Review: Fresh Look at Loups
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 22, 2014
When I heard that Kelly Meding was writing a PNR series under the name Kelly Meade I KNEW I had to read it. I love Kelly’s UF books.In a genre that’s full of great novels and authors Kelly stands out wither she using Meade or Meding as her last night. She writes great characters and builds some outstanding worlds. And this time she’s doing it with loups garous (werewolves).And yes werewolf PNR novels are a dime a dozen but Kelly puts her own spin on the mythology that I’ve not read before keeping the idea fresh. You have three kinds of loups garous; Gray (common), Black (alphas, protectors) and the rare White. I think of the Wolf wolves as the Omegas, taking on the pack’s (or run in this case) emotional welfare.Our hero, Rook is a Black wolf which means he should be the next in line of his run to take over his father’s place as Alpha one day. But because he is the youngest son it’s not so simple. The oldest son, Bishop is Gray but he has been groomed to take over as Alpha then came Rook. So there’s a little awkwardness. Rook has never really shown interest in being Alpha. He left home to go to college and had promising music career but since humans do not know about loups garous he had to give up his music and come home.That’s when he meets Brynn, a Magus. The Magus are magic users and think of the loups garous as animals. Brynn’s father is part of the Magus Congress. Magus aren’t as caring with their offspring as the loups garous. Their first-born are usually the strongest of their children and must marry another strong Magus to make a “good match” in order to produce more powerful Magus.Brynn was the second daughter born out of twin girls and therefore seen as lesser and no Magus male will want her as a wife. Brynn has been talked down to her whole life. But when she has a vision about Rook she must meet him.That’s where the “star crossed lovers” find that their groups might hate one another but they don’t feel the same towards each other.With BLACK ROOK being labeled PNR I thought there would be more sexy times just because most of the PNR I read has more steamy scenes than your average UF book. But that was not the case here. I think the PNR comes into play because each book is about a different brother instead of sticking with one as the main character for each installment like a traditional UF does. But don’t get me wrong. The romance between Rook and Brynn was steamy but on a scaled back level.BLACK ROOK is full of mystery and twists with just enough romance thrown in. I have a few ideas for what’s to come next for the Cornerstone Run and I can’t wait to read Grey Bishop to see if I’m right.