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Stray: Kai's Story
A wolf shifter without a pack is just a wolf. They need a pack to keep them human
Kai is fine with being alone, or at least he was until he met Astra and her friends. Now after years of being a lone wolf, he may have found his pack, even if they aren't all shifters. After all, what else would have him traveling into a foreign kingdom to take down a rogue shifter?
With the help of Eleni, a cynical shifter without a pack, Kai hunts down Hammon, a cruel wolf shifter with more power than one person should have. Soon Kai finds himself dangerously tangled in long forgotten blood magic that threatens to take everything from him.
Forced to face his grief and past, Kai has a tough decision to make. Is it worth risking his life to take out Hammon, or would he better off to let things work out on their own?
Kai is fine with being alone, or at least he was until he met Astra and her friends. Now after years of being a lone wolf, he may have found his pack, even if they aren't all shifters. After all, what else would have him traveling into a foreign kingdom to take down a rogue shifter?
With the help of Eleni, a cynical shifter without a pack, Kai hunts down Hammon, a cruel wolf shifter with more power than one person should have. Soon Kai finds himself dangerously tangled in long forgotten blood magic that threatens to take everything from him.
Forced to face his grief and past, Kai has a tough decision to make. Is it worth risking his life to take out Hammon, or would he better off to let things work out on their own?
100 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2023
13 people want to read
About the author
Amber D. Lewis
11 books84 followersAmber D. Lewis is a highly combustible combination of caffeine, mismatched coffee mugs, and shiny things. In her spare time (and, quite frankly, when she’s supposed to be doing other things) she writes fantasy and other stories.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 20, 2023
Tropes- Found family
Quote- “Grief rarely ever vanished entirely; it only changes form.”
Thoughts- I enjoyed the found family and finding your pack. I also enjoyed the new characters Nova and Eleni.
Quote- “Grief rarely ever vanished entirely; it only changes form.”
Thoughts- I enjoyed the found family and finding your pack. I also enjoyed the new characters Nova and Eleni.
April 1, 2023
I volunteered to receive an ARC copy and give my honest review of this novella. Unlike the other 2 novellas, I was not particularly attached to Kai already from the Fire and Starlight series before reading. However, his backstory was very interesting and I liked the lost and found character arc he was given. It will definitely help me understand him in the next book of the series. The novella goes back and forth between past and present to tell his story. I loved the past portion way more than the present. I understand the need to tell Kai’s present story to tie into the last book in the series but I found it slightly anticlimactic. Still though, it was an enjoyable and quick read.
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March 29, 2023Hey! It's me, the author here! I just wanted to pop into the reviews and let you know what you can expect to find in this little novella.
* Queer Rep: An Aromantic Asexual Main Character and a Nonbinary Side Character
* Grief, Mourning, and learning to move and heal on despite that grief
* A magical world where shifters and werewolves actually exist
* Family Bonds
* Found Family
* Chapters alternating between the present and past of our beloved MC
* No romance, but strong friendships and bonds that are more than platonic
* A bit of fighting
* A character who is drugged to dim their fighting abilities
* Death or harm to humans in their animals forms
* Warm, fuzzy feelings
I hope you enjoy the story! I enjoyed writing it!
* Queer Rep: An Aromantic Asexual Main Character and a Nonbinary Side Character
* Grief, Mourning, and learning to move and heal on despite that grief
* A magical world where shifters and werewolves actually exist
* Family Bonds
* Found Family
* Chapters alternating between the present and past of our beloved MC
* No romance, but strong friendships and bonds that are more than platonic
* A bit of fighting
* A character who is drugged to dim their fighting abilities
* Death or harm to humans in their animals forms
* Warm, fuzzy feelings
I hope you enjoy the story! I enjoyed writing it!
April 2, 2023
I received an ARC by the author
This book was so good, I normally don't like when books switch between past and present but Amber D. Lewis did a good job at making it still flow really nicely. I love seeing more of Kia's story and what he went through once he left Astra. Even though this book was short, Amber was able to fit in a lot of details, and nothing felt left out or too short. Overall, this book was great, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
This book was so good, I normally don't like when books switch between past and present but Amber D. Lewis did a good job at making it still flow really nicely. I love seeing more of Kia's story and what he went through once he left Astra. Even though this book was short, Amber was able to fit in a lot of details, and nothing felt left out or too short. Overall, this book was great, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
May 25, 2023
Kai's story was my favorite of the novellas. I love that Amber is inclusive with her writing, I believe Kai is Ace and his best friend Nova is Non-binary. Even though we know what is coming with the end of his sister's story, the true depth of his loss is heartbreaking. This makes it all the more beautiful when he finds kinship in Astra and explains his attachment to her. I'm curious to see where things go from here for him.
March 30, 2023
I love Kai, so I was so excited for this story! Getting his back story was *chef's kiss*
I know it was a novella, but the fight seemed a little rushed. With how much they talked up how tough Hammon was to beat I thought it would be more in depth. I absolutely loved the fact that he found a pack and cannot wait to see how it impacts the war.
I know it was a novella, but the fight seemed a little rushed. With how much they talked up how tough Hammon was to beat I thought it would be more in depth. I absolutely loved the fact that he found a pack and cannot wait to see how it impacts the war.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2023
I received an ARC copy of this book to review. I was most interested to read this novella because I have experienced some of the same struggles as Kai. It was nice to see how those struggles developed into the characters we know and love. I am excited for the final book in the series to discover all the happy endings to come.
May 20, 2023
Stray is probably my favorite of the Fire and Starlight short stories. I really enjoyed the addition of the new character, Eleni. I liked Kai in the main stories and definitely felt like he deserved more attention. What was there was enjoyable, however some parts felt very rushed, especially the main showdown.
June 6, 2023
Another great book. This Kai story. How he end up in the valley and what he is doing for the queen after he left Astra. This back story show us why Kai is the way he is and it a good bit info we need. I can't wait to read more to this series.
May 2, 2023
I really enjoyed learning more about Kai’s backstory and his side mission. I feel like parts were a little rushed, but still really enjoyed Stray. I received an ARC in exchange for my opinion.
June 7, 2023
Another look into the world created by Amber D. Lewis. Absolutely loved seeing another storyline in another point of view!
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December 27, 2023https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
Kai from Stray: Kai's Story is aromantic!
Kai from Stray: Kai's Story is aromantic!
June 8, 2023
Kai has been one of my favorite characters in the book and I’m very happy to finally see more on his story. His life was very interesting and I found myself wanting to savor reading this book.
The dance between past and present chapters only gave more depth to his character and added more value to his encounter with Nova. Nova is also another character who I’d love to know more about them. Their storyline seems intriguing as well.
Disclaimer: I received a free ebook copy of the book in exchange of my honest opinion.
The dance between past and present chapters only gave more depth to his character and added more value to his encounter with Nova. Nova is also another character who I’d love to know more about them. Their storyline seems intriguing as well.
Disclaimer: I received a free ebook copy of the book in exchange of my honest opinion.
February 22, 2023
I love a good novella. Kai is one of those characters in the Fire and Starlight Saga that is so cool and mysterious and I'm glad he got his own story. I love the alternating past and present timelines each chapter and thought the author really mindfully connected them. Such an amazing story and really gives a great sense of who Kai is and how he got to be that way, while also furthering the story and preparing you for getting back into the next F&S book. Can't get enough of this series!
February 27, 2024
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the author for free and have voluntarily written this review.
VERY mild spoiler ahead for the previous books, but I don’t think it actually really spoils anything. Proceed at your own discretion.
Kai was an immediate favorite for me when he was first introduced and I hoped beyond hope that we would be getting his story in the third novella - and I am so glad I got my wish! Told in dual timelines, we see Kai’s first experience with his wolf form and the journey he goes on when he reluctantly splits from Astra.
When you read a good deal and/or everything from an author, you learn a little bit of what to expect from their future work. What I expect from Amber is pain with a tiny sprinkle of hope and this story definitely delivered that. Delving into Kai’s past gives us a better understanding of who he is in the present and I feel like it also informs the depths of his relationships with the rest of the ensemble cast, particularly Astra.
We are introduced to a couple new characters in this story that were instrumental in Kai’s mission. I hope that also means they will play a part in the final book because I’m not ready to let them go. Amber has a way of introducing characters that you immediately grow attached to and it makes you excited to see more, but also nervous because she also has a way of ripping your heart to shreds. And yet we still keep coming back for more.
After the heaviness of The Stardust in the Ashes, this novella brings a little levity back and is the perfect primer before heading into the final book. Sprinkled with a light dusting of hope at the end, we’re prepared to go into the final battle…even if we know all our favorites may not make it out alive.
VERY mild spoiler ahead for the previous books, but I don’t think it actually really spoils anything. Proceed at your own discretion.
Kai was an immediate favorite for me when he was first introduced and I hoped beyond hope that we would be getting his story in the third novella - and I am so glad I got my wish! Told in dual timelines, we see Kai’s first experience with his wolf form and the journey he goes on when he reluctantly splits from Astra.
When you read a good deal and/or everything from an author, you learn a little bit of what to expect from their future work. What I expect from Amber is pain with a tiny sprinkle of hope and this story definitely delivered that. Delving into Kai’s past gives us a better understanding of who he is in the present and I feel like it also informs the depths of his relationships with the rest of the ensemble cast, particularly Astra.
We are introduced to a couple new characters in this story that were instrumental in Kai’s mission. I hope that also means they will play a part in the final book because I’m not ready to let them go. Amber has a way of introducing characters that you immediately grow attached to and it makes you excited to see more, but also nervous because she also has a way of ripping your heart to shreds. And yet we still keep coming back for more.
After the heaviness of The Stardust in the Ashes, this novella brings a little levity back and is the perfect primer before heading into the final book. Sprinkled with a light dusting of hope at the end, we’re prepared to go into the final battle…even if we know all our favorites may not make it out alive.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews