Review: Luck of the Wolf by Susan Krinard

Luck of the Wolf by Susan Krinard

Amazon Product Description:
Branded an outcast by the noble branch of his werewolf clan, Cort Renier had come to San Francisco seeking fortune—and revenge. What he found was a mysterious beauty who could not—or would not—reveal who she truly was. At first glance she seemed vulnerable and afraid, like so many girls caught up in the debauchery of the city's whiskey-soaked gambling dens. But one look into her stunning turquoise eyes and he knew he'd found the winning hand.

Aria di Reinardus had reasons of her own for concealing her identity, but Cort's kisses were more than enough to convince her to go along with his plan to transform her into a missing heiress and return her to her "family." But they were not the only ones with secrets to keep and vengeance in mind, and they were about to discover that some destinies couldn't be outrun….

My thoughts:

This was a good story and I enjoyed reading it.

The author builds some decent characters, an interesting storyline, and puts it all together pretty well.

Good or bad - I fell in love with Cort Renier from the start.  I wasn't thrilled with Aria and her secret keeping - I guess I understood it for awhile, but at some point - LONG before he knew the truth - she should have told the truth!

Cochrane is the kind of bad guy you love to hate! Yuri is nasty in almost all circumstances!  I do love that part of the plot.  

The shifter aspect of this story is different from most shifter stories, as most find it unappealing and wrong to shift.  The whole "Upper class" thought pattern is wrong in so many ways for me.  

Although this was not my favorite shifter story - I will pick up the sequel, if one comes out, just to see if Cort can get over his uppity, society issues and what happens after they go home to his family. 

Review: Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa (belated)

I was looking at my NetGalley review list today and realized that I have never posted a review of this story by Julie Kagawa! 

I read Iron King and fell in love with her fantastic characters and of course I was totally hooked!  Couldn't wait for the next one: Iron Daughter!

Amazon Product Description: 

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.  

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

My thoughts: 

In this second book, Meghan is at the mercy of the Seelie court.  After taking her brother home, she goes back to fulfill her promise to Ash, but doesn't realize that he will be so distant and change so rapidly.  She is lonely and sad, suddenly without friends or family.  The Fey are scary at the court and not always what they seem to be.  The politics involved are incredibly complex and there is a lot of deception and trickery that I wasn't expecting.  

Puck makes his return - Yeah!  Which of course leaves us with the love triangle: I have to say I've had enough of that in my books, but I still love the series - can't imagine having two such choices!  

The secondary characters in this book really make the story.  I liked the Iron King a bit more than I liked this one, but still enjoyed it very much.  I wasn't ready for the end to happen the way it did and am looking forward to finishing the story!

Can't wait to read the Iron Queen, which is on the kindle as this gets posted.