it did in Running with the Pack, which I really appreciated.
If you’re looking for an adorable polyamorous YA, then I’d definitely recommend Running with the Pack!
© 2016, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
trigger warning: bullying, homophobia, queerphobia, and missing friend in this novel
September 9, 2016
3.5 STARS
This was a very sweet and easy read, however it felt somewhat incomplete. Running With the Pack is the tale of three high school friends who find themselves becoming much more than just that, in small town Colorado. The primary setting of this story is the Wolf Center, run by Ivan’s family. The setting was unique and snagged my interest instantly. I must admit, that it was kind of surprising to read a book involving wolves that didn’t magically shift into humans. What a novel concept! The wolves played enough of a role in the plot that they became more than just a cute backdrop, which I appreciated. I do prefer that authors actually tie such a setting into the story rather that simply mentioning it and that’s all we ever hear.
The fact that the story was set in a small town without making the main conflict small-town-homophobia was refreshing. The story had huge potential to morph into a big steaming pile of angst, but instead from beginning to end, the characters seemed to be living in a Disney movie. Ok, a gay ménage Disney movie…but they’ve finally branched out from lily-white princesses, so you never know what they might release next. But what I mean is, aside from the “badies” (who really weren’t all that bad) everything was sunshine and rainbows for these three boys. No one blinked at the fact that they were gay. No one was offensively curious about Adrian being asexual. Not one parent had a problem with their son becoming involved in a threesome. And you know what, I’m aware that I might sound like I’m mocking this story, but to tell the truth, I adored it with my whole fairytale loving heart. However, some conflict was definitely required. Even the dramatic climax was more of a fizzle that a bang.
I really do hope that the authors choose to continue the story of Finn, Adrian and Ivan. The dynamics of them being together as a threesome was never actually explored. A friend threesome, yes, but not the three of them together in a relationship. The added element of Adrian’s asexuality, and the fact that he’s only a teen who is still deciding just what elements of a sexual nature he may be interested in, could make for an extremely insightful read, if done well. I think that that’s why this story felt incomplete to me. I needed to see the boys work through the sexual aspect together, even if any sex scenes were off page.
I did like this book. I dare say I will reread it at some point when I need to reach for something that is light and sweet. But I wasn’t excited by it. What did excite me, was the potential for a sequel, which I hope the authors see themselves to write.
Reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2016/09/0...
This was a very sweet and easy read, however it felt somewhat incomplete. Running With the Pack is the tale of three high school friends who find themselves becoming much more than just that, in small town Colorado. The primary setting of this story is the Wolf Center, run by Ivan’s family. The setting was unique and snagged my interest instantly. I must admit, that it was kind of surprising to read a book involving wolves that didn’t magically shift into humans. What a novel concept! The wolves played enough of a role in the plot that they became more than just a cute backdrop, which I appreciated. I do prefer that authors actually tie such a setting into the story rather that simply mentioning it and that’s all we ever hear.
The fact that the story was set in a small town without making the main conflict small-town-homophobia was refreshing. The story had huge potential to morph into a big steaming pile of angst, but instead from beginning to end, the characters seemed to be living in a Disney movie. Ok, a gay ménage Disney movie…but they’ve finally branched out from lily-white princesses, so you never know what they might release next. But what I mean is, aside from the “badies” (who really weren’t all that bad) everything was sunshine and rainbows for these three boys. No one blinked at the fact that they were gay. No one was offensively curious about Adrian being asexual. Not one parent had a problem with their son becoming involved in a threesome. And you know what, I’m aware that I might sound like I’m mocking this story, but to tell the truth, I adored it with my whole fairytale loving heart. However, some conflict was definitely required. Even the dramatic climax was more of a fizzle that a bang.
I really do hope that the authors choose to continue the story of Finn, Adrian and Ivan. The dynamics of them being together as a threesome was never actually explored. A friend threesome, yes, but not the three of them together in a relationship. The added element of Adrian’s asexuality, and the fact that he’s only a teen who is still deciding just what elements of a sexual nature he may be interested in, could make for an extremely insightful read, if done well. I think that that’s why this story felt incomplete to me. I needed to see the boys work through the sexual aspect together, even if any sex scenes were off page.
I did like this book. I dare say I will reread it at some point when I need to reach for something that is light and sweet. But I wasn’t excited by it. What did excite me, was the potential for a sequel, which I hope the authors see themselves to write.
Reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2016/09/0...
September 18, 2016
"It wasn’t that he didn’t want Adrian to be happy: rather he just couldn’t picture it not being the three of them." // 61,4%As soon as I saw that this book would have a poly-relationship with three guys, one of which is asexual, I knew that I needed to read the story. And thankfully, it's a very sweet story which portrays asexuality and poly relationships as positive, completely normal things. I liked that a lot. It's a cute love story.
There is not a lot going on and there is only a tiny bit of drama, but I enjoyed that. It's the story of Finn moving there and meeting the two other boys who are already very close but not yet a couple. He bonds with the wolves that Ivan's family works with - and with the other boys. They connect very well, become fast friends and that soon becomes more. It moves maybe a tiny bit too fast, but it still feels natural and just right. As a reader, I could see the connection between the three of them and it was nice that nobody was ever left out. They were a trio and couldn't imagine it any other way which was sweet. I also liked how they dealt with Adrian being ace, that they didn't want him to do anything he didn't want, but that they didn't even have to think about including him with everything. He's part of their 'pack' and that's it.
Like I said, there is almost no drama which is really refreshing because a lot of M/M or F/F stories deal with problems about coming out, but the family of all three guys was really supportive and I liked that a lot - that's the way it should be. I have to say though that I expected the conflict that's talked about in the abstract to be bigger and more important than it was and I was a bit disappointed that it was resolved so quickly. But of course I'm happy that nothing too bad happened to the characters and that they can be happy! Even though it would have been great to see a bit more of their relationship after they got together. I also would have liked to learn a bit more about Ivan and Adrian. I could connect to them and liked them a lot, but since the story is short, there is not a lot of room to tell us all about them.
There was one thing though that bothered me a lot and that was how Finn's family handled him being upset that his sister was dating someone who bullied Adrian. Yeah, so he was nice to them, but to force Finn to be nice to him and connect to him when he torments one of Finn's best friends at school? Not cool. They should have accepted that they were making Finn uncomfortable, to but it mildly... and the guy got off to easy in my opinion. But that aside, I really liked the story a lot and I can recommend it.
_________
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. Thank you!
September 2, 2016
*copy provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Two words: puppy love.
Two more words: unconventional and unconvincing.
I love the unconventional part of it, I like the authors’ writing style and it’s got a pretty good pace going on, but not much else.
After I read the first 5 chapters and no memorable quotes, lines, action or anything else happened, I knew I was in trouble. Good for Young Adult readers , I suppose.
I am sure that there are plenty of people out there who would appreciate a book like this one – a short, light, pink and fluffy book with a loud and clear message: bullying suc*s. Friendship rocks. Let’s all come together in acceptance of minorities, LGBTQ’s and the world in general.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the message. I’m all for the message. What I don’t care for is how it was delivered.
In my opinion, it’s all pretty unconvincing and unreal. Yes, it is a book, it’s fiction so it doesn’t have to be real, but this is taking it waay too far for my comfort.
It’s got utopian answers to solve all of a teenager’s anxieties and what ifs:
What if you were the new guy in town? What if you were in love with two people? What if one of them was bullied? What if your parents found out?
That’s a lot of issues that need solving, and the solving is done real fast: your parents catch you in bed making out with not one boyfriend, but two? No worries, they just want you to be happy so of course they’re okay with it. Magic! Problem solved.
In my humble opinion, no matter how accepting and liberal and open-minded people are, they would still need some time to adjust to something like this. Like more than 5 seconds.
Life does not work that way. We all really wish it did, we all know that’s how it should be, but realistically speaking…it really doesn’t. And the teenagers/young adults reading it know it too.
Overall impression: by tomorrow, I’ll probably forget all about this book.
Two words: puppy love.
Two more words: unconventional and unconvincing.
I love the unconventional part of it, I like the authors’ writing style and it’s got a pretty good pace going on, but not much else.
After I read the first 5 chapters and no memorable quotes, lines, action or anything else happened, I knew I was in trouble. Good for Young Adult readers , I suppose.
I am sure that there are plenty of people out there who would appreciate a book like this one – a short, light, pink and fluffy book with a loud and clear message: bullying suc*s. Friendship rocks. Let’s all come together in acceptance of minorities, LGBTQ’s and the world in general.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the message. I’m all for the message. What I don’t care for is how it was delivered.
In my opinion, it’s all pretty unconvincing and unreal. Yes, it is a book, it’s fiction so it doesn’t have to be real, but this is taking it waay too far for my comfort.
It’s got utopian answers to solve all of a teenager’s anxieties and what ifs:
What if you were the new guy in town? What if you were in love with two people? What if one of them was bullied? What if your parents found out?
That’s a lot of issues that need solving, and the solving is done real fast: your parents catch you in bed making out with not one boyfriend, but two? No worries, they just want you to be happy so of course they’re okay with it. Magic! Problem solved.
In my humble opinion, no matter how accepting and liberal and open-minded people are, they would still need some time to adjust to something like this. Like more than 5 seconds.
Life does not work that way. We all really wish it did, we all know that’s how it should be, but realistically speaking…it really doesn’t. And the teenagers/young adults reading it know it too.
Overall impression: by tomorrow, I’ll probably forget all about this book.
October 3, 2016
My View: Running with the Pack is a real young adult novel. I'm not a YA fan for two main reasons. First, most characters act as if they were in their late twenties or older. And secondly, the sexual content is too much for the story; not because teens don't have sex, but because it's written for an older audience.
This story changes that. Giving us three characters learning about each other, exploring relationships, and sexuality together. I have a fifteen-year-old daughter, and I'd feel comfortable with her reading it because it was written for teenagers and young adults, not the traditional advance reader.
The characters are realistic as well as their interactions and daily life. I do think some conflicts were solved too quickly, including the acceptance of the polyamorous relationship. But the authors did an excellent job presenting Adrian's asexuality. It was straightforward and uncomplicated.
What I liked the most: That it was an actual YA story.
I wanted more/less: I wanted more angst, but even so, it worked as-is.
Who should read it: Fans of YA stories
This story changes that. Giving us three characters learning about each other, exploring relationships, and sexuality together. I have a fifteen-year-old daughter, and I'd feel comfortable with her reading it because it was written for teenagers and young adults, not the traditional advance reader.
The characters are realistic as well as their interactions and daily life. I do think some conflicts were solved too quickly, including the acceptance of the polyamorous relationship. But the authors did an excellent job presenting Adrian's asexuality. It was straightforward and uncomplicated.
What I liked the most: That it was an actual YA story.
I wanted more/less: I wanted more angst, but even so, it worked as-is.
Who should read it: Fans of YA stories
ARC provided by Harmony Ink Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2016
4.5 stars
Really liked this. Had positive portrayals of both poly relationships and asexual characters. This is YA, so all sex happens off page. My only complaint is Finn's sisters boyfriend who starts off bullying the trio, but has a change of heart towards the end; seems a little unrealistic. Also, I wish it had an epilogue set a few years later.
Really liked this. Had positive portrayals of both poly relationships and asexual characters. This is YA, so all sex happens off page. My only complaint is Finn's sisters boyfriend who starts off bullying the trio, but has a change of heart towards the end; seems a little unrealistic. Also, I wish it had an epilogue set a few years later.
February 24, 2020
High school can be a confusing time of anyone’s life, and Finn has a few extra challenges: his family has moved from Texas to Colorado just before his senior year and everything is different, he is not exactly a jock nor has he ever been popular, and he is not interested in girls. As he settles in and begins to make friends, he finds out that on the one hand life isn’t as bad as he expected, but on the other it is much worse. His story is one of dealing with a teenager’s everyday obstacles, the realization that he is even more different from others than he suspected, and a lot of new experiences, both good and bad. This story focuses on the emotional side of growing up and beginning to define one’s place in the world. There is not much action or external conflict, but the inner conflict Finn faces is challenging.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Read
July 26, 2018I appreciate the positive note of this YA story, but it's also hard to believe that the parents and people around them just accepted their threesome gay romance. The story was also rather boring, and I skimmed some of them, so 1.5*
October 28, 2018
Ok, first off no shifters or werwolves. With the title, which does fit the story, but still gives off the entirely wrong impression. Now this is a very very, one more time very sweet love story between three guys on the cusp of being adult but still not there yet. Their is some angst in the book with a bully but for the most part everyone is encouraging of the young poly trio which, while entirely unrealistic, just adds another layer of sweetness to this book. I like Ivan, Finn, and Adrian and the added layer of the wolves is just a nice bonus. I also enjoyed see an ace character in the story as well. A nice comfort read that I know will end up in my re-read pile often.
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July 25, 20187/25/18 Currently FREE
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Running-Pack-C...
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Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Running-Pack-C...
Harmony Ink Press: https://www.harmonyinkpress.com/books...
September 10, 2016
******4.5 stars******
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review
For some reason, I fully expected this book to have werewolves. It took me a while to realize that the wolves were perfectly normal wolves and nobody was secretly a werewolf. That definitely didn’t stop me from fully enjoying “Running with the Pack”, though.
Reading this story was truly delightful. The MCs were adorable and were a perfect match. The angst level was pretty low and there wasn’t a whole lot of drama either, but I was never bored. I didn’t even realize I was essentially inhaling this book until I was almost done, just over 24 hours after I’d started it.
There are a lot of m/m books out there with a poly relationship. There also a few m/m books with an asexual character. But I’ve never seen both in one book, and neither in a YA story.
I loved how natural it was for Adrian, Finn and Ivan to become a trio. Adrian’s asexuality and the poly aspect of their relationship were portrayed in a very positive light and felt absolutely natural. There simply was no other way for either of them. They just fit. And I also loved that they started their relationship as a trio, rather than as a couple adding a third party.
It probably wouldn’t have hurt if they’d talked more about their relationship. But they are teenagers and relationship talk is hard for anybody, so it didn’t bother me too much. I did, however, feel like we were missing something from Finn’s past. The authors kept making implications about his old school and the reasons why his family decided to move so far away, but we never really got a good explanation. It just felt like there was more to the story than was being said.
Overall, “Running with the Pack” is a truly lovely YA story and definitely also suitable for younger readers. There is only one scene with sexual action and that happens completely off-page.
I would love to have a sequel where the three of them figure out how to be together in the long run. I’d especially love to find out how involved Adrian will get in the sexual part of their relationship. I don’t know if the authors are planning on writing a follow-up or leave this as a standalone, but I’m all for another visit with these three wonderful boys.
If you like YA, asexual MCs and/or poly relationships, then you should give this book a try. Chances are, you’ll be as charmed as me.
Cover: The cover by Bree Archer isn’t really to my tastes. It’s a bit cheesy, tbh.
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review
For some reason, I fully expected this book to have werewolves. It took me a while to realize that the wolves were perfectly normal wolves and nobody was secretly a werewolf. That definitely didn’t stop me from fully enjoying “Running with the Pack”, though.
Reading this story was truly delightful. The MCs were adorable and were a perfect match. The angst level was pretty low and there wasn’t a whole lot of drama either, but I was never bored. I didn’t even realize I was essentially inhaling this book until I was almost done, just over 24 hours after I’d started it.
There are a lot of m/m books out there with a poly relationship. There also a few m/m books with an asexual character. But I’ve never seen both in one book, and neither in a YA story.
I loved how natural it was for Adrian, Finn and Ivan to become a trio. Adrian’s asexuality and the poly aspect of their relationship were portrayed in a very positive light and felt absolutely natural. There simply was no other way for either of them. They just fit. And I also loved that they started their relationship as a trio, rather than as a couple adding a third party.
It probably wouldn’t have hurt if they’d talked more about their relationship. But they are teenagers and relationship talk is hard for anybody, so it didn’t bother me too much. I did, however, feel like we were missing something from Finn’s past. The authors kept making implications about his old school and the reasons why his family decided to move so far away, but we never really got a good explanation. It just felt like there was more to the story than was being said.
Overall, “Running with the Pack” is a truly lovely YA story and definitely also suitable for younger readers. There is only one scene with sexual action and that happens completely off-page.
I would love to have a sequel where the three of them figure out how to be together in the long run. I’d especially love to find out how involved Adrian will get in the sexual part of their relationship. I don’t know if the authors are planning on writing a follow-up or leave this as a standalone, but I’m all for another visit with these three wonderful boys.
If you like YA, asexual MCs and/or poly relationships, then you should give this book a try. Chances are, you’ll be as charmed as me.
Cover: The cover by Bree Archer isn’t really to my tastes. It’s a bit cheesy, tbh.
September 13, 2016
2.5 stars
i have some issues with this book but i still think its existence is important. it is the first book i've ever read with poly and asexual representation. and i dug that aspect. but the thing described IN THE DESCRIPTION doesn't even happen until the book is almost over. the writing as a whole, seemed somewhat immature. i was shocked to find out that both authors have written other books. and honestly, it was pretty unbelievable. onto the bullet points:
-Characters: i didn't really have an issue with any of the characters. even the bully wasn't all that bad to be honest. he was definitely a jerk, but mild compared to say, the bullies in We Are the Ants.
-Plot: the plot was silly and kind of unbelievable. but queer folks deserve to have the silly and unbelievable romances too, so i can look past it.
-Romance: the romance was cute, but like i've already said, completely unbelievable.
-Diversity: i'm pretty sure everyone was white? i'm actually not sure if it was specified. but there is a gay character, and an ace character. and a poly relationship. and i personally think one of the characters is Bi, but it wasn't stated on the page.
all in all, it wasn't an awful read. it was just a little silly. but i think the way asexuality was portrayed was very positive. and same goes for poly relationships.
i have some issues with this book but i still think its existence is important. it is the first book i've ever read with poly and asexual representation. and i dug that aspect. but the thing described IN THE DESCRIPTION doesn't even happen until the book is almost over. the writing as a whole, seemed somewhat immature. i was shocked to find out that both authors have written other books. and honestly, it was pretty unbelievable. onto the bullet points:
-Characters: i didn't really have an issue with any of the characters. even the bully wasn't all that bad to be honest. he was definitely a jerk, but mild compared to say, the bullies in We Are the Ants.
-Plot: the plot was silly and kind of unbelievable. but queer folks deserve to have the silly and unbelievable romances too, so i can look past it.
-Romance: the romance was cute, but like i've already said, completely unbelievable.
-Diversity: i'm pretty sure everyone was white? i'm actually not sure if it was specified. but there is a gay character, and an ace character. and a poly relationship. and i personally think one of the characters is Bi, but it wasn't stated on the page.
all in all, it wasn't an awful read. it was just a little silly. but i think the way asexuality was portrayed was very positive. and same goes for poly relationships.
August 14, 2016
Thank you netgalley for the free copy!
My problem with this book was the lack of drama, the lack of big things happening, which is something I don't usually (or ever) complain about since I feel like a lot of books have too much of it. The main "evil" occurrence wasn't so evil, happened late in the book and got solved pretty quickly.
The redemption arc of one specific character (I'm not sure it can be called redemption) was a tad unbelievable and, for me, unnecessary.
The thing that kept me going, which came as a surprise for me, was the unusual dynamic of the relationship between the three main characters, which is quite original.
All in all, in my opinion, it's a pretty solid 3 stars book that is still quite entertaining.
My problem with this book was the lack of drama, the lack of big things happening, which is something I don't usually (or ever) complain about since I feel like a lot of books have too much of it. The main "evil" occurrence wasn't so evil, happened late in the book and got solved pretty quickly.
The redemption arc of one specific character (I'm not sure it can be called redemption) was a tad unbelievable and, for me, unnecessary.
The thing that kept me going, which came as a surprise for me, was the unusual dynamic of the relationship between the three main characters, which is quite original.
All in all, in my opinion, it's a pretty solid 3 stars book that is still quite entertaining.
November 21, 2016
2.5 stars
This is a really sweet book about three teenage boys having a best friend and romance relationship. There are bullies and other teen problems, but mostly everything is fluffy and ideal. I like how the authors worked polyamorous, bisexual and asexual characters into the story. Although Running with the Pack has a lovely cast, it was unable to keep my attention. I think it's a good read for teens.
***copy given in exchange for an honest review***
This is a really sweet book about three teenage boys having a best friend and romance relationship. There are bullies and other teen problems, but mostly everything is fluffy and ideal. I like how the authors worked polyamorous, bisexual and asexual characters into the story. Although Running with the Pack has a lovely cast, it was unable to keep my attention. I think it's a good read for teens.
***copy given in exchange for an honest review***
September 29, 2016
Honestly this book is probably a 3-star but I gave it a 4 because I like the premise, and really enjoyed the characters. It was really missing something though. I couldn't lose myself in the story as much as I wanted to. It lacked depth, It's a little too short and everything wrapped up way to easy.
January 5, 2019
Excellent!
Initially I thought this story was about wolves/shifters, but as with the title of this story, one should not assume😊. Such a sweet coming to age story in which being true to self is celebrated and accepted. Though not truly realistic, one can hope that it may one day will be.
Initially I thought this story was about wolves/shifters, but as with the title of this story, one should not assume😊. Such a sweet coming to age story in which being true to self is celebrated and accepted. Though not truly realistic, one can hope that it may one day will be.
August 17, 2018
Simple story with too many themes. Confused and a little too simple to my liking. 2 stars. Not more
February 25, 2017
4 1/2 Stars
Review will be posted soon...
Review will be posted soon...
January 18, 2023
For me, this was a pretty disappointing read. The story overall was kinda sweet but at the same time for me it missed a spark, a bit of extra, a bit of oomph, just that what makes a story special.
The characters didn't do it at all for me. Finn just moved with his parents and sister. He's 17 and should be acting like a teenager. Acting out at his parents, testing boundaries. He does nothing of the sort and in the book apparently his mom is his best friend. He tells her all the secrets, has no issues with any boundaries and the relationship is nothing but lovey-dovey.
Then his sister starts dating Channing (one of the bullies) and Finn's parent's are all like "oh but he seems such a nice boy." But at the same time Finn still tells his parents everything and it's barely even mentioned. The relationship between Finn and his parents didn't make a lot of sense to me at all.
Furthermore, I found Finn a pretty boring MC and boring POV to read. There's no deep emotions and nothing that jumps out that makes him Finn. At the beginning of the book he seems to make a connection with some wolves but that's never really continued and only used as an incentive for him to go volunteer at the center of Ivan's parents.
Ivan is just as boring to me. He cares for the wolves and for Adrian and it doesn't take him more than like a week before saying that Finn is now also his best friend (even when he knows him just a week whereas he's known Adrian for years). He seems a bit protective, but this isn't often enough to actually be the protective alpha type. It also doesn't help, to me at least, that he's so quick to fully accept Finn into their circle. I mean, Adrian has trouble with new people, the relationship between Ivan and Adrian is to both of them a bit of a limbo I think, and then he happily invites Finn to go hiking, watch meteors... And even without explaining or telling Finn anything about Adrian.
And then there's Adrian. I liked the, I suppose attributes is the right word here, that the writer gave him. He's a bit smaller, he loves drawing, he has a connection with the wolves and he's asexual. So it was like, great, finally, now we're talking! A character that's a bit more interesting, that has something that makes him tick.
But then the writer proceeded to make him utterly depressing and pessimistic. And sure, I understand, being bullied is not easy and makes someone question everything and everyone. Especially themselves. Been there, done that, 1/10, do not recommend.
But he was like that ALL THE TIME. Just being quiet, barely talking, being afraid... I think in books I expect characters like that to grow. To learn to find their voice. To learn what their place is in the relationship and marvel in how good it feels to belong.
That didn't really happen though. At the end, all that happened was him running away and being very irresponsible.
And then the ending... Ugh... Too perfect, too boring, too sappy, too not enough answers. Here's the ending spoilers:
It was mediocre at best. When Finn tells all the things that Channing did to Adrian, Shelby goes like "you really did that?!" And I think the writer was trying for a "woman tells her guy to stop the bad behavior immediately and it's clear who is wearing the pants in the relationship and this should be funny" but for me it missed the mark. Not only was she for the whole book pretty much oblivious to everything (and really, her date's brother is an idiot and a bully and her date happily went along with everything so you'd say she would know at least some of the things that happened but she just ignores it all), the book also made it sound like now everything would surely be okay.
Sure, there's still another bully who's dumber than rocks and doesn't have an incentive to stop his behavior. But let's just pretend he doesn't exist. Everything will be totally fine.
Also btw, if you pick up this book in the hopes of the bullies getting some retribution. Yeah, just put it down again. Not happening.
The connection wasn't very deep, none of the boys act like teenagers, the characters were boring, there's no character growth, the ending was boring. And I think because of the bullies and Adrian's depressing behavior all the time, it doesn't feel like a cute read either. At least, I didn't read this and put it away with a smile thinking "well, that wasn't the best story but it was cute and sweet". Yeah, just... No...
The characters didn't do it at all for me. Finn just moved with his parents and sister. He's 17 and should be acting like a teenager. Acting out at his parents, testing boundaries. He does nothing of the sort and in the book apparently his mom is his best friend. He tells her all the secrets, has no issues with any boundaries and the relationship is nothing but lovey-dovey.
Then his sister starts dating Channing (one of the bullies) and Finn's parent's are all like "oh but he seems such a nice boy." But at the same time Finn still tells his parents everything and it's barely even mentioned. The relationship between Finn and his parents didn't make a lot of sense to me at all.
Furthermore, I found Finn a pretty boring MC and boring POV to read. There's no deep emotions and nothing that jumps out that makes him Finn. At the beginning of the book he seems to make a connection with some wolves but that's never really continued and only used as an incentive for him to go volunteer at the center of Ivan's parents.
Ivan is just as boring to me. He cares for the wolves and for Adrian and it doesn't take him more than like a week before saying that Finn is now also his best friend (even when he knows him just a week whereas he's known Adrian for years). He seems a bit protective, but this isn't often enough to actually be the protective alpha type. It also doesn't help, to me at least, that he's so quick to fully accept Finn into their circle. I mean, Adrian has trouble with new people, the relationship between Ivan and Adrian is to both of them a bit of a limbo I think, and then he happily invites Finn to go hiking, watch meteors... And even without explaining or telling Finn anything about Adrian.
And then there's Adrian. I liked the, I suppose attributes is the right word here, that the writer gave him. He's a bit smaller, he loves drawing, he has a connection with the wolves and he's asexual. So it was like, great, finally, now we're talking! A character that's a bit more interesting, that has something that makes him tick.
But then the writer proceeded to make him utterly depressing and pessimistic. And sure, I understand, being bullied is not easy and makes someone question everything and everyone. Especially themselves. Been there, done that, 1/10, do not recommend.
But he was like that ALL THE TIME. Just being quiet, barely talking, being afraid... I think in books I expect characters like that to grow. To learn to find their voice. To learn what their place is in the relationship and marvel in how good it feels to belong.
That didn't really happen though. At the end, all that happened was him running away and being very irresponsible.
And then the ending... Ugh... Too perfect, too boring, too sappy, too not enough answers. Here's the ending spoilers:
It was mediocre at best. When Finn tells all the things that Channing did to Adrian, Shelby goes like "you really did that?!" And I think the writer was trying for a "woman tells her guy to stop the bad behavior immediately and it's clear who is wearing the pants in the relationship and this should be funny" but for me it missed the mark. Not only was she for the whole book pretty much oblivious to everything (and really, her date's brother is an idiot and a bully and her date happily went along with everything so you'd say she would know at least some of the things that happened but she just ignores it all), the book also made it sound like now everything would surely be okay.
Sure, there's still another bully who's dumber than rocks and doesn't have an incentive to stop his behavior. But let's just pretend he doesn't exist. Everything will be totally fine.
Also btw, if you pick up this book in the hopes of the bullies getting some retribution. Yeah, just put it down again. Not happening.
The connection wasn't very deep, none of the boys act like teenagers, the characters were boring, there's no character growth, the ending was boring. And I think because of the bullies and Adrian's depressing behavior all the time, it doesn't feel like a cute read either. At least, I didn't read this and put it away with a smile thinking "well, that wasn't the best story but it was cute and sweet". Yeah, just... No...
did-not-finish
September 16, 2023DNF.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a SLOG and I just didn’t like it. The facts are these:
1. There’s a lot of broad claims made about people who use drugs, people who are homeschooled, the home life of bullies. None can really be backed up or quantified and straight off the bat it made me suspicious about what other broad claims about people I’d encounter later in the novel.
2. Not to be a broken record in consecutive NG reviews, but this book is also overwritten. The dialogue is often clunky and unrealistic, the subsequent dialogue tags unnecessary, and the narrative repeats and/or contradicts itself inside the same paragraph more than once, like so:
“With that question answered, Finn breathed a little sigh of relief. He’d stress over the kiss tomorrow. For tonight he was simply going to enjoy watching the meteors with Ivan and try not to freak out about the kiss in the process.”
Are you gonna stress over the kiss tomorrow or are you freaking out about it right now?? Make up your mind.
3. Internalised acephobia up the wazoo. Adrian, as the ace person, is allowed to feel less than positive about his own orientation, but as he’s not the POV character, this was a risky choice. Adrian sees himself as a freak and neither boy really says anything to change his mind. The energy is not “you’re not a freak, this is perfectly normal” but “we love you anyway” and those are two vastly different animals. I don’t recommend this for the ace rep. Maybe in 2016 it was passable. For 2023 it is mediocre at best. For this reason it is not on my ace-spectrum shelf.
4. Finn’s mother as a character was just wonky. Sometimes she was great and sometimes it was as if she thought Finn caused all the problems in her life. Then there’s the fact that Finn mentions how his mother’s fierce take-no-prisoners attitude about him being bullied at his old school was embarrassing, but then when Finn’s little sister starts DATING one of Ivan and Adrian’s bullies, their mother brushes it off? And he can’t possibly be a bully because he was polite when he came over for dinner?? MA’AM. PLEASE.
5. Finn “wants to punch Channing for ever looking twice at his little sister.” Charming 😒 You’ll punch him for dating your sister but not for bullying your boyfriend/s? Interesting choice.
In conclusion: the ace rep is average, the polyamory rep is average, the writing is average. You won’t miss anything if you skip this one.
My thanks to Harmony Ink for the eARC, and apologies for not finishing. I value my time too much to continue reading books that I dislike.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a SLOG and I just didn’t like it. The facts are these:
1. There’s a lot of broad claims made about people who use drugs, people who are homeschooled, the home life of bullies. None can really be backed up or quantified and straight off the bat it made me suspicious about what other broad claims about people I’d encounter later in the novel.
2. Not to be a broken record in consecutive NG reviews, but this book is also overwritten. The dialogue is often clunky and unrealistic, the subsequent dialogue tags unnecessary, and the narrative repeats and/or contradicts itself inside the same paragraph more than once, like so:
“With that question answered, Finn breathed a little sigh of relief. He’d stress over the kiss tomorrow. For tonight he was simply going to enjoy watching the meteors with Ivan and try not to freak out about the kiss in the process.”
Are you gonna stress over the kiss tomorrow or are you freaking out about it right now?? Make up your mind.
3. Internalised acephobia up the wazoo. Adrian, as the ace person, is allowed to feel less than positive about his own orientation, but as he’s not the POV character, this was a risky choice. Adrian sees himself as a freak and neither boy really says anything to change his mind. The energy is not “you’re not a freak, this is perfectly normal” but “we love you anyway” and those are two vastly different animals. I don’t recommend this for the ace rep. Maybe in 2016 it was passable. For 2023 it is mediocre at best. For this reason it is not on my ace-spectrum shelf.
4. Finn’s mother as a character was just wonky. Sometimes she was great and sometimes it was as if she thought Finn caused all the problems in her life. Then there’s the fact that Finn mentions how his mother’s fierce take-no-prisoners attitude about him being bullied at his old school was embarrassing, but then when Finn’s little sister starts DATING one of Ivan and Adrian’s bullies, their mother brushes it off? And he can’t possibly be a bully because he was polite when he came over for dinner?? MA’AM. PLEASE.
5. Finn “wants to punch Channing for ever looking twice at his little sister.” Charming 😒 You’ll punch him for dating your sister but not for bullying your boyfriend/s? Interesting choice.
In conclusion: the ace rep is average, the polyamory rep is average, the writing is average. You won’t miss anything if you skip this one.
My thanks to Harmony Ink for the eARC, and apologies for not finishing. I value my time too much to continue reading books that I dislike.
July 20, 2018
A story about three boys and how they realize they belong together. It was pretty sweet, you get to follow Finn, Ivan and Adrian as they get to know eachother and as they fall in love. That's basically the reason I read this book, it's about a polyrelationship between homosexual boys where one of them is asexual. It depicts sexualities pretty good (except the bivisibility ... boys who fall in love with other boys but have had girls before aren't automatically gay ...). How often do you read about boys in a polyrelationship? Like ... never? The book gets three stars for that, for being something others don't dare to, which I really love. Otherwise it was quite simple, it feels like the authors have a long way to go and I'm kind of surprised this got published because it's quite short and well, simple is the best word I have to describe it.
Do you want to read a book that explores sexualities, love and friendship without being just about sex? Read it! Do you want to read about destiny and daring adventures (or werewolves?), then this is not the book you are looking for.
Do you want to read a book that explores sexualities, love and friendship without being just about sex? Read it! Do you want to read about destiny and daring adventures (or werewolves?), then this is not the book you are looking for.
August 8, 2025
Running With the Pack is about a 17 year old boy named Finn who moved from Austin, Texas to Woodland Park, Colorado the summer before his senior year. He meets a boy named Ivan at the farmers market and finds out that his family runs a wold sanctuary, which he becomes obsessed with. He becomes friends with Ivan and falls for him soon after, then he meets Ivan's best friend, Adrian, who is asexual, and falls for him too. The boys form their own pack and a unique relationship, but everything happens over the course of two months.
The writing felt very young. Adrian is supposed to be seventeen like the other two, but seems younger and unable to care for himself properly. I also don't see three sets of parents being completely fine with their kids being in a throuple. Every conflict is forgiven really quickly and sometimes three pages of dialogue are spent discussing something small. I can't recommend this one.
I was given a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The writing felt very young. Adrian is supposed to be seventeen like the other two, but seems younger and unable to care for himself properly. I also don't see three sets of parents being completely fine with their kids being in a throuple. Every conflict is forgiven really quickly and sometimes three pages of dialogue are spent discussing something small. I can't recommend this one.
I was given a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 26, 2021
I read the first publication back in 2016/2017 and I still remember the plot which is an indication to me how much I've liked the book.
I'm not a fun of YA genre but I loved the cover and thought it was a paranormal story which it was not in the first edition.
I've read a second edition yesterday and had a sense of deja vu. I have came to check the story and I was surprised that I was not wrong - the second edition was slightly modified to accommodate the paranormal elements which felt strange in the updated version and did not do anything meaningful except providing a reason to be invited to some paranormal academy out of the left field.
Not sure I've liked the second edition as much as the first one because paranormal elements were not really used and felt rather like a hindrance.
But that's my opinion, so I'll place my rating on the older version. I also like old cover much better than the new one.
I'm not a fun of YA genre but I loved the cover and thought it was a paranormal story which it was not in the first edition.
I've read a second edition yesterday and had a sense of deja vu. I have came to check the story and I was surprised that I was not wrong - the second edition was slightly modified to accommodate the paranormal elements which felt strange in the updated version and did not do anything meaningful except providing a reason to be invited to some paranormal academy out of the left field.
Not sure I've liked the second edition as much as the first one because paranormal elements were not really used and felt rather like a hindrance.
But that's my opinion, so I'll place my rating on the older version. I also like old cover much better than the new one.
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