The Wolf

Sons of Destiny #2

by Jean Johnson

Second in the Sons of Destiny series-now in mass market.

Wolfer is one of eight sexy brothers, exiled to a strange island and struggling with magic, mysterious women, and deadly enemies-both human and not.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy Romance, Magic, Fiction

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 3, 2007

About the author

Berkley/Jove Authors Bio

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
(1)romance author, science fiction author

Jean Johnson currently lives in the Pacific Northwest, has played in the SCA for 25 years, sings a lot, and argues with her cat about territorial rights to her office chair. She loves hearing from her readers, and has a distinct sense of humor. Right now she's living in a home with zone heating & decent plumbing, but hopes to some day put turrets and ramparts on it so that it looks like a castle.

Reviews

[Melissa Levine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was really hard to finish unlike the first book. Kelly was just way too much for me in this one. I couldn't handle being around someone that was that bossy/nosy. A few things that I question are:

1. Why is it when Alys first arrives on the island, she never really gets a chance to rest? Kelly is talking and talking about anything and everything she can come up with when Alys first gets there, even while she's trying to bath. Then it seems right afterwards, Kelly is trying to show her how to do kung foo. Really? How long did it take Alys to get to the island?

2. I get Kelly has been wanting another female on the island basically since she first arrived. Why is it though when she's talking to Alys about Sabers Verse, the part about the 'sword in the sheath,' was it just me or did she seem to spend a little too much time on that line? I mean Alys just got there! I get shes a female but seriously, you just met her and you're already talking about sex?

3. Have I mentioned that I am not a fan of Kelly? The first book was alright in regards to how Kelly was towards everyone else. But this one....when Alys was trying to relax and clean herself in the bath and Kelly tells her it's time to get out? Seriously? And the whole "young lady" thing she does with Alys. I don't get it? Alys is only 3 years younger than Kelly, yet Kelly treats her like a child a lot of the time.

4. Kelly is really too nosy when Wolfer and Alys finally get together. When they're basically making out in his room and she's banging on the door telling Wolfer to leave Alys alone? TOO MUCH!

5. My last complaint or whatever you want to call it is in regards to the sex. Prior to reading this book I read through some of the reviews and the 'too much sex' that was mentioned quite a bit. Now I have no problem reading books with lots of sex but at the same time I want something more to actually be going on, plot wise. Something to keep the story going and keep my attention. When it's just Wolfer and Alys having sex and Kelly bossing everyone around 2/3 of the book, it's boring. I had a hard time getting myself to continue reading. There were a lot of times where I would just be skimming the pages looking for something more than what I listed above to happen. It's not till the very end, like the last few pages when something finally does.

In the end, I have the next book willing and waiting for me to read. Not really looking forward to it but considering it involves Dominor who isn't even on the island, I'll take that as something good right there. That means less Kelly.

[Gardavson · Rating 3 out of 5]

AAAARRRR! Ok. 3.5 stars. If Kelly would have gotten killed, it would have been a 10. Let me say this. I HATE KELLY!!! I hate her I hate her I hate her. She is my least favorite character of all time, all genre's, all age groups. Was this even Kelly's book? No. But I almost quit reading it because Kelly was in it enough and I couldn't stand her anymore. This is Wolfer and Alys' story. I liked both characters. Wolfer is full of untapped potential. He could have been the sexiest of the brothers, but Johnson really didn't develope that much with him. Bummer.

I love the brothers. They are fun and their interactions are entertaining. Kelly is the only fly in the soup. Just in case I haven't made it clear, I HATE HER.

The book, well, it was enjoyable with the Kelly exception. It was a bit lacking in plot. Alys and Wolfer were slated for each other right off the bat and there really wasn't anything to their romance. The plot worked around the brothers' uncle, but that really didn't pick up till the end. The beginning of the book was a bunch of unnecessary sexual ennuendo that added nothing to the book. I rate it as a fair, enjoyable read, but not great. The brothers as a whole is what saved the book.

I'm hoping the next in the series is better. I'm really looking forward to the next and to Rydan's book.

I hate Kelly.


I had to come back and add this. Bareback riding is not erotic. I don't know what makes people think it is, other than that it is done with your legs apart. As an avid horsewoman, I have to say that it would take a GREAT deal of effort and concentration to find your release from riding bareback. Straddle a wobbly wooden kitchen chair backwards. Yep, that's it.

Still hate Kelly

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having a hard time with this series. It's really out there. The author has a great imagination but I feel like the heroine and the one before (book one) are a tad bit immature. That or I'm just having a hard time connecting with the whole series at all.

[Darian Froseth · Rating 3 out of 5]

For what it is, this book is decent - not terrible, but not great either. It’s a fun and easy read, not much going on plot-wise and what there is, is pretty predictable, but it’s a cute and fun little romance with a handful of endearing spicy scenes.

[Yackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing happened in this book.
It went from okay interesting to very horny, to very horny for horses, to just horny, to nothing, to horny, to attack to more nothing.

I suffer.

My favorite line was “The sentinel of nerves guarding her secrets”. What a weird way to say clit.

[Gwen (The Gwendolyn Reading Method) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book was cute, even if it was rather strange. This second book though just dragged.

[Lauren Verlaque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the So s of Destiny series. Featuring Wolfer, shape - changing 2nd brother, and his childhood friend Alys of Devries. She was helping her evil uncle, magically-bound against her will, to care for the lethal animals he’d send to nightfall. Got an education from a serving wench before escaping to nightfall

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't take this book seriously.

Why, you ask?

Well, there's this part in the beginning where Wolfer (fyi, the name makes me think of a car for some reason) shifts into a horse to carry Alys to the castle. She get's on his back; he gets an erection.

Horse. Erection.

Was I the only one who paused for a moment and turned away from the book to try and scrub the idea of horse penises from my mind? I hope not, otherwise I am one disturbed individual.

Moving on.

The book was a light read, kind of a filler, since you don't get the feeling that anything important happens. Sure, the diabolical Uncle whats-his-face is finally defeated, but it is done so quickly it doesn't seem to have much significance. There is heaps, HEAPS, of sex that, personally, to me didn't seem very steamy. Just kind of bland, and repetitive as the same moves were pulled and so forth.

Another thing; it irked me how everyone reacted to Alys' 'betrayal'. This is mainly because it was pretty obvious form the start, and than Rydan was the only one to see it before she confessed didn't say much for the other characters' intelligence. Their subsequent suspicion of her, while short-lasting, was kind of unnecessary since it was kind of obvious Alys was only helping her Uncle to survive the years she lived with him, and was too in love with Wolfer to betray him and his family.

The world also wasn't as interesting here as it was in 'The Sword', so it was hard for me to find many enjoyable things about this read. Queen Kelly didn't help. She is a bitch. And I hate her. Infinitely and irrevocably.

To conclude, this book wasn't very good, but its short length managed to keep me from getting bored. I give it 2 stars.

[Coral · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot: 3/5 (dull plot saved by the showdown ending)
Characterisation: 3/5
Prose: 4/5
How much I enjoyed it: 3/5

[Nisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

To me, this book was filler. I made myself read it because I wanted to read Dominor's story. The premise of the book should have been the type I like, since they were childhood sweethearts and all. Why did I not like it? The Sex. There was too much of it and so little plot. The problem was, the sex was the most interesting part of the book, because there was some obvious skimping on the other cute interactions (with the other brothers and all). Alys, obviously, got the short end of the stick when she was absent for all the inside jokes they shared. No one bothered to make up new ones. They do try to fill her in. The antagonist, the Uncle, whatever his name was, was a pretty intense villain. Great things could have happened, but he was killed way too quickly. It wasn't bad, just too short.

Basically, the story got a little too hung up on the sex, and skimped on tension and dialogue. A little disappointing considering all that could have been done. Still, its a prerequisite to read the next book with Dominor, which I am looking forward for.

[Christel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The second son shall know his fate:
He who hunts is not alone
When claw would strike and cut to bone
A Chain of silk shall bind his hand
So Wolf is caught in marriage-band."

This is the second book in the Son's of Destiny series and I am throughly enjoying this series of stories about the Son's of Destiny.

Wolf is the second oldest, twin of Sabar. Alys and Wolf were chillhood friends, Alys in love with Wolf ever since she can remember. Alys has a evil Uncle who has tormented the brothers from afar. Alys escapes from her Uncle and makes her way to Nightfall Island. Wolf is very, very protective of Alys, always has been and always will be.

To me this one was not as good as the first but I still enjoyed reading it. Just another series for my to keep bokshelves that are getting fuller and fuller.

[Stasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay really having trouble getting through this book. From the picture in the back, I assume the author is over 17 and has had sex with a man at least once in her life. Maybe she wrote this when she was younger and a virgin and never really re-edited?
The feminist diatribes really don't add to the story. I'm at least halfway through it, I should be able to finish it. Definitely not up to the standards of the first. Hopefully the 3rd will be better?
Did actually finish it, the fight scene was worth slogging through the rest of it.

[jD · Rating 3 out of 5]

This lovestory was a little boring but it was still a good book. The story of the eight brothers is facinating. I like the fact that she continues to write about the antics of the other siblings alongside the main characters. The battle at the end of this book is very important and won't make sense without investing in the rest of the book. I suspect it will be the one I least enjoy but it was stil worth my reading time.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought whole series idea would be so good, but as I keep reading it just got more and more and more in the sex instead of a love story. I really don't like it when the author turns to the I can't keep my hand off of each other even to handle a normal conversation instead of writing a great story. So I ended up skipping most of the book. I was disappointed. It could have been so good.

[Annette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best writing, but at this point I just need to see what happens...on to the next one!

[Aurian Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alys of Devries has been in love with Wolfer ever since she was three and he nine years old. Her parents were visiting his parents for some business, and she was playing in the court yard. When she skimmed her knee, he found her crying and dried her tears, and played with her. After that, she pestered her parents to bring her as often as possible. She was not a courageous little girl, but to be with Wolfer, she would climb trees and whatever the boys would be doing.
But then her parents died in an accident, and she had to go live with her Uncle Broger. And her life turned miserable. He treated her as an unpaid servant, slapping her around and starving her when he had a mind to do so. He even would have taken her to his bed like his other servant girls, if she had not swayed his mind by telling him, he could get more for her if she was still a virgin. Broger is a truly evil Dark Mage, he has stolen the Brothers Dukedom by killing their other uncle, who was Duke until the brothers could return home. He has put many spells on Alys to make her obedient and unable to fight him or run away. He even can take her life force and magic. The only magic he teaches her, is what is useful for her to know to be able to care for the illegal and deadly animals he is breading. Animals she helps him send to Nightfall Island…

The only good thing in Alys life is Morganen, who is secretly helping her and teaching her when ever he can through the mirror. But she will have to find a way to thwart her uncles’ magic herself. And so when Morganen finally tells her it is time for her to come to Nightfall Island, it is just in time, as her Uncle tells her, he has sold her to another Count, a lecherous old man with awful hygiene, and she is to leave the same day. Alys has just perfected the magic she needs to set her own death in scene, making her uncle give her up ad death, or he will get her back. So one night, when the soldiers escorting her to her bridegroom, are getting a bit lax in their surveillance, Alys takes the opportunity to create a diversion of herself being taken away by some deathly Pookrah. She then melts a silver amulet into her skin, to sever all the spells her Uncle has laid on her. And when that is successful (this could not be practiced!) she sets out for Nightfall Island.

Taking a Gate to the coast, she almost runs into her other Uncle in the village. The only way to stay unseen is to enter a bar/brothel and to hide in one of the rooms when her Uncle also enters the establishment. After witnessing one of the whores and a client doing their thing, Alys gets a lovely education by the woman in question. She sure wants to try some of this out on Wolfer! Alys is also a shape shifter mage, like Wolfer, and she uses that to reach the Island, where she is found on the beach by Wolfer. At first he does not recognize her, as she did not have those curves when last he saw her, but he is certainly overjoyed that she is here. He never did forget her either. The enchanted lock of her hair around his wrist has managed to stay his temper more than once.

Wolfer is the second brother, a shapeshifter mage, but the wolf is not his only shape. He can also be a stallion and a raptor. When Alys arrives, he knows pretty soon that he wants to marry her, that she is his Destiny. And he sets out to court are, as Kelly has informed him of the hardships Alys had to endure at her uncles hands. But Alys does not want to take it slow, she just wants Wolfer in her bed (and out of it).
And when it is found out that Alys took care of the deadly beasts they were plagued with, the brothers are not at all happy. But Morganen knew all about it, and he tells them more of her back ground. So now they know who their enemy is, and they can plan to destroy him.

If Uncle Broger does not visit Nightfall Isle first to fight them directly with his Dark magic…

Being independent from Katan also means that they own the desalination plant, the salt and algae blocks it produces. They will no longer allow the merchants to take it for free, as they have been doing for decades, the merchants will have to pay for it. Of course the merchants are not happy with that, but fighting some of the most powerful mages of Katan is not an option.


I enjoyed Alys, she is half timid and shy, and half courageous and brazen. Of course she drives Wolfer crazy. Kelly sets out to teach her kung fu, so she can defend herself against her Uncle when necessary. And the brothers plan to teach her more about her magic, as she never did get an education while living with her uncle. But first they have to make some magical mirrors to scry for Dominor, who was abducted in the last book, and to fight her uncle.

And what to say about Wolfer? He is fierce, and protective, and he will do everything for his Alys. As long as she agrees to wed him over the eight altars. He is so angry with Broger for treating Alys like that, and he can’t attack the man without the magic slapping back at him a hundred fold. He is a bit jealous of the bond between Morganen and Alys, and enjoys slapping Morganen around a bit on the training grounds.

Alys also wants to work to earn some money, as she has brought nothing with her. She would like to take care of the animals, as that is what she is good in, and Kelly is all too happy to give the care of the vicious citizen-chickens over to Alys. Alys would also love some cows and a bull to have fresh milk and cheese, and perhaps some sheep for their wool. But for now, she will share Wolfer's chores with him.

Stay tuned for more enthusiastic reviews about this series, as I do love those books. Jean Johnson´s writing voice is just right for me, her sense of humor, the characters she creates and especially the neat world building. I would love to visit Nightfall Island. Lots of action, magic, and hot love scenes in this second book in the series.


The Second Son shall know this fate:
He who hunts is not alone
When claw would strike and cut to bone
A chain of Silk shall bind his hand
So Wolf is caught in marriage-band

9 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

Full review on my blog, www.boeklogboek.blogspot.com

[May Mostly Romance · Rating 1 out of 5]

และนั่นเป็นเหตุผลที่แม็กซ์ไม่อ่าน The Wolf เล่มสอง ที่เป็นเรื่องราวของวูลฟ์เฟอร์ฝาแฝดของเซเบอร์พี่ชายคนโต (และเป็นพระเอกเรื่อง The Sword) เพราะไม่เห็นว่าพล็อตจะน่าสนใจเท่าไหรนัก ทั้งยังผิดหวังกับเล่มแรกไม่หาย สำหรับคนที่อยากรู้ พล็อตเรื่องเล่มสองเล่าถึงวูลฟ์เฟอร์และอลิสเด็กสาวข้างบ้านที่ปิ๊งกันมา ตั้งแต่เธออายุสามขวบ อลิสเป็นเด็กสาวขี้อาย และถูกควบคุมทุกฝีก้าวโดยลุงอันชั่วร้าย แต่เมื่ออลิสรู้ว่าลุงของเธอกำลังวางแผนทำร้ายพี่น้องทั้งแปดแห่งเกาะไน ท์ฟอล เธอจึงหนี และเดินทางมาไนท์ฟอลเตือนให้พวกเขารู้ถึงภยันตรายที่กำลังจะเกิด และนั่นก็ทำให้เธอได้กลับมาพบกับชายที่เธอรักอย่างสุดหัวใจอีกครั้ง

[Boo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good read. I enjoyed it and the characters. I felt like it moved way to fast. Like she was there one day and her guy proposed. There was a lot of sex to help fill in the book. But I enjoyed the read.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5** could have been a 4 if the heroine had spoken up sooner and Kelly wasnt such an annoying side character...but once again she showed how smart she was...i guess I just has to deal with it

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember liking this one more than the first one.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread. I will read anything this author writes.

[Neish · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of things were happening in a very short period of time. The story didn’t feel like it had been rushed though and you could see things being set up for the next book

[Jennifer R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much sex in too much excruciating detail and not enough plot. But I'm hopeful for the next book.

[Vampyress · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't read fast enough at the last part. (Gave myself a paper cut trying to turn the pages.) Excited to go onto the third book!

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Worse than the first.

Wolfer was boring, Alys was boring, I had to read a scene where he was a horse and she noticed his shadow had a fifth leg......... need I say more?

[Hasna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alys hatte es nicht leicht. Ihre Eltern waren beide gestorben und sie war gezwungen seither bei ihrem skrupellosen Onkel zu leben, der sie wie eine Dienstmagd behandelte. Eines Tages eröffnet er ihr, dass sie bald heiraten würde. Den Meistbietenden, versteht sich. So wird Alys, von den Wachen ihres Onkels begleitet, auf den Weg zu ihrem zukünftigen Ehemann geschickt. Doch das nimmt sie nicht hin: Schon lange plant Alys ihre Flucht und ein alter Freund von ihr, der Magier Morganen, hilft ihr dabei. Mit einer klugen List entkommt sie den Wachen und lässt diese und ihren Onkel in dem Glauben, gestorben zu sein. Froh darüber, dass ihr dieser wichtige Schritt gelungen ist, macht sie sich auf den Weg nach Nightfall – Einer Insel, auf der acht verbannte Brüder leben. Alys kennt sie seit ihrer Kindheit und hofft bei ihnen unterzukommen. Auf Nightfall angekommen wird sie von Wolfer, auch als „der Wolf“ bekannt, herzlich begrüßt. Beide hegen eine starke Leidenschaft für den jeweils anderen. Doch Alys hat ein dunkles Geheimnis, das nicht nur droht, ihre Freundschaft zu den Bewohnern von Nightfall, sondern auch die Liebe zwischen ihr und Wolfer zu zerstören. Was sie verbirgt: Ihr Onkel hetzt schon seit Jahren den Brüdern Flüche und Monster auf den Hals. Wie werden die Brüder und Kelly, die Frau vom ältesten Bruder Saber, auf die Enthüllung reagieren? Und können sie den bösen Onkel aufhalten?

Zu Beginn war ich etwas verwirrt, da viele Namen erwähnt wurden und ich nicht ganz mitkam. Schnell wurde mir klar, dass dieses Buch Teil einer Saga ist und da ich den ersten Teil nicht gelesen habe, wurde mir schnell alles klar. Nach dem ersten Kapitel legte sich aber die Verwirrtheit wieder und wich Klarheit. Ich habe mich gut in die Geschichte gelebt. Was mich etwas schockiert hat, war, dass schon nach dem ersten Kapitel die Erotik an Einfluss gewonnen hat, aber ich empfand es nicht als negativ, wohl eher einfach als überraschend, da ich angenommen hätte, „Der Kuss des Wolfes“ wäre ein Jugendbuch.

Rein von der Handlung her fand ich das Buch recht gut. Sowohl Spannung, als auch Erotik und Liebe waren vorhanden, und auch an Humor fehlte es nicht. Mir hat es aber etwas an Beschreibung gefehlt, weshalb ich mir den Ort des Geschehens schwerer ausmalen konnte.

Johnsons Schreibstil war flüssig zu lesen und angenehm.

Das Buch wird aus der auktorialen Erzählerperspektive in dritter Person erzählt. Das heißt, dass in einer Szene zwischen z.B. Wolfer und Alys sowohl Alys’ als auch Wolfer’s Gefühle geschildert werden. Und nicht nur die Emotionen und Taten dieser beiden Figuren werden und vorgelegt, sondern auch anderer. Ich finde, die Autorin hat eine richtige Wahl mit dieser Perspektive getroffen, da man so die ganze Geschichte besser überblicken und verstehen kann.

Die Tatsache, dass Alys und Wolfes sich schon seit Kinderzeiten kannten und auch liebten, fand ich liebenswert, aber es hätte mir besser gefallen, wenn sie sich beide nicht gekannt hätten und sich erst langsam kennenlernen.

Alys war für mich persönlich ein sehr guter Charakter, da sie schüchtern war, aber auch ab und zu kühn. Sie hatte Stärke und andere Facetten, die sie glaubwürdig machten. Auch Wolfer und den anderen Charakter hatte Jean Johnson diesen Hauch Leben geschenkt, der sie so liebenswert und echt macht. Was mich etwas gestört hat, war Wolfer’s ständige Eifersucht.

Da dieses Buch einer Saga angehört, möchte ich ein wenig mehr zu dieser sagen. „Die Söhne des Schicksals“ beziehungsweise „Die Söhne der Insel“, auf Englisch „The Sons of Destiny“ ist eine Reihe bestehend aus acht Teilen. Jeder Band wird einem der acht Brüder und seinem Weg zur Liebe gewidmet. Alle acht Teile sind in Amerika schon veröffentlicht, doch ob sie auch auf Deutsch noch erscheinen werden, ist nicht sicher. Derweil sind die ersten beiden Teile, „Die Söhne der Insel“ und „Der Kuss des Wolfes“, erschienen. Die Idee Johnson’s finde ich wirklich interessant und ich werde auch die anderen Teile lesen.


Fazit: Ein sehr abwechslungsreicher Schmöker mit viel Romantik, Erotik, Humor und Spannung. “Der Kuss des Wolfes” macht seiner Saga und seiner Autorin alle Ehre.

http://weltausworten.wordpress.com/20...

[LWB Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Second Son shall know this fate:
He who hunts is not alone
When claw would strike and cut to bone
A chain of Silk shall bind his hand
So Wolf is caught in marriage-band"

Eight mage-brothers who were born in four sets of twins, all on the same day two years apart each time, are known as the Sons of Destiny. They fulfil the Curse of the Eight Prophecies, written by the seer Draganna over a thousand years ago. They were exciled by the Council of Mages of Katan to Nightfall Isle to prevent the fulfilment of the eight prophecies. But now their downfall has begun, the first prophecy is fulfilled and the second one is well on it’s way, there is no escaping...

For years Alys has been treated badly by her uncle Broger, now she has finally managed to escape him and his evil magic. She runs for shelter to her childhood friend Wolfer, the boy she fell in love with a long time ago. Only the boy is now a man, a very hot good-looking man, naturally she is most welcome to stay with him and his brothers, but she is terrified how he and his brothers will react when they discover her horrible secret...

Wolfer can’t believe that the young woman in front of him seeking shelter is his sweet little innocent Alys, except that she ain’t so little anymore and not so innocent. All the deep feelings he had for her return in a split second and with that the strong need to protect her from her evil mage uncle, Broger. Wolfer accepts his destiny freely, he is certain that Alys is destined to be his wife, but courting her is not so easy when pure evil is banging at the front door and disaster is bound to happen...

This is the second instalment in the Sons of Destiny series. Once again Jean Johnson takes you back to this wonderful and magical place that is called Nightfall Isle. In this volume the characters of the brothers are explored in depth even further and that is why you will enjoy and appreciate them more. For example, we get a little taste of how powerful Morganen really is in comparison to his brothers, very intriguing indeed. They all have their own flaws and strong features which makes them deliciously divine. As for Alys, she is a wonderful brave young lady, she is just perfect for Wolfer. The only thing that annoyed me a bit was Kelly’s character, I found her a bit too dominant for the story.

It is interesting to read how the lives of the eight brothers are all connected with one another, how the choices and actions of one brother effects the live and well-being of another brother. The fulfilment of the first prophecy is like an avalanche, one prophecy leads to another and so on. Yet again Jean Johnson has come up with an amazing plot, her imagination has no limits. As for her dialogues, they are witty, sensual and fun to read.

Wolfer to himself:

“When had she grow up? When did she become a woman? Why the hell didn’t I notice all those years ago?”

Alys to Wolfer:

“That is why men have muscles for, isn’t it? To make them big, and hard, and to use them to make a woman happy by ... by moving the bed, when asked nicely?”

This book is definitely no punishment to read, it is a real pageturner. It is a great fast- paced story with a sexy hero and a charming heroine and it only makes me crave for more. I can’t wait to read the next instalment in these series, so that I can return to the magical, sensual and funny world that Jean Johnson has created and get lost in it. These series should come with a warning: Beware, highly addictive reading material!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

8 brothers, 4 sets of twins, magic born, a prophecy of each's love and of doom and problem... exiled to Nightfall Isle to protect the rest (the prophecy didn't seem that bad to me, I'm not sure why such extreme measures). Kelly, of our universe, is transported to their world by youngest, strongest mage when her life is threatened & she and oldest twin Saber are now married, she is queen of the island, declaring it its own sovereign nation - and organizing the brothers to chores, to maintaining the castle, to cultivate the island's offerings, and to paint the walls with magic paint that changes colors and scenes, thus making it impossible for Broger to send beasts to try and kill them. Brother #3 has been kidnapped by women hating clan who is at war with a man hating clan... and apparently his destiny is to find a woman there.

and to 2nd book - Alys grew up visiting the brothers - younger, shy, she learns to be brave with them... she has a special connection with Wolfer, who made her laugh after scraping her knee, when she was 3 and he was 8... and when her parents died and she came under her uncle's care - she gave him a braided lenghth of hair, with a bit of silk, weaved into a bracelet he wears ... and it helps him find a calm center when he is angry... (thus fulfilling his part of the prophecy with her).

and for the 3 years that the brothers lived on the island, she lived under her evil uncle's home - he beat her, he used her to care and feed his menagerie of predator magicborn animals - and she quickly found that impassive tolerance of him kept him out of her hair - and she continues to 'meet' with youngest twin Morganen to learn bits of magic, to create a charm that will block the spells her uncle has spun over her to draw her magic, to find her, to control her, and to plan on how escape him...

and the time comes when he has sold her to a nasty old man in marriage - and the 3rd day on the trip to him, she creates some wartdogs to 'carry' her away in front of the guards, and then uses thependant to block her uncle finding her. she makes it to a town by the ocean, accidently spends time with a kind whore, who tells her all about sex - her body and a man's body, and what they do together - and she shifts to an otter, and makes it to the island.

and Wolf finds her, and recognizes her... and their love catches up with thim - and he initiates her into sex - and she is an interesting blend of innocence and knowledge. He quickly overcomes his shocked anger when she confesses to having assisted her uncle in caring for the creatures that tormented them for 3 years... They have a nice relationship -

and their 'country' advances - in plans, and organization... expanding their exports... and uncle shows up annihilate them (sacrificing his own brother) - but they a) have determined that if they reflect a mortal spell he zaps out, it will bypass his magical shield protections and b) Morganen figures out that they have to return him to the hell gate he created when he zaps, to send him into the hell... and it works... though one brother looses his voice.