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Why are werewolves going missing? When a frustrated alpha requests the aid of the Paranormal Peacekeepers, a new partnership is formed. Alice and Amarok are assigned to get in and get answers before the pack problems bleed into the lives of the townspeople.

Prisoner or ambassador? As a hybrid, Alice is still struggling with what her place is at the Paranormal Peacekeepers when she is assigned her first mission and given her permanent partner. Before she can find out who is responsible for the missing werewolves, she has to commit to the job and ignore the voice in her head telling her use the mission as a chance to escape.

Loyal ambassador and former member of the para-military. Amarok is still broken from the death of his partner when he is assigned to work with new recruit, Alice. While he will vet her, and make sure she is safely returned to the Paranormal Peacekeepers, the bond of partnership means something to him that blurs the lines of following orders.

The mission takes them to emotional places they never imagined and tests the limits of their supernatural abilities. To solve the mystery of where the werewolves have gone they will need to redefine themselves and come together as a team.

211 pages, ebook

Published May 1, 2018

15 people are currently reading
55 people want to read

About the author

Lucretia Stanhope

84 books115 followers
Lucretia Stanhope is a relentlessly optimistic crone who refuses to let her growing collection of rare illnesses steal her sparkle. She prefers to think of herself as medically fascinating as opposed to disabled. Seriously, half of these diseases sound less realistic than her most fanciful novels.

Powered by the support of an amazing husband and family, when she isn’t cuddling with her rescue chi-mixes, Thor and Moxie, she spends her days in creative pursuits that range from drawing and painting to crochet and writing.

This is the landing page for all the pen names that include solo and collaborative novels. Please note genres and content advisories as these novels range from YA friendly, to adult only romances and graphic horror, with a touch of everything in between.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
Profile Image for Chris Angelis.
Author 19 books45 followers
May 10, 2018
Feral, by Lucretia Stanhope, is the second book in the "Paranormal Peacekeepers" series. These facts (as well as the book description) should give you a pretty clear hint in regard to the genre of the book - the subtitle itself refers to "Dark Paranormal Fantasy". I'll have more to say about genre in a while, but let's start with a personal observation, which is important for reviewing purposes: I read this novel not having read the first book in the series.

That in itself proved to not be a big deal. Already in the first few pages, it was easy to figure out the world of the novel, the who-is-who and the who-does-what. This is a sign of skillful writing, so kudos to the author. I suspect those familiar with the series should find it even easier to become engaged, but even for newcomers, there is little getting in the way.

The storyline is simple (as it should be, considering the intended audience), but still interesting enough to keep one's attention. If you strip the plot from all the paranormal elements, it's basically a detective-fiction story, with two investigators trying to follow the clues and discover missing persons. Later on elements of spy/conspiracy thrillers also surface.

The author's storytelling style helps the reader a lot, as the intricacies and peculiarities of the characters are rendered in ways that facilitate a wider understanding. In other words, to have characters with special (supernatural) abilities, offers opportunities for descriptions of feelings that would have been impossible or awkward in more realistic genres. Again, good job by the author here as well.

The language is just right for the kind of book Feral is: accessible, rich, well-stylized. Obviously, it's not the prose you'd find in Haruki Murakami's or Lionel Shriver's books, as it comes off as a tad simplistic and too linear. However, a more complex narrative and/or language would have made Feral something peculiar in terms of genre.

I did mention I would have things to say about genre, and it's this area that I would focus my (few and non-crucial) critical observations. I think the novel balances slightly awkwardly between genres. Although it's marketed - quite explicitly - as dark paranormal fantasy, this is a problematic term. In which way can fantasy not be paranormal, one would ask? If we then try to think this novel as one belonging to a "Dark Fantasy" genre, inevitably that would convey the feeling of having to deal with the "supernatural accepted" branch of Gothic fiction. Feral is nowhere near this, for it's too uncomplicated and, frankly, easy-going (wholesome?) for such a thing. Although it has its brutal (even intensely gory) moments, these are predicated on physicality, and little or not at all on self-reflective struggle.
(Those interested in more theoretical details regarding the separation of Gothic, horror, science fiction, and fantasy, can take a look here).

Paired with the detective-fiction (and even romance; woman-falls-for-arrogant-guy-whom-she-initially-hated) elements floating around, the novel occasionally feels like a dish balancing on a pole balancing on 7 balls - in other words, cohesion in terms of genre is slightly unstable. However (and that is a crucial matter) it never falls. At no point did I feel that the narrative was becoming chaotic and, perhaps peculiarly, this is precisely because of the author's strong reliance on conventions: the characters and happenings might be a bit stereotyped, but this facilitates narrative coherence. There is a high degree of predictability going on, which is mostly a good thing.

The importance of genre is not directly relevant to the book itself (let alone it literary merit), but it does reveal possible problems in terms of intended audiences. I can imagine there will be a number of readers who will find in Feral something different than what they thought they would (though I imagine they'd still like it). On the flip side, it's highly probable that there is a niche (and still voluminous) audience for such works, and I think those more familiar with the author's work will know exactly what to expect.

So, overall, I think the novel delivers more than what it promises (albeit, perhaps because it is a bit unclear what it is that it promises) and is an engaging, narratively solid work in its loosely-defined generic area. Ultimately, it's a well-written text, and as an author friend once mentioned, that is usually enough for me to read and enjoy a book.
Profile Image for Amina Ibrahim.
64 reviews26 followers
January 25, 2019
Feral by Lucretia Stanhope is an exceedingly enthralling, beautifully written book. It is a paranormal fantasy about Alice, part light-elf and part-witch, a hybrid; which are considered illegal. When Alice is given her first mission, she has her mind made to escape and run away.
Amarok is assigned a new partner after the death of his previous one, Mark (I haven't read the first book of the series, so I don't know if this is explained there). They both have to pretend to be a mated couple as a cover up and investigate the disappearance of three wolves from a pack.
The first half of the book was okay, but the second half, where the mystery actually starts to unravel was totally gripping. I was suspicious of every character I came across. But the thing which was just ughh (my emotions!) to me was that after the mystery ended, there was another bigger one knocking on the doorsteps AND I CAN't READ IT!
Anxiously waiting for the next book *please don't let it be a love triangle*
Profile Image for Angela Panayotopulos.
Author 8 books73 followers
April 9, 2019
One of the things I enjoyed most about Feral was Stanhope’s merging of the paranormal with the everyday, with dialogue and details (werewolves and tablet computers and Edith Wharton novels? Jeeps and pack politics? Yes please!) culminating in believable fiction—a world brimming with characters and activities that I knew to be fictional yet whom and which I could happily read about while suspending my disbelief. It takes good world-building—evoking all the senses and answering just enough questions!—and engaging writing to pull that off, and Stanhope absolutely achieves this for the vast majority of her narrative. The character development is just as superb as the dialogue, though I had a feeling that delving into the world would have been easier had I began with the first book of the series. Kind Marie, stubborn but well-meaning Brock, slippery Matthias, feisty Alice, and Amarok—an alpha in very sense—immediately came to life on the page. The pain of grappling with betrayal and trust, and the sense of having to make peace with all the parts of you – even if they are as distinct as being beast, wolf, man – are themes that many readers should be able to relate to.
Profile Image for Julie Powell.
Author 72 books324 followers
May 12, 2018
An enjoyable book two of this new series about Alice, an unusual hybrid and Amarok, a wolf/man, partner for the PPK.

Their mission is to investigate the disappearances of wolves...

This well-written, paranormal story is enlightening in regard to the supernatural world, where the lives of wolves, vampires and witches etc. feel real and it's fascinating, especially the idea of man, wolf, beast. It also highlights difference and the fear of such. It's about power, hate, closed minds, corruption and love.

There is some great dialogue between Alice and Amarok as well as some disturbing accusations from other characters. There is mystery, there is suspense and some intense inner turmoil...no spoilers.

Overall, an excellent read with lessons to learn and a darkness that waits.

Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Dora Ilieva.
Author 7 books164 followers
August 15, 2018
I approached the novel with a bit of hesitation, not quite sure what to expect as this is a genre which I don’t normally read. However, the characters and the plot drew me in very quickly and I found myself enjoying the book. The pace is even and kept me interested without overwhelming me. Despite their paranormal qualities, the characters are believable and much of what they go through can be applied to common humans such as us. I enjoyed the light banter of the characters and appreciated the analysis of their feelings and thoughts, as well as the vivid descriptions of the gory scenes. The story ends in a cliff-hanger making the reader wonder what will happen next. I recommend the book to all who like an easy, interesting read, but especially to readers interested in paranormal creatures and their abilities.
Profile Image for Bookish .
Author 20 books171 followers
May 12, 2018
Brilliant storytelling.

In this sequel to 'Tainted Waters', Alice has moved into the next phase of her life as a Paranormal Peace Keeper. Although reconciled to her heritage, she still has many questions about who and what she really is, and where her value lies as both an individual and as part of the organisation to which she belongs.

Those questions continue to plague her as she undertakes her most challenging mission yet, with a new partner who poses problems of his own for our protagonist. who still struggles to come to terms with her lifelong issues with trust and belonging. As with the first book, Alice has to make choices where there is no good option, and then work to make those choices turn out for the best. This is one of the elements of these books that I really appreciate - life isn't straightforward or easy for most people, and the turmoil that Alice experiences at times is something that I can really relate to.

Stanhope is a master of juxtaposing light and dark, and fear and trust, in a way that adds depth to both the characters and the plot as the story unfolds. As with 'Tainted Waters', 'Feral' keeps the reader wondering and guessing from start to finish.
I found this to be an intriguing and enjoyable read - so much so that I didn't want to put it down.
Profile Image for K.J. Simmill.
Author 9 books145 followers
May 8, 2018
Alice was a hybrid, a mixture of three things that should not have come to be. As such, the reactions she received were also mixed. To her the PPK was a prison, she was trained, praised, but ultimately trapped. Until Maxwell decided it was time she put her ambassador status to use and went on her first mission with her knew partner, a lone alpha known as Amarok. Three wolves have gone missing from a pack, that is concerning enough, but both Alice and Amarok have the same uneasy feeling. There is more going on than they could imagine. Their cover to the pack was husband and wife, but both of them have issues with trust, can they uncover the truth before secrets tear them apart? The deeper they dig, the more likely it becomes that whoever is doing this has inside help, and when the stakes are upped, the time to find answers begins to run out. The hunt is on, but are the wolves predator or prey?

I really enjoyed watching the slow build of the forming relationship between Alice and Amarok. The cover of being husband and wife was a perfect ploy to have them lower their defences with each other. While this is book two, it works perfectly as stand alone. The main characters are strong and well developed, and there is enough mystery to have you forming your own opinion about who is responsible and their motivations. A fun read, with a promise of more excitement to follow in future books as Alice tries to discover her place.
Profile Image for Douglas Debelak.
Author 8 books30 followers
June 5, 2018
As with the first book in Lucretia Stanhope’s Paranormal Peacekeepers Series, I enjoyed Feral. It is the continuation of the story of a character introduced in Tainted Water, Alice, who continues to grow in many ways. It also introduces another character from the Paranormal Peacekeepers, Amarok, who is a werewolf, apparently her new partner, but possibly just her guard dog. Again, as with the first book, there is attraction and sexual tension between the two main characters, but also ambivalence, issues with trust and uncertainty about boundaries. Another good, well written, well told story.

There isn’t quite the array of paranormal creatures as there was in Tainted Water, at least those who are main players in the story. A witch and wolves (werewolves), and nefarious activities that are behind the disappearance of wolves.

This is a story of the continued coming of age and self-discovery of Alice, trying to learn how to deal with her feelings, especially those of a sexual nature, but also the continued discovery of who and what she is and the extent of her powers and how to control them.

A good story that leaves me wanting more. If you’re a fan of things paranormal, check it out.
Profile Image for April Wood.
Author 4 books64 followers
June 8, 2018
I jumped in late in the Paranormal Peacekeepers Series, not realizing that Feral was book two. Whoops! However, this wasn't a problem at all for me because right off the bat the world Stanhope created was clearly defined. And what a wondrous world it was.

I immediately liked Alice and Amarok (aren't those names great?) and was excited to see where their mission would take them. I also had mixed feelings at first, much like Alice, about whether or not she should proceed with the adventure, or just try like heck to escape.

I learned soon that I needn't worry about Alice. :)

Feral is part dark fantasy, part horror, and even part romance. It's the best of all three worlds rolled into one! The descriptions were vivid and imaginative. And I absolutely love the cover. I recommend this read to fans of dark paranormal romance. It has just enough sweetness (awww petting) to balance the darkness. And the happily-for-now ending was a nice touch.

A good read.

Full Review on A Well Read Woman Blog: https://awellreadwomanblog.wordpress....
Profile Image for Gregg Parker.
Author 5 books20 followers
February 10, 2019
I hadn’t read the first book in this series going in, and I would say you don’t necessarily need to have read the first one to enjoy this one, although it probably would help if you’re new to this type of paranormal story, as I was. The narrative centers around Alice, a witch/elf, and Amarok, a werewolf, who work for an organization that keeps the peace among supernatural entities. They’re sent on a case to solve a mystery involving missing wolves and secret experiments, and they fall for each other a bit in the process.

The first half of the book gets very detailed into the minutiae of the PPK and the specific traits of the different creatures. It can be a bit much, but may be useful as groundwork if the series continues. Eventually, the bad guys are revealed, and the last third of the book is very action-heavy and violent, definitely worth the wait.

Overall, I’d say this is a good pick for those who like this genre, and I could definitely see following these characters on other missions in the future.
Profile Image for Cecily Wolfe.
Author 16 books493 followers
November 8, 2018
A very enjoyable read that drew me in right from the start and kept me engaged, with imperfect characters dealing with their own difficulties working together to help others. This is well-written, and the characters are as likable as they are unique. I can see how readers who don't usually read werewolf/paranormal/fantasy stories are finding themselves intrigued and fascinated by this series - there is more than these elements going on, as the relationship between Alice and Amarok develops. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Wilde Sky.
Author 16 books40 followers
March 10, 2019
A tale of missing werewolves, magic and love.

This paranormal fantasy has two main characters, a hybrid witch / elf and a werewolf who are part of a force (the Paranormal Peacekeepers - PPK) meant to keep between supernatural entities. The storyline starts slowly, detailing the different animals / entities and the procedures of the PPK, but quickly develops into an action filled romance where right and wrong struggle for dominance.

If you enjoy fantasy fiction with a hard / real edge (and some violence / romance) this book is worth a look.

Approximately 70,000 words – reading time around 5 hours.
Profile Image for Gordon Bickerstaff.
Author 25 books105 followers
July 17, 2018
Great addition to the series

This is a dark horror/fantasy story. It follows Alice in her role as a paranormal peacekeeper along with partner Amarok as they join forces to investigate a mystery surrounding missing werewolves. As they progress, a tentative romance develops between the two. Engaging characters, and great depiction of scenes with atmosphere by the author make this an interesting read. The author does a great job creating a fascinating world. The story is well paced and kept me turning the pages to find out where it was going and what would happen next. Recommended.
Profile Image for Brian O'Hare.
Author 22 books178 followers
January 29, 2019
My normal reading preference is for mysteries and thrillers. I have never read a book about werewolves although I have seen some old horror movies about them... all with the same predictable blood and gore, the same creatures whose only instinct is to kill and destroy. I am aware, of course, that there are now many books of this genre that enjoy huge popularity... books that humanise werewolves, give them complex personalities, provide them with consciences and moral values. I believe there is a similar evolution in books about vampires. To be honest, that makes it even more difficult for me to suspend belief to a level that would allow me to take such stories seriously. Are these characters really werewolves or vampires or just messed-up human beings? Thus my first thought as I opened this novel was that Lucretia Stanhope has her work cut out if I am to enjoy this story.
As a regular reviewer for Amazon, however, I am fully aware that tastes vary, tastes, differ, but that a priority of the reviewer is to understand the writer’s purpose and analyse the extent to which this purpose is achieved.
So, let me state right away that Lucretia Stanhope is a very talented writer, with a great narrative gift and the skill to create complex characters - some very nasty villains and some attractive people with whom the reader can easily empathise. Her plotting is superb and the world she creates for her diverse group of characters to inhabit is convincing and very imaginative. There can be no doubting that here is a writer of great skill. And, without doubt, she succeeded superbly in what she set out to do.
Yes, Feral is about a group of werewolves, dealing with threats to their lives and relationships. It also has a leading female protagonist who is some sort of witch-elf. I am still not sure how I feel about werewolves but in Feral, Lucretia Stanhope also offers the reader a mysterious organisation manipulating events, undercover agents, secret missions, kidnappings, abductions, murder, mystery, betrayal, conflict, a slow-burning romantic undercurrent, and a truly stomach-churning climax. I found myself truly involved in the distresses of the key characters, turning pages with speed and lip-biting anxiety, a real tribute to Stanhope’s gifts as a story-teller.
This is actually a brilliant mystery thriller, exciting, puzzling and filled with tension. You don’t need to have any affinity to the werewolf genre to enjoy it. But my guess is that those who do actively seek out stories about werewolves will absolutely love this one. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for William Stuart.
Author 4 books101 followers
December 8, 2018
I read Tainted Waters (Paranormal Peacekeepers #1) by Lucretia Stanhope a few months ago and gave it 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars). When Feral (Paranormal Peacekeepers #2) released, I added it to my ever-growing TBR list. Here is my review!

Synopsis (from the author):
Why are werewolves going missing? When a frustrated alpha requests the aid of the Paranormal Peacekeepers, a new partnership is formed. Alice and Amarok are assigned to get in and get answers before the pack problems bleed into the lives of the townspeople.

Prisoner or ambassador? As a hybrid, Alice is still struggling with what her place is at the Paranormal Peacekeepers when she is assigned her first mission and given her permanent partner. Before she can find out who is responsible for the missing werewolves, she has to commit to the job and ignore the voice in her head telling her use the mission as a chance to escape.

Loyal ambassador and former member of the para-military. Amarok is still broken from the death of his partner when he is assigned to work with new recruit, Alice. While he will vet her, and make sure she is safely returned to the Paranormal Peacekeepers, the bond of partnership means something to him that blurs the lines of following orders.

The mission takes them to emotional places they never imagined and tests the limits of their supernatural abilities. To solve the mystery of where the werewolves have gone they will need to redefine themselves and come together as a team.

What I liked:
I enjoyed the way Alice seemed to be growing into her new role as a paranormal peacekeeper. Her reluctance to open up to Amarok even as her attraction grows made for a nice subplot. Likewise, Amarok’s attraction to her and his own hidden past creates a good internal conflict. Add the missing werewolves, the hostile humans, and suddenly all the pieces combine into a good read!

What I didn’t like:
In spite of all the good points, Alice’s reluctance to reveal herself to Amarok and vice versa got a little repetitive.

Overall impression:
Feral (Paranormal Peacekeepers #1) by Lucretia Stanhope was a good book. You don’t have to read Tainted Waters to understand the story (but why wouldn’t you?), and the story, characters, and action kept me interested. If you like paranormal romance with a hybrid twist, try this one!

My rating:
4.5 stars (rounded to 5 Stars)
Profile Image for Rosetta Overman.
Author 18 books60 followers
February 15, 2019
The thing I liked most about this book is that, while it mentions the events of the first one, you don’t have to read Tainted Waters to know what’s going on. (I have read it, and you can find my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... if you want to check it out as well. It’s quite good.) The world building is interesting, close enough to our own to be immersive without adding too much detail and muddling the narrative. I love the take on werewolves having three sides to them (man, wolf and beast). And Amarok, for a while, was my new book boyfriend. I kind of fell out of love with him nearer the end, through no fault of his own, and never picked him back up.

Which brings me to the only faults in the book, and the reason I took away a star. The ending felt…wrong. Make no mistake going in, this is a love story of the star-crossed variety, but that doesn’t take away from anything, especially with the policies in place concerning partners within the PPK. No, what drew me out was an incompleteness that a third book can hopefully erase. That, and how Alice felt like she devolved a little as a character after the great strides she took from the fearful girl she was in the first one. Her reasoning is halfway understandable, but I have a hard time moving past it as I’d grown to love the person she was becoming. (And she’s a tiny bit of a Mary Sue by the end.)

The other issue I had was the everybody-loves-Alice troupe. This only picks up at the end, in which a character only mentioned but not met comes into play. This and love triangles are two of my least favorite troupes in anything with even a tiny bit of romance. So the loss of a star is largely personal taste.

Back to the good. The wolf pack. I loved to hate some of them, and adored others. There were a few characters I would’ve liked to have seen more of, but other than that, I liked the idea of the pack structure and how things progressed once Amarok and Alice met up with them to begin their mission.

Overall, I liked this book. It’s not as engaging as the first one (in my opinion, of course), but enjoyable. Give it a read if you like paranormal mysteries with lots of sexual tension and action!
Profile Image for m.m. radford.
Author 5 books15 followers
May 8, 2018
He trusted her. Wanted her. Believed in her...

"Wants and dreams, who needs them? Hope is painful. With one text Amarok changed things. He trusted her. Wanted her. Believed in her."
"Feral," the second installment in the Paranormal Peacekeepers series, revolves around the love between a woman and a wolf who is also a beast and a man, but with a darker-than-Disney storyline. They meet at the outset when Maxwell wants to see a fight between the two of them before making them partners or, rather, keeper (Amarok) and companion (Alice).
Due to her hybrid nature, Alice is still not fully trusted, forced into service by the Paranormal Peacekeepers, having battled elves (both light and dark) as well as witches to prove herself.
Amarok has never had anything other than his own kind in his pack, but together, he and Alice tackle the issues they encounter. Part of the intrigue surrounds a dead woman, three missing wolves, an angry mayor with some crazy locals to back him, and a few wolves who look at Alice like she would be tasty, but as Amarok and Alice grow close and begin to trust each other, she grows to have no doubt that he will do everything to protect her. As the story plays out, we worry about each of their fates and enjoy the fact that while their relationship is intense, their bond is strong. Because Amarok has a heart and is as fully-fleshed a character as Alice, we come to care about both of them greatly. The author does a magnificent job of rendering the nuances of their relationship both through dialogue and descriptions, making both of them spring to life on the page as the story unfolds, continually pitting them against challenging odds that test their mettle, and if there is a third installment in this series, I, for one, cannot wait to read it.

Profile Image for Jessica.
Author 65 books167 followers
August 11, 2018
Another wonderful installment in Lucretia Stanhope's Paranormal Peacekeepers series!

This novel starts off following the events of Dark Waters: Alice, a known hybrid (a light elf/witch mix that is technically forbidden), has been conscripted into the PPK. No one really knows the extent of her powers, though it's clear that she can be a great weapon for them. However, she's also a flight risk as she wants to escape as soon as she gets the chance.

That's where Amarok comes in. A werewolf who's one of the clan leaders in her wing, Amarok is assigned as Alice's new partner -- as well as her keeper. Because if Alice does try to escape? Amaroke can -- and will -- track her.

I loved Amarok. He is introduced in this book and he's totally different from Dark Water's Decker. While he's committed to the mission, he's still very playful and sweet to Alice. Reading about their interactions as they pretend to be married was enjoyable because of the bantering, but when push comes to shove, he really cares about his partner. Which is good because, during the dramatic climax of this book, that affection between the two is essential.

Stanhope is a master of description. She doesn't shy away from even the grittiest details. It brings the reader right into her world and makes them experience everything! I look forward to following Alice's journey. The introduction of the mysterious Matthias we heard about at the beginning is very intriguing, and I fear Alice has some rough times ahead of her since her partner absolutely hates him. I also look forward to the return of Jasper. He's her soulmate. We just have to see him again!
Profile Image for Denna.
Author 30 books142 followers
November 15, 2018
Feral by Lucretia Stanhope is an intriguing combination of light, dark and hope for a better future. I didn’t realize when I started reading that this is a sequel, but I didn’t have any problems following the story. Alice is half light elf, half witch, and feared by almost everyone. All she wants is to be left alone, but Alice has trained hard to work as an ambassador for Paranormal Peacekeepers and when three werewolves go missing from a pack, she is partnered with Amarok, an alpha wolf with problems of his own.

Amarok is still broken from the death of his previous partner and wasn’t excited about being paired with Alice, but he is one of only a few strong enough to control her if things go wrong. Their cover is to pretend to be a mated pair new to this pack while trying to figure out why their people went missing. Unknown to Alice, he is also there to make sure she doesn’t try to run and escape what she considers a type of prison.

These characters aren’t perfect people with perfect lives. They are flawed and come across as real people with real problems but with a supernatural flare that I love. I stayed up until late in the night because I couldn’t put it down, every part of this story holding my interest from start to finish. Even the minor characters came across as real. There is sexual tension, friendship, mystery, and betrayal all wrapped up in a captivating plot that kept me guessing until the very end. I’m looking forward to reading the next one in this series. I can’t really find anything here to fault so definitely earns five stars. Well done. If you’re like me and prefer your shifter stories a little on the dark side, I guarantee you’ll love this one.
Profile Image for Tristen Kozinski.
Author 7 books27 followers
May 14, 2018
Actual rating 4.5 stars.
As the second book in the series, Feral continues Alice's story. The undertones of the book is similar to the first, with some dark elements and use of blood for magic. Despite that, it is a far lighter book, largely due to Alice's partner (Amarok) who is teasing, fun and deeply protective and manages to extra similar elements from Alice as well. This is in stark distinction from the first book where Alice was very much alone and the few allies she managed to accrue were always hollow. The inclusion of Amarok gives Alice something besides herself to fight for and makes for both a more compelling read, as I rapidly grew attached to him, and a more compelling character.
The significant difference is that Alice is a far more accomplished witch in this book and is fully capable of handling herself in difficult situations, as well as navigating this paranormal world on a more equal footing from an emotional/character standpoint. This, along with her still present vulnerability and ignorance, also helps build her character.
Beyond that you have the plot, werewolves (which I particularly liked) and some illegal science. The story is compelling and moves along at a good pace.
My largest qualm is that I occasionally found the dialogue hard to follow, both in the context of being confused as to who was speaking, and just stumbling over the sentence struchture.
Profile Image for Joshua Landeros.
Author 32 books13 followers
November 1, 2018
Lucretia Stanhope’s Feral, the first sequel to in the Paranormal Peacekeepers series, is a brisk and highly entertaining read. It toes the line between multiple genres, from mystery to classic horror, while also dabbling in fantasy and romance. It makes for a well-rounded adventure which should please many readers. I have not read the first book in the series, mind you, but I got a very clear picture of who our lead Alice is. She’s a very intriguing character with the right amount of realistic vulnerability and badass fortitude. Our second lead, Amarok the werewolf, is also very interesting to explore. The best part of the book for me was the deep-dive into the culture of werewolf hierarchy. It felt both natural and strangely unexplored in most werewolf stuff I’ve read or watched. That attention to detail makes the mystery section of the books very fun to read.

The buildup is a slow burn but the payoff is definitely worth it. In any story involving legendary creatures like werewolves, I for one find it tragic when monsters are poorly utilized. This was not the case in Feral. You feel the power of these creatures, as well as Alice’s. You get the feeling these characters aren’t just threatened by outside forces, but also by their very own power. It makes me excited to see where the reader is taken next. Hopefully other characters and creatures are explored in depth in future installments.
Profile Image for Laurel Heidtman.
Author 8 books79 followers
March 18, 2019
The second book in the series, Feral can be read as a standalone. The author does a good job of giving the reader just enough background to keep from being lost; however, I suspect reading them in order would give the reader a better grasp of who some of the lesser (at least in this story) characters are.

Alice and Amarok, the main characters, are a witch/elf hybrid and a werewolf, respectively. They are agents for the Paranormal Peacekeepers agency, and Feral tells the story of their mission to find werewolves who have gone missing. They go undercover in the wolf pack as a married couple. There is sexual tension between the two of them and plenty of adventure and intrigue. It’s a fun paranormal read, and based on the ending, I suspect there will be more in the series. That’s not to say that Feral’s story doesn’t wrap up pretty well. It does, but there are just enough questions at the end to lead me to think there will be more. And that’s a good thing.

The only real complaint I had with Feral is one I have with many indie (and some traditionally published) books today, and that’s that it could use a copyedit. It was still an enjoyable and well written story. I’m a stickler for copyediting, and I was still able to enjoy the tale.
Profile Image for Jessica Wilhelmsson.
186 reviews6 followers
May 7, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition

An excellent superb book worth 19 stars
I have just closed the book, and I'm so sorry that there's no Nr 3 yet....
Like all books of this author your taken to another world with creature of all kinds. This is about the witchelfing Alice and a shapeshifter wolf that works like detectives. A pack is loosing wear wolfs and Alice and Amarok is there to solve it.
Amarok is a my new love,my wolf in life and Alice is adorable. The story is filled with twist and turns and I know you gonna find someone to love and someone to hate or dislike. This book is more of a thriller and more action in it then the first one.
You can read this even if you haven't read the first book in the series.
If you haven't read any of Lucretia Stanhopes books you have a lot of books to look forward to read. All of them in the same high quality. One thing that I love with her books is that there's always love around the corner in diffrent ways but you don't have to stand by their beds if they have sex.
I really, from the bottom of my heart, recommend this book and all of the other she wrote
Profile Image for Carol 27.
1,093 reviews
May 18, 2018
I really enjoyed this dark paranormal fantasy which is book two in the Paranormal Peacekeepers series. The story is very well written and compelling; the characters are engaging and the plot features magic, mystery, intrigue and humour. One year has passed since Alice – a witch-light elf hybrid, was delivered to PPK headquarters and given two choices – become a servant or a PPK ambassador. In that time she’s undergone limited ambassador training and is now anxiously awaiting a partner since that will finally allow her some freedom from her captivity at the PPK. Enter Amarok, an alpha wolf ambassador and former para-military member with a troublesome past. Together they embark on a mission to solve the disappearance of several wolves. Once again, betrayals come in all sizes and from all corners. As a consequence of the mission, Alice’s unique supernatural abilities put her on the radar of individuals who may seek to exploit her talents for personal gain. Time will tell.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Anne Maclachlan.
Author 13 books4 followers
June 25, 2018
I was hooked right away by this fast-moving story and Stanhope's engaging characters -- so much so that by page five, I ordered Book One in the series so I could revisit the world she has created. It's a believable world, too; I generally shy away from the multi-entity fantasies, but there are no earnest, fanciful beings in this one. Each person is thoroughly fleshed out, complete with flaws and admirable characteristics.
The plot starts off right away, no waiting. Stanhope's details add to the sense of being a part of it. I particulary like the nods to scent, whether it's that of freshly-made coffee rising from a pot or the individual fragrances people emit.
I hesitated to take a star off, but the book does need a light edit. Some of the grammatical mistakes shook me out of the story (using "her" and "him" as subject pronouns instead of "she" and "he," for example, as in "Her and Amarok were assigned ...") but not for long. I'm nitpicky about that kind of thing, but honestly, if that is not your bug, you will give this book a solid five stars.
Profile Image for Petra Costa.
Author 4 books10 followers
August 16, 2018
Alice is coming to terms with her hybrid heritage, being a light elf/dark witch mix she is technically a forbidden creature, but the PPK have enlisted her for her obvious weapons potential. She is trying to make friends amongst the other paranormal peacekeepers but she may never accept the confines of the PPK.
Now she has been paired up with Amarok. He is a werewolf, he is her new partner but he is also her keeper, given orders to track her if she tries to escape. Now werewolves are going missing and this newly formed team must pose as a happily married couple until they discover who is responsible.
Packed with intricate magic and wonderful detailed werewolf shifts, I loved the way I was pulled into the magical world of the paranormal peacekeepers by the detailed descriptions and the cleverly consistence characterisation of each specific creature. The light engaging interplay between Alice and Amarok brings the characters to life and lightens the dark journey the two must share.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next instalment.
Profile Image for Tia Lee.
Author 6 books33 followers
November 3, 2018
I really enjoyed this story by Stanhope. There is a paranormal agency called the KKP who inlist supernaturals to solve mysteries and problems for other paranormal creatures. This is Alice's first mission with Amarok a werewolf and although she only just met him must play the role of his wife in this mission (I like that kind of cute humor).
In this mission, they must join a pack to figure out why pack members are mysteriously disappearing. Amarok is an expert in the werewolf department, but Alice being a witch/light elf hybrid brings her own strengths to the table.
I love the way these two broken people have been paired together to help each other figure out the mystery surrounding the missing pack members. Alice throughout the book is wondering who she can trust and it keeps her from being too friendly with Amarok. It kept me on my toes as I read and tried to figure out what was going on on my own in this paranormal whodunit.
The well-written characters and the paranormal mystery are so well done I can't wait to read more in this series.
Profile Image for Rebecca Winkler.
Author 4 books21 followers
November 14, 2018
Typically a romance reader, my first dive into this genre did not disappoint. Feral: Paranormal Peacekeepers #2 by Lucretia Stanhope, has elements of mystery, horror, romance and so much more. The depth of the characters as we get to know them keeps the pages turning. The intrigue is so much more than I expected as a werewolf/paranormal/fantasy book. In truth, I guess I didn’t know what to expect, so I was happily surprised at how much I enjoyed this read. This is a well-written story with believable characters—supernaturals that deal with prejudicial hate, power and an unrelenting protectiveness of their own kind. Alice, a Paranormal Peacekeeper (a forbidden hybrid), searches for an understanding of her internal struggles and passions while on her first mission to find missing wolves with her partner, Amarok. Amarok, who is a wolf, a man, and a beast, also has a playful, teasing, affectionate side. A strong protection for each other develops between them during this assignment. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Jasmin Quinn.
Author 39 books180 followers
May 18, 2018
This is book two of the Paranormal Peacekeepers series and I am looking forward to the next book..

This book is well-paced, with each scene moving the story forward. Characters are well-developed, particularly the two main characters. The growth of their trust and commitment to one another was expertly written.

The main characters in the book are Alice, a hybrid witch/elf and Amarok a werewolf. They both work for the Paranormal Peace Keepers, a somewhat ruthless organization. They are partnered together to investigate the disappearance of members from a wolfpack.

The author weaves a paranormal story that creates tensions primarily between and among wolves and humans. Not everyone is who they seem and there are some interesting twists and turns throughout the book.

There is mystery, suspense, and difficult choices. The ending is solid and leaves the reader looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Viola Calvary.
Author 9 books23 followers
January 13, 2019
OMG all the feels!
It happened again...I stayed up way past my bed time and didn't even noticed I was so enthralled in this story. Suddenly its midnight and I'm debating if I really, truly do need sleep anyways.
I picked this up without reading book 1 and the story, though bolstered by the first book, was perfectly fine to read on its own. Lovely play with forbidden romance, suspense, and darkness.
Absolutely loved the characters, the twists, and the deep shadow that surrounds them. The MCs were creatively built up with a backstory that was beautifully woven into the plot and pulled you in so that you grew to know them just as they grew to know and explore not only each other, but themselves. As it progressed and the pieces fell into place the heroes were anything but cliche and their actions were unexpected, clever, and revealing.
Why is happiness so much more meaningful when it's bittersweet?
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