Review: I Didn't Read It First in the Series; I Read it 5th, But it is Good!
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 12 3, 2012
If I think it's good, why did I read it 5th? (If you don't want to hear me wax poetic about that, than I suggest you skip the next 4 paragraphs and go right to the next section; it has a heading too.)Two reasons really: 1)My original opinion of the Predator/Prey pairing, despite my having read several stories in the Shifter-Man-Love genre, was that it was "ridiculous" and I would not like the stories! That was my original thought. Still I read the synopsis first of all 8 books - as there were only 8 at that time. After reading all the synopsis of them, despite how ridiculous the predator-prey notion still seemed, especially from the pair ups stated in each title, two of them did appeal to me, vol. 5 and 8 only. Volumn 1 did not make the first cut. So I started with vol. 5, since I couldn't tell at that point, if the series was a chronology or just and anthology at the time. But in case that it was, I decided to read 5 before 8. That brings me to reason 2) in the case that it was just an anthology, I didn't want to read four books prior to reading 5, if their plots had little or nothing to do with the plot of 5, and thus were unnecessary to the reader in regards to following the entirety of the plot for the vol. you are reading.From reading 5, it seemed that the first 4, did have something to do with the plot and the series was possibly a chronology, because in the beginning, several couples mentioned were mentioned and of course I didn't know any of the characters, as I read any of the prev. books. And it was made obvious enough that they were all friends or "business" assoc. of the two focus characters of that book. However, that didn't seem very important to plot of 5, at the time, because as it turned out, I was able to follow the plot just fine. I just did not know how two main characters, were connected to the rest that were literally rolled off in a list, other than being friends, however close, in general. Even though, the support cast from the beginning was mentioned a few more times, the history that the 2 focus characters had with them, didn't seem to me at the time, to have any bearing on the plot, other than that they were such good friends to the main characters - the type of friends, that they cared deeply for and who cared for them the same in return, and could be counted on in good and bad times, and were actively involved in one anothers' lives. Truthfully, at the beginning, the mention of all these characters, that I didn't know, as if they were important did throw me off a bit and had me quickly wondering if specific details from the other books, not mentioned in 5, would in fact "be" important in some way, other than what I previously mentioned. After I finished that vol, it didn't seem that I had missed anything of real important to it. So at the time, I was satisfied with that vol. 5.However, that was not the case at all with 8. By the time I finished 8, I knew I had definitely missed something from 7. So I started 7, only to find that it was starting in the middle of an ongoing plot, that apparently started in 6, because 7 started with a lot of recapping. Consequently, if it had to recap so much, I figured I'd just better read 6 before 7, so I didn't have the same problem with 7, that I had with 8. As it turned out, in my opinion, 6 wasn't necessary to understand any the plot of 7, because as it turned out, 7 did in fact, for a good job with the recap, because it hit the main points that were important to understanding 7. However, it turned out, that I really did need to read 7 to understand and important point in 8.So after reading, in the following order, 5, 8, 6 and 7 and really liking them, I did obviously read this book. Still, it took me a while after reading the others, which with them, I read one right after the other, because the predator-prey coupling still seemed ridiculous, even though, I thought it worked in the four that I had read. The idea of a wolf and a sheep, just seemed even more ridiculous and unbelievable. Yes, the Lion/Antelope pairing is 6 is not any better, but I thought I needed to read 6 to better understand 7, so I looked over that for the time being. Even though, I concluded in that case that 6, wasn't really necessary to understand 7, I still think 7 was more enjoyable because I did read 6 first. So reading 6 wasn't a burst for me.Now to my "actual" opinion of my experience of reading this book:First, I think I should say that my opinion of this book, is not based solely what I thought of it after just one read. My opinion is based on what I ended of thinking about this book, due to it's significant connection to other following volumes that I did really enjoy after just one read, and what I thought about it after reading it one or two more times. For example, it clarified some things in vol. 5, that at the time I didn't even realize needed clarifying.If this opinion was based sole on my first read, I would have given it 2 stars and said that it wasn't that good, just so-so. I would have stated some of the things, that I now like, as things that I didn't like then. For example, I originally thought the time spent on Carson and Brody shopping and then their hotel stay, was kinda of slow and that it was a bit of unnecessary filler, except for the bit about the porn store, which I did find quite amusing and entertaining. At that time, I just didn't like the direction that the ending went in . Except for the part about the potential shoot-out at the O. K. Coral (book store) with a "gun-welding" Swan armed with his gun loaded with silver bullets, against a couple of wolves armed with their ability to: "turn into big, knarly wolves". (Okay, every body was actually if human form of course, b/c the swan could not have held a gun in his animal form, but the image was still cool, because the natural rivalry that existed between certain animals as predator and prey, is the point of the series, being that the shifters didn't just act like enemies toward one another because of this, in just their animal forms, but also very much so in their human forms. Many, if not all of the shifters seem to be able to recognize other shifters by their smell, even when they both are in human form. And they can not only tell that the other is a shifter, but usually what animal he shifts into. - So yeah! A gun-wielding swan again two or three wolves, made for a really cool image and idea to me, even during the first read. I "so" got the analogy.) As I was saying, other than than tid bit, I just simply didn't really like the ending the first time around. I thought the situation with the "Pit" was a bit much. It seemed a little too beyond the realm of what's believable. I thought, the behavior of Brody's brother in the end was a little too convenient without further explanation. I also didn't think the explanation of what happened to Liam, keeping him from helping Brody per the original plan, was even close to sufficient. It seemed the equivalent of the author needing Liam to get held up, but not putting in the effort, for one reason or another, to explain how or why. Actually, even after re-reading it, so far, that bit never seemed any more clearer to me than the first time around. So that bit is the only thing that really remains as something I didn't like. Maybe the cause of it only getting 3 stars. (Vol. 3 helped me understand Brody's brother a little better. Still don't like him as much as Brody or Liam, but Daniel is cool.)So the final verdict is, I liked it. And would recommend it and the others, up through 13 - except for the vol about Corbin  and Winter; and at this time I haven't read 14 yet. Not cause I don't think it will be good, but it's not the only series that I really like and am following (and not the cheapest either). I had to prioritize at the moment. Even though, and because I didn't read them in order, I recommend that if you do read this series, that you do READ the books IN ORDER. (tip: The Corbin/Winter volume - 9, I think - did have some info. that was important to the overall plot, that continues on in 10. So if you intend to read past vol. 8, you may want to read it, whether you like it or not. The really significant part, happens at the end of 9, like the last 20% or less. The rest is just a set-up to make the end feasible according to how the story had progressed thus far.)It may seem that the first 5, including this one, are stand alone and can be read in any order, and with the first 5, that may work out okay. I think it's because the first 5 are the "Set-UP" for the over all plot, which is actually hinted at in the epilogue of 5, but doesn't really get revealed until 6. Once you get past 6, you really will need to have read all of the previous. At least one of each of the previous ones, are neeeded to fully understand the plots of all volumes following 6. Actually, if you start with this one, and continue in order, you will see how the next volume builds on one or more of the previous volumes. And like I said, you could probably read the first 5 out of order, before continuing on with six, but I thought you'll enjoy each of the first 5 more if you read them in order, because unlike my experience with 5, you'll know how the characters up to that point are connected. And the connection between the characters that are set up in the first five, is what the rest of the series is built on. The "five" friends are important. I'd just tell you whole they are, but it might be a bit of a spoiler. I'll give you a hint though: (turn back for the rest of this paragraph if you don't want to know) When the five are first mentioned as a group of friends, they are only four. The fifth member is mentioned in volume one, but he doesn't really get added to the group until volume 2.I think this author did a lot of things right in this series. First of all, she made the predator-prey thing work for me. When I did get around reading this vol. after reading the others 5-8, I still had misgivings and thus I only read it when I did because 9 wasn't out yet, and 8 ended with a cliff hanger and I wanted something to tide me over until then, so I figured I may as well read one of the others that I skipped. Even then, I only picked this one next, instead of 2,3 or 4, because of the pairings, I considered it the lesser of the four evils.At the beginning, where Brody and Carson meet, is one of favorite parts, probably my most favorite. I thought it was rather clever, quite appropriate to the general plot idea of predator/prey couplings, and the right amount of funny, despite or maybe because of the seriousness of the situation that both Carson and Brody found themselves in. I think it's funny, how Carson manages to notice his attraction to Brody, despite thinking that his life is currently in imminent danger from the wolf - as Brody "was" actually a wolf at that time. And given the reason for Brody and his best friend, Liam's "visit" to the town Carson lives in, Ramston, Carson is right to be frightened when he meets Brody unexpectedly. Other than Carson noticing his attraction to Brody, I also think the contrast between what bother of them are thinking about one another during the situation is funny. And Carson does get attacked during Brody's and Liam's visit to Ramston. And I think it's ironic who attacks him and who protects him. I'd go into more detail, but I don't want to spoil it. Even if you haven't read anything from this genre before, you've probably still figured out who the protector is anyway, by this point. The title most defintely gives it away.Also I really like how the issue that they are predator-prey, with Carson's village specifically, being on the menu of Brody and Liam's pack, does NOT just unrealistically and early on, turn out to be peachy-keen, instead of being a "ginormous" issue to everyone else who is affected by the two of them being mates - just because despite their current fears and misgivings, "they" managed to fairly easily get over that "little" tid-bit and put aside years and years (since the time began that there were shifters apparently)of prejudice and actual fighting between one group of prey and another group of predators. Unlike everyone else, they of course, have the mate pull to help them out, which is always either impossible, or nearly so, to resist in these stories, despite any misgivings, prejudices held by that character or the group/species he's a member of toward the other's species, grudges or general dislike for the other by one of both parties. (If you don't know yet, the "mate-pull" is always force of nature all unto itself, that can and often does defy all other reason held by either party when it strikes. And it's always considered sacred thing, by the various shifter species as a group. "Individual reactions may vary.") What I do like though is that, despite the obvious, instant sexual attraction caused by the mate pull, the pair actually do have "a few" misgivings at least and are fairly realistic about how difficult it will be for them to be together. And as I was saying, this personal decision of theirs to be with one another, despite all of that, is a big deal in the story and does greatly affect a lot of people - Carson's whole town of Ramston, and not just Brody's specific pack, who's alpha is his brother, but also another pack lead by their elder - who in this universe, in addition to having his own pack, is also leader over other alpha's who have their own packs as well. So the alphas under him while they do lead their own pack that are certain really serious things, like "supreme court" issues or federal offense level type issues for regular humans, where the alphas must defer to the elder when such incident occurs involving his pack members. And guess who the Elder is? Nope, not telling, because it could be considered a spoiler or lead to one if it's not. If you can't guess, maybe someone else will tell you or you'll have to read this book. And I like the fact, that it's not just simply okay with everyone in this universe for a man to be gay, because that's not how it is in the real world and the author chose the real world, present day, with is rules and laws for humans (beyond the shifter fantasy rules, of course) as the environment for her universe. So for Brody, there is not only the issue that he wants a sheep for a mate, but the additional issue that the sheep is a ram and not and ewe. And Brody is aware of this to the point that he knows he can't take Carson back to his pack. Why? Because it's a pack of wolves, literally, and Carson is actually a sheep, and in this universe wolf-shifters still eat sheep-shifters. And when Brody, tries and actually makes an to set up things, so as to literally the keep his mate of the lunch and dinner menu of his fellow wolves, unlike some stories of this kind that I have read, his plan does NOT work perfectly, without a hitch. It goes pretty much completely wrong from the start, leaving Brody to take a huge risk and make a hard choice, which still doesn't salvage the plan, but actually makes the situation even worse. The attempt to salvage the plan, goes about 3 ways to ugly (or is the phrase 3-sheets to the wind?)! Anyway, it starts to look like not only will they not be mates after, when this situation is settled, but Carson might not even be alive. The decision is taken of Brody's hands when he plan goes off track completely and ends up in the hands of the Elder. And the last time Brody checked the man was not a fan of wolves being gay, never mind the issue of mating with a sheep or any non-wolf shifter for that matter. It's still a matter of tradition - despite there being non-shifter, regular sheep (that aren't also human) and meat being sold in the supermarket, them having jobs, and using current technology, like: cars, houses and yes, even cell phones - and a matter of keeping the species "pure". Of course continuing their pure species, requires a male and female wolf to procreate and make pups. Neither Brody, of course (alpha male type), nor Carson, despite (as is often typical for these types of stories) being rather "pretty" for a man and smaller in stature than is typical for a male, not only in human form, but having horns that have not fully come in, when in animal form, can get pregnant.Apparently rams horns, start to come in fully when they start puberty, and are a good fighting size around 15 fifteen or there about. Carson is 20, with small horns, making him appear as a grown ewe, not a ram when he shifts. Interestingly enough, the author provides and explanation, other than the fact that he's just small and will definitely be on bottom in this relationship, which is that Carson is just a late bloomer. Carson actually notices the size of his horns or rather the lack their of, and gets teased about it, which of course he doesn't like, but what can he do? And due to this, he has been assigned a job that is done by ewes in his town, when he should be on guard duty like the other young rams in town. Those in charge have deemed him unsuitable for guard duty - to fight to protect the town if and when needed. Since there is no denying the fact that he lacks the necessary horn size that rams should definitely have by his age, which is also one of the main factors contributing to rams attracting ewes for hooking up, (apparently sheep-shifters also aren't typically monogamous either), Carson agrees with them about the guard duty, because he also believes that if something were to happen, he'd just get in the way. His lack of horn size has caused a complete lack of interest in him by other young ewes, leaving him completely date-less. Thus giving the other young rams a lot to tease him about, which of course bothers him. And so Carson has a few issues. At first, I didn't see how the detail that is given to Carson's "horn" issue was really that important. Actually, I didn't get it the first time or the second time I read the story. But after reading it another time, after I, took time to analyze it, because it's something I like to do, I finally realize that the significance comes at the end. Carson does something, that according to the elders and even himself, he should not have been able to do or rather would not have thought to do or definitely not tried to do, even if he had thought about it.All and all I like how their situation and their lives are not perfect. I like that Carson is a little damaged. Even though, per often typical for these stories, Brody is loaded, but what's normally atypical, is that his money isn't able to fix the bad situation that he and Carson end up in. I like that Brody, doesn't act like a caveman, and Carson isn't meek or mild, and is stronger than originally perceived. I always like it, when a character being small or smaller in stature, than whats considered normal or big, isn't simply weak, because of his apparent size. It's not over done, where Carson turns out to be some super sheep or something (which works sometimes). He's not weak.All and all even though, the idea of shifters is total fantasy, I like how since the author, chose the "real world" as the setting for this story, and the others in the series, that she takes into account and includes "real" world issues, attitudes, and behaviors for the characters that are actually within the realm of possibility. As in, if shifters really existed, today, what could their lives really be like. When an author chooses the real world as a setting for a story with fantastic creatures and situations that are specific to these creatures being what they are, I like it best, when the author includes a fair amount of reality, and does not create a story where the main plot actions are impossible, unrealistic and/or improbable (possible, but highly unlikely for the vast majority of the world population). I like how deals with the very real, very serious issue of prejudice that one group has for another, because of difference or traditions, etc. I don't like sad ending - a sad ending pretty much ruins a story for me. So yes the ending is happy in my opinion, but not perfect and thus fairly realistic considering what happened in the story. As in, at the end, inter-species mating is still far from acceptable. And characters do die by the end. Again no, I'm not telling who; I try not to give spoilers in these reviews.I thought the characters and their situation were believable fairly realistic, for a real world, present day, where shifters exist. It was a good blend of fantasy and reality. Probably not my favorite in the series, but still good. And the more of the books that I read in the series thus far, the more I like this first, and think it was a really good way her to start the story that she tells. After all, if really is the beginning of the overall plot for this series.