Wonderful Winning Willow
Fallen Lorde backtracks on some of the more exciting events in Ghost Eyes and shows the backstory behind Willow Lorde’s epic victory against her father-in-law to become Beta of the pack. This is the third book in the Kootenai Pack series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but the story will make more sense if you start at the beginning and read Tooth and Claw.
The Opening
The prologue serves to remind the reader what happened immediately after the challenge scene in Ghost Eyes. But then chapter 1 takes us way back in time to when Willow and Jackson first became a couple.
This story would have worked just as well without the prologue. In fact, it would make a better stand-alone without the prologue, which would only serve to confuse newcomers to the series. Further, the events narrated as a told event in the prologue are much better shown in chapter 21, making the prologue redundant.
Chapter 1 is a great introduction to Willow and her struggles. It begins with clear conflict and ends on a fabulous cliffhanger ending.
The Characters
Willow is a badass female protagonist and a clear sympathetic character. Despite being small and relatively frail, she uses her dexterity and cunning to win challenges. The way she is introduced in chapter 1 is wonderful, showing her fear and insecurities. You can’t help but like her.
I like the subtle differences in opinion that develop between Willow and Jackson. But I like the more overt ones, too, such as the question of children. I’ve never liked Jackson since he hit Aster in Tooth and Claw. The way he is introduced in this book, I like him even less. I do like his malapropism, though, especially how it annoys Willow so much.
I still don’t like Kendrick much, but at least he’s trying to learn his lesson from his time with Jen in Ghost Eyes. The further away from Aster’s story we stray, the more appealing he becomes, and I loved his character development arc in the final stage of this novel. However, I detested his actions near the end of this book in relation to interfering with Willow’s relationship with Jackson.
The Plot
This fabulous werewolf romance starts with wonderful relationship-related action and just gets better as it goes on. I really loved the resolution at the end…a happy ending for two characters who have suffered across three whole books.
I enjoyed the events of chapter 18 when Willow’s skills become apparent and Jackson’s disdain more evident, but I absolutely adored the climactic events of chapters 20 and 21. Awesome stuff. In retrospect, a slower and much earlier introduction of Willow’s abilities may have provided better foreshadowing, but I still loved how this chapter shifted the whole direction of this novel.
The slow development of the main relationship arc starting on p.142 and accelerating on p.144 is wonderful. I truly enjoyed seeing the changes unfold.
I didn’t like the plot pinch beginning on p.197 concerning Kendrick and Jackson. However, it does work. I just don’t like how it makes Kendrick look such an idiot.
The Setting
As I mentioned in my review of Ghost Eyes, I love how we keep going back to that same dingy motel. It’s intriguing how Willow was “welcomed” in contrast to the previous welcomes the other characters have received. It serves to cement the reader’s view that Willow is now badass. So badass that she causes more reaction than a one-armed teenage runaway.
Otherwise, the setting was adequate to show us where we were as the story unfolded. Since this is the third book in the series, it wasn’t as necessary. Readers who come to this book as a stand-alone won’t be confused.
The Prose
This story is successfully shown rather than told, except for the prologue as mentioned before. I mean, it’s shown, but the main portion of it relates to past events that one character is telling another, making it told from the point of view of story exposition.
Like with the previous books, there are multiple typos that detract from the story. This is sad because this novel is so good that it deserves better editing. Below are a selection of typos I noted in passing.
p.40: She licked chest his hair and… p.50: He’s an expert on the law which more valuable now… p.97: You’re going to hack it a part because… (apart) p.111: Heston’s tail thumped (missing period.) p.112: he growled and fist flew toward me… p.227: the wolf who fell… (toppled) p.124: it’s only a matter of time before the pack starts to push pack against… p.133: You’re knew to this… p.145: you’re tearing this pack a part… p.157: Some nights after a session, he as… p.192: By Kyla… p.194: His wants to be better led actions. p.201: Excellent, thank you Emily.
My Opinion
Overall, I loved this paranormal romance. I’ve enjoyed the whole Kootenai Pack series so far. This book just tied off so many things left over from the previous two books in a wonderful way that kept me eagerly turning the pages. This novel is an easy 5 out of 5 for me.