Pages: 395Review
Publisher: Crush Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance YA
#2 in Series
Source: Purchased
Autumn’s just learned she’s a shape-shifter — something her parents should’ve told her long ago. Unless they adopted her and didn’t know she wasn’t human. Either way, learning the truth has the same outcome: her parents lied. Zack is the only one she can count on, but he’s a werewolf and the king’s decree forbids contact between the species, let alone love. Zack’s planning to leave after graduation, but letting him go isn’t an option. He’s becoming more a part of her every day, a part she would fight for, give up everything for — even kill for. If she’s not killed first.
If Zack’s experience with his own kind has taught him anything, it’s that werewolves can’t be trusted. He’d rather die free than live in a pack under the rule of the werewolf king. So, instead of preparing for college like any other senior, he’s planning to go on the run after graduation. Escaping won’t be easy with the werewolves guarding him. But until that day comes, Zack knows he’s endangering Autumn every moment he’s around her. If it’s this difficult staying away from her now, how hard will it be to leave her behind in just a few weeks?
I'll admit, I'm at a bit of an impasse with myself about this book. When I was in the height of my blogging a few years back, I was obsessed with Veronica's books. Couldn't put them down! In fact, Veronica herself sent me her entire published works, signed, at one point because I was just such a fan. Fast forward quite a few years, and I'm no longer the young high school girl--I've graduated college and have been "adulting" for quite some time. These last few years, I haven't read any YA, so I knew jumping back into it might be jarring. Reading about teenagers felt right because I was a teenager--I wondered if it would be so different now as an adult? (Not that I even feel like an adult, but I digress.)
I figured if I started with an author I knew I loved, I couldn't go wrong, right? I was partially right. I'll explain.
Wolves at the Door was good. It wasn't as earth-shatteringly great as my younger-self thought Blade's other books were, but I wasn't unhappy with it. I thought the writing was unique, as always, and I really enjoy the further exploration of the werewolf/shapeshifter mythology in this book. There were certainly some steamy moments, yet nothing over a PG-13 rating, if you get my meaning.
I just felt like the book was so long, and it could have been edited down to be more concise. In terms of the plot, there was a lot of circling around that didn't need to happen. Characters went to the same places, did the same things, spoke basically the same dialogue at least a few times in the novel, and it got repetitive. While I understand that Veronica's books are focused primarily on the romance, I felt even that aspect suffered from the repetition. There's only so many times I can read make-out scenes that always have the exact same ending before they lose their tingle-enducing charm.
I wish I loved this book, because I know my teenage self would've been over the moon with it, but I do have to be honest and say it didn't wow me. I'm still intrigued about what will happen next, and do plan on finishing the series, but it's not a priority at the moment. Still, I'm glad I read it. I think you should certainly read it and decide for yourself if you feel more enthusiastic about it than I do.
Wolves at the Door is available on Amazon for $3.99 for the Kindle version, and $14.60 for the paperback version.
About the Author
Brain candy. Cleansing your reading palate one book at a time.
Veronica Blade lives in Southern California with her husband and children. By day she runs the family business, but each night she slips away to spin her tales. She writes stories about young adults to relive her own childhood and to live vicariously through her characters. Except her heroes and heroines lead far more interesting lives — and they are always way hotter.
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This book was purchased with my own money for personal consumption. All views expressed above are solely my own.