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The Feral Souls Trilogy #2
Assembly
Some secrets are unforgivable, some betrayals cut too deep. And this time… This time I may lose them forever.
I spent eighteen years as a victim. Eighteen years where I was broken, shattered, pried apart and carelessly thrown back together. Now, the glue that keeps my fractured soul from rupturing needs to hold firm, or the four fierce lycans who swore to protect me will die to keep me safe…
The Assembly is no place for a human.
Especially not one standing trial. Surrounded by lycans who’d like nothing more than to see me dead, forced to participate in lethal games and hunted by enemies shrouded in shadows, my world is unravelling. The only thing keeping me sane is the four possessive wolf shifters ready to sacrifice everything to ensure my survival.
But when faces from the past return, the fragile trust I’ve built with my wolves is shaken to its core, and all the terrible secrets I once did everything to keep are clawing their way to the surface.
Out of time, I’m forced to make a choice. A choice that might cost me everything.
***Author Note***
Assembly is the second book in the Feral Souls Trilogy featuring possessive wolf shifters, a damaged heroine fighting to escape her past, and slow burn romance packed with raw emotion and sizzling tension.
Pick up Assembly today to discover the second instalment of this intoxicating paranormal romance!
I spent eighteen years as a victim. Eighteen years where I was broken, shattered, pried apart and carelessly thrown back together. Now, the glue that keeps my fractured soul from rupturing needs to hold firm, or the four fierce lycans who swore to protect me will die to keep me safe…
The Assembly is no place for a human.
Especially not one standing trial. Surrounded by lycans who’d like nothing more than to see me dead, forced to participate in lethal games and hunted by enemies shrouded in shadows, my world is unravelling. The only thing keeping me sane is the four possessive wolf shifters ready to sacrifice everything to ensure my survival.
But when faces from the past return, the fragile trust I’ve built with my wolves is shaken to its core, and all the terrible secrets I once did everything to keep are clawing their way to the surface.
Out of time, I’m forced to make a choice. A choice that might cost me everything.
***Author Note***
Assembly is the second book in the Feral Souls Trilogy featuring possessive wolf shifters, a damaged heroine fighting to escape her past, and slow burn romance packed with raw emotion and sizzling tension.
Pick up Assembly today to discover the second instalment of this intoxicating paranormal romance!
738 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2021
812 people are currently reading
1830 people want to read
About the author
Erica Woods
7 books1,291 followersErica Woods is an animal obsessed, romance addicted, lunatic who spends most her time with her nose in a book or typing away at a new story.
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She loves hearing from her readers, so feel free to ask her a question here on goodreads or contact her through her website or Facebook
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Erica-Woods/e/...
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/erica...
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ericawoodsau...
She loves hearing from her readers, so feel free to ask her a question here on goodreads or contact her through her website or Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 701 reviews
February 4, 2021
Ahhhh! Where do I start????
Words cannot express how long I’ve waited for this book, but it was soooo worth it!
Yet again Erica has wrote a story filled with beautiful evocative writing, rich characters, interesting twists, and steamy scenes that make my heart flutter and buzz like a demented bumble bee.
Don’t even ask me to pick a favourite guy because it would be impossible! I also love how much Hope grows through this book with not only her courage, but her humour as well (obviously Ruarc is rubbing off on her the right way)
I can’t wait to find out what happens next because I’m sure whatever Erica has in store for us will be epic.
Words cannot express how long I’ve waited for this book, but it was soooo worth it!
Yet again Erica has wrote a story filled with beautiful evocative writing, rich characters, interesting twists, and steamy scenes that make my heart flutter and buzz like a demented bumble bee.
Don’t even ask me to pick a favourite guy because it would be impossible! I also love how much Hope grows through this book with not only her courage, but her humour as well (obviously Ruarc is rubbing off on her the right way)
I can’t wait to find out what happens next because I’m sure whatever Erica has in store for us will be epic.
February 6, 2021
Assembly was magnificent! I am yet again left in awe of Erica Woods’ writing and creativity. She gave us a phenomenal followup to Hunted, filled with delicious tension, outstanding characters and a storyline that flowed unabridged like a river of water traveling downstream.
I was incredibly pleased that Assembly picked back up right from the end of Hunted. It made for a seamless transition from one book to the next.
All the characters grew in this book, some more than others. I think Ruarc was the stedfast backbone this time around. (crazy, right?) And though his character didn't change a whole lot, his love and faith in Hope grew deeper throughout, cementing their bond.
Now, on the other hand, I wanted to strangle Lucien 75% of the book. But by the end, he had the most growth and change, and eventually I came to adore him.
Ash and Hope also showed immense growth as individuals and in their relationships. Hope is starting to gain her much needed backbone, standing up for herself to her mates and continually in defense of them. Ash released the chains around his inner monster a bit more, showing just how dangerous he can be when his pack is provoked. As well as, finding and showing a sense of lightheartedness and joy.
We met a LOT of new characters in Assembly. There was a lot to remember and I’m thankful Erica employed the right tactics and details throughout that helped us keep up with all the information, without getting too lost.
With that being said, I think the challenge of this book was indeed taking in and really digesting all of those nuanced details that made this story EPIC! Especially when it was merely a few days of time that passed in the story, from the first page to the last.
But, unsurprisingly, Erica was successful in creating a storyline where that challenge was not only met, but obliterated. Her writing style and bada$$ skills helped the reader to be fully capable of understanding and catching all the details.
Overall, Assembly definitely lived up to the hype of being one of the most anticipated books of 2021!!! I have so many theories and questions, the wait for book 3 will be torturous but well worth it! A definite 5 Star book!!!
I was incredibly pleased that Assembly picked back up right from the end of Hunted. It made for a seamless transition from one book to the next.
All the characters grew in this book, some more than others. I think Ruarc was the stedfast backbone this time around. (crazy, right?) And though his character didn't change a whole lot, his love and faith in Hope grew deeper throughout, cementing their bond.
Now, on the other hand, I wanted to strangle Lucien 75% of the book. But by the end, he had the most growth and change, and eventually I came to adore him.
Ash and Hope also showed immense growth as individuals and in their relationships. Hope is starting to gain her much needed backbone, standing up for herself to her mates and continually in defense of them. Ash released the chains around his inner monster a bit more, showing just how dangerous he can be when his pack is provoked. As well as, finding and showing a sense of lightheartedness and joy.
We met a LOT of new characters in Assembly. There was a lot to remember and I’m thankful Erica employed the right tactics and details throughout that helped us keep up with all the information, without getting too lost.
With that being said, I think the challenge of this book was indeed taking in and really digesting all of those nuanced details that made this story EPIC! Especially when it was merely a few days of time that passed in the story, from the first page to the last.
But, unsurprisingly, Erica was successful in creating a storyline where that challenge was not only met, but obliterated. Her writing style and bada$$ skills helped the reader to be fully capable of understanding and catching all the details.
Overall, Assembly definitely lived up to the hype of being one of the most anticipated books of 2021!!! I have so many theories and questions, the wait for book 3 will be torturous but well worth it! A definite 5 Star book!!!
February 8, 2021
"And wherever we are, you will always be home.
* * * * *
My. HEART.
I LOVED Hunted and after my second read through of Assembly, safe to say I am so OBSESSED with Assembly, too. Hope, the guys, this story, Erica's writing - all of it - gives me a truly visceral reaction. No one writes grief and trauma and survivor's guilt quite like Erica Woods, please feel free to quote me on that.
Hope, our female lead, is a sweet, strong, empathetic young woman who has been manipulated, tortured and abused for nearly her whole life. She has severe PTSD and secrets that threaten to shatter her soul and her sanity. In Assembly, the second the Feral Souls Trilogy, we see Hope grapple with her past as it tries to crush her, but we also see her flourish when surrounded by the love and bond she forms with these men. But we are coming to see that nothing is what it seems in Hunted and Assembly, and the fierce need to protect and shield each other at all costs, the half truths, secrets and mysteries could be the undoing of Hope's potential happily ever after instead of the key. It makes for an absolutely immersive and thrilling read!
These characters have so much depth already and we've yet to truly see the full scope of what they've overcome to be in this moment, together. Erica has written a series that gives us sass, steam and love, trauma, doubt and secrets, but above all it gives us Hope. Hope as a fragile, beautiful, powerful thing, which is more fitting than anyone could ever imagine.
If you love paranormal romance, fierce, protective men, a sweet yet resilient female lead with an an iron will to survive and keep those she loves safe at ANY cost, you will absolutely LOVE the Feral Souls Trilogy!
* * * * *
My. HEART.
I LOVED Hunted and after my second read through of Assembly, safe to say I am so OBSESSED with Assembly, too. Hope, the guys, this story, Erica's writing - all of it - gives me a truly visceral reaction. No one writes grief and trauma and survivor's guilt quite like Erica Woods, please feel free to quote me on that.
Hope, our female lead, is a sweet, strong, empathetic young woman who has been manipulated, tortured and abused for nearly her whole life. She has severe PTSD and secrets that threaten to shatter her soul and her sanity. In Assembly, the second the Feral Souls Trilogy, we see Hope grapple with her past as it tries to crush her, but we also see her flourish when surrounded by the love and bond she forms with these men. But we are coming to see that nothing is what it seems in Hunted and Assembly, and the fierce need to protect and shield each other at all costs, the half truths, secrets and mysteries could be the undoing of Hope's potential happily ever after instead of the key. It makes for an absolutely immersive and thrilling read!
These characters have so much depth already and we've yet to truly see the full scope of what they've overcome to be in this moment, together. Erica has written a series that gives us sass, steam and love, trauma, doubt and secrets, but above all it gives us Hope. Hope as a fragile, beautiful, powerful thing, which is more fitting than anyone could ever imagine.
If you love paranormal romance, fierce, protective men, a sweet yet resilient female lead with an an iron will to survive and keep those she loves safe at ANY cost, you will absolutely LOVE the Feral Souls Trilogy!
May 9, 2021
There was just so much wrong with this book. The trauma was handled so badly that it made me beyond frustrated!
The guys repeatedly threatened Hope, an abused traumatized captive, that they won't let her out by herself, that they will punish her for being disobedient and that she is not allowed to touch any other guy. How is this different from the abuse she already suffered? How is she better off now? Hope is constantly attacked without any cause or reason from literally everyone she meets, is deliberately isolated so that the author can justify giving the guys dialogues about spanking her! Really!? You want to threaten corporal punishment to an abuse victim!?!?
As for Hope, she annoyed me. Actually, that is a huge understatement... Hope was so annoying that I am going to dream of different ways for her to die! The only way to describe her personality is to say it was 'convenient'. She is stubborn and close-mouthed when it suits the plot to keep her so, she is fearful so readers can sympathize with her, she is brave for comic relief, she is obedient for the alpha hero to sex her up and she is whiny ALL the time. And I don't know which was worse - her self loathing or mine for reading this book.
I hate books that introduce conflict and drama through the use of misunderstandings. This book (and the previous one) entirely hinges on a misunderstanding. Actually, misunderstanding is the wrong word. Misunderstanding occurs due to miscommunication. Here, there is no communication. None whatsoever. Nada. Zilch. Really! 1300 pages to tell your boyfriends you were taken by Hunters!
My interest died around 30% of the book (that is about 200 pages... so a lot!) and I could see clearly where the book was heading... And I was done!
The worst part was that none of it made sense. First of all, she has been abused for 18 years. She has been conditioned to be obedient. And yet, she doesn't tell the guys anything despite their repeated questions? Second, the entire showing loyalty by not telling made no sense whatsoever. How was that being loyal?? Her self-loathing was also highly unbelievable!
And my last and most important question - What happened to the leg bandage Hope was using to hide her quick recovery that was so important in the first book!?!?
The book was messy, too soap-operaey, irritating and completely misogynistic. Assholeness described as Alphaness... This is the end of the road for me. I applaud the author for writing such a long-ass book, but I am done!
NOTE- I just realized that the entire book of 700 pages recounts Hope's life of less than a week. That means the author managed to write more than 100 pages for a day. If I recount every single feeling I have in a day, summarize every conversation I have with everyone and mention in detail every food item I eat, I still would be about 99 pages short! Talk about a long-ass book!!
The guys repeatedly threatened Hope, an abused traumatized captive, that they won't let her out by herself, that they will punish her for being disobedient and that she is not allowed to touch any other guy. How is this different from the abuse she already suffered? How is she better off now? Hope is constantly attacked without any cause or reason from literally everyone she meets, is deliberately isolated so that the author can justify giving the guys dialogues about spanking her! Really!? You want to threaten corporal punishment to an abuse victim!?!?
As for Hope, she annoyed me. Actually, that is a huge understatement... Hope was so annoying that I am going to dream of different ways for her to die! The only way to describe her personality is to say it was 'convenient'. She is stubborn and close-mouthed when it suits the plot to keep her so, she is fearful so readers can sympathize with her, she is brave for comic relief, she is obedient for the alpha hero to sex her up and she is whiny ALL the time. And I don't know which was worse - her self loathing or mine for reading this book.
I hate books that introduce conflict and drama through the use of misunderstandings. This book (and the previous one) entirely hinges on a misunderstanding. Actually, misunderstanding is the wrong word. Misunderstanding occurs due to miscommunication. Here, there is no communication. None whatsoever. Nada. Zilch. Really! 1300 pages to tell your boyfriends you were taken by Hunters!
My interest died around 30% of the book (that is about 200 pages... so a lot!) and I could see clearly where the book was heading... And I was done!
The worst part was that none of it made sense. First of all, she has been abused for 18 years. She has been conditioned to be obedient. And yet, she doesn't tell the guys anything despite their repeated questions? Second, the entire showing loyalty by not telling made no sense whatsoever. How was that being loyal?? Her self-loathing was also highly unbelievable!
And my last and most important question - What happened to the leg bandage Hope was using to hide her quick recovery that was so important in the first book!?!?
The book was messy, too soap-operaey, irritating and completely misogynistic. Assholeness described as Alphaness... This is the end of the road for me. I applaud the author for writing such a long-ass book, but I am done!
NOTE- I just realized that the entire book of 700 pages recounts Hope's life of less than a week. That means the author managed to write more than 100 pages for a day. If I recount every single feeling I have in a day, summarize every conversation I have with everyone and mention in detail every food item I eat, I still would be about 99 pages short! Talk about a long-ass book!!
February 4, 2021
Fantastic
Firstly This book was absolutely fantastic. There was so much character growth from the beginning of hunted to the end of assembly. The author has a very realistic outlook on trauma and PTSD which the characters all have some of. Also very well written Erica woods had me hooked on every word. This book was honestly in a word just Wow. The writing flowed from book 1 to book 2 very well and the cliffhanger at the end of this book has me on the edge of my seat for book three. Everyone looking at these reviews You Must Read this book it is so worth it.
Firstly This book was absolutely fantastic. There was so much character growth from the beginning of hunted to the end of assembly. The author has a very realistic outlook on trauma and PTSD which the characters all have some of. Also very well written Erica woods had me hooked on every word. This book was honestly in a word just Wow. The writing flowed from book 1 to book 2 very well and the cliffhanger at the end of this book has me on the edge of my seat for book three. Everyone looking at these reviews You Must Read this book it is so worth it.
February 5, 2021
This story is worth the wait!
I got almost no sleep because when I started this book I could not put it down. Oh I tried to walk away several times but it was like an addiction you just can't give up. So I sacrificed...or is it a sacrifice if I loved every minute of it? Well you all get the idea....
I don't want to give any of the plot away but I will say that secrets come to light and we definitely get to know Hope's men better. Going to the Assembly went as well as expected, as in it was a disaster in some ways and super enlightening in others. The biggest thing is that Hope no longer keeps her men in the dark...that moment, those chapters were everything.
One of the reasons I'm enjoying this series so much is the character development. All of Hope's guys have scars and deep seated issues from their pasts. Then there is Hope who was raised in captivity, made to fear everything, without a sense of worth. I mean she was dumped with the Hunters at 6 years old by her own mother after a life changing event so she was left to believe she was a monster who deserved her punishment. Between Hope and her men's pasts and how it affects them each - well that leaves a wide open gap for misunderstandings. Hope is naive, which is expected, but there are times in this read you just want to shake some sense in to her and this connects me with her men. Despite the shared frustration Hope's reactions and thoughts make sense. She's been a victim all of her life and she isn't just going to wake up one day and is magically better. She's strong and kind and it will take time but she is growing a backbone and in those moments you just cheer her on. Her men are also in need of therapy and bring their baggage into this relationship. Now I've always been in love with Ruarc because he's Raurc, I like the adorable Jason and am slowly falling for Ash. Lucien, however, has terrible foot in mouth syndrome. His past rules him with an iron fist and in trying to protect himself and his family he causes more pain than anyone. But maybe with the truckload of guilt he carries, especially after Hope's confessions, he'll redeem himself.
All in all the story is great, the character development is realistic, the developing relationships between Hope and her guys is awesome...so really there's no reason not to rwad this. Erica Woods has written an excellent story that completely grabs you mind and soul because I promise these characters will stick with you long after you've finished.
I got almost no sleep because when I started this book I could not put it down. Oh I tried to walk away several times but it was like an addiction you just can't give up. So I sacrificed...or is it a sacrifice if I loved every minute of it? Well you all get the idea....
I don't want to give any of the plot away but I will say that secrets come to light and we definitely get to know Hope's men better. Going to the Assembly went as well as expected, as in it was a disaster in some ways and super enlightening in others. The biggest thing is that Hope no longer keeps her men in the dark...that moment, those chapters were everything.
One of the reasons I'm enjoying this series so much is the character development. All of Hope's guys have scars and deep seated issues from their pasts. Then there is Hope who was raised in captivity, made to fear everything, without a sense of worth. I mean she was dumped with the Hunters at 6 years old by her own mother after a life changing event so she was left to believe she was a monster who deserved her punishment. Between Hope and her men's pasts and how it affects them each - well that leaves a wide open gap for misunderstandings. Hope is naive, which is expected, but there are times in this read you just want to shake some sense in to her and this connects me with her men. Despite the shared frustration Hope's reactions and thoughts make sense. She's been a victim all of her life and she isn't just going to wake up one day and is magically better. She's strong and kind and it will take time but she is growing a backbone and in those moments you just cheer her on. Her men are also in need of therapy and bring their baggage into this relationship. Now I've always been in love with Ruarc because he's Raurc, I like the adorable Jason and am slowly falling for Ash. Lucien, however, has terrible foot in mouth syndrome. His past rules him with an iron fist and in trying to protect himself and his family he causes more pain than anyone. But maybe with the truckload of guilt he carries, especially after Hope's confessions, he'll redeem himself.
All in all the story is great, the character development is realistic, the developing relationships between Hope and her guys is awesome...so really there's no reason not to rwad this. Erica Woods has written an excellent story that completely grabs you mind and soul because I promise these characters will stick with you long after you've finished.
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February 4, 2021IT'S LIVE AND IN KU!
"He was both a demon's thirst for vengeance and an angel's righteous wrath; as exquisite in his beauty as he was deadly in his cruelty."
In the mood for growly, possessive shifters, a heroine who's fighting to escape her past, and over 730 pages of raw emotion, sizzling tension, and intoxicating romance? Then you'll love Assembly!
"We stared at each other for what felt like hours. Me, cut open and bleeding through invisible wounds. Him, unmovable, unreadable, untouchable; safe within his armor made of ice and marble and jagged edges that cut every time I got too close."
Start reading here: Amazon
Add to TBR: Assembly
"Anyone tries to take you from me," he growled, "they'll die."
"He was both a demon's thirst for vengeance and an angel's righteous wrath; as exquisite in his beauty as he was deadly in his cruelty."
In the mood for growly, possessive shifters, a heroine who's fighting to escape her past, and over 730 pages of raw emotion, sizzling tension, and intoxicating romance? Then you'll love Assembly!
"We stared at each other for what felt like hours. Me, cut open and bleeding through invisible wounds. Him, unmovable, unreadable, untouchable; safe within his armor made of ice and marble and jagged edges that cut every time I got too close."
Start reading here: Amazon
Add to TBR: Assembly
"Anyone tries to take you from me," he growled, "they'll die."
February 5, 2021
Oh the emotions run rampant with this one! Assembly is the much anticipated book 2 in the Feral Souls trilogy and I am absolutely loving everything in this book. It picks up where we left off in book 1. Hope and the guys realizing they must attend Assembly and meet with the council. Hope is just so heartbreakingly innocent but over time, spending her days with the guys, she’s grown a backbone and it makes me proud! She no longer cowers, she no longer runs in the opposite direction. She stands up. There are still times when she retreats into herself but I find that her shell is no longer impenetrable. I love that we get to know the guys further. I’ve always appreciated multi-POV in RH books. Ruarc truly defines his enforcer title. He’s gruff and taciturn. More likely to grunt a response rather than use actual words. Heaven forbid he speaks with a full sentence. Jason is quite the opposite. He’s more laidback with an almost childlike nature. It’s no wonder that Ruarc calls him pup. Ash, the alpha of the pack with an almost nonexistent cold exterior that I wonder how he is an Alpha when he exudes almost none of the stereotypical qualities. But beneath his nice exterior lies a man/Wolf with a calculating presence. With quiet observation, he mulls over every situation with a careful and methodical forethought. Lucien is a much tougher nut to crack. But you understand why he’s so prickly towards Hope. He’s almost downright a condescending jerk. But, remember he’s trying to maintain the integrity of his pack and he believed Hope was a threat to that. Understand where he’s coming from, a frail and obviously abused girl has stumbled into their lives. Lucien wants answers but Hope isn’t talking. But the way they all love Hope? It’s so breathtakingly sweet.
August 3, 2021
My heart bleeds for Hope.
Omg the ups and downs Hope goes through in this book. So much pain and sadness but so much growth and passion and happiness. It was a long long book and it took me two days to make it through but I loved this story and cannot wait to find out what happens in the final book. I just love this series.
Omg the ups and downs Hope goes through in this book. So much pain and sadness but so much growth and passion and happiness. It was a long long book and it took me two days to make it through but I loved this story and cannot wait to find out what happens in the final book. I just love this series.
February 5, 2021
Ugh
Honestly? This book is total waste of time and money. After 600 pages of nothing happening in the first book, you would expect that the second will provide some real, meaningful plot. And... you would be wrong. You get 700 pages of sniveling, weak, pathetic FMC. There is only so much crying, pathetic whining, always needing to be saved and doing nothing FC, that a reader can stand. This is a book with 50% boring, wimpering FC, 30% excessively long (2-3 chapters) and unnecessary sex scenes and 20% where the FC claims will do something and in the end doing nothing. And let's not forget the male characters - one is always roaring, breaking things and hitting bystanders, one is constantly using dumb jokes, one is cold, abrasive and hurtful and the only one even remotely interesting - not enough to compensate anything.
Basically 2-3 weeks have passed in the period of 2 books and the most remarkable thing is the FC escaping her prison in the first chapter of the first book.
Totally not recommending this series.
Honestly? This book is total waste of time and money. After 600 pages of nothing happening in the first book, you would expect that the second will provide some real, meaningful plot. And... you would be wrong. You get 700 pages of sniveling, weak, pathetic FMC. There is only so much crying, pathetic whining, always needing to be saved and doing nothing FC, that a reader can stand. This is a book with 50% boring, wimpering FC, 30% excessively long (2-3 chapters) and unnecessary sex scenes and 20% where the FC claims will do something and in the end doing nothing. And let's not forget the male characters - one is always roaring, breaking things and hitting bystanders, one is constantly using dumb jokes, one is cold, abrasive and hurtful and the only one even remotely interesting - not enough to compensate anything.
Basically 2-3 weeks have passed in the period of 2 books and the most remarkable thing is the FC escaping her prison in the first chapter of the first book.
Totally not recommending this series.
March 30, 2021
CAPTIVATING
I have to say that Erica Woods has truly outdone herself again. This second installment of The Feral Souls Trilogy has absolutely captivated me. Just as Hunted completed drew me in from the first pages, Assembly was impossible to put down! The way she has brought out all the characters is absolutely exquisite! Hope has truly come a full circle and is really finding her true self. Also her males!!!! They are all so different and quite perfect for Hope. Lucien slowly stole my heart and while he is definitely not perfect he loves Hope. Ruarc is her protector and secretly the sweetest man alive!! Jason with his fun attitude and comedic relief at just the right time definitely had me laughing out loud through this book! And finally Ash he truly surprised me, his strength and his honor, his dominance... this book will not disappoint! I hope the final installment comes quickly as this series has completely stolen my heart! Erica Woods is completely brilliant and I hope she continues with her amazing writing!
I have to say that Erica Woods has truly outdone herself again. This second installment of The Feral Souls Trilogy has absolutely captivated me. Just as Hunted completed drew me in from the first pages, Assembly was impossible to put down! The way she has brought out all the characters is absolutely exquisite! Hope has truly come a full circle and is really finding her true self. Also her males!!!! They are all so different and quite perfect for Hope. Lucien slowly stole my heart and while he is definitely not perfect he loves Hope. Ruarc is her protector and secretly the sweetest man alive!! Jason with his fun attitude and comedic relief at just the right time definitely had me laughing out loud through this book! And finally Ash he truly surprised me, his strength and his honor, his dominance... this book will not disappoint! I hope the final installment comes quickly as this series has completely stolen my heart! Erica Woods is completely brilliant and I hope she continues with her amazing writing!
September 18, 2021
3.8
Ugh finally hope told the guys about the hunters! I have been waiting for this book for like 1000 years..it seems like it. This book has so many twist and turns and i loved reading it but as much as i loved the first book, hope kinda annoyed me a lot in this one. Tbh almost 600 pages for the first book and 700 pages for this one and hope tells the truth about her past at 90% of the second book tested my patience and i dont like that, but also the way the truth was revealed..it was perfect 😩 the right place and the right time. Hope did annoy me in this one but i also understand why she didnt tell the guys,i just want more ugh i cant wait for the third book. I loved the way Lucien fell in love with Hope, he tried so hard not to 🥺🥺 it was so precious. Rurac is my all time fav, he is scary and dangerous but so soft and caring towards hope... ok i think i love ash more? Idk dude i cant choose. I love all of them too much. Ash is amazing, i loved him from the first book cuz he is so mysterious but also so calm 😩. I need the third book asap.
Ugh finally hope told the guys about the hunters! I have been waiting for this book for like 1000 years..it seems like it. This book has so many twist and turns and i loved reading it but as much as i loved the first book, hope kinda annoyed me a lot in this one. Tbh almost 600 pages for the first book and 700 pages for this one and hope tells the truth about her past at 90% of the second book tested my patience and i dont like that, but also the way the truth was revealed..it was perfect 😩 the right place and the right time. Hope did annoy me in this one but i also understand why she didnt tell the guys,i just want more ugh i cant wait for the third book. I loved the way Lucien fell in love with Hope, he tried so hard not to 🥺🥺 it was so precious. Rurac is my all time fav, he is scary and dangerous but so soft and caring towards hope... ok i think i love ash more? Idk dude i cant choose. I love all of them too much. Ash is amazing, i loved him from the first book cuz he is so mysterious but also so calm 😩. I need the third book asap.
February 5, 2021
I wanted to love this. I did. But the main character is driving me nuts. I understand that she’s experienced unspeakable trauma and has been incredibly sheltered at the same time. But why does she act so...dumb? She persists in making incredibly stupid decisions that the guys interpret as selfless and amazing.
Amazingly well-written. 700 pages wherein nothing really happened and I couldn’t stop reading. But dear lord this main character makes me want to scream.
Amazingly well-written. 700 pages wherein nothing really happened and I couldn’t stop reading. But dear lord this main character makes me want to scream.
February 4, 2021
First, let me say that overall, I enjoyed Assembly, reading it into the wee hours of the morning while masterfully pretending to be asleep every time it seemed like my boyfriend might wake up and catch me.
That being said you do have to prepare yourself for a few things:
1) The pacing. For a 700+ page book, very little time actually passes, so it feels a bit like the Drums of Autumn book in Outlander where you're spending so much time in this world, but you find it's barely been a week.
2) The will she/won't she continues for most of the book. Hope is traumatized, blames herself, and has a mix of a white knight complex (wanting to keep the guys safe) and that dangerous guilt whispering that she doesn't deserve the life her pack wants to give her. Do I think that hesitance to share secrets fits Hope's character and the narrative that Woods has been creating? Mostly, yes. Does it also irritate me a tiny bit that there are so many festering secrets for most of such a huge book? Yes. You need to go into this with that patience of knowing that yes, there will be drama. Yes, there are still MANY secrets, and yes, there is 1000000% a link between the two.
3) Although we're at the Assembly, we don't actually finish the assembly. This event will continue in book three, and there's a lot still to come. One thing that Woods does very nicely in Assembly is her focus on the relationships. Hope has moments with each of the members of her pack, and although we do have a bunch of different events going on throughout the plot, I think that this book is more about getting them to the emotional places and relationship goals they needed to reach to handle some of the bigger events that are to come.
All of that being said, now that you are forearmed, here's what I thought.
There's some interesting character growth, and the benefit of the pack's POVs is definitely felt very strongly. While Ruarc is very steady (for all that he's also a reactive alpha mess lol) and Jason is still a bit hesitant, self-deprecating, and not ready to dig into all of the darkness in his own life, Ash and Lucien are taken to task in book two. Both of them are forced to confront some aspects of themselves, and we get to see more vulnerable sides to each of them through the peeks into their minds, with Hope as the catalyst.
We get to learn more about what Ash is and why he's different from the others, get to "see" him smile a lot more, and as the distance between him and Hope diminishes, we get to really understand even more why he's the respected alpha of their pack and swoon-worthy in his own right.
Now... Lucien. He earns the hot mess express award FOR REAL. He's up, he's down, he's hot, he's cold, he's vicious, he's vulnerable, he's a total dom, and he's all torn up inside. After book one, I knew the man had a lot of feelings, but dear god, he goes through the wringer possibly more than even Hope does because feelings and vulnerability are just so darn alien to him that he doesn't understand how to healthily process. Prepare for a lot of push and pull with him, but by the end, I think that Assembly will be marked as his turning point where we can start to more consistently see the better side of his nature and how he can be a real partner to Hope instead of changing his feelings fast enough to give her [us] whiplash. There's something that's almost adorable in his total puppy dog confusion over how he reacts/how she interprets his words and actions, though there's no excusing the fact that he has a great deal of a$$hole moments in 700+ pages.
Hope is slowly taking steps to healing. Really, we've still got a very long journey there because the poison that she's been dealing with alone isn't purged until the very end, so even though we are seeing some of her confidence and self-image being slowly repaired in the little moments where Jason, Ruarc, and Ash show her what she means to them, she still a wholly fragile being. I do like her, and Woods does a nice job of making me want to both empathize and sympathize with her, but her strength is definitely a quiet one that she's not yet quite unearthed at this point.
A big change up from book one is definitely the steam level. We've got one-on-one scenes, sharing scenes, a little bossy bedroom antics, and moments for each of the guys to have their own intimacy with her at whatever level they're ready for. So, even though there are a lot of other ways that their relationships are very slowly moving along, the physical aspect kind of ignited and took off. I'm not mad about it, and the scenes were well-written and enjoyable to read, but I was surprised at the contrast of the pacing here compared to book one.
Though Assembly was not without its faults or aspects that might not be 100% my taste (because I wouldn't say that Woods has done anything wrong.The nature of a review is not so black and white as that, right?), I think that Woods did a lot of good character work, some great relationship building and recovery, and I'm looking forward to seeing if book three picks up the pacing since we've got some of the secrets out of the way and an unexpected appearance at the end of Assembly that promises more drama to quickly come.
That being said you do have to prepare yourself for a few things:
1) The pacing. For a 700+ page book, very little time actually passes, so it feels a bit like the Drums of Autumn book in Outlander where you're spending so much time in this world, but you find it's barely been a week.
2) The will she/won't she continues for most of the book. Hope is traumatized, blames herself, and has a mix of a white knight complex (wanting to keep the guys safe) and that dangerous guilt whispering that she doesn't deserve the life her pack wants to give her. Do I think that hesitance to share secrets fits Hope's character and the narrative that Woods has been creating? Mostly, yes. Does it also irritate me a tiny bit that there are so many festering secrets for most of such a huge book? Yes. You need to go into this with that patience of knowing that yes, there will be drama. Yes, there are still MANY secrets, and yes, there is 1000000% a link between the two.
3) Although we're at the Assembly, we don't actually finish the assembly. This event will continue in book three, and there's a lot still to come. One thing that Woods does very nicely in Assembly is her focus on the relationships. Hope has moments with each of the members of her pack, and although we do have a bunch of different events going on throughout the plot, I think that this book is more about getting them to the emotional places and relationship goals they needed to reach to handle some of the bigger events that are to come.
All of that being said, now that you are forearmed, here's what I thought.
There's some interesting character growth, and the benefit of the pack's POVs is definitely felt very strongly. While Ruarc is very steady (for all that he's also a reactive alpha mess lol) and Jason is still a bit hesitant, self-deprecating, and not ready to dig into all of the darkness in his own life, Ash and Lucien are taken to task in book two. Both of them are forced to confront some aspects of themselves, and we get to see more vulnerable sides to each of them through the peeks into their minds, with Hope as the catalyst.
We get to learn more about what Ash is and why he's different from the others, get to "see" him smile a lot more, and as the distance between him and Hope diminishes, we get to really understand even more why he's the respected alpha of their pack and swoon-worthy in his own right.
Now... Lucien. He earns the hot mess express award FOR REAL. He's up, he's down, he's hot, he's cold, he's vicious, he's vulnerable, he's a total dom, and he's all torn up inside. After book one, I knew the man had a lot of feelings, but dear god, he goes through the wringer possibly more than even Hope does because feelings and vulnerability are just so darn alien to him that he doesn't understand how to healthily process. Prepare for a lot of push and pull with him, but by the end, I think that Assembly will be marked as his turning point where we can start to more consistently see the better side of his nature and how he can be a real partner to Hope instead of changing his feelings fast enough to give her [us] whiplash. There's something that's almost adorable in his total puppy dog confusion over how he reacts/how she interprets his words and actions, though there's no excusing the fact that he has a great deal of a$$hole moments in 700+ pages.
Hope is slowly taking steps to healing. Really, we've still got a very long journey there because the poison that she's been dealing with alone isn't purged until the very end, so even though we are seeing some of her confidence and self-image being slowly repaired in the little moments where Jason, Ruarc, and Ash show her what she means to them, she still a wholly fragile being. I do like her, and Woods does a nice job of making me want to both empathize and sympathize with her, but her strength is definitely a quiet one that she's not yet quite unearthed at this point.
A big change up from book one is definitely the steam level. We've got one-on-one scenes, sharing scenes, a little bossy bedroom antics, and moments for each of the guys to have their own intimacy with her at whatever level they're ready for. So, even though there are a lot of other ways that their relationships are very slowly moving along, the physical aspect kind of ignited and took off. I'm not mad about it, and the scenes were well-written and enjoyable to read, but I was surprised at the contrast of the pacing here compared to book one.
Though Assembly was not without its faults or aspects that might not be 100% my taste (because I wouldn't say that Woods has done anything wrong.The nature of a review is not so black and white as that, right?), I think that Woods did a lot of good character work, some great relationship building and recovery, and I'm looking forward to seeing if book three picks up the pacing since we've got some of the secrets out of the way and an unexpected appearance at the end of Assembly that promises more drama to quickly come.
February 5, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have so many thing to say about this book, but I am still going to need some time to get my mind wrapped around my thoughts. When I read Hunted it took me months to write what I thought was an appropriate review- but i would feel remiss not to put a few thoughts down while I’m coming up with something good for Assembly.
I (like most fans of Hunted) have been waiting over a year for this book. I waited patiently because I know, i know from being in her FB group the hard work Erica puts into her story. And I was totally fine with waiting. I would have waited 10 years if thats what it took because I loved Hunted so much and will always be willing to wait for greatness.
Well... Assembly came out yesterday and I didnt put this story down for 7 straight hours. I ignored everyone in my life (except for Des because.. I mean.. we became friends bc of Hunted and shes my love so I legit only talked to her😂) and everything in my life and I knew it would be like that— but I was not expecting the WHY of it.
I thought it would be like that because I had anticipate the release so much.
It would up being like that because this story.... fuck. This story is my heart. My soul. It is everything I have been through and everything I wish was real. It is light and love and angst and fucking Hope
It is learning and growing and trying and falling and getting back up again. It is mystery and intrigue and romance and love and it is perfect.
I couldn’t have anticipated that Assembly would not only meet my expectations, but surpass them. I knew it would be good. I knew because I knew Hunted was so amazing and I knew the author was busting her ass and usually author’s books get better the more they write- thats just like.. literary science or something 😂 I could not have expected how good it was. I could not have expected the lore and the backstories and the character development. I could not have expected to fall more in love with these characters... but thats what I got. I got 717 pages of never-ending brilliant story-telling. I got moments I laughed my ass off at and I got moments I sobbed so hard I was biting the insides of my cheeks until they bled. I lived and breathed and cried and my heart beat for Hope, Lucien, Ruarc, Ash and Jason. My entire world narrowed down to these 5 characters and this story and it was an experience more than it was a book.
The first book covers the first few weeks of Hope’s life after she escapes the Hunter’s compound leading up til the guys get a summons to The Assembly saying they have to attended and bring Hope. This book is like... jumping from the frying pan in the the fire. Theres so much that happens. Theres so much that happens before they even leave for the Assembly. Theres so much development both individually and in the whole “what/who is Hope” mystery. Hope starts to get a bit of a backbone throughout the story and her change is so organic and perfect. Theres no abrupt change. Erica doesn’t force anything on Hope. She lets her characters evolve at their own pace and you can tell how much work she put into being true to her story and her characters. All the relationships moved in much the same way. There was never a point where I thought “well that came out of nowhere.” In a time when most RH’s follow a similar plot and set up and most people assume if it’s paranormal then the human psyche and human spirit is also paranormal and forget the HUMAN aspect of these people- its so fucking refreshing to see Erica stay true and allow her story to tell itself. Its so wonderful to watch these characters (especially the guys) slowly come out of their shell- to see them realize every thing they went through in their lives makes them not only stronger, but better to help Hope- and to allow Hope to bring a sense of peace and forgiveness to bandage their own wounds.
I cant begin to put into words how this book made me feel. Except for maybe.... in the words of Lucien... “magnificent.” It held up to every single one of my expectations. Everything I was hoping would be in this book was there and a million things I didn’t even know I wanted. I will forever get so emotional over this series. I will forever hold these characters in my heart.
Anyways.. thats all I have to say for now. I’ll come back to give a more extensive spoiler-free review later but for now I want to make sure and let everyone who read Hunted know that if you’re expecting more of the same, you need not worry. Not only will you enjoy Assembly just as much as you enjoyed Hunted- you will bathe in the light that is this book. You will finish it and think “how have I lived without this story?” You will be baffled that anything, anything could surpass Hunted- because thats exactly what Assembly does. It takes everything good and wonderful and entertaining about Hunted and amps it up x1000. In a world where sequels so often fall flat, Erica has done what most authors can not and surpassed her own acclaimed debut novel. She surpassed it by leaps and bounds and I can not wait to find out what happens next!
I have so many thing to say about this book, but I am still going to need some time to get my mind wrapped around my thoughts. When I read Hunted it took me months to write what I thought was an appropriate review- but i would feel remiss not to put a few thoughts down while I’m coming up with something good for Assembly.
I (like most fans of Hunted) have been waiting over a year for this book. I waited patiently because I know, i know from being in her FB group the hard work Erica puts into her story. And I was totally fine with waiting. I would have waited 10 years if thats what it took because I loved Hunted so much and will always be willing to wait for greatness.
Well... Assembly came out yesterday and I didnt put this story down for 7 straight hours. I ignored everyone in my life (except for Des because.. I mean.. we became friends bc of Hunted and shes my love so I legit only talked to her😂) and everything in my life and I knew it would be like that— but I was not expecting the WHY of it.
I thought it would be like that because I had anticipate the release so much.
It would up being like that because this story.... fuck. This story is my heart. My soul. It is everything I have been through and everything I wish was real. It is light and love and angst and fucking Hope
It is learning and growing and trying and falling and getting back up again. It is mystery and intrigue and romance and love and it is perfect.
I couldn’t have anticipated that Assembly would not only meet my expectations, but surpass them. I knew it would be good. I knew because I knew Hunted was so amazing and I knew the author was busting her ass and usually author’s books get better the more they write- thats just like.. literary science or something 😂 I could not have expected how good it was. I could not have expected the lore and the backstories and the character development. I could not have expected to fall more in love with these characters... but thats what I got. I got 717 pages of never-ending brilliant story-telling. I got moments I laughed my ass off at and I got moments I sobbed so hard I was biting the insides of my cheeks until they bled. I lived and breathed and cried and my heart beat for Hope, Lucien, Ruarc, Ash and Jason. My entire world narrowed down to these 5 characters and this story and it was an experience more than it was a book.
The first book covers the first few weeks of Hope’s life after she escapes the Hunter’s compound leading up til the guys get a summons to The Assembly saying they have to attended and bring Hope. This book is like... jumping from the frying pan in the the fire. Theres so much that happens. Theres so much that happens before they even leave for the Assembly. Theres so much development both individually and in the whole “what/who is Hope” mystery. Hope starts to get a bit of a backbone throughout the story and her change is so organic and perfect. Theres no abrupt change. Erica doesn’t force anything on Hope. She lets her characters evolve at their own pace and you can tell how much work she put into being true to her story and her characters. All the relationships moved in much the same way. There was never a point where I thought “well that came out of nowhere.” In a time when most RH’s follow a similar plot and set up and most people assume if it’s paranormal then the human psyche and human spirit is also paranormal and forget the HUMAN aspect of these people- its so fucking refreshing to see Erica stay true and allow her story to tell itself. Its so wonderful to watch these characters (especially the guys) slowly come out of their shell- to see them realize every thing they went through in their lives makes them not only stronger, but better to help Hope- and to allow Hope to bring a sense of peace and forgiveness to bandage their own wounds.
I cant begin to put into words how this book made me feel. Except for maybe.... in the words of Lucien... “magnificent.” It held up to every single one of my expectations. Everything I was hoping would be in this book was there and a million things I didn’t even know I wanted. I will forever get so emotional over this series. I will forever hold these characters in my heart.
Anyways.. thats all I have to say for now. I’ll come back to give a more extensive spoiler-free review later but for now I want to make sure and let everyone who read Hunted know that if you’re expecting more of the same, you need not worry. Not only will you enjoy Assembly just as much as you enjoyed Hunted- you will bathe in the light that is this book. You will finish it and think “how have I lived without this story?” You will be baffled that anything, anything could surpass Hunted- because thats exactly what Assembly does. It takes everything good and wonderful and entertaining about Hunted and amps it up x1000. In a world where sequels so often fall flat, Erica has done what most authors can not and surpassed her own acclaimed debut novel. She surpassed it by leaps and bounds and I can not wait to find out what happens next!
February 5, 2021
Disappointed.
This was one of my most highly anticipated reads for this year because I absolutely LOVED the first book, but all the second book has done has made me dislike Hope.
I get in the first book why she chose to keep her secrets close to her as she was still developing her relationships with the guys. So I completely understood.
However, the second book? Those relationships have developed there is NO reason not to tell them what happened. Especially after they constantly reassure her by their words AND actions that she obviously means something to them. Her whole attitude is just whiny and I get it to a certain extent but 700+ pages of it? No. Just no.
If I'm being honest and I was one of her guys, I don't think I could truly love someone who I KNOW is actively keeping secrets as relationships are BUILT on trust and Hope just doesn't trust them enough to tell them her history and to trust they'll stay with her.
I think what annoyed me the most was the complete non-commutation. I would say MIS-communication but because Hope doesn't actually confine in them until the last few chapters there was no communication.
I ended up skimming this book as nothing really happens. It's very, very slow. I read 100 pages and still could have skipped it because nothing Important happened.
In a nutshell...
• Hope DOESN'T tell them she was taken by hunters until the very end and the reasons why.
• Matthew is alive a never left the hunters (shock horror) and is working against Hope again... shock horror.
• And we STILL don't know what Hope supernatural animal/power is (however, it could have been mentioned, like I said I skimmed a lot of it because I was finding the storyline quite boring and predictable).
Maybe I am being to harsh on the book? I'm not sure. But after a year of waiting, and this being one of my most anticipated reads of 2021, to finally getting it (a book of 700+ pages) where nothing happens. Can't say I'm eager to read the 3rd if I'm being truthful. Truly disappointed.
This was one of my most highly anticipated reads for this year because I absolutely LOVED the first book, but all the second book has done has made me dislike Hope.
I get in the first book why she chose to keep her secrets close to her as she was still developing her relationships with the guys. So I completely understood.
However, the second book? Those relationships have developed there is NO reason not to tell them what happened. Especially after they constantly reassure her by their words AND actions that she obviously means something to them. Her whole attitude is just whiny and I get it to a certain extent but 700+ pages of it? No. Just no.
If I'm being honest and I was one of her guys, I don't think I could truly love someone who I KNOW is actively keeping secrets as relationships are BUILT on trust and Hope just doesn't trust them enough to tell them her history and to trust they'll stay with her.
I think what annoyed me the most was the complete non-commutation. I would say MIS-communication but because Hope doesn't actually confine in them until the last few chapters there was no communication.
I ended up skimming this book as nothing really happens. It's very, very slow. I read 100 pages and still could have skipped it because nothing Important happened.
In a nutshell...
• Hope DOESN'T tell them she was taken by hunters until the very end and the reasons why.
• Matthew is alive a never left the hunters (shock horror) and is working against Hope again... shock horror.
• And we STILL don't know what Hope supernatural animal/power is (however, it could have been mentioned, like I said I skimmed a lot of it because I was finding the storyline quite boring and predictable).
Maybe I am being to harsh on the book? I'm not sure. But after a year of waiting, and this being one of my most anticipated reads of 2021, to finally getting it (a book of 700+ pages) where nothing happens. Can't say I'm eager to read the 3rd if I'm being truthful. Truly disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2021
Worth the wait!
As anyone who has been spoiled by many other kindle unlimited authors knows, it seems like it has taken forever for this book to come out. HOWEVER, it was definitely worth the wait. Time was taken for both length AND quality. It was both an easy read and one that had words and phrases that actually caught my attention that you don't see used often enough which I always love. With everyone knowing that Hunted is a slow burn I was curious about the pacing of Assembly. Things progress much faster in this book and all of it feels organic and on par with the first book. Things are definitely picking up speed and it keeps you interested in the world and their relationship. As Hope starts to heal she grows a bit of a backbone but it doesn't seem forced. Instead it seems very much like a woman healing and learning to trust the men around her to not hurt her when she speaks up. This book continues with the multiple pov which I love. With the way Erica writes you start figuring out what the other characters are thinking and then it's rewarding to switch povs and see that you are right and are learning what different facial expressions observed actually mean and you aren't being fooled like the pov is. Anyways this book is great. Read it!
As anyone who has been spoiled by many other kindle unlimited authors knows, it seems like it has taken forever for this book to come out. HOWEVER, it was definitely worth the wait. Time was taken for both length AND quality. It was both an easy read and one that had words and phrases that actually caught my attention that you don't see used often enough which I always love. With everyone knowing that Hunted is a slow burn I was curious about the pacing of Assembly. Things progress much faster in this book and all of it feels organic and on par with the first book. Things are definitely picking up speed and it keeps you interested in the world and their relationship. As Hope starts to heal she grows a bit of a backbone but it doesn't seem forced. Instead it seems very much like a woman healing and learning to trust the men around her to not hurt her when she speaks up. This book continues with the multiple pov which I love. With the way Erica writes you start figuring out what the other characters are thinking and then it's rewarding to switch povs and see that you are right and are learning what different facial expressions observed actually mean and you aren't being fooled like the pov is. Anyways this book is great. Read it!
February 4, 2021
I'm not giving it 5 stars because
February 7, 2021
Pages: 717
My rating: 3
Read other books by this author in the future: yes
MC: Hope, Rurac, Ash, Lucien, Jason
SC: Gavril Sânrigla (the uncle)
This book was a buddy read of the the three musketeers of damaged heroines 😉. Thanks Girls for a great br. (Yes, G. I totally stole that one form your comment.)
I enjoyed it but be warned, it is a really long book and the pace of the story is really slow. All the events happen within maximum a week. So we already know that Hope has some dark past which is a mystery. And in this book telling Ash, Rurac, Lucien and Jason her secrets becomes a tragic running gag. She gets insecure, interrupted and so on. And I am not going to tell you, if we will know her secret by the end of the book.
But by not telling the guys are worried about a lot of thing especially her health and wellbeing where she could have eased their worries. Talking and Communication is an issue in this book. Because a few things could be avoided by talking things out openly.
Hope is a broken heroine and at times a very annoying one. In this book we learn more about Lucien and Ash. I am looking forward to the third book will be the last book in this series?!
February 7, 2021
Wow
So dang good... book one hooked me and book two has done the same! Amazing writing and world! I highly recommend this series
So dang good... book one hooked me and book two has done the same! Amazing writing and world! I highly recommend this series
February 5, 2021
Great continuation...
I felt this book was pretty faithful to the first book, a slower pace for the plot and in-depth relationship and characterization. Things about Hope’s past are very slowly teased out and misunderstandings persist long throughout the book...but eventually, things are explored, and better, they are discussed.
Despite the guys being alphas (and dominant in the bedroom for the most part) Hope is still able to push back, state her limits, and take the lead, even if it is foolhardy at times. Yes, she does have a few TSTL moments, but she acknowledges them. Her lack of confidence and her constant questioning of herself and other’s motivations fits her character and the traumatic past she lived. I felt it was the right (if troublesome and frustrating) characterization for someone with as much PTSD as Hope to be closed and skittish.
The heat was the only part that took me by surprise, but in a good way, to be honest. I love a slow burn, but there was no reason to drag things out in book 2 because of where the plot was going, and the steam went along with the progress in relationship development. It also, unfortunately, took the place of trust development at times...secrets not getting shared when bodies and passion went first. That also seemed realistic, though, and very fitting for a female who has experienced trauma and abuse.
The book ends in kind of a strange place. The big reveal that takes place is rushed compared to the time spend on exploring the nuances of everyone’s relationships prior. Hope confesses a truly terrible past event that shook her whole foundation at a young age, and although it is discussed...for this book...for the way everything else gets throughly explored...it wasn’t enough. The characters even state they’ll discuss it more later, but it felt a bit of a let down. I realize the book is long and I don’t know what is planned for book 3, but I hope it is a topic that is brought up and more throughly discussed again. It seems the lynchpin to everything that made Hope the way she is now.
The next book is probably going to be about righting old wrongs as much as finding forgiveness for one’s unintended mistakes. Hope needs to love herself before she can truly love her guys.
I felt this book was pretty faithful to the first book, a slower pace for the plot and in-depth relationship and characterization. Things about Hope’s past are very slowly teased out and misunderstandings persist long throughout the book...but eventually, things are explored, and better, they are discussed.
Despite the guys being alphas (and dominant in the bedroom for the most part) Hope is still able to push back, state her limits, and take the lead, even if it is foolhardy at times. Yes, she does have a few TSTL moments, but she acknowledges them. Her lack of confidence and her constant questioning of herself and other’s motivations fits her character and the traumatic past she lived. I felt it was the right (if troublesome and frustrating) characterization for someone with as much PTSD as Hope to be closed and skittish.
The heat was the only part that took me by surprise, but in a good way, to be honest. I love a slow burn, but there was no reason to drag things out in book 2 because of where the plot was going, and the steam went along with the progress in relationship development. It also, unfortunately, took the place of trust development at times...secrets not getting shared when bodies and passion went first. That also seemed realistic, though, and very fitting for a female who has experienced trauma and abuse.
The book ends in kind of a strange place. The big reveal that takes place is rushed compared to the time spend on exploring the nuances of everyone’s relationships prior. Hope confesses a truly terrible past event that shook her whole foundation at a young age, and although it is discussed...for this book...for the way everything else gets throughly explored...it wasn’t enough. The characters even state they’ll discuss it more later, but it felt a bit of a let down. I realize the book is long and I don’t know what is planned for book 3, but I hope it is a topic that is brought up and more throughly discussed again. It seems the lynchpin to everything that made Hope the way she is now.
The next book is probably going to be about righting old wrongs as much as finding forgiveness for one’s unintended mistakes. Hope needs to love herself before she can truly love her guys.
February 6, 2021
So much depth, so much story
The second book of the feral souls trilogy is just as incredible as the first. So much story, so much depth you feel like you know these characters. Hope still struggles with her self worth and the guys still struggle to understand but as it slowly comes out you get some amazing character building. If you like kick ass shouty fighty main female characters you won’t find it here, what you do get is a real feeling that you know hope and you understand why she is like she is. I loved it but even I wanted to shout at her sometimes, but her strength shines through in different ways! Well written sexy scenes, some being pure hotness and some being pure connection, you get it all. Where book one is definitely a slow burn this is a medium burn. I could talk about this book for hours, if you want to know more join Erica Woods very active group page on Facebook
The second book of the feral souls trilogy is just as incredible as the first. So much story, so much depth you feel like you know these characters. Hope still struggles with her self worth and the guys still struggle to understand but as it slowly comes out you get some amazing character building. If you like kick ass shouty fighty main female characters you won’t find it here, what you do get is a real feeling that you know hope and you understand why she is like she is. I loved it but even I wanted to shout at her sometimes, but her strength shines through in different ways! Well written sexy scenes, some being pure hotness and some being pure connection, you get it all. Where book one is definitely a slow burn this is a medium burn. I could talk about this book for hours, if you want to know more join Erica Woods very active group page on Facebook
February 5, 2021
Worth the wait
I just devoured this book in about 7 hours and I'm left sort of speechless. It was amazing. We learn more about Hope's story and follow her as she learns how to become her own person while being thrown into impossible situations. We also get to see some developments with each of the guys and learn more about their back stories as well. Secrets come out but we still have plenty of secrets to uncover. I read Hunted when it first came out and have been waiting for Assembly for over a year with high expectations, and Erica did not disappoint. I absolutely love this book and now have to deal with the anxiety of waiting for book 3; at least I know it will be worth the wait.
I just devoured this book in about 7 hours and I'm left sort of speechless. It was amazing. We learn more about Hope's story and follow her as she learns how to become her own person while being thrown into impossible situations. We also get to see some developments with each of the guys and learn more about their back stories as well. Secrets come out but we still have plenty of secrets to uncover. I read Hunted when it first came out and have been waiting for Assembly for over a year with high expectations, and Erica did not disappoint. I absolutely love this book and now have to deal with the anxiety of waiting for book 3; at least I know it will be worth the wait.
dnf
August 24, 2023DNF for now at 49%. This book is over 700 pages and it's just a bit too long for what it is.
Also, this was published in February 2021 (over 2.5 years ago), and book 3 of this "trilogy" does not have a release date in sight. I can't bring myself to push through another 370 pages, when I know this will end with a cliffhanger, and who knows if the author will ever even complete the trilogy.
Also, this was published in February 2021 (over 2.5 years ago), and book 3 of this "trilogy" does not have a release date in sight. I can't bring myself to push through another 370 pages, when I know this will end with a cliffhanger, and who knows if the author will ever even complete the trilogy.
March 31, 2021
It's going to be ThE BeST BOoK EveR
Edit: It WaS THe BeST BoOk EVEr
Edit: It WaS THe BeST BoOk EVEr
February 6, 2021
Erica!!! SQUEE!!!!
****This review may contain spoilers.***
You did not let us down with this one. I for one love a long book, I swear it's like 3 in one which would really make this book. I absolutely love the multiple POV's.
I love all the guys, even more, especially Lucian. You actually had me really pissed of at Hope for a bit.
Which made her more realistic. Not a perfect person and in my opinion more relatable.
It gave all the good feels, crying angry, amused so that is always a plus.
I love how the men accept and protect Hope no matter what she has done.
The love scenes are tastefully done. IT is clear that it is love, not just sex. They take the care to let Hope decide how far she wants to go.
I would think that anyone who suffers from PTSD would enjoy this book. IT is not something that can be gotten over in just a month or few weeks and seeing that these books take place in less than a month it is realistic. I would have been put off and not given this a 5-star review if Hope was fine and good about her trauma after such a short time.
Hope needed boundaries at Assembly because she does not know the laws of this world that she is in. It is not a human world. The men are very overprotective because of this very fact. She is told to not touch another male by her men. Because she is not yet mated. Not to go out alone and be a chaperone at all times because of the aggression from others she will get.
WOW what a CLIFFY!! I cannot wait for the next book.
****This review may contain spoilers.***
You did not let us down with this one. I for one love a long book, I swear it's like 3 in one which would really make this book. I absolutely love the multiple POV's.
I love all the guys, even more, especially Lucian. You actually had me really pissed of at Hope for a bit.
Which made her more realistic. Not a perfect person and in my opinion more relatable.
It gave all the good feels, crying angry, amused so that is always a plus.
I love how the men accept and protect Hope no matter what she has done.
The love scenes are tastefully done. IT is clear that it is love, not just sex. They take the care to let Hope decide how far she wants to go.
I would think that anyone who suffers from PTSD would enjoy this book. IT is not something that can be gotten over in just a month or few weeks and seeing that these books take place in less than a month it is realistic. I would have been put off and not given this a 5-star review if Hope was fine and good about her trauma after such a short time.
Hope needed boundaries at Assembly because she does not know the laws of this world that she is in. It is not a human world. The men are very overprotective because of this very fact. She is told to not touch another male by her men. Because she is not yet mated. Not to go out alone and be a chaperone at all times because of the aggression from others she will get.
WOW what a CLIFFY!! I cannot wait for the next book.
February 4, 2021
Definitely worth the hype
I was someone who found Hunted in early 2020, and fell in love immediately with Hope’s story and proceeded to stalk Erica on social media shortly thereafter. Between the fb group and all the Amazon reviews, it’s pretty clear Assembly had a lot to live up to and in my opinion it definitely delivered. And this is coming from someone who normally hates bully romances (luckily for me it’s only a thing with one of the guys) but she writes her characters so well that it barely even bothered me. A lot more “happens” in this book compared to Hunted plot-wise(not that it ever bothered me in Hunted) and it was really satisfying to see Hope grow and struggle in this book. Actually I would have liked the pacing to be a bit slower in the beginning 1/3 so it didn’t feel quiet so jarring after just rereading Hunted, but that might be a symptom of my late night speed read. The end-in true Erica fashion-has another heart wrenching cliff hanger but with the quality (and quantity) of writing Erica produces I am more than okay with waiting another year for the last installment. (Actually I’m dying inside but I guess I have to be okay with it)
I was someone who found Hunted in early 2020, and fell in love immediately with Hope’s story and proceeded to stalk Erica on social media shortly thereafter. Between the fb group and all the Amazon reviews, it’s pretty clear Assembly had a lot to live up to and in my opinion it definitely delivered. And this is coming from someone who normally hates bully romances (luckily for me it’s only a thing with one of the guys) but she writes her characters so well that it barely even bothered me. A lot more “happens” in this book compared to Hunted plot-wise(not that it ever bothered me in Hunted) and it was really satisfying to see Hope grow and struggle in this book. Actually I would have liked the pacing to be a bit slower in the beginning 1/3 so it didn’t feel quiet so jarring after just rereading Hunted, but that might be a symptom of my late night speed read. The end-in true Erica fashion-has another heart wrenching cliff hanger but with the quality (and quantity) of writing Erica produces I am more than okay with waiting another year for the last installment. (Actually I’m dying inside but I guess I have to be okay with it)
February 5, 2021
AAAHH!!! I have no idea what to do with myself after reading this sequel. If you haven't checked out Hunted, go read it now, and if you have pick this sequel up as soon as you can!
Likes
-So many steamy scenes and they were all amazing
-Hope grew as a MC and showed such strength
-Learned more about Ash and Lucien
-Learned more about the lycan world in general
There are things I would have like to seen such as more steamy times with Ash, more about Keiran and the vampires, and I wish the events that happened at the end of the book had happened earlier so we could have gotten more of the events that will follow in this book (but that's hopefully what next book is for)
There were a couple things that I didn't enjoy but these are all personal preferences, not that the writing or anything was bad: 1. I don't love the way Lucien treats Hope. I know he has his own issues, but still. I feel like he just kept putting himself in the dog house in this book. 2. (POTENTIAL SPOILER) all the rape attempts against Hope. I hate that when it comes to threats towards women this is always the one used.
Likes
-So many steamy scenes and they were all amazing
-Hope grew as a MC and showed such strength
-Learned more about Ash and Lucien
-Learned more about the lycan world in general
There are things I would have like to seen such as more steamy times with Ash, more about Keiran and the vampires, and I wish the events that happened at the end of the book had happened earlier so we could have gotten more of the events that will follow in this book (but that's hopefully what next book is for)
There were a couple things that I didn't enjoy but these are all personal preferences, not that the writing or anything was bad: 1. I don't love the way Lucien treats Hope. I know he has his own issues, but still. I feel like he just kept putting himself in the dog house in this book. 2. (POTENTIAL SPOILER) all the rape attempts against Hope. I hate that when it comes to threats towards women this is always the one used.
February 5, 2021
Amazing
It’s been nine months since I first read Hunted, and Assembly was worth the wait! Nine months might not seem long, but with writing as good as this, it felt like forever. Assembly delivered intrigue, passion, suspense, great story telling, excitement, and more. You know the excitement you get when you read a book you like and find there’s many more already written? While I wish Erica was that far in her career because I’m greedy for great writing, it’s been great fun being a part of her Facebook group and supporting her while she finished Assembly. ( I also might’ve asked a thousand times how much longer). Erica delivered such an in depth story she gave us 717 pages! So much fun....if you haven’t read Hunted, start there and be thankful Assembly is already out. Can’t wait for the next book. Do you really need sleep Erica? You could probably write faster if you didn’t need to sleep.
It’s been nine months since I first read Hunted, and Assembly was worth the wait! Nine months might not seem long, but with writing as good as this, it felt like forever. Assembly delivered intrigue, passion, suspense, great story telling, excitement, and more. You know the excitement you get when you read a book you like and find there’s many more already written? While I wish Erica was that far in her career because I’m greedy for great writing, it’s been great fun being a part of her Facebook group and supporting her while she finished Assembly. ( I also might’ve asked a thousand times how much longer). Erica delivered such an in depth story she gave us 717 pages! So much fun....if you haven’t read Hunted, start there and be thankful Assembly is already out. Can’t wait for the next book. Do you really need sleep Erica? You could probably write faster if you didn’t need to sleep.
February 7, 2021
I couldn’t finish it
I liked the first book, and I was really looking forward to the second one... but it was so repetitive! I got until chapter 38 and nothing had happened yet.... I’m just disappointed to be honest. I was hoping by that point she would have shared her past or more would have happened... but I just couldn’t keep reading it and I always finish books.
I liked the first book, and I was really looking forward to the second one... but it was so repetitive! I got until chapter 38 and nothing had happened yet.... I’m just disappointed to be honest. I was hoping by that point she would have shared her past or more would have happened... but I just couldn’t keep reading it and I always finish books.
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