Review: This story hits hard and fast and is so rich with delicious characters
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 25, 2011
Summary:Zoe O'Brien unwitting kills a crazed she wolf, thinking at first it's hunters known for killing pups for their coats. In order to defend both herself and the wolf pup shoots the attacking wolf, killing it instantly.Zoe is a widow who lives on the edge near Circle City Alaska. What she doesn't know is this is also the secret home of a clan of Wolf people who have been hidden for centuries. Lonely since losing her family she finds comfort in caring for the small pup and doesn't understand how any mother would try to kill her own young. So against everyone's advice she decides to nurses the pup back to health. She has no idea how that decision is going to change her life.  The pup she lovely named Jack, is actually Axl Wolfdorn, the only surviving heir and the future Lord of the Wolfen people.For the first time since his mother's strange behavior and since his father abandoned them and left them defenseless he finds comfort and love. Knowing he cannot stay with this kind woman plans to leave as soon as he is able. He swears to always protect her, at any cost, for the rest of her life.When the Wolfen fined him they accuse Zoe of killing his mother and taking Axl. Axl tries to get his grandfather to understand Zoe had no other recourse, but to defend them both from certain death and should be honored and not punished and subjected to such a brutal punishment of death, his plea fall on deaf ears.Confused and scared Zoe's only hope of surviving will come in a most unexpected way. When she discovers that the pup she saved has grown into a robust striking handsome man and his feelings for Zoe have grown from gratitude to desire. A desire so strong he is willing to defy his grandfather and do the unthinkable by making her part of his Unleashing and taking her as his mate. First however she must survive partaking in the ritual of his Unleashing, in what can only be explained as a sexual orgy, the demands that she will be forced to endure will be atrocious.Knowing this will make his grandfather furious Axl is willing to risk everything for her, even banishment, as his mother once did for his father.  Axl's grandfather banished his own daughter once for defying him; would he also banish his only grandson too?As Zoe tries to adjust to this strange and new world and as she realize what acts she will be forced to endure, surprising she is not so much frighten by what is expected of her, but of her eagerness to participate.Existence between the Wolfen people and the Kontar is tentative at best. Guilt and hated cloud Axl's grandfather's judgment even further with the death of his daughter, adding fuel to an already fragile way of life between the two clans. He seeks revenge against them for not protecting her after Axl's father left her defenseless. Maybe too a part seeks atonement and using his hated as an excuse for his own guilt and failings for his part in his daughter death.The question is whether past mistakes can be amended or the discord of both clans will cloud reason making any resolution too late for both sides.Review:What an exciting story! Circle City, the Lord of the Wolfen by Alisha Paige mixes passion, lust and violence. She stirs things up with the eccentric and erotic sexual appetites of the Wolfen people. This intriguing and, at times, disturbing tale will bring you to the edge of your seat as you witness firsthand the trials that Zoe must endure as Axl introduces her to the world of the Wolfen.Betrayal and mystery add fuel to this story as the plot unfolds and long-held prejudices come to blows. The hidden world of the Wolfen, and their enemy the Kontar, is complex as old customs clash and the need to survive demand they make changes in order to formulate ways for their continued existence. Whether that existence will be in peace or bloodshed, you will have to read the story in order to find out.This story hits hard and fast and is so rich with delicious characters there is no time to be gentle and court the reader. Just like Axl does not have the time to gently court and seduce Zoe as he would have liked, so must the reader feel the tenacity of each moment to fully grasp the desperate situation that both Axl and Zoe are facing.My only complaint is that I almost felt like I started in the middle of the story. With so much going on, I felt crucial components may not have been developed as well as they might have, if time allowed. I felt that this story almost needed two books to really tell it. That is the only problem at times, especially with such a complex tale such as this.Does this hurt the story? Absolutely not. I'm just greedy and maybe it's my own selfish craving to see this world reach the standing it begs for. So my hope is that, as this series continues, we will be given details that enable us to get closer to this world and its people, because it most definitely has me craving for more. Alisha Paige has the talent, that I have no doubt.Circle City the Lord of the Wolfen, Book 1 is only the beginning of a very stimulating series and well worth the read!Ms. Paige has also bravely moved into a sensual world that skirts the edges of the darker sides of sexual exploration. I too would like to see her expand on that.  For those with a sensitive constitution, I can only say don't let the unknown interfere. Instead of fighting it, let yourself look beyond preconceived ideas and just let go...I won't tell. Reviewed by Barb for Risque Reviews