| Title | : | Wolf's Bane (Moon Marked, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 216 |
| Publication | : | First published June 10, 2018 |
I’m Mai Fairchild – fox shifter, sister’s keeper, and bane of the local werewolf pack. In a world where different is dangerous, my sister and I must pretend to be human at all costs. Too bad I just lost the job that lets me live under the radar while putting food on my sister's plate.
Enter an enticing werewolf who offers enough cash to upgrade our diets from ramen noodles to salami if I join him on a magical hunt. But can I afford to accept the opportunity when the risk of working closely with every fox shifter's sworn enemy is so great?
This first book in USA Today bestselling author Aimee Easterling's newest series dives into a world of magic, danger, and romance.
Wolf's Bane (Moon Marked, #1) Reviews
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*mild spoilers*
Another free kindle book :D
I’m loving this. And there’s more..... ;)
Honestly it was a pretty good book. And not just because it was free. It may have been a classic paranormal romance, but it was still enjoyable. And a little clichè is good sometimes.
Mai was a classic badass fighter heroine, and she was also a Kitsune. She could transform into a fox and she had other supernatural powers. Her one aim in life was to protect her younger sister, Kira. Kira was also a Kitsune, but less cautious. It’s a known fact that Kitsune’s and werewolves don’t mix, so when Mai starts finding the same werewolf everywhere, she gets typically suspicious. Naturally, there is romance between them.
Not a bad storyline with it’s plot reveals and betrayals. There were some fun side characters and I enjoyed the book. Thanks to the author and Amazon for the free copy! -
I gave up at 40% struggling between an extremely irritating side character and a weak heroine on one side and a heavy handed author's intrusion (piling acts and situations that normally do not work or happen in that way or that quickly to push her envelope).
But I admit that the nail in the coffin was a review that (unpleasantly) wasn't tagged and told me all that was going to happen destroying totally the book. -
Mai is a Fox shifter or to give her her proper name a Kitsune. She has looked after her younger sister since being orphaned and really only remembers that she should run from Wolves. So here she is hiding her magic in a town of Wolves when it seems a serial killer is on the loose and worse it somehow connects to the inherent magic that Kitsune have. Fear not though as alpha Werewolf Gunner seems set on protecting Mai but why ?
Honestly there's good ideas here but boy are they lost amongst the words. I liked the dynamics between the two sisters, I thought Mai being a cage fighter was good but couldn't for the life of me understand just why Mai is masquerading as a Werewolfs girlfriend ! I won't say more because I'd hate to ruin this for others because as a free read I'm sure plenty will want to read and decide for themselves. Alas for this reader it's not a series I think I will continue. -
Weak. Not a very well thought out storyline. Reading this book is like seeing someone recently finding out the Hollywood teen show version of kitsune and throwing it together with some multi alpha werewolf world together and calling it good.
The arena, sister sister relationship... all halfass half thoughts.
And the ending?
Yeah, fox shifter runs away from the wolves, fears them, knows she will die and her sister will die if she is with them, but in the last couple of pages boom, insta-trust.
Idiotic.
Not recommended. -
I didn’t hate it and I didn’t like it . It was just ok. Cliffhanger too. No romance and it’s under a pNR category:-/ that’s ok. It was refreshing!
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It skipped from place to place. I had a hard time keeping up with why kitsune were sp feared. Why they'd be dead if someone found out. And I was so confused why they couldn't smell the difference between a fox and wolf. I guess it's really convenient for them to have great senses of smell but not smell each other. Except she kept talking about the sent of "incipient fur" and the guys dew, pine needle and granite smell. What tf does granite smell like?! I'm starting to get irked by books talking about how a dude smell like something that doesn't have a scent. I blame fabric softeners. But what do diamonds or steel smell like. It's going up there with "bronzed" Scots. I'm taking a star for stupidity every time an author tries to tell me a character smells like something unscented, just like "bronzed" Scottish dudes. Quit with the lies!
So this book kind of sucked. Props to her for writing but I still think it was full of holes, shit happened for plot convenience and the characters were one dimensional. -
I first rated this 2 stars, but after getting riled up writing this review I realize I didn't just dislike it. I actively hate it.
Spoilers.
So Mai and her 12 year old sister are fox shifters. Apparently that means there is a standing death sentence for them if they're ever discovered. Why? Who the fuck knows? Nobody does. Not even a hint anywhere to be found. This dumbass has never bothered to even Google fox shifters before, never made any sort of effort to learn more about the secret that hiding literally rules her entire life.
As fox shifters they have some sort of star ball magic. Wanna know how it works? Too bad. What does it do? I dunno, but it has 1/3rd of a soul in it and can be turned into a sword or a necklace. Yup. And if you drop the sword with the 1/3rd of a soul in it, you physically weaken and collapse like a marionette doll without strings. Okay.
The younger sister is literally a blank slate character simply there to cause trouble. Every single bit of conflict in this story, every confrontation, every death, everything is the result of this kid being irresponsible over and over again. She is TSTL just to further the plot and she's awful. No learning her lesson. Mai doesn't enforce any sort of consequence on her. This kid attacks people at school, Mai loses her job, and then she offers to buy her sister ice cream to make her feel better about it. I mean what the fuck. She sliced middle schoolers across the face with a god damn sword and you're like "it's fine, the social worker that is desperately trying to throw you in foster care will totally understand." I fucking hate both of them.
The first like, 13 chapters is just constant shitting on Mai. She loses her job, she loses a fight, she has to beg for a job, the social worker threatens her, she runs from the cops, gang members attack her, some alpha werewolf threatens her, some other guys attack her, it's one bad thing after another to make her so desperate that she turns to a werewolf for help. It was too much. I almost DNF'd it a dozen times and I really wish I had.
Every character is lacking in personality or any real character traits, aside from the sister being stupid and Mai being stubborn and hearing her dead mother in her head. But the only thing her dead mother says is Japanese proverbs that I have to Google. None of them are obvious, none of them help the scene or the character. It's fucking stupid.
And then the climax comes out of NOWHERE. There was absolutely no clue that this particular thing was going to play any role in this story. But apparently it's hugely important, and matters more than anything else. So of course we've never heard of it until the end.
Ugh. Honestly, it was bad in ways I've never really witnessed before. -
This is a story of Mai Fairchild – fox shifter, sister’s keeper, and bane of the local werewolf pack. In a world where different is dangerous, my sister and I must pretend to be human at all costs. Too bad I just lost the job that lets me live under the radar while putting food on my sister's plate. She came to localty where living cost is come under gang and they try to threatened her but she take them down, when a werewolf helped her.
Enter an enticing werewolf who offers enough cash to upgrade our diets from ramen noodles to salami if I join him on a magical hunt. But can I afford to accept the opportunity when the risk of working closely with every fox shifter's sworn enemy is so great. Th story is thriller and story became exciting when her sister security came to threat and they have to move fast to win against enemies and other magical stuff. Part one end here. -
A bit of a different read for me. This one I have on ebook, and is just a fun read.
This book is packed with twists and turns, romances, betrayals and rivalries. It also has both wolf shapeshifters and fox shapeshifters, which in this world do not mix, or so we thought. Mai and her sister Kira are fox shifters who must keep this side of them secret, especially from the local wolf packs. When the alpha wolf and Mai combine paths, the whole story and a wacky plot, and maybe even a little romance, unfold. Overall, I gave it a 4 stars, as the beginning was a little slow and confusing, but once I got into it, I got into it pretty hard. Will be reading the next one soon... because that ending... Oof. -
3.5 Stars.
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This book honestly wasn't the best I've ever read, but it was interesting.
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As always,
Aimee Easterling reliably delivers fun shifter stories with exciting plots. This book was suspenseful and so much fun! It features one of my favorite paranormal creatures (one that doesn't get very much attention) as well as Ms. Easterling's delightful take on shifters. This is the first book in the new Moon Marked series, and I am very much looking forward to the rest of the series, but this book ends on a satisfying note, so don't be afraid of cliffhangers.
This was a relatively quick read that started with a great hook and effortlessly captured and held my interest. It was fast-paced with an exciting, action-filled plot that presented some unexpected twists as our heroine Mai struggled to protect her sister from an increasing number of threats while also trying to track down a serial killer.
I really liked the characters in this book. Mai makes some frustrating decisions at times, but you can understand why she acts the way she does. She's under a lot of stress but remains quite likable. Her sister Kira is adorable, and I loved Gunner and his pack. I look forward to getting to know these characters better in subsequent books!
I volunteered to review an advanced reader copy of this book provided to me by the author. The version I read was neatly formatted, had no significant editing problems, and few typos that I can recall. If you like urban fantasy or paranormal mystery/suspense with a hint of romance, give this series a try. -
Once again Aimee Easterling has created a great female protagonist. Mai is talented, loyal, and snarky. Forced to keep many secrets she is determined to protect her sister and live her life as best she can. The death of her mother has left her with little information about her Kitsune, Japanese fox shifter, background. She knew that werewolves were rumored to kill the magic using foxes and that her star ball was where her magic was centered, but she had few details of the whys or the history of the animosity. She and Kira have kept their fox-shifter abilities secret, wolf-shifters seemed to assume they were just wolves, and she has managed to use her magic without calling attention to it. She is juggling a lot of balls, including a social worker who seems determined to remove Kira from her custody.
When Mai encounters two strange wolf shifters in the fighting ring, one in human form and one in wolf, she has to figure out how to lose the fight as she was ordered to do without making it obvious to the betting public. As she comes to find out, losing a fight is the least of her worries when it comes to Gunner. Gunner has come to town to find a murderer and believes she can help him. When her world starts falling down around her she discovers that this wolf, who should be her enemy, is a worthy partner. But what is going to happen when he discovers her secrets?
I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary. I can't wait for the next book in the series. -
EASTERLING HIT SOLID GOLD AGAIN!!!
No surprises here. Easterling rolls another one right on out. Fast paced, action packed, nerve racking, nailbiting tale that just keeps it going. Smooth flowing with every nuance in perfect sync. Characters were extremely relatable with the personalities fitting the situations. Following the characters along fascinated as they grew throughout with all the charm, charisma, witt and intellect that pulls you into the world Easterling has weaved around you so realistic and believable until everything else ceases to exist except for whats right in front of your eyes. The scenes were so vividly detailed and descriptive that it gives the illusion you were right there in ground zero with them. I was hooked from the first paragraph until the very last word. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next time. Phenomenal job Easterling, thanks for sharing this remarkable read with us. -
Yay a new series by an author that I really enjoy reading!!! There has yet to be a series by this author that I did not like so I knew that I was in for a treat with this book. Throughout this book Mia keeps calling her and her sister fox shifters, but when she speaks of her magic orb I knew right away what she was! Mia and her sister Kira have to hide what they are from the local wolf shifters as kitsune have a kill immediately order on them. With all the action and suspense in this book I can not wait to read the next book to see just how Mia and Gunner handle the truth of what is going on. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
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DNF'd 69 pages in. I just don't care at all. When I'm getting to the point where I'm bribing myself with another book if I just read a little more of this one its time for me to move onto something more engaging.
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DNF - messy, annoying - totally agree with Mara
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The story was confusing and then ended in a cliffhanger!
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Wolf's Bane (Moon Marked Book 1) Aimee Easterling
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre:Sci-fi and Fantasy, Romance.
I love fantasy/romance reads, but so may of these seem to be all grunting, monosyllabic alphas, reverse harems or ones where the romance is all the book, no side/sub plots, no overall story line. Still, it means when I do find a read I enjoy then its like a sweet victory!
I added this one last week, it was free at the time, so nothing to lose and I'd enjoyed the sample. I've just bought books two and three, as it was an intriguing read, and I'll be looking at what else Aimee has written.
Mai is great, she's a Kitsune, Japanese fox shifter. I've come across these occasionally – I think the last one was in a Hailey Edwards read as a secondary character, and the Kitsune premise fascinates me. They're not just shape shifters, but have a kind of fox nature in the way they think and behave, and usually they have some form of magic. Aimee has added a touch here where that magic is connected closely to Mai, and allows her to create real items, her sword for example, within a split second, but it needs to stay physically connected to her or she weakens. I'm still getting my head around the star ball that Kitsunes in this book have, that allows the magic.
Mai is guardian to her younger sister, and struggling. She doesn't know any other Kitsunes, they live in a city controlled by werewolves, and she needs to tread carefully, as they see Kitsunes as something to be killed.
Its an interesting story, full of some very real characters, sub plots that add up to the whole, the star ball connection to magic, and of course poor Mai doesn't have anyone she can ask for help to learn more about what they are. She's never met another Kitsune. Her dead mother offers some cryptic comments at times in Mai's head, but they're beyond my understanding, and mostly Mai doesn't see the logic til too late either. I do like that connection though, and trying to puzzle out what the heck she means by her strange phrases.
There's a developing romance but its still early days, and apart from a couple of stolen kisses hasn't gone further. So many fantasy romance reads make the romance all the story, held up by the tiniest of plots, and for me I want all the mystery, the magic, the struggles, with the romance being there but as part of the story, not all of it.
Stars: Four, a fun read, and a good start to the trilogy.
Book purchase – I do buy books in addition to receiving ARCs and having KU! -
Wolf's Bane - a review by Rosemary Kenny
After their parents die, Kitsune (magical Japanese fox-shifter), sisters Mia and 12 year old Kira are left in ignorance of their true heritage. They must assume their human forms at all times for protection from predators and humans, who fear what they don't understand.
When Mia loses her job, she has to use her MMA skills by competing in an underground fight club for prize money, afraid that otherwise Kira will be taken into foster care. Things go well, until the wolf-shifter Atwood brothers come to the ring...one fighting in human form and the other as a wolf! What will happen between these traditional enemies - can love always find a way?
Aimee Easterling's expertise in telling fantasy romance stories continues from one great series to another, with the first in the Moon Marked series, of which this is Book 1. An unusual MC, Mia is snarky and kick-ass, with a tender side in the way she looks after her wayward sister, who is mischievous to say the least and causes Mia many an anxious time by her unruly behaviour.
The introduction of bad-boy wolf-shifter Gunner to her world is bound to be conflicting, but Mia always tries to do the right thing, even when she's kicking ass in the fight club and a forbidden love eventually results in a HEA for the feisty teen and the wicked wolf-man with a kind heart.
Buy your copy today and get ready for the paranormal romance adventure of your fantasy life! -
I won this book in a giveaway. This isn't my normal kind of fantasy, and the cover did it no favours. But it was free and short, so I thought why not?
I ended up enjoying it a lot! It was fun and ridiculous, lots of action and an interesting cast of characters. I kept getting serious Sarah J Maas vibes (excepting the length... Easterling's is much shorter). I zipped through it, and was I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this somewhat silly and overall very fun werewolf/shifter book.
It's the first book in a werewolf/shifter story about Mai Fairchild and her little sister Kira, two fox shifters who get tangled up in a deadly web rival werewolf gangs. There's a little bit of everything – action, mystery, romance, family dynamics, lore, world-building. There's not much to analyse or discuss, but hell, it's a fun, short book full swashbuckling sword fights, murder mysteries and gang wars. The perfect book to get you out of a reading slump, or just remind you of how much fun reading can be when you pick books you like vs. books people say you should like. -
I wasn’t expecting much of this, and started pretty typically for an indie published book. It’s a world where werewolves exist and so do Kitsune (those who change into foxes). But Kitsune are illegal and their sworn enemy is the werewolf. Most of book one deals with Mi trying to keep custody of her sister, afford food, and stay away from the wolves. This was not so much an adventure and you know magic exists for Kitsune, but not exactly how it works. There is a bit of action at the end which is just enough to make you interested in what happens next and seek out book 2. Another thing I like about this book is while it has “romance” it’s not really about romance. THere’s attraction but it is not the driving point of the story.
#Beathebacklist -
Excited that I won a copy of this as an audio book, never won a giveaway before!
Quite a quick listen, nearly 6 hours. Kept me busy while pottering around my house.
Liked the ideas behind this book, interesting that the two sisters are fox shifters and hiding in secret. Liked that Mai was a cage fighter but also fighting to keep custody of her sister. Liked the dynamic between the sisters, felt very real. Liked when Gunner came into the story, liked how he had alpha energy but also didn’t completely steamroll over Mai, he did listen to her.
But felt some of the ideas were a bit muddy and also this book didn’t feel complete enough. It is part of a series but would have like a bit more of a conclusion or the book to feel more separate.
Might read on if the next book if free. -
So I read the book, but I still do not understand what is so bad/special about them being fox shifters. I may have missed it, but I don't believe it was ever explained. I never got what her ghost mom was trying to tell her. But I enjoyed the rest of the story, the back and forth between Mai and Gunner. Not sure if it is worth moving on in the story or not, it leaves me curious for sure.
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Enjoyed reading about Mai’s struggles to keep Kira safe and hide their secret from the world. Gunner is a strong, protective werewolf that takes Mai and Kira under his ‘
“paws “!
Received this free and this is my honest review. Some people may not like this book, but I read for enjoyment and this fit the bill very well!
