Denied

Luna Lake #3

by Cathy Clamp

A Novel of the Sazi

The thrilling stand-alone conclusion to the paranormal fantasy Luna Lake series, packed with action and romance

Cathy Clamp's landmark, USA Today bestselling Sazi series concludes with Denied, a thrilling paranormal love story.

Anica Petrovic was once human. Now she's Sazi, a bear-shifter and a hero for destroying a European kidnapping ring that was turning human children into shifters. Anica has embraced her Sazi self; and is settling into Luna Lake with her father and brother, happy to live in a shifter community where all are welcome. Love is in the air between Anica and a mysterious newcomer, Tristin, and between Anica's brother and Scott, an owl-shifter who worries about his family's reaction when they scent his attraction to another man.

A series of violent murders rocks the town. The killings appear to have been done by a bear. Anica's super-sensitive nose tells her Tristin, also a bear-shifter, is innocent of the murders...but that he's hiding something dangerous.

More titles by Cathy Clamp:

Luna Lake series
Forbidden
Illicit
Denied

Genres: Urban Fantasy

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 14, 2018

About the author

Also known as Cat Adams

Hi!, I’m USA TODAY and Nielsen Bookscan bestselling author Cathy Clamp. I write urban fantasy/paranormal romance for Tor Books, including the Tales of the Sazi (shapeshifter urban fantasy romance) series, The Thrall (vampire) trilogy, the Blood Singer (urban fantasy, as Cat Adams) series—through book 6, and the new Novels of the Sazi series, beginning in August, 2015.

I’ve won a bunch of awards for my books over the years. My favorite was the Career Achievement Award for Paranormal Romance in May, 2008 from RT Bookreviews Magazine. I also shared the win for several co-authored books with C.T. Adams of the Book Buyer’s Best Award, the RT Bookreviews Reviewer’s Choice Award, the Reviewers International Award of Excellence, the Texas Gold Romance Award, the Write Touch Readers Award, and several others. It’s gratifying and humbling to win awards for books that you put your heart into, and I hope you enjoy them as much as other readers have!

I’ve also written several stand-alone novels, not in series, including my very first novel, The Road To Riches, an historical fiction about a railroad race in Colorado’s Silver Boom period, and Magic’s Design, the first urban fantasy published as Cat Adams.

I also write short stories, which is a whole different kind of writing.. I like writing in a lot of different genres, and it’s in short stories where I let my wings spread. I have published short stories in horror, science fiction, mystery, literary, Young Adult, romance, thriller, fantasy and western

Reviews

[Betül · Rating 3 out of 5]

**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**



I was really looking forward to this book after I finished reading the previous two in the Luna Lake series. However, it did not live up to my expectations. Denied is unfortunately my least favorite book in the series. The main reason is that I couldn't connect to the main characters. I didn't really find anything likable about them. Which made me not care what would happen to them. Also there was a lot going on, which made it difficult for Anica and Tristan's relationship to grow.

However, I did love all the action and mystery in the book, it was more Urban Fantasy than it was a Paranormal Romance. The story was original and I was intrigued at the beginning, but I lost interest further into the book. I did finish it to see what would happen, but at the end it felt unfinished and I was not satisfied. I think it would've been better if there was a sequel to Anica and Tristan's story.

[Marta Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was thrilled to discover that this author had written another story set in her world of the Sazi. Anica is the character who stands out the most and she’s admittedly young but has seen an awful lot of pain and depravity in her life . She’s very much protected by her family and indeed also by her fellow inhabitants of the small town Luna Lake. Yet as a bear shifter Anica has a very sensitive sense of smell that could well prove extremely useful as murders start occurring in their community.
Tristan is on a mission and as an old and very powerful Sazi shifter he’s trying hard to blend in and not reveal his abilities or indeed what he actually is ! Yet time and time again he finds himself beguiled by the sweet and trusting Anica. His target is obviously responsible for the murders taking place but there’s something else happening and it all seems to connect to Anica .
Ok this is more urban fantasy then paranormal romance and if brutal the romance here just didn’t work for me. I really enjoyed the mystery as the characters struggled to discover the murderer amongst them who could use magic. I particularly enjoyed the interactions between Anica and her family but felt somethings just muddied the waters. The romance and the ending felt flat to me and honestly I thought as a reader I just needed more.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, this was more an urban fantasy and not a paranormal romance because the mystery behind the murders held me the most with an intriguing air... I also say this because I didn't feel a bit of character connection so the romantic aspects just fell flat. Now, I'm going to go one step forward and say that I know the characters nationality are portrayed by their narrative written in choppily spoken English but this also disturb the storytelling flow. In the end, Denied had an interesting mystery with an entertaining cast so it struggled to keep me my attention. I vacillated between it being okay and like read so I am giving it 2.5 stars.

I received this ARC copy of Denied from Macmillan-Tor/Forge. This is my honest and voluntary review. Denied is set for publication August 14, 2018.

[Sofia Lazaridou · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I was reading the book I felt like I was at the zoo with so many animal shifters around. I guess that's my fault since I started a series at the final book instead of the first like all normal people do. I wouldn't recommend this book as stand-alone because I spend more time feeling lost and wondering what was going on than enjoying the story. The main characters were not likable and pretty much everything in the story bothered me in some way. I wonder if anyone can find Tristan book boyfriend material because to me he was just there t get the job done and then leave the place, even when he found his mate there. Another thing that I didn't like was the whole mating thing in this world. It bothered me that someone could mate on another person and that person could not mate back. It's not my thing. Overall, I would recommend the book only if you have read the two previous books.

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anica was helping to try to stop the fire before it reached town. The smoke blew in her lungs and made her eyes water uncontrollable. The crackling of bark was audible which made Anica work harder. Her heart and head were pounding. Anica was a shapeshifter- a small bear. But there were humans there also and no one could know there were shapeshifters among them. Then a man came up to Anica and told her to take a break and he would take her place and handed her a bottle of water. Anica walked to the truck and her new friend Rachel reached down and helped into the cargo area of the truck. Anica and her dad and her brother Bojan ahd left Serbia and now lived at Luna Lake her father Zanko was the Alpha Petrovic for the town. Anica’s life had changed with the help of people from Luna Lake she had able to root out slave camps back in Serbia and freed many children taken captive by evil snake shifters. Some of the evil men had escaped and Anica knew they would come looking for those who ruined their plan. Anica knew her mother had betrayed them and her father had cast her out. But Anica also knew it was really her fault, after she had been kidnapped and turned, and it took Anica eight months to escape she had turned her then human family. Anica’s nose was extremely sensitive and she smelled bear and blood and she rescued him but then the smoke was overtaking her and the bear carried her toward her friends voice then they got him and Anica in the water. Tristan- the wounded bear- had a goal that was to right a great injustice by capturing a serial killer. Tristan was put on an exam table and a healer-Amber came in but she knew Tristan from a long time ago and he was then Ristan. Amber’s husband was Charles and he was the Chief Justice of the Saji. Amber had been trying to save the French as a nurse and Ristan had been trying to kill them. Tristan now healed his own leg with his strong power from within. When Tristan was done achieving his goal he would leave. Amber knew if Bobby Tristan was here Amber knew to trust the reason. Dalvin had went with Anica to get Tristan’s backpack and now he came back carrying Anica who was having trouble breathing as she was having an allergic reaction to something. Tristan went right into the treatment room, for some reason Anica trusted Tristan and he helped as Amber placed a trach in Anica Then Tristan said he could talk to ANica telepathically and did. Anica could tell someone had been following Tristan After some time Anica could smell someone was dead and it was Paula from the diner but most people had not liked her like Rachel but Paula had always been nice to Anica. Tristan wasn’t an investigator so he called Bobby who was a python snake shifter but he was already only a half hour away as he knew Tristan was a hunter not an investigator. Bobby said if he-who-can’t-be-named is there Tristan will need help. Bobby also told Tristan to stop anyone from going in the cabin until he got there as it was a murder scene. Bobby, Amber, and Zanko pull up. Then Bobby was showing Anica how to better use her nose and she had another allergic reaction but it was spider venom and all shifters have a reaction to that. As Bobby is helping Anica she freaks out when she realizes he ia a snake shifter Then Anica trusted Tristan when he said Bobby was a good person. Bobby told Anica he had been a Wolven agent for many years. As far as Anica knew all snake shifters were evil as they had been who had her and many others kidnapped and turned. Amber told Anica Bobby was not evil, that he was respected as an investigator as well as a chemist. Tristan told Anica he trusted Bobby like his own brother. Bobby then said they had to deal with a spider but it wasn’t actually there. He added the venom was either powdered or diluted and he thought it was a smoke screen to hide the killer's trail. Tristan said spider shifters feed on other Sazi, the Sazi were prey to them. Amber said her husband Charles had tried to reason with some spider shifters but even the human part of their minds work very different. They don’t want to live among the other Sazi. They want to hunt them until they are extinct even though the spiders themselves would die then. Lagash was the serial killer and suddenly he was in front of Tristan and Anica. Tristan pushes Anica behind him but Lagash then shoots them both through the air in to the side of the house. Tristan quickly gets back on his feet but Lagash was then gone. Tristan said he had to find out how Lagash knew where to look for him. Lagash and his master Saxgon intended to rule the world.
This was an excellent read and I love those and didn’t want to put this book down which did take away from sleep but was well worth it. I loved the plot and pace also. I loved Tristan and Anica together an how they interacted together. This book had many shifters: bobcat, owl, falcon, bear, snakes to name a few, some ancient evil snake shifters plan to take over the world, also kidnapping, forcing humans into shifters, a raging fire, adventure, intrigue, mystery, power, some romance and so much more. A great paranormal read as far as I am concerned. The only thing that annoyed me a little bit was the abrupt- to me- ending but not enough to even affect my rating. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend.

[Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a digital copy, free, in exchange for my honest opinion.


This is the third and concluding book in the Luna Lake trilogy, a spin-off of the Tales of the Sazi series. This installment focuses on Anica Petrovic, a Serbian bear who survived one of the camps and turned her entire family. Tristin who is a newcomer to Luna Lake and claims to only be passing through is actually there to locate a villain long thought dead. When people from the small town turn up dead, Tristin must reveal himself. When Anica is injured and near death, Tristin steps in and begins the mating bond. Uncovering who is behind the deaths puts the town at risk for it will also uncover a plot long in the making.
First, I have to admit that I have had this for an awfully long time, and I didn’t know what the actual summary said when I began reading (and it’s so far wrong I wouldn’t bother reading it). My brief summary is more accurate. I also didn’t realize that this was supposed to be the conclusion- what the hell?! This actually read as if it was a book bringing us one step closer to the final showdown—not that it was the final showdown. So, I call foul! I need at least one more book.
While there are things that are affecting the whole town – an out of control forest fire- you don’t have all of the town players involved like you did with the other installments. This story is seen exclusively from Anica and Tristin’s perspectives. Tristin has been an enforcer for the council and he has been on his own for centuries, so needless to say he panics when he realizes that he is mated to Anica. He is so busy trying to maintain control that he finds it hard that such a weakling would be able to help him. Anica finds it hard to trust Bobby, the wolven agent sent to help Tristin, just because he is a snake. Despite how wrong it may be, Anica heavy and blind distrust of snakes. Since she is a survivor of one of the snake camps, it’s understandable. But she soon learns that not all snakes are evil and are closer than she wants to admit.
You would think that by the third time, the accidental mating would grow tired. But I found it hilarious -again. In fact, I think that this was my favorite one of the three. I liked that Anica found her strength – not in the mating bond – but in learning to stand up for herself with everyone. While everyone else is like “go ahead and finish the mating bond” as if it’s inevitable Anica repsonds with a response that basically says “Not until I’ve made up my own mind”.
Thought the town is destroyed by Lagash and the fires, and his plots and secrets haven been discovered, and he is dead, there is still so many questions. There is still room to explore and I hope that Clamp changes her mind and gives us another book.

[Eva Millien · Rating 5 out of 5]

The conclusion to the “Sazi of Luna Lake” trilogy is a thrilling and energetic read that keeps readers on the edge.

Anica and Tristin are two strong, vibrant characters that easily draw the readers in and hold them hostage throughout their story. The relationship between these two is full of suspense, emotional turmoil and undeniable sizzling chemistry and two characters that aren’t sure about this mating be in anyway something that they want. Tristin is a mysterious and sexy shifter that sparks the readers’ imagination as much as he sends sparks flying in every direction while Anica is new bear shifter that is curious and readers can’t help but get caught up in her enthusiasm and sparkling energy.

The smooth flowing plot is fast paced and full of thrills, suspense and magic that keeps readers hanging on to every last world in anticipation of what will happen next while surprising twists keep them guessing whether the good guys will come out on top. The author makes the story come alive with well written words that paints vivid imagery and makes it easy for the reader to picture each and every scene.

The world of the Sazi is creative, well developed and full of fascinating and unique shifters that makes each book an adventurous and romantic read that has readers wanting more. Having read the Tales of the Sazi series is not necessary in order to enjoy the Sazi of Luna Lake trilogy but reading will enhance your enjoyment as some of the events that take place are the result of previous events and readers get to know the previous characters that do make appearances in this series. I for one hope that there are future books in the Sazi world like maybe the children of the Sazi…

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anica is charming and good-natured. She is Russian and written with the accent. An approach that lent well to her personality. The introduction to the story was thrilling. The characters being a part of a wildfire fight near their community was intense. The special bond between Anica and the interloper investigating a rash of murders was recognizable and immediately intriguing. A feeling they shared that I recognized could lead to their pairing.

Unfortunately, Denied is a story I was unable to immerse myself in. The number of species the different characters could shift into became too much. Wolf, Owl, Snake, Bear. At the introduction of a Spider, it seemed a little contrived. Perhaps if I introduce myself to the series with the earlier novels, I would feel connected to the character relationships more. Experiencing their pasts might make the current narrative feel less chaotic and disjointed to me. I was never sure what I was supposed to have already known. Some of the backgrounds referred to were unclear to me in the current context.

I will be honest there was a point I began skimming this story, then finally I gave up reading altogether. I don't necessarily want to discourage one from giving it a try. My opinions are my own, and may not match that of others. If the synopsis appeals, give it a go. NetGalley and Macmillan Tor/Forge books granted me early access to Denied by Cathy Clamp for my honest opinion.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review**

Once human Anica Petrovic now spends her days as a Sazi bear shifter in Luna Lake doing what she can to help her family and the community. However all is not well in Luna Lake as a strange and violent murderer has moved into the area terrorizing its residents. All eyes swing toward the handsome newcomer Tristan as the potential murderer, leaving Anica to discover the truth.

This is the third book in the Luna Lake series. I read the first book Forbidden, and wasn’t in love with it, but Denied sounded interesting so I decided to pick it up. Like the first book, I wasn’t IN LOVE with this one either. I don’t know if it had something to do with my lack of connectivity to the main characters or if I just was expecting more romance in the plot than there actually was. Either way, Denied was a decent read, but it didn’t strike me as memorable. A solid three stars.

[TinaMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anica is a three day, turned Sazi bear, tortured by snake Sazi. 'Tristan' has been sent by the Council to search for Lagash. There's a lot of mystery behind Tristan, his abilities and what he's doing but the connection between him and Anica is strong. They find themselves thrown together trying to solve who's murdering Sazi and dropping chemicals to hide their tracks and the mating happens under their noses. They both try to fight it but it keeps snapping back in place. Underlying that we see Anica, change from a yes girl to everyone around her, to standing up for herself and her needs. Even with their attraction, once Anica discovers Tristan's true nature she resists him even more. Very engaging, even if at times it seems to wander around before getting back to the main storyline.

More of my reviews can be found at https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely felt a little lost with this book. I have to say that I would only recommend this book if you start before the finale book. There were so many different kinds of shapeshifters and because I wasn’t familiar with the world built by Ms Clamp, I had a difficult time of it. That being said, the author shows definite talent - I just have to start at the beginning I guess and work my way through things chronologically.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Mel Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this as an e-arc was difficult. Due to the formatting there were times that the POV switched and I was unaware of it. Also, there were times where the mind connection was in a different font (helpful) but then it wasn't consistent. I struggled with this and think it will be much easier to read when it is a finished paperback copy.

[Hayzbaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. I skimmed and the book didn't make me want to read others in the series. Maybe just too unbelievable or jumbled together. It didn't layout well enough or finish one part before we were onto the next

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series, so sorry the series has finished.

[Selenity Jade (Coffee Addicts Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't want it to end! *sob* Admittedly, I didn't find this second series of Sazi quite as compelling as the original series, but it was still dang good! I just wish there was more.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third in a series, it can stand alone. It did take me longer than usual to read (4 days) because I did have a hard time getting into the story and liking the characters. I would probably recommend reading books one and two first. I did end up liking the story.

Thank you to the author for providing an enjoyable story in the end.