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A Wolf's Résistance
Renny knew the risks when he started working for the Résistance, but he never expected to be captured and branded as a loup-garou and traitor to the State of France by the occupying Germans. Now on the run and wounded, he needs a place to hide and heal. A blacksmith’s on the edge of a small town looks like the ideal place.
At first Marc doesn’t want to believe Renny is a shapeshifter, but his curiosity and desire to help outweighs his caution. It feels good to lie to the soldiers. Better to see the heat in Renny’s eyes.
One night together makes Marc realize he wants more from life than hot coals and cold nights, but with no end to the war in sight, neither man can make promises.
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At first Marc doesn’t want to believe Renny is a shapeshifter, but his curiosity and desire to help outweighs his caution. It feels good to lie to the soldiers. Better to see the heat in Renny’s eyes.
One night together makes Marc realize he wants more from life than hot coals and cold nights, but with no end to the war in sight, neither man can make promises.
Free when you join my newsletter.
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First published May 31, 2016
1 person is currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Nichols
89 books344 followersTJ Nichols (they/them) is the author of the Studies in Demonology and Familiar Mates series. They write mostly gay fantasy and paranormal romance, but sometimes gay action/horror as Toby J. Nichols.
After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.
Free gay shifter novella when you join TJ's newsletter: http://tjnichols-author.com/lp/
You can find TJ on
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After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.
Free gay shifter novella when you join TJ's newsletter: http://tjnichols-author.com/lp/
You can find TJ on
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Ream: https://reamstories.com/tjnichols
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 20, 2016
3.5 Hearts--Set in France in 1944, A Wolf's Resistance by T.J. Nichols throws the reader right into the thick of things. Renny, a loup-garou (werewolf) is part of France's Resistance. He's packless and has nothing to lose...except his life. He's been caught by French soldier and will possibly given to the Nazis for testing. (You know how that would work out) Branded, starved, and injured by a bullet, the wolf is barely surviving but knows he must run or he'll be recaptured.
Starvation brings him to an isolated farm ran by small town, disabled giant blacksmith, Marc. The quiet blacksmith saves Renny, sees something only told in stories. Marc also hides his sexuality from others. Renny has been thrown out of his pack three years ago for being gay. That night, those two broken souls forged a connection.
I liked the premise, enjoyed the setting, The desperation from Renny came across pretty well. The quiet anger Marc felt at his country's current status, his feelings about having to socialize with his small town and being subjected to French soldiers mistreatment added an extra layer of depth to his character.
Also, I liked the connection Renny and Marc had for that fateful night. I think of their relationship as strong start where extreme factors acted as a catalyst for the speed of their passion. That was one hot night! (Intercrural sex FTW!) The wolf parts were interesting, wouldn't have minded to read more about Renny and other loup-garou during WWII.
Interesting concept.
The story ends with a strong HFN, possibly HEA. I'd like to think this couple is one that a night together ends up leading to a lifetime of partnership.
Find the unicorns reviews here for #ShifterSundayFunday!
A copy provided for an honest review.
Starvation brings him to an isolated farm ran by small town, disabled giant blacksmith, Marc. The quiet blacksmith saves Renny, sees something only told in stories. Marc also hides his sexuality from others. Renny has been thrown out of his pack three years ago for being gay. That night, those two broken souls forged a connection.
I liked the premise, enjoyed the setting, The desperation from Renny came across pretty well. The quiet anger Marc felt at his country's current status, his feelings about having to socialize with his small town and being subjected to French soldiers mistreatment added an extra layer of depth to his character.
Also, I liked the connection Renny and Marc had for that fateful night. I think of their relationship as strong start where extreme factors acted as a catalyst for the speed of their passion. That was one hot night! (Intercrural sex FTW!) The wolf parts were interesting, wouldn't have minded to read more about Renny and other loup-garou during WWII.
Interesting concept.
The story ends with a strong HFN, possibly HEA. I'd like to think this couple is one that a night together ends up leading to a lifetime of partnership.
Find the unicorns reviews here for #ShifterSundayFunday!
A copy provided for an honest review.
August 1, 2016
This really worked for me. It felt complete and for a short story that’s saying something. It’s set during WWII, one of my favorite historical periods. Plus, both the protags are French! You know my feels on the French*.
Marc and Renny live in occupied France. Renny is with the Résistance and a wolf shifter. Marc’s disability disqualified him from joining the military and his being both gay and a misanthrope has led him to a small farm just outside Vosges.
He lives a quiet life until Renny, starving and in desperate need of shelter sneaks into his chicken coop to get dinner. Renny’s been hunted for hours by his own countrymen after escaping a prison camp. He takes a chance and shifts in front of Marc to beg for aid.
They only have a handful of hours together but Nichols captured the energy of the era brilliantly. The weariness, the distrust and the feeling of being downtrodden after so many years of war, death, destruction and occupation and how that atmosphere had a way of fostering connections quickly.
And this particular connection stands a good chance of surviving the test of time.
It’s more sweet than sexy and that was fine with me. I liked the atmosphere Nichols creates as well as the writing style and I got a good sense of both of these characters in a short period of time. I’ll be on the lookout for more in the future.
*My heart goes out to the French in the wake of another tragedy. Je suis désolé. #Nice
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Marc and Renny live in occupied France. Renny is with the Résistance and a wolf shifter. Marc’s disability disqualified him from joining the military and his being both gay and a misanthrope has led him to a small farm just outside Vosges.
He lives a quiet life until Renny, starving and in desperate need of shelter sneaks into his chicken coop to get dinner. Renny’s been hunted for hours by his own countrymen after escaping a prison camp. He takes a chance and shifts in front of Marc to beg for aid.
They only have a handful of hours together but Nichols captured the energy of the era brilliantly. The weariness, the distrust and the feeling of being downtrodden after so many years of war, death, destruction and occupation and how that atmosphere had a way of fostering connections quickly.
And this particular connection stands a good chance of surviving the test of time.
It’s more sweet than sexy and that was fine with me. I liked the atmosphere Nichols creates as well as the writing style and I got a good sense of both of these characters in a short period of time. I’ll be on the lookout for more in the future.
*My heart goes out to the French in the wake of another tragedy. Je suis désolé. #Nice
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2025
I like werewolves, and I like books about WW2. So basically, this book was written for me.
Even though it’s a novella, it felt substantial and interesting, the plot setup was well done, and the relationship between Renny and Marc was lovely.
Even though it’s a novella, it felt substantial and interesting, the plot setup was well done, and the relationship between Renny and Marc was lovely.
June 22, 2016
Not badly written but sadly, it couldn't hold my attention and I didn't feel the connection between the MCs.
March 12, 2020
New to me author. This is a mm novella set in France in 1944 during WW 2. Renny is a werewolf shifter on the run from soldiers and dogs. Marc is the farmer who hides him in his barn for the night. I’ll read this author again.
June 6, 2016
Animals have been used in battles for as long as humans have been fighting wars - at least as far as I understand. Beyond transportation, be it warhorses, camels, or elephants, there are sniffer dogs for bomb detection, and even dolphins and sea lions have not escaped this sad fate. But in ‘A Wolf’s Resistance’, the author has taken it a step further and presents the idea of werewolves carrying messages across enemy lines in World War Two. What better way to hide your spies than to let them cross the border in wolf form, as part of a natural pack, then return to human shape to pass on the information once they are safe back in Allied territory? I am sure that if werewolves were real, that is exactly what would have happened!
In this story, Renny is a werewolf, or loup-garou, working for the Résistance in France of 1944.He has been caught by French collaborators and branded as a traitor, but managed to escape. He is at the end of his tether, wounded and ready to give up when he finds a blacksmith’s small farm at the edge of a small town. Best of all are the chickens the man raises, they are just what he needs as he is starving. But the blacksmith is vigilant and Renny is too exhausted to run when the blacksmith shoots him.
Marc cannot believe his eyes when the wolf he tried to scare away turns out to be a human. A very attractive man, no less, and one who needs his help if he is to survive the hated collaborators who are hunting him. Marc is not normally a risk-taker, but there is something about Renny that makes him reconsider. To Marc, fooling them and helping Renny feels as though he can finally do his part in winning the war.
Marc’s disgust with the soldiers when they return to search his home in more detail is palpable. The ease with which they eat his food and try to terrorize him is depicted really well. And Marc’s quiet resistance and determination through it all are admirable. But all Renny and Marc have is a couple of days and one night together, before a more thorough search is sure to reveal Renny.
If you like unusual stories about werewolves in a historical setting, if brutally realistic stories that look as if a happy ending is impossible are your thing, and if you’re interested in a read that is realistically depressing until it snatches happiness from the jaws of almost certain defeat, then you will probably like this novella.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
In this story, Renny is a werewolf, or loup-garou, working for the Résistance in France of 1944.He has been caught by French collaborators and branded as a traitor, but managed to escape. He is at the end of his tether, wounded and ready to give up when he finds a blacksmith’s small farm at the edge of a small town. Best of all are the chickens the man raises, they are just what he needs as he is starving. But the blacksmith is vigilant and Renny is too exhausted to run when the blacksmith shoots him.
Marc cannot believe his eyes when the wolf he tried to scare away turns out to be a human. A very attractive man, no less, and one who needs his help if he is to survive the hated collaborators who are hunting him. Marc is not normally a risk-taker, but there is something about Renny that makes him reconsider. To Marc, fooling them and helping Renny feels as though he can finally do his part in winning the war.
Marc’s disgust with the soldiers when they return to search his home in more detail is palpable. The ease with which they eat his food and try to terrorize him is depicted really well. And Marc’s quiet resistance and determination through it all are admirable. But all Renny and Marc have is a couple of days and one night together, before a more thorough search is sure to reveal Renny.
If you like unusual stories about werewolves in a historical setting, if brutally realistic stories that look as if a happy ending is impossible are your thing, and if you’re interested in a read that is realistically depressing until it snatches happiness from the jaws of almost certain defeat, then you will probably like this novella.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
October 18, 2023
This book opens the door to a very interesting concept for a paranormal historical world, and it hurts in my soul that this is a short novella and thus doesn't have the space to explore it in depth. The romance, however, is pretty well developed for the short length
June 22, 2016
(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews with a copy provided by the author / publisher for an honest review.)
n today’s A Walk on the Wild Side story, I’m bringing you a review of A Wolf’s Résistance. I have to tell you, this was hands down my favorite of the three stories that I read for our group review of this series this year. I was intrigued from the minute I read the blurb and realized that it was a tale of the French Résistance during the Nazi occupation of France in World War Two, combined with a story about a Loup-Garou or werewolf, as we non-French speakers call them.
Renny, a French Résistance fighter is on the run from French soldiers . While that might sound odd, the French soldiers were working for the Germans in this story. I was again intrigued and had to look up the history of The French State, or Vichy, the French government in the unoccupied portions of France during much of World War Two. I was appalled to read the history, which I didn’t remember ever reading before. The Vichy government was instrumental in rounding up Jews in both occupied and unoccupied (Vichy) France and sending them to Auschwitz. It was easy to believe that the same Vichy soldiers would have been responsible for capturing a Loup-Garou and sending him on to the Germans. Now that I’ve given you a quick history lesson, on with the story!
Renny at the time the story opens, had been branded on his hand by the callous soldiers, but had escaped before he arrived at a “camp”. The soldiers knew he was a Loup-Garou, and that was a big part of why he was captured and not killed in the first place. Renny is near the end of his stamina and starving when he comes upon a rural farm and sees chickens. Knowing that the soldiers are right behind him, he loops through a nearby town to try to lose them and returns to the farm where his theft of a chicken is interrupted by the landowner, Marc.
Marc is disabled, having a club foot, and was unfit for military service. He is used to being looked down on by his neighbors and distrusts them. When the wolf shifts into a pretty beat up, but handsome young man, Marc needs to take action. But can he figure out how to save the man from the soldiers?
I really enjoyed this story. It moved fast, and honestly I wish it was a full length novel. I would have been happy for more details, and more everything! I recommend you give this one a read. I know I will be looking for further works from the author.
n today’s A Walk on the Wild Side story, I’m bringing you a review of A Wolf’s Résistance. I have to tell you, this was hands down my favorite of the three stories that I read for our group review of this series this year. I was intrigued from the minute I read the blurb and realized that it was a tale of the French Résistance during the Nazi occupation of France in World War Two, combined with a story about a Loup-Garou or werewolf, as we non-French speakers call them.
Renny, a French Résistance fighter is on the run from French soldiers . While that might sound odd, the French soldiers were working for the Germans in this story. I was again intrigued and had to look up the history of The French State, or Vichy, the French government in the unoccupied portions of France during much of World War Two. I was appalled to read the history, which I didn’t remember ever reading before. The Vichy government was instrumental in rounding up Jews in both occupied and unoccupied (Vichy) France and sending them to Auschwitz. It was easy to believe that the same Vichy soldiers would have been responsible for capturing a Loup-Garou and sending him on to the Germans. Now that I’ve given you a quick history lesson, on with the story!
Renny at the time the story opens, had been branded on his hand by the callous soldiers, but had escaped before he arrived at a “camp”. The soldiers knew he was a Loup-Garou, and that was a big part of why he was captured and not killed in the first place. Renny is near the end of his stamina and starving when he comes upon a rural farm and sees chickens. Knowing that the soldiers are right behind him, he loops through a nearby town to try to lose them and returns to the farm where his theft of a chicken is interrupted by the landowner, Marc.
Marc is disabled, having a club foot, and was unfit for military service. He is used to being looked down on by his neighbors and distrusts them. When the wolf shifts into a pretty beat up, but handsome young man, Marc needs to take action. But can he figure out how to save the man from the soldiers?
I really enjoyed this story. It moved fast, and honestly I wish it was a full length novel. I would have been happy for more details, and more everything! I recommend you give this one a read. I know I will be looking for further works from the author.
June 3, 2016
This story is very dramatic with danger on the doorstep. Despite the fear and danger there is a connection formed between Marc and Renny. This is a wonderfully crafted story.
November 19, 2023
3.25 stars M/M wartime paranormal romance.
Told mostly from Renny’s POV, a shifter and part of the French resistance who is desperately attempting to escape his captors and ends up hiding at Marc’s farm/workshop. You can truly feel his desperation, loneliness and longing for safety.
Marc who is bitter at the world as a result of his disability and his sexuality had to take drastic decisions and actions.
And then he couldn’t resist what Renny is offering.
It is a but it was still a bit rushed for me.
Also I didn’t understand why Marc was given a warning for the second search, felt like a weird heads-up/plot hole.
Building an HFN/HEA on just this very brief encounter and a is a bit precarious as I would have hoped for a more solid foundation but it was still a good read.
Told mostly from Renny’s POV, a shifter and part of the French resistance who is desperately attempting to escape his captors and ends up hiding at Marc’s farm/workshop. You can truly feel his desperation, loneliness and longing for safety.
Marc who is bitter at the world as a result of his disability and his sexuality had to take drastic decisions and actions.
And then he couldn’t resist what Renny is offering.
It is a but it was still a bit rushed for me.
Also I didn’t understand why Marc was given a warning for the second search, felt like a weird heads-up/plot hole.
Building an HFN/HEA on just this very brief encounter and a is a bit precarious as I would have hoped for a more solid foundation but it was still a good read.
September 2, 2023
I don’t usually read stories set in WWII, but I made an exception for A Wolf’s Resistance by T.J. Nichols because I enjoy their writing so much. I was not disappointed with the novella. It was easy to like the main characters, Marc the blacksmith and Renny the loup-garou. The author did a good job of creating fully realized men caught in a war they both hate. The secondary characters and their actions are in contrast to Marc’s and Renny’s feelings on their current lives. I was not sure how the author would move from the tension-filled scenes of both men reacting to the war to what happened after. The conclusion, while brief, was very satisfactory. It was aided by the real-life timeline of the war. I received an advance review copy of the book for free, and I am leaving a review voluntarily.
June 25, 2018
It's not always that I find a short story to feel so complete. This built a beautiful and simple romance of two men stuck in the War while in France, each doing their own parts to resist the Germans. But their desires to love and be loved by another man have left them lost and lonely before the war even began. Meeting while Renny is running from soldiers, Marc hides him and the two find something more. Full of passion and sweet love with a hope for the future, this was a great story!
September 30, 2018
This was an excellent quick read. You're invested in Renny as soon as he takes form, and Marc is just as captivating. While it isn't the open romance I've been reading recently the fact that it's set during the War and thus needing to keep their desire secret gives the story it's own thrill. I would say that I need more of this book, but the ending was just as perfect as the rest of it. I'm so glad to have stumbled upon this read!
October 21, 2023
A Wolf's Résistance
T.J. Nichols
We’re back in Vichy France. The wolf of the title is a werewolf and a member the French Resistance hunted by French Traitors as a double threat. The farmyard he encounters is owned by a blacksmith refused for service due to his club foot. He’s gay, which adds an entirely new dimension to the storyline when we learn the wolf is as well.
Dangerous for both if Rennie is found but Marc waits out the war to see if he will return.
T.J. Nichols
We’re back in Vichy France. The wolf of the title is a werewolf and a member the French Resistance hunted by French Traitors as a double threat. The farmyard he encounters is owned by a blacksmith refused for service due to his club foot. He’s gay, which adds an entirely new dimension to the storyline when we learn the wolf is as well.
Dangerous for both if Rennie is found but Marc waits out the war to see if he will return.
February 28, 2019
Despite paranormal element this story was too realistic and so on-target about situation in France at the end of WWII.
It's much darker than the usual shifter fare but it hit all of my buttons and I was totally enchanted by it. I really like this author's writing style and will be on lookout for other works.
It's much darker than the usual shifter fare but it hit all of my buttons and I was totally enchanted by it. I really like this author's writing style and will be on lookout for other works.
June 19, 2023
3.5
Definitely above average, very realistic depiction of the situation in occupied France. The world building stays vague (who knows about the existence of werewolves beside the Nazis?) and the end came a bit too quickly. I'm going to check if I've got other books by this author in my huge TBR mountain ;-).
Definitely above average, very realistic depiction of the situation in occupied France. The world building stays vague (who knows about the existence of werewolves beside the Nazis?) and the end came a bit too quickly. I'm going to check if I've got other books by this author in my huge TBR mountain ;-).
November 17, 2020
Short story set in eastern France near the end of the second world war. MCs are a Resistance werewolf and a clubfooted blacksmith. The plot is simple, evading soldiers, and a brief romance ensues as the loup garou reveals his nature.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2022
Loved this short story that came free with the authors newsletter. Read The Witch's Familiar by this author and loved it so I signed up for the newsletter. This is a short read but heartfelt. Can't wait to read more from this author and the Familiar Mates sereis.
June 28, 2021
This is an touching love story set in World War Two in France. Renny is a wolf shifter working for the resistance and he stumbles upon Marc while on the run from Nazis.
April 9, 2022
A good story, a little slow but a good read all the same !!
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April 29, 2022Free when you join my newsletter: http://tjnichols-author.com/lp/
May 12, 2022
Despite the fact the story ended at 72% and it was short to begin with, I loved the characters. I loved that they found connection in the midst of turmoil.
July 20, 2022
Short but memorable.
For such a short story, a lot happens. Some casual torture, a life or death escape, all hope lost, unexpected help, instant attraction, and the best of endings.
For such a short story, a lot happens. Some casual torture, a life or death escape, all hope lost, unexpected help, instant attraction, and the best of endings.
December 29, 2024
An enjoyable quick read and introduction to this author.
Real world events meet paranormal with an engaging narrative.
Real world events meet paranormal with an engaging narrative.
November 28, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Enjoyment: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Enjoyment: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
January 13, 2017
So many secrets in a French Resistance tale - shifters, sabotage, and same sex sensuality
4.5 stars
I put off reading this story, as the description intimated it might be rather dark. I have studied Vichy France and suspected this might not be a pleasant tale. While it certainly was not a light, sweet romantic story, and it might be a bit too dark for some romance readers, it was absolutely perfect for me. In part, I think I related to it because it seems to me to present a good, realistic flavor of how difficult it was to be a gay man before the sexual and cultural revolution of the last forty years.
The writing gripped me from the beginning, with initial scene of a resistance fighter (and wolf shifter) on the run from German-aligned French "soldiers" (Milice militia-like policemen, I assume). The author's slight tweaks on typical shifter paradigms, including significant but not complete healing from injuries, also signified this would not be a typical shifter tale. The strength of the work, however, had little to do with the paranormal aspects, but the struggles of two injured men trying to survive in an extremely hostile world, and both doing at least a bit of their part towards a better future.
The romantic connection might be considered rather flat compared to many entries in this genre, but to me the whole story was a slow, steady, and very palpable building of an intimate connection, even if it was deeply internalized and not apparent to others (or even themselves). Actually, this slow, internal build seemed to ring very true for those who had to live in environments that require an extremely closeted life.
(additional comments and full review on blog)
4.5 stars
I put off reading this story, as the description intimated it might be rather dark. I have studied Vichy France and suspected this might not be a pleasant tale. While it certainly was not a light, sweet romantic story, and it might be a bit too dark for some romance readers, it was absolutely perfect for me. In part, I think I related to it because it seems to me to present a good, realistic flavor of how difficult it was to be a gay man before the sexual and cultural revolution of the last forty years.
The writing gripped me from the beginning, with initial scene of a resistance fighter (and wolf shifter) on the run from German-aligned French "soldiers" (Milice militia-like policemen, I assume). The author's slight tweaks on typical shifter paradigms, including significant but not complete healing from injuries, also signified this would not be a typical shifter tale. The strength of the work, however, had little to do with the paranormal aspects, but the struggles of two injured men trying to survive in an extremely hostile world, and both doing at least a bit of their part towards a better future.
The romantic connection might be considered rather flat compared to many entries in this genre, but to me the whole story was a slow, steady, and very palpable building of an intimate connection, even if it was deeply internalized and not apparent to others (or even themselves). Actually, this slow, internal build seemed to ring very true for those who had to live in environments that require an extremely closeted life.
(additional comments and full review on blog)
June 7, 2023
Novela set in the Nazi occupation of France, tells the birth of a relationship between a human farmer/blacksmith and a shifter working as a messenger for the Resistance. Good feel for the setting, characters might be better developed if it were a bit longer.
July 14, 2018
Book was perfect. Touch of romance, touch of intrigue. I really enjoyed it!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews