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The Legend of All Wolves #5
Wolf in the Shadows
The latest book in Maria Vale's award-winning Legend of All Wolves series is packed with all the action and heat you've come to expect!
A wolf shifter hero with a haunted past
A shifter heroine with a lot to learn about being part of the Pack
Dark secrets that could destroy everything they love
Fantasy-level world building and epic romance-the new werewolf standard
Shifter Julia Martel has been spoiled and pampered by all the alpha males around her whose urge to protect her have left her uninformed and vulnerable. Now the Great North Pack has relegated Julia to the care of the wolf at the very bottom of the Pack hierarchy, Arthur Graysson. Julia wants nothing to do with the Pack, except to escape back to her life of luxury and idleness, but the more time she spends with Arthur, the more she learns about the Pack, the dark secrets Arthur carries with him, and the fierceness within herself that could save them all...
A wolf shifter hero with a haunted past
A shifter heroine with a lot to learn about being part of the Pack
Dark secrets that could destroy everything they love
Fantasy-level world building and epic romance-the new werewolf standard
Shifter Julia Martel has been spoiled and pampered by all the alpha males around her whose urge to protect her have left her uninformed and vulnerable. Now the Great North Pack has relegated Julia to the care of the wolf at the very bottom of the Pack hierarchy, Arthur Graysson. Julia wants nothing to do with the Pack, except to escape back to her life of luxury and idleness, but the more time she spends with Arthur, the more she learns about the Pack, the dark secrets Arthur carries with him, and the fierceness within herself that could save them all...
360 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 26, 2022
36 people are currently reading
354 people want to read
About the author
Maria Vale
15 books913 followersMaria Vale is a journalist who has worked for Publishers Weekly, Glamour, Redbook and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She's a double-Rita finalist whose books have been listed by Amazon, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, ALA Booklist & Kirkus among their Best Books of the Year. Trained as a medievalist, she persists in trying to shoehorn the language of Beowulf into things that don't really need it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
April 3, 2022
I like a good paranormal story to get lost in another world. This one didn't work for me though. Julia, a spoiled rich girl, finds out that she is a shifter, and disposes of her obnoxious fiance for a more appealing partner. I found the world building unconvincing, the characters unlikable, the descriptions grisly, and the story line convoluted; I was very disappointed. I received an advance copy of this novel from Edelweiss and the publisher.
March 26, 2022
Shockingly, I liked this.
September 3, 2022
CW: sexual assault
The Legend of All Wolves series is my favorite PNR series, hands down. To say I was anticipating this final book is an understatement and it’s that much harder to figure out how to write this review. I still highly recommend the first four books, even though this installment wasn’t what I wanted it to be.
Let’s start with the good. Vale’s gorgeous nature writing is an intrinsic part of the Great North Pack’s characterization. Julia, a shifter and a city girl, has never been in the woods before so the forest came alive in a new way through her eyes. As she adjusts to pack life and accepts her shifter-ness, she also begins to see a new future for herself that isn’t based on her looks or value as a female. There was so much I enjoyed about her transformation, especially when she began teaching the First Shoes (pack kids).
The many words the pack has for sadness is a big theme with an emotionally satisfying payoff. Arthur doesn’t understand the concept of “crying” or tears, something Julia does a lot in this initial days and weeks. But he does understand the song of sadness. In the pack, no one is allowed to sing alone and so Julia isn’t allowed to cry alone either. This made for so many moving scenes.
All in all, it was a really strong first half and I flew through the pages, aside from reservations about a plot choice involving sexual assault in chapter 14. This is where my first issue with the book began. I was willing to see how it would be addressed or used to move the plot forward. I’m not comfortable with sexual assault being used as a plot device. If it hadn’t been an author I trusted, I might have DNFed right there. I tried to remain open but Arthur and Julia barely addressed what happened, nor did Julia apologize for what she did. That left me feeling even more uncomfortable. It was hard for me to believe Arthur could just write that off. At a minimum Julia needed to own her actions to him. There were a couple more instances of sexual assault by strangers, this time with Julia as the victim, that didn’t seem to serve a purpose. I really could not understand the inclusion of any sexual assault by the story’s end and I remain deeply perplexed about what the intended aim was. It marred my enjoyment of the story.
The second issue was when It was also unnecessary. Drusilla’s appearance would have been enough of an external conflict, if one was even needed at this point. Everything became rushed and Arthur and Julia never discuss what he did or why it was wrong. Vale’s books often have abrupt endings and I haven’t always minded it. But there was so much happening here: the murder of pack members by hunters, Drusilla’s return , whether Julia will remain with the pack and what that means for her and Arthur. Barely any of it is dealt with and I really needed that to happen in order to trust Arthur and Julia’s HEA, as well as the HEA for Great North Pack. I’m sure all will be well but it wasn’t quite what I imagined for the series end.
It’s worth acknowledging this was written during the pandemic. I have an extra measure of grace and appreciation for anyone who’s been able to write anything during this time, no matter how it personally lands for me. For now, I’ll focus on how the Pack has taken care of the threats against them. They can be wild and free, forever.
Characters: Julia is a 32 year old white Quebecois shifter. Arthur is a white Omega werewolf and berserker. He’s a virgin. This is set in New York.
Content notes: sexual assault , murder, cannibalism (wolves have to eat what they kill, humans included), imprisonment of FMC, infidelity (FMC is technically still engaged to someone else when she has sex with MMC), death of uncle, clawing/evisceration of MMC as punishment (he recovers), emotionally abusive fiancé, toxic mother, fatshaming by mom and fiancé, disordered eating (unclear how big an issue this is but FMC was always told not to eat in front of men; she’s able to adjust to pack norms over time), past sexual harassment, descriptions of wolves hunting and killing prey, gunshots, hunters kill wolves (including pack members) and the Alpha coyote and shot up the beaver lodges (off page), eviscerated secondary character (dies), past death of father (he was murdered by his sister), past officer-involved shooting (security guard shot MMC when he was a kid), FMC’s uncle wanted to breed female wolves, fear of maternal mortality rates for wolves, STD stigma, family planning discussion, broken condom, unplanned pregnancy, dubious consent, on page sex, masturbation, alcohol references, marijuana reference, mention of fictional character with severe diabetes, mention of MMC’s mother dying in childbirth, reference to pedophile (man who was attracted to FMC when she was a teen)
Disclosure: I received a free advanced copy from Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.
The Legend of All Wolves series is my favorite PNR series, hands down. To say I was anticipating this final book is an understatement and it’s that much harder to figure out how to write this review. I still highly recommend the first four books, even though this installment wasn’t what I wanted it to be.
Let’s start with the good. Vale’s gorgeous nature writing is an intrinsic part of the Great North Pack’s characterization. Julia, a shifter and a city girl, has never been in the woods before so the forest came alive in a new way through her eyes. As she adjusts to pack life and accepts her shifter-ness, she also begins to see a new future for herself that isn’t based on her looks or value as a female. There was so much I enjoyed about her transformation, especially when she began teaching the First Shoes (pack kids).
The many words the pack has for sadness is a big theme with an emotionally satisfying payoff. Arthur doesn’t understand the concept of “crying” or tears, something Julia does a lot in this initial days and weeks. But he does understand the song of sadness. In the pack, no one is allowed to sing alone and so Julia isn’t allowed to cry alone either. This made for so many moving scenes.
All in all, it was a really strong first half and I flew through the pages, aside from reservations about a plot choice involving sexual assault in chapter 14. This is where my first issue with the book began. I was willing to see how it would be addressed or used to move the plot forward. I’m not comfortable with sexual assault being used as a plot device. If it hadn’t been an author I trusted, I might have DNFed right there. I tried to remain open but Arthur and Julia barely addressed what happened, nor did Julia apologize for what she did. That left me feeling even more uncomfortable. It was hard for me to believe Arthur could just write that off. At a minimum Julia needed to own her actions to him. There were a couple more instances of sexual assault by strangers, this time with Julia as the victim, that didn’t seem to serve a purpose. I really could not understand the inclusion of any sexual assault by the story’s end and I remain deeply perplexed about what the intended aim was. It marred my enjoyment of the story.
The second issue was when It was also unnecessary. Drusilla’s appearance would have been enough of an external conflict, if one was even needed at this point. Everything became rushed and Arthur and Julia never discuss what he did or why it was wrong. Vale’s books often have abrupt endings and I haven’t always minded it. But there was so much happening here: the murder of pack members by hunters, Drusilla’s return , whether Julia will remain with the pack and what that means for her and Arthur. Barely any of it is dealt with and I really needed that to happen in order to trust Arthur and Julia’s HEA, as well as the HEA for Great North Pack. I’m sure all will be well but it wasn’t quite what I imagined for the series end.
It’s worth acknowledging this was written during the pandemic. I have an extra measure of grace and appreciation for anyone who’s been able to write anything during this time, no matter how it personally lands for me. For now, I’ll focus on how the Pack has taken care of the threats against them. They can be wild and free, forever.
Characters: Julia is a 32 year old white Quebecois shifter. Arthur is a white Omega werewolf and berserker. He’s a virgin. This is set in New York.
Content notes: sexual assault , murder, cannibalism (wolves have to eat what they kill, humans included), imprisonment of FMC, infidelity (FMC is technically still engaged to someone else when she has sex with MMC), death of uncle, clawing/evisceration of MMC as punishment (he recovers), emotionally abusive fiancé, toxic mother, fatshaming by mom and fiancé, disordered eating (unclear how big an issue this is but FMC was always told not to eat in front of men; she’s able to adjust to pack norms over time), past sexual harassment, descriptions of wolves hunting and killing prey, gunshots, hunters kill wolves (including pack members) and the Alpha coyote and shot up the beaver lodges (off page), eviscerated secondary character (dies), past death of father (he was murdered by his sister), past officer-involved shooting (security guard shot MMC when he was a kid), FMC’s uncle wanted to breed female wolves, fear of maternal mortality rates for wolves, STD stigma, family planning discussion, broken condom, unplanned pregnancy, dubious consent, on page sex, masturbation, alcohol references, marijuana reference, mention of fictional character with severe diabetes, mention of MMC’s mother dying in childbirth, reference to pedophile (man who was attracted to FMC when she was a teen)
Disclosure: I received a free advanced copy from Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2022
*I received an e-ARC via Netgalley, with thanks to Sourcebooks. The author and I are mutuals and friends on Twitter; I have received gifted books from her in the past.
NB: This review contains spoilers for earlier books in the series and for Wolf in the Shadows.
This is an extremely difficult review for me to write because, as many of you know, Wolf in the Shadows is the final book of one of my very favourite series. Books 1-4 were 5* reads, and the second, A Wolf Apart, is particularly special to me. But I really struggled with this final story, which didn't make emotional sense at the level of the romance and left me feeling unsatisfied with the overall arc.
For those unfamiliar with The Legend of All Wolves, this is not a series you can read as standalones - all five books overlap to some extent on the timeline and, while each book ends with a HEA/HFN for the focal couple, there is a strong through-line plot about the long term future of the Great North, America's last great wolf shifter pack. The action of Wolf in the Shadows runs parallel to the previous installment, Season of the Wolf, and goes only a little beyond it to the final denouement. It picks up on the relationship between the Pack Omega, Arthur, and Julia, the niece of the Pack's nemesis, August Leveraux, which was teased during Constantine and Evie's story. Both August and Julia belong to a different species of wolf shifter who, unlike the Great North, are able to resist the shift during the full moon and therefore live undetected amongst humans. The long game of the series has been the enmity between August and the Pack, who he has vowed to exterminate. Although he was killed at the end of Book 3, his mantel has now passed to his ex-wife Drusilla, a person that even other family members - including Julia - have serious cause to fear. As the book opens Julia is a prisoner of the Great North, having been captured along with her fiance Cassius and August's right-hand man Constantine during an attack earlier in the series.
Life with the Pack couldn't be any more different from Julia's previous existence - rather than planning the society wedding of the year, she's thrust into a world of fur, communal labour, the hunt, and the slow turning of the seasons. At first she's desperate to escape, but a moment of compassion from Arthur stays with her and when he's in need of her support in turn, she gives it. Their relationship unfolds from small moments of connection, as Julia comes to understand the lure of the Wild and the sanctity of Homelands. When the narrative ramps up towards the final showdown between Drusilla and the Great North, it's clear that Julia is the final piece in the puzzle of their long-term survival.
There is so much to love about both this set-up and the early parts of the book. Coming back to the Pack after a year of waiting was a balm - as always Maria Vale writes beautifully about nature and the relationship between animal and place. Seeing Julia open her eyes to the world around her and embrace her Wild wolfy self was glorious. I relished the glimpses of the characters I've come to know and love: Leonora and her Human Behaviour classes for the young wolves were just as charming and funny as always; cameos from Elijah and Thea were a delight. And Arthur has been a persistently intriguing figure in the background of the series, so it was satisfying to see him come to the fore and to learn the dark secret that he's been carrying, unbeknownst to us.
However, I felt that Wolf in the Shadows was fragmented and disjointed in ways that, over the course of the story, compromised the whole. There was a lot that simply didn't make sense to me - the logic of the plot choices wasn't organic. Characters seemed to switch and change personality as the plot demanded it, doing things which didn't align with their personas in previous books or even in this one. I particularly didn't like the way Thea was made to act throughout. Important conversations weren't had; emotional conflicts were resolved with the most throwaway of lines or gestures; so many threads from the rich tapestry of the series as a whole were left hanging. Some of these are picked up in previous books which, as I said, overlap or run concurrently on the timeline, but many are not. When it comes the ending is brutal but the consequences aren't addressed; Arthur and Julia's HEA is sketched very briefly, even though they have both experienced serious trauma in the lead up to it. The complex arc of the Pack HEA, which was the most extraordinary feature of the series as a whole, is wrapped up quite simply in very broad brushstrokes.
In addition, there were some specific elements of Wolf in the Shadows that left me distinctly uncomfortable. Firstly, there are three sexual assaults in the book that go unexplored and unprocessed; one by Julia against Arthur and two against Julia by strangers (one of which ends with Julia using violence on her attacker). There are also two episodes of what I read as dubious consent in Arthur and Julia's relationship. It's the assault by Julia that really stayed with me and which I struggle to explain or justify in the context of the book. It happens when Arthur is in a state of extreme vulnerability, where he has placed his trust in her and has no ability to consent; later, Julia equates it to groping someone when they've been roofied. And yet it's allowed to pass without comment or consequence, in a way that made me deeply upset. Secondly, there is a take on the 'third act break up' in the last quarter of the book that seemed unusually cruel and callous (as well as making little plot or emotional sense). Again, the consequences of that decision are not addressed and a reconciliation is affected during an otherwise bloody action sequence without any further reference to what has happened. It was both unsatisfying and souring. Finally, there is an accidental pregnancy plot which, given the implications of wolf pregnancies and Arthur's stated fear of having children for his own reasons, was poorly handled from my perspective.
I don't quite know what happened to make the change between Book 4 and Book 5, except that it must have been written during the hellscape of the last couple of years. I'm sure authors, editors, and publishers have all struggled to do their best work during the pandemic and everything else going on, just as we all have. Everyone deserves grace in these circumstances. I'm sad and sorry that Wolf in the Shadows didn't work better for me and, despite its problematic elements, I hope it gives other dedicated readers closure on a wonderful series. My feelings about this book in no way detract from my love of the proceeding four, which I will continue to cherish and reread with great joy.
NB: This review contains spoilers for earlier books in the series and for Wolf in the Shadows.
This is an extremely difficult review for me to write because, as many of you know, Wolf in the Shadows is the final book of one of my very favourite series. Books 1-4 were 5* reads, and the second, A Wolf Apart, is particularly special to me. But I really struggled with this final story, which didn't make emotional sense at the level of the romance and left me feeling unsatisfied with the overall arc.
For those unfamiliar with The Legend of All Wolves, this is not a series you can read as standalones - all five books overlap to some extent on the timeline and, while each book ends with a HEA/HFN for the focal couple, there is a strong through-line plot about the long term future of the Great North, America's last great wolf shifter pack. The action of Wolf in the Shadows runs parallel to the previous installment, Season of the Wolf, and goes only a little beyond it to the final denouement. It picks up on the relationship between the Pack Omega, Arthur, and Julia, the niece of the Pack's nemesis, August Leveraux, which was teased during Constantine and Evie's story. Both August and Julia belong to a different species of wolf shifter who, unlike the Great North, are able to resist the shift during the full moon and therefore live undetected amongst humans. The long game of the series has been the enmity between August and the Pack, who he has vowed to exterminate. Although he was killed at the end of Book 3, his mantel has now passed to his ex-wife Drusilla, a person that even other family members - including Julia - have serious cause to fear. As the book opens Julia is a prisoner of the Great North, having been captured along with her fiance Cassius and August's right-hand man Constantine during an attack earlier in the series.
Life with the Pack couldn't be any more different from Julia's previous existence - rather than planning the society wedding of the year, she's thrust into a world of fur, communal labour, the hunt, and the slow turning of the seasons. At first she's desperate to escape, but a moment of compassion from Arthur stays with her and when he's in need of her support in turn, she gives it. Their relationship unfolds from small moments of connection, as Julia comes to understand the lure of the Wild and the sanctity of Homelands. When the narrative ramps up towards the final showdown between Drusilla and the Great North, it's clear that Julia is the final piece in the puzzle of their long-term survival.
There is so much to love about both this set-up and the early parts of the book. Coming back to the Pack after a year of waiting was a balm - as always Maria Vale writes beautifully about nature and the relationship between animal and place. Seeing Julia open her eyes to the world around her and embrace her Wild wolfy self was glorious. I relished the glimpses of the characters I've come to know and love: Leonora and her Human Behaviour classes for the young wolves were just as charming and funny as always; cameos from Elijah and Thea were a delight. And Arthur has been a persistently intriguing figure in the background of the series, so it was satisfying to see him come to the fore and to learn the dark secret that he's been carrying, unbeknownst to us.
However, I felt that Wolf in the Shadows was fragmented and disjointed in ways that, over the course of the story, compromised the whole. There was a lot that simply didn't make sense to me - the logic of the plot choices wasn't organic. Characters seemed to switch and change personality as the plot demanded it, doing things which didn't align with their personas in previous books or even in this one. I particularly didn't like the way Thea was made to act throughout. Important conversations weren't had; emotional conflicts were resolved with the most throwaway of lines or gestures; so many threads from the rich tapestry of the series as a whole were left hanging. Some of these are picked up in previous books which, as I said, overlap or run concurrently on the timeline, but many are not. When it comes the ending is brutal but the consequences aren't addressed; Arthur and Julia's HEA is sketched very briefly, even though they have both experienced serious trauma in the lead up to it. The complex arc of the Pack HEA, which was the most extraordinary feature of the series as a whole, is wrapped up quite simply in very broad brushstrokes.
In addition, there were some specific elements of Wolf in the Shadows that left me distinctly uncomfortable. Firstly, there are three sexual assaults in the book that go unexplored and unprocessed; one by Julia against Arthur and two against Julia by strangers (one of which ends with Julia using violence on her attacker). There are also two episodes of what I read as dubious consent in Arthur and Julia's relationship. It's the assault by Julia that really stayed with me and which I struggle to explain or justify in the context of the book. It happens when Arthur is in a state of extreme vulnerability, where he has placed his trust in her and has no ability to consent; later, Julia equates it to groping someone when they've been roofied. And yet it's allowed to pass without comment or consequence, in a way that made me deeply upset. Secondly, there is a take on the 'third act break up' in the last quarter of the book that seemed unusually cruel and callous (as well as making little plot or emotional sense). Again, the consequences of that decision are not addressed and a reconciliation is affected during an otherwise bloody action sequence without any further reference to what has happened. It was both unsatisfying and souring. Finally, there is an accidental pregnancy plot which, given the implications of wolf pregnancies and Arthur's stated fear of having children for his own reasons, was poorly handled from my perspective.
I don't quite know what happened to make the change between Book 4 and Book 5, except that it must have been written during the hellscape of the last couple of years. I'm sure authors, editors, and publishers have all struggled to do their best work during the pandemic and everything else going on, just as we all have. Everyone deserves grace in these circumstances. I'm sad and sorry that Wolf in the Shadows didn't work better for me and, despite its problematic elements, I hope it gives other dedicated readers closure on a wonderful series. My feelings about this book in no way detract from my love of the proceeding four, which I will continue to cherish and reread with great joy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2022
Julia lived as a human as her powerful shifter family instructed her to reject her animal half, she was pampered and looked after and brought up to accommodate the powerful men in her family. She wanted nothing to do with the pack so when she and her fiancé are kidnapped and she is relegated to care for Arthur, she wants nothing to do with him. She just wants to go back home to the way things were before.
I've read this series from the beginning and really liked the previous books but I found myself bored with the first half of this book. The romance between Julia and Arthur didn't feel genuine to me and I didn't like how Julia was treated.
The second half of the book was a little better but because this is the last book of the series I expected more and I didn't get it which I was disappointed about. I didn't think the writing or the storyline was as good as the previous books. But I read it and was glad that it did have a good ending. That's the best thing I can say about this book. I will say that you should read this series in order for it to make more sense though.
I've read this series from the beginning and really liked the previous books but I found myself bored with the first half of this book. The romance between Julia and Arthur didn't feel genuine to me and I didn't like how Julia was treated.
The second half of the book was a little better but because this is the last book of the series I expected more and I didn't get it which I was disappointed about. I didn't think the writing or the storyline was as good as the previous books. But I read it and was glad that it did have a good ending. That's the best thing I can say about this book. I will say that you should read this series in order for it to make more sense though.
July 23, 2022
**ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I am very sad that Wolf in the Shadows is the last book in the Legends of All Wolves series. Maria Vale has created a very original and intriguing world and characters. I have been invested in this series from the start which was four years ago. Arthur was a wolf that I wanted to know more about and I was pretty excited when I saw that this book was his. I had my doubts about the leading lady Julia, but Maria did a great job with her character development. This book was suspenseful, funny, sad, and romantic. The story warmed my heart and I loved how everything developed. I loved seeing what all the characters from previous books were up to.
Arthur and Julia didn't make sense together in the beginning, but throughout the book, I saw how perfect they were for each other. I especially loved the growth Julia went through in this book. When we were first introduced to her she was a spoiled brat but she became an incredible shifter in this book. She finally became the person she was meant to be with the help of Arthur and the pack. The transformation was amazing! I am going to miss the world Maria Vale has created. There is just no series out there that has the wilderness of the wolves in this one. There were brutal moments but they just made perfect sense. One thing that was missing was an epilogue, I would've loved to see what all the characters were up to in the future. I love Maria's writing and can't wait to see what amazing stories and characters she will come up with next.
I am very sad that Wolf in the Shadows is the last book in the Legends of All Wolves series. Maria Vale has created a very original and intriguing world and characters. I have been invested in this series from the start which was four years ago. Arthur was a wolf that I wanted to know more about and I was pretty excited when I saw that this book was his. I had my doubts about the leading lady Julia, but Maria did a great job with her character development. This book was suspenseful, funny, sad, and romantic. The story warmed my heart and I loved how everything developed. I loved seeing what all the characters from previous books were up to.
Arthur and Julia didn't make sense together in the beginning, but throughout the book, I saw how perfect they were for each other. I especially loved the growth Julia went through in this book. When we were first introduced to her she was a spoiled brat but she became an incredible shifter in this book. She finally became the person she was meant to be with the help of Arthur and the pack. The transformation was amazing! I am going to miss the world Maria Vale has created. There is just no series out there that has the wilderness of the wolves in this one. There were brutal moments but they just made perfect sense. One thing that was missing was an epilogue, I would've loved to see what all the characters were up to in the future. I love Maria's writing and can't wait to see what amazing stories and characters she will come up with next.
March 28, 2022
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Review can also be found on *Milky Way of Books*
The final book in the Legend of the Wolves series was amazing leaving the bittersweet feeling I always get when a series I loved for almost 4 years ended. The Pack tries to pick up from where they left after the events of the previous books with two prisoners of the Shifters, one being Julie. Her care is given to Arthur the one they consider the Omega of the Pack but one who also hides a terrible power.
The story is not only about how the wolves live and their daily lives but moreover, it is about a woman who finds her true self, after being groomed to believe that she needed protection, making her inferior to her true potential.
A testament to Maria Vale's gorgeous writing, we see the POV of both Julie and Arthur as they learn from one another and struggle through the Pack dynamics and their own feelings. I enjoyed the descriptions, the throwback to a specific forever wolf, which always makes my heart ache, the amazing beauty of nature as seen from both human and wolven eyes.
Definitely recommend reading the whole series when it comes out so you won't have to be tortured like me who had to wait year after year.
The final book in the Legend of the Wolves series was amazing leaving the bittersweet feeling I always get when a series I loved for almost 4 years ended. The Pack tries to pick up from where they left after the events of the previous books with two prisoners of the Shifters, one being Julie. Her care is given to Arthur the one they consider the Omega of the Pack but one who also hides a terrible power.
The story is not only about how the wolves live and their daily lives but moreover, it is about a woman who finds her true self, after being groomed to believe that she needed protection, making her inferior to her true potential.
A testament to Maria Vale's gorgeous writing, we see the POV of both Julie and Arthur as they learn from one another and struggle through the Pack dynamics and their own feelings. I enjoyed the descriptions, the throwback to a specific forever wolf, which always makes my heart ache, the amazing beauty of nature as seen from both human and wolven eyes.
Definitely recommend reading the whole series when it comes out so you won't have to be tortured like me who had to wait year after year.
September 13, 2022
Another 5 ⭐ read for me in this series.
Julia was captured in the past book and is being held in the shifter camp with her asshole fiancé. she's clearly in shock and a definite fish out of water having never shifted before (as she is part of those who can shift at will who have been despised). She is immediately drawn to Arthur, the new omega of the camp (no, not like an omegaverse omega - this series is different). He is tasked with caring for her but as he is gravely injured in taking his punishment, she ends up doing some caring for him and they grow closer.
I often detest the whole rich person displaced trope (as evidenced by my DNF of The Do-Over) but Julia was trying so hard to fit in and the weird behaviours she demonstrated were really just her in shock, not that she was necessarily stuck up. She was certainly spoiled but her immediate regard for Arthur and the development of their relationship was really beautiful. And that twist form Arthur? I did not see that coming.
This whole series was just so raw in many ways and a complete divergence from the usual shifter novels. It made me feel so emotional at times, both sad (yeah, I cried) and angry but also heart wrenchingly beautiful. I'm sad to see it end but suspect it will be a re-read for me in future.
This book probably could be read as a standalone but I think it works far better as the last of the series. There's too much backstory that gives the depth and poignance to fully appreciate it.
Julia was captured in the past book and is being held in the shifter camp with her asshole fiancé. she's clearly in shock and a definite fish out of water having never shifted before (as she is part of those who can shift at will who have been despised). She is immediately drawn to Arthur, the new omega of the camp (no, not like an omegaverse omega - this series is different). He is tasked with caring for her but as he is gravely injured in taking his punishment, she ends up doing some caring for him and they grow closer.
I often detest the whole rich person displaced trope (as evidenced by my DNF of The Do-Over) but Julia was trying so hard to fit in and the weird behaviours she demonstrated were really just her in shock, not that she was necessarily stuck up. She was certainly spoiled but her immediate regard for Arthur and the development of their relationship was really beautiful. And that twist form Arthur? I did not see that coming.
This whole series was just so raw in many ways and a complete divergence from the usual shifter novels. It made me feel so emotional at times, both sad (yeah, I cried) and angry but also heart wrenchingly beautiful. I'm sad to see it end but suspect it will be a re-read for me in future.
This book probably could be read as a standalone but I think it works far better as the last of the series. There's too much backstory that gives the depth and poignance to fully appreciate it.
August 5, 2022
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: paranormal, fantasy, shapeshifters, romance
CW: violence, sexual assault
“𝚃𝚠𝚘 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚊𝚐𝚘, 𝙸 𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚌é.”
Julia’s the spoiled brat niece of August Levereaux, the longtime arch nemesis of the Great North Wolfpack. After he’s killed, Julia’s taken by them, and Arthur, the pack’s Omega, is tasked with keeping an eye on her. She’s out of her element. Even though she’s Lukani, and able to shift to her wolf form, she doesn’t. However, the longer she remains with the wolfpack learning about their community, the more she learns about her own background. Sheltered her entire life, staying with the wolfpack is freeing. Her attraction to Arthur and the way he sees her as her own person, helps to reshape her sense of self.
I fell hard for this book mostly because of Julia’s story arc. She goes from being a sheltered princess often dismissed by the men around her to a strong-willed individual who embraces her dual natures. She becomes emboldened, even finding new purpose. My favorite is when she shows up people who’ve underestimated her. She also becomes crucial to helping the wolfpack maintain their stronghold.
There’s one incident in the book that unsettled me: a moment during Arthur’s change when he’s most vulnerable and Julia touches (actually gropes) him without consent. So not okay, and it was addressed later between them, but I wasn’t satisfied with the outcome. Maybe someone else has a different take on how that was addressed?
I’m sad this series is coming to an end. It’s always impressed me because of the human versus wolf nature observations. These stories are so much about trust, growing and opening up to the greater world beyond. I loved being transported
to the Great North. I think 𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙨 brings things full circle and I’m so glad I got to experience it!
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#WolfInTheShadows #MariaVale #SourcebooksCasablanca #LegendOfAllWolves
#bookstagram #bookish #booksofinstagram #books #readersofinstagram #reader #ilovebooks #read #bookreviewsofinstagram #bookreview #paranormalromance #shifters #fantasy
*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Genre: paranormal, fantasy, shapeshifters, romance
CW: violence, sexual assault
“𝚃𝚠𝚘 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚊𝚐𝚘, 𝙸 𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚌é.”
Julia’s the spoiled brat niece of August Levereaux, the longtime arch nemesis of the Great North Wolfpack. After he’s killed, Julia’s taken by them, and Arthur, the pack’s Omega, is tasked with keeping an eye on her. She’s out of her element. Even though she’s Lukani, and able to shift to her wolf form, she doesn’t. However, the longer she remains with the wolfpack learning about their community, the more she learns about her own background. Sheltered her entire life, staying with the wolfpack is freeing. Her attraction to Arthur and the way he sees her as her own person, helps to reshape her sense of self.
I fell hard for this book mostly because of Julia’s story arc. She goes from being a sheltered princess often dismissed by the men around her to a strong-willed individual who embraces her dual natures. She becomes emboldened, even finding new purpose. My favorite is when she shows up people who’ve underestimated her. She also becomes crucial to helping the wolfpack maintain their stronghold.
There’s one incident in the book that unsettled me: a moment during Arthur’s change when he’s most vulnerable and Julia touches (actually gropes) him without consent. So not okay, and it was addressed later between them, but I wasn’t satisfied with the outcome. Maybe someone else has a different take on how that was addressed?
I’m sad this series is coming to an end. It’s always impressed me because of the human versus wolf nature observations. These stories are so much about trust, growing and opening up to the greater world beyond. I loved being transported
to the Great North. I think 𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙨 brings things full circle and I’m so glad I got to experience it!
.
.
.
#WolfInTheShadows #MariaVale #SourcebooksCasablanca #LegendOfAllWolves
#bookstagram #bookish #booksofinstagram #books #readersofinstagram #reader #ilovebooks #read #bookreviewsofinstagram #bookreview #paranormalromance #shifters #fantasy
*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
September 25, 2022
I was very excited to discover there was going to be another book in the Legends of All Wolves series! I found the plot idea similar to a mafia story, with Julia being the mafia princess who suddenly has to fend for herself after having so many protectors around her. With her uncle, the nemesis of the Great North Pack dead, she's become their hostage and under the care/control of Arthur, a wolf at the bottom of his pack. She has to learn a whole new way of living, and understand what she really is. In doing so, she grows up and becomes the woman she's meant to be, and also becomes committed to a relationship with Arthur who shows her what life could be like as part of the pack. There is no sugar coating life as a wolf in this author's worldbuilding, making it a unique entry in the various shifter worlds out there. The whole series is a game changer in paranormal romance.
Here's the link to the joint review I did with Dabney at AAR: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
Here's the link to the joint review I did with Dabney at AAR: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
January 28, 2025
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrggggghhhhhhh
Going into this book, I was prepared to say that this was a perfect series—one of my favorites of all time, in fact. Every book has been beautifully written, challenging, heartrending, and basically unlike anything else I've ever read.
I still think it's one of the best series I've ever read, but I really, really want Maria Vale to rewrite the last part of this final book.
It started off incredibly strong: our MCs are Arthur, the former nidling who killed the dastardly Victor and was duly punished for it; and Julia, the seemingly ditsy blonde shifter who is being held prisoner at Homelands along with her fiancé, Cassius, and Constantine, who was the MMC of the previous book. I was intrigued by both Arthur and Julia, so this was a pairing I could get behind.
There's a lot to love. Chapter 8—where Arthur licks Julia's tears away and they talk about how many words there are for "sadness" in the Old Tongue—is perfect. His patience with Julia as she learns to get out from under her emotionally abusive boyfriend is beautiful. The reveal of his secret was unexpected and powerful. The descriptions of vegetarian food made me get out my battered copy of Linda McCartney's World of Vegetarian Cooking. Every word was considered and beautiful, supporting the epic storyline Vale has built.
I was riding high... until about 84%. That's when it all went off the rails. At this point, Arthur decides FOR JULIA—the woman who has been controlled by men her entire life—that she should be driven home to Montreal and left there, because she couldn't possibly want to stay at Homelands with him. He wanted to give her a choice... by not giving her a choice? This not only was completely out of character for Arthur, who as an Omega is skilled at listening and observing; it felt like the cheapest kind of romance conflict-creation, and I have never seen Vale do anything like it before. What's worse, he asks Thea to drive her there, and she DOES IT. All this while they both know that Julia is pregnant, which is always life-threatening for a shifter or wolf. Thea would never. ARTHUR would never. Hundreds of pages of character development destroyed.
Another problem I had was that we had been introduced to Drusilla, August Levereaux's ex-wife, in passing in the last book. She was apparently terrifying, to the point that August was even afraid of her. She shows up in this book, at the very end, and Julia convinces Drusilla to change and then run, I guess so Drusilla's own henchmen would shoot her thinking she was the Grey? It felt stupidly complex when the Alpha—Evie—was right there ready to kill Drusilla herself. Plus, Vale tried to do too much character work for Drusilla here. She was such a peripheral, if ominous, character that this resolution didn't land like it should have. She should have spent more time building up Drusilla and giving us much more of an insight into her character if she was the Big Bad of this book and, by extension, this series.
AND THEN, there is literally no reckoning for Arthur after he betrayed Julia. Just a fond "You are in such trouble" from her. That is not the makings of an HEA.
Finally, there is a moment at 32% where Julia basically sexually assaults Arthur when he's mid-shift. This was obviously an uncomfortable moment both for the characters and for us as readers. Taken on its own, I could just about classify it as a justifiable inclusion within her character arc, but in the overall arc of this book, it feels gross, particularly because she also faces no real reckoning for it.
Ugh, I don't know. I buddy read this and we agreed that it feels more disappointing the longer we think about it. It's not the ending I wanted for this otherwise superlative series.
First 84%: 4.5 stars
Last 16%: 2.25 stars
So I'll give it 3.5 stars overall.
Going into this book, I was prepared to say that this was a perfect series—one of my favorites of all time, in fact. Every book has been beautifully written, challenging, heartrending, and basically unlike anything else I've ever read.
I still think it's one of the best series I've ever read, but I really, really want Maria Vale to rewrite the last part of this final book.
It started off incredibly strong: our MCs are Arthur, the former nidling who killed the dastardly Victor and was duly punished for it; and Julia, the seemingly ditsy blonde shifter who is being held prisoner at Homelands along with her fiancé, Cassius, and Constantine, who was the MMC of the previous book. I was intrigued by both Arthur and Julia, so this was a pairing I could get behind.
There's a lot to love. Chapter 8—where Arthur licks Julia's tears away and they talk about how many words there are for "sadness" in the Old Tongue—is perfect. His patience with Julia as she learns to get out from under her emotionally abusive boyfriend is beautiful. The reveal of his secret was unexpected and powerful. The descriptions of vegetarian food made me get out my battered copy of Linda McCartney's World of Vegetarian Cooking. Every word was considered and beautiful, supporting the epic storyline Vale has built.
I was riding high... until about 84%. That's when it all went off the rails. At this point, Arthur decides FOR JULIA—the woman who has been controlled by men her entire life—that she should be driven home to Montreal and left there, because she couldn't possibly want to stay at Homelands with him. He wanted to give her a choice... by not giving her a choice? This not only was completely out of character for Arthur, who as an Omega is skilled at listening and observing; it felt like the cheapest kind of romance conflict-creation, and I have never seen Vale do anything like it before. What's worse, he asks Thea to drive her there, and she DOES IT. All this while they both know that Julia is pregnant, which is always life-threatening for a shifter or wolf. Thea would never. ARTHUR would never. Hundreds of pages of character development destroyed.
Another problem I had was that we had been introduced to Drusilla, August Levereaux's ex-wife, in passing in the last book. She was apparently terrifying, to the point that August was even afraid of her. She shows up in this book, at the very end, and Julia convinces Drusilla to change and then run, I guess so Drusilla's own henchmen would shoot her thinking she was the Grey? It felt stupidly complex when the Alpha—Evie—was right there ready to kill Drusilla herself. Plus, Vale tried to do too much character work for Drusilla here. She was such a peripheral, if ominous, character that this resolution didn't land like it should have. She should have spent more time building up Drusilla and giving us much more of an insight into her character if she was the Big Bad of this book and, by extension, this series.
AND THEN, there is literally no reckoning for Arthur after he betrayed Julia. Just a fond "You are in such trouble" from her. That is not the makings of an HEA.
Finally, there is a moment at 32% where Julia basically sexually assaults Arthur when he's mid-shift. This was obviously an uncomfortable moment both for the characters and for us as readers. Taken on its own, I could just about classify it as a justifiable inclusion within her character arc, but in the overall arc of this book, it feels gross, particularly because she also faces no real reckoning for it.
Ugh, I don't know. I buddy read this and we agreed that it feels more disappointing the longer we think about it. It's not the ending I wanted for this otherwise superlative series.
First 84%: 4.5 stars
Last 16%: 2.25 stars
So I'll give it 3.5 stars overall.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2022
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.
July 22, 2022
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca.
It's like that Zen thing: If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? If a girl leaves and no one notices she's gone, did she ever really exist?
I've read quite a few shifter romances, but this book has been one of the most intriguing stories so far. While other books I've read in this genre focus on the shifter aspect of the characters, this book really encapsulates the nature of the wolf within, and how that affects a shifter's humanity. While I was able to understand and pick up on the world and story building, this is the fifth book in the series, so I think reading the preceding 4 books would have enhanced my reading experience even more. With that being said, I think it can definitely be read as a standalone novel.
But I needed him dangerous and rough and wild. I needed the trembling of barely contained fury. I needed to know I could ride the violence of fire and escape unscathed. And I did. Almost.
Julia and Arthur were such interesting main characters, and I really enjoyed the growth that they both experienced during the story. Their relationship with each other and other members of the pack started off rocky, but evolved over time. I especially enjoyed Julia's strength in realizing what she really wants out of life, and her courage of standing up to the men trying to control her. Overall this was a great story with some spicy romance. A 4-star read for me.
It's like that Zen thing: If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? If a girl leaves and no one notices she's gone, did she ever really exist?
I've read quite a few shifter romances, but this book has been one of the most intriguing stories so far. While other books I've read in this genre focus on the shifter aspect of the characters, this book really encapsulates the nature of the wolf within, and how that affects a shifter's humanity. While I was able to understand and pick up on the world and story building, this is the fifth book in the series, so I think reading the preceding 4 books would have enhanced my reading experience even more. With that being said, I think it can definitely be read as a standalone novel.
But I needed him dangerous and rough and wild. I needed the trembling of barely contained fury. I needed to know I could ride the violence of fire and escape unscathed. And I did. Almost.
Julia and Arthur were such interesting main characters, and I really enjoyed the growth that they both experienced during the story. Their relationship with each other and other members of the pack started off rocky, but evolved over time. I especially enjoyed Julia's strength in realizing what she really wants out of life, and her courage of standing up to the men trying to control her. Overall this was a great story with some spicy romance. A 4-star read for me.
April 30, 2022
Wolf In The Shadows was an awesome read. It was also a good end to a wonderful series. This story wasn’t what I expected at all which is a good thing. There was more to Arthur than previously disclosed which was a pleasant surprise. There was a lot more to Julia too. I loved this journey of self discovery, found family and finding your place. I will miss these characters and this world. It was an absolute pleasure to immerse myself in this book and series. I definitely recommend them.
Copy provided by publisher through Net Galley
Copy provided by publisher through Net Galley
August 25, 2022
I loved this wonderfully moving conclusion to The Legend of All Wolves series. Julia is my favorite kind of heroine - the sort molded to fill a decorative, submissive role and who finds that she's a person beneath the pretty. As Julia grows into her skin, discovering the powerful wolf that's been programmed out of her, the overall series arc is resolved in a most satisfying way. A fantastic conclusion, in every sense of the word. Highly recommend this book and the entire series!
September 24, 2023
This was a take on werewolves I've never read before, so I enjoyed that. I didn't realize the was book 5 of a series when I grabbed it off a library display, but I had no trouble figuring out what was going on.
April 11, 2024
Such an excellent, unusual series! I think I would read anything Maria Vale wrote.
August 2, 2022
Book five in Vale's Legend of All Wolves series is a book that feels unnecessary, a needless add-on to a story arc that was satisfyingly completed in book four. Time-wise, book five overlaps with several of the previous books in the series, but neither of this book's two protagonists were central to most of those already-portrayed events. I often found myself confused because Vale doesn't bother to explain those big tension-filled plot points that happened in previous books, just expects readers of those books to already KNOW why they are important, who the bad guys are, what the stakes are, why it all matters (and it had been a while since I read book four, so I didn't always remember). Which made THIS story feel very distanced and flat for me as a reader; it's like the REAL story is taking place among other characters, and our two protagonists are just peripheral to what really matters.
I also wasn't a big fan of Julia, the female romance lead. She was raised as an indulged, but repressed, girl among the Shifters, and used her sex appeal and submissiveness to male Shifters to make her way in their patriarchal society. During an attack by the Shifters on the Pack, Julia and her fiancee, Cassius, are taken and held by the Pack. Julia is placed in the care of Arthur, a low-level pack member, and gradually comes to recognize (largely by seeing how differently Arthur treats her) how sheltered and repressed and sexist her upbringing has been. But as Julia isn't actively involved in the major plot events, her character arc doesn't feel very motivated or compelling.
I liked Arthur better, perhaps because he WAS featured in the first book in the series, and played a heroic role therein. But in this storyline, he, like Julia, isn't all that involved in the action.
Arthur and Julia's relationship is more "I'm physically attracted to you, so that's why we should get together" than "we have a lot in common that we're taking pleasure in as we get to know one another better," not my favorite type of romance arc.
I also wasn't a big fan of Julia, the female romance lead. She was raised as an indulged, but repressed, girl among the Shifters, and used her sex appeal and submissiveness to male Shifters to make her way in their patriarchal society. During an attack by the Shifters on the Pack, Julia and her fiancee, Cassius, are taken and held by the Pack. Julia is placed in the care of Arthur, a low-level pack member, and gradually comes to recognize (largely by seeing how differently Arthur treats her) how sheltered and repressed and sexist her upbringing has been. But as Julia isn't actively involved in the major plot events, her character arc doesn't feel very motivated or compelling.
I liked Arthur better, perhaps because he WAS featured in the first book in the series, and played a heroic role therein. But in this storyline, he, like Julia, isn't all that involved in the action.
Arthur and Julia's relationship is more "I'm physically attracted to you, so that's why we should get together" than "we have a lot in common that we're taking pleasure in as we get to know one another better," not my favorite type of romance arc.
May 30, 2022
Oh my what a fitting end to a series that has absolutely blown readers away with its originality. In many ways it's like going back to the beginning although Julia is certainly no runt but a sheltered young woman brought up only to please others. Now she's found herself a prisoner amongst the Wolves who abhor wearing skin. As a shifter who has never changed shape Julia has a lot to learn about her other side but when she's put under the guidance of Arthur her reality slowly shifts . Arthur is confused by this female and her trappings but as he's also one who struggles with controlling his inner Wolf perhaps these two beautifully damaged creatures can find safety together ?
This was riveting, enthralling and oh so poignant. I loved the changes in Julia as she became the female she was meant to be. Yes there's violence here but handled so carefully by the author that our natural prejudices just don't get the chance to overtake our feelings or indeed our stomachs ! The ending was just perfect with a sense of hope and sheer joy. This is a shifter series like no other so please read in order as it simply builds to be a thing of magnificence that I'm still astounded by .
This voluntary take is if a copy I requested from NetGalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
This was riveting, enthralling and oh so poignant. I loved the changes in Julia as she became the female she was meant to be. Yes there's violence here but handled so carefully by the author that our natural prejudices just don't get the chance to overtake our feelings or indeed our stomachs ! The ending was just perfect with a sense of hope and sheer joy. This is a shifter series like no other so please read in order as it simply builds to be a thing of magnificence that I'm still astounded by .
This voluntary take is if a copy I requested from NetGalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
October 14, 2022
I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I wasn’t a huge fan of Julia going into this book but by the end of it, I loved her! Just watching her grow into who she was meant to be was a great read. I really enjoyed her and Arthur’s growing friendship…. I loved that he gave her a safe place to grow but he also didn’t doubt her, even when she was doubting herself.
One of my favourite things about this series is the relationships in the pack and getting to see old characters from past books and being able to see how they are doing. Plus, I enjoy Maria Vale’s writing and story telling.
All in all I was quite happy with this book and honestly I was a little sad to finish the book…. I already miss the characters…. Might have to reread the series, from the start.
One of my favourite things about this series is the relationships in the pack and getting to see old characters from past books and being able to see how they are doing. Plus, I enjoy Maria Vale’s writing and story telling.
All in all I was quite happy with this book and honestly I was a little sad to finish the book…. I already miss the characters…. Might have to reread the series, from the start.
May 13, 2022
What a breathlessly raw and passionately wild adventure that will leave you completely open and utterly vulnerable to the truth that bubbles up from the depths of your soul! Wolf in the Shadows is truly a haunting tale of learning who a person truly is while embracing every part of themselves. There is no ruin in finding yourself. There is only truth and honesty in that noble search. True love and beautiful vulnerability only comes from accepting who were you born to become and then fulfilling that purpose. I know of no better way of living your life then in the purity of your true self.
Julia thinks she has the perfect life. She has a protective Uncle and a possessive fiance who keep her close. However, when her life is forcibly turned upside down does she stop to really think about her life. Question begin to bubble up about whether her life was built on trust and love or lies and deceit. In the midst of this personal crisis, she thankfully has someone to lean on as she learns to live all over again. Arthur is charged with looking after Julia, and his quiet patience and gentle guidance is exactly what she needs to rebuild her life one step at a time. He isn't sure what to think about Julia, but slowly be begins to realize there is more to her then even she thinks. When his heart begins to embrace her, he worries that she will be put in danger. Can Arthur guide Julia on this path without pulling her into his darkness, or will she bring a warm and comforting light into the shadows that surround him?
I was thoroughly intrigued by Arthur and his role in the Pack. It is unique from other werewolf mythology I have read which made me want to learn all there is about it. He is a truly unique individual who I gravitated to along with Julia. He may be surrounded in mystery, but Julia was never afraid or him. In truth, Julia wanted to learn more about him the closer she got to him. She knew that there was something special and more about him that she longed to uncover and unlock. Likewise, Arthur knew that Julia was more then she could dream. He wanted her to reach for the dreams that her soul longed to see fulfilled. Together, they grew, melded, and become a strong anchor the Pack. This story is too beautiful for mere words. You must hold it and savor with your heart and soul to truly understand the depth of its majesty and power.
Maria Vale has created a brilliant story of unwavering hope and transforming love. There is nothing easy about this story, and it is not comfortable, but it is true and raw at its very core. What a powerful message and a beautiful journey! I look forward to more fantastic stories from this wildly creative author!
Julia thinks she has the perfect life. She has a protective Uncle and a possessive fiance who keep her close. However, when her life is forcibly turned upside down does she stop to really think about her life. Question begin to bubble up about whether her life was built on trust and love or lies and deceit. In the midst of this personal crisis, she thankfully has someone to lean on as she learns to live all over again. Arthur is charged with looking after Julia, and his quiet patience and gentle guidance is exactly what she needs to rebuild her life one step at a time. He isn't sure what to think about Julia, but slowly be begins to realize there is more to her then even she thinks. When his heart begins to embrace her, he worries that she will be put in danger. Can Arthur guide Julia on this path without pulling her into his darkness, or will she bring a warm and comforting light into the shadows that surround him?
I was thoroughly intrigued by Arthur and his role in the Pack. It is unique from other werewolf mythology I have read which made me want to learn all there is about it. He is a truly unique individual who I gravitated to along with Julia. He may be surrounded in mystery, but Julia was never afraid or him. In truth, Julia wanted to learn more about him the closer she got to him. She knew that there was something special and more about him that she longed to uncover and unlock. Likewise, Arthur knew that Julia was more then she could dream. He wanted her to reach for the dreams that her soul longed to see fulfilled. Together, they grew, melded, and become a strong anchor the Pack. This story is too beautiful for mere words. You must hold it and savor with your heart and soul to truly understand the depth of its majesty and power.
Maria Vale has created a brilliant story of unwavering hope and transforming love. There is nothing easy about this story, and it is not comfortable, but it is true and raw at its very core. What a powerful message and a beautiful journey! I look forward to more fantastic stories from this wildly creative author!
April 5, 2022
Julia has lived in the human world as a pampered human not knowing she is a werewolf. She doesn’t question the hierarchical world she lives in. She doesn’t question the abusive, controlling needs of her fiancé, willing her to submit. Once, her uncle showed her what it meant to shift but it was so traumatic she keeps it in her subconscious. She just knows it is bad and should never happen. Then her fiancé takes her on a ‘trip’ with a bunch of men who will be hunting wolves and they are attacked by those wolves. She is taken, along with her fiancé, to the Pack headquarters where she is put in the care of Arthur. But she does not understand this world.
Arthur is also a werewolf, lowest in the hierarchy of the pack. He does not understand Julia or her world. He lives a precarious life in the pack, knowing that he will be killed if he gives in to his berserker/werewolf nature. Although he doesn’t truly understand Julia he begins to see parts of her that others do not see. He begins to discover that she is “curious, attuned, and brave;” a person who does not want to submit to fools. He is unsophisticated and vulnerable in some ways. His is the perspective of the wolf and the dual POV chapters give insights to him, to Julia and to both worlds- the Pack and Human.
As she spends time with the Pack and as she falls in love with Arthur Julia is changing, coming into herself. For Julia this is a process of discovery. What she never knew- existing as a wolf, being attracted to a man, knowing herself, finding her own agency- is slowly opening itself to her.
But there are villainous outside forces, her family, that want to destroy the Pack. Will they lose it all or will Arthur and Julia find their love and place in the world?
What an intense soulful love story! The author’s world-building is magnificent. The writing is beautiful and lyrical- it is so easy to just get lost in. I could barely put it down- I picked it right back up again as soon as I made my coffee in the morning!
This is a part of the Legend of All Wolves series but can be read as a standalone. I had not read any others in the series but, after reading this marvelous book, I’ve just gotten the first in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and to Sourcebooks for this ARC in return for an honest review.
Arthur is also a werewolf, lowest in the hierarchy of the pack. He does not understand Julia or her world. He lives a precarious life in the pack, knowing that he will be killed if he gives in to his berserker/werewolf nature. Although he doesn’t truly understand Julia he begins to see parts of her that others do not see. He begins to discover that she is “curious, attuned, and brave;” a person who does not want to submit to fools. He is unsophisticated and vulnerable in some ways. His is the perspective of the wolf and the dual POV chapters give insights to him, to Julia and to both worlds- the Pack and Human.
As she spends time with the Pack and as she falls in love with Arthur Julia is changing, coming into herself. For Julia this is a process of discovery. What she never knew- existing as a wolf, being attracted to a man, knowing herself, finding her own agency- is slowly opening itself to her.
But there are villainous outside forces, her family, that want to destroy the Pack. Will they lose it all or will Arthur and Julia find their love and place in the world?
What an intense soulful love story! The author’s world-building is magnificent. The writing is beautiful and lyrical- it is so easy to just get lost in. I could barely put it down- I picked it right back up again as soon as I made my coffee in the morning!
This is a part of the Legend of All Wolves series but can be read as a standalone. I had not read any others in the series but, after reading this marvelous book, I’ve just gotten the first in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and to Sourcebooks for this ARC in return for an honest review.
May 31, 2022
4.5 STARS
Julia Martel has been subjugated her whole life by the Alpha shifter males controlling all aspects what she does and who she is supposed to be. Indeed, she had no clue of her dual nature until adolescence when it was brutally introduced by Uncle August. He was supreme ruler of the family until some of the members including Tiberius and Constantine who broke ties going over to other side of the wolves. Initially, all Julia wanted to do was to leave with her fiancé, Cassius, who was also caught by the wolves while on a mission to kidnap some of the pack. As Julia spends time as part of her assigned pack group under the care of Omega wolf Arthur Graysson, she begins to embrace her wild nature as well as the freedom from domination by her family who only care about rich people things while causing the Great North pack as much trouble as possible.
Arthur suffered a dreadful punishment for breaking a Great North pack law even though it was for the benefit of them all. While he physically recovers without overt help from anyone but Julia, they begin to form a solid relationship as Arthur teaches her the way of the wild. Arthur is also under pressure because a certain aspect of his nature puts him at risk for the ultimate punishment should he lose control. Julia seems to be able to reach a place in the mind of Arthur’s wolf that no one else can.
As Julia learns what it means to live in “skin” on pack grounds and as a wolf, she embraces a new found strength and freedom while becoming an important member helping to face down their enemies who once again only seek to destroy and dominate. The fact that these opponents are also shifters make their crimes even more heinous. Arthur’s first interaction with Julia and her role in the kidnap attempt was first introduced in the prior book, SEASON OF THE WOLF.
Fifth and final in the Legend of All Wolves series, this story ties the major elements together in a satisfying way. Ms. Vale’s unique shifter series and storytelling is compelling at times as well as visceral, and alternately, lyrical. Readers who have followed these stories will be glad to see how everything works out and what the future seems to hold for those Great North Pack for whom we have come care.
Julia Martel has been subjugated her whole life by the Alpha shifter males controlling all aspects what she does and who she is supposed to be. Indeed, she had no clue of her dual nature until adolescence when it was brutally introduced by Uncle August. He was supreme ruler of the family until some of the members including Tiberius and Constantine who broke ties going over to other side of the wolves. Initially, all Julia wanted to do was to leave with her fiancé, Cassius, who was also caught by the wolves while on a mission to kidnap some of the pack. As Julia spends time as part of her assigned pack group under the care of Omega wolf Arthur Graysson, she begins to embrace her wild nature as well as the freedom from domination by her family who only care about rich people things while causing the Great North pack as much trouble as possible.
Arthur suffered a dreadful punishment for breaking a Great North pack law even though it was for the benefit of them all. While he physically recovers without overt help from anyone but Julia, they begin to form a solid relationship as Arthur teaches her the way of the wild. Arthur is also under pressure because a certain aspect of his nature puts him at risk for the ultimate punishment should he lose control. Julia seems to be able to reach a place in the mind of Arthur’s wolf that no one else can.
As Julia learns what it means to live in “skin” on pack grounds and as a wolf, she embraces a new found strength and freedom while becoming an important member helping to face down their enemies who once again only seek to destroy and dominate. The fact that these opponents are also shifters make their crimes even more heinous. Arthur’s first interaction with Julia and her role in the kidnap attempt was first introduced in the prior book, SEASON OF THE WOLF.
Fifth and final in the Legend of All Wolves series, this story ties the major elements together in a satisfying way. Ms. Vale’s unique shifter series and storytelling is compelling at times as well as visceral, and alternately, lyrical. Readers who have followed these stories will be glad to see how everything works out and what the future seems to hold for those Great North Pack for whom we have come care.
July 27, 2022
Julia Martel is exquisitely inconsequential; charming, beautiful, and with every appearance of a life of happiness in glamorous Montreal. But Julia knows that her safe and secure life depend on keeping her fiancé content, squashing any curiosity about the motives behind her uncle August's requests, and most importantly, staying away from her Aunt Drusilla's notice.
When Julia and her fiancé Cassius are kidnapped by the Great Northern Pack, everything changes. Although a shifter, Julia has spent her entire life as a human and knows nothing about living life as a wolf and being part of a pack. Only one person shows Julia any kindness or compassion after she is kidnapped; Arthur, the Omega of the 12th echelon gives Julia his shoes and socks when her feet are blistered and cold. Arthur teaches Julia the rules of the pack, how to shift, and works with her in the Summer Garden. As Julia's confidence in herself grows, the relationship and attraction between Julia and Arthur deepens as well. But Uncle August is dead, Drusilla is hunting for Julia, and danger surrounds the pack.
What I liked best:
+The parallelism in Julia and Arthur's characters; both are in a subservient, submissive position to outward appearances. This appearance of weakness is in part for their own protection, to not be seen as a threat.
+The growth of Julia's character as she develops confidence in herself and recognizes that she deserves more than Cassius. She no longer feels the need to make herself small to keep him happy.
+Arthur and Julia's trust in each other.
+How Julia outsmarts Drusilla.
Wolf in the Shadows is book #5 in The Legend of All Wolves series and much of the action in the book stems from plot lines that have been introduced in previous books. While it can be read as a stand alone, as I did, I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read books #1-4 first, as I would have had a better understanding of the world building and the backstories of the characters. That said, Julia and Arthur's story is engaging and enjoyable and I plan to read the first four books in the series and then read this book again.
Thank you to NetGalley and author Maria Vale for the advance copy of the book in exchange for me providing my honest review.
When Julia and her fiancé Cassius are kidnapped by the Great Northern Pack, everything changes. Although a shifter, Julia has spent her entire life as a human and knows nothing about living life as a wolf and being part of a pack. Only one person shows Julia any kindness or compassion after she is kidnapped; Arthur, the Omega of the 12th echelon gives Julia his shoes and socks when her feet are blistered and cold. Arthur teaches Julia the rules of the pack, how to shift, and works with her in the Summer Garden. As Julia's confidence in herself grows, the relationship and attraction between Julia and Arthur deepens as well. But Uncle August is dead, Drusilla is hunting for Julia, and danger surrounds the pack.
What I liked best:
+The parallelism in Julia and Arthur's characters; both are in a subservient, submissive position to outward appearances. This appearance of weakness is in part for their own protection, to not be seen as a threat.
+The growth of Julia's character as she develops confidence in herself and recognizes that she deserves more than Cassius. She no longer feels the need to make herself small to keep him happy.
+Arthur and Julia's trust in each other.
+How Julia outsmarts Drusilla.
Wolf in the Shadows is book #5 in The Legend of All Wolves series and much of the action in the book stems from plot lines that have been introduced in previous books. While it can be read as a stand alone, as I did, I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read books #1-4 first, as I would have had a better understanding of the world building and the backstories of the characters. That said, Julia and Arthur's story is engaging and enjoyable and I plan to read the first four books in the series and then read this book again.
Thank you to NetGalley and author Maria Vale for the advance copy of the book in exchange for me providing my honest review.
May 22, 2022
8/10: Excellent read, well written, fell right into the fictional world created.
One thing to be said for these books, they really are easy to fall back into.
It's been a while since I read the last book in Maria Vale's werewolves (not werewolves) series. I wasn't sure if I would remember what happened last time, but the author did a great job of wrapping the recap up in the narrative without distracting the reader.
The opening line was exceptional.
Two days ago, I ate my fiancé.
I was hooked from there.
The world Vale has created is just different enough from the average shapeshifter story to make this series something more. The rules, the Great North Pack live by, make the story more believable, even if they are wolves and not people.
You take what you want, but you eat what you take.
And some of those rules are quite moving...
"No one should sing the song of sadness alone," I answer, "but I've never done it in skin."
The language used is descriptive and simply beautiful. I found myself highlighting lines in the book for no greater reason than they sounded pretty inside my head.
I am spiralling into the night, but I hold on.
Julia and Arthur's relationship progressed nicely. There wasn't anything epic about it, but her ex's behaviour will certainly speak to some readers. It spoke to me.
Things have changed, though, because I now know him for who he is: a small man with a small mind who needs someone smaller than he is to make himself feel big.
In the end, this was a very enjoyable story. It still couldn't beat out "Forever Wolf" for sheer heartbreaking storytelling, but it did draw me in and keep me entertained in a world I am more than happy to return to, time and again.
I am coming home.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley for the ARC to review.
One thing to be said for these books, they really are easy to fall back into.
It's been a while since I read the last book in Maria Vale's werewolves (not werewolves) series. I wasn't sure if I would remember what happened last time, but the author did a great job of wrapping the recap up in the narrative without distracting the reader.
The opening line was exceptional.
Two days ago, I ate my fiancé.
I was hooked from there.
The world Vale has created is just different enough from the average shapeshifter story to make this series something more. The rules, the Great North Pack live by, make the story more believable, even if they are wolves and not people.
You take what you want, but you eat what you take.
And some of those rules are quite moving...
"No one should sing the song of sadness alone," I answer, "but I've never done it in skin."
The language used is descriptive and simply beautiful. I found myself highlighting lines in the book for no greater reason than they sounded pretty inside my head.
I am spiralling into the night, but I hold on.
Julia and Arthur's relationship progressed nicely. There wasn't anything epic about it, but her ex's behaviour will certainly speak to some readers. It spoke to me.
Things have changed, though, because I now know him for who he is: a small man with a small mind who needs someone smaller than he is to make himself feel big.
In the end, this was a very enjoyable story. It still couldn't beat out "Forever Wolf" for sheer heartbreaking storytelling, but it did draw me in and keep me entertained in a world I am more than happy to return to, time and again.
I am coming home.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley for the ARC to review.
May 25, 2023
Oh dear. It’s possible this series is over. It is one of my all time favorite werewolf series, as the pack pictured here: a rough and tumble, straightforward, old English/Saxon rule-following, strong=sacrifice, group of people just trying to live without being hunted, contrasted with the modern world is utterly compelling.
And so I put off reading this book because it features Julia Martel, the glittering arm candy of villains. Vale did such a good job making her self-centered and helpless that I never thought she could write a book that drew me in like the others centered around Julia.
But there’s also the mystery of Arthur. The nidling, the lowest of the low, the most submissive, the one torn apart for taking down a traitor.
Ha. I should have known. Because Julia is no meek kitten. She’s had to hone her submission to steel points to survive, just like Arthur, and that is what they recognize in each other.
The last villain shifter, Drusilla, appears here as hunters gather around the borders of the pack land because of an ill fated citing of Varya, the gray, the forever-wolf. And we get to see the contrast of Julia learning how to be a wolf and her life back in Montreal on the Golden Mile. We also get to follow a group of First Shoes cubs on their first try at being human in public at a Pizza Barn and see the spats and fights of prior book couples’ ultimate pairings through Julia’ uncomprehending eyes.
I wish Vale could have drawn out their courtship longer….letting us feel how Arthur allows himself to relax with Julia, seeing how Julia feels strong enough to drop her pretend-meekness around Arthur. But the last parts of the book are showing us the other couples, and how Varya is protected, and more cubs and I loved those parts as well as they seemed to provide some closure for me a a fan/reader.
Definitely read from the beginning of the series.
And so I put off reading this book because it features Julia Martel, the glittering arm candy of villains. Vale did such a good job making her self-centered and helpless that I never thought she could write a book that drew me in like the others centered around Julia.
But there’s also the mystery of Arthur. The nidling, the lowest of the low, the most submissive, the one torn apart for taking down a traitor.
Ha. I should have known. Because Julia is no meek kitten. She’s had to hone her submission to steel points to survive, just like Arthur, and that is what they recognize in each other.
The last villain shifter, Drusilla, appears here as hunters gather around the borders of the pack land because of an ill fated citing of Varya, the gray, the forever-wolf. And we get to see the contrast of Julia learning how to be a wolf and her life back in Montreal on the Golden Mile. We also get to follow a group of First Shoes cubs on their first try at being human in public at a Pizza Barn and see the spats and fights of prior book couples’ ultimate pairings through Julia’ uncomprehending eyes.
I wish Vale could have drawn out their courtship longer….letting us feel how Arthur allows himself to relax with Julia, seeing how Julia feels strong enough to drop her pretend-meekness around Arthur. But the last parts of the book are showing us the other couples, and how Varya is protected, and more cubs and I loved those parts as well as they seemed to provide some closure for me a a fan/reader.
Definitely read from the beginning of the series.
March 30, 2022
I have adored this series! The way Maria Vale presents the culture and experiences of the pack and the experience of being a wolf is fascinating and somehow much more real than other books about people who are also animals. Julia is a very pampered, decorative daughter of a shifter family. She was encouraged and taught by her family to essentially reject her wolf side and live life as a decorative accent to the alpha males in her life. She has, for the most part, gone along with it. Until her Uncle is killed and she and her fiancé are brought in to the great north pack.
Arthur is a special kind of wolf - he is an omega in his pack hierarchy - but also falls into a category of wolf that is something close to a berserker. He exercises fierce control over his nature - but when a leader within the pack betrayed them all he killed the man. Pack law dictated that he be punished for it in a way that is hard for anyone outside the pack to understand. Including Julia who has been dropped into a a situation far beyond anything her life had prepared her for.
She and Arthur get pushed together by the pack for less than kind reasons - and they form a strong connection to each other. Like the other books in the series - this book talks really seriously about how we relate to nature - and our families both chosen and blood. The romantic relationship between Julia and Arthur is really beautiful to read - and their personal growth is also extremely solid.
Overall - I really loved this one - but I definitely would recommend reading all the books in the series. It isn't necessary - but the setting and feel of the books might be disorienting without that history and understanding.
I received this as an ARC via NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.
Arthur is a special kind of wolf - he is an omega in his pack hierarchy - but also falls into a category of wolf that is something close to a berserker. He exercises fierce control over his nature - but when a leader within the pack betrayed them all he killed the man. Pack law dictated that he be punished for it in a way that is hard for anyone outside the pack to understand. Including Julia who has been dropped into a a situation far beyond anything her life had prepared her for.
She and Arthur get pushed together by the pack for less than kind reasons - and they form a strong connection to each other. Like the other books in the series - this book talks really seriously about how we relate to nature - and our families both chosen and blood. The romantic relationship between Julia and Arthur is really beautiful to read - and their personal growth is also extremely solid.
Overall - I really loved this one - but I definitely would recommend reading all the books in the series. It isn't necessary - but the setting and feel of the books might be disorienting without that history and understanding.
I received this as an ARC via NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.
July 18, 2022
Let me start by saying that The Legend of All Wolves is my favorite series about shifters. Maria Vale’s unique take on wolves has enchanted me from the beginning. The wolves of the Great North Pack are a family that only wants to live life on their own terms. But the outside world keeps trying to interfere.
Among the worst meddlers are the shifters. These are beings that can shift at will, or even not shift at all. This sets them apart from the wolves of the Pack who are influenced by the moon.
Wolf in the Shadows storyline overlaps with Season of the Wolf with new viewpoints introduced. In these stories, shifters have invaded the Pack’s land for nefarious reasons. The Pack has prevailed so far, but more than one shifter has been captured by the Pack. Julie is one such shifter and, in this story, she struggles to survive in this new environment. She is assigned to Arthur, who’s own past is complex and poignant. As they spend time together, they evolve into strong indivudals doing their best to overcome their pasts.
I am fascinated by the Pack’s dichotomy of sharp intelligence and unworldliness. Nature governs their existence and they have adapted to make the most of life in their territory. The outside world constantly challenges. The Pack does not understand what motivates people in the outside world. Even worse, the outside world will never understand the Pack.
Each book in this series makes the story deeper, richer, better. These stories of wolves who take human form are unique within the paranormal genre and I recommend them to anyone that enjoys wolf/shifter fiction.
Through NetGalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book. My review is my honest opinion.
Among the worst meddlers are the shifters. These are beings that can shift at will, or even not shift at all. This sets them apart from the wolves of the Pack who are influenced by the moon.
Wolf in the Shadows storyline overlaps with Season of the Wolf with new viewpoints introduced. In these stories, shifters have invaded the Pack’s land for nefarious reasons. The Pack has prevailed so far, but more than one shifter has been captured by the Pack. Julie is one such shifter and, in this story, she struggles to survive in this new environment. She is assigned to Arthur, who’s own past is complex and poignant. As they spend time together, they evolve into strong indivudals doing their best to overcome their pasts.
I am fascinated by the Pack’s dichotomy of sharp intelligence and unworldliness. Nature governs their existence and they have adapted to make the most of life in their territory. The outside world constantly challenges. The Pack does not understand what motivates people in the outside world. Even worse, the outside world will never understand the Pack.
Each book in this series makes the story deeper, richer, better. These stories of wolves who take human form are unique within the paranormal genre and I recommend them to anyone that enjoys wolf/shifter fiction.
Through NetGalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book. My review is my honest opinion.
July 30, 2022
This is a very engaging read that suffers a bit from being utterly predictable.
Spoiled socialite Julia thinks she's going to spend a glamorous weekend with her fiancee in New York City, but he's actually taking her along with some old men her uncle wants to impress on a hunting trip in the middle of the woods in northern New York. Sh!+ hits the fan when they're attacked and kidnapped by a bunch of wild people and wolves.
Separated from everything she knew and forced to face a life full of challenges and work she'd always been protected from by people who made her be less, Julia slowly discovers that letting her wild side free might just be what her life needed.
It has the prerequisite romance with omega wolf, Arthur, doing a commendable job of digging deep into this reader's heart, yet the main story element that I loved is how Julia slowly grows into herself and just lets go of everything that she was told would make her likable to men because she just does not care to be that girl anymore. It's a great story of empowerment.
I'm not sure it's a book I'd recommend jumping into if you haven't read the rest of the series because you're dropped in the middle of a story that's been going on for a while and there is no backstory to explain anything. It works with this particular character because Julia lived a pampered life away from anything to do with wolves and she's almost as much in the dark as the readers. It's not a big enough thing that I'd say skip it because I really enjoyed it, but maybe consider checking out the other books first.
Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the phenomenal read!
Spoiled socialite Julia thinks she's going to spend a glamorous weekend with her fiancee in New York City, but he's actually taking her along with some old men her uncle wants to impress on a hunting trip in the middle of the woods in northern New York. Sh!+ hits the fan when they're attacked and kidnapped by a bunch of wild people and wolves.
Separated from everything she knew and forced to face a life full of challenges and work she'd always been protected from by people who made her be less, Julia slowly discovers that letting her wild side free might just be what her life needed.
It has the prerequisite romance with omega wolf, Arthur, doing a commendable job of digging deep into this reader's heart, yet the main story element that I loved is how Julia slowly grows into herself and just lets go of everything that she was told would make her likable to men because she just does not care to be that girl anymore. It's a great story of empowerment.
I'm not sure it's a book I'd recommend jumping into if you haven't read the rest of the series because you're dropped in the middle of a story that's been going on for a while and there is no backstory to explain anything. It works with this particular character because Julia lived a pampered life away from anything to do with wolves and she's almost as much in the dark as the readers. It's not a big enough thing that I'd say skip it because I really enjoyed it, but maybe consider checking out the other books first.
Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the phenomenal read!
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