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Beast of Burden #1

Love and War

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As an Alpha of the First War, the only thing I had ever known was battle.

Captured, bound, and unable to see, I wasn't the sort of Alpha to give up without a fight. Escape turned out to be the easy part, but coping with everything else threatened to drop me to my knees.

Learning that my injuries were permanent made me question my abilities as an Alpha, but when my Wolf wanted to bond with the human who had been brought in along with me, I started to question my sanity. Never mind that I had no time for a mate, there was no way the resistance would follow a blind Alpha with a human as his bonded.

Still, they had little choice. More of our people were going missing every day, and it was starting to look like the corruption was going all the way to the top.

Love and War is the first book in a Dystopian MM Werewolf trilogy featuring A/B/O hierarchy with no m-preg, mild violence, and a happily ever after. Beast of Burden books are not stand-alone and should be read in order. Love and War is a second edition, previously released under a different title, series, and the pen name Ariel Millar.

263 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 7, 2021

113 people are currently reading
430 people want to read

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Ariel Millar

3 books59 followers

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5 stars
243 (37%)
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242 (37%)
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126 (19%)
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21 (3%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
Profile Image for Rosabel.
723 reviews259 followers
May 15, 2021
A 3.5 star read from Arial Millar aka E.M. Lindsay... I can divide this story in two aspects: the romance and the conflict. And I'll explain it that way:

- The conflict was a 4 stars trope for me, it was really well developed and explained. The situation in wich the characters find themselves is a very relatable one, the politics, the pack's machinations and functions was on point. Why 4 stars? Sometimes less is more, the writing for this was in parts really long and boring, it was necessary yes, but I felt it could have been done shorter.

- The romance it's what brought this down from 4 to 3 stars. It had that shifter insta-love that all of this books have, but the thing is... At 30% of reading I thought that the author was going to do it right, that they were in the right path and they would not make a detour. Well, they did, the love came out of NOWHERE and I know they were fated but they spent the first chapters of this book together and nothing was SAID or FELT!! Then the omega has a heat, because they always do, and bum! Fated, my mate, mine *insert growl in here* *le sighs*. I really thought Ariel would do it justice... 😪😪

I do have to mention how good this author does disability, I have never read a book with a werewolve with disabilities and in here the alpha was blind. It was a nice take and it was really well explained as they always do, but the rest? It needs work, work work work work work. 🧐🧐💜
Profile Image for Achim.
1,295 reviews87 followers
June 28, 2023
Although it's a 2nd edition it seems like nothing changed since Bronwyn Heeley's review of the first edition.

I downloaded the story because the dystopian world appealed to me and while it's an Omegaverse story the plot promised no butt babies. I could imagine that in such a setup I might enjoy some A/O heat.

We're at the end of a decade long war between werewolves and humans that started after the wolves came out and the human reaction was worse than expected. At first I had no issue that there is not much information about the world before or after the war because the author was good at creating that darkish vibe with notes of despair because the so called peace was only the absence of war and tainted by deceit.

There are still compounds and laboratories where humans did experiments on wolves and humans with the silent agreement of both governments. So it's no surprise that a resistance of wolf veterans was created and one of their first exploits was to rescue their former general from one of those laboratories. In the end that was only achieved with the help of a human because of course the experiments were genetic experiments and therefore the wolves were not their only victims.

That leads to several conflicts with the main one being that the rescued alpha is not only blind but bonded to the human. Doesn't matter that Misha isn't completely human anymore because those experiments changed him into an omega but in the eyes of the wolves he's still the enemy.

I liked how the author didn't make the blindness easy referring to the usual wolf super senses and also that an omega doesn't have to act like a hormone-driven Stepford wive. It was also mindful that at the end of the book Misha didn't magically gained the trust of all the resistance members but on the other hand there is this deficit of information and action: a world building is non-existent, there is no compelling concept of the wolf species, there is no hint about the goal of the resistance and therefore no plan in action, it even doesn't seem like the humans or the wolf government care much about them and I have to admit that I also expected more heat.

So while I enjoyed the slow pace, at the end I couldn't help feeling dissatisfied. There has to be more world building in the next installment.
Profile Image for Relly.
1,647 reviews28 followers
May 23, 2021
4.25 Stars

Great start to the series.

I'm a sucker for a blind MC, its one of my favourites, add to the fact that the blind MC was an alpha and I was all in.

I wasn't sure I was going to like it for the first couple of chapters, as the world created is not a nice a world really (and I like dark books, so I think it was just my feelings on the day) but once they escaped the compound and were reunited with Kor's soldiers I was well and truely hooked.

Making Kor blind and basically newly blind was an interesting take that I haven't seen in many books, as we saw what would normally be the stronger of the two limited and having to learn how to handle his new life. Usually I have seen the blind alpha who was comfortable in his skin and could protect himself and get around without help, so seeing Kor practically a new born and having to relearn things again was well done. I liked the moments of grief but also the determination to move on and be what he needed to be. His protection of Misha was also well done. From the beginning he understood and let others know that Misha was as much of a victim as he was.

Misha was a great character. He was so down at the start but his innate kindness showed through as he helped Kor escape the compound, and then put himself in the wolves hands knowing full well he could be experimented on again but this time from the opposite side. The fact that his father was the one who firstly experimented on him should have made him madder than it did, but I also understood as he wasn't close to his family. I loved watching him help Kor gain some independence without actually taking over.

I enjoyed the fact that the Misha was a historian and the way the historical events were woven into the story line

This is a great start to a new series, that I can't wait to continue on with and see just where it leads.

***ARC provided by GRR. This is my honest and voluntary review.***
Profile Image for Kathleen.
1,440 reviews140 followers
dnf
June 8, 2021
2 stars

DNF 52%

Well. Bummer. I had no idea this was ABO/mpreg. Ugh.

Moving on…

EDIT: Had to come back and remove my rating. I only read half of it, which was slow-paced and terribly depressing, before I discovered it was a much disliked trope. Didn't feel fair.
Profile Image for Sailor Neptuno.
171 reviews40 followers
May 23, 2021


3.5★

The bond made it difficult to resist him, but the more time we spent quietly talking as the night crept on, the more my heart started to beat for him.


Plot-wise this is a solid start for a series. The world-building, an omegaverse dystopia, was really well done and super intriguing. And I felt that the characters, on their own, had potential; but for me something felt off. It was like the story focused way too much on the conflict rather than the couple. Which, unfortunately, made it feel like insta-love. However, I liked the writing style and would like to see what happens in the next installment.

What I liked the most was the way Ariel Millar approached the fact of an alpha losing his sight due to the war between humans and wolves. And the repercussions after it, either to Kor’s mind or to the werewolves under his command. I don’t think I’ve ever read an ABO where one of the MCs loses one of his senses and here was done in a thoughtful way.

description

Like I said before, the main problem for me was the inta-love thing. At first, I was relieved thinking it wouldn't be like that since Kor, at one point, explained to Misha that being bonded wasn't a synonym of being in love. But then, a few chapters later, it seemed they already had strong feelings for each other.

description

If you like ABOs with a different twist and don’t mind bonded MCs who fall in love fast go for it!


*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a free and honest review*
Profile Image for JustJen "Miss Conduct".
2,382 reviews156 followers
June 1, 2021
Every once in a while I find myself jonesing for a good shifter book, one more on the "serious" side without all the fluff and everyday traits that seem to be the norm these days.  I had a feeling this one would fit the bill from the blurb, and I wasn't disappointed.

This is a world where humans and wolves are in a very dirty conflict.  The wolves are basically in hiding as they regroup and try to figure out the best move forward.  Before they can do that, however, they must rescue their chosen leader who has been taken captive by the humans.  This is also a world with Alphas, Omegas, Betas, etc. and how they all play roles in the wolf world.  I loved the interesting take on who they were in this story and looking forward to seeing that progress as the story unfolds.

This is where the story begins, with Kor in captivity having been experimented on for months, the results of which have left him in pretty bad shape physically, including but not limited to, the loss of his sight.  

Misha is a human who is also a captive (betrayed by his scientist father) that has been experimented on, and while he is in better shape than Kor, the effects of what has been done to him are unknown.  It is Misha who saves Kor (with the help of another wolf), and the two begin a journey together that quickly develops into more.

What ensues is the recovery phase for both Misha and Kor.  Kor is learning how to live with handicap and how to do that as the leader of the wolves, while Misha struggles to deal with what might happen to him.  I don't want to get into too much detail, as things play out in different directions where this is concerned.  Suffice to say, these guys face a few challenges, but overcome/learn to manage them together.

I really enjoyed this story and the worldbuilding, although I wish certain areas had been a bit more fleshed out.  I thought it was a great series opener, however, and am really excited to see we don't have to wait too long for the next installment.  The war is just beginning to heat up, and it looks like the wolves have a plan with Kor at the helm.  Hopefully, we will get to see some retribution and ensuing freedom for all involved.  

Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
9,063 reviews516 followers
May 12, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.

4.75 stars


Cold Hard Ground is the first book in a new dystopian, omegaverse series by Ariel Millar, the paranormal pen name for author E.M. Lindsey. I would follow Lindsey pretty much anywhere, but I was particularly excited about this series as I love dystopian stories, and the mix with the omegaverse is such an interesting twist. Often omegaverse tends toward the fluffier end, or very focused on the heat/mating side of things. So I loved the darker, dystopian angle, particularly with the fascinating world Lindsey creates. I would say the vibe of this story leans more to the dystopian side of things than the shifter and omegaverse side, fwiw, and this story has no mpreg.

Millar really sets things up well for the overarching story with this first book, building the conflict and setting the stage for the next steps in the resistance fight. Kor and Misha are really engaging heroes, and we meet a variety of interesting side characters who flesh out the story, some of whom appear as MCs for future books.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.


Profile Image for Tolk.
291 reviews
March 17, 2023
"… the first book in a Dystopian MM Werewolf trilogy featuring A/B/O hierarchy with no mpreg, mild violence, and a happily ever after."

Sounds normal enough, doesn't it? Well, if you know who the author is and the kind of books they write, then you'd know that it's not going to be the same old story yet again. And it wasn't. A blind werewolf and a turned human? Yeah, that means that there is a lot of politics involved. Dealing with blindness, being accepted in society if you're not like the average person, aka werewolf. Not easy and yet really well done. It is a great story and I am curious to see where the next two books will take us!
Profile Image for Mel.
252 reviews21 followers
July 19, 2021
Got 67% through this book and just couldn't keep going anymore and when I said "through" I mean barely, I kept skipping paragraphs and skim reading because I was so utterly bored I kept dozing off. I think the main idea of a lab created Omega was interesting but the story was so slow and all the extra fluff redundant and distracting.
Sometimes I got lost as to who was speaking because the format was so messy or it'd be missing quotation marks.
Profile Image for Jouanna Sai.
88 reviews1 follower
August 4, 2021
this is the most boring thing i ever read and sorry it is waste of a really good time
Profile Image for Showarst.
1,101 reviews
March 27, 2023
I had not read this werewolf dystopian series when it was originally released under the Ariel Millar pen name, but I was very excited to read it now with the new covers, titles, and series name.

Lindsey does a great job of setting up the storyline in this book. Misha and Kor both escaped from a testing facility where they had been experimented on for several months. Kor, a werewolf alpha, had many injuries included permanent loss of eyesight. It was fascinating to think about how a werewolf would adapt to one of his major senses being removed. Misha, a human, was genetically altered to become a human omega. He no longer fit in anywhere. Humans would never trust and neither would werewolves. When he helped Kor escape, they formed a bond that would eventually grow.

The set-up was great. However, in setting up such a complex overarcing storyline, something needs to give. In this case, it was the romance. I actually liked Kor and Misha together and would have loved to have seen more of their romance. It didn't bother me too much as I am invested in the story and anxious to see what happens next.

A great start to this series!

I received an ARC for my honest review
Profile Image for Devoted❤️Reader.
1,615 reviews31 followers
May 16, 2021
Navigate the obstacles

“He was something Other, and that something Other was mine.” This chilling world where Wolves and humans are pitted against one another is complex and fascinating. I was sucked into the story from the beginning and the action, emotions and tension held me captive until the end. My heart bled for Kor and Misha, for their pain, their fear, their uncertainty as they both had to learn to adjust to a new reality but gah, their resilience, fortitude and the way they make each other stronger is *chef’s kiss* spectacular. When Misha and Kor are around each other, they form their own gravitational pull and let me tell you, it’s beyond magnetic, heady and seductive. I’m all in with them and this world and am eagerly awaiting the next book.
Profile Image for Jennifer Reilley.
1,142 reviews29 followers
May 11, 2021
Cold Heart Ground

This is my first by this author and I loved it. What an adventure I went on. I absolutely adore Kor and Misha.

I felt like I was in a science experiment/ hunger games action movie and more.

I can’t wait to see more of them in the next book and the continuation of the future of the Wolf/Human world.
Profile Image for Kirsten.
1,903 reviews90 followers
July 14, 2024
Dystopian fluff.
Blind wolf bonds mutant human;
leads revolution.
Profile Image for llv.
2,316 reviews14 followers
May 24, 2021
Rating: 4 stars
This book wasn’t even on my radar until I read my friend’s review of it. I am so glad that I checked it out. I really enjoyed it. I really loved both MCs and I thought the author did a good job of showing Kor’s frustration and struggles with learning to live with his blindness. I am really hoping the next book in the series continues focusing on this couple but will be just as happy if we move on to a different set of MCs. All in all, a highly enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Cindaren.
425 reviews
April 25, 2023
I stayed up way too late the night I got this ARC, finally forcing myself to stop with about half an hour of reading left in the book in order to give myself some motivation to get up in the morning on so little sleep. (It's a stupid cycle, ik.)

ABO is my guilty pleasure. I had no idea EM Lindsey had written any so I was THRILLED to see these on their Patreon. I really liked this dystopian setting, as well as the main characters.
Profile Image for Joanne Mccorkell.
1,638 reviews14 followers
May 23, 2021
I struggled to rate this story. While to love story is there, the better story is the war.

I loved that Misha is a historian, and that he can almost forsee where legends rise and fall and help aim Kor and the rest of resistance in a way, to hopefully lead to success, esp if the epilogue is to be believed

The love story side, was a little bit more difficult for me. With Mishas father experimenting on him, and changing him from human to not quite omega, we see that it leads to a bond between Kor and Misha. I wonder if the reason it took was the used Kors DNA and that it was this that kept them together. The part I struggled with was that they had some bond of sorts that ment Misha could feel Kor, but Kor the true wolf couldnt tell his bonded mate was dying.
Another point I had was the timeline, when they got to the caves. While Kor seemed to be there for two days before going looking for Misha, it seemed like Misha was there longer waiting. A small thing, but for me it threw out the timeline
Profile Image for Bronwyn Heeley.
Author 41 books87 followers
June 7, 2021
I don't really know how to talk about this, because overall it was okay, and because of that it disappointed me as I wanted to love it so much. it has a great concept and world, and such a great start however by mid-point it became stagnant with such a quick wrap-up with an epilogue that it left me underwhelmed. I do plan on continuing in the series as I'm intrigued with how it will end.

it had a great world that wasn't fleshed out enough. an interesting romance that never really felt like anything, because they didn't have a lot of on page time, that felt like they were actually there with us. the conflict wasn't really tied to them at all, though i guess the world, even if that doesn't really make sense why he'd play his hand so quickly. and that wrapped by telling us things worked out how they wanted and yet, book two has to been a while in the future for it to make any sense and so yeah, sorry, underwhelmed, and though I'm glad i finished it, i would have been more then happy to dnf this at 40%
Profile Image for DebbieReadsBooks.
2,762 reviews50 followers
May 19, 2021
Independent reviewer for Gay Romance Reviews, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Kor was a general in the war and he finds himself strapped to a table, with all sorts of tubes coming out of him and his eyes not working. He has no idea how long he's been there. Misha, a human, is in the same lab. When Misha tells Kor that he is springing him out of there, Kor tries to get excited but the scrawny human can't hardly hold himself up, let alone him. But something about Misha calls to Kor's wolf, who really isn't too present right now. When they find out what happened to Misha, Kor goes all Alpha Male. But will the council accept a human mate, to a BLIND wolf?

I really REALLY liked this. It's a bit different, and I do love me some different!

The world is at war, between the humans and the wolves. People are disappearing from both sides, and something has to be done. Freeing Kor seems like a good place to start. but Misha comes with, and Misha is human and therefore the enemy. Kor, however, doesn't feel that way. But Kor has more important things to worry about, like his place at the head of the Alpha Council. He has his own enemies, much closer than the humans, to deal with.

While the damage done to Kor at the hands of the lab is obvious, the damage to Misha is not. WHO does the damage to Misha is shocking, but when you get the full(-ish) story about that, you can see what that man is up to, what he is trying to do. Misha thinks he's dying, but he isn't, just feels like it. Kor is the only one who can help him now, but it might make things more difficult for Kor, in the long run. He will walk away from everything, if need be, to keep Misha safe.

What I especially loved about this one, was there was none of that "MINE" stuff right when they first meet. Its a gradual thing. Yes, once Kor admits Misha is his, and the wolf accepts the bond, things and feelings move fast, but the beginning, they don't.

And I appreciated that, cos you need time to process everything about this world. It's not all thrown at you in one go, and you gotta pay attention to things. Made me slow down my reading, and that is always a good thing.

The reason I gave this 4 stars and not 5 is this: I can't see where this is going to go, and its frustrating me, immensely! People are gonna die, on both sides of this war, for sure, but how will there be a happy ending? WILL there be one?? For now, Misha and Kor are happy with their lot. But I ahve a feeling things are gonna get worse before they get better.

Orion (Kor's second in command) has his tale next, but I have no idea who might get the third book! It has a title, but nothing else.

Can't wait!

4 super awesome, but please can I get a hint where it's going stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Profile Image for Kat reads romance.
213 reviews
May 16, 2021
Rating: 4.5 stars
This was an intense read by E.M. Linsey. As someone familiar with the author's previous work, I saw a lot of similar elements here--particularly of note is how stressful I found the book at times! Sometimes that works for me, sometimes that doesn't. It makes for an engaging read, but at the same time, when I'm reading I want it to be relaxing too.
This is an omegaverse dystopia. I've read quite a few, actually, and found them as a whole really depressing! However, I'm not one to let that stop me because the genre can also be super entertaining, sexy, and romantic. This was no exception. Yes, there was a lot of darkness and a feeling that the odds are against our two main characters. But it was also really entertaining and the sexy times were some of the hottest I've read by this author.
The two main characters are an alpha, Kor, and a human-turned-maybe-omega named Misha. Both of them escape from a lab that has been doing experiments on them. This is a shifter omegaverse, which means that you have the wolf thing as a major plot point alongside the whole "secret rebellion against corrupt increasingly totalitarian government" thing that is pretty typical of dystopian/apocalyptic fiction as a whole. I liked both main characters: Kor, who is struggling with permanent blindness, and Misha, who is terrified by the changes to his body but determined to adapt. I appreciated that there was a focus on the romance despite the charged atmosphere. Even though the context is important the MCs actually operate within a closed bubble of an environment after their escape, so that we can get to know the supporting cast as well as focus on the developments within the romance. When the two of them have sex, it is extremely hot and primal, so that part worked too. At the end, even though the romance is wrapped up, there are still questions remaining about how the world--such a terrible place--can ever become better.
Overall, this was a good book--among the best of its genre--and there was a lot to like. I wouldn't call it a particularly enjoyable read per say, but it definitely captured my attention from the beginning and I liked the romantic aspects. Overall, I recommend it to readers that enjoy a dark(ish) dystopian romance that has the intensity of alpha-omega relations (with no mpreg) as well as a very grim setting.
**I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review**
Profile Image for Emily Hernandez.
1,392 reviews18 followers
May 19, 2021
Kor and Misha's journey drew me in from the very first pages, and as their adventure progressed I only became more invested in their happiness. 

The suffering that Kor and Misha endured was horrific, but luckily the focus of this story wasn't on those awful months they spent in the lab. Those moments weren't glossed over and their impact wasn't shoved aside, but reading about Kor and Misha's escape gave me a sense of hope that things could and would get better. Their journey was still grueling, and their recovery wasn't easy, but it was such a relief to see the two of them return to some semblance of normality. Experiencing the hope and despair each man went through made me feel so connected to them--like I was living inside their heads and letting all their emotions wash over me. As the two of them formed a mating bond I was torn between elation and fear of what the other wolves would think of their union. The one thing I was certain about was how adorable Misha and Kor were together. I won't lie--at the beginning I couldn't detect any sort of compatibility between these two, but Ariel Millar really sold me on their soul bond. I found myself holding onto every conversation these two had and hoping against hope that things would turn out okay. In a world where the humans and wolves in power were so corrupt, there were no guarantees, and I felt that buzzing anxiety until I figured out who could be trusted. Even though this story ended on a satisfying happy-for-now, I can tell that the overall plotline has barely begun. I'm so excited to see what's coming next for Kor, Misha, and the rest of the rebellion, and if the writng is anything like this book I know I'll love it.

**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions. 
Profile Image for J.L..
Author 14 books72 followers
June 9, 2021
4.5 stars

I am a huge fan of this author in her persona as a contemporary MM romance writer (E.M. Lindsey), so I immediately pounced on this book when it came out. Then I did that weird thing where I put off reading it, only to devour it in a single evening once I started. I’m not new to paranormal romance, but I am relatively new to “omegaverse” fiction, which explains a bit of my hesitancy. However, I should not have doubted Millar’s skill as a writer to hook me, which she does by using biology and genetics to build the world of her Wolf shifters rather than hand-wavy magic as an excuse for sexy shenanigans.

This book does feature some sexy shenanigans that fall into two more tropes common to this type of story: fated mates and “f— or die.” Again, the way Millar develops this world and hooked me with Kor and Misha meant that I accepted these aspects of the story without a hiccup. Science may have put these characters into the positions they find themselves, but if fate makes it worthwhile…. Well, romance stories are a form of escapism for a reason.

I’m glad that I read Millar’s short prequel to this series, “Nothing to Lose,” because it provides a decent amount of context for the current situation that Kor and his fellow Wolves find themselves in after a war. This means Millar doesn’t have to do quite so much exposition work in this book so that the story moves quickly and dynamically. I look forward to continuing this series to see how the overall plot develops, and I’m excited that I know via the author’s social media that Kor and Misha will return as the heroes in a final book because I’m not ready to be finished with their surprise bond and developing relationship.
1,033 reviews14 followers
March 24, 2023
(This series was previously published under a different penname.) I had read this when it was first published, but I had to read it again now that it's been republished.

This story is about Kor, an alpha who was captured by bad people and was experimented on. Due to those experiments he was rendered blind, he no longer has eyesight. He has to learn how to rely on his other senses.

Misha is a human... Or at least he was one. He's a historian he's been studying the comparisons between wolves and humans. His father is a scientist... One who decided to experiment on his son. (Can I just say that this is so messed up that a father would treat his own son as a lab rat. Although I understand why it was written that way. It added to the story)

That experiment turned him into something he didn't recognize anymore, due to the help of a beta who snuck into the facility Misha was able to escape with Kor.

After they escape is when all the healing and frustrations, anguish, grief, and loss starts to take over.

I could disclose more information but that would spoil the book for those of you who have yet to read it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I loved that aspect of wolves. I wish it was longer... But I understand why it was written this way. It is not mean to be read as a standalone! You must read all of the books in order to understand what's happening.

It seemed as though right when something was about to happen it ended. However, I still really enjoyed this. Everything was really well written and I'm now on to the next one.

*I received an early copy of this book and this is my honest review.*
Profile Image for Brandyn {Nyn}.
666 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2021
ᖴᗩᑎTᗩꌚ꓄Ꭵᑕ & ᑭᖇOᗰᎥꌚᎥᑎᘜ ᑎᗴᗯ ꌚᗴᖇᎥᗴꌚ

"Cold Hard Ground is the first book in a Dystopian MM Werewolf trilogy featuring A/B/O hierarchy with no mpreg, mild violence, and a happily ever after."

Sounds a bit trite, maybe?? Not if you know this author!! I was so excited about this brand new series by a favorite author {under a their paranormal pen name}. Because if I know anything about them, then I know this book will be anything but trite.

𝘚𝘗𝘖𝘐𝘓𝘌𝘙: 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.

The aftermath of a war spanning decades. A peace treaty. A blind alpha shifter and a genetically altered human; both having escaped torturous laboratory experimentation ... 😳

Ariel Millar {EM Lindsey} does disability so well; I love reading characters that I can relate to, and learn about those dealing with trial different than mine. Kor has been permanently blinded and it’s absolutely not brushed under the rug. The reader experiences his shock, pain, the eventual beginnings of adjustment and adaptation. Misha’s entire existence has been forcefully genetically altered. It’s both terrifying and infuriating.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘥 :
I love that both Kor & Misha feel an almost instant connection to each other, but both choose to ignore it. Then even after they physically and spiritually bond they have to work to build on the relationship for true intimacy and love to grow.

Cold Hard Ground is full of history, politics, prejudice, hate, and hope. Sounds familiar & hits close to home, doesn’t it?? I am eager to see where this series goes.
Profile Image for Yaredi Pizano.
1,151 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2021
This is a book of characters and very interesting, we find a war between humans and werewolves, Kor is the alpha of one of the resistances, he is taken hostage to be used as an experiment, as a result of this he goes blind.
The author shows us a disability in werewolves and I have never seen this before and have read many books on werewolves. And I think she handles it very well.
Kor managed to escape thanks to the help of Misha, a human with whom he was also the product of experiments.
The author makes you feel the despair, the difficulties of going blind from one moment to the next and how to learn to navigate with this disability, most of the book we see how he adapts to his blindness in the midst of having to resume his place as alpha and continue now more than ever with the fight to prevent this from happening to more werewolves and humans.
Another part that I really liked is that the author explained that being a mate does not mean that they are in love, that this is a process that occurs over time and knowing each other. Mating can be felt at first sight, but love is the cause of evolution.
My only But is that I would have liked to see more about the war and extrategy to know more about the experiments and the laboratory. My only But is that I would have liked to see more about the war and extrategy to know more about the experiments and the laboratory.
I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM GAY ROMANCE REVIEWS, AND THIS IS MY HONEST REVIEW.
Profile Image for E.Muddle.
1,399 reviews22 followers
May 14, 2021
I’m so excited for this series, and Kor and Misha are the perfect start to it! It jumps right into the world after the devastating First War between humans and Wolves. Kor and Misha have been captured for months and experimented on and tortured. The aftermath of what they go through is painful and so very raw and real. That’s what I love about this author’s work, is their ability to create such honest and genuine characters. It’s impossible not to sympathise with Kor and Misha; my heart hurt for them the entire way through this book. But, I’m happy to say that through all of this, they find each other and the bond that forms between them is everything. It’s possessive, protective, sweet and tender, supportive and understanding, and so very hot. The way they just need each other is everything I crave in A/B/O shifter stories!

The only small let down is that there could have been a bit more world building. It starts after the War as a rebellion is being formed, but perhaps a bit more background on the War itself and a deeper look at side characters would have worked well. Despite that, I actually enjoyed that there isn’t too much action in this one. It mostly builds up the tension and sets up Kor and Misha to be in a place where they can really start the fight. Basically, it did it’s job because I am now eagerly awaiting the second book!
Profile Image for Patricia Hoffstaetter.
3,160 reviews39 followers
May 20, 2021
This is a new author to me & I really enjoyed reading this spectacular start (1st book) to a somewhat dark, dystopian MM omegaverse shifter trilogy. The world building is excellent with vivid scene descriptions & the storyline flowed smoothly throughout an exceptionally well-written plot that captured my attention within the first few pages. The characters are well-portrayed as intelligent individuals that have been experimented on, causing each of them to adjust their purpose & outlook on life. There is good support from the secondary characters that play significant roles throughout the storyline.
It is about: a purposely blinded alpha male shifter (Kor) & a human male (Misha) that has been genetically modified, manages to escape from a despicable lab where they experimented on but face a dangerous journey to safety.
There is: wolf shifters, humans, alphas, betas, omegas, soul bonds/fated mates, rebellions, wolf councils, political issues, conspiracies, corruption, unethical experiments, action, adventure, deceit, betrayal, drama, intrigue, suspense, twists & turns, danger, threats, enemies, war, some violence, desperation, confusion, trust issues, prejudices, manipulations, complications, challenges, acceptance, contentment, some steamy scenes & a sort of HFN conclusion. I enjoyed reading this book & look forward to the next book in this series with great anticipation.
154 reviews2 followers
July 29, 2021
I had to mentally prepare myself to read the ARC I received of this book because of how much the prequel “Nothing to Lose” made me cry (~65% of the novella). In E.M. Lindsey’s/Ariel Millar’s contemporary works, I will typically weep once for a short bit. In Ariel Millar’s “Cold Hard Ground,” though, I spent a good chunk of it stuck somewhere between sniffling/weeping and full-blown crying. This is mainly due to the fact that the author’s typical focus of exploring the characters’ “otherness” (be it physical and/or mental) from both an introspective and a societal standpoint, is exacerbated by the context of a dystopian society rife with war and human/shifter experimentation. Ariel Millar’s writing and editing is just as good as usual; the chemistry between main characters was palpable to the reader; the world-building is also very well done. Some other reviewers have commented the book was slightly short and could have done with a bit more world-building; to this I recommend reading the prequel before reading this book because [I think] it provides the appropriate addition some may need.

I’m a big fan of non-mpreg shifter (with or without fated-mates) romances, and would be interested in a non-dystopian world for the next series by this author…hopefully with a more unusual shifter species (because this author is definitely strong enough to explore the more obscure)!
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