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Eden Academy #0.5

The Lost and the Hunted

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What’s the worst part of being a snow leopard shifter? It wasn’t the epic-sized hairballs or the constant nudity.
No, it was the fear. The fear of being captured and becoming another statistic, another underground prize. When an unintentional rescue results in some accidental consequences, Celeste knows that the sunny-natured Reese will have her back.
However, she didn’t plan on his best friends being quite so hostile, or the fact that Reese was one of the youngest billionaires in the US. His friends look at her and see just another gold digger; one they want gone by any means necessary.
Fine, she hadn’t planned on staying anyway, but while she was here, she was happy to play cat and mouse with Lincoln, the jacked-up bodyguard and Vincent, the way too pretty rockstar. Because her snow leopard? She wanted to roll around on them like they were catnip and she’d never been great at self-denial.
But death still waits in the shadows for its prize, and this time, there will be no accidental savior coming to her rescue.

This is a Reverse Harem novel, meaning Celeste doesn't have to choose between her guys. There is also steamy scenes, M/M action and swearing.

261 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2021

156 people are currently reading
393 people want to read

About the author

Grace McGinty

64 books2,196 followers
When I was nine, my grandmother and her friends used to read and swap Harlequin Mills and Boons novels. When I was busted reading one, they started sneaking me boxes full of strong heroines and rugged men. Thus started a long love affair with the romance genre.

Then I discovered urban fantasy, and fell in love with broody Alphas and sexy paranormals, and combining them together was a no brainer.

Then I discovered Reverse Harem.... Oh my. Why choose, am I right?

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5 stars
527 (51%)
4 stars
340 (33%)
3 stars
144 (13%)
2 stars
16 (1%)
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3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
Profile Image for Chrissy.
1,390 reviews62 followers
December 24, 2020
Setting Up The Next Series

I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.

This is the second part of prequel. The first part is available in the anthology Wicked Souls. This book will make little sense without reading the first part of the story.

We left the last part of the story with Celeste kidnapped and Lincoln shot. So a pretty big cliffhanger. You’ll be pleased to know that there is no cliffhanger at the end of this book.

As this is a novella there isn’t a lot of space to discuss plot without giving away spoilers, which I don’t want to do. I’ll just say that the plot moves pretty rapidly with some changes in direction to keep you interested. It was also nice to see the connection with Dark River Days.

This story sets up the next book up nicely with Eden Academy (the next series) being explained in this book, but on it’s own it is a great book (well it feels like the second part of the book). I love the characters and how they all change and grow through the book. The relationships are complex for a short book, and yet they aren’t rushed. I hope that we see much more of these characters in the Eden Academy series, and knowing this author, there will be at least some cameos, if not full on participation in the storyline.
Profile Image for Belle .
607 reviews47 followers
February 14, 2021
Loving this series and this world this author has created! I really liked that this one was a bit different from the others, with 3 human men and one snow leopard shifter.

Celeste was tough and I felt for her. She was being constantly hunted, and felt like she couldn’t stay anywhere. I loved the guys, Reese especially. He had the purest heart.

Seeing how Eden Academy came to be funded by them was exciting with the plot. The Oracle was an interesting addition to how they did things. Going to the Halloween party was a bit of a dumb idea on all their parts, but kept the plot moving.

I am sad we don’t know the name of her baby, and as I’ve just read Eden Academy book 1, we don’t see them much except one quick run in with Lincoln. They do end up having more babies though!

Also, at the beginning it states they’re in Chicago and even mentions Reese’s apartment is in Lincoln Park. Then later, they’re in New York. Vincent or Lincoln even state “this is New York, there’s actresses everywhere.” Not sure if I misunderstood or if this was an error.

You don’t have to read this book to understand Eden Academy book 1, but it is recommended to see how it all came together!
Profile Image for Natasha.
414 reviews3 followers
February 2, 2021
This is a fabulous follow up to the first book that was featured in the Wicked Souls Anthology and has cross over with the Dead River series. It’s a paranormal reverse harem so there is more than one life partner in the mix.

This is a fast paced story with twists and turns and introduction to new characters. It also further develops the characters and the relationships we have already discovered throughout the other books. Celeste is lucky to have 3 amazing mates. All of them are swoon worthy romantic perfect in their own way and it would be difficult to choose a favourite amongst them (but if I had to at a push it would be Reese).

Grace McGinty is an amazing gifted writer. Her stories are tightly spun and well worth the time investment. This book starts with a cliffhanger, so try to read Book 1 first as it gives the background, character’s stories and their circumstances depth. This ends on a note where you want to know more of the story, (and I was saying to my kindle “gimme gimme the next book”), but not a tear out your hair cliffhanger. As this is a prequel to the Eden Academy series I can’t wait to read that series and eagerly await the next book to be released!
Profile Image for Lilium.
89 reviews
May 8, 2025
I liked Celeste and her guys. The story was good and it was a nice set up for the Dark River series.
The only thing I don't like is that the book starts in the wicked soul anthology . It doesn't tell you that anywhere when you start this book. So that makes for a really confusing story. For that reason it's a 3 stars instead of 4.
Profile Image for Vienna.
31 reviews1 follower
May 19, 2022
READ THIS BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK:
This is a continuation of a story that started in an anthology of different authors. So it literally picks up mid-way into the story and it's very awkward (in my opinion) reading by itself. The characters are already all together, the MC is pregnant and being kidnapped (not a spoiler, this literally happens in the first paragraph of the book). It's giving whiplash. It's giving confusion. It's very shallow because we don't get the depth in the relationship so we don't really understand the angst at all.

Not a great set up for the series in my opinion because I didn't really care about anyone since I didn't really get that opportunity to get attached. Maybe search for the first half of their story before trying this one (though it'll be from a different author).
Profile Image for Sam&Dean.
965 reviews20 followers
May 18, 2024
I LOOOOOVED THIS BOOK!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Celeste has been alone on the streets ever since her mom kicked her out at 13. Unfortunately not only does she have to worry about the dangers of life of the streets but also a group of bounty hunters that wander around hunting, tracking and capturing shifters. The book begins when she is trapped down a dead end alley by 3 hunters. A passerby stops to help and they grab hands and run away, escaping the hunters.

It turns out fate was looking out for Celeste, because the stranger happens to be her mate. His roommates/ 2 best friends also turn out to be her mates as well. One of my favorite things about Grace McGinty books is that love is love and no matter the number, the characters have huge hearts with enough love to share. Some characters are bi / MM together as well as with the FMC and I love that there is no judgement, only love from the rest of the group🥰😍❤️

There’s plenty of action in this book, both 🌶️ action and a constant flurry of events type-action. Someone gets shot, someone else gets kidnapped, we meet the oracle, see lots of fights, and meet lots of past and future book characters (Miranda, Raine & her mates, Annie & Ghost, Vance & his mercs from Cold River Sleuth…).

I could NOT put this book down and I will absolutely cry if I don’t get more about Celeste and her mates (and her cub?? C’mon! I’m dying to find out about her cub!!). I’m off the read Heart of the Hounded which is the second prequel to the Eden series. Fingers crossed we get more from Celeste!!
1,019 reviews6 followers
May 29, 2025
Not bad.
It's weird that all these books are in the same universe, yet the rules keep seeming to change. Where were these traffickers of shifters during the Damnation MC series, Hunting Isla, or the Azar Trilogy. We met all kinds of shifters in those books - bears and lions, a jaguar, a mongoose, and a bunch of wolves and birds, and none of them were looking over their shoulders for Hunters on their tails. Then this book comes along, and they're everywhere. Is it because Celeste wasn't part of a pack? That didn't seem to stop them at the end. Because she's a woman? It's just weird that we're only seeing this problem now.

Anyway, I liked this book. I loved Reese. Give me all the tech nerds. The other two were okay, but nothing special. I liked a lot of the side characters. LOVED seeing Vance and the twins again (they really deserve their own book). I liked Miranda, too, and I really liked the Oracle who showed up with Lincoln's brother. I hope we see him again.

The romance was....kind of the same old thing with different names. Again, nothing special. But not bad, by any means.
Profile Image for Laura.
125 reviews1 follower
January 23, 2025
The Lost and the Hunted

I gave this 3 stars bc of the holes in the story and the ending. Like i get, the bounty hunters were hunting her originally bc she was a lone shifter, but to always know where she was and to go so far as going to the area between Brody and the Vampires territory? It was like they had GPS on her?? They were HUMANS, not supernaturals after her... It was never explained how they ALWAYS knew where she was, and after she went to a shifter colony, they still persued HER specifically. Pretty ballsy to attack outside of Brodys pack lands and the vampires... then to leave us hanging with hints that Reese might have shifter in his DNA but never confirming it or even if their cub would be shifter as she was only HALF. So many holes. I guess at least they make it to Eden, considering Reese bought the land and funded the build for the safe haven. And did he actually make Ghost the tech to help him talk??? So far this is the only one I have been disappointed in. Maybe the further books in the Eden academy will fill those holes.
Profile Image for Shannon Davis.
97 reviews2 followers
June 29, 2024
Gotta love prequels.

I'm thoroughly enjoying my trip through Grace's mind.
I've read each book so far and I've yet to find one that disappoints. My husband probably doesn't love her because I haven't taken a break in days.. That's what audio is for though because I've done the heck out of some cleaning while off in another world.
In this book Celeste is our girl, she's a snow leopard shifter.
Her harem are all human men. We have Reece, Vincent and Lincoln. I'm doing this to help myself out later. I read so many books that names get lost in the shuffle. I know y'all understand that. There's another prequel before we officially get into Eden so I'm heading that way.. I've been dying to meet our horror movie, stand on two legs type werewolves!
474 reviews
February 16, 2021
Lost a star... spoiler alert

This was a 4.5 star book until the end. (Lost a half star compared to the author's other books that feel more flushed out). I enjoyed the characters. The story was good. The ending though made it lose a whole point.

Spoiler alert!







This was a cliffhanger of epic proportions. The last page went from action to nothing. No HFN. I thought I lost pages it was so abrupt! I love this author's books, but I feel cheated. Usually, there's a warning or a note about the ending. However, I did see or read anything of the like and now I feel as if part of the story is missing. I'm disappointed.
Profile Image for Natasha.
414 reviews3 followers
February 6, 2021
This is a fast paced story paranormal reverse harem romance with twists, turns and interesting characters. It also further develops the characters and the relationships we have already discovered throughout the other books. Celeste is lucky to have 3 amazing mates. All of them are swoon worthy romantic and perfect in their own way, and it would be difficult to choose a favourite amongst them (but if I had to at a push it would be Reese). There is romance, action, fantastic world building, friendship, mmf and mm love scenes

Grace McGinty is an amazing and gifted writer. Her stories are tightly spun and well worth the time investment. This ends on a note where you want to know more of the story, (and I was saying to my kindle “gimme gimme the next book”), but not a tear out your hair cliffhanger. As this is a prequel to the Eden Academy series I can’t wait to read that series and eagerly await Rebels and Runaways (Eden Academy Book 1) to be released on February 26th 2021!
Profile Image for Alice.
1,907 reviews104 followers
January 28, 2022
I read the first half of this prequel in the anthology Wicked Souls which had ended on a terrible cliffhanger. While the latter half of the story kept up the action, I preferred the character and relationship development in the first half. It was nice to see the tie-in to Dark River, the city featured in the author's Dark River Days series.
Profile Image for Toni.
1,513 reviews4 followers
January 26, 2025
I almost didn’t read this because in the first chapter, Reese admits he can’t get Celeste out of his mind for the past 5 months so he slept with every woman that his roommate threw at him. Add to that that when he finally saw Celeste she says she hasn’t been with anyone since him…ugh, so double standard! I pushed through and I did enjoy the story. Told from all POV. Good spice and pace, the characters felt a little flat…they could have been complex, yet not enough time was spent really bringing that out so they cam out kinda shallow.
Profile Image for Catherine Leigh.
1,517 reviews7 followers
May 14, 2021
Perfect!

I loved this story, of Celeste and her pack. From its rocky start to the ending.
It is so well written, with such suspense and twists it had me on the edge of my chair.
Great storyline, it’s well thought out and includes so many characters from other books it’s honestly perfection.
Can’t wait to see what happens next,..l dies Celeste have a girl or boy... how down everyone settle in the hew Eden ... I’ve got so many questions.
Overall a fantastic book!
5 reviews
October 23, 2021
A really lovely read

Lots of important issues for how we should live raised and discussed in this wonderful book, as with all Grace McGinty's books, a real page turner. I think that Grace McGinty is a fantastic writer who really brings to life her fantasy world with fully formed characters and situations that sing out and keep me reading and hoping that there will be many more books to come, (as soon as possible please!).
369 reviews6 followers
March 30, 2023
Ends on a cliffhanger without the HEA.
Minor grammar/ plot errors.
An annoying amount of creative derogatory religious cussing.
Aside from a quick one night stand and a flogger M/M scene, all steamy scenes include a pregnant shifter. Very little group smutt.
50% of questions are left unanswered at the end of the book. This is a prequel with the main books from another's POV. I'm curious to see how everything is wrapped up.
Profile Image for Quinn.
1,219 reviews69 followers
July 16, 2023
I didn’t see anything here on Goodreads on the author’s website to suggest this book was part two of a story, with part one apparently available in an anthology. As I was reading, I felt like I had been dropped into the middle of the story. Turns out I had been. Suffice it to say, the book suffered as a result and was disappointing. I would not recommend this one without having read part 1 first, and I’m too annoyed to bother, now.
1,073 reviews9 followers
August 21, 2021
Uniquely different

This was a different shifter book. I love the fact that Celeste has 3 human mates. So much happens in this book. It has the insta love snd enemy to lover feels. Has a bit of everything for everyone. Read the dark river series first because some characters cross over.
Profile Image for Angelica Young.
292 reviews1 follower
March 28, 2022
3.5 pretty good

I loved Celeste and her guys! The story was entertaining and filled with retuning characters that made me warm and fuzzy!

But the tense switching was constant and too much for me. But I’ve found that’s hit or miss with this author. Luckily, she spins a good enough tale that I don’t let it stop me from reading more
Profile Image for ReadsBetweenKatNaps.
286 reviews1 follower
August 1, 2024
Great Prequel

Just be aware this is a prequel to a prequel before Eden Academy. Plus it helps to read all the books in the series to place key characters. I somehow went out of order, but that’s ok. I went back and figured it out. This was really great, but in the end I wanted more. Needed to know more…hoping the next book gives us answers!
Profile Image for Molly.
251 reviews
December 3, 2024
At first I was bummed when I started reading the fourth dark river says book that it suggested to read the Eden series first because I was loving Raine and the guys. But I like Celeste. Her story was interesting and I was so happy watching her find a family like she did. I’m really looking forward to more Eden and all the characters I’ve grown to love.
127 reviews
February 25, 2021
So good!!!

If you’ve read any other book by Grace, you’ll see how amazing she writes! The roller coaster of emotions, characters to die for and love along with the exciting plots!!!!
Hands down cannot wait for more of this series!!!!
Profile Image for Christina.
902 reviews36 followers
May 9, 2021
Interesting

This picks up in the middle of the action and stays pretty action packed. There is some mm. I wish there was a little more to the story but I'm interested to see where the series goes.
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,449 reviews17 followers
May 17, 2021
Sweet

A sweet story about an abandoned shifter, hunted by evil traffickers, and loved by three men. This is another Eden Academy Prequel. The money behind the project. And now the origin story seems complete, so we can get into Eden Academy. Hooray!
Profile Image for Booklass Garrahan.
908 reviews16 followers
June 28, 2021
Really nice surprise

This author is new to me, and if this book is anything to go by, I will be reading more by her. It is a slightly different take on shifter stories, and I really enjoyed it. Both the characters and story are appealing.
Profile Image for Jacinta - Aussie Book Nook .
531 reviews
August 13, 2021
Great read!

I am loving this world. All of the stories someway connected but you do not need to read them to understand the one you are currently reading... it makes it so much better when you do though!
11 reviews
November 11, 2021
Wonderful series

Grace McGinty has carefully created a world that you can get lost in. Character development is excellent and storyline just flows. Each book has a dash here and there of the the main characters of other books in the series. Captivating scenes and plenty of sexy fun. Love it!
Profile Image for TX CHICK.
168 reviews10 followers
January 10, 2022
fabulous

Another engaging, funny, sexy story from Grace McGinty. I loved that my favorite characters from Hunting Isla and Dark River Days had cameos. I adore this huge supernatural universe she has created.
198 reviews1 follower
January 27, 2022
Fantastic

I am so invested in these characters I want to move to Canada and find this place. I love how dimensional all her characters are. And most of all how she values love and all its vagaries.
Profile Image for Katy Meow.
170 reviews
May 14, 2022
Couldn’t put it down!

This book will grab your attention from the first paragraph. It’s dangerous, exciting, humorous or super steamy every step of the way. I am downloading the next book immediately!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews

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