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The Magi Accounts #3.5
An Embrace to Hearten Me
I can’t seem to choose between the two shifters who mean the world to me… but what if I can have them both?
Trying to navigate my feelings has never been easy. Growing up, I had to keep my emotions locked down and hidden from the world or suffer the consequences. But now, well, now I’ve had a taste of freedom, and with it, my heart has been running wild.
Between trying to find witches—members of the Red Cloth—at work and sifting through my overwhelming emotions, I’m a mess. And two certain shifters seem happy to help sort me out, which is great, but it’s making all these feelings hit me at once.
How in the world can I tell River and Kulani that I… that I like them? Both of them. At the same time. This is going to end in disaster with one, two, or three hearts broken. But what if it doesn’t? What if there’s a way for all three of us to get what we want?
Trying to navigate my feelings has never been easy. Growing up, I had to keep my emotions locked down and hidden from the world or suffer the consequences. But now, well, now I’ve had a taste of freedom, and with it, my heart has been running wild.
Between trying to find witches—members of the Red Cloth—at work and sifting through my overwhelming emotions, I’m a mess. And two certain shifters seem happy to help sort me out, which is great, but it’s making all these feelings hit me at once.
How in the world can I tell River and Kulani that I… that I like them? Both of them. At the same time. This is going to end in disaster with one, two, or three hearts broken. But what if it doesn’t? What if there’s a way for all three of us to get what we want?
404 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 23, 2023
89 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Michele Notaro
76 books945 followersMichele is married to an awesome guy that puts up with her and all the burnt dinners she makes—hey, sometimes characters are a bit distracting, and who doesn’t plot when they’re supposed to be cooking? They live together in Baltimore, Maryland with two little monsters, a three-legged princess, a four-legged goofball, and a cutie with giant ears (aka their two kids, their two cats, and their dog). She hopes to rescue another cat soon, and if her hubby wouldn’t kill her, she’d get more than one… and maybe a few more dogs as well.
She loves creating worlds filled with lots of love, chosen family, and of course, magic, but she also likes making the characters fight for that happy ending. She hopes to one day write all the stories in her head—even if there are too many to count!
If you would like updates on my new books or to be notified when a new book is released, please join my mailing list:
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Feel free to contact me. I’d love to hear from you.
She loves creating worlds filled with lots of love, chosen family, and of course, magic, but she also likes making the characters fight for that happy ending. She hopes to one day write all the stories in her head—even if there are too many to count!
If you would like updates on my new books or to be notified when a new book is released, please join my mailing list:
http://eepurl.com/cseIXT
You can find me on Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
Feel free to contact me. I’d love to hear from you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
August 29, 2024
Wish I could give more stars
March 15, 2023
It was time that Jude got his very own book and what could be better than a story about finally get a relationship with Kulani and River. Generally I'm not much for poly stories because they're usually either a sex feast or they have a hard time to make me believe or the explanations why it works takes a lot of story space. So I was pleasantly surprised that I had no such issues here. With 3 traumatized guys we're far from getting sex on every other page, in fact even after all 3 of them acknowledged their situation that part of a relationship still takes time to happen. Also Notaro doesn't have to care about explaining anything because we already saw their mutual attraction in the previous books, so she could focus on the difficult times the guys had to accept that loving two people is a thing and you don't have to feel guilty about it just because it's not the norm. I liked to see their struggles and how they overcame their issues. I even was quite okay that it happened in that sweet way … until I got impatient because it took so much time and nothing else really happened. Yes, we finally get Kulani's past and as terrible as it was, it's nearly overshadowed by showing the safe haven the pride created. The dystopian darkness outside of their home is dimmed down, the witch situation is elusive, their work situation surprisingly harmonic and if not for Kulani's past suddenly reaching out into their present I would become bored by so much sweetness without some action.
October 24, 2023
I’ll admit, I read this one mostly to see if it would give us any further clues to what happens between the end of book three and the epilogue of book three. Thankfully, it does. Otherwise, I’ll admit to skimming a lot. The author didn’t set up Kulani or River in the main series in any way to make me super invested in seeing their side-story and only a third of this book is Jude’s POV, the one I’m most invested in of the three. So I skimmed a lot of their relationship conflict (which was a conflict simply because none of them talked, so I find that boring). The best parts of this one were the moments when we saw movement relating to the main overarching plot of the series.
Would I go back in time and still read this book, knowing what I know now?
Yes. Probably just the same, to simply see what may be missing from the main plot.
See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book
CHARACTERS: As mentioned, River and Kulani aren’t given a lot of screen time in the main series, so they aren’t really set up as anyone I’m invested in. The author has a penchant for not really describing the characters either, so the only other good thing here is that we got a little more information about what Kulani looks like (darker skin, freckles, shorter than Jude and… multi-colored but normal colored hair?). Either way, I felt like a lot of their story sounded almost… not unique. Even down to the fact that Kulani calls Mads a ‘tiny prickly mage’ in his head, which is exactly what Cosmo calls him. So it felt a little bit generic. Overall, I wasn’t invested in their relationship at all. There just wasn’t enough there. What I loved, however, is that we still had a lot of Mads and Cos, or Logan, for example. It wasn’t suddenly just a world with only the three of them, which happens a lot of the time in side-stories like this.
PLOT: The plot of this one really plodded along when it came to their relationship, so I skimmed a lot. On one hand I wasn’t invested, but on the other, they were all going around and around in circles in their heads, so it just slowed things down even more. But for the moments when their story bumped into the main arc and the outside world, those were intriguing moments where I stopped to read. So this one is a stop/start sort of plot.
EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.
1 out of 5/low. Again, there were moments that were meant to be higher, but they centered around characters that we just weren’t given enough time or enough information about to be truly invested in.
CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?
75%. The most worth it part of this book was the glimpses of what was happening in the overarching plot. So I’m super grateful for that.
Would I go back in time and still read this book, knowing what I know now?
Yes. Probably just the same, to simply see what may be missing from the main plot.
See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book
CHARACTERS: As mentioned, River and Kulani aren’t given a lot of screen time in the main series, so they aren’t really set up as anyone I’m invested in. The author has a penchant for not really describing the characters either, so the only other good thing here is that we got a little more information about what Kulani looks like (darker skin, freckles, shorter than Jude and… multi-colored but normal colored hair?). Either way, I felt like a lot of their story sounded almost… not unique. Even down to the fact that Kulani calls Mads a ‘tiny prickly mage’ in his head, which is exactly what Cosmo calls him. So it felt a little bit generic. Overall, I wasn’t invested in their relationship at all. There just wasn’t enough there. What I loved, however, is that we still had a lot of Mads and Cos, or Logan, for example. It wasn’t suddenly just a world with only the three of them, which happens a lot of the time in side-stories like this.
PLOT: The plot of this one really plodded along when it came to their relationship, so I skimmed a lot. On one hand I wasn’t invested, but on the other, they were all going around and around in circles in their heads, so it just slowed things down even more. But for the moments when their story bumped into the main arc and the outside world, those were intriguing moments where I stopped to read. So this one is a stop/start sort of plot.
EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.
1 out of 5/low. Again, there were moments that were meant to be higher, but they centered around characters that we just weren’t given enough time or enough information about to be truly invested in.
CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?
75%. The most worth it part of this book was the glimpses of what was happening in the overarching plot. So I’m super grateful for that.
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February 18, 2023Michele is one of those authors who would greatly benefit from a developmental editor, but their characters and storytelling tend to be interesting enough that I can forgive a lot. I’ve mostly rated this series based on my overall personal enjoyment.
Unfortunately, this book really fell short for me. My biggest problem is that I struggled the whole time trying to keep the POVs straight because there was no unique voice for Kulani, Jude, or River. They had the same reactions to things, inner dialogue, etc. I’ve seen this in other books by Michele, but it was especially bad in this one.
I also have to ask - why do the characters have to act shocked or gasp every time one of them is called a pet name? It got really old fast. (This is another thing Michele tends to write that I can usually ignore…it was way too prevalent in this book to do so.)
There was also pretty poor pacing throughout. Usually Michele keeps me engaged and totally into the story, but I wanted to scream when I hit 30% and the three protagonists were still pining after each other and avoiding having an adult conversation, and there was nothing else going on plot-wise.
Technically I DNFed this book around 50% so I won’t be rating it, but I did skim through so I know certain details (including Kulani’s past) for future books. I’m hoping this is just a blip and I’ll love the next book!
Unfortunately, this book really fell short for me. My biggest problem is that I struggled the whole time trying to keep the POVs straight because there was no unique voice for Kulani, Jude, or River. They had the same reactions to things, inner dialogue, etc. I’ve seen this in other books by Michele, but it was especially bad in this one.
I also have to ask - why do the characters have to act shocked or gasp every time one of them is called a pet name? It got really old fast. (This is another thing Michele tends to write that I can usually ignore…it was way too prevalent in this book to do so.)
There was also pretty poor pacing throughout. Usually Michele keeps me engaged and totally into the story, but I wanted to scream when I hit 30% and the three protagonists were still pining after each other and avoiding having an adult conversation, and there was nothing else going on plot-wise.
Technically I DNFed this book around 50% so I won’t be rating it, but I did skim through so I know certain details (including Kulani’s past) for future books. I’m hoping this is just a blip and I’ll love the next book!
February 26, 2023
I was expecting Jude s story very much, I love these 3 guys. That said the book was pretty boring, honestly. It took forever for them to get their shit together and there were long portions were nothing happened. I found myself skipping. Hopefully the action will pick up in the next book, there needs to be some drama, angst like we had in the previous books. This was a lot of "hugging, scenting, I love u, u love me, bla bla".😀
February 20, 2023
I feel like I have been stalking this author and waiting for this book for YEARS. Thankfully, I managed to snag an ARC, so I got to dive into this triad early, which made my shriveled little heart grow 3 sizes. I can not say enough times how much I adored this book. All three of these characters have so much trauma in their lives, and still manage to be open to loving each other. Granted, there is a lot of build-up, and it takes a fair portion of the story for them to finally get to the point where they admit their feelings to each other. While the spice level in this story is fairly low, the emotional buildup is so wonderful, I didn't miss that all. Honestly, it's kind of nice to read about true emotional connections, not just sex, sex, sex (don't get me wrong, I like the smexy times too. This book just did an amazing job without it.). It absolutely needs to be read in order with the rest of the series, or it won't make a ton of sense. There was a secondary story arc, but I was more invested in the main one, so that one sort of fell to the wayside in my opinion. I am insanely saddened to think that this series is approaching an ending, but until that time, I will continue to stalk the author for more about all of these amazing characters.
March 17, 2023
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
An Embrace to Hearten Me is book is labeled as a companion novel to the main Magi Accounts series, and the author has been putting out “side” stories to go along with the main storyline from the start. But it cannot be read alone and needs to be included within the reading order of the main series, as pertinent details are not only referenced, but new ones are revealed. The events of this story take place after book 3, A Purpose That Restores Us. This is a long book and there’s a lot going on, both on the relationship side of things, as well as the main mystery.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
An Embrace to Hearten Me is book is labeled as a companion novel to the main Magi Accounts series, and the author has been putting out “side” stories to go along with the main storyline from the start. But it cannot be read alone and needs to be included within the reading order of the main series, as pertinent details are not only referenced, but new ones are revealed. The events of this story take place after book 3, A Purpose That Restores Us. This is a long book and there’s a lot going on, both on the relationship side of things, as well as the main mystery.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
February 5, 2023
Tattoos & Tickles
Giddy!!! There’s no other word to describe how I feel, and will always feel, about Jude, Kulani, and River. Well, giddy and in love, but so giddy with how adorable these three are.
“It felt like love and affection and happiness, serenity… it felt like everything had come into place, like I was right where I was supposed to be with the people I was meant to be with.
It felt like I was truly, finally, home.”
All the love, the care, the honesty, and the respect, these three have my heart overflowing with feelings. No lie, my heart hurt, for their pasts, their memories, and their stumbled as they felt their way around their connection, but seeing them open their whole hearts, make their own way together, and be adorably silly while they do it, is everything. From Jude’s babbling when he’s nervous, which makes my heart flutter and sigh—actually, pretty much anything Jude does has that effect on me; to the brave ways River shows their love—and coincidentally makes me hungry; to how Kulani is so lovably generous with those he cares about—and I also adore his freckles; to the perfect not-a-date that was so a date; and to the amazing way they mesh and fit. They are all so beautiful, and their love journey is real and wonderfully true to the core of who they are.
I love this pride, I love these people, and I love this series. And I am in awe that with each book we never fail to see new sides and learn new perspectives to this beloved family. I am so ready to dive back into more with Mads, Cos and this incredible, heart pounding, epic adventure of magic and love.
Giddy!!! There’s no other word to describe how I feel, and will always feel, about Jude, Kulani, and River. Well, giddy and in love, but so giddy with how adorable these three are.
“It felt like love and affection and happiness, serenity… it felt like everything had come into place, like I was right where I was supposed to be with the people I was meant to be with.
It felt like I was truly, finally, home.”
All the love, the care, the honesty, and the respect, these three have my heart overflowing with feelings. No lie, my heart hurt, for their pasts, their memories, and their stumbled as they felt their way around their connection, but seeing them open their whole hearts, make their own way together, and be adorably silly while they do it, is everything. From Jude’s babbling when he’s nervous, which makes my heart flutter and sigh—actually, pretty much anything Jude does has that effect on me; to the brave ways River shows their love—and coincidentally makes me hungry; to how Kulani is so lovably generous with those he cares about—and I also adore his freckles; to the perfect not-a-date that was so a date; and to the amazing way they mesh and fit. They are all so beautiful, and their love journey is real and wonderfully true to the core of who they are.
I love this pride, I love these people, and I love this series. And I am in awe that with each book we never fail to see new sides and learn new perspectives to this beloved family. I am so ready to dive back into more with Mads, Cos and this incredible, heart pounding, epic adventure of magic and love.
September 20, 2024
I am really enjoying this series. However, this book was way too long and I got tired of them dancing around each other and not talking about their attraction to each other. Things are getting so sugary that it was almost too much for me. I read it for the overarching story line.
November 25, 2023
So much angst that could have been avoided if any of the characters OPENED THEIR GODDAMN MOUTHS AND TALKED TO EACH OTHER.
February 21, 2023
4,5 stars rounded up to 5
I love this series and was really looking forward to Judes' story ... although I was also a bit wary as Charlie's story was not really one of my favourites.
This story is really well done. I loved that we saw all 3 POVs and what kind of difficulties they had.
I loved to see how they supported each other, as friends above all but also as lovers.
River is maybe the least present in this book, POV-wise, but also the one with the least doubts.
The side story was a great addition and made the whole book more interesting. It also gave us more background, and it brought me to tears at the end.
The one thing I missed a bit was Mads and Cos. Yes, both were there, but I expected Mads to be more present ... like Jude is in his relationship.
All in all, it's a great addition, and I really hope the next book cones out soon.
An ARC was provided by GRR, and I am happy to give my honest opinion
I love this series and was really looking forward to Judes' story ... although I was also a bit wary as Charlie's story was not really one of my favourites.
This story is really well done. I loved that we saw all 3 POVs and what kind of difficulties they had.
I loved to see how they supported each other, as friends above all but also as lovers.
River is maybe the least present in this book, POV-wise, but also the one with the least doubts.
The side story was a great addition and made the whole book more interesting. It also gave us more background, and it brought me to tears at the end.
The one thing I missed a bit was Mads and Cos. Yes, both were there, but I expected Mads to be more present ... like Jude is in his relationship.
All in all, it's a great addition, and I really hope the next book cones out soon.
An ARC was provided by GRR, and I am happy to give my honest opinion
May 23, 2025
An Embrace To Hearten Me is book 3.5 of the The Magi Accounts and is part of The Magi Accounts Companion Stories. This series is best read in order because it contains an ongoing story ARC. We finally get Jude's story which I have been waiting for. I love that we have a throuple here with Jude, Kulani, and River. It took a while for the three to figure things out but that just made the emotional buildup better. If you get the audio narration, Zachary Zaba does a wonderful job of narrating this series. He makes the change in characters seamlessly. I can't wait to listen to the next book. I would definitely recommend this book and series.
March 1, 2023
I was soooo looking forward to reading Kulani, River and Jude’s book. You need to read from the very beginning to understand all the characters. This was told through all their points of view so it was exciting to see what each thought. There was good and sad moments which finally lead to their happy ever after. Loved it and cannot wait for more.
March 2, 2023
An Embrace to Hearten Me is 3.5 in The Magi Accounts. I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for Jude’s story! And it was a fantastic story!! River has liked Kulani for the last five years and vice versa. But they have friendzoned each other by miscommunication. Enter Jude, but he’s demi and the perfect fit for these two. Overall a phenomenal read, well written with addicting pacing.
February 26, 2023
So good! I'd been itching to see this thing between Jude, River and Kulani for a while, and Michele did not disappoint. It was full of sweetness, and pining, and affection, and heavy moments of hurt and comfort. Absolutely beautiful. It wasn't as action heavy as the Mads centered ones, but it was an emotional delight!
February 28, 2023
We've watched Jude, Kulani and River dance around each other for a while now, so it's no surprise that I've wanted this book for ages, too.
All three characters are so sweet in their own ways. Each has had to live through trauma in younger years that has left lasting effects. The way in which they look out for and support each other is adorable, as is the way they instinctively understand - once they're together - what the other two need from their developing relationship. Yes, Jude River and Kulani are absolutely perfect for each other.
So why the dropped stars? I think this is a me thing, but I just found the book too long with too little to balance out all the sweetness. I know this is a side story, but there's almost nothing of the overarching series storyline other than a couple of callouts whilst the team is on shift, until around 80% in when something ‘really significant’ happens. When we meet K’s friend from before he joined Cosmo’s pack (halfway through-ish), their past could have been explored a little deeper then for me, too. Even Madeo’s dyad connection with Jude felt a bit overlooked to me - yes Mads poked his nose in at times because he can sense Jude’s emotions but there's no acknowledgement of the real impact of Jude's new closeness with River and Kulani on Mads until almost the end of the book.
So, the bottom line for me is I love these characters together - so flipping sweet - and the Ono-Nai pack in general, of course, but I could have done with less pre-relationship pining and circling around each other and a little more angst/action/ plot. It's 3* for this slow burn/low heat tale of utter sweetness, but that doesn't mean I can't wait to get back to the main event. Bring on book four!
A copy was provided by GRR. This is my honest review.
All three characters are so sweet in their own ways. Each has had to live through trauma in younger years that has left lasting effects. The way in which they look out for and support each other is adorable, as is the way they instinctively understand - once they're together - what the other two need from their developing relationship. Yes, Jude River and Kulani are absolutely perfect for each other.
So why the dropped stars? I think this is a me thing, but I just found the book too long with too little to balance out all the sweetness. I know this is a side story, but there's almost nothing of the overarching series storyline other than a couple of callouts whilst the team is on shift, until around 80% in when something ‘really significant’ happens. When we meet K’s friend from before he joined Cosmo’s pack (halfway through-ish), their past could have been explored a little deeper then for me, too. Even Madeo’s dyad connection with Jude felt a bit overlooked to me - yes Mads poked his nose in at times because he can sense Jude’s emotions but there's no acknowledgement of the real impact of Jude's new closeness with River and Kulani on Mads until almost the end of the book.
So, the bottom line for me is I love these characters together - so flipping sweet - and the Ono-Nai pack in general, of course, but I could have done with less pre-relationship pining and circling around each other and a little more angst/action/ plot. It's 3* for this slow burn/low heat tale of utter sweetness, but that doesn't mean I can't wait to get back to the main event. Bring on book four!
A copy was provided by GRR. This is my honest review.
March 5, 2023
I was really excited about this book. I loved Jude in the other books, but this book was a major disappointment. First, it’s over 400 pages, yet nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, happens for the first 70% of the book. I don’t know if the author wanted to give Jude a full length book because he’s a popular character, but 400 pages was completely unnecessary. All three characters spent 70% of the book pining without doing anything about it. There was no flirty or anything, just internalized pining.
Since all three characters had a traumatic past, I was really looking forward to pack interactions from their POV, but there were none. At all. They only hung out with each other…and it still took them 200+ pages to admit they wanted to date. And once they did start dating, it was too sappy. Everyone was adorable. It got very repetitive. Also, it would have been nice to have some physical descriptions. Kulani and River kept mentioning Jude’s muscles and tattoos and how big he was, but all I know about River is that they’re small with ombre colored eyes, and Kulani is smaller than Jude with brown eyes.
I really wanted to like this book, but it was a miss for me. I can’t believe I like reading Madeo’s story more than Jude’s. I don’t even like Madeo most of the time.
Since all three characters had a traumatic past, I was really looking forward to pack interactions from their POV, but there were none. At all. They only hung out with each other…and it still took them 200+ pages to admit they wanted to date. And once they did start dating, it was too sappy. Everyone was adorable. It got very repetitive. Also, it would have been nice to have some physical descriptions. Kulani and River kept mentioning Jude’s muscles and tattoos and how big he was, but all I know about River is that they’re small with ombre colored eyes, and Kulani is smaller than Jude with brown eyes.
I really wanted to like this book, but it was a miss for me. I can’t believe I like reading Madeo’s story more than Jude’s. I don’t even like Madeo most of the time.
October 2, 2023
I was so excited for Jude's story, but I was a bit disappointed by this. There never felt like there was any true tension. Even with Meg and Tinsley and Kulani's backstory. It was like a drop in a bucket. There was so much pining layered with miscommunication and when they finally communicated, it was sending smiles here, laughing in amusement over there, scenting the neck over yonder... I understand that all three of these characters have a lot of trauma to work through, but my God. As a reader I was totally over it by halfway. Plus all of the longing and hints we got throughout the first three books, I hardly felt like their story needed a dedicated novel. A novella would've done the trick. If they were going to do a full length book, especially one that is 100% relevant to the main storyline, they should have called this book 4, not book 3.5.
Also. I'm 100% over the nicknames. That was a gripe I had both with this series and the Brinnswick series, but this story really took the cake. I can turn a blind eye to the over abundance of touching, and casual forehead kisses, but I cannot look past the pet names.
On a positive note, I thoroughly enjoyed not being inundated by sex scenes. We got one (sorta) and that's more than enough for me.
Also. I'm 100% over the nicknames. That was a gripe I had both with this series and the Brinnswick series, but this story really took the cake. I can turn a blind eye to the over abundance of touching, and casual forehead kisses, but I cannot look past the pet names.
On a positive note, I thoroughly enjoyed not being inundated by sex scenes. We got one (sorta) and that's more than enough for me.
Read
February 21, 2023I hate doing this, esp I was soooo looking forward to this book, but Im tapping out. DNF @68%.
For 3 characters who like eachother boy was I wanting to bash their heads together. Badly. Yes they all had trauma, but the way they kept telling eachother they were best friends and then complain about being friendzoned fried me.
Mads is nutty enough to bulldoze through things, yet even he left it all alone, and didnt accidentally give away Judes feelings. As for Kulani, wanted to bash him most of all.... telling Riv that he romantically liked them but was gonna let Jude only date them.... WTF!? Dont for one sec think Riv is innocent either. They also kept calling them both best friends, to their faces, but oh boy all the internal monologues, had them all pining for eachother... wanting more than just hugging, they wanted both men tied to their bed.
A few times I had to restart chapters as I wasnt sure whose chapter I was reading, they all seemed to have the same reactions, and it was very hard to distinguish from actions and words who was who. Ive not noticed that in Cos and Mads book or Charlie and Ash,
I will go back.. and try again, another day.
For 3 characters who like eachother boy was I wanting to bash their heads together. Badly. Yes they all had trauma, but the way they kept telling eachother they were best friends and then complain about being friendzoned fried me.
Mads is nutty enough to bulldoze through things, yet even he left it all alone, and didnt accidentally give away Judes feelings. As for Kulani, wanted to bash him most of all.... telling Riv that he romantically liked them but was gonna let Jude only date them.... WTF!? Dont for one sec think Riv is innocent either. They also kept calling them both best friends, to their faces, but oh boy all the internal monologues, had them all pining for eachother... wanting more than just hugging, they wanted both men tied to their bed.
A few times I had to restart chapters as I wasnt sure whose chapter I was reading, they all seemed to have the same reactions, and it was very hard to distinguish from actions and words who was who. Ive not noticed that in Cos and Mads book or Charlie and Ash,
I will go back.. and try again, another day.
March 17, 2023
Every chapter the same
I don't like triad relationships. No matter whose point of view you are reading its the same emotions over and over again and what makes it even worse is that River is them/they. I makes it sound like its a circus of people. There has to be a better word to use then the plural of them, they and their. I rather hear River's name referred a million times. And then you need to add Mads and Cosmo who is linked through Jude's emotions. They are way to many people saying and feeling the same page after page. I lone this series but I would really like to get back to our main love interest Mads and Cos and the future of the pride. Also want a new future for shifters and most definatly the Magis. I hated that they had to let Meg go. I also dont understand how the humans have control. The shifters are far stronger and superior and the the Magi are super powerful and can wipe out humanity. Human are at the bottom of the food chain here. I doesnt make sense but hopefull things will right itself and everyone will be happy. When there is another side story , please stick to just the two of them. I'm guessing its Logan and Hayden, well hopefully!
I don't like triad relationships. No matter whose point of view you are reading its the same emotions over and over again and what makes it even worse is that River is them/they. I makes it sound like its a circus of people. There has to be a better word to use then the plural of them, they and their. I rather hear River's name referred a million times. And then you need to add Mads and Cosmo who is linked through Jude's emotions. They are way to many people saying and feeling the same page after page. I lone this series but I would really like to get back to our main love interest Mads and Cos and the future of the pride. Also want a new future for shifters and most definatly the Magis. I hated that they had to let Meg go. I also dont understand how the humans have control. The shifters are far stronger and superior and the the Magi are super powerful and can wipe out humanity. Human are at the bottom of the food chain here. I doesnt make sense but hopefull things will right itself and everyone will be happy. When there is another side story , please stick to just the two of them. I'm guessing its Logan and Hayden, well hopefully!
January 29, 2024
6/10
This felt like a rough draft to me.
First of all, there was absolutely no plot. There was hardly any word building at all since all our characters did was stay at home for the majority of the book (despite supposedly working 7 days a week). Secondly, I was eagerly awaiting to get to know Jude better, but I really didn't. He felt very two dimensional compared to Mads, Cos or even Charlie and Ash. There were no special moments with Mads, no mention of their past, and his personality felt very bland to me. Unfortunately, the same can be said for River, who also felt very flat to me. Only Kulani had any sort of depth as a character, and that accounted for less than a third of the book so... Disappointed.
This felt like a rough draft to me.
First of all, there was absolutely no plot. There was hardly any word building at all since all our characters did was stay at home for the majority of the book (despite supposedly working 7 days a week). Secondly, I was eagerly awaiting to get to know Jude better, but I really didn't. He felt very two dimensional compared to Mads, Cos or even Charlie and Ash. There were no special moments with Mads, no mention of their past, and his personality felt very bland to me. Unfortunately, the same can be said for River, who also felt very flat to me. Only Kulani had any sort of depth as a character, and that accounted for less than a third of the book so... Disappointed.
February 25, 2023
Sweet, disturbing, and exactly right
Rating: 4.75🌈
An Embrace To Hearten Me is the novella that’s the romance/relationship story for River/Jude/Kulani the author has been working towards in the last books.
A M/M/X , the X stands for non-binary, romance that’s been slowly building between the characters of Cheetah shifter Kulani, magi Jude (half of the dyad pair with Mads), and snow leopard shifter River. To say slow is to say that molasses runs slowly in the winter. Here it’s a absolute must that we get a three person perspective but a triad that forms at a glacial rate.
The reasons why is the tormented histories the author has created for each individual here. Ones that have damaged them to the point that trust, insecurities, and trauma are the main factors in determining their relationships to date.
Jude ,a demisexual, has a unique history. Traumatized in the compound with Mads, his other dyad half (with us now finding out the exact extent of the sacrifice he’s was forced to make), Jude’s had Mad’s feelings as his own all his life. River and Kulani had no one until Cosmo found them. That doesn’t make for easy understanding when it comes to relationships between the friends. Even with the shifter extraordinary senses, actions can become misunderstood with no real foundation for understanding the actions of others.
Notaro gives us three perspectives of friends wobbling about in the fog of uncertainty and confusion. Their new feelings , fears, and ignorance keeping them from communicating while nightmares from their past’s shut them down into their own prisons.
It’s a haunting narrative and a thoroughly disturbing story at times. But one Notaro threads with hope. With the introduction of a young child, someone from the past, and a newly formed family of three that finally finds its way together.
While An Embrace To Hearten Me has a HFN element for our triad, this is a horrific and dangerous society they all live in. One in which every single one is still tagged and registered, and regarded as disposable.
We have 2 more books to go until the end. I expect it to be bloody, heartbreaking, heartfelt, and to leave me sobbing. It’s that kind of series.
So I leave Kulani, River, and Jude momentarily happy.
I’m highly recommending this series. Read them in the order they are written for character development and events. Put some tissue near by. FYI.
The Magi Accounts:
🔹The Scars That Bind Us #1
🔹The Shackles That Hold Us #2
🔹A Date To Impress Him #2.5
🔹A Purpose That Restores Us #3
🔹A Holiday to Sustain Us: A Magi Accounts Holiday
🔹An Embrace To Hearten Me: The Magic Accounts 3.5
🔹A Ruse To Unchain Us: The Magi Accounts # 4 - TBD 2023
Rating: 4.75🌈
An Embrace To Hearten Me is the novella that’s the romance/relationship story for River/Jude/Kulani the author has been working towards in the last books.
A M/M/X , the X stands for non-binary, romance that’s been slowly building between the characters of Cheetah shifter Kulani, magi Jude (half of the dyad pair with Mads), and snow leopard shifter River. To say slow is to say that molasses runs slowly in the winter. Here it’s a absolute must that we get a three person perspective but a triad that forms at a glacial rate.
The reasons why is the tormented histories the author has created for each individual here. Ones that have damaged them to the point that trust, insecurities, and trauma are the main factors in determining their relationships to date.
Jude ,a demisexual, has a unique history. Traumatized in the compound with Mads, his other dyad half (with us now finding out the exact extent of the sacrifice he’s was forced to make), Jude’s had Mad’s feelings as his own all his life. River and Kulani had no one until Cosmo found them. That doesn’t make for easy understanding when it comes to relationships between the friends. Even with the shifter extraordinary senses, actions can become misunderstood with no real foundation for understanding the actions of others.
Notaro gives us three perspectives of friends wobbling about in the fog of uncertainty and confusion. Their new feelings , fears, and ignorance keeping them from communicating while nightmares from their past’s shut them down into their own prisons.
It’s a haunting narrative and a thoroughly disturbing story at times. But one Notaro threads with hope. With the introduction of a young child, someone from the past, and a newly formed family of three that finally finds its way together.
While An Embrace To Hearten Me has a HFN element for our triad, this is a horrific and dangerous society they all live in. One in which every single one is still tagged and registered, and regarded as disposable.
We have 2 more books to go until the end. I expect it to be bloody, heartbreaking, heartfelt, and to leave me sobbing. It’s that kind of series.
So I leave Kulani, River, and Jude momentarily happy.
I’m highly recommending this series. Read them in the order they are written for character development and events. Put some tissue near by. FYI.
The Magi Accounts:
🔹The Scars That Bind Us #1
🔹The Shackles That Hold Us #2
🔹A Date To Impress Him #2.5
🔹A Purpose That Restores Us #3
🔹A Holiday to Sustain Us: A Magi Accounts Holiday
🔹An Embrace To Hearten Me: The Magic Accounts 3.5
🔹A Ruse To Unchain Us: The Magi Accounts # 4 - TBD 2023
March 2, 2023
As I have said in previous reviews of the Magi Accounts, I have been keenly waiting for this book - Jude is one of my favourite characters in the series. I was a bit disappointed that we wouldn't have Jude's book in the main series; I feared that his books would end up being a short novella, and I felt that the character deserved so much more. To be fair, he already has a healthy presence in the main series, but I was thrilled to learn that Jude's book is rather long, a novel in its own right. Also, I know the author, Michele Notaro, has had a hard time lately, so I'm really grateful she pushed herself to finish the book even when she wasn't feeling all that well.
That being said, I have to say I am ambivalent towards "An Embrace to Hearten Me". Notaro did a good job in this one exploring the trio's relationship. But the plot, I would say, feels unbalanced. I liked how River and certainly Kulani come into the picture - in my opinion, Kulani is the character more solidly developed in this book as he is the one that grows the most. However, an excess of sweetness in the whole book made me wince from time to time. I think there are two reasons for this.
First, the roughness of the day-to-day life of our guys didn't counterbalance the whole domestic ambience of the book. There are a few calls to control taragorian breaches that Jude and Kulani have to attend, little development with the Red Cloth business and a very emotional story with the Cloaked Freeway that, however, adds even more to the whole sweetness theme of the book. Don't get me wrong - I am all for romance and love triumphing over anything and everything and all that... The issue is that - and here's the second reason -, in a sense, there is not much that love overcomes in this book; for sure, Kulani and Jude have to work hard to convey their feelings (Riv seemed to me way more settled in the relationship from the beginning)... But we all knew how this would end, so even when things do not work well, the situation does not come across as a "crisis" that may threaten the relationship. In addition to that lack of action counterweights I was referring to earlier, that resulted in a book that is certainly a real treat for fans of the Magi Accounts (I will miss these guys when the series finally ends, as I have enjoyed so much Michele Notaro's world) but misses that little bit extra that makes the whole story round.
I received an ARC from GRR, and this is my honest opinion.
That being said, I have to say I am ambivalent towards "An Embrace to Hearten Me". Notaro did a good job in this one exploring the trio's relationship. But the plot, I would say, feels unbalanced. I liked how River and certainly Kulani come into the picture - in my opinion, Kulani is the character more solidly developed in this book as he is the one that grows the most. However, an excess of sweetness in the whole book made me wince from time to time. I think there are two reasons for this.
First, the roughness of the day-to-day life of our guys didn't counterbalance the whole domestic ambience of the book. There are a few calls to control taragorian breaches that Jude and Kulani have to attend, little development with the Red Cloth business and a very emotional story with the Cloaked Freeway that, however, adds even more to the whole sweetness theme of the book. Don't get me wrong - I am all for romance and love triumphing over anything and everything and all that... The issue is that - and here's the second reason -, in a sense, there is not much that love overcomes in this book; for sure, Kulani and Jude have to work hard to convey their feelings (Riv seemed to me way more settled in the relationship from the beginning)... But we all knew how this would end, so even when things do not work well, the situation does not come across as a "crisis" that may threaten the relationship. In addition to that lack of action counterweights I was referring to earlier, that resulted in a book that is certainly a real treat for fans of the Magi Accounts (I will miss these guys when the series finally ends, as I have enjoyed so much Michele Notaro's world) but misses that little bit extra that makes the whole story round.
I received an ARC from GRR, and this is my honest opinion.
May 23, 2023
This side novel to the main Magi Accounts series finally ties up all the hints Notaro has dropped about the relationship brewing between Jude, Kulani, and River, but most of all, it finally allows us to spend time with Jude. I’ve been curious about him as a character since the first main book in the series, as the human focus to his partner Madeo. This author has always done an excellent job of making Jude a full character in his own right, but in this book, I especially loved seeing both his life and how magic works from his perspective.
Jude is the newcomer to the Ono-Nai pride, where shifters Kulani and River have been circling each other for years. Both before and after Jude’s arrival, their interactions seem to shift (no pun intended) between adorable kitty-style flirting and silly human angst. Alas, Jude only adds to the angst as all three characters initially follow the assumption that a relationship can develop only between two of them, and they are each promptly self-sacrificing for the other two. A lot of the unnecessary angst in this book boils down to a sheer lack of communication between the characters; however, all three of them experienced enough trauma growing up that I’ll allow a certain lack of emotional intelligence when it comes to relationships. The story is still fairly “slow burn” even when the trio formally gets together. Because of how physically affectionate the shifters are by their very nature, I found myself appreciating the focus on developing a solid foundation with dating and quality time rather than a rush into bed.
The external story elements of this book once again focus on the heartbreaking reality of life for shifters and magi in this world. The Red Cloth witches mystery doesn’t progress too much in this side story, though we do get at least one clue that I hope is relevant later on. Mostly, I want the systemic inequality issues of this country to be fixed, but we also can’t forget about how this fantastic cast of characters came together, as a semi-military operation protecting their city against monsters emerging through breaches into another world. Overall, Notaro continues to deftly balance multiple issues, truly fleshing out this complicated, dynamic world to support her fascinating characters.
Jude is the newcomer to the Ono-Nai pride, where shifters Kulani and River have been circling each other for years. Both before and after Jude’s arrival, their interactions seem to shift (no pun intended) between adorable kitty-style flirting and silly human angst. Alas, Jude only adds to the angst as all three characters initially follow the assumption that a relationship can develop only between two of them, and they are each promptly self-sacrificing for the other two. A lot of the unnecessary angst in this book boils down to a sheer lack of communication between the characters; however, all three of them experienced enough trauma growing up that I’ll allow a certain lack of emotional intelligence when it comes to relationships. The story is still fairly “slow burn” even when the trio formally gets together. Because of how physically affectionate the shifters are by their very nature, I found myself appreciating the focus on developing a solid foundation with dating and quality time rather than a rush into bed.
The external story elements of this book once again focus on the heartbreaking reality of life for shifters and magi in this world. The Red Cloth witches mystery doesn’t progress too much in this side story, though we do get at least one clue that I hope is relevant later on. Mostly, I want the systemic inequality issues of this country to be fixed, but we also can’t forget about how this fantastic cast of characters came together, as a semi-military operation protecting their city against monsters emerging through breaches into another world. Overall, Notaro continues to deftly balance multiple issues, truly fleshing out this complicated, dynamic world to support her fascinating characters.
February 27, 2023
ARC received from GRR for an honest review.
River has liked Kulani for the last five years and Kulani has liked River too but some miscommunication has them thinking that they're in the friend zone. When Jude joins the pride a year ago he starts having feelings he's never had before and it's even more than confusing for him because he's having them for both River and Kulani. Now even more miscommunication happens and he thinks that he's been friend zoned by them both. These three are perfect for each other and they just need to talk or kiss, either would be good. Throw in the continuing troubles the pride and their fellow work employees are having with the witches of the Red Cloth and everything is up in the air. Eventually these three talk to other pride members that encourage them to talk to each other and things start looking up for this throuple. While at work they come across more information on the witches and even get a couple traitors taken into custody. There's a lot of pining between these three and a lot of time spent thinking things that aren't fact are. Jude is demisexual, River is non-binary and Kulani is bi-sexual. So with these dynamics and all three of them having abuse in their pasts; even when they finally talk and work things out, the relationship is very slow going. It really has to be so that they can all three be comfortable in what they're getting into. Their chemistry as friends is really close and emotional, plus they tend to flirt a lot. When they move the relationship into romance the chemistry becomes even hotter and stronger. These three work really well together. We still get updates on all the pride members. There's an old friend from Kulani's past that comes asking for help and the pride jump right in to help. It becomes really emotional for all of them and I got choked up a couple times myself. The world and character building continue to grow and flourish. I really love this series and highly recommend it to other. Looking forward to more books in this series.
River has liked Kulani for the last five years and Kulani has liked River too but some miscommunication has them thinking that they're in the friend zone. When Jude joins the pride a year ago he starts having feelings he's never had before and it's even more than confusing for him because he's having them for both River and Kulani. Now even more miscommunication happens and he thinks that he's been friend zoned by them both. These three are perfect for each other and they just need to talk or kiss, either would be good. Throw in the continuing troubles the pride and their fellow work employees are having with the witches of the Red Cloth and everything is up in the air. Eventually these three talk to other pride members that encourage them to talk to each other and things start looking up for this throuple. While at work they come across more information on the witches and even get a couple traitors taken into custody. There's a lot of pining between these three and a lot of time spent thinking things that aren't fact are. Jude is demisexual, River is non-binary and Kulani is bi-sexual. So with these dynamics and all three of them having abuse in their pasts; even when they finally talk and work things out, the relationship is very slow going. It really has to be so that they can all three be comfortable in what they're getting into. Their chemistry as friends is really close and emotional, plus they tend to flirt a lot. When they move the relationship into romance the chemistry becomes even hotter and stronger. These three work really well together. We still get updates on all the pride members. There's an old friend from Kulani's past that comes asking for help and the pride jump right in to help. It becomes really emotional for all of them and I got choked up a couple times myself. The world and character building continue to grow and flourish. I really love this series and highly recommend it to other. Looking forward to more books in this series.
February 26, 2023
This is Jude's, Kulani's and River's story (M/M/X).
If you don't know who they are, I suggest you start reading this series with the first book ;) It's a great series and we are getting near the end with only book 4 and 5 still left to go.
I can't really say anything more about the story itself, since nothing really happens. This is a novella between the third and fourth book in the series and like the other novellas, they don't have a lot of action or suspense. When something finally does happen, it is resolved quite quickly, without it really having an impact on the main story-line.
I get that you don't want to have too much stuff happening outside of the main books, but I do think you could have a suspenseful story without it touching on the main story-line too much, so readers don't NEED to have read this book before they dive into the fourth book. And let's be real, if you like this series and grabbed this novella, you are already invested in the story and the characters so I don't think adding a little something would really matter much.
There is a lot of heartache, emotional trauma and personal growth in this book. As always, Michele makes her characters fight for their happy ending (HFN as the series is still going on, but I'm confident these three will keep their HEA). So there is a lot of drama going on, sometimes a bit too much for me, since there is also a lot of drama going on in all the books before this one. I would have liked to see something new or different in this novella, something we haven't really seen in the previous books. Since this story resolves around three different people, I guess you can count that as the difference, but the way the story was build up, it didn't really feel different to me.
Still, it was a great read and I was really emotionally invested in these characters. I'm really looking forward to the next book!
If you don't know who they are, I suggest you start reading this series with the first book ;) It's a great series and we are getting near the end with only book 4 and 5 still left to go.
I can't really say anything more about the story itself, since nothing really happens. This is a novella between the third and fourth book in the series and like the other novellas, they don't have a lot of action or suspense. When something finally does happen, it is resolved quite quickly, without it really having an impact on the main story-line.
I get that you don't want to have too much stuff happening outside of the main books, but I do think you could have a suspenseful story without it touching on the main story-line too much, so readers don't NEED to have read this book before they dive into the fourth book. And let's be real, if you like this series and grabbed this novella, you are already invested in the story and the characters so I don't think adding a little something would really matter much.
There is a lot of heartache, emotional trauma and personal growth in this book. As always, Michele makes her characters fight for their happy ending (HFN as the series is still going on, but I'm confident these three will keep their HEA). So there is a lot of drama going on, sometimes a bit too much for me, since there is also a lot of drama going on in all the books before this one. I would have liked to see something new or different in this novella, something we haven't really seen in the previous books. Since this story resolves around three different people, I guess you can count that as the difference, but the way the story was build up, it didn't really feel different to me.
Still, it was a great read and I was really emotionally invested in these characters. I'm really looking forward to the next book!
March 1, 2023
I’m already a fan of this series, and very happy to get a book from Jude, River, and Kulani’s POV. I loved how this gave more insight into those three characters, and progressed the series arc as well as their relationship.
Poor Jude is convinced that no one would want to love him, and putting himself down for being Mads’ focus, thinking he’s less of a magi because of it. I loved seeing inside his mind. He needed his own HEA, and I liked how Mads still fits into that. They are a package deal and I love how the pride all accept that and them.
Kulani’s past is horrific. I thought his PTSD was handled realistically and I loved how Jude and River are both there to help him through and how, within their relationship, they shift focus onto who needs it.
River’s come such a long way. I love even the difference in them at the beginning and end of the book, especially with venturing out of the house. So many nasty people in this world. I like how the author doesn’t pull punches where that is concerned. I like how River, despite being the smallest of three, makes up for in determination, strength, and has everything sussed.
This world is a harsh one, especially for magi and shifters. The more characters’ pasts are revealed, the nastier the overall picture is, especially what humans do to those who are different. I do like the balanced view that not all humans are like that. Harriet continues to totally rock.
Meg and Tinsley’s part of the story is sweet, yet heartbreaking. I liked how Tinsley’s connection to Kulani. Cos is still wonderfully supportive, and sweet, and the alpha all his pride need.
The epilogue and glimpse into their future is sweet, and emotional. Perfect.
I’m looking forward to more in the series, and how they all survive the witches to get to that point.
Poor Jude is convinced that no one would want to love him, and putting himself down for being Mads’ focus, thinking he’s less of a magi because of it. I loved seeing inside his mind. He needed his own HEA, and I liked how Mads still fits into that. They are a package deal and I love how the pride all accept that and them.
Kulani’s past is horrific. I thought his PTSD was handled realistically and I loved how Jude and River are both there to help him through and how, within their relationship, they shift focus onto who needs it.
River’s come such a long way. I love even the difference in them at the beginning and end of the book, especially with venturing out of the house. So many nasty people in this world. I like how the author doesn’t pull punches where that is concerned. I like how River, despite being the smallest of three, makes up for in determination, strength, and has everything sussed.
This world is a harsh one, especially for magi and shifters. The more characters’ pasts are revealed, the nastier the overall picture is, especially what humans do to those who are different. I do like the balanced view that not all humans are like that. Harriet continues to totally rock.
Meg and Tinsley’s part of the story is sweet, yet heartbreaking. I liked how Tinsley’s connection to Kulani. Cos is still wonderfully supportive, and sweet, and the alpha all his pride need.
The epilogue and glimpse into their future is sweet, and emotional. Perfect.
I’m looking forward to more in the series, and how they all survive the witches to get to that point.
September 29, 2023
Like the other companion novel(las), this book dials back the angst (most of the time), and really focusses on the pride and a particular relationship. In this case, it’s finally Jude, River, and Kulani’s turn. I didn’t mind the slow pace of the book (the main books are so action-packed, and I like that sex isn’t the be all and end all of these relationships), but I had hoped that there’d be a bit more of the three of them being in the happy relationship together. They all have similar doubts and uncertainties about the other two, so there’s a lot of time spent being unhappy or not thinking they can actually have what they want. This does make sense on the one hand, since they are all new to polyamory, all traumatised, and all friends and pack mates who don’t want to risk messing up existing relationships. But it was a lot of pining without a lot of progress for a fair chunk of the novel (especially when 2/3 of them have a really strong sense of smell, not to mention to entire rest of the nosy pack knows how they feel).
I did really enjoy Jude’s not-a-date (lol), the break from so much action in the main books, learning more about Kulani’s past, and the understanding they showed to one another in their friendship and then in their relationships. They’re all very good at caring for one another, and it was lovely to see that really solid base to help them overcome any uncertainties. It’s nice to see the life they have when they aren’t just working. I also enjoyed that we could see in this book concrete steps that were being taken to try to find the Red Cloth. Although a lot of it was frustrating, it felt like real investigation and sensible buy-in to a massive problem. Looking forward to the next book!
I did really enjoy Jude’s not-a-date (lol), the break from so much action in the main books, learning more about Kulani’s past, and the understanding they showed to one another in their friendship and then in their relationships. They’re all very good at caring for one another, and it was lovely to see that really solid base to help them overcome any uncertainties. It’s nice to see the life they have when they aren’t just working. I also enjoyed that we could see in this book concrete steps that were being taken to try to find the Red Cloth. Although a lot of it was frustrating, it felt like real investigation and sensible buy-in to a massive problem. Looking forward to the next book!
June 2, 2025
MM Shifter: A great addition to the series.
Not a stand-alone. You need to start with book one as the story is a continuation and well worth reading.
Great world-building, and the characters have good backstories. We meet Jude, River, and Kulani, who are part of Cosmo's new pride and are a mixture of cat shifters and Magi. River and Kulani are cat shifters, and Jude is a Magi. River is non-binary, but all three are male.
Cosmo is the leader of a pride group of cat shifters and the Alpha leader of one of the task force groups; he's also the leader of the Shifter community. Both the shifters and a couple of magi live in Cosmo's pride house. Within the new world, the hierarchy is Humans, Shifters, and then the Magi; this is the order of society.
This book effortlessly weaves its complex relationships between the shifters and the Magi. It's such a great read/listen.
Zachary Zaba did an amazing job of the narration. I did, however, have to speed up the narration to 1.20 on Audible, but this is usual for me.
An Embrace to Hearten Me
The Magi Accounts 3.5 (The Magi Accounts Companion Stories)
By: Michele Notaro
Narrated by: Zachary Zaba
Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins
❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚📚📚 Story
Read at 1.20 speed on Audiobooks
I received this audiobook for free from GRR at my request. My review is my opinion and an honest review - neither the author nor GRR influenced my opinion.
Not a stand-alone. You need to start with book one as the story is a continuation and well worth reading.
Great world-building, and the characters have good backstories. We meet Jude, River, and Kulani, who are part of Cosmo's new pride and are a mixture of cat shifters and Magi. River and Kulani are cat shifters, and Jude is a Magi. River is non-binary, but all three are male.
Cosmo is the leader of a pride group of cat shifters and the Alpha leader of one of the task force groups; he's also the leader of the Shifter community. Both the shifters and a couple of magi live in Cosmo's pride house. Within the new world, the hierarchy is Humans, Shifters, and then the Magi; this is the order of society.
This book effortlessly weaves its complex relationships between the shifters and the Magi. It's such a great read/listen.
Zachary Zaba did an amazing job of the narration. I did, however, have to speed up the narration to 1.20 on Audible, but this is usual for me.
An Embrace to Hearten Me
The Magi Accounts 3.5 (The Magi Accounts Companion Stories)
By: Michele Notaro
Narrated by: Zachary Zaba
Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins
❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚📚📚 Story
Read at 1.20 speed on Audiobooks
I received this audiobook for free from GRR at my request. My review is my opinion and an honest review - neither the author nor GRR influenced my opinion.
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