What do you think?
Rate this book
Aspen Pack #1
Etched in Honor
I thought I’d lost my fated mate until he shows up years later. Only with no memory of me. Or us.
As Beta of the Aspen Pack, I was forced to watch our former Alpha turn to dark magic and destroy the bonds of our people.
I nearly died trying to save us, but I broke the biggest taboo: I told the others that cat shifters existed and almost lost everything in return.
Now we have a new Alpha, a new future, and a dangerous and mysterious enemy threatening our stable balance. And a new Tracker.
The man who looks like my dead mate.
As Beta of the Aspen Pack, I was forced to watch our former Alpha turn to dark magic and destroy the bonds of our people.
I nearly died trying to save us, but I broke the biggest taboo: I told the others that cat shifters existed and almost lost everything in return.
Now we have a new Alpha, a new future, and a dangerous and mysterious enemy threatening our stable balance. And a new Tracker.
The man who looks like my dead mate.
306 pages, Paperback
First published May 23, 2022
647 people are currently reading
6165 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Ann Ryan
264 books6,386 followersCarrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Talon Pack, Promise Me, and Elements of Five series, which have sold millions of books worldwide. She's the winner of a RT Book of the Year and a Prism Award in her genres. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over seventy-five novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.
The Montgomery Ink World contains the following series, though each series is a stand alone and can be read in any order. Feel free to hop around:
The Montgomery Ink Series
The Gallagher Brothers Series
The Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs Series
The Whiskey and Lies Series
The Fractured Connections Series
The Montgomery Ink: Boulder Series
The Less Than Series
The Promise Me Series
Her Elements of Five Series is her Young Adult Romance series while her other series are all adult.
Her Talon Pack series is set in the same world as the Redwood Pack series, only 30 years later.
The Dante's Circle, Holiday, Montana, and Branded Packs series are all individual series as well.
The Montgomery Ink World contains the following series, though each series is a stand alone and can be read in any order. Feel free to hop around:
The Montgomery Ink Series
The Gallagher Brothers Series
The Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs Series
The Whiskey and Lies Series
The Fractured Connections Series
The Montgomery Ink: Boulder Series
The Less Than Series
The Promise Me Series
Her Elements of Five Series is her Young Adult Romance series while her other series are all adult.
Her Talon Pack series is set in the same world as the Redwood Pack series, only 30 years later.
The Dante's Circle, Holiday, Montana, and Branded Packs series are all individual series as well.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
November 20, 2022
Great start to the series!
The Aspen Pack may not be new to some readers but since I haven't read all of Carrie Ann Ryan's shifter books I know of them but not much so I was very happy that she gave us some background on what had happened to the pack in the past and how they are rebuilding which gives us this new series. Audrey Porter is Beta to the pack and this is her story, not only does the story tell us about her past with the pack but it also fills us in on a HUGE part of her past that no one knows about.
Gavin Powers is a tracker and is a new addition to the Aspen Pack and he's there just in time because there is something attacking them and they need all the help they can get to figure out who it is and come up with a plan to stop it.
I loved the chemistry between Audrey and Gavin, I also loved the friendships Audrey had within her pack, even if she did keep them at a distance. This story was filled with suspense, lots of action, and tons of steam. I would recommend this book to those that enjoy Steamy Paranormal Romances, Inter-species Romances, or if you have read any of Carrie Ann Ryan's Talon or Redwood Pack Series books I would recommend this book to you as well.
Happy Reading!!!
Find out more here ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewEiH
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books
You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
The Aspen Pack may not be new to some readers but since I haven't read all of Carrie Ann Ryan's shifter books I know of them but not much so I was very happy that she gave us some background on what had happened to the pack in the past and how they are rebuilding which gives us this new series. Audrey Porter is Beta to the pack and this is her story, not only does the story tell us about her past with the pack but it also fills us in on a HUGE part of her past that no one knows about.
Gavin Powers is a tracker and is a new addition to the Aspen Pack and he's there just in time because there is something attacking them and they need all the help they can get to figure out who it is and come up with a plan to stop it.
I loved the chemistry between Audrey and Gavin, I also loved the friendships Audrey had within her pack, even if she did keep them at a distance. This story was filled with suspense, lots of action, and tons of steam. I would recommend this book to those that enjoy Steamy Paranormal Romances, Inter-species Romances, or if you have read any of Carrie Ann Ryan's Talon or Redwood Pack Series books I would recommend this book to you as well.
Happy Reading!!!
Find out more here ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewEiH
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with BooksYou can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
May 28, 2022
Vampires, Werewolves and Witches.
There are some good moments but a lot of the book felt like fan-service.
And parts will only make sense to people who have read other books set in this world.
I haven't and I found it a struggle.
There are some good moments but a lot of the book felt like fan-service.
And parts will only make sense to people who have read other books set in this world.
I haven't and I found it a struggle.
January 27, 2025
This book was fine. It's a second gen series and I didn't know that going in. While I got the gist of everything that I needed to know to understand what was going on - There are so so so many side characters that I'm sure I would've been excited to see if I had read the previous gazillon series that preclude this one.
Read
April 27, 2022Well, that's a fun introduction to the Aspen Pack and the many challenges they're going to face.
Audrey and her mate. Yes. I am here for this story--they're so good together. They live and breathe and bleed for each other.
They're everything you want in your PNR.
Audrey and her mate. Yes. I am here for this story--they're so good together. They live and breathe and bleed for each other.
They're everything you want in your PNR.
May 10, 2022
I am so happy to have more shifters from Carrie Ann!!! This starts out a new series, The Aspen Pack, and the is Audrey’s story, the one we knew from that pack. The pack was decimated under the previous alpha and is re-building. Everyone is new in their roles, except Audrey, she is still the beta. The big bad, well, we haven’t met them yet, but we do get to meet their minions, and OMG SHE WENT THERE!!!! Completely unexpected and a long haul to win this battle is ensured and I CANNOT WAIT!!! Audrey has all this going on, dealing with survivors’ guilt, and a pesky personal issue she has hidden for the past 30 years comes to the forefront. As the battles happen, and we get to know our pack, Audrey and Gavin deal with deep emotions and confusing feelings. They have the steam but can they find the love. In case you didn’t get it from all the exclamation points and caps letters, I am very excited about this book and what more is to come!!!
May 24, 2022
Etched in Honor is a great start to this new series! When the story opens Audrey is a lion shifter who is the Beta of her pack. Although she is a great Beta, she keeps a part of herself separate from the pack, so as to hide her pain and trauma from them. She is one of the only survivors of the upper hierarchy from their former Alpha who had turned evil, and she has also hidden from the pack the pain of finding her mate and then having him die. However, when Gavin joins their pack as a tracker, she is shocked to find he looks exactly like her mate, which brings back all of that pain for her again. Unknown to her, Gavin's life started anew years ago when he found himself somewhere not knowing who he was or where he came from, but is confused by his reaction to Audrey and hers to him.
This first in the series had a lot going on. I'm somewhat new to Carrie Ann Ryan, and have only read some of the Aspen pack books recently. Although you don't need to have read any of those previous series to follow along, my guess is that some of the background to the story would have been more familiar for me if I had. I'm a sucker for two tropes that don't exactly fit here, but have elements that do - amnesia and rejected mate tropes. Although this story isn't exactly either of those, there was a lot of the angst here that you find in those stories and I really loved that. I can't wait now for the next in this series and plan to catch up on the other series while I'm waiting.
This first in the series had a lot going on. I'm somewhat new to Carrie Ann Ryan, and have only read some of the Aspen pack books recently. Although you don't need to have read any of those previous series to follow along, my guess is that some of the background to the story would have been more familiar for me if I had. I'm a sucker for two tropes that don't exactly fit here, but have elements that do - amnesia and rejected mate tropes. Although this story isn't exactly either of those, there was a lot of the angst here that you find in those stories and I really loved that. I can't wait now for the next in this series and plan to catch up on the other series while I'm waiting.
May 26, 2022
Etched in Honor🦁🐺
Etched in Honor is the first book in the Aspen series and a spin off from the Talons and Redwoods. Even though I have finished reading all the Talons stories, I have yet to start the Redwoods series which I have sitting in my library, but maybe I will get to it sooner rather than later after reading this❣️It has sparked my love of paranormal all OVER again❤️
Audrey’s book is finally here and this female shifter has intrigued me since we first met her in the Talon series and Ryan certainly doesn’t disappoint with the backstory on Gavin and Audrey😱 Suffice to say I loved it and I can’t wait for Chase’s story next😍
Etched in Honor is the first book in the Aspen series and a spin off from the Talons and Redwoods. Even though I have finished reading all the Talons stories, I have yet to start the Redwoods series which I have sitting in my library, but maybe I will get to it sooner rather than later after reading this❣️It has sparked my love of paranormal all OVER again❤️
Audrey’s book is finally here and this female shifter has intrigued me since we first met her in the Talon series and Ryan certainly doesn’t disappoint with the backstory on Gavin and Audrey😱 Suffice to say I loved it and I can’t wait for Chase’s story next😍
May 26, 2022
New spin-off series with vampires, shifters, and witches oh my! This can be read as a standalone series. There are a few characters in here that tie to other series. This is a story of healing interrupted by a new Big Bad. Audrey is the main character and she is one who suffered great torture and pain over the last few years. Her alpha turned evil and caused almost irreparable damage to her and their entire back. Now on the mend, both Audrey and her remaining young pack members, new hurts and danger unbound.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
May 15, 2022
Its amazing to be back in the shifter world Carrie created for us once again. The Aspans have intrigued me since we met them in the Talon pack series. And it seems we have more than just a lion shifter hiding out in this pack.
There are lots of secrets and twists discovered in this book... and a hell of a lot more to come it seems with all the subtle hints Carrie gives us.
Roll on book 2 and my new yummy alpha hunk, Chase!
There are lots of secrets and twists discovered in this book... and a hell of a lot more to come it seems with all the subtle hints Carrie gives us.
Roll on book 2 and my new yummy alpha hunk, Chase!
Want to read
January 29, 2025🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/21/2022)! 🎁
January 19, 2023
Malphas didn't care what the demon Caym was up to in the human realm. As long as no-one was paying attention to his plans the demon could do as he pleased as far as he was concerned. He loved traveling through the portal to the human realm to acquire the best suits instead of the leather and chains the other demons preferred.
Neg came to tell him that the higher-ups wanted them to retrieve Caym and to make a show of it so no-one else pulled any stunts. As they drug Caym back into the demon realm he couldn't help himself, Malphas turned around and winked at the wolf shifters...he had plans for the human realm in the future.
Audrey was just finishing up training with Ronin when they were attacked. She was just able to dodge talons as she tried to figure out what she was fighting. They looked like normal men but were exceedingly strong, their fingernails had turned into black-tipped claws and she couldn't detect the color of their eyes.
She was part of the Aspen Pack which wasn't unusual except she was a lioness shifter...a lion in a pack of wolves. She was also the Beta of the pack and one of the few that had survived the previous Alpha who destroyed the pack in his goal to be the sole leader of all the shifters.
When she returned to their den with news of the attack, she was called before the Alpha to meet their new Tracker. She stopped in shock when she saw the man...who was a dead ringer for her mate. Which was impossible since their bond had been broken when he had died over three decades ago.
The Aspen Pack needed a Tracker and Gaven needed a home. He had woken up thirty years ago in England not knowing who he was, only that he had a wolf to take care of. He was taken into a pack but now has returned to the United States...he just doesn't know what he is looking for, but everything has led him here.
I loved this book. It is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable. This book is full of demons, wolf shifters, cat shifters, bear shifters and witches all living in the human realm. The Aspen Pack is trying to rebuild after the treachery of their previous Alpha and now they are faced with the fight of their lives as vampires have decided that their plans to take over the human realm all begin with taking out the Aspen Pack.
This book is full of action from word one. It is full of danger, suspense and smoking hot! If you love shifters then you will love this book! Carrie Ann Ryan brings you into a wonderful world full of shifters and other creatures and makes you feel like part of the story. Can't wait to continue this series!
Neg came to tell him that the higher-ups wanted them to retrieve Caym and to make a show of it so no-one else pulled any stunts. As they drug Caym back into the demon realm he couldn't help himself, Malphas turned around and winked at the wolf shifters...he had plans for the human realm in the future.
Audrey was just finishing up training with Ronin when they were attacked. She was just able to dodge talons as she tried to figure out what she was fighting. They looked like normal men but were exceedingly strong, their fingernails had turned into black-tipped claws and she couldn't detect the color of their eyes.
She was part of the Aspen Pack which wasn't unusual except she was a lioness shifter...a lion in a pack of wolves. She was also the Beta of the pack and one of the few that had survived the previous Alpha who destroyed the pack in his goal to be the sole leader of all the shifters.
When she returned to their den with news of the attack, she was called before the Alpha to meet their new Tracker. She stopped in shock when she saw the man...who was a dead ringer for her mate. Which was impossible since their bond had been broken when he had died over three decades ago.
The Aspen Pack needed a Tracker and Gaven needed a home. He had woken up thirty years ago in England not knowing who he was, only that he had a wolf to take care of. He was taken into a pack but now has returned to the United States...he just doesn't know what he is looking for, but everything has led him here.
I loved this book. It is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable. This book is full of demons, wolf shifters, cat shifters, bear shifters and witches all living in the human realm. The Aspen Pack is trying to rebuild after the treachery of their previous Alpha and now they are faced with the fight of their lives as vampires have decided that their plans to take over the human realm all begin with taking out the Aspen Pack.
This book is full of action from word one. It is full of danger, suspense and smoking hot! If you love shifters then you will love this book! Carrie Ann Ryan brings you into a wonderful world full of shifters and other creatures and makes you feel like part of the story. Can't wait to continue this series!
May 23, 2022
Audrey is the beta of the Aspen Pack who is trying to be the leader that her pack needs to overcome all the tribulations that they have endured. She needs to remain focused on ensuring the safety of those she cares about so she can’t be distracted by Gavin even though he brings up all the feelings and memories of a different time and a different person.
Gavin is the new tracker for the pack but even though he hasn’t been with them long they give him a sense of peace and belonging that is unexpected. The depth of the feelings that he has for Audrey are unexplainable and he and Audrey find themselves on quite the adventure as they try to uncover the secrets of the past as well as the danger in the present.
This is an emotional and action-packed story with two compelling characters about rediscovering love that is filled with surprises you don’t see coming and suspense that will keep you on edge.
Gavin is the new tracker for the pack but even though he hasn’t been with them long they give him a sense of peace and belonging that is unexpected. The depth of the feelings that he has for Audrey are unexplainable and he and Audrey find themselves on quite the adventure as they try to uncover the secrets of the past as well as the danger in the present.
This is an emotional and action-packed story with two compelling characters about rediscovering love that is filled with surprises you don’t see coming and suspense that will keep you on edge.
January 29, 2026
I rated this 3 stars
I did not expect the demon intro in a wolf‑shifter story. I actually went back to check the blurb because I thought I’d clicked on the wrong book lol.
The narration, though, is SO much better than the Gregory Salinas books. He wasn’t horrible, but he was the only narrator and just not likable enough for me to want to listen to the Carrie Ann Ryan books he solo narrated. Aiden Snow is amazing for shifter books with that deep, animalistic voice. His female voices aren’t super feminine, but it works. And Kitt Swann has been great too.
Around 25%, I was definitely interested in the mystery. I hate that this book sits on top of a whole world and like three other series that led to this moment, so I’m missing a lot of context. But I also don’t think I can go back and listen to all the previous books. Carrie Ann Ryan does a good job filling in the gaps, though, so I never felt lost.
I’m honestly torn about this book — and about Carrie Ann Ryan in general. I always want to like her stories more than I actually do. This one ended up being a 3‑star read for me. It’s perfect for nighttime listening because it’s low-stakes enough that I’m not forcing myself to stay awake, but still interesting enough that I want to see what happens.
Up until chapter 15, I felt really invested. Then something shifted. I suddenly wanted Audrey to push Gavin away. He had pushed her away earlier — for valid reasons — but when she was so accepting (also a valid reason), I found myself annoyed. Once the two main characters finally got together, my interest dropped. By chapter 18, I was honestly kind of bored.
I’ll possibly continue to book 2 and use this series as my insomnia listen, so I’m marginally invested.
This could be a great book for someone who enjoys low‑stakes shifter stories with a twist. The addition of vampires and demons is new and different. There’s some light angst and a few spicy scenes. It just didn’t fully land for me.
I did not expect the demon intro in a wolf‑shifter story. I actually went back to check the blurb because I thought I’d clicked on the wrong book lol.
The narration, though, is SO much better than the Gregory Salinas books. He wasn’t horrible, but he was the only narrator and just not likable enough for me to want to listen to the Carrie Ann Ryan books he solo narrated. Aiden Snow is amazing for shifter books with that deep, animalistic voice. His female voices aren’t super feminine, but it works. And Kitt Swann has been great too.
Around 25%, I was definitely interested in the mystery. I hate that this book sits on top of a whole world and like three other series that led to this moment, so I’m missing a lot of context. But I also don’t think I can go back and listen to all the previous books. Carrie Ann Ryan does a good job filling in the gaps, though, so I never felt lost.
I’m honestly torn about this book — and about Carrie Ann Ryan in general. I always want to like her stories more than I actually do. This one ended up being a 3‑star read for me. It’s perfect for nighttime listening because it’s low-stakes enough that I’m not forcing myself to stay awake, but still interesting enough that I want to see what happens.
Up until chapter 15, I felt really invested. Then something shifted. I suddenly wanted Audrey to push Gavin away. He had pushed her away earlier — for valid reasons — but when she was so accepting (also a valid reason), I found myself annoyed. Once the two main characters finally got together, my interest dropped. By chapter 18, I was honestly kind of bored.
I’ll possibly continue to book 2 and use this series as my insomnia listen, so I’m marginally invested.
This could be a great book for someone who enjoys low‑stakes shifter stories with a twist. The addition of vampires and demons is new and different. There’s some light angst and a few spicy scenes. It just didn’t fully land for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2022
Etched in Honor by Carrie Ann Ryan is the first book In her new paranormal Aspen Pack series. The pack is rebuilding and healing. This can be read as a standalone without any issues. This is Audrey and Gavin’s story and I loved it. Audrey is the beta of the pack and is determined to do better for them. Gavin is the new tracker and finally feels like he has found his place. He opens emotions Audrey thought were long gone and never expected. I loved their connection and seeing how the pack is coming together and what is ahead of them. The story was steamy, captivating, and suspenseful and I cannot wait to see what comes next.
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
May 16, 2022
This book gets this new series off to a very intriguing start. Audrey and Gavin were quite likable, and I thought their chemistry was great. The story is smartly constructed, complex and easy to read. I was quickly pulled in and am left eager to read much more of this series. Drama, twists, raw emotions, action, danger and intrigue are combined into a powerful and seductive mixture that has me hooked and anxiously awaiting book two. This is my unbiased, unsolicited review.
May 23, 2022
This is a great start to the series. I am new to shifter series. I don't read them much, but I really enjoyed this one. I loved Audrey and enjoyed reading about her healing. Watching her bond grow with Gavin was so interesting. The twists and turns that this book took were insane and kept me hooked the whole time! I was on the edge of my seat while reading it. With this being my second book by Carrie, I really like her writing!
May 10, 2022
5-star (ARC) review!!!
I literally gobbled up this book and can’t wait for the second one! Loved every second of this. It was so emotional and action packed and the cliffhanger definitely makes me want to read more. The beginning was a bit confusing but the fact that I could not put this one down says it all. I love Gavin and Audrey’s story so much. Definitely recommend!
I literally gobbled up this book and can’t wait for the second one! Loved every second of this. It was so emotional and action packed and the cliffhanger definitely makes me want to read more. The beginning was a bit confusing but the fact that I could not put this one down says it all. I love Gavin and Audrey’s story so much. Definitely recommend!
May 30, 2022
This was so good! I loved the love story and really enjoyed all the fantasy elements in this book. There is a bit of a cliff-hanger at the end that really makes me desperate to read book two. Can't wait for it to come out and find out what happens next!
September 24, 2023
I love how this author writes PNR. We’ve met some of these characters before in other books but it nice to focus on the Aspen pack. I like how they have more than just wolf shifters and especially a polar bear!!!
May 23, 2022
A paranormal romance you don't want to miss. While it is a romance, the story has so much more: action, suspense, mystery...I could keep going but you need to read it!
July 18, 2022
Omfg so many tears and so much action and pain. I can tell this series is gonna tear me apart. I can't WAIT!
May 12, 2022
Very happy to finally have Aubrey's book!!
Plus we learn more about the Aspen Pack & alllll their secrets. Also, the new BIG BAD....it's pretty bad! We'll see how they overcome it.
Can't wait for Chase & Skye's book next!!
Loved the bonus Epilogue - so cute, sweet & hot!
Plus we learn more about the Aspen Pack & alllll their secrets. Also, the new BIG BAD....it's pretty bad! We'll see how they overcome it.
Can't wait for Chase & Skye's book next!!
Loved the bonus Epilogue - so cute, sweet & hot!
October 28, 2023
Good series starter
Beginning a series as strongly as this book does can go both ways, and I hope it gets better and better. The characters are strongly written especially the female characters. I am interested in seeing where this series goes from here
Beginning a series as strongly as this book does can go both ways, and I hope it gets better and better. The characters are strongly written especially the female characters. I am interested in seeing where this series goes from here
May 27, 2022
Etched in Honor by Carrie Ann Ryan is the First Book in the Aspen Pack series. This is the story of Gavin and Audrey. I was so Mesmerized by the Phenomenal Characters and World Building 🙌 Read all about Audrey and Gavin's HEA in an action packed book that will keep you on the edge of your seats! Start reading, and i promise you want want to put it down. So looking forward to the next book in this series.. Definitely Your Next 5 ⭐️ Read..
December 21, 2022
This was my first Carrie Ann Ryan book and I was totally impressed! I'll start off by saying that I am sucker for a good Paranormal/Shifter Romance (One of my favorite genres to read) so I was really excited to dive into this new series and learn the world's of Carrie Ann Ryan.
*Edited to add, after doing some research I realized I should have maybe started with her Talon or Redwood Pack Series. I did feel like I was missing a little information in the beginning (background information for the Aspen pack) but, I still feel like it can be read as a stand-alone as Carrie explains things really well and has a solid follow through in this story. But, if you are one of those that HAS to have all of the facts first you might want to dive into those series first. I know I will be reading them!*
I was totally pulled into the story right from the start and I will say for me, this was a completely different type of shifter romance and I loved it. When you read shifter romances, you know that most likely you are going to be reading all about the details and intricacies of the hierarchy of pack life and I love all those details but, this was a bit different! (In a COOL way). You'll be learning who the Alpha is for example, the beta, omega's, etc etc. But, in this shifter world you learn that each member of the pack, whether you are high up or not, have a very specific role to play bestowed to them by the Moon Goddess. I thought the way the pack role's were laid out in this book were super cool and different. I also loved the fact that you have the Omega, which would normally be a low on the totem pole type of character play such an important and integral role to their pack. It was highlighted really well in how his character took care of his pack emotionally.. not everyone needs to be taken care of physically (even though he could have) and I thought that was really beautiful.
Now, for book one of the Aspen pack series, we have the new tracker for the pack Gavin who looks like just like Audrey's, the beta of the pack's long departed mate. This is just the beginning of how not only Audrey's world is tipped on it's axis but, the Aspen pack as a whole. In this book we find out that not everything is as it seems and there is a new enemy that has been lurking in the shadows just waiting for the right time to reveal themselves (I do state who the enemy is in my final paragraph below so stop now if you don't want spoilers!) When Gavin comes to the Aspen pack to start fresh in his life he has no idea who Audrey is but, she recognizes him immediately but, she is convinced it can't be her former mate Basil, now named Gavin. The enemy in this series is smart, cunning, and vindictive and they will stop at nothing to be at the top of the food chain. So, Audrey has to come to terms with the fact that her mate is back but, has no idea who she is and a new enemy to fight? It gets really juicy!!
If you love an intense shifter romance, fierce love of community and pack life, good guys vs. bad guys then, this series is for you! Not only do you get shifters in the form of Wolves, Bears and Cats but, you have witches and humans equally loved and appreciated in this pack as well, which is really fantastic. They all have to come together to try and take down their new enemy, vampires...who no one actually knew existed until now. Can they win....? Can they take down a common enemy all the while trying to navigate a love they once thought was lost? We shall see....can't wait to read book two of this series!
*Edited to add, after doing some research I realized I should have maybe started with her Talon or Redwood Pack Series. I did feel like I was missing a little information in the beginning (background information for the Aspen pack) but, I still feel like it can be read as a stand-alone as Carrie explains things really well and has a solid follow through in this story. But, if you are one of those that HAS to have all of the facts first you might want to dive into those series first. I know I will be reading them!*
I was totally pulled into the story right from the start and I will say for me, this was a completely different type of shifter romance and I loved it. When you read shifter romances, you know that most likely you are going to be reading all about the details and intricacies of the hierarchy of pack life and I love all those details but, this was a bit different! (In a COOL way). You'll be learning who the Alpha is for example, the beta, omega's, etc etc. But, in this shifter world you learn that each member of the pack, whether you are high up or not, have a very specific role to play bestowed to them by the Moon Goddess. I thought the way the pack role's were laid out in this book were super cool and different. I also loved the fact that you have the Omega, which would normally be a low on the totem pole type of character play such an important and integral role to their pack. It was highlighted really well in how his character took care of his pack emotionally.. not everyone needs to be taken care of physically (even though he could have) and I thought that was really beautiful.
Now, for book one of the Aspen pack series, we have the new tracker for the pack Gavin who looks like just like Audrey's, the beta of the pack's long departed mate. This is just the beginning of how not only Audrey's world is tipped on it's axis but, the Aspen pack as a whole. In this book we find out that not everything is as it seems and there is a new enemy that has been lurking in the shadows just waiting for the right time to reveal themselves (I do state who the enemy is in my final paragraph below so stop now if you don't want spoilers!) When Gavin comes to the Aspen pack to start fresh in his life he has no idea who Audrey is but, she recognizes him immediately but, she is convinced it can't be her former mate Basil, now named Gavin. The enemy in this series is smart, cunning, and vindictive and they will stop at nothing to be at the top of the food chain. So, Audrey has to come to terms with the fact that her mate is back but, has no idea who she is and a new enemy to fight? It gets really juicy!!
If you love an intense shifter romance, fierce love of community and pack life, good guys vs. bad guys then, this series is for you! Not only do you get shifters in the form of Wolves, Bears and Cats but, you have witches and humans equally loved and appreciated in this pack as well, which is really fantastic. They all have to come together to try and take down their new enemy, vampires...who no one actually knew existed until now. Can they win....? Can they take down a common enemy all the while trying to navigate a love they once thought was lost? We shall see....can't wait to read book two of this series!
May 15, 2022
I am new to Carrie Ann Ryan's shifter stories. I have previously read the inked series. But as I loved those and I love a good shifter romance, I wanted to give the Aspen Pack a go. This book was absolutely gripping and brilliant. I found the start a little confusing and was worried it would be out of context as I hadn't read the pack series before it. But I need not have worried, the book quickly gripped me and once this pack of shifters, witches and humans had their claws in me I was hooked.
There is so much detail in this pack and its history which is all beautifully explained so that if you are new to the shifters you won't feel left behind. You get such an emotional sense of the damage previously wrought by the old Alpha and the mental scars these characters all carry. You feel the weight of the emotion on Audrey in her role as Beta. She feels she let her packmates down and carries the weight of ensuring their ongoing safety and protection. She also secretly carries the huge hole in her heart from losing her mate. So when Gavin joins the pack who looks so similar to her deceased mate, Audrey has a lot to process and work through.
Gavin is the lone wolf looking for roots and a home. A home he finds easily amongst the Aspen Pack, as if it was predestined to find them and join their heirarchy as their new tracker. Gavin has been unsettled for too long and has fought and seen a lot in his years on his own.
The pack as a whole has a hard fight ahead in the form of the Vampires and their as yet unseen leader. We get a glimpse of the darkness that threatens the shifters and their alliances in this book. It feels like the battle is only just beginning.
This is a brilliantly detailed and developed world filled with old and new alliances. I loved the different take on the pack bonds and the heirarchy and how all the roles within the pack work to benefit the whole. The Aspen Pack feels like it has a lot of potential in strength, growth and in some great potential mates. This had everything I wanted from my PNR romance from intense passion, powerful animals, mating bites and a side order of magic and mysticism. I cannot wait to find out more about Chase and move on from that cliffhanger of an ending...
There is so much detail in this pack and its history which is all beautifully explained so that if you are new to the shifters you won't feel left behind. You get such an emotional sense of the damage previously wrought by the old Alpha and the mental scars these characters all carry. You feel the weight of the emotion on Audrey in her role as Beta. She feels she let her packmates down and carries the weight of ensuring their ongoing safety and protection. She also secretly carries the huge hole in her heart from losing her mate. So when Gavin joins the pack who looks so similar to her deceased mate, Audrey has a lot to process and work through.
Gavin is the lone wolf looking for roots and a home. A home he finds easily amongst the Aspen Pack, as if it was predestined to find them and join their heirarchy as their new tracker. Gavin has been unsettled for too long and has fought and seen a lot in his years on his own.
The pack as a whole has a hard fight ahead in the form of the Vampires and their as yet unseen leader. We get a glimpse of the darkness that threatens the shifters and their alliances in this book. It feels like the battle is only just beginning.
This is a brilliantly detailed and developed world filled with old and new alliances. I loved the different take on the pack bonds and the heirarchy and how all the roles within the pack work to benefit the whole. The Aspen Pack feels like it has a lot of potential in strength, growth and in some great potential mates. This had everything I wanted from my PNR romance from intense passion, powerful animals, mating bites and a side order of magic and mysticism. I cannot wait to find out more about Chase and move on from that cliffhanger of an ending...
May 19, 2022
Starting Afresh!!!
Audrey Porter, a Lioness shifter who helped out the TALONS and the REDWOODS when the world still didn't know that there were other supernatural beings out there besides wolves, witches and demons. She was branded as a traitor by her former Alpha but now she was the new Beta of the Aspen Pack.
She's trying to keep her pack from shattering from within and keep her people together. Her new responsibilities were taking a toll on her, she never expected someone from her past to awaken memories that were long buried. She felt like she was seeing a ghost.
Gavin Powers, a Wolf shifter and a newcomer into the Aspen Pack. He was also the new tracker but he felt as though he'd always belong within the den. There was something about the Beta that kept pulling him in, he wanted to find out more about her.
What neither one of them knew was that the big new bad did something that messed up their bonds. And when the truth finally came out, they had to find away get back all the years they've lost and get to know the people they were now.
The big new bad was trying to destroy what all the Aspens, the Talons, the Redwoods, the Centals and the Packs around the world were trying to build. But the wolves, witches, cats, bears and humans wouldn't let the enemies get their way, no matter what.
ETCHED IN HONOR is the first book in Carrie Ann Ryan's new series, The ASPEN PACK . What a phenomenal, intoxicating and oh so mind-blowing way to kick off this venture. Carrie had me hooked from start to finish. I give this book a 10/10. You guys should give it a try.
P.S. I'm looking forward to Chase's story! ;)
****I received this book, without any obligation to review.****
Audrey Porter, a Lioness shifter who helped out the TALONS and the REDWOODS when the world still didn't know that there were other supernatural beings out there besides wolves, witches and demons. She was branded as a traitor by her former Alpha but now she was the new Beta of the Aspen Pack.
She's trying to keep her pack from shattering from within and keep her people together. Her new responsibilities were taking a toll on her, she never expected someone from her past to awaken memories that were long buried. She felt like she was seeing a ghost.
Gavin Powers, a Wolf shifter and a newcomer into the Aspen Pack. He was also the new tracker but he felt as though he'd always belong within the den. There was something about the Beta that kept pulling him in, he wanted to find out more about her.
What neither one of them knew was that the big new bad did something that messed up their bonds. And when the truth finally came out, they had to find away get back all the years they've lost and get to know the people they were now.
The big new bad was trying to destroy what all the Aspens, the Talons, the Redwoods, the Centals and the Packs around the world were trying to build. But the wolves, witches, cats, bears and humans wouldn't let the enemies get their way, no matter what.
ETCHED IN HONOR is the first book in Carrie Ann Ryan's new series, The ASPEN PACK . What a phenomenal, intoxicating and oh so mind-blowing way to kick off this venture. Carrie had me hooked from start to finish. I give this book a 10/10. You guys should give it a try.
P.S. I'm looking forward to Chase's story! ;)
****I received this book, without any obligation to review.****
January 22, 2026
I immediately liked Audrey and Gavin and was intrigued by the world that was introduced. However, since this was my first book set in this universe, it was very clear that I had stepped into the middle of an ongoing story. There were a lot of characters and references that I’m sure would have meant more to me if I had started with the earlier series. I expected this to be an issue mainly during the setup, but the history of the pack and constant references to past events kept coming up even when they were mostly irrelevant to the current plot. I can’t imagine the repeated recapping was especially enjoyable even for readers already familiar with the series.
I also found the writing repetitive, which really got on my nerves, and I grew bored about halfway through. At times, it felt like the script of a bad ’80s sci-fi TV movie.
I signed up for a book about werewolves and vampires and was not prepared for how heavily demons, gods, and goddesses would factor into the power structure. I strongly dislike that trope, it often introduces too much power to keep things interesting or conveniently removes that power when it’s no longer useful.
The vampire second-in-command felt like a nobody who came out of nowhere and should have been woven into the story much earlier.
While I did enjoy the romance, it also felt underdeveloped. Audrey and Gavin needed significantly more relationship building before getting back together.
Finally, the vampire origin story felt dumb, oddly recent, and inconsistent with the fact that everyone in the book seems to know about vampires. Maybe there’s more explanation later, but I’ll never know because aside from the romance, this didn’t feel like a complete story, and I have no interest in continuing the series.
I also found the writing repetitive, which really got on my nerves, and I grew bored about halfway through. At times, it felt like the script of a bad ’80s sci-fi TV movie.
I signed up for a book about werewolves and vampires and was not prepared for how heavily demons, gods, and goddesses would factor into the power structure. I strongly dislike that trope, it often introduces too much power to keep things interesting or conveniently removes that power when it’s no longer useful.
The vampire second-in-command felt like a nobody who came out of nowhere and should have been woven into the story much earlier.
While I did enjoy the romance, it also felt underdeveloped. Audrey and Gavin needed significantly more relationship building before getting back together.
Finally, the vampire origin story felt dumb, oddly recent, and inconsistent with the fact that everyone in the book seems to know about vampires. Maybe there’s more explanation later, but I’ll never know because aside from the romance, this didn’t feel like a complete story, and I have no interest in continuing the series.
January 26, 2026
In Etched in Honor, Carrie Ann Ryan takes a group of characters previously known as "the villains" and gives them a raw, high-stakes redemption arc. This isn't just a romance; it’s a story about rebuilding a society from the ashes of a corrupt leadership.
A "Dead" Mate Returns
The story follows Audrey Porter, Beta of the Aspen Pack. Audrey is a lioness in a pack of wolves—a "taboo" existence she revealed to help save her people from their former, power-mad Alpha. She is a survivor of significant trauma, having endured torture and the loss of her fated mate thirty years prior.
Enter Gavin Powers, the pack’s new Tracker. To Audrey’s shock, Gavin looks exactly like the mate she thought died decades ago. However, Gavin has no memory of Audrey, no memory of being mated, and no memory of his life from thirty years ago.
The Aspen Pack is "shattered remains." The book excels at showing the logistical and emotional toll of a hierarchy change. Audrey’s role as Beta is central to this; she isn't just a love interest, she is the backbone of the pack’s survival.
The central tension is the mystery of Gavin's identity.
The Conflict: How do you love someone who has the face of your soulmate but none of the memories?
The Twist: The "why" behind Gavin’s memory loss ties into a larger, darker threat involving ancient enemies and demons that are beginning to resurface in the shifter world.
Audrey is a fierce, protective heroine. Her journey involves moving past her "survivor’s guilt" and learning to trust a man who represents her greatest heartbreak.
Gavin: is a "nomad" who never felt he belonged anywhere, his integration into the Aspen Pack provides a grounding element to the more fantastical plot points.
A "Dead" Mate Returns
The story follows Audrey Porter, Beta of the Aspen Pack. Audrey is a lioness in a pack of wolves—a "taboo" existence she revealed to help save her people from their former, power-mad Alpha. She is a survivor of significant trauma, having endured torture and the loss of her fated mate thirty years prior.
Enter Gavin Powers, the pack’s new Tracker. To Audrey’s shock, Gavin looks exactly like the mate she thought died decades ago. However, Gavin has no memory of Audrey, no memory of being mated, and no memory of his life from thirty years ago.
The Aspen Pack is "shattered remains." The book excels at showing the logistical and emotional toll of a hierarchy change. Audrey’s role as Beta is central to this; she isn't just a love interest, she is the backbone of the pack’s survival.
The central tension is the mystery of Gavin's identity.
The Conflict: How do you love someone who has the face of your soulmate but none of the memories?
The Twist: The "why" behind Gavin’s memory loss ties into a larger, darker threat involving ancient enemies and demons that are beginning to resurface in the shifter world.
Audrey is a fierce, protective heroine. Her journey involves moving past her "survivor’s guilt" and learning to trust a man who represents her greatest heartbreak.
Gavin: is a "nomad" who never felt he belonged anywhere, his integration into the Aspen Pack provides a grounding element to the more fantastical plot points.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2022
Of course I loved it. Anything shifter, RH, or the combination of both, really. Partly of why I enjoyed reading this book was because of the format. It's mostly written in a first person POV pf the two main characters Audrey and Gavin, but there were a few third person limited POVs consisting of the prologue and some chapters in between. I haven't read a lot of books mixing up POVs like that and maybe for some readers it could get confusing, but since it was new to me, it really didn't bother me that much.
I loved the lore, how different it was from most of the shifter books I've read, and the world building. Fantasy and romance are my favorite genre and closely to that is paranormal since I also thrive for thrills and horror as being my next favorite ones. It was fun to read not only about shifters but also vampires and demons and witches. The main focus of the story is the shifters but there are other species, too, which makes it more interesting.
The writing was okay, though there was a lot of telling rather than showing; a lot of expositions which I understand the author made a conscious decision on because first time readers like myself might not be acquainted to this world if they haven't read about the previous series in which certain details about the world were already expounded.
I was just as invested in the plot as I was with the characters which was a surprise since I only ever get caught up n one or the other and rarely both at the same time. Audrey and Gavin have been played by fate, but they have found their way back to each other. I love how it wasn't insta love, though I love insta love as well, don't get me wrong. They learn to know each other better aside from just giving in to the attraction and their already obvious love at first sight. It was realistic and in some way grounded the fantasy/paranormal aspect of the story into something as. akin to real life.
There were a lot of questions unanswered which I know would come full circle in the coming books. I am however glad how this story of Audrey and Gavin ended and I cannot wait to read more of them and the Aspen pack in the next books.
I loved the lore, how different it was from most of the shifter books I've read, and the world building. Fantasy and romance are my favorite genre and closely to that is paranormal since I also thrive for thrills and horror as being my next favorite ones. It was fun to read not only about shifters but also vampires and demons and witches. The main focus of the story is the shifters but there are other species, too, which makes it more interesting.
The writing was okay, though there was a lot of telling rather than showing; a lot of expositions which I understand the author made a conscious decision on because first time readers like myself might not be acquainted to this world if they haven't read about the previous series in which certain details about the world were already expounded.
I was just as invested in the plot as I was with the characters which was a surprise since I only ever get caught up n one or the other and rarely both at the same time. Audrey and Gavin have been played by fate, but they have found their way back to each other. I love how it wasn't insta love, though I love insta love as well, don't get me wrong. They learn to know each other better aside from just giving in to the attraction and their already obvious love at first sight. It was realistic and in some way grounded the fantasy/paranormal aspect of the story into something as. akin to real life.
There were a lot of questions unanswered which I know would come full circle in the coming books. I am however glad how this story of Audrey and Gavin ended and I cannot wait to read more of them and the Aspen pack in the next books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews