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Familiar Mates #1
The Witch's Familiar
He can hold lightning in his hand, but will love slip through his fingers?
Jude Sullivan has one more chance to prove he isn’t a danger to the paranormal community. If he fails, he’ll be stripped of his magic, a painful process to make a witch human.
As a test, the Coven sends him to Mercy South, Colorado, to stop a creature that’s been mutilating cows and scaring the locals. Jude hates cows and small towns. The Coven should’ve sent a nature witch.
Rob Mackenzie is the local mechanic and bear shifter. If the locals knew his secret, they’d run him out of town. He wants someone to really know him and not be afraid. With several chewed-up cows and some other weird happenings, he’s wondering if he’s no longer the strangest creature in Mercy.
After meeting Mack, Jude thinks he’s found the cause of the trouble. But the trouble is only just getting started when Mack realizes he’s Jude’s fated mate. As the cow-mutilating creature starts hunting in town, Mack and Jude will have to quit fighting their attraction and each other, to stop the creature from killing again.
For readers who love fated mates, bear shifters and small town gay romance.
mm paranormal romance
Jude Sullivan has one more chance to prove he isn’t a danger to the paranormal community. If he fails, he’ll be stripped of his magic, a painful process to make a witch human.
As a test, the Coven sends him to Mercy South, Colorado, to stop a creature that’s been mutilating cows and scaring the locals. Jude hates cows and small towns. The Coven should’ve sent a nature witch.
Rob Mackenzie is the local mechanic and bear shifter. If the locals knew his secret, they’d run him out of town. He wants someone to really know him and not be afraid. With several chewed-up cows and some other weird happenings, he’s wondering if he’s no longer the strangest creature in Mercy.
After meeting Mack, Jude thinks he’s found the cause of the trouble. But the trouble is only just getting started when Mack realizes he’s Jude’s fated mate. As the cow-mutilating creature starts hunting in town, Mack and Jude will have to quit fighting their attraction and each other, to stop the creature from killing again.
For readers who love fated mates, bear shifters and small town gay romance.
mm paranormal romance
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2020
615 people are currently reading
971 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Nichols
89 books343 followersTJ Nichols (they/them) is the author of the Studies in Demonology and Familiar Mates series. They write mostly gay fantasy and paranormal romance, but sometimes gay action/horror as Toby J. Nichols.
After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.
Free gay shifter novella when you join TJ's newsletter: http://tjnichols-author.com/lp/
You can find TJ on
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TJNichols
Ream: https://reamstories.com/tjnichols
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJNichols.au...
follow me on Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/tjnichols or Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tj-ni...
After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.
Free gay shifter novella when you join TJ's newsletter: http://tjnichols-author.com/lp/
You can find TJ on
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TJNichols
Ream: https://reamstories.com/tjnichols
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJNichols.au...
follow me on Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/tjnichols or Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tj-ni...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
November 17, 2022
3 Stars
A decent start to an M/M paranormal series about supernatural men finding their fated mates at the most unexpected times.
The Witch's Familiar follows outsider witch Jude Sullivan, as he is tasked by the Coven (the supernatural authorities) to investigate weird mutilations in Mercy South, Colorado.
It’s a bit of a no-win situation for poor Jude, because if he succeeds in finding/stopping whatever is lurking around Mercy, the coven will make him an official investigator, tying him to a job and community he’s not sure he wants to be a part of, but if he fails, they’ll strip him of his magic—essentially taking a part of himself away.
To pile more onto Jude’s plate, he unexpectedly runs into his familiar and fated mate while in town, in the form of sexy bear shifter and local mechanic, Rob Mackenzie.
Rob doesn’t want a mate, especially one who is a witch. History has been fraught with stories of witches who have mistreated and misused their shifter mates, making them less than in relationships that are meant to be made of equals, so it’s no wonder Rob is apprehensive, even if his attraction to Jude is unlike anything he’s ever felt before.
Initially with the expectation that they will not be solidifying any bond and will just go back to their lives as per usual after Jude’s investigation comes to a close, Rob and Jude don’t bargain for the intensity of their connection, which only grows as Rob aides Jude in his hunt.
It’s not often fated mate romances see the fated pair at such odds and both wanting to ignore the potential bond. I honestly don’t love that kind of denial and unwelcomed bond as an arc in stories featuring fated mates. I read them for the immediate and all-consuming connection; the weight of destiny and the feeling of rightness that fated mate couples most often feel upon meeting. I like when they face challenges to be overcome to reach their true HEA, but I’m not fond of when the biggest challenge is the characters themselves accepting their destiny. This might be why I didn’t love this story the way I expected to, but that’s definitely a me-centric reaction.
Even with their attempts at bond rejection, it was clear these two had a strong connection that couldn’t be ignored—thank god! And it was fun watching them grow (begrudgingly) closer as they worked together to stop what was hunting the town, which became an increasingly dangerous and life-threatening situation as the story progressed, adding some extra excitement to the story mix.
If you enjoy fated mate romances with a bit of push and pull, this might be the story for you. I’m certainly open to reading more in this series, which features a different fated couple with each book.
A decent start to an M/M paranormal series about supernatural men finding their fated mates at the most unexpected times.
The Witch's Familiar follows outsider witch Jude Sullivan, as he is tasked by the Coven (the supernatural authorities) to investigate weird mutilations in Mercy South, Colorado.
It’s a bit of a no-win situation for poor Jude, because if he succeeds in finding/stopping whatever is lurking around Mercy, the coven will make him an official investigator, tying him to a job and community he’s not sure he wants to be a part of, but if he fails, they’ll strip him of his magic—essentially taking a part of himself away.
To pile more onto Jude’s plate, he unexpectedly runs into his familiar and fated mate while in town, in the form of sexy bear shifter and local mechanic, Rob Mackenzie.
Rob doesn’t want a mate, especially one who is a witch. History has been fraught with stories of witches who have mistreated and misused their shifter mates, making them less than in relationships that are meant to be made of equals, so it’s no wonder Rob is apprehensive, even if his attraction to Jude is unlike anything he’s ever felt before.
Initially with the expectation that they will not be solidifying any bond and will just go back to their lives as per usual after Jude’s investigation comes to a close, Rob and Jude don’t bargain for the intensity of their connection, which only grows as Rob aides Jude in his hunt.
It’s not often fated mate romances see the fated pair at such odds and both wanting to ignore the potential bond. I honestly don’t love that kind of denial and unwelcomed bond as an arc in stories featuring fated mates. I read them for the immediate and all-consuming connection; the weight of destiny and the feeling of rightness that fated mate couples most often feel upon meeting. I like when they face challenges to be overcome to reach their true HEA, but I’m not fond of when the biggest challenge is the characters themselves accepting their destiny. This might be why I didn’t love this story the way I expected to, but that’s definitely a me-centric reaction.
Even with their attempts at bond rejection, it was clear these two had a strong connection that couldn’t be ignored—thank god! And it was fun watching them grow (begrudgingly) closer as they worked together to stop what was hunting the town, which became an increasingly dangerous and life-threatening situation as the story progressed, adding some extra excitement to the story mix.
If you enjoy fated mate romances with a bit of push and pull, this might be the story for you. I’m certainly open to reading more in this series, which features a different fated couple with each book.
April 19, 2021
A mage who doesn't want a familiar, especially a bear familiar.
A bear-shifter who doesn't want a witch, even if he's a cute twink.
We all know how this is gonna go down:
Men. They don't know what they want until we tell them what they want. AmIright?
The bad news is that the witch and bear have to solve a murder that is impossible to solve or else they will be punished.
The good news is that a bear is trying to catch a murderer.
Good luck, murderer. You are going to need it.
A bear-shifter who doesn't want a witch, even if he's a cute twink.
We all know how this is gonna go down:
Men. They don't know what they want until we tell them what they want. AmIright?
The bad news is that the witch and bear have to solve a murder that is impossible to solve or else they will be punished.
The good news is that a bear is trying to catch a murderer.
Good luck, murderer. You are going to need it.
August 23, 2020
DNF 38%
I'm bored. Jude is whiney. Seriously needs an editor, and if I'm noticing that, it must be bad because editing issues often go right past me.
I'm bored. Jude is whiney. Seriously needs an editor, and if I'm noticing that, it must be bad because editing issues often go right past me.
April 15, 2022
I got bored.
The plot has good promises though
The plot has good promises though
dnf
May 3, 2020DNF 23%
Interesting story, poor execution. Desperately needs an editor.
Interesting story, poor execution. Desperately needs an editor.
dnf
June 25, 2022DNF @ 10% The writing style isn't working for me at all. Too much repetitive inner monologuing and weird paragraphing made this feel tiring to read.
April 10, 2020
ARC Reviewed on 4-9-20
E-book releases on 4-28-20
3.5 Stars. Quirky. Sweet. Entertaining.
Drama levels: 2.5 out 5
Humour levels: 3 out 5
Heat meter: 2.5 out 5
Cute and Sweet: 3.5 out 5
Romance levels: 3 out 5
Will Re-read: No
Recommend: Yes, specially for those looking for a quick , small town, easy to read, low angst, low steam , quirky , short stories involving magical beings , shifters and magical in nature, whodunit mystery.
#Read2020 #Amazon #TheWitchFamiliar #TjNichols #GRR #KindleFire #KU
E-book releases on 4-28-20
3.5 Stars. Quirky. Sweet. Entertaining.
Drama levels: 2.5 out 5
Humour levels: 3 out 5
Heat meter: 2.5 out 5
Cute and Sweet: 3.5 out 5
Romance levels: 3 out 5
Will Re-read: No
Recommend: Yes, specially for those looking for a quick , small town, easy to read, low angst, low steam , quirky , short stories involving magical beings , shifters and magical in nature, whodunit mystery.
#Read2020 #Amazon #TheWitchFamiliar #TjNichols #GRR #KindleFire #KU
August 4, 2022
First in a (so far) 9 book series. Picked this up as a freebie. Not bad, not bad at all. I liked the mythology used, and I quite liked the two MCs. Jude's a bit whiney, but he has his reasons. Mack was the typical grumpy bear, but also a nice guy.
Yes, yes, there are editing and grammatical issues. And yes, those would normally cause me to rage review, but I really liked the story, the mythology, and the author's new take on magic, witches, and shifters.
Ran immediately to get the rest of the series via KU.
Yes, yes, there are editing and grammatical issues. And yes, those would normally cause me to rage review, but I really liked the story, the mythology, and the author's new take on magic, witches, and shifters.
Ran immediately to get the rest of the series via KU.
October 16, 2021
I wasn't sure I wanted to read anything about “cow mutilating” or any other animal mutilating.... but what the heck? It’s Halloween season and maybe the cows were lucky enough to escape. The cows weren't the only ones with problems...our two main characters were destined to be together as mates...but someone in the “Destiny Office” must have been on vacation.... because they hated each other. One of them was in danger of losing his magical powers because...ready for this??? He uses his electrical abilities...his magical power... to rig a jackpot win in Vegas. That brings him to the Coven's chopping block???? Who’s going to take care of the cow slaughtering, cow chewing monster??? Coven 1, Cows 0. While the monster was devouring cows it should have put the editor and proofreader on the menu also. Oh wait...maybe it did and that was why the book was filled with miss-constructed sentences and misspelled words. I hate to see authors work hard on a book and have the people that should be looking out for their interest let them down like this. I gave the book 3 stars for the authors hard work and it wasn’t a totally bad idea. Oh yeah...the cows are safe now.
April 1, 2020
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
The Witch's Familiar is the first novella in TJ Nichols' series, Familiar Fates. It tells the story of the witch Jude and bear shifter Mack. Jude is sent to a small town to investigate the killings of local farm life he has to prove he isn't always a screw up in order to save his magic from being stripped from him. When he first meets Mack he pegs him for the killer but discovers he's actually his familiar / mate. Somehow Jude has to stop the creature from killing, keep his magic and figure out what to do about his familiar.
"Mack was sure lightning flickered int he witch's eyes. He was dangerous, hot, and his mate."
I really loved both of the main characters. Jude is a bit of a mess, but he is kind and just trying his best. Mack was grumpy and growly < hehe get it because he's a bear shifter , I crack myself up> Together they were cute and I loved the way they were both wanting the best for each other even when they wanted to remove the familiar bond.
"Static leaped between their skin, then Jude kissed him. His lips tasted like a summer storm, sweet and deadly."
I very much enjoyed the authors writing style and their ability to make a novella length story not feel like it was missing anything (even though lets be honest I wouldn't have turned down more intimate scenes between the two of them). This was a quick, fun read, and I am very interested in reading TJ Nichols other books and will be keeping an eye out for the future books in this series.
The Witch's Familiar is the first novella in TJ Nichols' series, Familiar Fates. It tells the story of the witch Jude and bear shifter Mack. Jude is sent to a small town to investigate the killings of local farm life he has to prove he isn't always a screw up in order to save his magic from being stripped from him. When he first meets Mack he pegs him for the killer but discovers he's actually his familiar / mate. Somehow Jude has to stop the creature from killing, keep his magic and figure out what to do about his familiar.
"Mack was sure lightning flickered int he witch's eyes. He was dangerous, hot, and his mate."
I really loved both of the main characters. Jude is a bit of a mess, but he is kind and just trying his best. Mack was grumpy and growly < hehe get it because he's a bear shifter , I crack myself up> Together they were cute and I loved the way they were both wanting the best for each other even when they wanted to remove the familiar bond.
"Static leaped between their skin, then Jude kissed him. His lips tasted like a summer storm, sweet and deadly."
I very much enjoyed the authors writing style and their ability to make a novella length story not feel like it was missing anything (even though lets be honest I wouldn't have turned down more intimate scenes between the two of them). This was a quick, fun read, and I am very interested in reading TJ Nichols other books and will be keeping an eye out for the future books in this series.
April 27, 2025
Je ne connaissais pas l'auteurice, mais j'avais déjà croisé plusieurs avis très positifs sur ses autres séries.
Comme j'aime beaucoup les histoires de métamorphes et de magie ancrées dans notre monde, je me suis lancée avec enthousiasme.
J'ai beaucoup apprécié le début du roman et la présentation des personnages.
Jude est un électromage qui a un peu trop tiré profit de sa magie pour son avantage personnel, ce qui lui a valu un rappel à l'ordre de la part des autorités magiques. Pour éviter de perdre ses pouvoirs, il est envoyé dans une petite ville paumée afin de résoudre une affaire de tueur de vaches. Sur place, il rencontre un métamorphe ours qui, contre toute attente, se révèle être son âme sœur. Pour ce citadin rêvant d'aventure, ce n'était clairement pas le plan. Pourtant, leur alliance pourrait bien être la clé pour vaincre la créature.
Jude est un solitaire (ce qui se comprend dans un monde où il est interdit de dévoiler ses pouvoirs aux humains). Son objectif est simple : économiser un peu d'argent et partir explorer le monde, certainement pas jouer les enquêteurs.
L'attirance entre eux est immédiate, mais un malentendu rend leur première rencontre plutôt explosive... et pas dans le bon sens.
J'ai adoré les voir lutter contre leur lien, surtout Mack, dont le caractère bourru colle parfaitement à son animal totem.
En revanche, une fois qu'ils cèdent à leur attirance, j'ai trouvé que leurs sentiments évoluaient de manière trop rapide, sans qu'on ressente vraiment d'émotion.
Quant à l'enquête, elle m'a paru assez simpliste, et les scènes d'action ne m'ont pas particulièrement captivée.
En résumé, une lecture qui avait très bien démarré, mais qui s'est vite essoufflée...
Comme j'aime beaucoup les histoires de métamorphes et de magie ancrées dans notre monde, je me suis lancée avec enthousiasme.
J'ai beaucoup apprécié le début du roman et la présentation des personnages.
Jude est un électromage qui a un peu trop tiré profit de sa magie pour son avantage personnel, ce qui lui a valu un rappel à l'ordre de la part des autorités magiques. Pour éviter de perdre ses pouvoirs, il est envoyé dans une petite ville paumée afin de résoudre une affaire de tueur de vaches. Sur place, il rencontre un métamorphe ours qui, contre toute attente, se révèle être son âme sœur. Pour ce citadin rêvant d'aventure, ce n'était clairement pas le plan. Pourtant, leur alliance pourrait bien être la clé pour vaincre la créature.
Jude est un solitaire (ce qui se comprend dans un monde où il est interdit de dévoiler ses pouvoirs aux humains). Son objectif est simple : économiser un peu d'argent et partir explorer le monde, certainement pas jouer les enquêteurs.
L'attirance entre eux est immédiate, mais un malentendu rend leur première rencontre plutôt explosive... et pas dans le bon sens.
J'ai adoré les voir lutter contre leur lien, surtout Mack, dont le caractère bourru colle parfaitement à son animal totem.
En revanche, une fois qu'ils cèdent à leur attirance, j'ai trouvé que leurs sentiments évoluaient de manière trop rapide, sans qu'on ressente vraiment d'émotion.
Quant à l'enquête, elle m'a paru assez simpliste, et les scènes d'action ne m'ont pas particulièrement captivée.
En résumé, une lecture qui avait très bien démarré, mais qui s'est vite essoufflée...
June 15, 2025
DNF ~5%
Couldn't get past the poor writing. Super repetitive and choppy, and the setup just didn't make any sense -- why is this magical council sending a random fuckup with no investigative experience to solve a mystery???
Couldn't get past the poor writing. Super repetitive and choppy, and the setup just didn't make any sense -- why is this magical council sending a random fuckup with no investigative experience to solve a mystery???
September 20, 2022
This was fine. An interesting premise, with a good setup for the plot. I just got very, very bored by about halfway through. Skimmed to the end, but nothing really grabbed me.
June 14, 2025
lettura di puro intrattenimento senza infamia senza lode.
La scena spicy ha una dinamica che non ho capito..ma va beh
La scena spicy ha una dinamica che non ho capito..ma va beh
April 19, 2020
This one was just okay for me. The magical mystery was compelling and interesting, but the relationship/romance element was low heat and kind of blah. I didn't feel the chemistry between the characters at all, and the writing wasn't strong enough to give me a sense of who they are/what they looked like/why they would want to be together. I think the author missed a major opportunity to portray their version of the witch/familiar bond, since it was barely explained or explored at all. If you like magic and a bit of a mystery, you'll like this one. If you're looking for a sweet romance or any sort of relationship connection, this isn't the book for you. 2.5 stars
June 3, 2025
3.5 stars
Let me start by saying the magic in this one was really cool. Jude could straight up control electricity and create lightening and that was so awesome. I liked that Mack was much like his bear counterpoint, pretty grumpy most of the time, but in much better spirits when he was in the great outdoors. The mystery was interesting, although solved very quickly, but even the new creatures provided more interesting world building. There did seem to be a couple of things left up in the air, and the familiar bond could’ve been explained better, but I’m hoping that happens as the series progresses.
Let me start by saying the magic in this one was really cool. Jude could straight up control electricity and create lightening and that was so awesome. I liked that Mack was much like his bear counterpoint, pretty grumpy most of the time, but in much better spirits when he was in the great outdoors. The mystery was interesting, although solved very quickly, but even the new creatures provided more interesting world building. There did seem to be a couple of things left up in the air, and the familiar bond could’ve been explained better, but I’m hoping that happens as the series progresses.
July 2, 2024
Non male questo romanzo, decisamente non male!
La storia è complessa, articolata, molto avvincente, i due protagonisti sono intriganti. I loro caratteri sono delineati con cura e profondità.
Le interazioni tra i due sono un continuo tira e molla fra accettazione e diffidenza, attrazione e voglia di rimanere soli. Questa costante contrapposizione di sentimenti, inizialmente, mi aveva lasciata un po' perplessa, ma poi emerge chiaro il dissidio emotivo di entrambi, tra ciò che hanno sempre voluto e quello che scopriranno di volere. La loro battaglia interiore è resa molto bene tra le pagine del libro.
Lo stile arrivo è fluido e il ritmo coinvolgente.
Avrei voluto che il secondo capitolo fosse ancora su questa coppia, ma così non sarà. Spero, però, che alcune informazioni, che sono comparse all'interno del romanzo come trama orizzontale, saranno approfondite nei prossimi capitoli.
La storia è complessa, articolata, molto avvincente, i due protagonisti sono intriganti. I loro caratteri sono delineati con cura e profondità.
Le interazioni tra i due sono un continuo tira e molla fra accettazione e diffidenza, attrazione e voglia di rimanere soli. Questa costante contrapposizione di sentimenti, inizialmente, mi aveva lasciata un po' perplessa, ma poi emerge chiaro il dissidio emotivo di entrambi, tra ciò che hanno sempre voluto e quello che scopriranno di volere. La loro battaglia interiore è resa molto bene tra le pagine del libro.
Lo stile arrivo è fluido e il ritmo coinvolgente.
Avrei voluto che il secondo capitolo fosse ancora su questa coppia, ma così non sarà. Spero, però, che alcune informazioni, che sono comparse all'interno del romanzo come trama orizzontale, saranno approfondite nei prossimi capitoli.
September 19, 2022
2.5 stars
i don't even remember a single second of this tbh
i don't even remember a single second of this tbh
January 13, 2023
The Witch’s Familiar
Loved it! It drew me in from the start. I loved the characters and really enjoyed watching their relationship unfold. There was action, there was suspense, there was magic, romance and so much more packed into this novel.
Loved it! It drew me in from the start. I loved the characters and really enjoyed watching their relationship unfold. There was action, there was suspense, there was magic, romance and so much more packed into this novel.
March 4, 2022
This is a story of Jude who is a witch and has been sent to a small town to investigate the mysterious deaths of farm animals. Mack is a bear shifter who is the local mechanic. When Jude meets Mack, he knows that he is a bear shifter & believes he is the one that is killing the animals. Jude soon realizes that Mack is not killer but is his familiar and mate. Mack feels that being a familiar is like being a slave, he won't have free will and is going to be used by his witch. Jude strikes a deal with Mack, help him track down what/who is doing the killings & stop it/them, and then he will have the council break the bond and they can each go on their way. What Jude doesn't tell Mack is that he would be stripped of his powers. What they find is a very terrifying killer(s) and it was not an easy task to stop it/them. When all is said & done, they do find their HEA and Mack finds peace with the bond. I felt there could have been more world building, but overall I did enjoy the story.
ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for and honest review.
ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for and honest review.
July 31, 2023
familiar vs mate
I liked the story. I wish Judy has a bit more of backbone but given his story is understandable. The Coven member who wants his magic is simply left alone and I wonder if there will be another development in this front. It would be more interesting if Judy and Mack talk more about themselves and we get to see more to Judy’s reasons on wanting to break the bond or not fighting enough to keep his magic. Mack seem to be more knowledgeable about the supernatural world than Judy so maybe he could be more of help with his new investigative work. The author could go over more about why Judy never got to learn more about magic or practice more. Who decided how much he should learn? My vote is on the Coven member who is trying to set him for failure. They accuse Judy of not being “committed enough” with their world when Judy lacks the knowledge to do so. Judy spent the book saying how he wants to go away from the Coven and yet is super eager to accept the job right away.
What I didn’t like is how the term “familiar” is used interchangeable with “mate”. My understanding is that a familiar has a soul connection that helps the witch but not necessarily with a romantic bond between them.
I liked the story. I wish Judy has a bit more of backbone but given his story is understandable. The Coven member who wants his magic is simply left alone and I wonder if there will be another development in this front. It would be more interesting if Judy and Mack talk more about themselves and we get to see more to Judy’s reasons on wanting to break the bond or not fighting enough to keep his magic. Mack seem to be more knowledgeable about the supernatural world than Judy so maybe he could be more of help with his new investigative work. The author could go over more about why Judy never got to learn more about magic or practice more. Who decided how much he should learn? My vote is on the Coven member who is trying to set him for failure. They accuse Judy of not being “committed enough” with their world when Judy lacks the knowledge to do so. Judy spent the book saying how he wants to go away from the Coven and yet is super eager to accept the job right away.
What I didn’t like is how the term “familiar” is used interchangeable with “mate”. My understanding is that a familiar has a soul connection that helps the witch but not necessarily with a romantic bond between them.
October 3, 2024
I'm not sure how I feel about this one. On one hand, the plot was good. The romance was nice, the resolution of the conflict satisfying enough, and the magical system sort of clear. On the other, there are many questions left in the air and many plot points raised that weren't resolved, and based on the blurb of the next novel this series would be a "same universe different story" sort of series which wouldn't answer those questions, so they're not setting ti be resolved in a sequel necessarily. They may, they may not. And the switch from "don't want you" to "I cannot live without" you was so fast it kind of gave me whiplash, even though both sides of the story within those sections were worked really well. But the change was so fast it feels more pushed for than acquired.
I'm still unsure if I want to get the rest of the series. I may think about it some more before I take the plunge
I'm still unsure if I want to get the rest of the series. I may think about it some more before I take the plunge
November 5, 2021
This was a good start to a series although the world building and mate bond could use a bit more information. Jude kind of drove me crazy at first - I'm still confused why he jumped to such quick assumptions and then acted like they were fact. It really made him seem immature and quite frankly prejudice against shifters. Thankfully he grew a bit through the book. I liked Mac - the bear shifter. I wish we got a bit more knowledge about how they would fit together and it mentioned they would share powers but we never really saw any of that. Hopefully as the series continues we will get more information about how the mate bond works and more world building.
December 20, 2020
I really like books that have different kinds of paranormal beings. Jude is a magician, and Mack is a bear shifter. This is a new pairing for me. The author also introduced me to other paranormal beings (aufhockers) that I've not read about before. I find new beings or new pairings to be interesting and keep me from becoming bored with a subgenre.
March 20, 2021
I really enjoyed this story of witches and shifters with a twist of familiars. Last chance to prove his control, track down what's been killings cows. The creature had that scary feel which made me squish up my toes in suspense as it had that stalking prey vibe. I liked This romance and characters, it was nicely paced and kept my intereast, looking forward to more
December 21, 2021
3.5
Fated mates that is NOT love at first sight. [Though it's definitely LUST at first sight] It was okay. Could have been better. I liked the world building and the history between witches and familiars.
Fated mates that is NOT love at first sight. [Though it's definitely LUST at first sight] It was okay. Could have been better. I liked the world building and the history between witches and familiars.
October 24, 2020
Only the Fates...
Wasn't sure if I was going to like the premise of the story but I loved this story. Jude and Mack make an awesome couple. The build-up of the story was interesting and intriguing. I'm definitely reading the next in the series.
Wasn't sure if I was going to like the premise of the story but I loved this story. Jude and Mack make an awesome couple. The build-up of the story was interesting and intriguing. I'm definitely reading the next in the series.
November 30, 2020
Captivating
This was quite a captivating novel. Nichols has written a great book. Compelling and thrilling. You won't go wrong with this book.
This was quite a captivating novel. Nichols has written a great book. Compelling and thrilling. You won't go wrong with this book.
January 29, 2021
3.5 stars
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