Nathan Roberts was just your average polyamorous librarian living in Vancouver until his best friend Deanna started dating a werewolf. While hosting the small pack in his apartment while they hid from the underground network, the Huntsmen, Nathan gave in to his attraction for Cole, the pack leader’s brother. Now, the two are navigating a serious relationship.
When his neighbor is murdered, Nathan is convinced the death is linked to the supernatural, but Cole and their friends deny any paranormal connection. This leads to a fracture of trust between Nathan and Cole, and Cole’s pack is left to deal with an unknown killer on the loose. As Nathan pursues answers on his own, he must come to terms with the truth and his feelings for Cole.
MOON ILLUSION is the next installment in Michelle Osgood's lovely, steamy werewolf series, and it does not disappoint. We see characters from the last two books - Kiara, Ryn, Deanna and Jamie - but the focus steers to Nathan and Cole. These two men absolutely shine.
The werewolf lore is modern, tactile and refreshing. It nods to older, more traditional werewolf legends while bringing a fresh take on werewolves to Vancouver, where the story takes place. MOON ILLUSION touches on many different aspects of the Queer experience, from navigating a group of Queer friends, to establishing healthy boundaries and communication within a polyamorous relationship (which was beautifully and sensitively executed) and twists the moral view of paranormal romance to look within itself at bigotry, villainy and the truth behind skepticism.
The story is quiet in some places which adds to the eerie, horror mood Michelle builds alongside a passionate but strained romance. This mood itself crafted the story into a mystery that touches on paranoia, obsession and how being human doesn't prevent us from becoming monsters.
Nathan and Cole's relationship is real and intense. It's hard to find good poly rep AND good Queer rep, and I can easily assure you that Michelle handles these parts of her characters lives gently and unapologetically. It was easy to get lost in the story, the family dynamics, the friendships and inner workings of a pack just trying to live, love and grow together.
I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
If you're a fan of paranormal romance, steamy books and urban fantasy, give Michelle's series a read. You won't be disappointed.
Moon Illusion is the third in Michelle Osgood’s Better to Kiss You series about a Vancouver werewolf pack. The heart of this story, like all the stories in the series, is this remarkably real queer community of werewolves and humans.
The book centres on Nathan, a human librarian who’s been dragged into the wolf world. Nathan is quick and kind, poly and bi, endlessly curious. He’s fallen, just a little, for the gloriously observant, steadfast and composed werewolf, Cole. Throughout the book they’re working out how and if they can have a relationship, how that will work. It’s not so much an established relationship as a blossoming one, with all the usual complications of different grown-ups understanding one another and learning how to be kind and stay true to themselves. There are gorgeous moments of understanding.
The blossoming relationship is complicated by a mystery Nathan finds himself embroiled in.
One of the great joys of the book is Nathan’s security in himself as both bi and poly and how those aspects of his self are not a difficulty to be resolved in the relationship. In fact, his active poly relationships give both men space and anchor Nathan in a way that’s healthy and sweet.
Another great joy is the spiderweb of interlinked community within the werewolf pack. I particularly loved re-meeting Cole’s sister Kiara, the guarded and irritable werewolf alpha, and her charming and cheeky lone-wolf enby partner Ryn. I also loved Nathan’s friendship with adorable femme geek Deanna and her steady and fierce werewolf girlfriend Jaime. The relationships between all these characters are beautifully developed and never just “other good friend.” Just a tiny conversation with Ryn or a quiet moment with Kiara and we can see everything about how these people know and love one another. Each relationship is sweet and fun and imperfect and deeply personal. And they know one another by heart.
The book is written with deceptive simplicity. It’s only if you think about it that you see the art in the way Osgood brings her characters to life with tiny sometimes hilarious moments and careful awareness.
I loved how Cole watches the world, loved his quietly observant care for everyone and his groundedness. I love his werewolf nature too. I also enjoyed how Nathan is aware of the ways he is privileged when compared with the women and non-binary Ryn. There’s so much love and no judgement of difference among the friends.
This is a fun book, the friendships are bright and kind and the mystery is relatively uncomplicated. It’s also a book that’s awake to humanity, to minorities and differences and all the joys of a queer community, all the ways we fit with and support one another.
If you haven't read the first two books, I definitely don't recommend starting here! I was told it could be SA, but there's just way too much backstory and people that I'm all discombobulated. I also keep thinking their dog is a child. Among a pack of wolves, when you name your dog a human name, it's quite confusing. Im thinking Arthur should have been Hunter or Spot or Pickles... something...
I'm also thinking dream sequences should be italicized. I had to back track because I thought I was missing a chapter. Nope, we just went from plopping into bed end of one chapter to running in the next. See, discombobulated...
I will say I would start this series just for Ryn alone though, they seem like a good time.
Moon Illusion is the third installment of this series and focuses on Nathan, the best friend of The Better to Kiss You With 's Deanna, and Cole, Huntsmen 's Kiara's brother.
As the book starts, Cole and Nathan are already in a relationship that tentatively started during Huntsmen. Plot-wise it's a standalone, but for background knowledge especially about the character dynamics it's very helpful to have read the previous two books, though key events are creatively described and re-lived in form of Nathan's nightmares.
Nathan definitely shows signs of PTSD from what he experienced during the other books, and Moon Illusion is very much about him still struggling with the after effects. Paranoia is the main emotion here, along with questioning anything one ever believed in, desperation to regain control and distancing oneself from the people closest to them.
The plot is straightforward: Nathan's neighbour gets murdered gruesomely and Nathan is convinced something supernatural was involved. Cole doesn't believe that, and neither does the rest of his pack, but Nathan is determined to the point of obsession to find proof of what he believes to be true.
Obviously that leads to a lot of angst in the established relationship, but aside from that I adored Nathan and Cole together. Their dynamic is great, and I love the effort for communication, even during strained times. Nathan is pansexual and polyamorous, and this is the first book I read where the polyam character doesn't give up his other relationship(s) for the book's love interest. For Cole, Nathan being polyam is a non-issue, and he even has a short conversation with his sister about it. On that note: I generally appreciate how little jealousy is a topic in this series between the main couples, but especially Cole's words about this rang true to me. It also felt like this book was the least sexual of the three (possibly because Cole and Nathan are past the first-attraction/honeymood phase of their relationship?) which I also appreciated.
Cole is the second POV character in Moon Illusion and while I love him as a character (honestly, Cole is so wonderful and sweet and lovely, a truly wonderful person) I felt like his chapters were a little aimless. Mostly nothing happens in them, and I suspect they were mostly there to balance the intense paranoia dominating from Nathan's parts.
That said, this was definitely the most intense book in the series, with the... darkest (?) mood. I identified a lot with Nathan, his way of thinking after a traumatic event(s), fear of overreacting but unable to stop his fears, unable to stop his mind from running horror scenarios, and reading about him was almost oppressive. It was not too bad, I didn't have to put the book down, it was just... intense.
Even so, there were super sweet and lovely scenes, even funny ones, and while Moon Illusions is the heaviest book in the The Better to Kiss You With series, it's not a dark book in itself.
Thank you to A Novel Take PR for prividing me with an eARC!
This is book three in the 'Better to Kiss You With Series.' This story focuses on Nathan who has an open relationship with Cole, the pack leader's brother. Nathan is now used to the fact that werewolves are real but he wonders if there are other supernatural beings in existence and if there are how can he protect himself and his friends from them?
Nathan still suffers from nightmares about werewolves and the Huntsmen, and he is convinced that if there are other creatures out there then it is better to know. Cole, his werewolf lover, does his best to persuade Nathan otherwise but when Nathan's neighbour is killed Nathan decides to investigate and uncover the existence of other beings and solve the murder. He trusts Cole and the pack, but he wants to find out for himslef.
Cole tries his best to give Nathan space. He recognises that this isnt easy for Nathan and that Nathan is still coming to terms with the fact that werewolves exist. Nathan is also coming to terms with the depth of his relationship with Cole and sometimes Nathan needs to withdraw. Cole finds himself facing the pressure of caring for Nathan and yet giving him space. Cole isnt sure their relationship can survive Nathan's assertions about other beings and his determination to prove them all wrong. As Nathan investigates the murder he risks his personal safety, his friendships and his growing love for Cole in an effort to find the murderer and hunt down the truth.
I thought this was certainly an interesting story with some well developed characters. I thought the story was engaging. I would have liked to have seen a bit more about the werewolves but it was good to have a story focusing on Nathan.
Copy provided via Netgalley in exhange for an unbiased review.
Moon Illusion is the third book in the Better to Kiss You With series. I didn’t read the first two books, but was told that this one would stand alone, and for the most part I would say that is true, with some caveats. While Nathan and Cole are new MCs, they directly connect with characters from the other books in the series. Nathan is Deanna’s best friend and Cole is Jamie’s cousin from The Better to Kiss You With, and Kiara from Huntsmen is Cole’s sister. All four of the other MCs appear here in this book as secondary characters. The biggest issue is the plot connections, however. Nathan is still very much emotionally scarred from events in the past two books. I think Osgood does a really nice job bringing new readers up to speed and between that and reading the blurbs for the other two books, I was able to follow along here with no confusion. But I still did feel like I was missing something not having read the earlier books, particularly Huntsmen as that is where Nathan is attacked. Also, Nathan and Cole meet in that second book and that is where their relationship begins. Since it wasn’t their story, I am not sure how much of that we see on page, but I wish I had more of a sense of their early relationship and how their connection developed. That said, I do think you can jump in here as I did and still really enjoy this book.
Moon Illusion is the 3rd in a series of queer, cozy, supernatural mysteries featuring relatable twenty-thirty somethings who work through real-life issues (from social media bullying to fights between friends). This particular one is also the first I've experienced where the main character works through PTSD-type (it isn't called out as such but rings true) issues. And it made this story particularly compelling, especially when the MC went down a path where it wasn't hard to know if they--in going against the rest of their friends--was correct about a certain thing. Also interesting in that the romance/relationship between the two primary characters is already established at the start of the book.
These are fast and relatable reads. Don't expect super drama or epic journeys. Do expect adult relationships, good character development, and lots and lots of puppy love. Uh, with a dog. But not that kind of love. Just...ugh...these are why shifter romances are hard to review, know what I mean? Anyway - yes. For this book. For the series. Check this out!
Nathan and Cole got together during difficult times. They love each other, but Nathan is clearly not over his experiences. A hostage situation and learning werewolves are indeed real as are scary people that hunt them have left a mark on Nathan. Nathan is convinced there has to be more than werewolves out there. In spite of every werewolf he knows denying it, Nathan is still convinced werewolves can’t be the lone paranormal creature. When a nearby murder causes all of Nathan’s fears of violence to resurface he focuses all his problems in an obsessive quest to find out who or what killed his neighbor and who or what his neighbor was.
I’ll tell you right off the bat I didn’t like this book. It was self contradictory in a way that felt like bad logic instead of good satire. It skirted around PTSD while minimizing the reality and severity of it. I want to say here and now it does not matter if other people have it worse. Trauma is trauma. Saying Nathan doesn’t have it bad like Ryn is akin to saying a heart attack victim doesn’t have it bad like a cancer patient. Needless to say I was pretty disgusted Nathan’s perception of his problems and the way he minimized them was never refuted.
I’m supposed to believe Nathan’s obsession with finding other paranormal creatures ended because one bad guy was human? Really? One bad guy who was clearly the bad guy because of his identity. Honestly, that’s as lazy as making all the baddies African American or Queer. Maybe it’s time to give up the literary device of simply using the out group as the scapegoat. All people have the capacity for evil, not just a toxic sub-group. And still, from a logical standpoint one bad guy being human does not mean there aren’t other supernatural beings out there.
Anyways, I felt like this book missed the mark on a lot of levels.
Moon Illusion is a MM Paranormal story. The story has little paranormal activity. Some shifting and werewolf characteristics. Main characters are Nathan and Cole. Cole is the werewolf and Nathan is his lover. Maybe his boyfriend? Since Nathan has a relationship with a married couple at the same time as Cole.? That relationship and other aspects, make this a tale with politically correct dialogue. After Nathan sees a decapitated body, he becomes convinced that there is more paranormal people out there. Rest of this story revolves around his quest to seek his truth. Definitely fun to follow along with Nathan and his adventures. There is some hot sex and good mystery. More intrigue and mystery than paranormal. I liked this book. I didn't care for the politically correct parts. Could also have had more paranormal depth. It was a nice read. Not smoking hot or fabulous. Could be more world building or just more about some of the secondary characters. More depth would be beneficial. If there was a second book, I would read it. Could be a good start for a series. Would recommend it. (Given a copy for an honest review)(Thanks).#NetGalley..
The Better To Kiss You With universe is, without a doubt, one of my favorite places to read in right now. I absolutely adore the stories that Michelle crafts - and the characters are some of the most fun, well-fleshed out that I've read in a long time. Not only are the characters amazing - and all of them characters I want to know more about and enjoy reading about - but way Michelle cultivates and respects their individual identities is to die for. The queer representation in her novels feels real, positive, and most of all natural for the characters. Nathan is a polyamorous pansexual man, and his identities are respected and lifted up throughout the novel - and the series in general. Cole loves and respects Nathan for everything he is, and vice versa. If you're looking for a fun read where you can fall in love with the characters, the story, and you want to be sucked out of our world and into another for awhile, I highly recommend these novels. Nathan and Cole's story had me feeling the full spectrum of emotions, and by the end I was grinning like a lunatic. (Oh - and also, the sex scenes are A+. Maybe A+++.)
Moon Illusion is the third book in the Better to Kiss You with series by author Michelle Osgood. This book is not a standalone. It should be read in order. I did not and I found myself lost more than once. This book Nathan and Cole are trying to find their footing as a couple. Cole is a werewolf and more a one person wolf. He likes his home and life to be stable and solid. I found that Nathan doesn’t really follow the same path. He is used to being poly amorous. He can feel stifled and needs space. He just doesn't know how to say that all the time. There is also murder, intrigue, and lots of things going on in the back ground of their love story that kept me turning the pages and wanting more. This is a great story. I really need to go back and read the books I missed. There were places I felt this book was a story already in progress and there were tons I missed out on. I think fans of the series will love this story, and I really want to go back and read the books I missed out on now.
Moon Illusion follows The Huntsmen in Osgood series about Canadian werewolves and boy did that third opus deliver!!! What I liked the most about this story is how the supernatural doesn't take over the romance; it all blends together in the most natural (no pun intended) way. I loved reconnecting with the whole cast of characters from the two previous books, and I also loved getting to know Cole better. Long story short, Moon Illusion and the whole series should feature in your library!!!!
This book was fantastic. I was so excited for the third installment in this series, I loved the first two and this one was no disappointment. I couldn't put it down, I had to read it in one sitting.
It was extra special because of the characters and relationships that have been evolving and growing since that first book and I love that we continue to get those glimpses and insights into every one of them.
Love, love, love. I can't wait to read whatever she writes next.
The 3rd in the series, this story follows Nathan as he tries to come to terms with finding out werewolves are real, and that he's dating one, the lovely Cole. Nathan spends so much time trying to find evidence of other supernatural creatures he is literally working himself to exhaustion. Cole is trying to help, but every conversation turns into an argument.
This is definitely not a stand-alone story, so I wouldn't recommend reading it if you haven't read the previous stories. That said, it's an intriguing story, and I really enjoyed Nathan's struggle with the huge change in his perspective. It's surprisingly realistic for a paranormal.