This compilation of the complete Alpha Underground Trilogy plus five bonus short stories is chock full of danger, adventure, and romance.
Fen Young is a half-shifter whose inner beast is more mouse than wolf. Home is her castle, the only place she’s ever felt safe.
Enter Hunter Green, an uber-alpha strong enough to stop traffic with a single look. He’s handsome and enticing and seems like just the ticket to broaden Fen’s horizons...until the uber-alpha brushes off his admirer and summarily ejects her from her home pack.
Now treading water in the no-man’s land of outpack territory, Fen must confront a missing pack mate, a tantalizing stranger, and a serial killer targeting half-werewolves. Will she be able to shore up her waning power in time to save her friend...and half-breeds everywhere...before it’s too late?
USA Today bestselling author Aimee Easterling’s completed urban-fantasy series has racked up over 300 glowing five-star reviews:
“Tense, dramatic, sexy, and intriguing”
“A strong back bone of loyalty, love, and friendship”
“Another truly riveting story of an underdog coming of age”
“Romance, passion, suspense, and intrigue all in one book”
“Fun, exciting, thoughtful, suspenseful”
“An awesome power packed modern story”
“Well-written, fast-paced story with exceptional, captivating characters”
“Brilliant characters whose layers are revealed, tantalisingly, in each story”
Aimee Easterling is a USA Today Bestselling author writing on the boundary between urban fantasy and paranormal romance. She specializes in spunky shifters and invites you to dive into her werewolf world in the Wolf Rampant trilogy, the spinoff Bloodling serial, and her new Alpha Underground series.
Studying biology and working as a naturalist have both informed Aimee's writing, but she's quite willing to let reality slide in favor of a good story. When not writing, she loves to read and always keeps books by Robin McKinley, Patricia Briggs, and Elizabeth Peters on her shelf. You can learn more at www.aimeeeasterling.com.
This collection consists of all three stories in the Alpha Underground Series (Half Wolf, Lone Wolf Dawn, and Wolf Landing). The series, in itself, is a spin-off of the Wolf Rampant series – another wonderful venture into the realm of shifter fantasy offered by Aimee Easterling. While this series can absolutely be enjoyed as a separate stand-alone series without feeling lost, I can’t imagine not wanting to have both in your collection. In this trilogy we follow a female shifter named Fen as she grows and develops into a true alpha pack leader while facing adversity and villainy from both shifters and “one-bodies” (humans). Along the way, she finds Hunter, her destined mate and, together they face a multitude of challenges and tribulations as they fight for the safety and the rights of their ragtag collection of shifters to become a recognized pack in the eyes of the shifter community. Each story is the perfect blend of imagination, humor, adventure and danger.
I found that it was very easy to become so immersed in these stories that I, at times, became impatient with the narrator and wanted her to read faster (but that was probably just me wanting to know what happened next). Despite a tendency for overemphasis of too many words while reading, the narrator, Angel Clark offers an enjoyable performance in all three of the books in this series.
The violence is not graphic, the language is not foul, the sex scenes are steamy, and the stories are nothing short of captivating. There is never a dull moment in the lives of these lovable characters so sit back with your favorite beverage and enjoy the ride.
While I did purchase each book separately, the author provided me with a free audiobook copy of the trilogy and I am voluntarily offering this honest review.
If you find this review helpful, I thank you for so indicating.
Listened to this story in the Boxset for this series on Audible. Narrator sounds too exuberant most times; she needed more tone variance to fit the scenes better. She sounded like a newscaster at times. It was an okay listening experience, but not on my list of favorites.
I wrote reviews for each book below.
Quick review: Fun, unique shifter series with some good action and romance. 4 rating for each book.
Book 1 - Half Wolf
I liked that this is an unique read, and I was entertained the whole time. It was a rough start for me in the beginning, but as the story went on, I like the direction it took.
I didn't really like Easterling's take on shifters. They are jerks and too horny; they can't control themselves. Both the men and the women. I did like Fen, but her self-deprecation was a bit too much. She doesn't read people very well, but she holds her own. She's actually pretty tough, she just doesn't make the best decisions.
The whole scenario with one of the wolf shifters, Ginger, was gross. She would tease men by being completely nude and rubbing up on people. It was all very unpleasant.
I also didn't like that the mates scenario didn't seem to be that big of a deal. Mates is one of my favorite parts of shifter books, I love the deep connection it provides. There's a bit of that connection here, but I would've like more. There was some really weird actions between Fen's mate and a 16 year old wolf. I think it was supposed to come across as protective on his part or wolf like, but it came off as more inappropriate. It wasn't a big thing; just a few small things, but it still felt weird.
The romance does have its sweet moments though, and I do like Fen's mate. He's there for Fen when she needs him. The story does start to pick up though, and I wanted to know what would happen. There's a bit of mystery going on, and there's some fun action. Overall, the story is engaging and draws you in, so despite a few things, I went with a 4 star rating. Half Wolf is a unique story with unique characters. It's a fun read. I also would like to see where Fen ends up, so I'd like to check out the next books in this series.
Book 2 - Lone Wolf Dawn
Loved the sweet connection between Hunter and Fen; it’s wonderful how supportive they are of each other. The action is fun, and the story feels unique. Love that Fen is strong and has some sass. She’s having to deal with a lot and doesn’t have much support at times, but she showing she’s a force to be reckoned with. The shifters act a bit more like wolves than humans; I would’ve like it to be the other way, but there’s some interesting ideas with these shifters. I do think some of the character’s reactions don’t quite fit the situation going on. Everything feels like it’s comical; nothing seems serious, there would be something dangerous happening but I wouldn’t care because it just seems like a joke. That may have something to do with the narrator for the audio; if I read it on my own, the characters may have a different tone to their voices that fits the situation better. Overall, an entertaining, fun read, and I’m excited for the next book!
3rd book - Wolf Landing
This one is all about Fen and her mate, Hunter, dealing with trying to be alpha of her hodgepodge group. Fen needs to prove she is capable of being an Alpha or they won’t be recognized as a legitimate pack. There’s lots of pack politics going on; kind of boring, but there is a bit of action too that keeps the story interesting. Also, where the pack calls home, is being threatened by the town authorities because there seems to be something causing issues in the town that points to wild animals. Things aren’t looking great for Fen; especially since she’s experiencing black outs. I like that Fen stands up for herself and her pack, but I was hoping she would know to being more honest with her mate. Overall, this has been an unique shifter series and has been entertaining. I like a bit more romance and action in this book, but still a fun series.
The “Alpha Underground Trilogy” includes not only all three books in the series, but also a collection of five short stories with a common Christmas theme, win/win 😊
The series focuses on Fen (FMC) quest to affirmation and independence, as she evolves from a mousy weak half-shifter looking for approval in all the wrong places to a pack Alpha in her own terms. Her relationship with Hunter, which begins as a very unbalanced alliance (Hunter is after all the über-male), grows and matures throughout the books until the reach the stable HEA by the end of the series
Aimee Easterling written style is crisp, enticing and sharp, the plot develops through a series of unpredictable twists, up-and-downs and very ‘human’ events, into a fast-paced and action-packed story, with multidimensional characters, highly relatable despite their ‘supernatural’ nature.
Half Wolf Fen Young is hybrid human/wolf who is both an Alpha and a basically nice passive person, who does not really like the aggressive nature of Alphas…. until she meets Hunter Green über-alpha who takes her breath away and throws out of the pack… This is the first book featuring Terra as MC, and though she is a recurrent character in the Wolf Rampant Series (whose first installment is also included in this compilation) no previous knowledge of the series is necessary to enjoy the story.
Lone Wolf Dawn Fen left her pack behind to search together with Hunter for the bloodlings. One month after they succeeded in freeing the encaged wolves, news of Fen’s father passing and her mother’s request to attend the funeral forces her to confront the past and finally try to knit her relationship with her. Of course, everything gets even more complicated as she learns her mother has been received some death threats and the need to find a rogue half-wolf gets in the middle of their reconciliation. And this time Fen cannot rely in the absent Hunter.
Wolf Landing Fantastic conclusion to the trilogy that gives an insight in a different side of Fen’s nature. Torn between consolidating her Alpha status, finding an acknowledged territory for her pack and subduing the human community, who blame her pack for the attacks and killing of livestock, topping it all Hunter quitting his enforcer job comes with its own set of problems.
Yule Moon Five bonus shorts featuring some of the characters in the Trilogy, set in Christmas time. “Polar Bear Challenge”: sweet tale about Meshi’s job interview on Christmas Day “Out of the Closet”: featuring Ginger’s and Amelia “Hunting Christmas”: Wolfie got a (Christmas) gift “Joining Up”: this one will have to remain a surprise… as it should be 😉 “Potatoes and Gravy”: Calla wishes for a ‘White Christmas’
This trilogy tells the story of Fen from the time she was forced to leave her pack to when she makes a pack of her own. Filled with action, suspense, and twists you won't see coming, it is a fantastic listen that will keep your attention throughout. Here are the reviews for each book in the set:
Half Wolf - I love listening to stories after I've read them. The narrator just brings the story to life. Fen is a halfie wolf trying to be the alpha for her pack of other halfies. She's learning as she goes, and struggling with who to trust. Enter Hunter, the wolf responsible for her current predicament. What are his motives, can she trust him? Finding themselves in dangerous situations repeatedly, Fen finds inner strength and learns just what it means to be the Alpha of her pack.
Lone Wolf Dawn - Picks up the story from the previous book with Fen now packless and traveling and helping Hunter with his job. Missing her pack and reluctant to commit her heart to her mate, Fen is faced with yet another dilemma - does she try to reconnect with the mother that abandoned her? Learning a bit more about Hunter's past, the choice is ultimately taken from her when Hunter leaves her to force her hand. But Fen has a gift for finding trouble, and the sleepy little town where her mother now lives is no different. Rogue Bloodlings, the chance of discovery of the shifter secret, police investigating threats against her mother, and emotional upheaval all combine to fill this story with lots of action and emotion. Discoveries, secrets, and twists keep you engaged to the story as Fen's story continues. The narrator is easy to listen to and brings a great voice to Fen and her unconventional pack of misfits.
Wolf Landing - Fen and her pack of misfits and bloodlings have finally found a place to call home. But first they must be accepted as a pack by all the other packs in the region. Complicating things even more is the fact that there is a killer leaving gruesome bodies, the town might outlaw large dogs, and the tribunal has sent an enforcer to live with them in the interim. All this is on top of Fen having issues with controlling her wolf. Fen has come a long way but she still has a few battles left to fight before everyone can get their HEA and things are not as they seem. Lots of action, suspense, and twists keep you engaged with the story as it unfolds. The narrator does a pretty good job giving the characters a voice and bringing this final story in the series to life.
I really enjoyed the Alpha Underground Trilogy about an insecure half-wolf trying to lead and protect her newly formed pack. Aimee Easterling reliably delivers fun shifter stories that balance character development with exciting plots. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in this series. They all had flaws, but most of them were caring people trying to do the right thing. They're the kind of folks I'd enjoy hanging out with. I wanted to find out what would happen to them, and I generally had no problem suspending disbelief and getting drawn into the story. There was action, humor, mystery, drama, and romance.
A large part of the Alpha Underground story is the main character’s development, both getting in touch with her own inner wolf and learning how to lead a pack, and you don’t get that kind of growth without making some mistakes. Urban fantasy offers plenty of powerful heroines these days, but I actually prefer books that allow the main characters to grow more. This series did a great job allowing both the main character and secondary characters to learn and grow.
The story picks up pretty quickly, and the pace stays fairly relentless throughout all three novels. The flash fiction at the end is cute and provides a little more insight into characters that didn't get much attention in the trilogy.
The writing was sensual and humorous and the editing was good. Readers should be aware that there is some violence and a few sexually explicit scenes. Personally, I wasn’t uncomfortable with any of the content.
For me, this was the epitome of a pleasure read. Quick read, no significant editing problems, not too complex, but it kept my interest and left me wanting more without feeling like I'd been cheated of a real ending. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys character-driven urban fantasy/paranormal romance.
Note that I read the individual books, not this bundled version, so I cannot comment specifically on the formatting of this bundle, although I can say that all of the author's books I have previously read have been well formatted.
Dark Wolf Adrift: Finally! A shifter story that doesn't revolve around finding a mate!!! Yes, those are awesome but it sure is refreshing reading an entirely different storyline! Take one uber alpha and immerse him into the world of pack politics and you have got an action packed page turner you truly need to read! I love the über's sort of pack bond to his human buddies, and then following his struggles to find his place in the shifter world. Seriously love the little tease at the end! Perfect way to crave the next book! This voluntary review is based against an advance copy. Half wolf: This story takes a look at the inner workings of a new pack formation. I enjoyed being exposed to the inner turmoil of the reluctant alpha. The emotions truly came through giving the main character life. This writer did an amazing job weaving these characters dilemmas and branded this book an easy page turner! I truly want to know more about Fen! This voluntary review is based against an advance copy.
Lone wolf dawn: Book two of Fens story is amazing! This storyline dealing with all the new emotions of our main characters does not fail to stimulate our own emotions. I once again have been thoroughly entertained with Fen's struggle with who she is and who she will be. Hunter's steadfast love and loyalty of course makes us swoon. Life for these love struck wolves keeps challenging them yet once again this amazing author captures your attention quickly and doesn't let go! Spend the afternoon with Fen and Hunter and you won't be disappointed! This voluntary review is based against an advance copy. Wolf Landing: Totally sad this marks the end of this series for these characters are very memorable! This writer could not have ended this any better! Brilliant writing, amazing characters, and storylines that never fail to capture your interest! This book, as well as the series, is easy to recommend to my fellow PNR readers! My voluntary review is based against a KU copy
Overall, the series is a wonderful tale of a female shifter who is challenged to accept herself and her wolf in the face of prejudice, danger, and love. She learns to accept help from those who love her, and love from the male made for her.
Book 1: 3 stars, Fen’s inner self depreciation doesn’t appear to match the (for the most part) confident halfie she was in Terra’s trilogy. Though I did enjoy watching her slowly learn to trust and accept her wolf, who went from a sleeping weakling to a strong predator. Book 2: 5 stars, The strong and confident Fen that I know is back! Really enjoyed her rekindling her relationship with her mom, and I appreciated Hunter acknowledging his mistakes and apologizing for them. Book 3: 4 stars, An excellent completion to Fen’s journey as she accepts her wolf, her worthiness as an alpha, and her pack. The bringing everything together with the three villains was a little confusing, but other than that, great finale.
Aimee Easterling's alpha Underground Trilogy takes werewolf novels to a whole new level. Her take on the lore is unique and exceptional, as is her writing style. Fen is a strong heroine. She is a young wolf trying to make her way in the world with only a few ragtag werewolves at her back and no territory to call her own. Hunter is an uber-alpha with his own agenda, but who seems strangely attached to Fen. Fighting fang and nail, Fen is determined to carve out her place amongst this ruthless society.
This trilogy is well written and fast-paced. It is filled with mayhem, danger, intrigue, romance and murder. The characters are all well developed, endearing and engaging. The bloodlings are a welcome addition to the usual lore. This trilogy has truly been a pleasure to read, and I look forward to many more from Ms. Easterling.
This was an enjoyable trilogy and the first of this authors works that I’ve read, as a result I found that I was missing information and events that happened in the MCs past so through Goodreads I’ve found the rest of the stories that take place in this world and will be starting at the beginning. I was a bit disappointed that this was only a trilogy and not a series as it felt quite unfinished at the end, there could have been a lot of story after the pack became official, but otherwise the story was well done. I especially loved the minis on other characters at the end. My complaints with those are only that a few felt unfinished and could have used a longer story, such as being a full chapter length or 2 chapters. My 2nd compliant is that because they are in first person it was difficult to know who was the MC of the mini until another character said their name and as there were multiple minis I often was confused and thought I was still reading from the last minis MCs POV.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author and found it very enjoyable. It is a great trilogy, and not having to wait between books is great. The characters are well developed and grow with each book. I found the plot to be very interesting and it move along at a fast pace, and too soon a book was finished, and the next one started. It ended great with all your questions answered . I'm hoping to see more of Fen and Hunter as they lead this pack of misfits in the future. It's a great shifter trilogy.
This is a trilogy about Fen. She was introduced in the "Wolf Rampant" series and, in the last story, was forced out of her pack. Now, she had her own pack mates but a weak wolf and a reluctance to be the pack's Alpha. This series has Fen fighting against a serial killer targeting halfies, an angry town and an Enforcer, and All-Pack with 2 female companions. A really enthralling look at a different kind of pack with suspense, politics, and kidnappings galore.
The becoming of a Hunter mate, a bloodling pack, and the growth of a female alpha, all squeezed into a very well written series. Each story builds on the next, creating a wonderful unwinding story.
I truly fell in long with every member of the pack. The stories are well written can the characters are both believable and compelling. I hope there will be more coming about this pack in the future.
Love how these stories are self-contained yet tie into others in the same world of shifters. This is mostly about Fen and her adventures of becoming a mate, and Alpha etc. With reappearance characters from the other books. Well written and very entertaining story to read.
Thoroughly enjoyable reading! Our heroine, Fen, goes through a lot to find her way in life. Abandoned at a young age, growing up Werewolf is not an easy road. Give this set of books a try. You won’t be disappointed.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this author's great stories.
Another wonderful story from my long neglected to be read pile. Only neglected of course because I was reading so many other wonderful stories. As always so very well worth the read. You won't be disappointed.
This wolf mystery romance trilogy was an interesting approach to an oft written about subject. The storyline was not only interesting, but also very enjoyable. The characters were awesome. Well worth readinh.
I enjoyed this trilogy a lot. I particularly enjoyed the way that Fen matured and came into her own. I look forward to reading more of Easterling’s novels.
I like this author And I am quickly becoming addicted to her series if you want something that is similar to a Patricia Briggs type stories this is the person to need to read.
The trilogy follows shifters Fen and Hunter and the growth of their relationship and the establishment of their pack. There are murders and disputes along the way.