Eye of the Wolf (The Lords of Alekka, #1) by A.E. Rayne

Eye of the Wolf (The Lords of Alekka, #1) Reviews

• 
  Tom Langley

  Fantastic book!
  
  As a rule, I try to stay away from the longer books, but honestly I enjoyed every part of this.
  As an epic fantasy book it ticks all the right boxes for me. An interesting story laced with nordic influences, a creative way to tie magic and witchcraft with the dreamers, and an absolutely incredible character development throughout.
  
  I found myself pulled from one character to the next, feeling just as engrossed with the Hakon's side as I was with Reinar's. You see each character develop through the story and you can fully understand who they are as a person, whether it's a vindictive king who is determined to have his revenge, or its a dreamer who is on a journey of self discovery, you truly can see inside them.
  
  The story played out just as I hoped, with the right amount of twists and turns that make you excited, and equally fearful for the characters as their luck sometimes goes from bad to worse.
  
  Either way, if you're a fan of epic fantasies, this gives a full game of thrones meets Vikings feel and it keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. Definitely recommended, and I'm looking forward to reading book two!
• 
  Coco.V

  🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/1/2021)! 🎁
• 
  Barefoot Gypsy Jimerson

  Not bad at all!!
  
  I really didn't think I would like it. But it turns out it wasn't half bad. All the characters stud out. I really enjoyed how the author went to each character in a chapter as he kept building on each one. Hope the next one us just as good ,as they all go there separate ways.
  Nicely done.
• 
  Karen ⚜Mess⚜

  👁‍🗨🐺 Free on Amazon 5/14/2021 👁‍🗨🐺
• 
  Diana Murrill

  I was given the opportunity, gladly I might add as I loved the Furyck series and Raynes style, to read an advance copy of her new series. It took a bit a dedication to push through the first 20% of the book. Lots of new characters and their connections to each other as this will be a series that has some layers to it. With the reference to Jael and Mother Arnesson from Furyck I thought I would be able to build on what I already knew. Not so, and I’m still a bit confused as to where this fell timeline wise to Jaels story but I am confident that this will become clear with successive publications. I had to push through a few of the more violent aspects of the book with a characters proclivity towards violence and women but managed. As stated earlier after the first 20% of the story was unraveled the characters and their stories meshed together and I was able to follow Raynes leading. The story weaved back and forth between the characters and their separate arcs in each chapter which helped to keep them fresh and memorable and the storyline flowing easily. Then it became a page turner that kept me saying to myself, “OK, just one more chapter,” that went on and caused some sleep deprivation on my part. The character development was believable and layered as they moved through the plot and there is lots of room for some surprises. One that left me sort of sick to my stomach at the end and already fearing for Alys and her children. That was an “Oh CRAP” moment. Didn’t see it coming and not super happy with it. But as with her first series I’m sure that the heroine has more potential than she has shown so far and the story begs that development. On the whole, I loved the book and plan on reading it again a bit more slowly to pick up on more of the subtle nuances that I’m sure I missed as I familiarized myself with completely new characters and my impatience to see their alliances and relationships to each other!
• 
  Lauren

  Uniquely Written
  
  This is the first book I have ever read by A. E. Rayne so I wasn't sure what to expect. I must say I quite enjoyed it! I do believe that reading Dune first helped me adjust to the simultaneous POVs. It's not something you see very often in modern writing but I was already accustomed to it by Dune so I was surprised but not negatively so to see it here.
  
  The book did suffer a bit from a sagging middle. I do not believe it quite justified its length. However, the ending more than made up for it. It left a lasting impression that made me eager to continue to the next book.
  
  The battle was one of the best I've read in a long time. There was suspense, magic and a focus on strategy rather than just on bloodshed. I was impressed!
  
• 
  Susan

  Great story
  
  I'm glad I read this one it has a good magic system and world building. It put me in mind of the Vikings and their tribal warfare. I'm definitely going to read the next one in the series. I want to see if and how Alys finds her children I'm fairly confident that she'll find them plus she doesn't know that her abusive husband is alive. Should be interesting
• 
  Lisa Valles

  Having read the previous series, I was a bit skeptical about reading a new book based in the same world without the characters that I was familiar with. I need not have bothered even considering such a thing..
  
  I was captivated by the first page! The characters were were intriguing and the storyline compelled me throughout.
  
  The way that author continued expanding on Alekka beliefs, traditions and situations was phenomenal. She intertwined the plots just enough to pique my curiosity about where the others might be, while not having me miss them. In fact, I wouldn't be disappointed if the previous characters never make a come back. The new characters were quite interesting and the imagery enthralled me.
  
  December can't come fast enough for me! I'm looking forward to watching the progression of both the characters and the plot as the journey continues to evolve in the next book.
  
  I'd like to thank the author for taking me away from all the troubles of today and letting me fall into her fantasy world.
• 
  Natasha

  Wow! Can't believe this isn't hyped up more!
  So glad I found this book
  I haven't read such a long book in a really long time, but wow this was worth it. The only thing for me it took a while to get used to the style of writing, you easily jump through 10 peoples pov in 1 chapter, from one paragraph to the next!
  But this was such a great read, I got vikings vibe but the gods seem to be different, but there's magic and action and in every chapter something is going on.
  There was a perfect mix of plot and action.
  
  Alys is a great character to follow as she learns about her powers, Edette I fucking love 😂 she's a mess but she knows what she's talking about. I'm not in love with Reinar but I feel that we didn't really get a lot of time between the 2 of them, definitely a slow burn, one I'm happy to wait for!!
  On to the next book 😊
• 
  Katia M. Davis

  Not bad
  
  This was an ok fantasy adventure. It had a bit of a saggy middle and a few typos , but was relatively engaging. There were a couple of things I didn't get on with, like head hopping within scenes, and being told what the characters were feeling rather than their actions and dialogue revealing them emotional state. It made me feel distanced from them. Still, it was and adventure and I enjoyed the battle descriptions. The epilogue left me dissatisfied because it felt like it came completely out of left field. For me, this was not a book I could lose myself in for hours and hours, but it was a decent adventure for short reading spurts. Others may feel differently of course.
• 
  Christian

  An incredible epic fantasy book steeped in Viking and Norse mythology inspiration. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into it but the title and cover drew me in and once I started reading it was difficult to put down, following the journey of Alys, a dreamer with magical powers, and her son Magnus and daughter Lotta. The book is the first in a series and rich in description, action, imagery and plot. I usually steer clear of fantasy novels, although admittedly there are four niches within the genre that I am keen to read, this being one of them, so I really took to and enjoyed this. There is much more I want to say about this book regarding points that I found gripping but I don’t want to give spoilers.
  But I hope to be reading more in the series in time.
• 
  Rachel Cass

  I absolutely loved this first book in A.E. Rayne's new series. She has a writing style unlike any other that I've read, and I love it! You get so much more than a single point-of-view, which really allows you to get to know her many characters. Alys, Reinar, Sigurd, Ludo, and Agnette quickly grow on you, as do many of the other characters! The way this leaves off, you aren't left in a cliffhanger situation, but you can tell that book 2 is going to continue to test and grow these characters. I literally couldn't stop reading! Definitely take a look at the character list at the beginning of the book, as it comes in handy when meeting so many new characters at first. I cannot wait for Book 2!! I highly recommend this read!
• 
  Debra

  I loved AE Raynes Furyck Saga series. I was a bit bummed when the new series has a different cast of characters. But after the 4th page, I was hooked. The setting for the new series is set in the same world and timeline as our beloved Jael. Our new Heroine Alys is someone to really root for. She is a mom, in an endless quest to find and rescue her children. All while being kidnapped, almost drowned, helping her captors repell raiders and finding parts of herself she never knew. It is only the first book and already I cannot wait to hear more about this amazing story and go back to this place I have come to love.
• 
  Kiyomi

  Good read and start to story. The switching between so many POVs can get confusing at times. In the beginning and when I was really getting invested in a part, but then the POV switches. It was hard at times to stay focused enough to follow along.
  The story was good.
  Note: Abuse, Kidnapping, Slavery, Rape are all in this book. It was delivered in a believable way, these things were prevalent in medieval times and this story takes place in a similar time frame setting.
  This is not a happy story. It is not a love story. It is a story of hope. A story of perseverance. A story of survival.
• 
  Harmony

  I first discovered this author when I found the Furyck Saga. I fell in love with the worldbuilding and magic system. I believe it to be one of the best fantasy series I've read. Rayne is a phenomenal storyteller. I think this new series is set up to be just as good. It's set in the same world not long after the end of the first series. However, this one introduces us to new characters and new horrors to overcome. I I don’t want to give any spoilers but if you loved the Furyck Saga and strong female characters then you need to read this. I loved it and I'm looking forward to the next one!
• 
  Jenny Clark

  Great start!
  
  What a great start to this series! I am fascinated already by the characters and the directions they choose. The author brings the whole scene right into your head. She has a superb way with words so that you not only understand, but see it. It is as if you are watching the scenes unfold. Just when you think you know what a character is going to do next, she twists the plot and they do something different. What great twists they are too!! Not expected! I can’t wait to see what is next for Alys and Alexa!
• 
  John Doughten

  Had the privilege of reading Eye of the Wolf before release and I was not disappointed! Rayne is a master storyteller and develops complex and interesting characters that you will love...and at times, not love. As the story unfolds it gets more and more exciting and readers will be unable to put it down!
  
  If you have read the Furyck Saga, enjoy this new adventure! If you haven’t yet, enjoy Eye of the Wolf and then seek out the Furyck Saga and meet Jael Furyck...you will be glad you did!
• 
  James Collins

  Incredible from start to finish
  
  Inspiring storytelling with each word. The story arcs a weave together flawlessly with characters that make you feel and really see what is written. Beautiful and heart wrenching, the author creates a world with her words that brings everything together but leaves you wanted to know more of the character's lives and their hopes. Do yourself a favor and read this book.
• 
  christine dawson

  Unputtdownable
  
  As good as the Furyk saga. The characters are very believable and the world building is amazing, makes you feel as though you are there.
  Some of the characters are annoying and I personally want to scream at them .
  I love the world and the characters (even the ones I want to scream at). I could not put this book down and I am eagerly awaiting the next book xx