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Rouen Chronicles #1
A Shifter's Curse
"Karma takes too long. I'd rather beat the shit out of you right now."
With a dagger in her boot and blades in her bra, Briar, a powerful shifter, arrives in Rouen with one goal: find and kill Dominic, the man responsible for the destruction of her entire family and wolf pack. When she discovers he is an Alpha surrounded by muscle-ripped shifters and equally as strong witches, she knows the only way she will get close enough to kill him is if she joins his dangerous and shady pack.
But infiltrating them proves more challenging than she expects, especially when her new roommates turn out to be supernaturals with their own powers and secrets. She can't tell if the centuries-old, nosey vampire and fashion-sensitive witch are working with her or against her.
Whether they are friends or enemies doesn't change things. Briar has a job to do. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to quench her thirst for revenge, even if it means destroying her own soul.
In this new urban fantasy series, Steele and Mason introduce readers to a dark and exciting world full of shifters, vampires, and witches. If you like Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Shayne Silvers or K.F. Breene, you will LOVE this new series! Scroll up and grab this gritty urban fantasy TODAY!
** Intended for adult readers due to violence and language, but it is funny as hell. Oh, and this is not an RH **
With a dagger in her boot and blades in her bra, Briar, a powerful shifter, arrives in Rouen with one goal: find and kill Dominic, the man responsible for the destruction of her entire family and wolf pack. When she discovers he is an Alpha surrounded by muscle-ripped shifters and equally as strong witches, she knows the only way she will get close enough to kill him is if she joins his dangerous and shady pack.
But infiltrating them proves more challenging than she expects, especially when her new roommates turn out to be supernaturals with their own powers and secrets. She can't tell if the centuries-old, nosey vampire and fashion-sensitive witch are working with her or against her.
Whether they are friends or enemies doesn't change things. Briar has a job to do. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to quench her thirst for revenge, even if it means destroying her own soul.
In this new urban fantasy series, Steele and Mason introduce readers to a dark and exciting world full of shifters, vampires, and witches. If you like Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Shayne Silvers or K.F. Breene, you will LOVE this new series! Scroll up and grab this gritty urban fantasy TODAY!
** Intended for adult readers due to violence and language, but it is funny as hell. Oh, and this is not an RH **
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2018
2355 people are currently reading
2639 people want to read
About the author
Raven Steele
99 books175 followersJoin my private Facebook group where you can talk about everything Rouen: Raven Steele and the Rouen World Readers Group
Born at the stroke of midnight, Raven Steele grew up in a home bordering a graveyard as old as time. Ghosts became her only friends and whispered tales of a world that existed between night and day. In this place, monsters roamed the lands, magic curled in the wind, and good and evil fought over the hearts and minds of humans. Desperate to not let those dark and brave creatures be forgotten, Raven wrote down the words of the ghosts, knowing their stories of triumph and sorrow would give strength and comfort to those in our world.
And so, when the sun sets, Raven retreats to the cemetery at the edge of the woods, where she sits and listens to the dead speak their tales of Rouen and all of its inhabitants. Because one day, our two worlds may collide, and when they do, we must be ready. For when their darkness bleeds into ours, we will be fighting for more than our lives. We will be battling for our souls.
Raven Steele is a pen name to USA Today's bestselling author Rachel McClellan.
Born at the stroke of midnight, Raven Steele grew up in a home bordering a graveyard as old as time. Ghosts became her only friends and whispered tales of a world that existed between night and day. In this place, monsters roamed the lands, magic curled in the wind, and good and evil fought over the hearts and minds of humans. Desperate to not let those dark and brave creatures be forgotten, Raven wrote down the words of the ghosts, knowing their stories of triumph and sorrow would give strength and comfort to those in our world.
And so, when the sun sets, Raven retreats to the cemetery at the edge of the woods, where she sits and listens to the dead speak their tales of Rouen and all of its inhabitants. Because one day, our two worlds may collide, and when they do, we must be ready. For when their darkness bleeds into ours, we will be fighting for more than our lives. We will be battling for our souls.
Raven Steele is a pen name to USA Today's bestselling author Rachel McClellan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
January 7, 2021
It might come as a shock, but when you want to kill someone, don't go around telling everybody how you're going to do that - just go and do it.
I mean, just look at the scene: there is this wolf shifter pack, and their alfa is a jerk, and everybody wants him dead for different reasons, but nobody's doing anything about it. Why? I don't know. Maybe they're all stupid. Excuses are many: take care of the pack, he is the leader, now it's not the time. I really don't get it. Why would anyone want to join the pack and work for alfa? Want him dead? Great. Let's do something about it. What should we do? Oh, I don't know, maybe we should join him and support his criminal activities. Yes, that's a smart idea.
And for the story, the thing I hate most about a series, nothing is ever coming to a conclusion.
Also, can someone tell me what kind of knives can you put in a bra? Asking for a friend.
I mean, just look at the scene: there is this wolf shifter pack, and their alfa is a jerk, and everybody wants him dead for different reasons, but nobody's doing anything about it. Why? I don't know. Maybe they're all stupid. Excuses are many: take care of the pack, he is the leader, now it's not the time. I really don't get it. Why would anyone want to join the pack and work for alfa? Want him dead? Great. Let's do something about it. What should we do? Oh, I don't know, maybe we should join him and support his criminal activities. Yes, that's a smart idea.
And for the story, the thing I hate most about a series, nothing is ever coming to a conclusion.
Also, can someone tell me what kind of knives can you put in a bra? Asking for a friend.
dnf
May 13, 2023DNF 23%
I just don't think I can continue on atm. I mean I like revenge plots, but when the main character is going about said revenge with willful ineptitude it makes everything a little less fun.
This is 101 of what not to do when going after a baddie.
Like instead of staying under the radar and not letting on what her intentions are, Briar was just basically telling anyone and everyone she's gunning for Dominic...like asking transparently leading questions to shifters when she doesn't even know who is in which pack and who could-I dunno- tell the Alpha some one is sniffing around thus killing the only thing she has going for her IE. the element of surprise!
Ever heard of discretion lady? She was also starting fights, following him around without a plan, getting overly emotional, and trying to kill him in the open (making a few people notice her intentions ASAP) with little no background work on her mark at all.
At the point where she got captured right out the gate with her stupid non-plan plan I was just thinking 'why not announce to his face who you are and what your planning?' because subtle she was not.
I just don't think I can continue on atm. I mean I like revenge plots, but when the main character is going about said revenge with willful ineptitude it makes everything a little less fun.
This is 101 of what not to do when going after a baddie.
Like instead of staying under the radar and not letting on what her intentions are, Briar was just basically telling anyone and everyone she's gunning for Dominic...like asking transparently leading questions to shifters when she doesn't even know who is in which pack and who could-I dunno- tell the Alpha some one is sniffing around thus killing the only thing she has going for her IE. the element of surprise!
Ever heard of discretion lady? She was also starting fights, following him around without a plan, getting overly emotional, and trying to kill him in the open (making a few people notice her intentions ASAP) with little no background work on her mark at all.
At the point where she got captured right out the gate with her stupid non-plan plan I was just thinking 'why not announce to his face who you are and what your planning?' because subtle she was not.
October 19, 2019
Buy the book or borrow with Amazon KU.
In the middle of an intense fight and I'm all in with the best line in the entire book....
REVENGE!!!
This was an okay read. I enjoy revenge stories and this one could have been epic. Even though I burned through this book I think I did to more out of just trying to get it over with. It only really got good in the last 3%. I just wish it would have gotten to the point sooner. I'll continue on with the series for now but hopefully it gets a little better.
In the middle of an intense fight and I'm all in with the best line in the entire book....
"If I'd wanted to hump you, you'd be in the handicap stall of the lady’s restroom right now, hanging on for dear life."
"Ooo, sweet talker. I like it."
REVENGE!!!
This was an okay read. I enjoy revenge stories and this one could have been epic. Even though I burned through this book I think I did to more out of just trying to get it over with. It only really got good in the last 3%. I just wish it would have gotten to the point sooner. I'll continue on with the series for now but hopefully it gets a little better.
May 10, 2019
2 Stars... This storyline was a cross between paranormal and mafia genres consisting of a sadistic, dominant pack of wolf shifters involved in varying degrees of criminal activity lending them power and control over the city of Rouen... Enter a female shifter hell bent on revenge for the deaths of her family members, and willing to go to any lengths to infiltrate the ranks of said pack in order to destroy the Alpha and his brother... An intriguing plot for sure with many secondary characters (Witches, Vampires, and Shifters) that I found to be incredibly interesting, however, the dialogue was written in such a way that I found myself becoming frustrated with the main character and her level of immaturity and impulsivity; as well as her adolescent language that did not reflect the powerhouse she was meant to represent... This inconsistency played on me throughout the read and in the end my investment in the read dwindled resulting in me not wanting to continue with the series:(
January 6, 2019
Revenge can be lonely, but with determination it can be sweet
What I liked about this story:
This story had an uniqueness about with all it's twist and turns that kept me on a wild rolling coaster ride. The characters were well played within the story plot that hit all my emotional buttons and who doesn't love a story based in Louisiana with its rich, eerie,and supernatural vibe. I can't leave out the hint of Greek mythology with supernatural creatures; wolf shifters, vampires, and witches.
What the story is about:
The main character Briar ( I just loved that name) comes to town after two bad guys who killed her family in front of her when she was a child. She has been searching for them for revenge. As she tries to get close enough to kill them, she will find unlikely allies that have the same goal as her but with different reasons. She has brass balls along with a unique super power that she keeps hidden from others. She has been alone for some time, but she will find herself with others that's makes her want to protect them.
I would recommend this book to readers who love a strong, sassy, and hilarious heroine that appeals to that wild imagination inside each of us.
I've already purchased the next one so I can enjoy the wild ride that these authors have written. So hold on to your seat and get to reading this story.
Happy Reading !!!!!!
What I liked about this story:
This story had an uniqueness about with all it's twist and turns that kept me on a wild rolling coaster ride. The characters were well played within the story plot that hit all my emotional buttons and who doesn't love a story based in Louisiana with its rich, eerie,and supernatural vibe. I can't leave out the hint of Greek mythology with supernatural creatures; wolf shifters, vampires, and witches.
What the story is about:
The main character Briar ( I just loved that name) comes to town after two bad guys who killed her family in front of her when she was a child. She has been searching for them for revenge. As she tries to get close enough to kill them, she will find unlikely allies that have the same goal as her but with different reasons. She has brass balls along with a unique super power that she keeps hidden from others. She has been alone for some time, but she will find herself with others that's makes her want to protect them.
I would recommend this book to readers who love a strong, sassy, and hilarious heroine that appeals to that wild imagination inside each of us.
I've already purchased the next one so I can enjoy the wild ride that these authors have written. So hold on to your seat and get to reading this story.
Happy Reading !!!!!!
Want to read
October 14, 2025🎁 FREE on Amazon today (10/30/2019)! 🎁
May 12, 2020
This was a good Urban Fantasy read. I like a good revenge plot!
My only issue really was with Briar. She seemed incredibly reckless and this didn't quite make sense with her mission. I was frustrated she wasn't more intelligent about the way she goes about things and it is a miracle that she didn't die at the start! She also toes the line if one of those heroines who is a bit too sjarky, bordering on obnoxious at times. However, it makes total sense with what has happened to her, so 90% of the time I could deal with it, it just made her seem a bit like a characture sometimes.
Heading straight for the next book now!
My only issue really was with Briar. She seemed incredibly reckless and this didn't quite make sense with her mission. I was frustrated she wasn't more intelligent about the way she goes about things and it is a miracle that she didn't die at the start! She also toes the line if one of those heroines who is a bit too sjarky, bordering on obnoxious at times. However, it makes total sense with what has happened to her, so 90% of the time I could deal with it, it just made her seem a bit like a characture sometimes.
Heading straight for the next book now!
December 14, 2018
*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
A Shifter's Curse is the first installment in authors Raven Steele and Ava Mason's Rouen Chronicles. Rouen, Louisiana is a town that is the home to vampires, witches, and shifters. For one shifter in particular, Briar (Isabella Moretti), is on a mission to hunt specific individuals who were responsible for the mass murder of her entire family. Even though she somehow managed to escape their fate, she was fundamentally changed forever. One could say she was made even stronger by the horror she experienced.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
A Shifter's Curse is the first installment in authors Raven Steele and Ava Mason's Rouen Chronicles. Rouen, Louisiana is a town that is the home to vampires, witches, and shifters. For one shifter in particular, Briar (Isabella Moretti), is on a mission to hunt specific individuals who were responsible for the mass murder of her entire family. Even though she somehow managed to escape their fate, she was fundamentally changed forever. One could say she was made even stronger by the horror she experienced.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
September 17, 2019
I liked this one a lot. Easy to read and page turning suspense. Great characters. Ive been craving a paranormal romance and this book worked. My only complaints are that I’m not a fan of character’s having more than one book in a series normally. And there’s no sex in this book. Four stars instead of five because of no sex. Just being honest.
February 12, 2019
This book was really entertaining, and has so much potential to just get better. I was leaning towards the 3.5 rounded up but I just don't think the story is quite "whole" enough yet. I think it was really striving for a complex, multifaceted story line but there were a lot of holes when it came to world building and backstory. I felt that the author does it on purpose in the beginning and I expected for the holes to fill themselves in as the FMC, Briar, "discovers" more and more about the town but I felt that her singular focus being revenge really closes off the reveals to the reader because in all honesty she doesn't care less about all the other things going on in the town, even if it may explain her own story better. She only cares about her revenge... not that I blame her, but it would have been nice for the reader to get the information somehow if if the FMC wasn't interested.
Briar, lone wolf shifter, and new to the town of Rouen has tracked her arch nemesis here after years ago being the lone survivor of her families massacre. Determined to get revenge on the two men who not only murdered her family sadistically but also through her down an abandoned mine as little more than a toddler, she is in no mood for everyone else's drama and doesn't care whose plans shes messing up to get her due. As a character I really like Briar, she is quite sarcastic, funny, and pretty much a Bad A.... though at times I felt she was a little more hostile than necessary, and she came across a little forced here and there. She also seems to have a both wonderful and horrifying habit of "wingin" it half cocked... Had my nerves on edge multiple times. As Briar, tries different angles to get closer to the men who took away her family she learns more and more about the town and its supernatural residents and finds herself neck deep in doodoo... at least one of those times on purpose... and she begins to wonder if shes really here for revenge or if she is part of some bigger plan bringing all the players on the board in together for the showdown.
I think I should throw in a trigger warning for some really heavy violence.. I'm a seasoned reader with no triggers but I cringed a couple times here. This is an all out war with lots of gory details so reader beware. As for the romance part of the story... I really wasn't feeling it... I don't know Briar and Luke just really didn't have all that much chemistry and to be really honest I wasn't really a Luke fan.. maybe he can redeem himself in the sequels to come?
I'm definitely interested in keeping an eye on this series to see where it goes!
Briar, lone wolf shifter, and new to the town of Rouen has tracked her arch nemesis here after years ago being the lone survivor of her families massacre. Determined to get revenge on the two men who not only murdered her family sadistically but also through her down an abandoned mine as little more than a toddler, she is in no mood for everyone else's drama and doesn't care whose plans shes messing up to get her due. As a character I really like Briar, she is quite sarcastic, funny, and pretty much a Bad A.... though at times I felt she was a little more hostile than necessary, and she came across a little forced here and there. She also seems to have a both wonderful and horrifying habit of "wingin" it half cocked... Had my nerves on edge multiple times. As Briar, tries different angles to get closer to the men who took away her family she learns more and more about the town and its supernatural residents and finds herself neck deep in doodoo... at least one of those times on purpose... and she begins to wonder if shes really here for revenge or if she is part of some bigger plan bringing all the players on the board in together for the showdown.
I think I should throw in a trigger warning for some really heavy violence.. I'm a seasoned reader with no triggers but I cringed a couple times here. This is an all out war with lots of gory details so reader beware. As for the romance part of the story... I really wasn't feeling it... I don't know Briar and Luke just really didn't have all that much chemistry and to be really honest I wasn't really a Luke fan.. maybe he can redeem himself in the sequels to come?
I'm definitely interested in keeping an eye on this series to see where it goes!
December 16, 2018
When Amazon recommended this on KU, I wasn’t expecting much. Once I saw that this author hasn’t published anything else, I expected even less. And then I picked it up and read it and realized that I was completely wrong. This book was great. Briar is everything I love in a main character. The supporting characters are awesome. It was raw and gritty and real. I’m completely hooked.
Once I saw that Raven Steele was a pen name, I did some snooping (ok, a quick google search) and found out that it is Rachel McClellan’s pen name. I have never read anything by her, but I plan on fixing that very soon.
Once I saw that Raven Steele was a pen name, I did some snooping (ok, a quick google search) and found out that it is Rachel McClellan’s pen name. I have never read anything by her, but I plan on fixing that very soon.
August 19, 2019
I’m not a fan of the revenge plot (it wasn’t even a good one) or the characters. I’m not going to continue the series.
April 25, 2019
To put it simply, this is a story about vengeance. The main character, a young woman named Briar, wants to exact it upon the two psychopathic shifters that slaughtered her entire family and left her for dead, sealed up in an old well. For years it’s all she’s dreamed about, and now that she has tracked the nutbars down, she will do whatever she can to kill them.
But they are far stronger than she ever could have anticipated. Turns out one of the baddies, Dominic, is the alpha of the Silver Claw Pack, while his cronie Silas serves as his second in command. The Silver Claw Pack are a warped bunch of shifters that are ruled by fear and backed by a coven of power hungry witches. Now that sounds like a pretty dangerous composition, right? Well that’s because it is!
Yet for some reason Briar still thinks she can maneuver her way into the clan somehow and take out the two devils that rule it with minimal issue. Ya wanna know why she thinks she can do that? Because she is just SUPER strong and can wolf out like no other, or something like that. I’m still not really sure why she is so strong. Apparently while in the well she wolfed out at a young age do to self preservation, which never happens to young kids, yet she did it. Why that equates to her being all powerful is beyond me though.
Anywho, Briar is banking on her wolfy powers to keep herself alive while making her dream of killing Dominic and Silas come true. Even though it’s incredibly stupid just to rely on oneself in such a perilous situation. You see, Briar’s family was slaughtered because they protected some sort of old shifter blood thingy called the Abydos. Everyone wants it to gain ultimate power which can then be used for either good or evil.
The responsibility of keeping it hidden now lies solely on Briars shoulders so she is super paranoid about trusting anyone. So paranoid in fact that it’s almost to the point of idiocy. After moving in with some new roomies who have shown faith and goodwill towards her, she still stubbornly refuses to test the waters and give them some info on why she wants anything to do with the awful Silver Claw Pack, even though it may be beneficial to make connections.
Briar is so afraid of forming relationships with anyone because they might get hurt or possibly betray her, so she avoids them completely. She panics about folks wanting the Abydos so she never trusts even the slightest hint of her background with any of the side characters, even if they do prove helpful. Not to mention that quite a few of them stick their necks out for the MC, but she just doesn’t seem to care.
Briar isn’t the best MC, or even all that likeable. I did feel a bit of sympathy for her, but then it gets drowned out by all the dumb mental hoops she jumps through. As the story progresses she eventually gets accepted into the Clan after doing some shady dealings. Working side by side with Silas makes Briar’s skin crawl and I can’t blame her. He’s basically Hannibal Lecter. Bleh!
While working for her most hated enemies, Briar learns that not of the shifters who are in the Silver Claw Pack are bad. They have been hoodwinked! Despite that she still seems pretty determined to take down psycho number 1 and number 2 by any means possible. Which is terrible because there is a lot at stake here! Way more than she first realized.
As the plot carries on, Briar finally learns that it’s not all about her and her thirst for revenge! Hallelujah! She finally understands that getting rid of the baddies will take a delicate hand and some sneakiness. Slowly but surely she gains a few allies and is able to start some trouble in the Pack. Her plan is to destroy it from the inside out.
Which might work, except for those damn bloody witches that for some reason Briar doesn’t seem to be too concerned about. The Morgan Coven can literally disable people by messing with their minds, but instead of taking them out of the fight first, Briar wants to go for the jugular and hit the Shifters. Yikes. Not very good at strategy is she?
Unsurprisingly things come to a head because Briar bungles some stuff up and barely gets away by the skin of her teeth. And that is only because she is super special and has TONS of main character plot armor. It’s kinda lame, actually. I hate it when an author makes their MC all powerful. Makes the action and plot a little less exciting.
Once all is said and done, only half of the story gets finished in the end. But there is some good progress that happens by that point. Sure Briar is still a cocky little twat, but she also learns to trust people a bit more, realizes that some of her plans are stupid and tries to rectify them, and she also starts to see that it’s not just her that matters in the situation anymore. Perhaps by killing both Dominic and Silas something worse could potentially happen. What ever could that be?
Other than that, I’d have to say the side characters were great! I loved Lynx, Samira, Roma and Ryder. They were very diverse and fun characters to read about. That is one pro of this story. All the characters acted unique which was awesome! I didn’t really care for Luke too much though, or the suppose hot and bothered shunned romance between him and Briar. I just wasn’t feeling it.
At this point in time I don’t have any interest in reading the next installment. Now this wasn’t exactly a terrible start to a series per say, it just lacked decent MC development and was smothered with a bunch of unnecessary drama, topped with secrets. SO many secrets! Perhaps one day down the road if I’m feeling particularly bored I’ll pick up the next book and give it a shot. Until then, this series is being shelved.
But they are far stronger than she ever could have anticipated. Turns out one of the baddies, Dominic, is the alpha of the Silver Claw Pack, while his cronie Silas serves as his second in command. The Silver Claw Pack are a warped bunch of shifters that are ruled by fear and backed by a coven of power hungry witches. Now that sounds like a pretty dangerous composition, right? Well that’s because it is!
Yet for some reason Briar still thinks she can maneuver her way into the clan somehow and take out the two devils that rule it with minimal issue. Ya wanna know why she thinks she can do that? Because she is just SUPER strong and can wolf out like no other, or something like that. I’m still not really sure why she is so strong. Apparently while in the well she wolfed out at a young age do to self preservation, which never happens to young kids, yet she did it. Why that equates to her being all powerful is beyond me though.
Anywho, Briar is banking on her wolfy powers to keep herself alive while making her dream of killing Dominic and Silas come true. Even though it’s incredibly stupid just to rely on oneself in such a perilous situation. You see, Briar’s family was slaughtered because they protected some sort of old shifter blood thingy called the Abydos. Everyone wants it to gain ultimate power which can then be used for either good or evil.
The responsibility of keeping it hidden now lies solely on Briars shoulders so she is super paranoid about trusting anyone. So paranoid in fact that it’s almost to the point of idiocy. After moving in with some new roomies who have shown faith and goodwill towards her, she still stubbornly refuses to test the waters and give them some info on why she wants anything to do with the awful Silver Claw Pack, even though it may be beneficial to make connections.
Briar is so afraid of forming relationships with anyone because they might get hurt or possibly betray her, so she avoids them completely. She panics about folks wanting the Abydos so she never trusts even the slightest hint of her background with any of the side characters, even if they do prove helpful. Not to mention that quite a few of them stick their necks out for the MC, but she just doesn’t seem to care.
Briar isn’t the best MC, or even all that likeable. I did feel a bit of sympathy for her, but then it gets drowned out by all the dumb mental hoops she jumps through. As the story progresses she eventually gets accepted into the Clan after doing some shady dealings. Working side by side with Silas makes Briar’s skin crawl and I can’t blame her. He’s basically Hannibal Lecter. Bleh!
While working for her most hated enemies, Briar learns that not of the shifters who are in the Silver Claw Pack are bad. They have been hoodwinked! Despite that she still seems pretty determined to take down psycho number 1 and number 2 by any means possible. Which is terrible because there is a lot at stake here! Way more than she first realized.
As the plot carries on, Briar finally learns that it’s not all about her and her thirst for revenge! Hallelujah! She finally understands that getting rid of the baddies will take a delicate hand and some sneakiness. Slowly but surely she gains a few allies and is able to start some trouble in the Pack. Her plan is to destroy it from the inside out.
Which might work, except for those damn bloody witches that for some reason Briar doesn’t seem to be too concerned about. The Morgan Coven can literally disable people by messing with their minds, but instead of taking them out of the fight first, Briar wants to go for the jugular and hit the Shifters. Yikes. Not very good at strategy is she?
Unsurprisingly things come to a head because Briar bungles some stuff up and barely gets away by the skin of her teeth. And that is only because she is super special and has TONS of main character plot armor. It’s kinda lame, actually. I hate it when an author makes their MC all powerful. Makes the action and plot a little less exciting.
Once all is said and done, only half of the story gets finished in the end. But there is some good progress that happens by that point. Sure Briar is still a cocky little twat, but she also learns to trust people a bit more, realizes that some of her plans are stupid and tries to rectify them, and she also starts to see that it’s not just her that matters in the situation anymore. Perhaps by killing both Dominic and Silas something worse could potentially happen. What ever could that be?
Other than that, I’d have to say the side characters were great! I loved Lynx, Samira, Roma and Ryder. They were very diverse and fun characters to read about. That is one pro of this story. All the characters acted unique which was awesome! I didn’t really care for Luke too much though, or the suppose hot and bothered shunned romance between him and Briar. I just wasn’t feeling it.
At this point in time I don’t have any interest in reading the next installment. Now this wasn’t exactly a terrible start to a series per say, it just lacked decent MC development and was smothered with a bunch of unnecessary drama, topped with secrets. SO many secrets! Perhaps one day down the road if I’m feeling particularly bored I’ll pick up the next book and give it a shot. Until then, this series is being shelved.
January 26, 2019
I have to admit, it wasnt the cover that drew me to this book. It was the tag ling "Karma takes too long. I'd rather beat the shit out of you right now." that said hello! you have to read me...lol Then once I got to reading I found out that it was set in my favorite state of Louisiana and that it was going to be a home for vampires, witches and shifters....oh yeah, I read this book and I cant wait to get my hands on the next one!!
May 16, 2021
This had me reading until I passed out.
When I woke up again, I grasped my Kindle, and continued reading.
You know it's a good story when it grasp you, and you can't let go. Damning sleep and exhaustion all to hell - because you NEED to keep reading..!
This is that kind of story.
Highly recommended 👍🏻
When I woke up again, I grasped my Kindle, and continued reading.
You know it's a good story when it grasp you, and you can't let go. Damning sleep and exhaustion all to hell - because you NEED to keep reading..!
This is that kind of story.
Highly recommended 👍🏻
January 24, 2024
A Shifter’s Curse is book one of the Rouen Chronicles of paranormal stories.
Briar has come to Rouen to seek revenge for the death of her family. A powerful she-wolf, Briar works alone and doesn’t trust others easily. She rents a room in a house sharing it with a witch and a vampire while she plots the assassination of her enemies.
To get to them Briar must join the Silver Claw shifter pack. Her initiation trial is harsh as are some of the jobs she is expected to do without flinching.
This is a tale with powerful witches, vampire cartels and shifter wars. Briar is a fighter but underneath she is also a hero. Can she seek the revenge she wants and walk away or will the inhabitants of Rouen draw her in?
This is quite a dark urban fantasy story with much blood and gore. There is a hint of romance and plenty of paranormal beings to satisfy fans of this genre. The story continues in book two.
Briar has come to Rouen to seek revenge for the death of her family. A powerful she-wolf, Briar works alone and doesn’t trust others easily. She rents a room in a house sharing it with a witch and a vampire while she plots the assassination of her enemies.
To get to them Briar must join the Silver Claw shifter pack. Her initiation trial is harsh as are some of the jobs she is expected to do without flinching.
This is a tale with powerful witches, vampire cartels and shifter wars. Briar is a fighter but underneath she is also a hero. Can she seek the revenge she wants and walk away or will the inhabitants of Rouen draw her in?
This is quite a dark urban fantasy story with much blood and gore. There is a hint of romance and plenty of paranormal beings to satisfy fans of this genre. The story continues in book two.
December 19, 2018
This book drew me in from the word "go" and refused to release me. There were so many things to love.
First of all, the characters. Such a unique mixture of personalities, all with their own baggage and motivations. I've truly enjoyed the journey of getting to know and understand them.
Secondly, the world itself. The authors did an excellent job of making everything feel so real. The descriptions were so well done, and it really felt like I was a part of the world.
And the mix of supernatural characters. I love when books are able to create a believable magical world full of a variety of supernatural creatures. The authors pulled this off amazingly well.
I definitely look forward to more.
First of all, the characters. Such a unique mixture of personalities, all with their own baggage and motivations. I've truly enjoyed the journey of getting to know and understand them.
Secondly, the world itself. The authors did an excellent job of making everything feel so real. The descriptions were so well done, and it really felt like I was a part of the world.
And the mix of supernatural characters. I love when books are able to create a believable magical world full of a variety of supernatural creatures. The authors pulled this off amazingly well.
I definitely look forward to more.
January 28, 2019
Difficult to like
The main problem I had with this book was the characters. Briar makes some seriously disturbing choices that made me want to stop reading. I understand her need for revenge but......Spoiler Alert....
.....
.....
But reading about how she repeatedly stabs her new roommate over and over again with a knife as part of her initiation to the shifter gang made me disgusted. This book is dark and not in a good way. Descriptive torture is throughout this book.
The main problem I had with this book was the characters. Briar makes some seriously disturbing choices that made me want to stop reading. I understand her need for revenge but......Spoiler Alert....
.....
.....
But reading about how she repeatedly stabs her new roommate over and over again with a knife as part of her initiation to the shifter gang made me disgusted. This book is dark and not in a good way. Descriptive torture is throughout this book.
January 9, 2024
A good premise
Unfortunately, the writing wasn't up to par. I wish it had been professionally vetted, because I'd like to continue with the series. There were simply too many places where proofreading was needed, too many poorly constructed sentences, and too many instances of word misuse.
If the manuscript was proofread and properly edited, it would stand a chance at getting me to read more of the author. As it is, I can't get past the problems to read distraction-free.
Unfortunately, the writing wasn't up to par. I wish it had been professionally vetted, because I'd like to continue with the series. There were simply too many places where proofreading was needed, too many poorly constructed sentences, and too many instances of word misuse.
If the manuscript was proofread and properly edited, it would stand a chance at getting me to read more of the author. As it is, I can't get past the problems to read distraction-free.
April 24, 2019
I found this to be a slow read until close to the end. The story line has potential and the next installment is now on my list to read.
May 12, 2019
So much action, and yet I was bored. There was a good idea there, it just got buried a little too deep under ickiness for me.
December 4, 2020
I loved this book! I don't think I laughed or cried at anything, but I still loved it! I really loved both Briar and Luke. I liked the situations they found themselves in, and I also loved Briar's roommates, Lynx and Samira. Roma was also a great character!
I started out reading this book on Amazon's website, but then bought it (for FREE!) for my Kindle and switched to reading it on my Kindle app on my phone. And when I finished it, I went right out and bought the rest of the first trilogy! I actually repurchased A Shifter's Curse because it's included in the A Shifter's Revenge box set! (Just $3.99 for all three! Cheaper than buying them individually!)
While I really want to read the next book, I might need to read a book off my December TBR instead! Or maybe I can read three books (one audio, one e-book, and one print)? I'll have to think on that.
But again, I love this book!
I started out reading this book on Amazon's website, but then bought it (for FREE!) for my Kindle and switched to reading it on my Kindle app on my phone. And when I finished it, I went right out and bought the rest of the first trilogy! I actually repurchased A Shifter's Curse because it's included in the A Shifter's Revenge box set! (Just $3.99 for all three! Cheaper than buying them individually!)
While I really want to read the next book, I might need to read a book off my December TBR instead! Or maybe I can read three books (one audio, one e-book, and one print)? I'll have to think on that.
But again, I love this book!
December 12, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Wow just wow!!! I opened this book and the next thing I knew it was over leaving me wanting more. The combination of these two awesome authors has created and urban fantasy world that you can believe exists even if reality claims otherwise. We get not one but three women that seem to know their particular craft quite well. Following a revenge mission is always intriguing especially when it morphs into something else entirely. Wonderfully written as well as full of surprises that will keep you guessing. Book two is going to be awesome!! I totally loved it so I give it 4/5 stars.
Wow just wow!!! I opened this book and the next thing I knew it was over leaving me wanting more. The combination of these two awesome authors has created and urban fantasy world that you can believe exists even if reality claims otherwise. We get not one but three women that seem to know their particular craft quite well. Following a revenge mission is always intriguing especially when it morphs into something else entirely. Wonderfully written as well as full of surprises that will keep you guessing. Book two is going to be awesome!! I totally loved it so I give it 4/5 stars.
January 30, 2021
Surprising turn
She begun like a silly and innocent new girl in town. Don’t worry then she becomes the greatest badass in the house. The alpha dog. A dark story but one I can’t stop reading. Enjoy yourself.
She begun like a silly and innocent new girl in town. Don’t worry then she becomes the greatest badass in the house. The alpha dog. A dark story but one I can’t stop reading. Enjoy yourself.
February 7, 2023
This was just so blah. I kept reading and waiting to get intrigued or excited but I was just bored. Nothing new or interesting and the MC wasn't very likeable to me. There's nothing majorly wrong with the book, but I've read some version of this so many times before and done better. So DNF at 34%.
December 10, 2018
Excellent as always. Briar has one mission. Find Dominic, the man who killed her family. Things obviously don’t go so easily. Received an ARC and reviewed because I enjoyed reading the story.
December 24, 2018
A Shifter's Curse #1 - Another good series from one of my favorite authors, Rachel McClellan and even and with her name change to Raven Steele, she still remains in that category. This book is fast paced, action packed and well thought out. The storylines are interesting and add twists and kinks, but keep the reader glued to the pages. There's violence but it isn't graphically gory but clear what happened; the reader still can use their imagination. Yes, vulgar language but not continuous, here and there for emphasis.
The characters are developed enough for the reader to understand them and their motives. They run the gamut on personalities and types. The action has a real feeling to it, not the Hollywood garbage common today. With the author's clear, vivid descriptions the reader is racing along in a rollercoaster car that sometimes isn't on the tracks, which adds a lot of excitement to the story. I contacted the author to review her books and she hasn't disappointed me once. 5*
Shifter's Rage #2 - Ms. McClellan is one of my favorite authors and even with her name change to Raven Steele, she still remains in that category.
Like all of her previous books, this is fast paced, well written with well thought out storylines, some of which are completed in this book and some that set up the next book; not a cliffhanger. Her characters run the gamut from nice to typical to horrendous, complete with their own personalities. The action scenes run true, no Hollywood silliness, and there's violence but not graphic gory, just clear cut. The reader gets the picture and feels the pain, but their imagination is allowed to exist. The author does a wonderful job with her clear, vivid descriptions. There is sexual tension and some vulgar language but not in every sentence, paragraph or page.
Here and there will be a surprise twist out of the blue; there are still surprise kinks and actions, but the twists add a depth to the usual shifter/vampire/witch theme. Ms. McClellan makes her stories her own and not copies of what everyone else is doing. It is easy to get lost in the intrigue and suspense and the revenge, while still seeing good. I contacted the author to review her books a long time ago and haven't read a bad book in the last two years. 5*
The characters are developed enough for the reader to understand them and their motives. They run the gamut on personalities and types. The action has a real feeling to it, not the Hollywood garbage common today. With the author's clear, vivid descriptions the reader is racing along in a rollercoaster car that sometimes isn't on the tracks, which adds a lot of excitement to the story. I contacted the author to review her books and she hasn't disappointed me once. 5*
Shifter's Rage #2 - Ms. McClellan is one of my favorite authors and even with her name change to Raven Steele, she still remains in that category.
Like all of her previous books, this is fast paced, well written with well thought out storylines, some of which are completed in this book and some that set up the next book; not a cliffhanger. Her characters run the gamut from nice to typical to horrendous, complete with their own personalities. The action scenes run true, no Hollywood silliness, and there's violence but not graphic gory, just clear cut. The reader gets the picture and feels the pain, but their imagination is allowed to exist. The author does a wonderful job with her clear, vivid descriptions. There is sexual tension and some vulgar language but not in every sentence, paragraph or page.
Here and there will be a surprise twist out of the blue; there are still surprise kinks and actions, but the twists add a depth to the usual shifter/vampire/witch theme. Ms. McClellan makes her stories her own and not copies of what everyone else is doing. It is easy to get lost in the intrigue and suspense and the revenge, while still seeing good. I contacted the author to review her books a long time ago and haven't read a bad book in the last two years. 5*
November 14, 2020
I liked it, I didn't love it. I started and finished about 3 other books while still reading this one. Not because it was bad or poorly written, there were just periods in the book where it seemed to continue to repeat the same scenario over and over.
Some of the characters are a bit sterotypical. Briar is out for revenge for the death of her family. Cool, great, but damn; she uses people and it a bit gruff with everyone. The lack of backstory as to why she refuses to trust a soul makes it more annoying. She is kinda one dimensional and has some ancient powered wolf but hides it all the time. Lynx seems like she could be a great secondary character but is a bit weak and after what happens with Briar we see her less. I was all for the friendship and figured it would progress towards the end but it halted and Briar never lets her in on anything. Luke is hot and a dominant wolf with his own brand of secrets. We never learn much about the sexy brooding wolf except he wants to protect the Alpha at all costs because of whatever secret he has. Same Alpha Briar wants to kill. Typically trope; go figure.
Once I did finally sit down to finish it I couldn't put it down for the last 70 plus pages. The book ends of a cliff hanger of sorts and so I will definitely grab the second at some point and see if any of my hundred of questions get answered. Still a good read and I still recommend it.
3.5 out of 5 stars. For me, a run of the mill book. Nothing special or fancy but still good.
Some of the characters are a bit sterotypical. Briar is out for revenge for the death of her family. Cool, great, but damn; she uses people and it a bit gruff with everyone. The lack of backstory as to why she refuses to trust a soul makes it more annoying. She is kinda one dimensional and has some ancient powered wolf but hides it all the time. Lynx seems like she could be a great secondary character but is a bit weak and after what happens with Briar we see her less. I was all for the friendship and figured it would progress towards the end but it halted and Briar never lets her in on anything. Luke is hot and a dominant wolf with his own brand of secrets. We never learn much about the sexy brooding wolf except he wants to protect the Alpha at all costs because of whatever secret he has. Same Alpha Briar wants to kill. Typically trope; go figure.
Once I did finally sit down to finish it I couldn't put it down for the last 70 plus pages. The book ends of a cliff hanger of sorts and so I will definitely grab the second at some point and see if any of my hundred of questions get answered. Still a good read and I still recommend it.
3.5 out of 5 stars. For me, a run of the mill book. Nothing special or fancy but still good.
December 7, 2018
What an AWESOME start to what i can see will be an addicting series!
I absolutely enjoyed reading from start to finish this story. The main character Briar is totally kick-ass. and her two roommates as well! There was NEVER a dull moment. Something was always happening. I am not ashamed to say that after reading this that i am completely sucked into this world of shifters and vamps and witches! I need to know what happens next! There were moments that left my mouth hanging open in complete shock and my eyes wide opened in surprise haha. I felt so sad for Briar her pain is very heartbreaking, yet her need for revenge is totally understandable as well. The absolute imagery of everything that was happening felt as if i was watching a movie! And let me tell you, it's SO GOOD! I want to talk about everything that's happened, but that would just be spoiling the fun of reading this great story for yourself! I highly recommend this as a MUST READ. It is a heart pounding gut wrenching story. The emotions are very strong. I love love the characters, and can't wait to see what happens next with them! So much blood and pain, yet at the same time i feel this hope that in the end everything will work out....maybe. It's totally unpredictable!!! Which i find so awesome! I received an ARC copy of this book.
I absolutely enjoyed reading from start to finish this story. The main character Briar is totally kick-ass. and her two roommates as well! There was NEVER a dull moment. Something was always happening. I am not ashamed to say that after reading this that i am completely sucked into this world of shifters and vamps and witches! I need to know what happens next! There were moments that left my mouth hanging open in complete shock and my eyes wide opened in surprise haha. I felt so sad for Briar her pain is very heartbreaking, yet her need for revenge is totally understandable as well. The absolute imagery of everything that was happening felt as if i was watching a movie! And let me tell you, it's SO GOOD! I want to talk about everything that's happened, but that would just be spoiling the fun of reading this great story for yourself! I highly recommend this as a MUST READ. It is a heart pounding gut wrenching story. The emotions are very strong. I love love the characters, and can't wait to see what happens next with them! So much blood and pain, yet at the same time i feel this hope that in the end everything will work out....maybe. It's totally unpredictable!!! Which i find so awesome! I received an ARC copy of this book.
June 25, 2023
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I completely change my mind on a series, so want to change my scoring down a lot. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)
I re-organised my shelves and managed to delete some favourite books, so this is a re-add. It's too hot to figure out a more detailed review, sorry!
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
I re-organised my shelves and managed to delete some favourite books, so this is a re-add. It's too hot to figure out a more detailed review, sorry!
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
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