Omnibus: Tales of the Winter Wolf, Vol 1-5

Witch & Wolf #0.1-0.5

by R.J. Blain

Long before Nicolina Desmond manifested her powers as a wizard, she was a Normal girl with extraordinary circumstances. In order to prove herself and escape her father’s chokehold on her life, she’s determined to get on the fast track towards an independent life.

However, she never anticipated how meeting Richard Murphy would change her life…

Tales of the Winter Wolf follows the adventures of Nicole and Richard. These short stories and novellas contain spoilers for Witch & Wolf #2, Winter Wolf.

This omnibus contains the following stories:

Volume One

Hunted
The Scent of Guilt
Firecracker
Glitter

Volume Two

Charmed
Crash and Burn
Wild Wolf

Volume Three

The Silvered Wolf
The Games Wolves Play

Volume Four

Tangles
Witch
Striking a Deal
In Hot Water
Breaking Point

Volume Five

The Power of a Word
Bonds
The Value of a Life
Shattered

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Romance, Magic, Paranormal Romance

Kindle Edition

First published September 23, 2015

About the author

RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.

When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband, and obeys the commands of Tsu Dhi, the great warrior fish.

In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.

Reviews

[Kei · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what Richard ever did to the author or what she has against him, but 70-80% of this books is just preoccupied with finding newer and nastier ways to hurt, torture, and humiliate him.
And every time you might thing 'well, this can't get any worse, maybe now we can move on to other plot points??' you will discover that there's still more ways to do something horrible to him.
I do not get it and I do not enjoy it.
Neither do I enjoy the weird dominance torture and rapey-triggery content, where apparently it's okay for parents of wolf-born girls bring invite around random males to have sex with their children in winter, "because wolf-borns mature earlier than humans" (and they may look like 12 year old girls but they are equivalent of 16 year old girls, and it makes it okay? Seriously?). And apparently their parents didn't even remember to tell them that it was okay to say 'no'.
Great. Super.
The nice alpha Richard also apparently gets raped by women once in a while. Besides all the horrendous things that happen to him in this book and the sequels, where he still is the main target for emotional and physical torture, by the way, are not horrible enough.
Oh! And Nicky is an absolutely terrible character here. She has very very few positive moments, but for the majority of the book she is a clueless, self-obsessed idiot. Scratch that, she is an aggressive, clueless, self-obsessed idiot. Well, it might be mostly her parents' fault, but still...I wouldn't wish a 'mate' like her on an enemy.

A lot of contents of this book made me sick.
Only about 10% of it was pleasant.

[Natalie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second attempt to read this one as I tossed it to one side three months ago. Multiple little stories revolving around Richard and Nicolina before the Winter wolf and volume 6 after. On its own I found it okay but a little pointless and I got bored quickly.

After reading the other books, Richard is not exactly one of my favourite characters but he is the most adorable and the strongest hugger. It’s so sweet. He’s also one of the best supporting character for both Jackson and Sanders, whilst Nicolina’s role seemed equivalent to a taser in Sander’s story. So still not psyched up to read hers just yet.

I did read volume 6 and although I’m happy with how it ended, memory loss is my least favourite trope. Will probably read Vicky’s second story first.

[Josephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I typically rate stories within a collection individually, but these stories read almost as chapters of a longer work. I've rated each part for consistency's sake, but I'd consider this more of an unconventional novel than a collection of snippets.

Vol. 1
Hunted: ★★★★
The Scent of Guilt: ★★★
Firecracker: ★★★
Glitter: ★★
Vol. 2
Charmed: ★★★
Crash and Burn: ★★★
Wild Wolf: ★★★★★
Vol. 3
The Silvered Wolf: ★★★★★
The Games Wolves Play: ★★★★
Vol. 4
Tangles: ★★★★
Witch: ★★★★★
Striking a Deal: ★★★
In Hot Water: ★★★★
Breaking Point: ★★★
Vol. 5
The Power of a Word: ★★
Bonds: ★★★
The Value of a Life: ★★★★
Shattered: ★★★★

[Nikita Gordyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

With life being so unsettled these days, fun, laughter and intrigue is just what makes my world balanced and something to look forward to. This omnibus was a real find for me as it is exciting, and the Wolf and Witch world so easy to immerse myself into that nothing can reach me to bother me anymore. The world is well crafted and beyond interesting to visit, and the characters are all multifaceted and feel real enough that I could almost go out and knock on their doors just to hang out.

I've adored every book in this collection and I'm really looking forward to more. R. J. Blain is a very talented writer that I am more than pleased to have found.

[Denise Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't miss this! Wonderful tales from the Yellowknife Pack.

I recommend all RJRBlain's books. I can't put them down! I'm reading as fast as I can. More than one a day and that's visiting someone, walking, and shopping too. The characters really come to life, and you want to read more about their lives!

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but wish the last story had been omitted. It will spoil a different book and even though there was a warning in the book it should have been left separate. I also think that the books are wonderful. Each book end really just feels like the end of a chapter except the last story. Still with reading and I enjoyed them.

[Evelyn Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good series!!!

If you haven't read the first 4 books, these short stories, which are really another full book, lead into them. They are split up into small stories but are chronological and really do explain so much. Wish I had read them first, even if the series isn't complete. I hope.

[tj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Loved the story line. This author has plenty of great ideas. I have read the whole series and plan to read the upcoming books. This series is funny and unusual. I recommend this author books to anyone that enjoys paranormal books.

[Adena Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the backstory to Richard and Nicole's courtship, but I found the writing of these stories to not be up to the author's usual standard. Her novels and the Water Witch anthology are definitely among her better works.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

This book is full of fun little snippets from when Nicolina and Richard met until they mated. It’s got funny anecdotes as well as offering true insight into who the couple is together as well as as individuals.

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

2026 bk 14. This collection of short stories and novellas reads as if it is one flowing novel centered on Richard and Nikolina. The collection was enjoyable and provided what I was curious about in their relationships. It did end a little abruptly and left me wanting more.

[Julie Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolfy good fun and frights

Excellent series and I wish it were complete because I hate waiting. Oh well I’ll enjoy re-reading it when the next ones come out.

[Monica DeFabia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and informative

A great collection of stories that fill in the history for a couple of main characters from the winter wolf novel. Wonderful to see how they started.

[Debrac2014 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Richard can handle Nicolina! Poor guy!

[Nh Goode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filling in minor details

This is a series of short stories that fill in details of minor gaps in the winter wolf series. Brilliant 👍

[Susan Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very different take on werewolf/shapeshifter and witch characters. Good characterizations, engaging plots.

[Dina · Rating 2 out of 5]

These books are too juvenile for me.

[Dr susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Blain's Witch & Wolf world characters. I recommend reading at least Winter Wolf before the Tales Omnibus, because the Tales contain spoilers for Nicole's story. The Tales Omnibus tells the stories behind the meeting, misadventures, and courtship of Nicolina and Richard. Blain's stories are very character driven, and the interactions between young Nicolina, her father and mother, Richard, Alex, Lisa, and Frank are highly entertaining with plenty of snark and caring. I would call these tales paranormal romance lite, because the sex is fade-to-black, but the courtship, thrills, and adventure are plentiful. Although I beta read the Omnibus, I bought my copy.

[anne pavlish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not five books

If you are into a bratty teenage girl and a shape shifter alpha wolf who has no backbone this is for you. Some of the pranks are laughable but really it does get too much when the parents are as childish. Seems like everything is a bet with a win or loose mentality. Not really five books more like five really long chapters. It would have been nice if someone grew up and acted like an adult.

[Hilliary · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm very conflicted about this book. The female protag is a out 15, making it hard to read w/o getting angry at the adult male that's attracted to her (we don't even know how old he is). But he is trying to keep it to himself. It doesn't feel right; I feel icky reading it.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved these early stories of Nicole & Richard!!!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of the Nicolina stories in one volume leading up to Winter Wolf. Wonderful to read about Richard and Nicolina's first meeting and on through their courtship.

[Julieanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read after winter wolf