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Mezzolupo
Compagno, famiglia, branco, casa… riusciranno Quinn e Kellan ad avere tutto quanto?
Quinn è cresciuto con la sensazione di essere fuori posto nella piccola città che chiama casa. Si strugge per il desiderio di qualcosa a cui non riesce a dare un nome, e si è sempre sentito diverso, ma senza mai sapere il perché.
Kellan fa parte di un branco di mutaforma nomadi. Quando si accampano nei boschi vicino alla città di Quinn trovano degli umani poco amichevoli, e sospettosi nei confronti dei nuovi arrivati. Nell’istante in cui Kellan vede Quinn, e soprattutto lo fiuta, capisce che è speciale. Ma per la prima volta in vita sua non si può fidare dei propri istinti. Quinn è umano, e lui è un lupo mutaforma, quindi come potranno mai essere compagni?
I due legano in maniera immediata ed esaltante, e a Quinn si spezza il cuore nel sapere che il loro rapporto può soltanto essere temporaneo. L’amore non è abbastanza, dato che le leggi del branco proibiscono ai mutaforma di accoppiarsi con gli umani. Fra il branco e gli umani esplode la tensione, e quando scopre su se stesso una sconvolgente verità in grado di cambiare ogni cosa, Quinn teme che gli toccherà scegliere fra l’unica vita che abbia mai conosciuto e l’uomo che ama.
Quinn è cresciuto con la sensazione di essere fuori posto nella piccola città che chiama casa. Si strugge per il desiderio di qualcosa a cui non riesce a dare un nome, e si è sempre sentito diverso, ma senza mai sapere il perché.
Kellan fa parte di un branco di mutaforma nomadi. Quando si accampano nei boschi vicino alla città di Quinn trovano degli umani poco amichevoli, e sospettosi nei confronti dei nuovi arrivati. Nell’istante in cui Kellan vede Quinn, e soprattutto lo fiuta, capisce che è speciale. Ma per la prima volta in vita sua non si può fidare dei propri istinti. Quinn è umano, e lui è un lupo mutaforma, quindi come potranno mai essere compagni?
I due legano in maniera immediata ed esaltante, e a Quinn si spezza il cuore nel sapere che il loro rapporto può soltanto essere temporaneo. L’amore non è abbastanza, dato che le leggi del branco proibiscono ai mutaforma di accoppiarsi con gli umani. Fra il branco e gli umani esplode la tensione, e quando scopre su se stesso una sconvolgente verità in grado di cambiare ogni cosa, Quinn teme che gli toccherà scegliere fra l’unica vita che abbia mai conosciuto e l’uomo che ama.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2017
56 people are currently reading
484 people want to read
About the author
Jay Northcote
54 books1,655 followersI don't hang out on Goodreads much, so if you'd like to connect with me then Twitter, Facebook or an email is usually best :) All my contact details are on my website.
Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.
One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.
Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. Jay has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and he also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.
Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.
Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.
One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.
Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. Jay has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and he also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.
Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
September 23, 2017
I really enjoyed this book:
Mates
MINE
Biting
Sexual and self discovery
Friendship
Family
Quinn has always been fascinated by shifters, so when he hears a shifter pack has moved to the outskirts of the small English town where he lives, he can't stay away. The first time Quinn sees Kellan, his heart goes wild.
And Kellan can smell Quinn, his not-quite-human scent.
Quinn and Kellan feel an immediate, intense attraction, but outside forces threaten to tear them apart.
Quinn realizes there's a reason he's always felt like an outsider, and Kellan is scared the town's prejudice toward shifters will drive him and Quinn apart.
This is a fast-paced story. A lone wolf is preying on livestock, and the town folk blame Kellan's pack. Prejudice and hatred abound.
At times, it didn't feel like the story was set in the here and now, but in the days of dirt roads and vigilante justice. The humans' reaction toward Kellan's pack mirrored every fear fueled by ignorance and bigotry.
I'm a big fan of shifter stories, and Jay's The Half Wolf didn't disappoint. I'm hopeful more books set in this world will follow, because I'm not done with Jay's shifters, not by a long shot.
Mates
MINE
Biting
Sexual and self discovery
Friendship
Family
Quinn has always been fascinated by shifters, so when he hears a shifter pack has moved to the outskirts of the small English town where he lives, he can't stay away. The first time Quinn sees Kellan, his heart goes wild.
And Kellan can smell Quinn, his not-quite-human scent.
Quinn and Kellan feel an immediate, intense attraction, but outside forces threaten to tear them apart.
Quinn realizes there's a reason he's always felt like an outsider, and Kellan is scared the town's prejudice toward shifters will drive him and Quinn apart.
This is a fast-paced story. A lone wolf is preying on livestock, and the town folk blame Kellan's pack. Prejudice and hatred abound.
At times, it didn't feel like the story was set in the here and now, but in the days of dirt roads and vigilante justice. The humans' reaction toward Kellan's pack mirrored every fear fueled by ignorance and bigotry.
I'm a big fan of shifter stories, and Jay's The Half Wolf didn't disappoint. I'm hopeful more books set in this world will follow, because I'm not done with Jay's shifters, not by a long shot.
September 27, 2017
I am a big sucker for everything shifters, mates, biting and mine ;)
So when I found out Jay Nothcote was releasing a shifter story I was on it like white on rice ;)
In this world, humans know all about shifters. That's not to say they get along though, because they don't. So when Kellan's pack moves into the woods close to town, the humans are on guard....well except for Quinn that is.
After Quinn's parents died, he was raised by his aunt, who taught him that shifters were not to be feared or hated.
When Kellan and Quinn meet, there is an instant pull/attraction between the two of them. They start spending time together... in and out of bed...and get to know each other better.
But when strange things start happening, people are quick to point their fingers at the shifters.
These two don't have an easy ride, especially since outside forces are making it so hard on them. But no worries...all ends well ;)
This book wasn't like any of all the others shifter books I've read. It's about falling in love but also about discovering who you really are. It was very sweet and sexy.
I do hope there will be more pnr books by this author ;)
This review has been posted on DirtyBooksObsession
October 3, 2017
When I heard that Jay was writing a shifter story, his first, I knew that I'd have to give it a go and I wasn't disappointed, as this plot took us into a world where the existence of shifters was known and they were fairly-easily identifiable.
I absolutely loved both Quinn and Kellan, both of whom felt a bit trapped between the lives they'd been given and the community at large. Quinn because he was outed as being gay and Kellan because he's a shifter in a world not overly fond of his kind.
They were both great characters and all-around nice guys, so seeing their awkward flirtations lead to something more was fun to watch.
Much of the plot I actually predicted fairly early on, but that didn't really bother me, as I got what I was expecting, instead of being deserted in the middle of What-The-Fuck Forest, so I was pretty happy with the story overall.
The one aspect of the story that I wouldn't have minded being a bit more complex was the situation with "The Big Bad," who came across as pretty coincidental and entirely unrelated to the main plot. I would have preferred for that character to have had *some* type of past tie / a grudge / whatever against Kellan's pack (or the town in general) vs. the feeling of that plot line being quite so random.
As with most of Jay's stories, the book had a decent bit of quality steam, but this one didn't sizzle quite as hot as some of his stories that I've read; although I was a fan of seeing the MC's both give and take.
Plus, there was a good bit of biting, if you're into that sort of thing. ;- )
I also enjoyed seeing the town's bullies actually coming around and admitting that they had been in the wrong.
This was a pretty darn good first foray into shifter territory for Jay, so I wouldn't mind seeing others in the future and I'd rate this one at around 3.75 stars.
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October 22, 2017
It was just meh. The plot was pretty basic, the characters not that entertaining, and the writing was so-so. After having such amazing works in M/M shifterverse, this one lacked in many aspects. It almost felt like I was reading a story from the birth phase of M/M shifterverse, where the authors didn’t let their imagination run wild and wrote tentative, cautious stories.
Read
September 12, 2017Coming soon from me.
I just accidentally rated it two stars by mistake. Oops! I hope it's better than that for most of you.
I had fun dabbling in the paranormal for a change. This story is a probably-not-very-subtle metaphor. Those of you who know me will hopefully see why if you read it :)
I just accidentally rated it two stars by mistake. Oops! I hope it's better than that for most of you.
I had fun dabbling in the paranormal for a change. This story is a probably-not-very-subtle metaphor. Those of you who know me will hopefully see why if you read it :)
September 24, 2017
3.5 Stars
The Half Wolf is a fantastic first effort for the shifter genre! Though there was a little too much detail, at first, about mundane things, like the dog jumping up on the bed and putting groceries away and Tash getting ready for her date (and the massive amounts of TMI from her), I soon settled into the story of Quinn's self discovery that he is far more than he ever thought.
In the universe that Jay Northcote has created, shifters and humans are well aware of each other and have a rather tense relationship. The author has mentioned that this story is a not-so-subtle metaphor for his own self-discovery and I am glad he decided to tell this story.
The Half Wolf is a story of self-discovery. About family. And about finding acceptance, both from yourself and from the people around you.
Quinn's parents are both dead. His father died before he was born, and his mother soon after his birth. He was raised by his aunt Ruth, and she has always been accepting of those that are different -- including shifters, so Quinn grew up being taught that shifters are people, too, and they should not be treated as less-than.
Kellan is a shifter with a pack that has recently settled outside Quinn's hometown. Shifters are used to not being accepted and they do what they can to alleviate any fears, but it is an uphill battle. Kellan's pack is not really welcome, anywhere, just because they are shifters. And that's really too bad, because Kellan's pack are really good neighbors and are nothing but respectful of humans, even though humans tend to treat them poorly.
I enjoyed The Half Wolf quite a lot. Watching Quinn figure out who he is and that he can have Kellan was nothing short of wonderful. Neither Quinn, nor Kellan think they will be able to be together, so even though they are completely drawn to one another, and they embark on a relationship, there is tension galore, that is intensified by some recent livestock killings that are blamed on Kellan's pack.
Self-discovery stories are among my very favorites and Northcote hits the nail on the head. And add in mates and biting and the scorching sexy-times, and I'm a happy camper. It would have only been better if there had been knotting!
I do hope the author decides to write more shifter novels. I look forward to seeing what else he comes up with!
-----------------------
ARC of The Half Wolf was generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
The Half Wolf is a fantastic first effort for the shifter genre! Though there was a little too much detail, at first, about mundane things, like the dog jumping up on the bed and putting groceries away and Tash getting ready for her date (and the massive amounts of TMI from her), I soon settled into the story of Quinn's self discovery that he is far more than he ever thought.
In the universe that Jay Northcote has created, shifters and humans are well aware of each other and have a rather tense relationship. The author has mentioned that this story is a not-so-subtle metaphor for his own self-discovery and I am glad he decided to tell this story.
The Half Wolf is a story of self-discovery. About family. And about finding acceptance, both from yourself and from the people around you.
Quinn's parents are both dead. His father died before he was born, and his mother soon after his birth. He was raised by his aunt Ruth, and she has always been accepting of those that are different -- including shifters, so Quinn grew up being taught that shifters are people, too, and they should not be treated as less-than.
Kellan is a shifter with a pack that has recently settled outside Quinn's hometown. Shifters are used to not being accepted and they do what they can to alleviate any fears, but it is an uphill battle. Kellan's pack is not really welcome, anywhere, just because they are shifters. And that's really too bad, because Kellan's pack are really good neighbors and are nothing but respectful of humans, even though humans tend to treat them poorly.
I enjoyed The Half Wolf quite a lot. Watching Quinn figure out who he is and that he can have Kellan was nothing short of wonderful. Neither Quinn, nor Kellan think they will be able to be together, so even though they are completely drawn to one another, and they embark on a relationship, there is tension galore, that is intensified by some recent livestock killings that are blamed on Kellan's pack.
Self-discovery stories are among my very favorites and Northcote hits the nail on the head. And add in mates and biting and the scorching sexy-times, and I'm a happy camper. It would have only been better if there had been knotting!
I do hope the author decides to write more shifter novels. I look forward to seeing what else he comes up with!
-----------------------
ARC of The Half Wolf was generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2017
3.5 meaningful stars
Beautiful in its simplicity and metaphorically significant , this story takes place in a world where shifters are non-fiction, and be different is, as usual, a challenge.
Jay Northcote tells us the story of Quinn and Kellan, a story of a presumably forbidden love between a wolf and his mate. A story of friendship, family and love. A story about changes. About acceptance.
Kellan comes to Quinn's town with his pack and when they arrive, some dead animals are found and the locals blame the wolves.
Of course they have to blame the ones who are not like them. Prejudice and mistrust play their part while we witness a cute and sexy love story develops.
This is also the story of an awakening. The beginning of a new and different life. The start in the complicated journey that knowing yourself can be. And this is a beautiful awakening with two cute and lovable characters.
I liked both MCs, Kellan and Quinn. They relationship grows naturally even if fast, but with shifters these things happen and it was good. The whole book was good, entertaining and sweet. And above everything it was meaningful, I found subliminal messages everywhere... but I'm super weird so, don't judge me.
If Jay Northcote wants to write more about shifters, I will read it. No doubt here. His first approach to the paranormal got my attention, so sign me up!
So, yes, I would recommend this book about being different. A book about discovering and embracing who you really are. These things are always hard and scary but in this case, so nice to read and with a beautiful resolution, as it should always be.
******ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review******
Reviews for Book Lovers
Beautiful in its simplicity and metaphorically significant , this story takes place in a world where shifters are non-fiction, and be different is, as usual, a challenge.
Jay Northcote tells us the story of Quinn and Kellan, a story of a presumably forbidden love between a wolf and his mate. A story of friendship, family and love. A story about changes. About acceptance.
Kellan comes to Quinn's town with his pack and when they arrive, some dead animals are found and the locals blame the wolves.
Of course they have to blame the ones who are not like them. Prejudice and mistrust play their part while we witness a cute and sexy love story develops.
This is also the story of an awakening. The beginning of a new and different life. The start in the complicated journey that knowing yourself can be. And this is a beautiful awakening with two cute and lovable characters.
I liked both MCs, Kellan and Quinn. They relationship grows naturally even if fast, but with shifters these things happen and it was good. The whole book was good, entertaining and sweet. And above everything it was meaningful, I found subliminal messages everywhere... but I'm super weird so, don't judge me.
If Jay Northcote wants to write more about shifters, I will read it. No doubt here. His first approach to the paranormal got my attention, so sign me up!
So, yes, I would recommend this book about being different. A book about discovering and embracing who you really are. These things are always hard and scary but in this case, so nice to read and with a beautiful resolution, as it should always be.
******ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review******
Reviews for Book Lovers
September 28, 2017
While this started out really strong, somewhere along the way I lost interest and I ended up liking this, but not loving it.
In this world shifters are no longer hidden, but not accepted in society either. When a pack of shifters take up residence in the woods nearby the little town Quinn lives in, he has to see for himself, so he sneaks out to take a peek. Of course the shifters know he is there..
Quinn is 20 years old and lived in the small town his whole life. It is when he meets Kellan, one of the shifters that he starts to feel off. Or that could also be that he forgot to take his medicine for a few days….
Quinn and Kellan were pretty cute together. I liked how sweet they both were and how there was no relationship angst. I do have to say they got together awfully fast, but I’ve had that problem with more of Jay’s books, so I should have known.
I think I started to be bored when the relationship was pretty solid and the book was being filled with the whole omega on the loose thing. I also really disliked Tash, Quinn’s best friend, so I couldn’t have cared less if .
I think if the relationship development took a little longer I would have been more interested in the second half. But everything was kind of figured out and done.
Overall a nice shifter read, but a little boring at times.
I tried to slow down for my buddy readers, but this book just isn’t that long! ;)
In this world shifters are no longer hidden, but not accepted in society either. When a pack of shifters take up residence in the woods nearby the little town Quinn lives in, he has to see for himself, so he sneaks out to take a peek. Of course the shifters know he is there..
Quinn is 20 years old and lived in the small town his whole life. It is when he meets Kellan, one of the shifters that he starts to feel off. Or that could also be that he forgot to take his medicine for a few days….
Quinn and Kellan were pretty cute together. I liked how sweet they both were and how there was no relationship angst. I do have to say they got together awfully fast, but I’ve had that problem with more of Jay’s books, so I should have known.
I think I started to be bored when the relationship was pretty solid and the book was being filled with the whole omega on the loose thing. I also really disliked Tash, Quinn’s best friend, so I couldn’t have cared less if .
I think if the relationship development took a little longer I would have been more interested in the second half. But everything was kind of figured out and done.
Overall a nice shifter read, but a little boring at times.
I tried to slow down for my buddy readers, but this book just isn’t that long! ;)
November 4, 2017
3.5 Stars
Overall, a win for Northcote’s first foray into the paranormal!
Where this story shines is the relationship between Kellan and Quinn. From the moment they meet, the feels and inexplicable pull towards each other were heady and sweet. As it should be, right?
Again, in my old age, it was hard for me to really be engaged when the prejudice and bigotry took center stage, putting a small damper on my enjoyment. However, this is of course, well written, with plenty of smexy shifter goodness and an admittedly, easy happily ever after. I’m so not complaining tho - Northcote for sure, is one of my go to authors and this further solidified that!
Overall, a win for Northcote’s first foray into the paranormal!
Where this story shines is the relationship between Kellan and Quinn. From the moment they meet, the feels and inexplicable pull towards each other were heady and sweet. As it should be, right?
Again, in my old age, it was hard for me to really be engaged when the prejudice and bigotry took center stage, putting a small damper on my enjoyment. However, this is of course, well written, with plenty of smexy shifter goodness and an admittedly, easy happily ever after. I’m so not complaining tho - Northcote for sure, is one of my go to authors and this further solidified that!
September 22, 2017
When Jay said he was thinking of writing a shifter story I was enthusiastically cheering him on and this book is proof positive that he can turn his hand to the paranormal side of MM romance as well as he does young and new adult.
It's inherently British too, set in the Welsh valleys where it's entirely too easy to believe there really are shifters living among the tiny little farming communities.
It also very much shines a light on another typically British tradition - that of travelling people who follow the routes their families have driven for generations around the country.
By that I don't mean the New Age Travellers, as they came to be known, but the genuine Romani families whose lives have changed little only to exchange a horse and vardo for a pickup and a caravan.
There's also an element of self-discovery, as Quinn begins to feel something's up after meeting Kellan and and having an instant attraction to the shifter.
I also loved that this didn't feel in the slightest bit paranormal outside of the turning into a wolf bit that is! Now by that I mean there wasn't an emphasis on the supernatural fact that these people could turn into wolves. It was just treated as one of those things.
Mostly The Half Wolf is a book about discovering your true self, about falling in love, about family being more than just blood, it's about friendships and fears, about ancient mistrusts and new hopes; it's settling down and digging in roots, and it's about always being willing to listen to the voice inside when it nags you to go out and find your place.
It's lovely and passionate and sweet and emotional and it packs a lot in to a fairly short length. I hope Jay lingers in this world for a while.
The beautiful cover from Garrett Leigh perfectly sums up the delights inside as Quinn awakens in a number of ways.
#ARC provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
It's inherently British too, set in the Welsh valleys where it's entirely too easy to believe there really are shifters living among the tiny little farming communities.
It also very much shines a light on another typically British tradition - that of travelling people who follow the routes their families have driven for generations around the country.
By that I don't mean the New Age Travellers, as they came to be known, but the genuine Romani families whose lives have changed little only to exchange a horse and vardo for a pickup and a caravan.
There's also an element of self-discovery, as Quinn begins to feel something's up after meeting Kellan and and having an instant attraction to the shifter.
I also loved that this didn't feel in the slightest bit paranormal outside of the turning into a wolf bit that is! Now by that I mean there wasn't an emphasis on the supernatural fact that these people could turn into wolves. It was just treated as one of those things.
Mostly The Half Wolf is a book about discovering your true self, about falling in love, about family being more than just blood, it's about friendships and fears, about ancient mistrusts and new hopes; it's settling down and digging in roots, and it's about always being willing to listen to the voice inside when it nags you to go out and find your place.
It's lovely and passionate and sweet and emotional and it packs a lot in to a fairly short length. I hope Jay lingers in this world for a while.
The beautiful cover from Garrett Leigh perfectly sums up the delights inside as Quinn awakens in a number of ways.
#ARC provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
i-m-a-quitter
October 16, 2017DNF @ 26%
Calling it quits on this one for now. It wasn't really grabbing my attention so I picked up a few other books.
It's still not really calling to me so maybe I will try again another time.
I am usually a Jay Northcote fan so it's likely me and not the book.
Calling it quits on this one for now. It wasn't really grabbing my attention so I picked up a few other books.
It's still not really calling to me so maybe I will try again another time.
I am usually a Jay Northcote fan so it's likely me and not the book.
September 26, 2017
Jay releasing a shifter book? Yes, yes, yes, please!
Mate, bond, bite, mine, pack. All my favorite words when paranormal is concerned and let me tell you that Jay nailed it with this new installment because The Half Wolf was really entertaining, fast-paced and easy to read.
Well, I was very surprised when I saw that Jay was going to publish a shifter story. He popped my m/m romance cherry with the Housemates series, so I knew he wouldn’t disappoint me. Let’s get real, Jay is an amazing writer.
Jay doesn’t set the story in a specific time, but what he did with the world building was absolutely stunning! Quinn is 20 years old, he lives in a small town and he’s obsessed with shifters. Apparently, there was a conflict long before he was born between shifter and humans and now they live in a delicate truce. Because of this, he has never seen one of them up close, so when he hears that a nomadic shifter pack is in town, he wastes no time and goes to check them out.
There he sees Kellan, a hot shifter part of the pack. Kellan smells that something isn’t quite right with Quinn but that doesn’t stop him from being attracted to him.
Their feelings for each other are strong from the beginning, but sadly, their relationship may not last and some hearts might be broken.
Things are complicated for them. There is a truth that has been hidden from Quinn all his life: he’ll find out why he has always felt like an outsider. Besides, bad things are happening in town and the humans are blaming the shifters so Kellan and his pack may not stay for so long.
It was a great book, however, it was full of mundane details (as I realized it’s Jay’s trademark because with the Housemates series happened the same.) It adds it more realism though, but it gets tiresome reading how Quinn arranges the shelves of the store or how Tash gets ready for a date. (That’s my personal taste, not offenses for those who do enjoy it.)
Besides, I can’t say I loved the drama. The issue of human against shifter bored the hell out of me, and the ‘mystery’ I figured it out long before Quinn did it.
In general, I enjoyed it. The sex, kissing, smelling, groping was hot as fuck. Jay knows his way around sex scenes which I loooooove.
A story of friendship, family, and self-discovery.
Recommended for those who are looking for a light shifter book.
3.5 shifters stars rounded up.
ARC of The Half Wolf was generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review
Reviews for Book Lovers
Mate, bond, bite, mine, pack. All my favorite words when paranormal is concerned and let me tell you that Jay nailed it with this new installment because The Half Wolf was really entertaining, fast-paced and easy to read.
Well, I was very surprised when I saw that Jay was going to publish a shifter story. He popped my m/m romance cherry with the Housemates series, so I knew he wouldn’t disappoint me. Let’s get real, Jay is an amazing writer.
Jay doesn’t set the story in a specific time, but what he did with the world building was absolutely stunning! Quinn is 20 years old, he lives in a small town and he’s obsessed with shifters. Apparently, there was a conflict long before he was born between shifter and humans and now they live in a delicate truce. Because of this, he has never seen one of them up close, so when he hears that a nomadic shifter pack is in town, he wastes no time and goes to check them out.
There he sees Kellan, a hot shifter part of the pack. Kellan smells that something isn’t quite right with Quinn but that doesn’t stop him from being attracted to him.
Their feelings for each other are strong from the beginning, but sadly, their relationship may not last and some hearts might be broken.
Things are complicated for them. There is a truth that has been hidden from Quinn all his life: he’ll find out why he has always felt like an outsider. Besides, bad things are happening in town and the humans are blaming the shifters so Kellan and his pack may not stay for so long.
It was a great book, however, it was full of mundane details (as I realized it’s Jay’s trademark because with the Housemates series happened the same.) It adds it more realism though, but it gets tiresome reading how Quinn arranges the shelves of the store or how Tash gets ready for a date. (That’s my personal taste, not offenses for those who do enjoy it.)
Besides, I can’t say I loved the drama. The issue of human against shifter bored the hell out of me, and the ‘mystery’ I figured it out long before Quinn did it.
In general, I enjoyed it. The sex, kissing, smelling, groping was hot as fuck. Jay knows his way around sex scenes which I loooooove.
A story of friendship, family, and self-discovery.
Recommended for those who are looking for a light shifter book.
3.5 shifters stars rounded up.
ARC of The Half Wolf was generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review
Reviews for Book Lovers
September 28, 2017
3.5 Stars
Quinn has always been a bit of an outsider in his home town in Wales. Orphaned at birth, Quinn was raised by his aunt Ruth. He spends his days working at his aunt’s newsagency and his nights hanging with his bestie, Tash; they love him and he loves them, but he craves something more than this small town life has to offer. It also doesn’t help that Quinn has always felt uneasy in his own skin, like something isn’t quite right, but answers have never been forthcoming. On top of all of this, Quinn is literally the only gay in the village. That is until Kellan comes to town and changes Quinn’s life forever.
Kellan is a shifter. He and his pack have always lived a nomadic life, traveling from place to place and quickly moving on again when things inevitably go pear-shaped. In a world where shifters are known of but largely despised by their human counterparts, it’s difficult, and grossly unfair, how good-natured packs like Kellan’s are ostracized wherever they go. They just want to settle somewhere welcoming and build the roots they need to thrive, not simply survive.
When Kellan and Quinn meet they feel that instantaneous, all-empowering spark that is a mandatory event in my shifter romances. They fall instantly into lust, and soon after into love, even knowing that shifters and humans are forbidden to mate by pack law. But laws be damned because Kellan and Quinn feel how they feel and couldn’t possibly deny their need to be together.
Thankfully, there is more to Quinn than even he realises, and soon enough the boys are navigating their rapidly progressing relationship, while simultaneously fighting town prejudices and also attempting to stop an unknown culprit when some disturbing animal slaughters begin occurring all around town.
I liked Quinn and Kellan, and their romance was just sweet and passionate enough to have me sighing in contentment. I’ll be honest though and admit I wasn’t as consumed by their love as I often find myself when reading truly epic shifter romances. There was the insta-lust and the ‘mine’ goodness, but it wasn’t as intense as I prefer my shifter romances to be. I feel crazy even writing that, because now I realise that the ridiculous, over-the-top shifter tropes, which I so often complain about, might actually be my thing. Huh.
Oh well. What I got here instead was a very well-written, subtle take on shifter lore, making this story a little different from the norm, but no less enjoyable for it.
Ultimately, Northcote’s first foray into the paranormal genre was a success and I wouldn’t hesitate to read more of the like.
Quinn has always been a bit of an outsider in his home town in Wales. Orphaned at birth, Quinn was raised by his aunt Ruth. He spends his days working at his aunt’s newsagency and his nights hanging with his bestie, Tash; they love him and he loves them, but he craves something more than this small town life has to offer. It also doesn’t help that Quinn has always felt uneasy in his own skin, like something isn’t quite right, but answers have never been forthcoming. On top of all of this, Quinn is literally the only gay in the village. That is until Kellan comes to town and changes Quinn’s life forever.
Kellan is a shifter. He and his pack have always lived a nomadic life, traveling from place to place and quickly moving on again when things inevitably go pear-shaped. In a world where shifters are known of but largely despised by their human counterparts, it’s difficult, and grossly unfair, how good-natured packs like Kellan’s are ostracized wherever they go. They just want to settle somewhere welcoming and build the roots they need to thrive, not simply survive.
When Kellan and Quinn meet they feel that instantaneous, all-empowering spark that is a mandatory event in my shifter romances. They fall instantly into lust, and soon after into love, even knowing that shifters and humans are forbidden to mate by pack law. But laws be damned because Kellan and Quinn feel how they feel and couldn’t possibly deny their need to be together.
Thankfully, there is more to Quinn than even he realises, and soon enough the boys are navigating their rapidly progressing relationship, while simultaneously fighting town prejudices and also attempting to stop an unknown culprit when some disturbing animal slaughters begin occurring all around town.
I liked Quinn and Kellan, and their romance was just sweet and passionate enough to have me sighing in contentment. I’ll be honest though and admit I wasn’t as consumed by their love as I often find myself when reading truly epic shifter romances. There was the insta-lust and the ‘mine’ goodness, but it wasn’t as intense as I prefer my shifter romances to be. I feel crazy even writing that, because now I realise that the ridiculous, over-the-top shifter tropes, which I so often complain about, might actually be my thing. Huh.
Oh well. What I got here instead was a very well-written, subtle take on shifter lore, making this story a little different from the norm, but no less enjoyable for it.
Ultimately, Northcote’s first foray into the paranormal genre was a success and I wouldn’t hesitate to read more of the like.
October 3, 2017
The half Wolf was quite the tasty morsel. I'm a big fan Jay Northcote's books. They're sweet, sexy, and low angst and I knew he'd do a fantastic job at writing a shifter story.
Some of my highlights:
-Mates. I'm such a sucker for my mates in PNR. There's something so sweet and romantic about it and add in possessiveness, and I turn into goo.
-I enjoyed the world he created. I was wondering how JN would set up where they lived and I think he did a great job. It felt like today's times, but it wasn't. It reminded me to back in the old western days where there was minimal law enforcement, and people took matters into their own hands except in modern day England. LOL, I can't explain except to say it fit.
-The pace was fast and smooth.
-This book wasn't just a romance there was also a mystery to be solved!
And the end- it left me wanting more.
All in all, I think this was a fantastic effort by Jay Northcote,and I sincerely hope that we see some more PNR from him. 4 Stars!
P.S. Jay, if you do write another shifter story.... can it have knotting? :D
October 16, 2017
***2 Stars***
I had really high hopes for this book. A shifter romance (my favorite) with true mates (my ultimate favorite)...hello...sign me up!
Unfortunately, this book could be summed up in two words. Predictable and Cheesy.
I know this is Jay Northcote's first dip into PNR, and sadly that was glaringly obvious. The world-building felt underdeveloped and painfully lazy. The word "magic" turns up a lot to explain things away or to amp up the paranormal aspect. The "magic" made shifter eyes glow, the "magic" of their abilities...it's all about THE MAGIC. Yet there's no explanation of how the magic came to be or any history behind it :/
One of the central issues in the book is the humans vs. shifters conflict. Most humans don't trust, and certainly don't like, shifters. They're a "them" or "those." Because they're different, they can't be trusted. So the whole suspense element didn't feel suspenseful at all, but more like an after school special of "look what can happen when we come together."
Also, don't even get me started on how oblivious Kellan and Quinn are about the "twist" in the book. You can see it coming from a million miles away, yet these two were all "wow, no way, but that's awesome" about the whole thing. I expected more from Kellan...he's a shifter ffs! And Quinn? Come on, buddy....seriously?
When it came to the romance, it was a big ol' heaping serving of cheese. While I'm definitely not a hater of insta-anything, and certainly expect that immediate pull when it comes to fated mates, Quinn and Kellan's voices sounded so young that I just couldn't get on board. They're 20 and 24, respectively, and yet their internal thoughts and dialogue felt like young high schoolers in love for the first time. It all felt so adolescent to me.
Overall, a book that I really, REALLY wanted to like, but sadly ended up disappointed with.
October 19, 2017
While I read this book, I kept questioning about 'why didn't Jay Northcote didn't write shifter book before?'. Because damn, you can write shifter real good, man!
And I'm loving everything you wrote, especially the chemistry between Kellan and Quinn since the first time they met.
It's a wolf thing, of course, I was searching for cheesy, but I didn't find it. It's just sweet and adorable, with some twist. I really enjoyed the fast pace, and the 'problem' thing in this book, without being too scary or too sweet.
This one is Jay's debut of MM shifter book, and I want you to write this genre again. I will definitely savor every one of them.
Damn, Jay! You are really good with this one. I can say, beside The Law of Attraction
and Passing Through, this is easily become one of my favorite of Jay's book.
I was blown away.
Highly recommended for shifter lover, I promised you, you need this one in your life.
*I voluntarily read the ARC provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.*
And I'm loving everything you wrote, especially the chemistry between Kellan and Quinn since the first time they met.
It's a wolf thing, of course, I was searching for cheesy, but I didn't find it. It's just sweet and adorable, with some twist. I really enjoyed the fast pace, and the 'problem' thing in this book, without being too scary or too sweet.
This one is Jay's debut of MM shifter book, and I want you to write this genre again. I will definitely savor every one of them.
Damn, Jay! You are really good with this one. I can say, beside The Law of Attraction
and Passing Through, this is easily become one of my favorite of Jay's book.
I was blown away.
Highly recommended for shifter lover, I promised you, you need this one in your life.
*I voluntarily read the ARC provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.*
September 25, 2017
I love Jay Northcote.
I love this cover.
I liked this book.
I try hard not to be a shifter snob, I really do. But sometimes I just can't help myself.
If the shifter aspect is fairly basic then I need a strong character connection. And I just didn't have that with these two young men.
Quinn, assumed human, was orphaned at birth and has been raised by his Aunt. He helps her run a small shop in a small town.
Kellan is the son of the nomade shifter pack's Alpha passing through Quinn's town. A history of bad blood has forced distance between humans and shifters. But Quinn has always been intrigued by shifters and he's more than interested in the sexy young shifter called Kellan. They begin a tentative relationship that quickly turns into something...more. But shifters and humans are forbidden to mate. No worries. Kellan is only a tempory summer fling. Now if only Quinn's heart will listen.
The YA vibe was strong. Although Quinn is twenty years old, I felt he came across as much younger. I think it was his relationship with his best friend, Tash, that gave this perception. Don't get me wrong, I love me some YA but I just wasn't expecting it. And to be honest, I had a hard time with Tash.
The mystery with the rouge Omega kept the story moving.
I do enjoy Jay's writing and I enjoyed the self-discovery twist.
But unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one as much as I had hoped that I would.
I love this cover.
I liked this book.
I try hard not to be a shifter snob, I really do. But sometimes I just can't help myself.
If the shifter aspect is fairly basic then I need a strong character connection. And I just didn't have that with these two young men.
Quinn, assumed human, was orphaned at birth and has been raised by his Aunt. He helps her run a small shop in a small town.
Kellan is the son of the nomade shifter pack's Alpha passing through Quinn's town. A history of bad blood has forced distance between humans and shifters. But Quinn has always been intrigued by shifters and he's more than interested in the sexy young shifter called Kellan. They begin a tentative relationship that quickly turns into something...more. But shifters and humans are forbidden to mate. No worries. Kellan is only a tempory summer fling. Now if only Quinn's heart will listen.
The YA vibe was strong. Although Quinn is twenty years old, I felt he came across as much younger. I think it was his relationship with his best friend, Tash, that gave this perception. Don't get me wrong, I love me some YA but I just wasn't expecting it. And to be honest, I had a hard time with Tash.
The mystery with the rouge Omega kept the story moving.
I do enjoy Jay's writing and I enjoyed the self-discovery twist.
But unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one as much as I had hoped that I would.
September 22, 2017
What a great shifter story. The story itself was unique and it flowed really well. It was sweet with some drama, but Jay didn't really beat around the bush and over articulate things.
Quinn, having never met his parents, was raised by his mother's sister, Aunt Ruth.
In a time when shifter and human alliance were very, very rocky, his aunt had to make some choices for them.
Quinn never really questioned about his parents and their history, he seemed to have just settled into day to day life with his aunt and his best friend Tash. He has always had a curiosity about shifters and would study them in books and films. So when he hears a pack has come to town, he decides he wants to take a peek.
Kellan is part of a nomadic shifter pack, so when they hit town, it also means they need to hit up the city for some work. As Kellan enters the store he catches the scent of someone familiar, a certain peeping Tom.
Only something is off with this humans scent and he's not sure what it is.
This is what kept me reading (well mostly) was the mystery of why Quinn's scent was different than just a normal human. I wanted, no needed, to know what his aunt t was hiding. Of course I had suspicions, but I didn't know if it was a kind of malicious intent or not, though that didn't seem to fit her personality. This is the part of the story that made this shifter book differ from others. Along with the different kind of mating between them. I kind of really liked the fact that they couldn't speak to each other in their heads, and went of smells and intuition.
Quinn is very passionate about shifter "equality" amongst humans, and it's kind of adorable when he gets a little riled up with the snooty, bad talking townfolk. I also thought it was a great reference to some injustices that happen in daily life.
When tragedy strikes with one of the humans own and the wolves step in (even though they didn't have to after being treated the way they did) it really brings this nomadic pack and the small minded townsfolk together. Jay just really rounded up the ending nicely, giving us our HEA for these heroes.
4.25 sweet stars
Quinn, having never met his parents, was raised by his mother's sister, Aunt Ruth.
In a time when shifter and human alliance were very, very rocky, his aunt had to make some choices for them.
Quinn never really questioned about his parents and their history, he seemed to have just settled into day to day life with his aunt and his best friend Tash. He has always had a curiosity about shifters and would study them in books and films. So when he hears a pack has come to town, he decides he wants to take a peek.
Kellan is part of a nomadic shifter pack, so when they hit town, it also means they need to hit up the city for some work. As Kellan enters the store he catches the scent of someone familiar, a certain peeping Tom.
Only something is off with this humans scent and he's not sure what it is.
This is what kept me reading (well mostly) was the mystery of why Quinn's scent was different than just a normal human. I wanted, no needed, to know what his aunt t was hiding. Of course I had suspicions, but I didn't know if it was a kind of malicious intent or not, though that didn't seem to fit her personality. This is the part of the story that made this shifter book differ from others. Along with the different kind of mating between them. I kind of really liked the fact that they couldn't speak to each other in their heads, and went of smells and intuition.
Quinn is very passionate about shifter "equality" amongst humans, and it's kind of adorable when he gets a little riled up with the snooty, bad talking townfolk. I also thought it was a great reference to some injustices that happen in daily life.
When tragedy strikes with one of the humans own and the wolves step in (even though they didn't have to after being treated the way they did) it really brings this nomadic pack and the small minded townsfolk together. Jay just really rounded up the ending nicely, giving us our HEA for these heroes.
4.25 sweet stars
October 7, 2017
The Half Wolf is a story about self-discovery, about learning your true self, about being who you are. It's about family and about love. But most of all it's about accepting the differences that exist between us all.
It's Jay Northcote's first dance with shifters and it was a good one. He built a world that wasn't so different from our own. There were shifters and there was magic but other than that everything was just the same. Because of that it was easy to get in the story. I like it when there is world building in paranormal books but this worked just fine for me too. In this case we focused on the main pair and Quinn discovering things about himself.
In the world that Jay created, humans know about shifters but most of them don't accept them. They are sceptical and often hostile towards them. They are affraid of those who are different and don't want to to have anything to do with them. Of course there are exceptions to those behaviours. There are those who give them jobs and treat them as equals. They accept them and don't blame them for everything.
I won't go into the story other than to say it had romance but it also had action, mystery and one or two fight scenes.
Quinn and Kellan's relationship progressed rather quickly - just think that the whole book took place in a little over a week - but I can get past that since we are talking about shifters here. They were trully supportive of each other and a great match. Quinn's self-discovery and the changes he went through were captivating to see. He felt different and he know something was going on but until the last moment he couldn't put his finger on it. My heart broke for his family's story and for him once he learned of the deception he lived with his whole life.
The secondary characters were well developed and I liked all of them, even those who were hostile towards the shifters in the beginning. In the end they redeemed themselves and changed their minds in a believable way and only after facing facts. It wasn't just a change of heart during a discussion. It was a realisation based on events that happened before their eyes. It seemed much more honest and long-term.
4 stars
This review has been cross-posted on The Novel Approach Reviews.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me via The Novel Approach Reviews in exchange for an honest review. *
It's Jay Northcote's first dance with shifters and it was a good one. He built a world that wasn't so different from our own. There were shifters and there was magic but other than that everything was just the same. Because of that it was easy to get in the story. I like it when there is world building in paranormal books but this worked just fine for me too. In this case we focused on the main pair and Quinn discovering things about himself.
In the world that Jay created, humans know about shifters but most of them don't accept them. They are sceptical and often hostile towards them. They are affraid of those who are different and don't want to to have anything to do with them. Of course there are exceptions to those behaviours. There are those who give them jobs and treat them as equals. They accept them and don't blame them for everything.
I won't go into the story other than to say it had romance but it also had action, mystery and one or two fight scenes.
Quinn and Kellan's relationship progressed rather quickly - just think that the whole book took place in a little over a week - but I can get past that since we are talking about shifters here. They were trully supportive of each other and a great match. Quinn's self-discovery and the changes he went through were captivating to see. He felt different and he know something was going on but until the last moment he couldn't put his finger on it. My heart broke for his family's story and for him once he learned of the deception he lived with his whole life.
The secondary characters were well developed and I liked all of them, even those who were hostile towards the shifters in the beginning. In the end they redeemed themselves and changed their minds in a believable way and only after facing facts. It wasn't just a change of heart during a discussion. It was a realisation based on events that happened before their eyes. It seemed much more honest and long-term.
4 stars
This review has been cross-posted on The Novel Approach Reviews.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me via The Novel Approach Reviews in exchange for an honest review. *
September 23, 2017
3.5 stars
Well, it's young love... Quinn and Kellan are cute together, that's for sure. There is a nice 'mystery' regarding Quinn's heritage that I figured out Quinn's heritage way before he did. There is also a friction between humans and werewolves to add the conflict to balance out the romance, which I thought was a decent addition.
Honestly, those who enjoy shifter stories with bonds, mating, and the whole me-mine-GROWL thing will probably love it. Me? I am LONGING for old-fashioned courting and wooing so that it takes time for each party to declare love, even if it's shifter stories. Whirlwind / I-know-that-you're-it-for-me love stories usually doesn't connect with me well. So the romance is just okay for me, nothing special.
The part with who is responsible for the dead sheep keep me interested though. And I loved the blood-spilling action in the end...
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Well, it's young love... Quinn and Kellan are cute together, that's for sure. There is a nice 'mystery' regarding Quinn's heritage that I figured out Quinn's heritage way before he did. There is also a friction between humans and werewolves to add the conflict to balance out the romance, which I thought was a decent addition.
Honestly, those who enjoy shifter stories with bonds, mating, and the whole me-mine-GROWL thing will probably love it. Me? I am LONGING for old-fashioned courting and wooing so that it takes time for each party to declare love, even if it's shifter stories. Whirlwind / I-know-that-you're-it-for-me love stories usually doesn't connect with me well. So the romance is just okay for me, nothing special.
The part with who is responsible for the dead sheep keep me interested though. And I loved the blood-spilling action in the end...
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
September 27, 2017
I am the worst buddy read partner in the history of buddy read partners 😭
This book started out pretty good. I thought the two MCs were cute together. This was definitely instalove, but I can deal with that in shifter books. I got a bit bored in the middle, but that could just be that my mind was elsewhere. I felt like the resolution was a bit too tidy and rushed for my liking. That really made the ending unbelievable.
I would definitely read another paranormal book by Jay Northcote should he write more in this genre in the future.
This book started out pretty good. I thought the two MCs were cute together. This was definitely instalove, but I can deal with that in shifter books. I got a bit bored in the middle, but that could just be that my mind was elsewhere. I felt like the resolution was a bit too tidy and rushed for my liking. That really made the ending unbelievable.
I would definitely read another paranormal book by Jay Northcote should he write more in this genre in the future.
Read
September 27, 2017No rating as I am an impartial proofer, but I loved this book. Designing the cover was a privilege too. If you love sexy wolves, this is the book for you.
September 27, 2017
Quinn and Kellan live in an alternate history where shifters and humans live side by side in (not-quite peaceful) peace. Quinn, a human, has spent almost his entire life in his small Welsh town. His aunt–who has raised him since the death of his parents–has taught him that shifters are not inherently bad, but when a shifter pack moves into an open field near town, it is clear that not everyone in the town is of the same opinion. That doesn’t stop Quinn from falling head-over-heals for Kellan.
Kellan has lived almost his whole life on the move. Shifters are not exactly welcome neighbors, so to keep the peace they only stay in one place for a short while. He is not expecting anything different when they put down stakes at their new “home.” When he runs into Quinn at the local newsagents–run by Quinn’s aunt–that all changes. The almost instantaneous connection and attraction between the two is obvious. What is less obvious is why Quinn smells so different from anyone else he has ever met. Kellan has to be careful, though, because matings between humans and shifters have been forbidden. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop Kellan from falling head-over-tail for Quinn.
Between the overall sentiment that humans and shifters should not be mixing and a heady mix of hormones and attraction, it is obvious that Quinn and Kellan are bound for a tumble. It is just unclear if they are going to be falling in love, or off a cliff.
Jay Northcote does shifters! And he does them quite well, thank you.
This is not an overly complicated story. In fact it is probably one you’ve mostly read before. But what it has going for it are two very well written MCs, a lovely twist, and plot that knows when to speed up and when to linger. It was a very easy read and while I wasn’t blown out of the water by any one thing, I was entertained from start to finish.
One of my favorite things about this story was probably the twist that happens in regards to a certain character. Not going to spoil it, but I like how it was worked in. It gave the story enough of a unique feel that I was truly interested to see where it was going.
Of the things I can talk about, though, I will say I quite liked how the shifter/human world were intermixed. These are actually my favorite kinds of paranormal stories, and I like seeing how the two cultures interact. And since enough time has passed since a lot of the big upsets in society, it was nice to see two communities which are not “at war” but which also haven’t found a way to coexist together yet. It certainly uses the dynamic to reference the “Us/Them” problem common in our own society–as well as a dash of homophobia and just plain bigotry–but also doesn’t beat you over the head with it either. I’m not sure I completely buy the wrap up of all this tension in the end, but in a “this is a fantasy so why not just roll with it” kind of way, I guess I can live.
Mostly because I loved the interactions between Kellan and Quinn. They really sell the whole star-crossed, “I can’t have you, but I’m damn well going to have you” trope to perfection. And the way things resolved with them left me very satisfied. The story didn’t quite go the way I assumed it would when I first started with it, but I like that about it. What could have been a pretty hum-drum plot was bolstered by these two characters and their quite obvious attraction to each other.
Really, this is just a good story. It may not be revolutionary, plot-wise, but I don’t think it ever intended to be. It is a very solid shifter romance. The characters were very well done, the writing was always entertaining, and I found myself kinda hoping to see more in this world in the future. I think if you are a fan of shifters–especially where there are human/shifter couplings–this is going to be right up your alley. I personally am really happy to see that Jay Northcote is branching out into other sub-genres and am excited to see what he can come up with next.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Kellan has lived almost his whole life on the move. Shifters are not exactly welcome neighbors, so to keep the peace they only stay in one place for a short while. He is not expecting anything different when they put down stakes at their new “home.” When he runs into Quinn at the local newsagents–run by Quinn’s aunt–that all changes. The almost instantaneous connection and attraction between the two is obvious. What is less obvious is why Quinn smells so different from anyone else he has ever met. Kellan has to be careful, though, because matings between humans and shifters have been forbidden. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop Kellan from falling head-over-tail for Quinn.
Between the overall sentiment that humans and shifters should not be mixing and a heady mix of hormones and attraction, it is obvious that Quinn and Kellan are bound for a tumble. It is just unclear if they are going to be falling in love, or off a cliff.
Jay Northcote does shifters! And he does them quite well, thank you.
This is not an overly complicated story. In fact it is probably one you’ve mostly read before. But what it has going for it are two very well written MCs, a lovely twist, and plot that knows when to speed up and when to linger. It was a very easy read and while I wasn’t blown out of the water by any one thing, I was entertained from start to finish.
One of my favorite things about this story was probably the twist that happens in regards to a certain character. Not going to spoil it, but I like how it was worked in. It gave the story enough of a unique feel that I was truly interested to see where it was going.
Of the things I can talk about, though, I will say I quite liked how the shifter/human world were intermixed. These are actually my favorite kinds of paranormal stories, and I like seeing how the two cultures interact. And since enough time has passed since a lot of the big upsets in society, it was nice to see two communities which are not “at war” but which also haven’t found a way to coexist together yet. It certainly uses the dynamic to reference the “Us/Them” problem common in our own society–as well as a dash of homophobia and just plain bigotry–but also doesn’t beat you over the head with it either. I’m not sure I completely buy the wrap up of all this tension in the end, but in a “this is a fantasy so why not just roll with it” kind of way, I guess I can live.
Mostly because I loved the interactions between Kellan and Quinn. They really sell the whole star-crossed, “I can’t have you, but I’m damn well going to have you” trope to perfection. And the way things resolved with them left me very satisfied. The story didn’t quite go the way I assumed it would when I first started with it, but I like that about it. What could have been a pretty hum-drum plot was bolstered by these two characters and their quite obvious attraction to each other.
Really, this is just a good story. It may not be revolutionary, plot-wise, but I don’t think it ever intended to be. It is a very solid shifter romance. The characters were very well done, the writing was always entertaining, and I found myself kinda hoping to see more in this world in the future. I think if you are a fan of shifters–especially where there are human/shifter couplings–this is going to be right up your alley. I personally am really happy to see that Jay Northcote is branching out into other sub-genres and am excited to see what he can come up with next.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
September 24, 2017
I'm a huge fan of this author, and when I heard that Jay was going to giving a try at the paranormal genre - well, let's say that I was super eager to read this! And I loved it!
I love Jay's writing, it has an ease to it and just a wonderful flow between the characters, the story, and romance. I know I'm going to get great characters with solid chemistry, a bit of angst and drama as they work their way towards their HEA, and then a HEA!
This is set in a world where humans know about shifters, but they are definitely not equals. In the town where Quinn lives, many people are untrusting and weary of having shifters set up a camp so close by. But Quinn is fascinated by them, and especially one in particular - Kellan.
Quinn and Kellan had great chemistry together. I thought that this had a great blend of being mates, sensing that they are more to each other than just sex friends, but it wasn't insta-love. It was fast, but when I read about shifters, that doesn't bother me that much. I also enjoyed that there was a sense of magic to this - that something about the shifters includes magic, it's not just always facts. And then there was the whole bitey-"MINE" possessiveness that I kinda loved, too.
I also really enjoyed the conflict of who was causing trouble in town, and how that was dealt with. I love that it forced the humans and shifters to work together and really helped open the eyes of the narrow-minded people in town.
Very hopeful that there will be more shifters from Jay, because I'm definitely hooked!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love Jay's writing, it has an ease to it and just a wonderful flow between the characters, the story, and romance. I know I'm going to get great characters with solid chemistry, a bit of angst and drama as they work their way towards their HEA, and then a HEA!
This is set in a world where humans know about shifters, but they are definitely not equals. In the town where Quinn lives, many people are untrusting and weary of having shifters set up a camp so close by. But Quinn is fascinated by them, and especially one in particular - Kellan.
Quinn and Kellan had great chemistry together. I thought that this had a great blend of being mates, sensing that they are more to each other than just sex friends, but it wasn't insta-love. It was fast, but when I read about shifters, that doesn't bother me that much. I also enjoyed that there was a sense of magic to this - that something about the shifters includes magic, it's not just always facts. And then there was the whole bitey-"MINE" possessiveness that I kinda loved, too.
I also really enjoyed the conflict of who was causing trouble in town, and how that was dealt with. I love that it forced the humans and shifters to work together and really helped open the eyes of the narrow-minded people in town.
Very hopeful that there will be more shifters from Jay, because I'm definitely hooked!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 25, 2017
This is Jays first foray into paranormal romance, and I hope it's not the last.
In this world, humans know about shifters, but they don't get along. 20 years ago, there was a shifter-human war and since then, humans have been distrustful of wolves and try to stay away from them.
When Kellan and his pack settle in the woods outside of town, most of the townsfolk are suspicious. Quinn is immediately drawn to the other man, and has been interested in shifters his whole life. Kellan feels the pull and can't stay away, despite knowing nothing can come of it. They spend all their free time together.
Once the shifters arrive, animals start to end up dead, and everyone blames the pack. They do have some allies, but most people try to drive them out of town. It's up to them to prove their innocence. During this time, Quinn decides to stop taking "epilepsy" medicine after missing a few doses and notices changes with his body, he feels better than ever and has heightened senses. What's happening to him?
Eventually this is answered and the shifters prove their innocence when Quinn's best friend goes missing, and they locate the girl and the rogue shifter.
Don't worry, Jay finds a way to give our boys a nice HEA
*ARC provided by author
In this world, humans know about shifters, but they don't get along. 20 years ago, there was a shifter-human war and since then, humans have been distrustful of wolves and try to stay away from them.
When Kellan and his pack settle in the woods outside of town, most of the townsfolk are suspicious. Quinn is immediately drawn to the other man, and has been interested in shifters his whole life. Kellan feels the pull and can't stay away, despite knowing nothing can come of it. They spend all their free time together.
Once the shifters arrive, animals start to end up dead, and everyone blames the pack. They do have some allies, but most people try to drive them out of town. It's up to them to prove their innocence. During this time, Quinn decides to stop taking "epilepsy" medicine after missing a few doses and notices changes with his body, he feels better than ever and has heightened senses. What's happening to him?
Eventually this is answered and the shifters prove their innocence when Quinn's best friend goes missing, and they locate the girl and the rogue shifter.
Don't worry, Jay finds a way to give our boys a nice HEA
*ARC provided by author
September 27, 2017
I read a lot of shifter stories. I love them! It’s utterly fascinating to me. It’s hard, however, to find truly unique ones these days. The Half Wolf by Jay Northcote was in fact unique. I loved pretty much everything about this book. The symbolism of our segregation in our own world, is glaringly parallel to the world the author wrote here.
Quinn has lived in a small town his whole life. He runs the shop with his Aunt Ruth, he’s almost like the “token gay” person around town. On top of that he has pretty much no friends aside from his bff Tash, and he’s so unbelievably lonely.
Kellan is the Alpha’s son of a nomad pack. The alpha in this story is a woman and I want to give major props to the author for writing her so fierce, smart, and powerful. Kellan is gorgeous, strong, and is immediately attracted to Quinn when he sees him.
Here’s the conflict. Shifters are not widely accepted anywhere. Some people rebel against the belief that shifters are bad like Sam, Tash’s dad, and give them work when they come to town. Others, like you’ll see, make them feel very unwelcome.
There’s a rabid omega wandering town killing livestock and on top of that Quinn is discovering there’s so much more to him than he ever knew.
Without telling you the entire story I loved that there were two storylines that intersected here. Where it could be confusing in other books it melded perfectly here.
If you’re a shifter fan and love little surprises and happy endings, I highly recommend this one!
Quinn has lived in a small town his whole life. He runs the shop with his Aunt Ruth, he’s almost like the “token gay” person around town. On top of that he has pretty much no friends aside from his bff Tash, and he’s so unbelievably lonely.
Kellan is the Alpha’s son of a nomad pack. The alpha in this story is a woman and I want to give major props to the author for writing her so fierce, smart, and powerful. Kellan is gorgeous, strong, and is immediately attracted to Quinn when he sees him.
Here’s the conflict. Shifters are not widely accepted anywhere. Some people rebel against the belief that shifters are bad like Sam, Tash’s dad, and give them work when they come to town. Others, like you’ll see, make them feel very unwelcome.
There’s a rabid omega wandering town killing livestock and on top of that Quinn is discovering there’s so much more to him than he ever knew.
Without telling you the entire story I loved that there were two storylines that intersected here. Where it could be confusing in other books it melded perfectly here.
If you’re a shifter fan and love little surprises and happy endings, I highly recommend this one!
October 24, 2017
4 hearts!!
Well If you like Jay Northcote’s other works, you’ll love this. This has everything I’ve come to love about his work, sweet love story, solid characters, no unnecessary conflict and some very sexy times.
I read this book in one sitting and really enjoyed so much about it. Quinn is a human who lives in a world where shifters are known and there is a tentative peace amongst humans and shifters, but still a large amount of prejudices and fear are present. When a shifter pack moves close to Quinn's small town he meets the alpha’s son, Kellan and they have an instant connection. This is most definitely an instalove/true mates story, Kellan and Quinn fall in love hard and fast and stay devoted to each other throughout the course of the book.
While we’re experiencing these two forming their connection there is also a rogue shifter causing trouble for both the humans and the pack, as well as some strange changes in Quinn which he has to work through.
See the rest of my review on the blog,
Well If you like Jay Northcote’s other works, you’ll love this. This has everything I’ve come to love about his work, sweet love story, solid characters, no unnecessary conflict and some very sexy times.
I read this book in one sitting and really enjoyed so much about it. Quinn is a human who lives in a world where shifters are known and there is a tentative peace amongst humans and shifters, but still a large amount of prejudices and fear are present. When a shifter pack moves close to Quinn's small town he meets the alpha’s son, Kellan and they have an instant connection. This is most definitely an instalove/true mates story, Kellan and Quinn fall in love hard and fast and stay devoted to each other throughout the course of the book.
While we’re experiencing these two forming their connection there is also a rogue shifter causing trouble for both the humans and the pack, as well as some strange changes in Quinn which he has to work through.
See the rest of my review on the blog,
October 16, 2017
4 solid howls
Jay Northcote has graced us with yet another great skill. Writing MM shifter paranormal can be tricky for first timers but he did very well for himself. My only opinion was Omega's are usually the care givers of the pack but Northcote made him the aggressor in the story and that was something new for me.
Jay Northcote has graced us with yet another great skill. Writing MM shifter paranormal can be tricky for first timers but he did very well for himself. My only opinion was Omega's are usually the care givers of the pack but Northcote made him the aggressor in the story and that was something new for me.
June 7, 2023
3.5 rounded up
Not a fan of how the plot turned out, some of the townsfolk were just rude and the ending was resolved too easy.
I loved all the shifter stuff tho and the MCs were so cute together ☺️
Not a fan of how the plot turned out, some of the townsfolk were just rude and the ending was resolved too easy.
I loved all the shifter stuff tho and the MCs were so cute together ☺️
October 2, 2017
3.75 'WOLFY' STARS
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