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Tales of the Werewolf Tribes #1
Strength to Let Go
After being abandoned by his mates, Shiki Kirishima, beta of the Dragons of the Fang werewolf tribe, returns to his home in Tokyo. Overwhelmed by grief, he decides to end it all by going into Siberian Killer territory and challenging the tribe to a battle to the death.
His death.
The Killer’s beta, Ganzorig, grasps the potentially disastrous consequences of his tribe killing Shiki, and saves him instead. Having suffered loss, Ganz takes it upon himself to help Shiki deal with his pain, then return him safely to his tribe.
Shiki’s best friend since childhood, Blake, is as determined as Ganzorig to show him there is life after a wolf’s ultimate loss, that of a mate.
Once Shiki leaves the seclusion of Ganzorig’s compound and returns to Tokyo, Blake is the only person he allows near. Blake is more than happy to give Shiki space to lick his wounds and deal with everything in his place. Shielded from his responsibilities to his family and tribe, and cocooned in Blake’s care, Shiki thrives on his journey to healing.
As the real world pushes its way in, with competing tribes causing trouble, children to worry about, and exes to deal with, will Shiki be able to cope or will he spiral back to a state of pure misery? And is there room for more than friendship between him and Blake?
His death.
The Killer’s beta, Ganzorig, grasps the potentially disastrous consequences of his tribe killing Shiki, and saves him instead. Having suffered loss, Ganz takes it upon himself to help Shiki deal with his pain, then return him safely to his tribe.
Shiki’s best friend since childhood, Blake, is as determined as Ganzorig to show him there is life after a wolf’s ultimate loss, that of a mate.
Once Shiki leaves the seclusion of Ganzorig’s compound and returns to Tokyo, Blake is the only person he allows near. Blake is more than happy to give Shiki space to lick his wounds and deal with everything in his place. Shielded from his responsibilities to his family and tribe, and cocooned in Blake’s care, Shiki thrives on his journey to healing.
As the real world pushes its way in, with competing tribes causing trouble, children to worry about, and exes to deal with, will Shiki be able to cope or will he spiral back to a state of pure misery? And is there room for more than friendship between him and Blake?
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2015
28 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Alina Popescu
75 books180 followersI am a writer, traveler, blogger, and coffee addict. I started writing stories when I was 10 and kept doing it as a hobby till a few years ago. I prefer fantasy and sci-fi when it comes to writing and I am currently working on a vampire series, Bad Blood. Book I of the series, The Edge of hope, was published in April 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 6, 2015
Review @Scattered Thoughts And Rogue Words
I had a lot of issues with this book. First of all: Shiki. I did not like him the least bit. He was whiny, annoying and stupid. Yes, he was dumped by his mates, which simply doesn’t happen in werewolf culture. Yes, I know that hurts. But he has two toddlers that need looking after. And what does Shiki do? Well, the sensible thing of course. NOT. Instead of taking care of his children and slowly patching up his life, he leaves his children in the care of his brother and his mates and goes off to kill himself.
Of course since he’s Japanese, he can’t just hang himself or something equally simple. No, he’s determined to go down like a true samurai. Never mind that it’s the 21st century. He’s still determined to kill innocent werewolves who never hurt him, only to make his death “honourable”. But then Ganz swoops in to save the day. Of course he’s not angry at Shiki for killing men from his tribe. Instead, he takes it upon himself to make sure Shiki stays alive. So of course Shiki is pissed. But it’s okay, they become best friends and fuck buddies after a while. Because while Shiki is apparently still crushed and suicidal, his libido works perfectly fine.
Oh yeah, and then the best friend shows up. Shiki’s been hiding from the world for two months and keeps hiding with said best friend for several more months. All this time, he doesn’t once call his children. Or talk about them. Or somehow maybe miss them. No, he’s busy throwing himself a pity party and generally making an ass of himself.
Then there was the non-existent world building. We learn that there are several werewolf tribes all over the world. There’s Fae too, and they have their own world. And of course we have humans as well. I still don’t know if humans know about those supernatural beings or not, whether the werewolves suppress the humans or vice versa, and I’m still wondering if there are other beings as well. If you can’t be bothered to do any world building, then don’t write fantasy! And it’s no excuse that this is a romance novel, first and foremost. I need at least some very basic world building to be able to enjoy a fantasy setting. And the author didn’t do any of that. . It was maddening.
One of the reasons why I wanted to read this book so badly was the setting. I love reading about Japan. But the setting was utterly generic. It was mentioned that it’s set in Tokyo, but it didn’t feel like it. It might as well have been set in an unnamed city in America. Aside from his ridiculous notions about an honourable suicide, Shiki wasn’t very Japanese either. He constantly makes reference along the lines of “feeling like a stuffed Thanksgiving turkey”. Celebrating Thanksgiving with a turkey is such a very North-American thing, it was very jarring to hear it from a Japanese. And it’s not like Shiki grew up in the USA either.
The plot was sadly lacking as well. Nothing much happens, other than Shiki whining and Shiki fucking. There are no details, no explanations, for anything. We never learn why Shiki’s mates left him and their children. We never learn who killed Shiki’s parents. We never learn why Blake was sent to Japan to learn how to fight. We never learn where Shiki grew up and why he was separated from his siblings.
The sex scenes were nice enough the first few times. Then they got kind of boring and repetitive and finally they became annoying. The sex was never hot. Actually, it sounded rather painful. With descriptions like “my now reddened and sensitive head”, it sounded like Shiki should have that looked at by a doctor. All those swollen, red, sensitive cocks eventually made me roll my eyes.
And let’s not even talk about how Shiki kept coming up with ridiculous pet names like “Blakey” and how everybody loved him and forgave him and pitied him.
To sum it up, I really didn’t like this book. I hated Shiki, the setting was generic, there was no world building and the sex was badly written. Add to that a few too many typos and you have yourself one very annoyed and disappointed reader. Not going to continue this series and will stay far, far away from this author in the future.
Cover art by Jay’s Covers by Design. The cover is very pretty. It shows Shiki forlornly staring off into nothingness. The colours match beautifully and the Japanese character looks great too.
I had a lot of issues with this book. First of all: Shiki. I did not like him the least bit. He was whiny, annoying and stupid. Yes, he was dumped by his mates, which simply doesn’t happen in werewolf culture. Yes, I know that hurts. But he has two toddlers that need looking after. And what does Shiki do? Well, the sensible thing of course. NOT. Instead of taking care of his children and slowly patching up his life, he leaves his children in the care of his brother and his mates and goes off to kill himself.
Of course since he’s Japanese, he can’t just hang himself or something equally simple. No, he’s determined to go down like a true samurai. Never mind that it’s the 21st century. He’s still determined to kill innocent werewolves who never hurt him, only to make his death “honourable”. But then Ganz swoops in to save the day. Of course he’s not angry at Shiki for killing men from his tribe. Instead, he takes it upon himself to make sure Shiki stays alive. So of course Shiki is pissed. But it’s okay, they become best friends and fuck buddies after a while. Because while Shiki is apparently still crushed and suicidal, his libido works perfectly fine.
Oh yeah, and then the best friend shows up. Shiki’s been hiding from the world for two months and keeps hiding with said best friend for several more months. All this time, he doesn’t once call his children. Or talk about them. Or somehow maybe miss them. No, he’s busy throwing himself a pity party and generally making an ass of himself.
Then there was the non-existent world building. We learn that there are several werewolf tribes all over the world. There’s Fae too, and they have their own world. And of course we have humans as well. I still don’t know if humans know about those supernatural beings or not, whether the werewolves suppress the humans or vice versa, and I’m still wondering if there are other beings as well. If you can’t be bothered to do any world building, then don’t write fantasy! And it’s no excuse that this is a romance novel, first and foremost. I need at least some very basic world building to be able to enjoy a fantasy setting. And the author didn’t do any of that. . It was maddening.
One of the reasons why I wanted to read this book so badly was the setting. I love reading about Japan. But the setting was utterly generic. It was mentioned that it’s set in Tokyo, but it didn’t feel like it. It might as well have been set in an unnamed city in America. Aside from his ridiculous notions about an honourable suicide, Shiki wasn’t very Japanese either. He constantly makes reference along the lines of “feeling like a stuffed Thanksgiving turkey”. Celebrating Thanksgiving with a turkey is such a very North-American thing, it was very jarring to hear it from a Japanese. And it’s not like Shiki grew up in the USA either.
The plot was sadly lacking as well. Nothing much happens, other than Shiki whining and Shiki fucking. There are no details, no explanations, for anything. We never learn why Shiki’s mates left him and their children. We never learn who killed Shiki’s parents. We never learn why Blake was sent to Japan to learn how to fight. We never learn where Shiki grew up and why he was separated from his siblings.
The sex scenes were nice enough the first few times. Then they got kind of boring and repetitive and finally they became annoying. The sex was never hot. Actually, it sounded rather painful. With descriptions like “my now reddened and sensitive head”, it sounded like Shiki should have that looked at by a doctor. All those swollen, red, sensitive cocks eventually made me roll my eyes.
And let’s not even talk about how Shiki kept coming up with ridiculous pet names like “Blakey” and how everybody loved him and forgave him and pitied him.
To sum it up, I really didn’t like this book. I hated Shiki, the setting was generic, there was no world building and the sex was badly written. Add to that a few too many typos and you have yourself one very annoyed and disappointed reader. Not going to continue this series and will stay far, far away from this author in the future.
Cover art by Jay’s Covers by Design. The cover is very pretty. It shows Shiki forlornly staring off into nothingness. The colours match beautifully and the Japanese character looks great too.
July 10, 2015
Strength to let go.
This is a new series from the author, it's a MM and PNR read, I personally think these genres go together so well.
Shiki is a beta wolf of his pack, his going through a tough time his two fae mates have upped and left him without explanation, leaving him beyond broken.
He decides life's not worth living to travels to another packs land were he will fight to his death........ Plans don't always work, Ganz a leader from the Siberian Killers decides to save Shiki and helps him through his heartbreak. I really liked Ganz, especially when he decides to show him life's worth living by kissing him, which then leads on to some really sexy scenes.
When it comes to sending Shiki back to reality, they both say there good byes and Ganz shouldnt worry as Blake ❤️ is there to support his lifelong best friend.
Blake, is a busy working man but he stops work to care for his friend, they go clubbing together, get there sexy on together with others, but never just the two of them until one session they cross the line and kiss each other - I absolutely loved that moment.
How do best friends move from friends to lovers.... Can Blake make Shiki trust again?
You'll love there journey, they're great characters in a very interesting new world. I say new world but it's just the paranormal's living amongst the humans.
I'll definitely be reading more in this series.
I'd recommend this book to MM book lovers and PNR fans looking to try out MM books.
Four star read
**I was gifted a copy for an honest review**
This is a new series from the author, it's a MM and PNR read, I personally think these genres go together so well.
Shiki is a beta wolf of his pack, his going through a tough time his two fae mates have upped and left him without explanation, leaving him beyond broken.
He decides life's not worth living to travels to another packs land were he will fight to his death........ Plans don't always work, Ganz a leader from the Siberian Killers decides to save Shiki and helps him through his heartbreak. I really liked Ganz, especially when he decides to show him life's worth living by kissing him, which then leads on to some really sexy scenes.
When it comes to sending Shiki back to reality, they both say there good byes and Ganz shouldnt worry as Blake ❤️ is there to support his lifelong best friend.
Blake, is a busy working man but he stops work to care for his friend, they go clubbing together, get there sexy on together with others, but never just the two of them until one session they cross the line and kiss each other - I absolutely loved that moment.
How do best friends move from friends to lovers.... Can Blake make Shiki trust again?
You'll love there journey, they're great characters in a very interesting new world. I say new world but it's just the paranormal's living amongst the humans.
I'll definitely be reading more in this series.
I'd recommend this book to MM book lovers and PNR fans looking to try out MM books.
Four star read
**I was gifted a copy for an honest review**
August 5, 2015
Original Blog Post: Blog Tour, eARC Review, Excerpt,& #Giveaway: Strength to Let Go by Alina Popescu
Review by: multitaskingmomma
My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Shiki is a friend of mine, then again, so is Blake. These two men I've been observing for almost a year now, I think, so of course I had to read their story. Which has not yet ended, by the way. Shiki is as cool as cool can be, Blake a more quiet enigma. Both men are gorgeous inside and out. If only they had come together sooner, maybe what they had to go through could have been avoided?
No, this is not a true story, no werewolf/shifter/paranormal story is. Unless I am totally missing something? These two men are quite real to me though for they are my friends. You can check, if you can, on my FB page. They are role play characters two awesome authors play along with others. This is how their story unfolded but the nitty gritty details, all here is laid out in the book. And oh, wow, this is truly a wonderful read.
It all begins and almost ends with Shiki losing his two husbands for reasons he could only guess. His inability to find the answers is just one of the few things that drove him on a suicide mission. As beta of a powerful clan, he is not only powerful and highly skilled, he is deadly. With the exchange of blood from both ex-husbands during their supposedly happy times, he is changed. For the better? For the worse? One could only guess and that question is what drives the conflicting lower-powered clans to think they could bully their way through taking over what they most definitely cannot. Shiki has to get out of his depression and do something. And he does. The journey to that point where he finally found the energy to get up and be out there as beta, now that is what this read is all about.
It is a heartbreaking story, Shiki goes through. Two men help him out. Ganz and Blake. But it is Blake who finally gets him to get out of his funk and face the world and responsibilities. To finally live again. Have the strength to let go of a past and be someone else who is most definitely changed but wiser and more confident. He is the only one Shiki knew he could lean on without fear of being babied. Of course he is, for Blake is the one best friend he grew up and trained with. As for their romance? What others saw for years brewing, both men never smelled. Well, they buy food, they don't cook. You know what I mean. If they did, they would have noticed the wonderful aroma of unconditional love.
Now, I am biased, I already said I love both men, being friends and all. As for Alina, well, this gorgeous Romanian is one of the besties on FB, everyone knows that too. But I never mince words when it comes to her writing and her style is right on target for what I am constantly looking for. Narrative, image-filled, emotional. She can turn text into a movie in my mind. The action sequences here, they put bushido movies to a test. As for the characters, think cosplay and you get the full blast of her men. Yes, she's really good. As for Blake, I know the author behind the man as well and... let's leave it at that. Talent wise, that author is undeniably up there on my faves list as well. Point is, this story could never have come at a better time. Why? Well, pick it up, take a read, and find out why I loved it so... Get ready for the ride of your life.
The story will continue and as for the questions left hanging, I know some answers, but mostly, I don't. I have to be impatient.. erm, sorry, patient.
Note: I know Alina is sorry/not/sorry I cried. (To Alina: meanie! **stickstongueout**)
Review by: multitaskingmomma
My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Shiki is a friend of mine, then again, so is Blake. These two men I've been observing for almost a year now, I think, so of course I had to read their story. Which has not yet ended, by the way. Shiki is as cool as cool can be, Blake a more quiet enigma. Both men are gorgeous inside and out. If only they had come together sooner, maybe what they had to go through could have been avoided?
No, this is not a true story, no werewolf/shifter/paranormal story is. Unless I am totally missing something? These two men are quite real to me though for they are my friends. You can check, if you can, on my FB page. They are role play characters two awesome authors play along with others. This is how their story unfolded but the nitty gritty details, all here is laid out in the book. And oh, wow, this is truly a wonderful read.
It all begins and almost ends with Shiki losing his two husbands for reasons he could only guess. His inability to find the answers is just one of the few things that drove him on a suicide mission. As beta of a powerful clan, he is not only powerful and highly skilled, he is deadly. With the exchange of blood from both ex-husbands during their supposedly happy times, he is changed. For the better? For the worse? One could only guess and that question is what drives the conflicting lower-powered clans to think they could bully their way through taking over what they most definitely cannot. Shiki has to get out of his depression and do something. And he does. The journey to that point where he finally found the energy to get up and be out there as beta, now that is what this read is all about.
It is a heartbreaking story, Shiki goes through. Two men help him out. Ganz and Blake. But it is Blake who finally gets him to get out of his funk and face the world and responsibilities. To finally live again. Have the strength to let go of a past and be someone else who is most definitely changed but wiser and more confident. He is the only one Shiki knew he could lean on without fear of being babied. Of course he is, for Blake is the one best friend he grew up and trained with. As for their romance? What others saw for years brewing, both men never smelled. Well, they buy food, they don't cook. You know what I mean. If they did, they would have noticed the wonderful aroma of unconditional love.
Now, I am biased, I already said I love both men, being friends and all. As for Alina, well, this gorgeous Romanian is one of the besties on FB, everyone knows that too. But I never mince words when it comes to her writing and her style is right on target for what I am constantly looking for. Narrative, image-filled, emotional. She can turn text into a movie in my mind. The action sequences here, they put bushido movies to a test. As for the characters, think cosplay and you get the full blast of her men. Yes, she's really good. As for Blake, I know the author behind the man as well and... let's leave it at that. Talent wise, that author is undeniably up there on my faves list as well. Point is, this story could never have come at a better time. Why? Well, pick it up, take a read, and find out why I loved it so... Get ready for the ride of your life.
The story will continue and as for the questions left hanging, I know some answers, but mostly, I don't. I have to be impatient.. erm, sorry, patient.
Note: I know Alina is sorry/not/sorry I cried. (To Alina: meanie! **stickstongueout**)
October 6, 2017
This book was interesting, unique, and sexy as hell. It grabbed my attention from the moment I started reading and did not let up until the end. I was engrossed in the story of Shiki and how he moves on from something that would have truly destroyed lesser men.
I loved Shiki. He was an interesting mixture of old world warrior and modern. With his love of fighting and manga he is very likeable and easy to relate to. I felt so bad that his two fae mates decided to just up and leave him. They almost broke him and would have if Shiki hadn’t made the decision to try to end his life by stepping foot in the Siberian Killers territory.
What should have been the battle to end his life ended in Shiki making a powerful friend who was able to bring him back. I really like Ganz. He was easy going and the perfect man to help Shiki see that he could go on with life and make it.
Then Blake was introduced. As Shiki’s best friend for decades Blake knows everything about Shiki. They are so in sync with each other that they really make the perfect pair. Blake balances Shiki in a way his two fae mates never were able to do. Blake takes care of Shiki in such a sweet way.
I really enjoyed reading them falling in love in a completely different way then they always have been before. Yes here is angst along the way, at least until Shiki gets his head out of his ass and faces up to what he can really have with Blake. Shiki lets his doubts and fears that he is not enough almost destroy what he and Blake have started. But luckily he comes to his senses.
I loved this world and the characters Alina Popescu has created and I most definitely want to read more.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through https://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
I loved Shiki. He was an interesting mixture of old world warrior and modern. With his love of fighting and manga he is very likeable and easy to relate to. I felt so bad that his two fae mates decided to just up and leave him. They almost broke him and would have if Shiki hadn’t made the decision to try to end his life by stepping foot in the Siberian Killers territory.
What should have been the battle to end his life ended in Shiki making a powerful friend who was able to bring him back. I really like Ganz. He was easy going and the perfect man to help Shiki see that he could go on with life and make it.
Then Blake was introduced. As Shiki’s best friend for decades Blake knows everything about Shiki. They are so in sync with each other that they really make the perfect pair. Blake balances Shiki in a way his two fae mates never were able to do. Blake takes care of Shiki in such a sweet way.
I really enjoyed reading them falling in love in a completely different way then they always have been before. Yes here is angst along the way, at least until Shiki gets his head out of his ass and faces up to what he can really have with Blake. Shiki lets his doubts and fears that he is not enough almost destroy what he and Blake have started. But luckily he comes to his senses.
I loved this world and the characters Alina Popescu has created and I most definitely want to read more.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through https://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
August 1, 2015
I met Shiki in the roleplay world and loved his cheekiness and his playfulness. I was overjoyed when I found out his story was being put into book form. I was not disappointed at all! Alina has given one of my favorite characters a beautiful start to his story. The playfulness and fun I love about Shiki are definitely included in the story. However, the book does not begin on a particularly hearts and flowers note.
The first part of the story devastated me. My heart broke for Shiki. While I understood the devastation and the reasoning for his decision (I’m not doing spoilers LOL) I wanted to wrap him up and just hold him. His pain was written so vividly, I fought tears to continue reading.
And then, Blake entered the picture. Cue the hearts and flowers and the desperate mad rush of falling in love. It dried the tears and brought a huge smile. Shiki’s fears of ruining a relationship with his best friend were realistic and on point and written with just a touch of brilliant humor.
Throughout the book, Shiki visits several different places. I loved the descriptions of Tokyo. They put me right there in the middle of the maid cafes and on the bustling streets. Excellent!
Although part of a series, the book is stand alone in that there was closure on several important issues, but THANKFULLY, there is room left for more, more, more Shiki and I cannot wait!
Great job, Alina. I will definitely be recommending this book.
The first part of the story devastated me. My heart broke for Shiki. While I understood the devastation and the reasoning for his decision (I’m not doing spoilers LOL) I wanted to wrap him up and just hold him. His pain was written so vividly, I fought tears to continue reading.
And then, Blake entered the picture. Cue the hearts and flowers and the desperate mad rush of falling in love. It dried the tears and brought a huge smile. Shiki’s fears of ruining a relationship with his best friend were realistic and on point and written with just a touch of brilliant humor.
Throughout the book, Shiki visits several different places. I loved the descriptions of Tokyo. They put me right there in the middle of the maid cafes and on the bustling streets. Excellent!
Although part of a series, the book is stand alone in that there was closure on several important issues, but THANKFULLY, there is room left for more, more, more Shiki and I cannot wait!
Great job, Alina. I will definitely be recommending this book.
May 10, 2019
M/M story and paranormal at that – what more to be desired...
I should admit I have never come across a shifter story till now, where the MC is being abandoned by his own mate/s. In all the shifter stories I have run across so far the love between mates was undeniable, instantaneous, and forever-lasting, so you can imagine how astonished I was that here this isn’t the case. And I love it!
I liked the way Shiki overcame the state of devastation he was forced into and how smoothly his friend and future partner Blake made him forget all about the betrayal and rejection he suffered. Their way of passing the friendship borders and finally becoming lovers was very touching and even accompanied with couple of very funny scenes among the rest.
I know it is hard to convey someone’s feelings, especially like the strong ones Shiki was overwhelmed with, so I must say that the author has done a pretty nice job therein. Still, at some points, mostly at the beginning of the book, I was rather reading about Shiki’s suffering, than really be able to feel it and I found this “description” vs. “perception” issue a bit disturbing.
Nevertheless, the book was a good read and I’d love to see the series development – for instance, Ganz finding the same happiness allotted to Shiki and Blake ;-)
I should admit I have never come across a shifter story till now, where the MC is being abandoned by his own mate/s. In all the shifter stories I have run across so far the love between mates was undeniable, instantaneous, and forever-lasting, so you can imagine how astonished I was that here this isn’t the case. And I love it!
I liked the way Shiki overcame the state of devastation he was forced into and how smoothly his friend and future partner Blake made him forget all about the betrayal and rejection he suffered. Their way of passing the friendship borders and finally becoming lovers was very touching and even accompanied with couple of very funny scenes among the rest.
I know it is hard to convey someone’s feelings, especially like the strong ones Shiki was overwhelmed with, so I must say that the author has done a pretty nice job therein. Still, at some points, mostly at the beginning of the book, I was rather reading about Shiki’s suffering, than really be able to feel it and I found this “description” vs. “perception” issue a bit disturbing.
Nevertheless, the book was a good read and I’d love to see the series development – for instance, Ganz finding the same happiness allotted to Shiki and Blake ;-)
February 14, 2017
Just couldn't get on with this book and just flicked. I didn't like the self pitying of the main character yes his mates left him but he has two young children and is going to leave them and die which he knows how that will feel from his childhood with his own parents. Also he wanted to die and instead of just involving himself he had to fight and take on some other werewolves to die honourable and killed many which I didn't much like. This book was not for me.
September 3, 2015
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
4.25 Stars
Apart from a small anthology story this is the first thing I have read by Alina Popescu and to say I enjoyed it would be an understatement!
Strength to Let Go moves away from the normal view in stories that I have read that once a shifter, in particular werewolves, have found their mates that that’s it for life. The view that has everyone shouting ‘mine’ and mates that would die to protect what they have found.
Shiki Kirishima had found not one but two mates from the fea realm. They had mated, they had married and they had even started a family but after 6 months these two men who meant the world to Shiki and who he would have laid down his life for walked away from him and cut off all contact. A wolf rejected by his mates is a lesser wolf in Shiki’s eyes, his grief is palpable as he spirals into depression and comes up with a plan for an honourable death.
Death is not so easy to find when Ganzorig a beta with the Siberian Killers pack sees something in Shiki worth saving. For all the brutality of his pack and life Ganz is a surprisingly gentle man who coerces Shiki into giving life a chance. Their friendship is major and vital to the story and I hope to see Ganz again further into the series.
After a couple of months of healing Shiki is more at peace with himself than he thought possible until his best friend Blake arrives to take him home. The very thought of returning to his previous life, visiting or living in places that his mates were a part of sees his panic return and resolve diminish. Blake is another gentle character who has played a huge part in Shiki’s life as best friend and co-conspirator since their childhood.
How these two men have gone for nearly 3 decades without realising how they feel and what they mean to each other is a mystery but as gentle as Blake is Shiki is damaged, he can only ever see people walking away and leaving him, he needs to be able to see past his pain if he is to have a shot at a real HEA.
4.25 Stars
Apart from a small anthology story this is the first thing I have read by Alina Popescu and to say I enjoyed it would be an understatement!
Strength to Let Go moves away from the normal view in stories that I have read that once a shifter, in particular werewolves, have found their mates that that’s it for life. The view that has everyone shouting ‘mine’ and mates that would die to protect what they have found.
Shiki Kirishima had found not one but two mates from the fea realm. They had mated, they had married and they had even started a family but after 6 months these two men who meant the world to Shiki and who he would have laid down his life for walked away from him and cut off all contact. A wolf rejected by his mates is a lesser wolf in Shiki’s eyes, his grief is palpable as he spirals into depression and comes up with a plan for an honourable death.
Death is not so easy to find when Ganzorig a beta with the Siberian Killers pack sees something in Shiki worth saving. For all the brutality of his pack and life Ganz is a surprisingly gentle man who coerces Shiki into giving life a chance. Their friendship is major and vital to the story and I hope to see Ganz again further into the series.
After a couple of months of healing Shiki is more at peace with himself than he thought possible until his best friend Blake arrives to take him home. The very thought of returning to his previous life, visiting or living in places that his mates were a part of sees his panic return and resolve diminish. Blake is another gentle character who has played a huge part in Shiki’s life as best friend and co-conspirator since their childhood.
How these two men have gone for nearly 3 decades without realising how they feel and what they mean to each other is a mystery but as gentle as Blake is Shiki is damaged, he can only ever see people walking away and leaving him, he needs to be able to see past his pain if he is to have a shot at a real HEA.
July 27, 2015
When I read the book for the first time, I have to say, it gripped me right from the get-go. This was a book which I’m proud to say I edited, also this was one of those books which made me forget what I was supposed to be doing with it. I kept reading on, and then realising later – much later – that I was supposed to be working on it.
All of us that love shifter stories know that wolves mate for life. And Shiki’s grief of being rejected by his mates is compounded by the fact that there are children involved and that his mates, who were alive, just left him without any explanation. Every time he tries to find a bolthole to hide away and lick his wounds, regain some of his sanity, he is assaulted by the memory, scent and lingering presence of his no-longer-there mates.
Alina’s characters are always very strong minded; which says a lot about her, actually. But, we can put Shiki in his own category. He’s been through so much and in so much pain as the novel begins; we are left to wonder how he goes through even a single day with as much dignity and determination that he does.
His ‘life’ having being torn apart, he tries to lose himself in his life before he’d ever mated. But, for better or for worse, he was a changed man for all that had happened to him.
Unable to reach his lifelong friend, Blake, he decides to take on a dangerous path; gains an unlikely friend/ally who helps him take the first steps to getting a grip on his life back.
For all his strengths, Shiki is also often just ‘human’. We see him doubting himself and often just wanting to give up. Thankfully, there’s always Blake; who guides him back home and gives him exactly what he needs. His own sanctuary: space and time.
The story unfolds beautifully, towing us along for a journey of a strong werewolf who has to find ‘Strength to Let Go’.
All of us that love shifter stories know that wolves mate for life. And Shiki’s grief of being rejected by his mates is compounded by the fact that there are children involved and that his mates, who were alive, just left him without any explanation. Every time he tries to find a bolthole to hide away and lick his wounds, regain some of his sanity, he is assaulted by the memory, scent and lingering presence of his no-longer-there mates.
Alina’s characters are always very strong minded; which says a lot about her, actually. But, we can put Shiki in his own category. He’s been through so much and in so much pain as the novel begins; we are left to wonder how he goes through even a single day with as much dignity and determination that he does.
His ‘life’ having being torn apart, he tries to lose himself in his life before he’d ever mated. But, for better or for worse, he was a changed man for all that had happened to him.
Unable to reach his lifelong friend, Blake, he decides to take on a dangerous path; gains an unlikely friend/ally who helps him take the first steps to getting a grip on his life back.
For all his strengths, Shiki is also often just ‘human’. We see him doubting himself and often just wanting to give up. Thankfully, there’s always Blake; who guides him back home and gives him exactly what he needs. His own sanctuary: space and time.
The story unfolds beautifully, towing us along for a journey of a strong werewolf who has to find ‘Strength to Let Go’.
August 4, 2015
4.5 stars
Shiki Kirishima thought he had the perfect life: two great mates, children and power within his werewolf tribe. He's blindsided when his mates abandon him with no explanation, leaving the werewolf broken and rejected. Unable to deal with the pain of losing his mates, Shiki goes on a suicide mission, all the while his childhood best friend, Blake, worries frantically for person he holds dearest in his life.
I loved this book! Shifter tales aren't always the sub genre I immediately go for, but this book pulled me in right from the start. The pain Shiki felt after losing the men he loved with all his heart was palpable. Alina Popescu did a great job conveying how serious rejection is in the werewolf world and my heart broke for Shiki.
The easy rapport between Shiki and Blake was probably my favorite part of this book. They were both broken and had plenty of issues, but they always supported and loved one another, and I thought that was beautiful.
The only thing that I bothered me a little was the fact that the reader, along with Shiki, Overall, Strength to Let Go was an absolute joy and I can't wait to read the other books in the series. Highly recommended!
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
For more m/m romance reviews, visit Slashsessed.
Shiki Kirishima thought he had the perfect life: two great mates, children and power within his werewolf tribe. He's blindsided when his mates abandon him with no explanation, leaving the werewolf broken and rejected. Unable to deal with the pain of losing his mates, Shiki goes on a suicide mission, all the while his childhood best friend, Blake, worries frantically for person he holds dearest in his life.
I loved this book! Shifter tales aren't always the sub genre I immediately go for, but this book pulled me in right from the start. The pain Shiki felt after losing the men he loved with all his heart was palpable. Alina Popescu did a great job conveying how serious rejection is in the werewolf world and my heart broke for Shiki.
The easy rapport between Shiki and Blake was probably my favorite part of this book. They were both broken and had plenty of issues, but they always supported and loved one another, and I thought that was beautiful.
The only thing that I bothered me a little was the fact that the reader, along with Shiki, Overall, Strength to Let Go was an absolute joy and I can't wait to read the other books in the series. Highly recommended!
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
For more m/m romance reviews, visit Slashsessed.
April 11, 2016
Oh how perfectly lovely! Strength To Let Go is a gripping and fiercely poignant chronicle 0f love, loss, and survival set principally in the paranormal world's version of Tokyo.
Werewolf Shiki, warrior beta of his pack, is abandoned by his two Fae mates. Devastated by the pain of remaining unmated for life, Shiki ventures into a hostile pack's territory, bent on suicide by battle. Instead, Ganzorig, the rival pack's beta, saves him and violates pack law to return Shiki to his best friend Blake's custody. The bulk of the novel tracks Shiki's rough road back to home, family, acceptance, and self-worth.
Never mind that I am heterosexual, female, and unfamiliar with the gay subculture of Tokyo, manga, anime, Japanese, and Pacific Rim cultures in general. Writer Alina Popescu thoughtfully provides a glossary at the beginning of the book (read it!), and injects only sufficient detail to make the setting authentic. Indeed, her writing resonates with authenticity: of time, place, cultural influences, and most strongly of emotion. Her pristine, nearly minimalist style imbues Shiki's story with the fierce loyalty of the wolf, the courageous honor of the samurai, and the ephemeral sweetness of cherry blossoms. Grab this book, and do not let go.
Werewolf Shiki, warrior beta of his pack, is abandoned by his two Fae mates. Devastated by the pain of remaining unmated for life, Shiki ventures into a hostile pack's territory, bent on suicide by battle. Instead, Ganzorig, the rival pack's beta, saves him and violates pack law to return Shiki to his best friend Blake's custody. The bulk of the novel tracks Shiki's rough road back to home, family, acceptance, and self-worth.
Never mind that I am heterosexual, female, and unfamiliar with the gay subculture of Tokyo, manga, anime, Japanese, and Pacific Rim cultures in general. Writer Alina Popescu thoughtfully provides a glossary at the beginning of the book (read it!), and injects only sufficient detail to make the setting authentic. Indeed, her writing resonates with authenticity: of time, place, cultural influences, and most strongly of emotion. Her pristine, nearly minimalist style imbues Shiki's story with the fierce loyalty of the wolf, the courageous honor of the samurai, and the ephemeral sweetness of cherry blossoms. Grab this book, and do not let go.
August 31, 2016
Shiki has been abandoned by his mates, he can't go anywhere without it reminding him of them, as he struggles with his grief, he decides to end it all by going to the Siberian Killers tribe and taking as many of them out as possible.
Shiki doesn't expect Ganz to interfer and stop his pack from killing him. They make a deal that Shiki must try and survive for two months and if he still wants to die, Ganz won't stop him. What he doesn't expect over those two months is to start to heal. Ganz has dealt with loss and believes he knows how to help Shiki.
Blake is Shiki best friend, he feels responsible for Shiki, since he didn't answer a phone call, he agrees to stay with Shiki until he is over his grief, what they don't expect is the attraction that blooms between the two of them.
It was a little slow to begin with but once the book got going, it really got moving. Shiki was a bit slow at times and he was hard to relate to but once Blake came into the picture it was like there was a complete change to him. I really enjoyed the book, if only the beginning had been a bit quicker to get into.
Shiki doesn't expect Ganz to interfer and stop his pack from killing him. They make a deal that Shiki must try and survive for two months and if he still wants to die, Ganz won't stop him. What he doesn't expect over those two months is to start to heal. Ganz has dealt with loss and believes he knows how to help Shiki.
Blake is Shiki best friend, he feels responsible for Shiki, since he didn't answer a phone call, he agrees to stay with Shiki until he is over his grief, what they don't expect is the attraction that blooms between the two of them.
It was a little slow to begin with but once the book got going, it really got moving. Shiki was a bit slow at times and he was hard to relate to but once Blake came into the picture it was like there was a complete change to him. I really enjoyed the book, if only the beginning had been a bit quicker to get into.
February 14, 2016
Strength to Let Go is a most enjoyable MM PNR tale of werewolves. If you like your MM with plenty of action and yet some in-depth soul searching and teary moments, this is the book for you.
Disclaimer: I was involved in the editing of this book.
Disclaimer: I was involved in the editing of this book.
July 28, 2015
Okay, that is one of those writing stiles I done like at all.
Let me clarified it; for those who care:
- story plot is bullshit,
- writing stile is passive,
- very little is actually happening.
All, in all my time spend on that book was wasted.
Let me clarified it; for those who care:
- story plot is bullshit,
- writing stile is passive,
- very little is actually happening.
All, in all my time spend on that book was wasted.
July 31, 2015
As usual, Alina is an innovator. She takes a rather conservative genre and makes it intriguing. I love the world she created and Shiki is one hot werewolf! To my surprise, the story didn't go where I expected it to, and that makes it even better.
The beginning is a bit slow, though.
The beginning is a bit slow, though.
December 16, 2015
Strength to Let Go (Tales of the Werewolf Tribes, Book One) by Alina Popescu: http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwid... 2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
July 8, 2015
This book is an awesomely fantastic start in a new series. Alina has written a story that is definitely not your average, run-of-the-mill shifter tale. I ABSOLUTELY recommend this book to everyone!
July 8, 2015
Fabulous!!
Roller coaster of emotions from beginning to end! Very well written and worth the wait, I can't wait for book 2!!!!
Roller coaster of emotions from beginning to end! Very well written and worth the wait, I can't wait for book 2!!!!
October 2, 2017
I enjoyed meeting Shiki's family - brother, mates-in-law, children - and other friends and associates - Sensei, Blake, Ganz. I was confused about Keiran and Kayden. Were they 2 people in 1 body who became 2 people in 2 bodies? Why did they marry Shiki in the first place? After being alive for thousands of years, why did the marry him a month after meeting? Why did the 3 of them gather wolf-shifter children within a few months?
Shiki seemed weak, needy, and changeable to me. He was the least appealing of the characters. He was broken-hearted and wanted to kill himself by fighting with the Siberian Killers. The SK warriors seemed to not pay attention to their leader, but didn't kill Shiki. Ganz spent 2 months healing Shiki even after Shiki killed several of his people. It seemed that Shiki was using Ganz for well-being and sex. It wasn't clear what Ganz got out of the arrangement.
I skipped over sex scenes, but did read through to the end. The story was enough to pull me along.
Shiki seemed weak, needy, and changeable to me. He was the least appealing of the characters. He was broken-hearted and wanted to kill himself by fighting with the Siberian Killers. The SK warriors seemed to not pay attention to their leader, but didn't kill Shiki. Ganz spent 2 months healing Shiki even after Shiki killed several of his people. It seemed that Shiki was using Ganz for well-being and sex. It wasn't clear what Ganz got out of the arrangement.
I skipped over sex scenes, but did read through to the end. The story was enough to pull me along.
June 11, 2017
This was a great read and I can't wait for the next book in the series. His so called "mates" were bastards and they had the audacity to be mad at him? Really????
July 5, 2017
Tissues, I needed tissues for this one. Although, I wasn't ugly sobbing there was definitely some eye leakage. *sniff*
For the most part an enjoyable read... well maybe enjoyable is the wrong word because I was hurting for a lot of it. Hurting right along with the MCs. There was an attempt to fit a lot of information into this read but a lot of the elements were too brief for adequate world building. A lot of questions left unanswered but I assume those will be addressed in the later books.
Love the slow burn between him and his childhood friend. Loved the angst.
For the most part an enjoyable read... well maybe enjoyable is the wrong word because I was hurting for a lot of it. Hurting right along with the MCs. There was an attempt to fit a lot of information into this read but a lot of the elements were too brief for adequate world building. A lot of questions left unanswered but I assume those will be addressed in the later books.
Love the slow burn between him and his childhood friend. Loved the angst.
August 18, 2015
Title: Strength to Let Go (Tales of the Werewolf Tribes, #1)
Author: Alina Popescu
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer: Covers by Design
Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing
Reviewer: Sean
Genre: Paranormal
Type: Romance
Pairing: Gay
Length: Novel
Heat Rating: 3 Stars
Book Rating: 4.5 Stars (4.5 / 5)
This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Blurb:
After being abandoned by his mates, Shiki Kirishima, beta of the Dragons of the Fang werewolf tribe, returns to his home in Tokyo.
Crippled by grief, Shiki decides to end it all by going into the territory of the Siberian Killers tribe and challenging them to a battle to the death.
His death.
Ganzorig, beta of the Siberian Killers, however, sees the potentially disastrous consequences of having Shiki die in battle.
Instead, he saves him.
Having suffered loss himself, Ganz takes it upon himself to help Shiki deal with his pain.
Blake, Shiki’s best friend since childhood, is as determined to show him there is life after a wolf’s ultimate loss.
Could there also be something ‘more’ for them after friendship?
Review:
I knew I would easily enjoy the novel because I really enjoyed Alina’s vampire series. Now she wrote a werewolf series and that excited me. I loved the fact that the author really showed her hard research since she included first few pages explaining what tribes were and what words meant. It was awesome to see that. That alone, gave me a hint, that it will be a good book. The hint was right after all. I couldn’t stop once I started.
Shiki’s world was fallen apart when his mates (yes, with plural) left him without any explanation. There was not even a suggestion what Shiki had done to make them leave. As a werewolf, mated meant for life. Once a mate was taken away or met its true death, the survivor mate would suffer a serious depression. That was what Shiki had gone through. He was ready to give up, so he went onto the most dangerous territory. On Siberian Killers’s property, they had a law where no “outsider” werewolf or any supernatural creatures were allowed on their land. If they chose to ignore the law and got onto their land, they would be killed without any explanation. Shiki already knew the law and that was his goal. But unfortunately (fortunately for us, readers!) Shiki didn’t meet his true death. Instead, he was rescued by a beta of iberian Killers.
Shiki was an important werewolf and was well known, which was probably why Ganzorig saved him. After being rescued, it became a much longer journey for Shiki to figure out how to let his lovers go hence the book title. That was when it got better because I was able to see Shiki wake up and realized there was a second chance at living. He had family and best friend, so he wasn’t alone to face his frustration or depression. In the end, things had turned out much better for Shiki. Of course, there was plenty of mystery going on with his former lovers. I was dying to learn more of why his former mates left him. I kind of think it was because of what was going on in Fae world that we didn’t know yet. Something out there pulled his former lovers away. Maybe we will find out why in next book. I can’t wait!
I highly recommended you to give this book a shot and see how awesome werewolves are in the novel. They each had their own laws. So, it was really cool. Don’t wait too long!
Author: Alina Popescu
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer: Covers by Design
Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing
Reviewer: Sean
Genre: Paranormal
Type: Romance
Pairing: Gay
Length: Novel
Heat Rating: 3 Stars
Book Rating: 4.5 Stars (4.5 / 5)
This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Blurb:
After being abandoned by his mates, Shiki Kirishima, beta of the Dragons of the Fang werewolf tribe, returns to his home in Tokyo.
Crippled by grief, Shiki decides to end it all by going into the territory of the Siberian Killers tribe and challenging them to a battle to the death.
His death.
Ganzorig, beta of the Siberian Killers, however, sees the potentially disastrous consequences of having Shiki die in battle.
Instead, he saves him.
Having suffered loss himself, Ganz takes it upon himself to help Shiki deal with his pain.
Blake, Shiki’s best friend since childhood, is as determined to show him there is life after a wolf’s ultimate loss.
Could there also be something ‘more’ for them after friendship?
Review:
I knew I would easily enjoy the novel because I really enjoyed Alina’s vampire series. Now she wrote a werewolf series and that excited me. I loved the fact that the author really showed her hard research since she included first few pages explaining what tribes were and what words meant. It was awesome to see that. That alone, gave me a hint, that it will be a good book. The hint was right after all. I couldn’t stop once I started.
Shiki’s world was fallen apart when his mates (yes, with plural) left him without any explanation. There was not even a suggestion what Shiki had done to make them leave. As a werewolf, mated meant for life. Once a mate was taken away or met its true death, the survivor mate would suffer a serious depression. That was what Shiki had gone through. He was ready to give up, so he went onto the most dangerous territory. On Siberian Killers’s property, they had a law where no “outsider” werewolf or any supernatural creatures were allowed on their land. If they chose to ignore the law and got onto their land, they would be killed without any explanation. Shiki already knew the law and that was his goal. But unfortunately (fortunately for us, readers!) Shiki didn’t meet his true death. Instead, he was rescued by a beta of iberian Killers.
Shiki was an important werewolf and was well known, which was probably why Ganzorig saved him. After being rescued, it became a much longer journey for Shiki to figure out how to let his lovers go hence the book title. That was when it got better because I was able to see Shiki wake up and realized there was a second chance at living. He had family and best friend, so he wasn’t alone to face his frustration or depression. In the end, things had turned out much better for Shiki. Of course, there was plenty of mystery going on with his former lovers. I was dying to learn more of why his former mates left him. I kind of think it was because of what was going on in Fae world that we didn’t know yet. Something out there pulled his former lovers away. Maybe we will find out why in next book. I can’t wait!
I highly recommended you to give this book a shot and see how awesome werewolves are in the novel. They each had their own laws. So, it was really cool. Don’t wait too long!
February 13, 2017
3.5 Stars
November 7, 2015
It was ok I guess, but for a first of the series it felt more like i was in the middle of one. Lots of things are left unresolved and I would have like the point of view of Shiki ´s former husbands. I was expecting more from the summary and was left dissapointed. From some reviews talking about the characters being from roleplaying something it would explain the middle of it feeling. It should be warned of explain somewhere so we don't end up buying a book we can barely understand.
April 6, 2017
Beautifully well written Love Story
I have loved every single book I have read of Alina. Her ability to write with such vibrant words to make the reader feel as if they are there in the story with the characters.
I have loved every single book I have read of Alina. Her ability to write with such vibrant words to make the reader feel as if they are there in the story with the characters.
April 6, 2017
This is a best friends to lovers story. The two MC's, friends since childhood, come together after an one has been left, without any reason , by his two mates. Shiki,devastated by the loss of his mates, turns to his best friend to bring him back.
Being the first book in the series, there are a lot of questions as to what is happening in this world. One question is what actually happened to cause Shiki's mates to abandon him. They are fae, and something is not quite right in what's going on. Maybe that's will be told in another book. I also did not get a good view of the other tribes.
Shiki's personality confused me. In one sense his this big bad warrior, in another he just seemed very not. He more or less left his kids for months and I had to wonder did he kids actually live with him?
With more world development this could be an interesting series.
Being the first book in the series, there are a lot of questions as to what is happening in this world. One question is what actually happened to cause Shiki's mates to abandon him. They are fae, and something is not quite right in what's going on. Maybe that's will be told in another book. I also did not get a good view of the other tribes.
Shiki's personality confused me. In one sense his this big bad warrior, in another he just seemed very not. He more or less left his kids for months and I had to wonder did he kids actually live with him?
With more world development this could be an interesting series.
April 6, 2017
2.5 stars.
April 11, 2017
Strength to Let Go
Paranormal M/M it was full of angst, heartbreak and finding ones self after losing everything.
Overall, enjoyable read.
Paranormal M/M it was full of angst, heartbreak and finding ones self after losing everything.
Overall, enjoyable read.
April 12, 2017
There is so much backstory that this feels like book two instead of book one, and I miss having read the first book. It feels like stepping into a dance a few moves behind everyone else. Though things are explained, it's not the same as it would be had I gotten the pleasure of reading the full story.
This has the potential to be a good series, though it seems a little scattered in this first book. There was heat and love and pain and nice characters. I enjoyed it, and look forward to seeing if the series lives up to its potential.
This has the potential to be a good series, though it seems a little scattered in this first book. There was heat and love and pain and nice characters. I enjoyed it, and look forward to seeing if the series lives up to its potential.
April 13, 2017
Strength To Let Go is a second chance, friends to lovers story that was truly a joy to read. The plot is intriguing, the imagery vivid, and the characters complex and well thought out. The characters completely draw you into the story and make you believe in this fantastically compelling world the author has created for us. This is a story illustrating the hopelessness of heartbreak and the healing power of true love. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an enthrallingly sexy read.
*I was given an ARC of this book by the author and voluntarily chose to review. All opinions are my own.
*I was given an ARC of this book by the author and voluntarily chose to review. All opinions are my own.
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