4 out of 5 stars
E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 324 pages. Published March 11th 2021
Blurb:
Quinn
I thought pulling my pack away from Winsford would save us. I never realized how wrong I could be.
After Rowan and I escape Mercer’s hold, we have to get the pack somewhere safe, but my only option is a pride run by a controlling alpha. With everyone safely inside the walls of Winterhaven, Rowan and I attempt to search for the truth, but we’re being hunted and driven further from the answers we need. I want to do everything to protect my mate, but as I learn more about his past, I realize that I might need to protect him from more than just Mercer.
Rowan
I never thought I could embrace this other side of me, especially when I’ve always been taught to hate it.
But Quinn makes me feel alive and happier than I ever thought I’d be after shutting away a part of myself for years. When he’s with me, I feel like we can accomplish anything, and figuring out why Mercer is targeting us is only the first step. However, we could lose everything if we make a single mistake. One thing I know about my mate, though, is that he’s the most determined man I’ve ever met. And I’ll be right by his side as we bring Mercer crashing to the ground.
Of Betrayal and Monsters is an action-filled romance with a dash of comedy. It’s the second book in a series with a continuing storyline and an HFN.
Likes:
- Rowan in his snow leopard form.
- The tension throughout the book.
- Emery and the way he interacts with everyone.
- Quinn’s struggle to deal with everything was realistic.
- Fantastic non-romantic plot.
- Hooked me fast.
Dislikes:
- Very little smut.
- Ari flips between cute and annoying.
- Not much character development for any of Quinn’s pack.
- The relationship between Quinn and Rowan didn’t really grow or change.
- Rowan’s father.
I was a little worried after finishing Of Secrets and Wolves that this book would be full of pain and suffering for Quinn, Rowan, and their pack. Quinn knew that taking everyone to Winterhaven wouldn’t be the end of things, and he was right. Winterhaven wasn’t the paradise it pretended to be, but it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting.
There was this tension throughout the book that I just loved. Everyone was trying to make the best of their situation, to find a way to make things better and live their lives, but they all knew something was coming. It made for a really compelling read, and I had a hard time putting the book down.
The non-romantic plot really makes this book. Because it’s a continuation of the first book, there’s layers and complexity to the plot. As the book continued, Rowan and Quinn find themselves hitting dead end after dead end. They know there’s more to what’s going on than they know, and that someone’s pulling the strings. The buildup to the end, where all is revealed, was nicely paced. The end itself was both satisfying and made me instantly download the final book to see what happens.
As for the romance, it was definitely less present in this book. Part of that was because of the rules in Winterhaven. Part of it was because Rowan and Quinn didn’t have time to think of much besides their quest to find answers. There’s only one brief sex scene, which I didn’t mind. I don’t need smut. But I also felt like their relationship didn’t really grow or change.
In fact, there’s not much development, or page time, for most of Quinn’s pack. Ari and Emery are present for most of the book. Ari flipped from cute to annoying more times than I could count. It’s Emery who got the most character development in this book. It was fun watching him interact with everyone. He’s still not entirely sure of his place in the pack, but he’s determined to help. I really warmed up to him, and am excited that he gets to be the star of the next book.
Rowan got some personal development and growth in this book. We finally learned more about his past, including his childhood. His father’s utter trash, and I wish he’d gotten some sort of punishment, though Rowan doesn’t seem the sort to hurt his family. Despite everything, he still believes in his brother, and I hope that belief turns out to be true. Rowan’s gotten better at shifting, and comes to really embrace his snow leopard side. There were several funny moments with him shifted in this book, as in the last.
Quinn had his own personal problems. He’s unsure if he’s made the right decision to bring his pack to Winterhaven. I really felt for him, because he has so few options and none of them are great. He’s never really sure if he’s doing the right thing, and with lots of people depending on him, he knows that any mistake could cost his pack.
The anti-shifter sentiment is still alive and kicking in this book. It didn’t bother me as much this time, perhaps because I was expecting it. Plus, the institutional hatred really did help drive the plot, in that Quinn had almost no one to ask for help.
I can’t wait to start the final book. There are questions that need answering and bad guys who still need their comeuppance. Not to mention the semi-cliffhanger at the end concerning the two pack members who chose to stay behind and cover the pack’s escape.
Be sure to check out my review for the other two books in the series – Of Secrets and Wolves (Winsford Shifters #1) and Of Redemption and Vengeance (Winsford Shifters #3).
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