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Capital Wolves Duet #2
Master Wolf
He must master the wolf within…
Edinburgh, 1820. Thirty years after leaving Scotland, Drew Nicol is forced to return when the skeleton of a monster is found. The skeleton is evidence of werewolves—evidence that Marguerite de Carcassonne, the leader of Drew’s pack, is determined to suppress.
Marguerite insists that Drew accompany her to Edinburgh. There they will try to acquire the skeleton while searching for wolf-hunters—wolf hunters who may be holding one of their pack prisoner.
But Drew has reason to be wary about returning to Edinburgh—Lindsay Somerville now lives there.
Lindsay who taught Drew about desire and obsession.
Lindsay who Drew has never been able to forgive for turning him.
Lindsay who vowed to stay away from Drew twelve years ago... and who has since taken drastic steps to sever the bond between them.
Marguerite's plan will throw Drew and Lindsay together again—and into a deadly confrontation with Lindsay’s enemy, Duncan MacCormaic. They will be tested to their limits and forced to confront both their past mistakes and their true feelings.
But it may be too late for them to repair the damage of the past. The consequences of Lindsay’s choices are catching up with him, and he’s just about out of time…
Edinburgh, 1820. Thirty years after leaving Scotland, Drew Nicol is forced to return when the skeleton of a monster is found. The skeleton is evidence of werewolves—evidence that Marguerite de Carcassonne, the leader of Drew’s pack, is determined to suppress.
Marguerite insists that Drew accompany her to Edinburgh. There they will try to acquire the skeleton while searching for wolf-hunters—wolf hunters who may be holding one of their pack prisoner.
But Drew has reason to be wary about returning to Edinburgh—Lindsay Somerville now lives there.
Lindsay who taught Drew about desire and obsession.
Lindsay who Drew has never been able to forgive for turning him.
Lindsay who vowed to stay away from Drew twelve years ago... and who has since taken drastic steps to sever the bond between them.
Marguerite's plan will throw Drew and Lindsay together again—and into a deadly confrontation with Lindsay’s enemy, Duncan MacCormaic. They will be tested to their limits and forced to confront both their past mistakes and their true feelings.
But it may be too late for them to repair the damage of the past. The consequences of Lindsay’s choices are catching up with him, and he’s just about out of time…
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2020
47 people are currently reading
432 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Chambers
41 books1,222 followersJoanna Chambers' muse likes red wine, coffee and won't let Joanna clean the house or watch television.
If you came here looking for a copy of The Bequest you can get it here:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
June 30, 2021
Tragically, I missed reading this when it was released. I snagged it on release day but life was in true turmoil and no matter how desperately I wished to escape reality, I couldn’t. I’m in healthcare and my husband is a first responder; so like many others, we were forced to face the chaos of last spring right then and there. As life is slowly returning to normal I’m revisiting things I missed last year. And this highly anticipated story was near the top of my list.
Right. So let’s get to it…
Oh! I’ve been bitten and it feels glorious!! This is why shifters will always be my favorite. This is exactly the type of shifter story I crave. I didn’t read this story, I became part of it. I did not vicariously skim along, I experienced it. I was transfixed and completely at Chambers’s mercy. I felt each and every emotion with startling clarity. This was a physical read in every way possible; my hands shook, my heart raced, my throat was tight and my mouth fell open. I was nervous and excited, captivated from the very beginning.
Initially, I was worried I had forgotten the finer details from the first book. However, as soon as the pages began to slip past I was bombarded with flashbacks and memories. True to form, Chambers delivers a sensational conclusion to the first book while she whisks us away on a nerve-racking journey. I bounced between euphoric and disheartened. I was desperate to know and dreaded the final pages. If you’re hesitant about paranormal romance or shy around historicals, I urge you to reconsider and discover why Lindsay and Drew’s love is an unrivaled force of nature.
What's to like: I’m slowly becoming more comfortable in this time period. Whereas the dialogue baffled me in the past, now I find it endearing. Previous annoyances are suddenly humorous. Great enemies still regard one another with a sense of dignity. Unless mates are involved, then all decorum is forgotten. These beastly creatures maintain prim and proper appearances even when they are anything but. Extensive care is placed on everything from the clothes they wear to the wine they sip. There isn’t much dawdling here as we are instantly swept into the mayhem. And despite the brisk clip, this is certainly a slow burn. They simmer and smolder and take us to the edge of combustion. It is sweet torture at its finest.
Marguerite has requested Drew’s assistance and no sane person denies her. It’s been over a decade since Drew has last laid eyes on Lindsay and he’s finally lost the pulse of their connection. He’s convinced it’s due to time and distance and fears returning to him. Drew is mortified when he learns those closest to him have been struggling while he’s selfishly forged ahead on his own path. At some point, he must not only accept but welcome his pack. They might be small but they are fiercely dependant on each other. Drew has grappled with his feelings long enough. It’s time to face the music. His bitter haze clears and he recognizes that his decisions go beyond his own nose. We zip from the past to the present and I appreciated the clarity of the road behind us. I held on during the cut and thrust, silently begging for the erratic waves to still. *sigh* Then I sank beneath the surface, plunging with them. They literally took my breath away.
What's to love: Love takes many forms. Lindsay made a choice thirty years ago and he cannot take it back. Drew would have died without Lindsay’s bite but the consequences of his actions bring more burdens than Drew can bear. He has been in constant war with himself, man against wolf, since he was ‘saved’. Drew cannot understand why his wolf desires Lindsay, let alone loves him. Okay, fine, he was mesmerized by him ‘before’ but it wasn’t real. Was it? Which is the core of his distress. Drew despises Lindsay but his wolf loves him. How can he resist Lindsay when half of him would do anything or give anything for him? And when Linsday makes the impossible possible, he should be relieved and overjoyed. And yet, it’s just the opposite. Drew could handle fighting Lindsay but can he manage to fight his maker and himself at the same time? They are put to the test. Their bond, their loyalty, and their love. I was so consumed by their exhilarating tale, nothing could pull me away. Even when I was frustrated and upset, I loved it. Better yet, I loved them even when I was mad at them. (Yes, Drew, I’m talking about you.) And honestly, I can’t think of anything better than a story like that.
Beware of: Book edging, yeah, it’s a real thing. Wolves are carnal creatures but I found the simple intimacy far more passionate. And a love so strong, even fate is at its beck and call.
This book is for: YOU MUST READ GENTLEMEN WOLF FIRST…ahem, seriously though…it’s essential.
Book UNfunk
Right. So let’s get to it…
Oh! I’ve been bitten and it feels glorious!! This is why shifters will always be my favorite. This is exactly the type of shifter story I crave. I didn’t read this story, I became part of it. I did not vicariously skim along, I experienced it. I was transfixed and completely at Chambers’s mercy. I felt each and every emotion with startling clarity. This was a physical read in every way possible; my hands shook, my heart raced, my throat was tight and my mouth fell open. I was nervous and excited, captivated from the very beginning.
Initially, I was worried I had forgotten the finer details from the first book. However, as soon as the pages began to slip past I was bombarded with flashbacks and memories. True to form, Chambers delivers a sensational conclusion to the first book while she whisks us away on a nerve-racking journey. I bounced between euphoric and disheartened. I was desperate to know and dreaded the final pages. If you’re hesitant about paranormal romance or shy around historicals, I urge you to reconsider and discover why Lindsay and Drew’s love is an unrivaled force of nature.
What's to like: I’m slowly becoming more comfortable in this time period. Whereas the dialogue baffled me in the past, now I find it endearing. Previous annoyances are suddenly humorous. Great enemies still regard one another with a sense of dignity. Unless mates are involved, then all decorum is forgotten. These beastly creatures maintain prim and proper appearances even when they are anything but. Extensive care is placed on everything from the clothes they wear to the wine they sip. There isn’t much dawdling here as we are instantly swept into the mayhem. And despite the brisk clip, this is certainly a slow burn. They simmer and smolder and take us to the edge of combustion. It is sweet torture at its finest.
Marguerite has requested Drew’s assistance and no sane person denies her. It’s been over a decade since Drew has last laid eyes on Lindsay and he’s finally lost the pulse of their connection. He’s convinced it’s due to time and distance and fears returning to him. Drew is mortified when he learns those closest to him have been struggling while he’s selfishly forged ahead on his own path. At some point, he must not only accept but welcome his pack. They might be small but they are fiercely dependant on each other. Drew has grappled with his feelings long enough. It’s time to face the music. His bitter haze clears and he recognizes that his decisions go beyond his own nose. We zip from the past to the present and I appreciated the clarity of the road behind us. I held on during the cut and thrust, silently begging for the erratic waves to still. *sigh* Then I sank beneath the surface, plunging with them. They literally took my breath away.
What's to love: Love takes many forms. Lindsay made a choice thirty years ago and he cannot take it back. Drew would have died without Lindsay’s bite but the consequences of his actions bring more burdens than Drew can bear. He has been in constant war with himself, man against wolf, since he was ‘saved’. Drew cannot understand why his wolf desires Lindsay, let alone loves him. Okay, fine, he was mesmerized by him ‘before’ but it wasn’t real. Was it? Which is the core of his distress. Drew despises Lindsay but his wolf loves him. How can he resist Lindsay when half of him would do anything or give anything for him? And when Linsday makes the impossible possible, he should be relieved and overjoyed. And yet, it’s just the opposite. Drew could handle fighting Lindsay but can he manage to fight his maker and himself at the same time? They are put to the test. Their bond, their loyalty, and their love. I was so consumed by their exhilarating tale, nothing could pull me away. Even when I was frustrated and upset, I loved it. Better yet, I loved them even when I was mad at them. (Yes, Drew, I’m talking about you.) And honestly, I can’t think of anything better than a story like that.
Beware of: Book edging, yeah, it’s a real thing. Wolves are carnal creatures but I found the simple intimacy far more passionate. And a love so strong, even fate is at its beck and call.
This book is for: YOU MUST READ GENTLEMEN WOLF FIRST…ahem, seriously though…it’s essential.
Book UNfunk
September 22, 2021
Audiobook- Hamish Mackenzie-5Star
Story-Part 2nd of Duology- 5 Star
Subgenre- Historical Paranormal romance
Really??? Miss Chamber, Just because I made the mistake of calling the first book light, you made it your mission in this book to make me cry sorry howl like a wounded wolf.
Isn't one separation painful enough??? You forced the poor Lindsay and Drew to go through numerous times all through thirty years.😡
Summary
This book takes place 30 years(I am not kidding) after the events of the first book. After Lindsay had changed Drew into a werewolf to save his life, Drew hates the bond between them because he could see how he is going to be affected by it. He thinks of it as a slavery bond and is not ready to accept his prior emotions for Lindsay same as after the bond.
The narration is mostly in the present time but we get some scenes of the past too. In the present, Drew is in Edinburg to acquire a wolf skeleton. And is shocked to see Lindsay's transformation. In the past narration, we get to see what happened between book 1 and their last meeting in flashes.
Romance
Unlike the first book, this one is from Drew's POV and that still didn't change my emotions about him. I could understand his distress of being changed into a werewolf without his wish but damn!!!! I hated him for all Lindsay's suffering. Their pull towards each other was beautiful but the angst because of the separations and their self inflicted pain was too much.
I still find Lindsay charming and lovable even though he became a self-sacrificing Idiot in love. But, I wanted to knock some sense into Drew, every time he said anything about the 'Maker bond'.
How can I love one MC this much and hate another??? Not hate but I don't know I hated Drew every time he vanished after their intimacy or kicked Lindsay out, a habit he has continued from the first book.😩😩
The first book felt a lot like paranormal romance, this one has a lot of conspiracy, politics, action that happened over many years and cities and many players. But we still get the elements of paranormal romance. And, we get more of the story of the supporting MCs and their comradery. I love Margaret a lot, she is one of the most well-written female MC in the author's book. No doubt this book was a complete package. And, proved again why I love Joanna Chambers's books. And, I love the accent and different voices of the audiobook narrator, Hamish Mckinlay.
----------------------------------------------------------
"I think about you every day, you know. I long for you every single day. Do you ever think about me"??
"How can I not?” Drew said hoarsely. “The bond compels me to do so.”
"Do you think that’s all it is? The bond, compelling you to want me?”
“Isn’t it?”
Lindsay’s laugh was hollow. “I don’t know. My feelings for you are too big to measure and they haven’t diminished in the last years. You are… everything to me".
----------------------------------------------------------
I highly recommend this series to every paranormal/ Historical MM romance lover.
Story-Part 2nd of Duology- 5 Star
Subgenre- Historical Paranormal romance
Really??? Miss Chamber, Just because I made the mistake of calling the first book light, you made it your mission in this book to make me cry sorry howl like a wounded wolf.
Isn't one separation painful enough??? You forced the poor Lindsay and Drew to go through numerous times all through thirty years.😡
Summary
This book takes place 30 years(I am not kidding) after the events of the first book. After Lindsay had changed Drew into a werewolf to save his life, Drew hates the bond between them because he could see how he is going to be affected by it. He thinks of it as a slavery bond and is not ready to accept his prior emotions for Lindsay same as after the bond.
The narration is mostly in the present time but we get some scenes of the past too. In the present, Drew is in Edinburg to acquire a wolf skeleton. And is shocked to see Lindsay's transformation. In the past narration, we get to see what happened between book 1 and their last meeting in flashes.
Romance
Unlike the first book, this one is from Drew's POV and that still didn't change my emotions about him. I could understand his distress of being changed into a werewolf without his wish but damn!!!! I hated him for all Lindsay's suffering. Their pull towards each other was beautiful but the angst because of the separations and their self inflicted pain was too much.
I still find Lindsay charming and lovable even though he became a self-sacrificing Idiot in love. But, I wanted to knock some sense into Drew, every time he said anything about the 'Maker bond'.
How can I love one MC this much and hate another??? Not hate but I don't know I hated Drew every time he vanished after their intimacy or kicked Lindsay out, a habit he has continued from the first book.😩😩
The first book felt a lot like paranormal romance, this one has a lot of conspiracy, politics, action that happened over many years and cities and many players. But we still get the elements of paranormal romance. And, we get more of the story of the supporting MCs and their comradery. I love Margaret a lot, she is one of the most well-written female MC in the author's book. No doubt this book was a complete package. And, proved again why I love Joanna Chambers's books. And, I love the accent and different voices of the audiobook narrator, Hamish Mckinlay.
----------------------------------------------------------
"I think about you every day, you know. I long for you every single day. Do you ever think about me"??
"How can I not?” Drew said hoarsely. “The bond compels me to do so.”
"Do you think that’s all it is? The bond, compelling you to want me?”
“Isn’t it?”
Lindsay’s laugh was hollow. “I don’t know. My feelings for you are too big to measure and they haven’t diminished in the last years. You are… everything to me".
----------------------------------------------------------
I highly recommend this series to every paranormal/ Historical MM romance lover.
![Profile Image for annob [on hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1674812294i%2F68231680._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 1, 2020
Turns out the one minor event I didn't enjoy in book one became the centre point of the story in this sequel. In my opinion it made the relationship arc take several steps back and basically going into a standstill until the wrap-up of the story. I so wish the lovers' obstacle would have been something else than what we got, because I didn't really understand or like the unforgiving, bull-headed character traits Drew was assigned. By the time the lovers were reunited and on the same page, I had lost much of my interest in them being together.
While the romantic side of the plot left me a bit disappointed, all the other bits were great. The writing top notch, the story details and character interactions were all handled well, both the historical world and shapeshifter society were skilfully penned. I particularly enjoyed the use of wolfbane and its effect, but also the side characters and their development.
To sum this duet up, it holds a story I liked a great deal even though I didn't end up loving it as much as the Enlightenment series.
While the romantic side of the plot left me a bit disappointed, all the other bits were great. The writing top notch, the story details and character interactions were all handled well, both the historical world and shapeshifter society were skilfully penned. I particularly enjoyed the use of wolfbane and its effect, but also the side characters and their development.
To sum this duet up, it holds a story I liked a great deal even though I didn't end up loving it as much as the Enlightenment series.
audio-owned-to-listen
January 4, 2021Ah, the second part of this duet is both frustrating and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. What a wonderful and beautiful set-up world, truly as expected of Joanna Chambers.
This book has a lot to love but I wish the push and pull between Drew and Lindsey. At times, I just wanted to shake Drew and put some sense into him. Alas, it was over soon with an epic fairytale ending for them. Wheww! I do wish to get more about secret society and Wynne. He’s one of my favorite characters. I think Ms. Chambers truly should write more stories based on this world since it’s truly tempting. Hamish McKinlay did a magnificent narrating the story. Loved it.
4.25 When a master wolf’s heart is captured stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Audio rating
Story - 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration - 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Performance - 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Overall - 4.25 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This book has a lot to love but I wish the push and pull between Drew and Lindsey. At times, I just wanted to shake Drew and put some sense into him. Alas, it was over soon with an epic fairytale ending for them. Wheww! I do wish to get more about secret society and Wynne. He’s one of my favorite characters. I think Ms. Chambers truly should write more stories based on this world since it’s truly tempting. Hamish McKinlay did a magnificent narrating the story. Loved it.
4.25 When a master wolf’s heart is captured stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Audio rating
Story - 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration - 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Performance - 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Overall - 4.25 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
November 8, 2022
This review is for the audiobooks of both parts of Capital Wolves, which were a solid 4 stars -- thanks to Hamish McKinlay's excellent narration -- until the last 20 minutes or so, at which point I started screaming at my phone speaker and DNF'd.
First off, let me sing Hamish McKinlay's praises. Joanna Chambers's prose is ... serviceable, let's say: lots of repeated words (even more in Master Wolf than in Gentleman Wolf, which seems weird -- unless she was just trying to finish and her heart wasn't in it?), clunky dialogue, usages that I'm about 99% sure are anachronistic. McKinlay sold me on the story so hard that I brushed it all aside.
He also sold me on Drew Nicols's character, quite an accomplishment considering I was fed up with him and the contrived moral dilemma of Lindsay's turning him without his consent. The "resolution" of that dilemma was the point where I started screaming.
Yes! This is a werewolf romance! Not a philosophical treatise! But the whole throughline of the plot wants to be a lesson about the importance of consent, I guess, only it gets every single fucking thing wrong.
*screams into the void some more*
And the Enlightenment series was so much fun. *stops screaming, starts sniffling*
Hamish McKinlay's terrific, though, seriously. I'm about done with Joanna Chambers, but I'll be seeking out more of McKinlay's narration.
---
*This reminds me of how some people say they're "apolitical." Uh, no, you're not: the decision to not participate in political life / choose sides / vote / whatever is itself a political decision. It's just a lazy one.
First off, let me sing Hamish McKinlay's praises. Joanna Chambers's prose is ... serviceable, let's say: lots of repeated words (even more in Master Wolf than in Gentleman Wolf, which seems weird -- unless she was just trying to finish and her heart wasn't in it?), clunky dialogue, usages that I'm about 99% sure are anachronistic. McKinlay sold me on the story so hard that I brushed it all aside.
He also sold me on Drew Nicols's character, quite an accomplishment considering I was fed up with him and the contrived moral dilemma of Lindsay's turning him without his consent. The "resolution" of that dilemma was the point where I started screaming.
Yes! This is a werewolf romance! Not a philosophical treatise! But the whole throughline of the plot wants to be a lesson about the importance of consent, I guess, only it gets every single fucking thing wrong.
*screams into the void some more*
And the Enlightenment series was so much fun. *stops screaming, starts sniffling*
Hamish McKinlay's terrific, though, seriously. I'm about done with Joanna Chambers, but I'll be seeking out more of McKinlay's narration.
---
*This reminds me of how some people say they're "apolitical." Uh, no, you're not: the decision to not participate in political life / choose sides / vote / whatever is itself a political decision. It's just a lazy one.
May 26, 2021
4.5 Ravenous Stars!
The second half of this duology has extended flashbacks decades prior. They help to uncover the underlying relationship between the wolf and master. Every time I was whisked back, I regretted the initial loss to the current Regency timeline, but likewise, I regretted the end of my visit to their shared past.
This cannot be read as a stand-alone without diminishing your enjoyment & comprehension of the book.
This is better than the first book, and that one was FABULOUS! Both are MAGNIFICENTLY narrated by Hamlish McKinlay—the number of different accents the man can perform is ASTOUNDING! 😍😍
This one has more. More more.
More sex.
More feels.
More plots.
More “I want to freaking slap you, Drew!”
More understanding of the MCs
My rec? When you’re in the mood for a long-burn historical, this pair of novels is your ticket!
The second half of this duology has extended flashbacks decades prior. They help to uncover the underlying relationship between the wolf and master. Every time I was whisked back, I regretted the initial loss to the current Regency timeline, but likewise, I regretted the end of my visit to their shared past.
This cannot be read as a stand-alone without diminishing your enjoyment & comprehension of the book.
This is better than the first book, and that one was FABULOUS! Both are MAGNIFICENTLY narrated by Hamlish McKinlay—the number of different accents the man can perform is ASTOUNDING! 😍😍
This one has more. More more.
More sex.
More feels.
More plots.
More “I want to freaking slap you, Drew!”
More understanding of the MCs
My rec? When you’re in the mood for a long-burn historical, this pair of novels is your ticket!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2020
I'm missing the words I need to do justice to this book so I shall try tomorrow when I'm at the laptop.
***
I'm still not sure I've got the words to explain just how this book blew me away and took me on a rollercoaster of a journey from abject despair through complete sorrow and out into unbridled joy.
It's been a while coming but it was so worth the wait because Joanna Chambers has taken the complex paranormal historic world she created in Gentleman Wolf and built on it to add so many more layers of beautiful writing.
My feelings were at war almost as much as Drew Nicol's were as he continued to fight the wolf inside him, created by his former lover Lindsay Somerville in order to save his life some 30! years earlier as this book begins.
I raged at Joanna probably as much as I watched as Drew fought his feelings, the bond which was so blindingly obviously love to me as the reader, but which he couldn't seem to recognise in his own heart until it was almost too late.
The same malevolent air hangs over the whole narrative as in book one, secret societies, captive wolves and deadly enemies drawing ever closer to the Edinburgh streets where Lindsay now lives.
I loved where Joanna took this book, even as tears welled up in my eyes and I mourned. I appreciate the bold choices she made and the decision the story took to go down this path and, while I was gutted at the outcome, for me it was a masterstroke in plot twist to reach that end.
Brilliant storytelling with an interweaving of mystery, suspense, thriller and historical fiction, all wrapped up with an unconventional love story which ultimately left me very satisfied.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
***
I'm still not sure I've got the words to explain just how this book blew me away and took me on a rollercoaster of a journey from abject despair through complete sorrow and out into unbridled joy.
It's been a while coming but it was so worth the wait because Joanna Chambers has taken the complex paranormal historic world she created in Gentleman Wolf and built on it to add so many more layers of beautiful writing.
My feelings were at war almost as much as Drew Nicol's were as he continued to fight the wolf inside him, created by his former lover Lindsay Somerville in order to save his life some 30! years earlier as this book begins.
I raged at Joanna probably as much as I watched as Drew fought his feelings, the bond which was so blindingly obviously love to me as the reader, but which he couldn't seem to recognise in his own heart until it was almost too late.
The same malevolent air hangs over the whole narrative as in book one, secret societies, captive wolves and deadly enemies drawing ever closer to the Edinburgh streets where Lindsay now lives.
I loved where Joanna took this book, even as tears welled up in my eyes and I mourned. I appreciate the bold choices she made and the decision the story took to go down this path and, while I was gutted at the outcome, for me it was a masterstroke in plot twist to reach that end.
Brilliant storytelling with an interweaving of mystery, suspense, thriller and historical fiction, all wrapped up with an unconventional love story which ultimately left me very satisfied.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
June 6, 2020
Lindsay left Drew behind, in the caring hands of his servant Francis.
After Lindsay turned Drew into a wolf to save his life, Drew was angry at him, furious.
The bond is undeniable strong, Lindsay’s longing, yearning for Drew are heavy, Drew feels everything. But the stubborn man slash wolf he turns his back to Lindsay.
So Lindsay leaves as Drew requested.
Marguerite, leader of their small pack, asks Drew for help for three cases. They have to travel to Edinburgh to secure a skeleton, try to find a lead to her mate Alys and try to discover the reason why Lindsay is weakening.
Then there is also the part where Lindsay hides himself for Duncan, his cruel master. Please read part #1 and you’ll know everything about this.
“His wolf was beside itself with joy, but his human self was anxious.”
Alternating between past and present we get to understand what Lindsay and Drew have been through over more than three decades.
After remembering all the feelings from book one I was stunned this story made me feel the same, heartbroken.
Lindsay took faith in his hand. Bearing offers... You don’t want to know.
My heart shattered.
I understood Drew’s reasons, well, some of them, he doesn’t want to be a slave or have a master, he wants to be free. But omg, to me he was stubborn, his poor wolf so denied. My heart hurt for Lindsay.
When Marguerite finally found she was looking for after all those years I cried ugly tears and had thick goosebumps all over my body.
“Thunderstruck.
Lovestruck.”
It was an amazing journey, hurtful, sweet, sensual, every part was connected, the possible side stories were as important as the main.
There are so many lines I want to share, ALL beautifully written. Read it!!
You know that feeling while reading and your heart is racing, where you can’t read fast enough and you get nauseous from excitement? Where you don’t know if you want to laugh or cry wholeheartedly?
That was my experience here, more than once. And all those scents, I’m a sucker for scents, I love everything about scents.
It was a grand finale, glorious. Looking back it was a long loooong road to get where they are now, where they supposed to be.
There was so much hurt/comfort, for my peace of mind and disclosure, I wished there was more story afterward, when everything was finally fine, more sweetness and kindness. Thank goodness for the moment where awareness showed and realization imbed of what was real and in front of them. A very emotional moment.
This author has created an extraordinary experience. One where all the pain was palpable. Where hurt sliced your heart in pieces. Where courting and dedication were everything.
There are some cruel terrifying moments to witness, moments you want to forget you ever witness.
All written in the spirit of the time, looking around I saw it all clear, the masquerade, the colors, the servants, the clothes, the language. This all was consistently written and plausible.
The feelings expressed are all highly sensitive, emotional and many were almost unbearable. What a great job to write so.
Summarizing (almost impossible) a story with beautiful wolves, magic, witchcraft, passion, sacrifices, hurt, comfort and thank you lord Love with a capital.
After Lindsay turned Drew into a wolf to save his life, Drew was angry at him, furious.
The bond is undeniable strong, Lindsay’s longing, yearning for Drew are heavy, Drew feels everything. But the stubborn man slash wolf he turns his back to Lindsay.
So Lindsay leaves as Drew requested.
Marguerite, leader of their small pack, asks Drew for help for three cases. They have to travel to Edinburgh to secure a skeleton, try to find a lead to her mate Alys and try to discover the reason why Lindsay is weakening.
Then there is also the part where Lindsay hides himself for Duncan, his cruel master. Please read part #1 and you’ll know everything about this.
“His wolf was beside itself with joy, but his human self was anxious.”
Alternating between past and present we get to understand what Lindsay and Drew have been through over more than three decades.
After remembering all the feelings from book one I was stunned this story made me feel the same, heartbroken.
Lindsay took faith in his hand. Bearing offers... You don’t want to know.
My heart shattered.
I understood Drew’s reasons, well, some of them, he doesn’t want to be a slave or have a master, he wants to be free. But omg, to me he was stubborn, his poor wolf so denied. My heart hurt for Lindsay.
When Marguerite finally found she was looking for after all those years I cried ugly tears and had thick goosebumps all over my body.
“Thunderstruck.
Lovestruck.”
It was an amazing journey, hurtful, sweet, sensual, every part was connected, the possible side stories were as important as the main.
There are so many lines I want to share, ALL beautifully written. Read it!!
You know that feeling while reading and your heart is racing, where you can’t read fast enough and you get nauseous from excitement? Where you don’t know if you want to laugh or cry wholeheartedly?
That was my experience here, more than once. And all those scents, I’m a sucker for scents, I love everything about scents.
It was a grand finale, glorious. Looking back it was a long loooong road to get where they are now, where they supposed to be.
There was so much hurt/comfort, for my peace of mind and disclosure, I wished there was more story afterward, when everything was finally fine, more sweetness and kindness. Thank goodness for the moment where awareness showed and realization imbed of what was real and in front of them. A very emotional moment.
This author has created an extraordinary experience. One where all the pain was palpable. Where hurt sliced your heart in pieces. Where courting and dedication were everything.
There are some cruel terrifying moments to witness, moments you want to forget you ever witness.
All written in the spirit of the time, looking around I saw it all clear, the masquerade, the colors, the servants, the clothes, the language. This all was consistently written and plausible.
The feelings expressed are all highly sensitive, emotional and many were almost unbearable. What a great job to write so.
Summarizing (almost impossible) a story with beautiful wolves, magic, witchcraft, passion, sacrifices, hurt, comfort and thank you lord Love with a capital.
October 1, 2020
So back in April as a result of a competition held through Joanna Chambers newsletter, I was fortunate enough to win a signed copy of this Master Wolf among other wonderful things which included a package of Mrs. Tilly Salt Caramel Fudge that was absolutely delicious. But then, all this madness we're inmersed into happened, and borders closed, people were in lockdown and I finally get the book just in time for my birthday. I want to say thanks again to Mrs. Chambers for her generosity, the book reached me in a bad day, and looking at all the things she had selected for me, cheered me up.
So, this second book in the duology is as good as the first. I enjoyed this final arc too, and was happy to see Drew was getting some of his own medicine at last.
I enjoyed this duology a lot, and I wouldn't mind if the author comes back this werewolves.
So, this second book in the duology is as good as the first. I enjoyed this final arc too, and was happy to see Drew was getting some of his own medicine at last.
I enjoyed this duology a lot, and I wouldn't mind if the author comes back this werewolves.
April 16, 2020
This book was magnificent. It would have been hard to top the Gentleman Wolf, but Ms Chambers not only managed that but completely blew my mind! The emotions were raw, the struggle was intense, the human nature was cruel, but the wolf's instincts were loyal and true. The most important point of the book was Drew finding his way and figuring out that there was no simple black and white, that love did exist beyond time and despite the made bond, and that it did not take too much to follow your heart when it was finally at peace.
Most of the book I was on the verge of tears, I loved and at times hated the characters that graced the pages, I was scared to read the next chapter to find out what happens next, but at the same time I so wished Lindsay and Drew happiness I knew they deserved. I have no words, the book is stunning. In parts told from flashbacks, we get to see how Drew saw Lindsay and what exactly tormented him. In present time we get to see Marguerite and Drew and the nature of their bond within the pack. I loved it all.
In the conclusion I will say this. Lindsay is the bravest and most caring of men a mate could ever wish to have, Drew is the most stubborn and bull headed person who constantly bit his nose to spite his face (I saw and commiserated with him and his pain, but really, Drew!), Wynne is the most loyal companion and the truest of friends anyone would be lucky to have in their lives, Marguerite is decent enough woman/wolf who should not have let thing be as they were for so long, Francis is the worst of the lot (selfish, self centered and an unworthy friend, and I shall not speak of him ever again), Duncan the malevolent should have been pitied if not for his crimes then for what was lost (poor devil). Beautifully written story that proves that love does conquer all.
Most of the book I was on the verge of tears, I loved and at times hated the characters that graced the pages, I was scared to read the next chapter to find out what happens next, but at the same time I so wished Lindsay and Drew happiness I knew they deserved. I have no words, the book is stunning. In parts told from flashbacks, we get to see how Drew saw Lindsay and what exactly tormented him. In present time we get to see Marguerite and Drew and the nature of their bond within the pack. I loved it all.
In the conclusion I will say this. Lindsay is the bravest and most caring of men a mate could ever wish to have, Drew is the most stubborn and bull headed person who constantly bit his nose to spite his face (I saw and commiserated with him and his pain, but really, Drew!), Wynne is the most loyal companion and the truest of friends anyone would be lucky to have in their lives, Marguerite is decent enough woman/wolf who should not have let thing be as they were for so long, Francis is the worst of the lot (selfish, self centered and an unworthy friend, and I shall not speak of him ever again), Duncan the malevolent should have been pitied if not for his crimes then for what was lost (poor devil). Beautifully written story that proves that love does conquer all.
April 29, 2020
I've given this an A- at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars rounded up.
Master Wolf is the eagerly awaited second instalment of Joanna Chambers’ Capital Wolves duet and concludes the story begun in Gentleman Wolf, which introduced readers to the beautiful, elegant, devil-may-care Lindsay Sommerville and Drew Nichol, the rather dour architect with whom he falls head-over-heels in love. This book is a direct sequel to the first and does not stand alone – and there are spoilers in this review.
Master Wolf opens just days after the shocking events at the end of Gentleman Wolf which saw Lindsay, in a moment of sheer desperation, biting a mortally wounded Drew in order to save his life. When he learns what happened, Drew is furious, filled with rage and betrayal at what was done to him without his permission, even though he knows he’d likely have died had Lindsay not acted as he did. He’s devastated and wants nothing to do with the man who, just hours earlier, had called him his mate and with whom Drew had finally begun to allow himself a small measure of acceptance of the needs and desires of which he’d before been so ashamed.
Now, Lindsay is getting ready to leave Edinburgh for the Low Countries, leaving Drew in Edinburgh with Francis Neville, one of Lindsay’s oldest and closest friends, to help him to adjust to his new reality and learn to accept his wolf. Normally, this obligation would fall to a wolf’s maker, but Drew refuses to see or speak to Lindsay and their parting – a parting which, if Drew has anything to say about it, will be forever – is painful and awkward. Lindsay is clearly grief-stricken and Drew is surprised at being able to feel such visceral pain – but he puts that aside, believing it to be due to the unwanted bond Lindsay created when he made him and bids the other man a cold, curt goodbye.
The story then moves forward by thirty-two years, to 1820 and to London, where Drew has become a successful businessman. He has never fully come to terms with his wolf, shifting only when absolutely necessary and determined never to give in to the pull towards Lindsay the bond still exerts. In a series of flashbacks, we learn that the pair has seen each other only rarely in the intervening time, and that although their mutual attraction burns as brightly as ever, Drew hasn’t forgiven Lindsay for what he forced upon him and is determined he never will. Now, twelve years after their last meeting, Drew has noticed a subtle change in the nature of the bond he’s always felt tugging at him, a gradual lessening of it, which makes him believe that perhaps at last he is getting a measure of control over his wolf and – finally – gaining freedom from Lindsay’s mastery over him. It’s what he has wanted for the last thirty years – so why does the prospect of losing that connection make him want to howl in misery?
Drew’s return to Edinburgh for the first time in more than thirty years is occasioned when Marguerite de Carcassonne, the leader of his pack, tells him she needs his help in acquiring the misshapen remains that have been recently discovered in the Nor’loch by St. Cuthbert’s Church. (The remains are, of course, those of their adversary from the previous book.) There are several parties interested in purchasing the bones, and Marguerite wants to get to them first so as to prevent anyone from investigating further and discovering the existence of werewolves. After their arrival in the city, it quickly becomes apparent that there is much more at stake than the recovery of a decades old skeleton.
Drew isn’t sure what to expect at his first sight of Lindsay in twelve years. The tone of his recent letter to Marguerite was odd, to say the least, but even so, Drew isn’t prepared for Lindsay’s drastically altered appearance. He’s obviously very ill, his always slender body now little more than skin and bone, his still beautiful face etched with pain and exhaustion, and he leans heavily on the cane he’d before only carried as a fashion item. He explains that he’s tired of running from Duncan MacCormaic, his maker and the man who had kept him prisoner for forty years and subjected him to utter degradation and humiliation, and that he has at last found a way to sever the bond between a wolf and his maker and free himself from Duncan’s hold – an incredibly dangerous way that will also finally enable him to give Drew the one thing he knows Drew wants above anything else. His freedom.
This book will break your heart and make you want to break things at the same time. Gentleman Wolf told the story of Drew and Lindsay’s romance from Lindsay’s point of view, and this continuation is told from Drew’s – and he’s not always the easiest character to sympathise with. He views the wolf-bond as one of master and servant, knows that a wolf’s master can control him utterly, and is so completely focused on his fear of Lindsay’s having such power over him and of the depth and strength of the yearning he attributes to the bond, that he has absolutely no idea that what he’s feeling is love and the all-too-human desire to be with the love of his life. He also fails to see that Lindsay is just as trapped by their bond as he is, and that he is trying to show the depth of his love regardless of the cost to himself.
The anger, despair and longing felt by these two simply leap off the page and the scenes between them are both heartfelt and heart-breaking, full of intense sorrow and deep denial; and witnessing Drew finally learning to accept his wolf while we watch Lindsay becoming weaker and weaker is poignant and utterly gut-wrenching.
While the main focus of the novel is Drew’s journey towards acceptance – of his wolf and of Lindsay’s place in his life – other plot-threads are tied up as well, most notably that of Lindsay’s master, Duncan MacCormaic, which comes to a tragic and unexpected conclusion. Ms. Chambers’ writing is focused and polished, and her descriptions of nineteenth century Edinburgh and the other locations to which she takes readers are vivid and evocative. Above all, the love story which takes centre stage is truly epic, with high stakes and a happy ending that is hard fought and hard won. Master Wolf is a wonderfully satisfying conclusion to the Capital Wolves duet.
Master Wolf is the eagerly awaited second instalment of Joanna Chambers’ Capital Wolves duet and concludes the story begun in Gentleman Wolf, which introduced readers to the beautiful, elegant, devil-may-care Lindsay Sommerville and Drew Nichol, the rather dour architect with whom he falls head-over-heels in love. This book is a direct sequel to the first and does not stand alone – and there are spoilers in this review.
Master Wolf opens just days after the shocking events at the end of Gentleman Wolf which saw Lindsay, in a moment of sheer desperation, biting a mortally wounded Drew in order to save his life. When he learns what happened, Drew is furious, filled with rage and betrayal at what was done to him without his permission, even though he knows he’d likely have died had Lindsay not acted as he did. He’s devastated and wants nothing to do with the man who, just hours earlier, had called him his mate and with whom Drew had finally begun to allow himself a small measure of acceptance of the needs and desires of which he’d before been so ashamed.
Now, Lindsay is getting ready to leave Edinburgh for the Low Countries, leaving Drew in Edinburgh with Francis Neville, one of Lindsay’s oldest and closest friends, to help him to adjust to his new reality and learn to accept his wolf. Normally, this obligation would fall to a wolf’s maker, but Drew refuses to see or speak to Lindsay and their parting – a parting which, if Drew has anything to say about it, will be forever – is painful and awkward. Lindsay is clearly grief-stricken and Drew is surprised at being able to feel such visceral pain – but he puts that aside, believing it to be due to the unwanted bond Lindsay created when he made him and bids the other man a cold, curt goodbye.
The story then moves forward by thirty-two years, to 1820 and to London, where Drew has become a successful businessman. He has never fully come to terms with his wolf, shifting only when absolutely necessary and determined never to give in to the pull towards Lindsay the bond still exerts. In a series of flashbacks, we learn that the pair has seen each other only rarely in the intervening time, and that although their mutual attraction burns as brightly as ever, Drew hasn’t forgiven Lindsay for what he forced upon him and is determined he never will. Now, twelve years after their last meeting, Drew has noticed a subtle change in the nature of the bond he’s always felt tugging at him, a gradual lessening of it, which makes him believe that perhaps at last he is getting a measure of control over his wolf and – finally – gaining freedom from Lindsay’s mastery over him. It’s what he has wanted for the last thirty years – so why does the prospect of losing that connection make him want to howl in misery?
Drew’s return to Edinburgh for the first time in more than thirty years is occasioned when Marguerite de Carcassonne, the leader of his pack, tells him she needs his help in acquiring the misshapen remains that have been recently discovered in the Nor’loch by St. Cuthbert’s Church. (The remains are, of course, those of their adversary from the previous book.) There are several parties interested in purchasing the bones, and Marguerite wants to get to them first so as to prevent anyone from investigating further and discovering the existence of werewolves. After their arrival in the city, it quickly becomes apparent that there is much more at stake than the recovery of a decades old skeleton.
Drew isn’t sure what to expect at his first sight of Lindsay in twelve years. The tone of his recent letter to Marguerite was odd, to say the least, but even so, Drew isn’t prepared for Lindsay’s drastically altered appearance. He’s obviously very ill, his always slender body now little more than skin and bone, his still beautiful face etched with pain and exhaustion, and he leans heavily on the cane he’d before only carried as a fashion item. He explains that he’s tired of running from Duncan MacCormaic, his maker and the man who had kept him prisoner for forty years and subjected him to utter degradation and humiliation, and that he has at last found a way to sever the bond between a wolf and his maker and free himself from Duncan’s hold – an incredibly dangerous way that will also finally enable him to give Drew the one thing he knows Drew wants above anything else. His freedom.
This book will break your heart and make you want to break things at the same time. Gentleman Wolf told the story of Drew and Lindsay’s romance from Lindsay’s point of view, and this continuation is told from Drew’s – and he’s not always the easiest character to sympathise with. He views the wolf-bond as one of master and servant, knows that a wolf’s master can control him utterly, and is so completely focused on his fear of Lindsay’s having such power over him and of the depth and strength of the yearning he attributes to the bond, that he has absolutely no idea that what he’s feeling is love and the all-too-human desire to be with the love of his life. He also fails to see that Lindsay is just as trapped by their bond as he is, and that he is trying to show the depth of his love regardless of the cost to himself.
The anger, despair and longing felt by these two simply leap off the page and the scenes between them are both heartfelt and heart-breaking, full of intense sorrow and deep denial; and witnessing Drew finally learning to accept his wolf while we watch Lindsay becoming weaker and weaker is poignant and utterly gut-wrenching.
While the main focus of the novel is Drew’s journey towards acceptance – of his wolf and of Lindsay’s place in his life – other plot-threads are tied up as well, most notably that of Lindsay’s master, Duncan MacCormaic, which comes to a tragic and unexpected conclusion. Ms. Chambers’ writing is focused and polished, and her descriptions of nineteenth century Edinburgh and the other locations to which she takes readers are vivid and evocative. Above all, the love story which takes centre stage is truly epic, with high stakes and a happy ending that is hard fought and hard won. Master Wolf is a wonderfully satisfying conclusion to the Capital Wolves duet.
April 8, 2020
These books are well-written and the characters are interesting, they're just really not for me. I spent most of this installment super-annoyed that ALL of the constantly rehashed conflict could be easily resolved if: a) Francis the Saintly Crashing Bore could just get on with it and kill the dude who's clearly never going to stop trying to murder, rape, and/or torture people Francis cares about; b) Lindsay and Drew had one single solitary actual conversation about precisely what it is they're feeling and how those feelings are not, in fact, a compulsory bond.
Also, I'm apparently really picky about my werewolf mythology. I never got behind all the talk about the characters' "inner wolf" whining and pacing and doing wolfy things as if it's an entity discrete from the human person; I just found it weird and dissonant, and the descriptions always made it sound like they were literal personified wolf cages for a trapped animal. And there was waaaaay too much going on in terms of different types of bonding. So Drew and Lindsay have a mate bond, a maker/made-wolf bond (that includes a unilateral power of compulsion), and independent human feelings? No wonder everyone's confused about what the hell is going on. It just got really annoying that Drew went on for literal decades thinking his feelings were due to compulsion from the maker bond, and apparently no one ever sat him down and just... explained that a) he hadn't been compelled ever and b) compulsion can't make you be in love?
Also, Lindsay's whole insane Wolfsbane project didn't come across as the noble/desperate/tragic thing it was intended as. I just got uncomfortable shades of manipulation by suicide ("fine, I'm killing myself for your sake, see how nobly I suffer - oh, now you want to kiss me"), which added another fucked-up dimension to an already comprehensively fucked-up relationship.
In conclusion, I'm usually up for drama, but I found this so unnecessary and over the top as to be irritating. The writing's lovely and if you're invested in the characters, this is clearly a very emotional journey, I was just pretty much lacking in investment in this entire premise, I'm afraid. They're also just pretty depressing books to read - between all the emotional and physical torment and suffering and the literal decades of unnecessary misunderstandings, the entire duology is about 97% misery with not enough levity or payoff.
Also, I'm apparently really picky about my werewolf mythology. I never got behind all the talk about the characters' "inner wolf" whining and pacing and doing wolfy things as if it's an entity discrete from the human person; I just found it weird and dissonant, and the descriptions always made it sound like they were literal personified wolf cages for a trapped animal. And there was waaaaay too much going on in terms of different types of bonding. So Drew and Lindsay have a mate bond, a maker/made-wolf bond (that includes a unilateral power of compulsion), and independent human feelings? No wonder everyone's confused about what the hell is going on. It just got really annoying that Drew went on for literal decades thinking his feelings were due to compulsion from the maker bond, and apparently no one ever sat him down and just... explained that a) he hadn't been compelled ever and b) compulsion can't make you be in love?
Also, Lindsay's whole insane Wolfsbane project didn't come across as the noble/desperate/tragic thing it was intended as. I just got uncomfortable shades of manipulation by suicide ("fine, I'm killing myself for your sake, see how nobly I suffer - oh, now you want to kiss me"), which added another fucked-up dimension to an already comprehensively fucked-up relationship.
In conclusion, I'm usually up for drama, but I found this so unnecessary and over the top as to be irritating. The writing's lovely and if you're invested in the characters, this is clearly a very emotional journey, I was just pretty much lacking in investment in this entire premise, I'm afraid. They're also just pretty depressing books to read - between all the emotional and physical torment and suffering and the literal decades of unnecessary misunderstandings, the entire duology is about 97% misery with not enough levity or payoff.
March 26, 2020
Fans of Joanna Chambers’ Enlightenment series will know she's superb at writing deeply plotted, gripping historical romance and this duology is just the same.
It takes us back to Edinburgh, first in the late 1700s and, in this book, in the Regency period. Aside from the emotional and exciting romance, we see the city of Edinburgh grow before our eyes, we see fashions change and even glimpse Revolutionary France and decadent Venice—and through it all twines the heart-stoppingly angsty push-pull romance between Drew Nicol and Lindsay Somerville.
Honestly, I can’t recommend this series highly enough.
Oh, and if you didn’t read Gentleman Wolf because it ended on a cliff hanger then you’ll be very satisfied by the HEA in Master Wolf.
It takes us back to Edinburgh, first in the late 1700s and, in this book, in the Regency period. Aside from the emotional and exciting romance, we see the city of Edinburgh grow before our eyes, we see fashions change and even glimpse Revolutionary France and decadent Venice—and through it all twines the heart-stoppingly angsty push-pull romance between Drew Nicol and Lindsay Somerville.
Honestly, I can’t recommend this series highly enough.
Oh, and if you didn’t read Gentleman Wolf because it ended on a cliff hanger then you’ll be very satisfied by the HEA in Master Wolf.
May 8, 2020
**Spoilers**
Reviewing this with Book 1 - Gentleman Wolf - because I read them back to back and it’s a two-parter.
Any new Chambers release is something to look forward to because she is an extremely fluent and competent historical writer. I recently reread 2/3rds of her Enlightenment trilogy and was reminded afresh of just how fantastic she is - I was still gripped by the development of the romance in those books and, even though I know how it ends, I was still gripped (skipped Book 3 because, whilst still great, the romance is sort of a done deal by then). That trilogy is, however, pretty low key in terms of drama. It’s really a character focused romance.
So I was surprised, to say the least, to hear that with this series she’d turned her hand to a werewolf shifter romance.
I enjoyed this. I raced through both books back to back, so keen was I to finish Lindsey and Drew’s story.
And, true to form, Chambers remains a strong, competent historical writer. There’s a really good examination of the development of Edinburgh, both architecturally, socially and economically (all of which are tied up, of course). Chambers had also focused on writing a Scottish historical romance with a proper sense of the enlightenment which was taking place at the time, rather than generic historical romance that could have taken place anywhere. And her writing is still great with good observations of character and place and some lovely turns of phrase.
But, but. I’m not sure how successful this duo of books really is. They lack a certain fluency. Book 1 takes place 40 years before book 2 and then book 2 is told in chunks with hefty flashbacks and our H/H are apart for much of the time and deeply unhappy with one another even when they are together.
And the werewolf stuff felt fairly, um, hammy. I mean, come on: “The Urge” for when one werewolf bites another?! And after The Urge the two wolves are forever bonded with the maker and able to control the wolf he made. And I feel like a lot of these ideas just got in the way of the romance.
I kind of found myself thinking: Great! But why don’t we try the louche, fashionable, powdered aristocrat and the stern Scottish architect, but no one is a werewolf? Now that’s a book! That statement speaks volumes about how much I liked the characters, but doesn’t say too much good about the book's central idea.
The characters are great. Lindsey is an old werewolf in a young man’s body. He’s louche, arrogant and rather self-absorbed and a little bit lost for purpose. Drew is a stern, young Scottish architect. Building the new town and convinced that a change in metropolitan geography will transform his city. He’s hard working and serious and immediately sizes up Lindsey as being the opposite of all of that.
Book one is an exploration of Lindsey’s attraction to Drew and Drew’s extreme reluctance to pursue their relationship and it’s told entirely from Drew’s perspective. And he is very reluctant. There’s not really any thawing between the two of them - there are glimses, but Drew struggles with his homosexuality and Lindsey pushes him and is annoyed when Drew doesn’t bend. They have some great interactions and the sex is well written, but their relationship is very characterised by animosity. I assumed we would see that change over the course of the two books with the slow development of respect and affect. Instead, at the end of book 1 Lindsey is basically in love with Drew, even though Drew hasn’t given him too many reasons to feel affection for him - he’s been pretty mean and distant the whole time. And then he transforms Drew into a werewolf and Drew’s whole life has changed and he’s bonded to Lindsey forever and he’s pissed.
Book 2, as I said above, is 40 years later and the two of them are apart and we get Drew’s point of view. We see in flashbacks that they have had encounters during the period - Drew is still pissed and Lindsey is still in love with him. They have sex, but it’s never friendly. In the present day, Lindsey has basically decided to kill his wolf in order to free Drew of their wolf bond. It’s pretty brutal. Lindsey is a shell of himself. He’s basically dying and he’s just not the man we met in book 1, which is very jarring for a romance - when one of the H/h basically spends the whole time hobbling about and/or in bed (and not in the good way) with everyone worrying about their health. When confronted with the risk he might lose Lindsey and lose the wolf bond Drew starts to realise maybe he has feelings for Lindsey after all. Although it seemed to me that was probably the wolf bond talking because, really, these two simply had not spent enough time together or had sufficient interactions for a conventional affection to develop, So, yes, this is a romance, but it’s cheating a little bit. It’s the werewolf equivalent of insta love - the wolf bond. And for that reason, it didn’t work for me.
I will say, the werewolf angle improved as the books went on. There is an interesting background story about the head werewolf, Margeurite, trying to find the woman who created her, Alys and the group that has kept her captive. The scene when Margeurite finds her was a pretty remarkably brutal piece of writing. It had nothing to do with the romance but I found myself wishing Chambers had written more action into these books (and when do I ever say that?) because it was a hell of a piece of writing. And there is an extremely interesting sort of side romance - maybe JC is planning another book in the future - between Margeurite and the man who had served the werewolves since he was a boy and is, by book 2, very much a man, Wynne. I very much hope we hear more about them in the future.
So, all in all, a very mixed bag for me. I read both books straight through, I enjoyed the experience. I just felt that the story wasn’t told in a way conducive to, well, romance and that’s kind of important.
3.5 stars
Reviewing this with Book 1 - Gentleman Wolf - because I read them back to back and it’s a two-parter.
Any new Chambers release is something to look forward to because she is an extremely fluent and competent historical writer. I recently reread 2/3rds of her Enlightenment trilogy and was reminded afresh of just how fantastic she is - I was still gripped by the development of the romance in those books and, even though I know how it ends, I was still gripped (skipped Book 3 because, whilst still great, the romance is sort of a done deal by then). That trilogy is, however, pretty low key in terms of drama. It’s really a character focused romance.
So I was surprised, to say the least, to hear that with this series she’d turned her hand to a werewolf shifter romance.
I enjoyed this. I raced through both books back to back, so keen was I to finish Lindsey and Drew’s story.
And, true to form, Chambers remains a strong, competent historical writer. There’s a really good examination of the development of Edinburgh, both architecturally, socially and economically (all of which are tied up, of course). Chambers had also focused on writing a Scottish historical romance with a proper sense of the enlightenment which was taking place at the time, rather than generic historical romance that could have taken place anywhere. And her writing is still great with good observations of character and place and some lovely turns of phrase.
But, but. I’m not sure how successful this duo of books really is. They lack a certain fluency. Book 1 takes place 40 years before book 2 and then book 2 is told in chunks with hefty flashbacks and our H/H are apart for much of the time and deeply unhappy with one another even when they are together.
And the werewolf stuff felt fairly, um, hammy. I mean, come on: “The Urge” for when one werewolf bites another?! And after The Urge the two wolves are forever bonded with the maker and able to control the wolf he made. And I feel like a lot of these ideas just got in the way of the romance.
I kind of found myself thinking: Great! But why don’t we try the louche, fashionable, powdered aristocrat and the stern Scottish architect, but no one is a werewolf? Now that’s a book! That statement speaks volumes about how much I liked the characters, but doesn’t say too much good about the book's central idea.
The characters are great. Lindsey is an old werewolf in a young man’s body. He’s louche, arrogant and rather self-absorbed and a little bit lost for purpose. Drew is a stern, young Scottish architect. Building the new town and convinced that a change in metropolitan geography will transform his city. He’s hard working and serious and immediately sizes up Lindsey as being the opposite of all of that.
Book one is an exploration of Lindsey’s attraction to Drew and Drew’s extreme reluctance to pursue their relationship and it’s told entirely from Drew’s perspective. And he is very reluctant. There’s not really any thawing between the two of them - there are glimses, but Drew struggles with his homosexuality and Lindsey pushes him and is annoyed when Drew doesn’t bend. They have some great interactions and the sex is well written, but their relationship is very characterised by animosity. I assumed we would see that change over the course of the two books with the slow development of respect and affect. Instead, at the end of book 1 Lindsey is basically in love with Drew, even though Drew hasn’t given him too many reasons to feel affection for him - he’s been pretty mean and distant the whole time. And then he transforms Drew into a werewolf and Drew’s whole life has changed and he’s bonded to Lindsey forever and he’s pissed.
Book 2, as I said above, is 40 years later and the two of them are apart and we get Drew’s point of view. We see in flashbacks that they have had encounters during the period - Drew is still pissed and Lindsey is still in love with him. They have sex, but it’s never friendly. In the present day, Lindsey has basically decided to kill his wolf in order to free Drew of their wolf bond. It’s pretty brutal. Lindsey is a shell of himself. He’s basically dying and he’s just not the man we met in book 1, which is very jarring for a romance - when one of the H/h basically spends the whole time hobbling about and/or in bed (and not in the good way) with everyone worrying about their health. When confronted with the risk he might lose Lindsey and lose the wolf bond Drew starts to realise maybe he has feelings for Lindsey after all. Although it seemed to me that was probably the wolf bond talking because, really, these two simply had not spent enough time together or had sufficient interactions for a conventional affection to develop, So, yes, this is a romance, but it’s cheating a little bit. It’s the werewolf equivalent of insta love - the wolf bond. And for that reason, it didn’t work for me.
I will say, the werewolf angle improved as the books went on. There is an interesting background story about the head werewolf, Margeurite, trying to find the woman who created her, Alys and the group that has kept her captive. The scene when Margeurite finds her was a pretty remarkably brutal piece of writing. It had nothing to do with the romance but I found myself wishing Chambers had written more action into these books (and when do I ever say that?) because it was a hell of a piece of writing. And there is an extremely interesting sort of side romance - maybe JC is planning another book in the future - between Margeurite and the man who had served the werewolves since he was a boy and is, by book 2, very much a man, Wynne. I very much hope we hear more about them in the future.
So, all in all, a very mixed bag for me. I read both books straight through, I enjoyed the experience. I just felt that the story wasn’t told in a way conducive to, well, romance and that’s kind of important.
3.5 stars
March 27, 2020
Unfortunately disappointing. First of all, this book needs a content warning for self harm, and discussion of past physical and sexual abuse.
I really liked the first book in the duology, Gentleman Wolf, but the conclusion was a big let down for me. Too much hurt, not enough comfort.
We're thirty years after Gentlemen Wolf, and Lindsay and Drew haven't even seen each other in twelve years. Drew is still struggling to accept his wolf, and he still resents Lindsay for biting him without consent.
I won't go too much into the plot details, but unfortunately, it just did not work for me at all. I did not feel the two were satisfactorily reconciled, or that Drew had done enough to make up for the pain and suffering he caused over the last three decades.
I really liked the first book in the duology, Gentleman Wolf, but the conclusion was a big let down for me. Too much hurt, not enough comfort.
We're thirty years after Gentlemen Wolf, and Lindsay and Drew haven't even seen each other in twelve years. Drew is still struggling to accept his wolf, and he still resents Lindsay for biting him without consent.
I won't go too much into the plot details, but unfortunately, it just did not work for me at all. I did not feel the two were satisfactorily reconciled, or that Drew had done enough to make up for the pain and suffering he caused over the last three decades.
December 27, 2020
Joanna Chambers writes simply spectacular historical romances, and the way she incorporates this very cool pack of werewolves into old-timey Scotland is wonderful!
These characters are fantastic. From Lindsay’s terrible transformation and imprisonment, to the stunning and enigmatic Marguerite, to Drew’s struggle with his ideas of enslavement and free will, the pack of Capitol Wolves face some interesting issues.
The audio for Gentleman Wolf and Master Wolf is performed by Haimish McKinlay who does a spectacular job. McKinlay does terrific accents, and he creates unique voices for each character.
Beautifully written, exciting, and emotional, I loved this series!
an audiobook copy of Gentleman Wolf was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review
These characters are fantastic. From Lindsay’s terrible transformation and imprisonment, to the stunning and enigmatic Marguerite, to Drew’s struggle with his ideas of enslavement and free will, the pack of Capitol Wolves face some interesting issues.
The audio for Gentleman Wolf and Master Wolf is performed by Haimish McKinlay who does a spectacular job. McKinlay does terrific accents, and he creates unique voices for each character.
Beautifully written, exciting, and emotional, I loved this series!
an audiobook copy of Gentleman Wolf was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review
March 26, 2020
Disclaimer: This review might have been influenced by my lack of patience lately (and by my unashamed bias for Lindsay and my complete lack of sympathy for Drew).
I've been eyeing this series since I finished the Enlightenment series and now, it is finally complete and within my grabby hands!!!
32 years after the events of Gentleman Wolf , Drew and Lindsay are still avoiding each other.
The discovery of a disfigured corpse draws Drew and Marguerite to Edinburgh - to Lindsay who has been staying there despite the danger of Duncan returning - and despite his rapidly detoriating health.
Contrary to Gentleman Wolf, the sequel is told entirely from Drew's POV. I was miffed about that at the beginning since I am a big fan of Lindsay, but as the story progressed, I had to admit that the story would not have worked otherwise.
Did the story work though?
I HATE to say it, but for me... not so much.
One of my problems is that I felt like not much happened during this book. Admittedly, the first book didn't have too many plot points either - but with Gentleman Wolf being the introduction to the characters and their world, I didn't mind. There were a couple of flashbacks in this book, and while I understand why they're here, they felt like a cover for how little actual plot there was.
I don't mind a short story at all - it's just that in this setting, with these however-many-centuries old characters to have their problems solved this quickly and neatly felt weird. Kinda anticlimactic.
But my main problem with Master Wolf was Drew.
I. Can't. Stand. Drew.
To be honest, I didn't like him very much in the previous book either because Lindsay is a darling and deserves so much better.
And that feeling got worse in this book.
In Gentleman Wolf I had had the impression that Drew was the calm, collected and stoic kind of character. Serious and mature.
See where I'm getting at? MATURE.
Somehow, reading these events from Drew's POV made him feel like a friggin child to me. It didn't help that my patience had already run out at the end of book one for Drew's oh-you-bit-me-without-my-explicit-permission-as-I WAS DYING AND YOU OBVIOUSLY MISERABLE AND PANICKING like seriously wtf m8. Maybe have some compassion? Like, just a teensy bit??
So it comes to the surprise of no one when I say that this particular conflict was way too dragged out for my tastes. Yes, not necessarily dragged out in actual pages we get to read (and even then, it's questionable) but in the 32-friggin years Drew was being a baby. It's just that this whole boohoo-Lindsay's-forcing-me-to-do-his-bidding (which is the only personal obstacle standing between Drew and Lindsay) is basically a stupid misunderstanding. A stupid misunderstanding that would've been cleared up if Drew were only a tiny bit less stubborn.
Oh, wait.
And it doesn't help that I feel like this stupid misunderstanding could've been lessened if not even altogether prevented if Lindsay had been the first to talk to Drew! Like, yeah, let's let the being-a-wolf-is-terrible-and-being-inflicted-such-curse-is-the-greatest-sin-that-could-possibly-be-inflicted-on-man dude aka Francis talk to the newly transformed wolf.
Also, I can't help but feel that Francis is totally at fault for what happened to Lindsay and that particular plot point at the end just made me angrier. No, I still do not sympathise.
It also doesn't help that everyone seems to think and act as if Francis were a saint.
tl;dr: I, a Lindsay-sympathiser, was fed up with most of the book, did not care much for the side characters' stories, and the ending left me cold.
I still think that if you enjoyed Gentleman Wolf, you should read Master Wolf. Especially if you have a higher tolerance for Drew than me (which btw is not much - have I mentioned that yet?).
While Master Wolf was unfortunately a miss for me, I am looking forward to Joanna Chambers' future books. I love her writing style and I usually adore her protagonists.
I've been eyeing this series since I finished the Enlightenment series and now, it is finally complete and within my grabby hands!!!
32 years after the events of Gentleman Wolf , Drew and Lindsay are still avoiding each other.
The discovery of a disfigured corpse draws Drew and Marguerite to Edinburgh - to Lindsay who has been staying there despite the danger of Duncan returning - and despite his rapidly detoriating health.
Contrary to Gentleman Wolf, the sequel is told entirely from Drew's POV. I was miffed about that at the beginning since I am a big fan of Lindsay, but as the story progressed, I had to admit that the story would not have worked otherwise.
Did the story work though?
I HATE to say it, but for me... not so much.
One of my problems is that I felt like not much happened during this book. Admittedly, the first book didn't have too many plot points either - but with Gentleman Wolf being the introduction to the characters and their world, I didn't mind. There were a couple of flashbacks in this book, and while I understand why they're here, they felt like a cover for how little actual plot there was.
I don't mind a short story at all - it's just that in this setting, with these however-many-centuries old characters to have their problems solved this quickly and neatly felt weird. Kinda anticlimactic.
But my main problem with Master Wolf was Drew.
I. Can't. Stand. Drew.
To be honest, I didn't like him very much in the previous book either because Lindsay is a darling and deserves so much better.
And that feeling got worse in this book.
In Gentleman Wolf I had had the impression that Drew was the calm, collected and stoic kind of character. Serious and mature.
See where I'm getting at? MATURE.
Somehow, reading these events from Drew's POV made him feel like a friggin child to me. It didn't help that my patience had already run out at the end of book one for Drew's oh-you-bit-me-without-my-explicit-permission-as-I WAS DYING AND YOU OBVIOUSLY MISERABLE AND PANICKING like seriously wtf m8. Maybe have some compassion? Like, just a teensy bit??
So it comes to the surprise of no one when I say that this particular conflict was way too dragged out for my tastes. Yes, not necessarily dragged out in actual pages we get to read (and even then, it's questionable) but in the 32-friggin years Drew was being a baby. It's just that this whole boohoo-Lindsay's-forcing-me-to-do-his-bidding (which is the only personal obstacle standing between Drew and Lindsay) is basically a stupid misunderstanding. A stupid misunderstanding that would've been cleared up if Drew were only a tiny bit less stubborn.
Oh, wait.
And it doesn't help that I feel like this stupid misunderstanding could've been lessened if not even altogether prevented if Lindsay had been the first to talk to Drew! Like, yeah, let's let the being-a-wolf-is-terrible-and-being-inflicted-such-curse-is-the-greatest-sin-that-could-possibly-be-inflicted-on-man dude aka Francis talk to the newly transformed wolf.
Also, I can't help but feel that Francis is totally at fault for what happened to Lindsay and that particular plot point at the end just made me angrier. No, I still do not sympathise.
It also doesn't help that everyone seems to think and act as if Francis were a saint.
tl;dr: I, a Lindsay-sympathiser, was fed up with most of the book, did not care much for the side characters' stories, and the ending left me cold.
I still think that if you enjoyed Gentleman Wolf, you should read Master Wolf. Especially if you have a higher tolerance for Drew than me (which btw is not much - have I mentioned that yet?).
While Master Wolf was unfortunately a miss for me, I am looking forward to Joanna Chambers' future books. I love her writing style and I usually adore her protagonists.
December 19, 2020
UPDATE Audiobook Review -
Hamish McKinlay narration was brilliant. He brought me to tears more than few times. He kept me mesmerized and entertained during 9h6 minutes ...the length of Master Wolf (Capital Wolves Book 2). Listened to this audiobook duet through Authors Direct.
ORIGINAL E-Book Reviewed on April 13, 2020
Poignant. Intimate. Angsty.
Got barely any sleep last night , was so caught up with Master Wolf .
Haven't been this emotionally connected with fictional characters on a long time. I was tearing up , from the first until the last page of this heartfelt story. And loved every minute of it.
Will Re-read: Yes
Recommend: Yes
#BooksILove #ReadOn2020 #KindleFire #MasterWolf #JoannaChambers #GRR #Amazon
Hamish McKinlay narration was brilliant. He brought me to tears more than few times. He kept me mesmerized and entertained during 9h6 minutes ...the length of Master Wolf (Capital Wolves Book 2). Listened to this audiobook duet through Authors Direct.
ORIGINAL E-Book Reviewed on April 13, 2020
Poignant. Intimate. Angsty.
Got barely any sleep last night , was so caught up with Master Wolf .
Haven't been this emotionally connected with fictional characters on a long time. I was tearing up , from the first until the last page of this heartfelt story. And loved every minute of it.
Will Re-read: Yes
Recommend: Yes
#BooksILove #ReadOn2020 #KindleFire #MasterWolf #JoannaChambers #GRR #Amazon
May 31, 2020
3.5 stars
Slow to start and quite frankly I was struggling with near melodrama between Lindsay and Drew. Yet, there were some honest tears. The last quarter of the book, the final confrontation, was in contrast powerful and exciting. My thought was Finally!
In retrospect, I would have appreciated less focus on the angst between our primary protagonists and more story about Mim’s maker, about Francis and Wynne, about the secret society, and about the shifter world in general.
Slow to start and quite frankly I was struggling with near melodrama between Lindsay and Drew. Yet, there were some honest tears. The last quarter of the book, the final confrontation, was in contrast powerful and exciting. My thought was Finally!
In retrospect, I would have appreciated less focus on the angst between our primary protagonists and more story about Mim’s maker, about Francis and Wynne, about the secret society, and about the shifter world in general.
March 15, 2021
STORY GRADE: B+
NARRATION GRADE: A
There will be spoilers for Gentleman Wolf, book one in the Capital Wolves Duet in this review. Proceed with caution – or, do the smart thing and listen to it first!
I liked Gentleman Wolf better after listening to it, and big surprise, I felt the same way about Master Wolf. Mr. McKinlay elevates this already very good story in every way and his narration enhances the somewhat slower start to this novel. I was engaged in this shifter romance from start to finish and hated when it ended.
Told entirely through the PoV of Drew Nicol, Master Wolf is set thirty years after the cliff-hanger ending in Gentleman Wolf. At the end of that story, werewolf Lindsay Somerville bit his lover Drew Nichol in a desperate bid to save his life. In Chambers’ wolf world, the wolf who ‘makes you,’ becomes your master – for good or bad. Made wolves cannot resist their makers and can be compelled to do anything their maker wishes.
Master Wolf opens with a prologue that picks up shortly after the cliffhanger ending in Gentleman Wolf. Drew is alive but devastated – and struggling to reconcile his feelings for Lindsay. Conflicted by his continued attachment to Lindsay, he convinces himself it’s only because of their wolf bond. Bitter, angry, and unwilling to forgive Lindsay for making him a monster, he doesn’t believe he’ll ever be free from Lindsay’s control and domination. A grief-stricken, lovesick Lindsay accedes to Drew’s wishes and departs Edinburgh, leaving Francis behind to help Drew acclimate to life as a wolf – a role traditionally filled by a wolf’s maker. Master Wolf then resumes thirty-two years later. Drew is a successful London businessman who ruthlessly controls his wolf, shifting only when absolutely necessary. Lately, he’s felt his ever-present bond to Lindsay weakening and is convinced distance and repression of his wolf are finally freeing him of the master/slave relationship he deeply resents. He’s happy. Thrilled. Except he isn’t. And then Marguerite pays him a visit.
Marguerite arrives with news from Edinburgh: the remains of a misshapen man have been recently discovered in the Nor’loch by St. Cuthbert’s Church. Drew knows immediately whose remains these are – Hector Cruikshank, the villain who perished at the end of Gentleman Wolf. Unwilling to allow Cruikshank’s remains to fall into the hands of a secret organization of wolf-hunters, Marguerite insists Drew accompany her to Edinburgh to acquire the skeleton. She also admits there is a new lead in her search for her own maker, Alys (a related sub-plot in Gentleman Wolf) and needs Drew to masquerade as her husband to help find her. Unable to resist her request for help – and knowing he’ll have to see Lindsay again – he reluctantly agrees to go.
Via a series of flashbacks sprinkled throughout the text, we know that Lindsay and Drew have seen each other sporadically since Lindsay’s exile. The visits reveal that while their intense attraction to each other hasn’t lessened, Drew is convinced his feelings are only the result of their wolf bond, a conviction that devastates Lindsay. Lindsay’s affection is undiminished, but he knows Drew will never forgive him for the bite, while Drew bitterly – almost hatefully – blames Lindsay for a bond he never wanted. But unbeknownst to him, Lindsay has been searching for a way to free Drew. For the past two years – with help from his manservant Wynne, he’s finally found a way to sever their connection by undertaking a painful, daily regimen of wearing specially formulated wolfsbane poultice (deadly to wolves in even the smallest dose) to kill his wolf. His goal is threefold – to sever the bond between him and his maker Duncan MacCormaic; to sever his bond with Drew; and to banish his own wolf – forever. When they finally meet again, Drew is unprepared for this new Lindsay. Gaunt and weak, barely able to stand on his own feet, he’s nothing like the man he last saw twelve years ago. Drew is quick to realize that it’s Lindsay’s actions that have lessened the bond between them, and that the weakening of their bond hasn’t affected his feelings for Lindsay. At all. Oh, Drew.
Master Wolf unfolds as Drew and Marguerite work together to bring down a group of wolf-hunters, find Alys, and as Drew slowly but surely begins to recognize the depth of his feelings for Lindsay. But Lindsay has his own agenda and is determined to carry it through even if it costs him his life. No spoilers here! Drew – and his wolf – exist in anguish, hopeless in the face of Lindsay’s stubborn unwillingness to change his mind. Tormented by his feelings, but slowly realizing that his connection to Lindsay isn’t only the maker/made bond, Drew can’t resist being close to him. His wolf knows and recognizes Lindsay as his soulmate, and Drew finally allows it the freedom to help guide his actions. This story shines whenever these two are together. I loved Lindsay in the first book, and the suffering he experiences in this one tore my heart to pieces. It takes Drew much too long to acknowledge the depth of his love for Lindsay, and only when his MATE is dying, does he begin to understand how wrong he’s been. The flashbacks, while painful, are lovely snapshots of what these two could be, and I just wished Drew could have been more open to his own heart long ago. Drew is eerily reminiscent of David in the Enlightenment trilogy, and except for his almost casual acceptance that he’s gay, he struggles in many of the same ways.
While my major focus was the relationship between Drew and Lindsay, there’s quite a bit more to this novel. I like how Chambers links this story to the one before it via the search for Alys, and this sub-plot adds a nice level of dread to the rest of the novel. Marguerite is a tart treat, and it was helpful to get to know her better this time out, although I’m still struggling to process the complicated/painful/bizarre relationship between Francis and Duncan MacCormaic. Francis bit Duncan; Duncan bit/made Lindsay, and then tortured and abused him as some sort of revenge/fantasy against Francis. (It’s complicated.) I didn’t feel like the ending sufficiently answered my questions about this pair, and the relationship is wholly underdeveloped.
When I read this novel, I struggled a bit with the exposition and sub-plots necessary to bring Drew and Lindsay back together into each other’s orbit. I really only wanted to spend time with the two of them! But Hamish McKinlay absolutely brings this story to life. While I loved his portrayal of our two principal characters – Lindsay is particularly excellent – McKinlay perfectly captures his affection and patient exasperation with Drew’s mixed signals – his portrayal of the enigmatic Marguerite is similarly great. While it took me a chapter or two to acclimate to his version of the very French, female pack leader, I came to appreciate all the subtle ways he interprets this character’s sometimes mercurial personality. Fed up (when she’s dealing with Drew), teasing and flirty (when she’s playing femme fatale with her enemies), tender and frustrated (with Francis), slightly bewildered (with Wynne) – it’s a marvel. Mr. McKinlay breathes life into the slower parts of the story, and I found myself eager to return to the audio whenever I had a break in my day.
Master Wolf, fortunately, ends with an HEA for Lindsay and Drew. It’s romantic, with hints of melancholy, and the tease of more stories in this world. I liked the book and loved the audio. Recommended.
NARRATION GRADE: A
There will be spoilers for Gentleman Wolf, book one in the Capital Wolves Duet in this review. Proceed with caution – or, do the smart thing and listen to it first!
I liked Gentleman Wolf better after listening to it, and big surprise, I felt the same way about Master Wolf. Mr. McKinlay elevates this already very good story in every way and his narration enhances the somewhat slower start to this novel. I was engaged in this shifter romance from start to finish and hated when it ended.
Told entirely through the PoV of Drew Nicol, Master Wolf is set thirty years after the cliff-hanger ending in Gentleman Wolf. At the end of that story, werewolf Lindsay Somerville bit his lover Drew Nichol in a desperate bid to save his life. In Chambers’ wolf world, the wolf who ‘makes you,’ becomes your master – for good or bad. Made wolves cannot resist their makers and can be compelled to do anything their maker wishes.
Master Wolf opens with a prologue that picks up shortly after the cliffhanger ending in Gentleman Wolf. Drew is alive but devastated – and struggling to reconcile his feelings for Lindsay. Conflicted by his continued attachment to Lindsay, he convinces himself it’s only because of their wolf bond. Bitter, angry, and unwilling to forgive Lindsay for making him a monster, he doesn’t believe he’ll ever be free from Lindsay’s control and domination. A grief-stricken, lovesick Lindsay accedes to Drew’s wishes and departs Edinburgh, leaving Francis behind to help Drew acclimate to life as a wolf – a role traditionally filled by a wolf’s maker. Master Wolf then resumes thirty-two years later. Drew is a successful London businessman who ruthlessly controls his wolf, shifting only when absolutely necessary. Lately, he’s felt his ever-present bond to Lindsay weakening and is convinced distance and repression of his wolf are finally freeing him of the master/slave relationship he deeply resents. He’s happy. Thrilled. Except he isn’t. And then Marguerite pays him a visit.
Marguerite arrives with news from Edinburgh: the remains of a misshapen man have been recently discovered in the Nor’loch by St. Cuthbert’s Church. Drew knows immediately whose remains these are – Hector Cruikshank, the villain who perished at the end of Gentleman Wolf. Unwilling to allow Cruikshank’s remains to fall into the hands of a secret organization of wolf-hunters, Marguerite insists Drew accompany her to Edinburgh to acquire the skeleton. She also admits there is a new lead in her search for her own maker, Alys (a related sub-plot in Gentleman Wolf) and needs Drew to masquerade as her husband to help find her. Unable to resist her request for help – and knowing he’ll have to see Lindsay again – he reluctantly agrees to go.
Via a series of flashbacks sprinkled throughout the text, we know that Lindsay and Drew have seen each other sporadically since Lindsay’s exile. The visits reveal that while their intense attraction to each other hasn’t lessened, Drew is convinced his feelings are only the result of their wolf bond, a conviction that devastates Lindsay. Lindsay’s affection is undiminished, but he knows Drew will never forgive him for the bite, while Drew bitterly – almost hatefully – blames Lindsay for a bond he never wanted. But unbeknownst to him, Lindsay has been searching for a way to free Drew. For the past two years – with help from his manservant Wynne, he’s finally found a way to sever their connection by undertaking a painful, daily regimen of wearing specially formulated wolfsbane poultice (deadly to wolves in even the smallest dose) to kill his wolf. His goal is threefold – to sever the bond between him and his maker Duncan MacCormaic; to sever his bond with Drew; and to banish his own wolf – forever. When they finally meet again, Drew is unprepared for this new Lindsay. Gaunt and weak, barely able to stand on his own feet, he’s nothing like the man he last saw twelve years ago. Drew is quick to realize that it’s Lindsay’s actions that have lessened the bond between them, and that the weakening of their bond hasn’t affected his feelings for Lindsay. At all. Oh, Drew.
Master Wolf unfolds as Drew and Marguerite work together to bring down a group of wolf-hunters, find Alys, and as Drew slowly but surely begins to recognize the depth of his feelings for Lindsay. But Lindsay has his own agenda and is determined to carry it through even if it costs him his life. No spoilers here! Drew – and his wolf – exist in anguish, hopeless in the face of Lindsay’s stubborn unwillingness to change his mind. Tormented by his feelings, but slowly realizing that his connection to Lindsay isn’t only the maker/made bond, Drew can’t resist being close to him. His wolf knows and recognizes Lindsay as his soulmate, and Drew finally allows it the freedom to help guide his actions. This story shines whenever these two are together. I loved Lindsay in the first book, and the suffering he experiences in this one tore my heart to pieces. It takes Drew much too long to acknowledge the depth of his love for Lindsay, and only when his MATE is dying, does he begin to understand how wrong he’s been. The flashbacks, while painful, are lovely snapshots of what these two could be, and I just wished Drew could have been more open to his own heart long ago. Drew is eerily reminiscent of David in the Enlightenment trilogy, and except for his almost casual acceptance that he’s gay, he struggles in many of the same ways.
While my major focus was the relationship between Drew and Lindsay, there’s quite a bit more to this novel. I like how Chambers links this story to the one before it via the search for Alys, and this sub-plot adds a nice level of dread to the rest of the novel. Marguerite is a tart treat, and it was helpful to get to know her better this time out, although I’m still struggling to process the complicated/painful/bizarre relationship between Francis and Duncan MacCormaic. Francis bit Duncan; Duncan bit/made Lindsay, and then tortured and abused him as some sort of revenge/fantasy against Francis. (It’s complicated.) I didn’t feel like the ending sufficiently answered my questions about this pair, and the relationship is wholly underdeveloped.
When I read this novel, I struggled a bit with the exposition and sub-plots necessary to bring Drew and Lindsay back together into each other’s orbit. I really only wanted to spend time with the two of them! But Hamish McKinlay absolutely brings this story to life. While I loved his portrayal of our two principal characters – Lindsay is particularly excellent – McKinlay perfectly captures his affection and patient exasperation with Drew’s mixed signals – his portrayal of the enigmatic Marguerite is similarly great. While it took me a chapter or two to acclimate to his version of the very French, female pack leader, I came to appreciate all the subtle ways he interprets this character’s sometimes mercurial personality. Fed up (when she’s dealing with Drew), teasing and flirty (when she’s playing femme fatale with her enemies), tender and frustrated (with Francis), slightly bewildered (with Wynne) – it’s a marvel. Mr. McKinlay breathes life into the slower parts of the story, and I found myself eager to return to the audio whenever I had a break in my day.
Master Wolf, fortunately, ends with an HEA for Lindsay and Drew. It’s romantic, with hints of melancholy, and the tease of more stories in this world. I liked the book and loved the audio. Recommended.
January 31, 2021
When compared to the first volume of the duology, Master Wolf is perhaps slightly less compelling.
Told from the point of view of Drew Nicol and set on a timeline that moves back and forth between past and present, the novel concludes the story between him, Lindsay Somerville and the rest of their small pack of werewolves.
I've enjoyed most of the book - I still think the characters are compelling and easy to warm to and the angst between Drew and Lindsay added tension and a certain melancholy to the whole story.
Their romantic dynamics is difficult and perhaps frustrating, but also perfectly in line with the way Lindsay and Drew interact with each other since their first meeting in Mister Cruikshank's office in volume one.
At the same time, however, I don't think this second volume is as good as the first one.
I've found certain solutions to open narrative threads a bit too quick and convenient.
I've felt that more could have been done to keep the story as tightly-knit and exciting as in Gentleman Wolf.
Another thing that somewhat bothered me was the presence of numerous typos and of a couple of continuity issues. Chambers' writing style is absolutely beautiful, thus making these overviews even more jarring.
Taken on its own, I would give a rounded 3-star rating to Master Wolf but an overall 4 stars to the series, by sheer strength of its main characters and on the quality of the first novel.
Told from the point of view of Drew Nicol and set on a timeline that moves back and forth between past and present, the novel concludes the story between him, Lindsay Somerville and the rest of their small pack of werewolves.
I've enjoyed most of the book - I still think the characters are compelling and easy to warm to and the angst between Drew and Lindsay added tension and a certain melancholy to the whole story.
Their romantic dynamics is difficult and perhaps frustrating, but also perfectly in line with the way Lindsay and Drew interact with each other since their first meeting in Mister Cruikshank's office in volume one.
At the same time, however, I don't think this second volume is as good as the first one.
I've found certain solutions to open narrative threads a bit too quick and convenient.
I've felt that more could have been done to keep the story as tightly-knit and exciting as in Gentleman Wolf.
Another thing that somewhat bothered me was the presence of numerous typos and of a couple of continuity issues. Chambers' writing style is absolutely beautiful, thus making these overviews even more jarring.
Taken on its own, I would give a rounded 3-star rating to Master Wolf but an overall 4 stars to the series, by sheer strength of its main characters and on the quality of the first novel.
September 18, 2021
This was painful to read. The two MCs aren't even together until the very end of the book. It really took away from my enjoyment. After the ending of book 1, I knew there would be a seperation but I didnt expect it to be through the entirety of book 2.
It got tedious tbh. I just wanted them to be together. At the very least, we needed to experience them as a couple after they had reconciled...but nop. Nothing. We just get an epilogue where they are together and happy.
Alot was wrapped up really quickly...and THAT DEATH. GWAD WHY!! It pissed me off.
The Margaret- Alice- Wyn angle was left unexplained as well.
What happened after they found Alice? The repercussions of the deaths. Many things were kind of left openended. 😕
Joanna's writing is impeccable but the execution of the plot was lack luster for me.
It got tedious tbh. I just wanted them to be together. At the very least, we needed to experience them as a couple after they had reconciled...but nop. Nothing. We just get an epilogue where they are together and happy.
Alot was wrapped up really quickly...and THAT DEATH. GWAD WHY!! It pissed me off.
The Margaret- Alice- Wyn angle was left unexplained as well.
What happened after they found Alice? The repercussions of the deaths. Many things were kind of left openended. 😕
Joanna's writing is impeccable but the execution of the plot was lack luster for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2022
2.5 rounded up
Given my feelings about the first book, I was fairly certain this wouldn't be a massive hit for me, which was definitely true, though I did enjoy it more than the first. Some nice angsty feels with the separation between Lindsay and Drew, which did come across quite nicely, even if it was still difficult to really buy into this intense suppressed love considering they've only spent a handful of days in one another's company *ever* over the course of their 30+ year relationship. I liked having Drew's POV, and while I definitely understand his issues and reticence, I also found his insistence on how much he'd been influenced by the bond to be really frustrating--how had none of the other werewolves managed to actually tell him how these bonds work?--and he was so focused on his own suffering that he often came across quite callous and cruel towards Lindsay. It made his sudden realization at the end feel a little bit "too little too late" for me. I also just didn't enjoy how things went down with Francis at the end.
The writing was great, as always, and I enjoyed the other characters, etc. but this is definitely not Chambers' strongest work.
Given my feelings about the first book, I was fairly certain this wouldn't be a massive hit for me, which was definitely true, though I did enjoy it more than the first. Some nice angsty feels with the separation between Lindsay and Drew, which did come across quite nicely, even if it was still difficult to really buy into this intense suppressed love considering they've only spent a handful of days in one another's company *ever* over the course of their 30+ year relationship. I liked having Drew's POV, and while I definitely understand his issues and reticence, I also found his insistence on how much he'd been influenced by the bond to be really frustrating--how had none of the other werewolves managed to actually tell him how these bonds work?--and he was so focused on his own suffering that he often came across quite callous and cruel towards Lindsay. It made his sudden realization at the end feel a little bit "too little too late" for me. I also just didn't enjoy how things went down with Francis at the end.
The writing was great, as always, and I enjoyed the other characters, etc. but this is definitely not Chambers' strongest work.
April 1, 2020
BEWARE OF SPOILERS
3.5 stars
After everything that happened in book #1 ... while there was the glimpse of happy ending for Lindsay and Drew here... THERE WERE TOO MUCH PAIN!! Where's the comfort, author?!?
Drew spent 30 years resenting his wolf. Whenever he came across Lindsay, which was only 4 times, I believe, in those three decades, he ended up berating Lindsay (even after Drew bedded him). Drew was too stubborn to listen to his wolf, to recognize his real feeling (I understand Drew's reasoning, but still, this is supposed to be romance, and I expected hurt/comfort at least)
AND FRANCIS' DEATH!? JUST LIKE THAT?! WHAAAATTT!!!!!
I gave extra .5 stars because I finally got more scenes of Marguerite, whom I think was BLOODY AWESOME. And well, I can grumpily accept the ending.
However, I was expecting MORE HAPPINESS 😤😤😤😤
3.5 stars
After everything that happened in book #1 ... while there was the glimpse of happy ending for Lindsay and Drew here... THERE WERE TOO MUCH PAIN!! Where's the comfort, author?!?
Drew spent 30 years resenting his wolf. Whenever he came across Lindsay, which was only 4 times, I believe, in those three decades, he ended up berating Lindsay (even after Drew bedded him). Drew was too stubborn to listen to his wolf, to recognize his real feeling (I understand Drew's reasoning, but still, this is supposed to be romance, and I expected hurt/comfort at least)
AND FRANCIS' DEATH!? JUST LIKE THAT?! WHAAAATTT!!!!!
I gave extra .5 stars because I finally got more scenes of Marguerite, whom I think was BLOODY AWESOME. And well, I can grumpily accept the ending.
However, I was expecting MORE HAPPINESS 😤😤😤😤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Master Wolf is the follow up to Gentleman Wolf and concludes the Capital Wolves duology. Those who read the first book will know things wrapped on somewhat of a cliffhanger and this story picks up 30 years later to finish Lindsey and Drew’s journey. As it is really one long story, you will want to be familiar with the first book before starting this one.
In Master Wolf, we get Drew’s POV, both of current events, as well as flashbacks that take us through some intervening events over the years. There is clearly a connection between these men that has transcended time, as much as Drew doesn’t want to admit it. There have been occasions where the two reconnect for a night of passion, but it has now been twelve years since they have seen one another. Chambers does a nice job here of building the tension between the men as Drew tries to keep his distance, but also clearly longs for Lindsey as well. For his part, Lindsey makes no secret of his feelings for Drew and I could really feel his emotional pain at the separation. I don’t want to get into too much detail into Lindsey’s plan to free himself of his ties to both Drew and Duncan, but it leaves him ill and near death. I could really feel for him as he is doing what he thinks he must, despite the clear dangers.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Master Wolf is the follow up to Gentleman Wolf and concludes the Capital Wolves duology. Those who read the first book will know things wrapped on somewhat of a cliffhanger and this story picks up 30 years later to finish Lindsey and Drew’s journey. As it is really one long story, you will want to be familiar with the first book before starting this one.
In Master Wolf, we get Drew’s POV, both of current events, as well as flashbacks that take us through some intervening events over the years. There is clearly a connection between these men that has transcended time, as much as Drew doesn’t want to admit it. There have been occasions where the two reconnect for a night of passion, but it has now been twelve years since they have seen one another. Chambers does a nice job here of building the tension between the men as Drew tries to keep his distance, but also clearly longs for Lindsey as well. For his part, Lindsey makes no secret of his feelings for Drew and I could really feel his emotional pain at the separation. I don’t want to get into too much detail into Lindsey’s plan to free himself of his ties to both Drew and Duncan, but it leaves him ill and near death. I could really feel for him as he is doing what he thinks he must, despite the clear dangers.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
October 5, 2025
I immediately started this one after finishing book one. Thirty years has gone since Drew was turned into a wolf and he can't forgive Lindsey for making him. It was hard to read flashbacks from their meetings through the years but it gave answers to why things were as they were. This was a both painful and lovely read - all the stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Read
May 12, 2020I found this a stronger book than its predecessor. I appreciated the nonlinear narrative, and the plot about the imprisoned wolf was stronger and more engaging than securing some papers. The story gripped me; it was well-paced and angsty. The non-romance plot took centre stage this time to the point that Master Wolf stopped feeling like a romance book to me. Usually the romance plot takes up 65%+ of the story with the rest being the mystery/adventure/whatever, but here the romance was 50%, if not less. Perhaps that's why I enjoyed it more. I loved Marguerite's character, she was a riot on page, and I enjoyed being in Drew's POV (judging from the reviews, I'm in the minority). He was too much of an enigma in the first novel. I was absorbed in his struggling with feelings that he thought were manufactured. Forced on him.
My issues with this story are with the romance itself. At first Drew is tormented by intense longing for Lindsay, pining quite desperately, which would have been so amazing to read if the previous novel had established them as an epic love story. Unfortunately, it hadn't. They'd had sex a few times, Lindsay stalked Drew, Drew struggled with his gay awakening, he was bit, the end. However, I let myself go along with Drew's pining, I enjoyed the flashbacks to the times he saw Lindsay, and felt his pain when he saw Lindsay poisoning himself and wanting to care for him. Drew's journey as a character from rejecting his wolfness to becoming fully accepting of himself was engaging (I can't remember Lindsay growing as a character in any way in the previous installment), and I'd definitely struggle too if I felt that what I was feeling was the result of some magic. I wonder, though, hadn't anyone sat him down and explained all the aspects of the werewolf to him in these 30 years? Was his training simply how to shift?
Lindsay cut a tragic figure at first. I ached that he took himself to the edge in order to free himself of Duncan and Drew, but there was a point when he started sounding quite manipulative. Guilting Drew "I'm doing this for you." Blaming someone's suicide on someone else, honestly, that's disturbing. That being said, I liked how the ending mirrored the last book and Drew There's a symmetry there that, as an author, I can appreciate.
As for Francis, I really didn't like the reveal in the end.
My issues with this story are with the romance itself. At first Drew is tormented by intense longing for Lindsay, pining quite desperately, which would have been so amazing to read if the previous novel had established them as an epic love story. Unfortunately, it hadn't. They'd had sex a few times, Lindsay stalked Drew, Drew struggled with his gay awakening, he was bit, the end. However, I let myself go along with Drew's pining, I enjoyed the flashbacks to the times he saw Lindsay, and felt his pain when he saw Lindsay poisoning himself and wanting to care for him. Drew's journey as a character from rejecting his wolfness to becoming fully accepting of himself was engaging (I can't remember Lindsay growing as a character in any way in the previous installment), and I'd definitely struggle too if I felt that what I was feeling was the result of some magic. I wonder, though, hadn't anyone sat him down and explained all the aspects of the werewolf to him in these 30 years? Was his training simply how to shift?
Lindsay cut a tragic figure at first. I ached that he took himself to the edge in order to free himself of Duncan and Drew, but there was a point when he started sounding quite manipulative. Guilting Drew "I'm doing this for you." Blaming someone's suicide on someone else, honestly, that's disturbing. That being said, I liked how the ending mirrored the last book and Drew There's a symmetry there that, as an author, I can appreciate.
As for Francis, I really didn't like the reveal in the end.
July 12, 2020
I knew there was something nagging me in the first book and now I can finally place it: this story could've been very different, and maybe better, if the whole fiasco involving Francis and his inability to stop Duncan once and for all didn't exist.
In what world one watches someone torture another being in numerous ways, continously doing so, and doesn't kill him because an oath taken centuries ago? So by Francis' logic it's not okay to kill a friend's (pack) torturer, but it's totally fine to let said abuser go unpunished, multiple times, so he can live his life to the fullest a.k.a to dictate and terrorize Lindsay for the rest of his life, while he tries to capture him again so he can do it all over again. Yay!
The best part is how the author, in the purpose of trying (and failing) to create a plot, can't even see that the act of Francis letting Duncan roam free and not stopping this madness contradicts his own justification for it, which is an religious vote.
So basically hey fellas no killing but it's totally fine to rape, torture, beat and degrade someone.
I can't comprehend this seriously revolting sorry excuse of a plot. This could otherwise have been a great story. Ridiculous.
In what world one watches someone torture another being in numerous ways, continously doing so, and doesn't kill him because an oath taken centuries ago? So by Francis' logic it's not okay to kill a friend's (pack) torturer, but it's totally fine to let said abuser go unpunished, multiple times, so he can live his life to the fullest a.k.a to dictate and terrorize Lindsay for the rest of his life, while he tries to capture him again so he can do it all over again. Yay!
The best part is how the author, in the purpose of trying (and failing) to create a plot, can't even see that the act of Francis letting Duncan roam free and not stopping this madness contradicts his own justification for it, which is an religious vote.
So basically hey fellas no killing but it's totally fine to rape, torture, beat and degrade someone.
I can't comprehend this seriously revolting sorry excuse of a plot. This could otherwise have been a great story. Ridiculous.
April 20, 2020
I enjoyed getting this story in Drew's point of view, as he begins to finally come into his own as a werewolf, years down the road from book 1. There's deep poignancy to Lindsay's attempt to solve the issue that comes between them - the fact that Drew's wolf has to obey, slavishly, without resistance, and that Lindsay created that power without consent, even if he has never used it.
The time frame shifts back and forth, past and present - it pays to keep careful watch on the chapter headers to know where you are in time. (A couple of times I was so sucked into the story I leaped to the next words, then had to track back and shift gears. But a less careless reader shouldn't have that problem.) I enjoyed both parts of the story - the past where Drew and Lindsay fail to find common ground, due to Drew's rigid nature and fears. And the present where action, the threat of Duncan, and the pain of Lindsay's choice of solutions come together.
The end was a satisfying HEA conclusion to one of the more unique werewolf romances I've read.
The time frame shifts back and forth, past and present - it pays to keep careful watch on the chapter headers to know where you are in time. (A couple of times I was so sucked into the story I leaped to the next words, then had to track back and shift gears. But a less careless reader shouldn't have that problem.) I enjoyed both parts of the story - the past where Drew and Lindsay fail to find common ground, due to Drew's rigid nature and fears. And the present where action, the threat of Duncan, and the pain of Lindsay's choice of solutions come together.
The end was a satisfying HEA conclusion to one of the more unique werewolf romances I've read.
August 8, 2021
This was a truly unfathomable book. On the one hand, it did accomplish the challenging task of convincing me that Lindsay made amends for his actions at the end of book 1, that Drew forgave him, and that he and Drew could have a future together. The HEA was believable at least.
As for everything else? BURN IT TO THE GROUND. The paranormal aspects of the book were poorly done; the treatment of secondary characters, especially Francis, was heinous and the resolution of Marguerite’s search for her maker, Alys, truly and unnecessarily brutal.
I loved Joanna Chambers’ Enlightenment books with all my heart, but this duology was a serious mark against her and I’ll be approaching her other historicals with serious trepidation.
As for everything else? BURN IT TO THE GROUND. The paranormal aspects of the book were poorly done; the treatment of secondary characters, especially Francis, was heinous and the resolution of Marguerite’s search for her maker, Alys, truly and unnecessarily brutal.
I loved Joanna Chambers’ Enlightenment books with all my heart, but this duology was a serious mark against her and I’ll be approaching her other historicals with serious trepidation.
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