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Legacy #1
Glyph
Shawnee's life is entirely normal-or so she'd like to believe. A doctor unknowingly working for an organization set out to destroy all werecreatures is average, isn't it? Is love enough to help Shawnee stop the evil from destroying her new family? When deadly and mysterious cases start appearing in the emergency room of Mercy General Hospital, Doctor Shawnee Twofeathers cannot continue to ignore it. While coming to terms with her own identity, Shawnee decides that it's up to her to stop the evil organization behind the incidences before they realize who she is and the werewolf company she is trying to protect. Can Shawnee single-handedly stop the demise of the innocent humans and werecreatures that she has come to love? Or will she need to rely on the pack she's learned to call family?
262 pages, Paperback
First published May 10, 2012
49 people are currently reading
1313 people want to read
About the author
Max Ellendale
33 books317 followersMax grew up just outside of New York City, spending most of her formative years outdoors creating wild ghost hunts with neighborhood kids, setting booby-traps to capture unwitting family members, and building clubhouses on top of ten-foot walls. Max wrote her first story at the age of twelve and titled it Circles of Friendship. Through the years, Max has written several short-stories and poems, all of which met the wrath of the “Not Good Enough” monster and ended in fiery demise.
Max regained her confidence when she began writing scholarly articles and research theses on her first trip through graduate school. It took several years for her to break the habit of the formal writing that marred her creativity. An additional Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing was Max’s biggest support in this. Max writes primarily sci-fi/fantasy, paranormal romance, and Young Adult stories.
Max regained her confidence when she began writing scholarly articles and research theses on her first trip through graduate school. It took several years for her to break the habit of the formal writing that marred her creativity. An additional Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing was Max’s biggest support in this. Max writes primarily sci-fi/fantasy, paranormal romance, and Young Adult stories.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 27, 2018
It is difficult to read a book that includes as the main and only point of view a woman who is, at times, TSTL (too stupid to live). She’s a genius doctor, but she kept making very very stupid decisions that put her life in danger – that put other people’s lives in danger. In addition, one of the other main characters (though not POV), also had TSTL tendencies (what with being gung-ho in putting herself in danger, and not ‘respecting’ danger when it appears - . In addition to this specific problematic issue is the part where I entered this book thinking I was going to be reading lesbian fiction. This was in no way a work of lesbian fiction. No lesbians here (Shawnee is messed up from an extremely abusive childhood, so she didn’t have a clue what she was like or what she might like, but ultimately she’s bisexual; Vanessa, the weretiger, has a history of constantly banging dudes (with no history, apparently, of banging chicks, except being really overly affectionate with Shawnee – hence my ‘no lesbians here’ comment; Xany, the only other main character level chick in the book is into dudes).
Right, so. Once I got past those two specific issues, I found the book to be enjoyable. Sometimes hard to read, literally, since Shawnee kept having massive panic attacks and be terrorized by her past. And the book ended . . . well, I can’t say, spoiler, but it ended a certain way.
Shawnee Twofeather is a full-blooded native American . . . she thinks. Her mother is a full- Cherokee (even if that’s rare), while her father, she thinks, is probably Cherokee and Sioux. She had a massively abusive childhood, but she’s mostly blocked that out (well, as much as she can without actually dealing with the issue, which leads to nightmares and stuff – the not dealing with it), and works as an emergency room doctor. Hmm, actually. Her role in the hospital was odd. She was . . . what, a research assistant? Who had the run of the hospital and could wander wherever she wanted, the ER, the morgue, wherever? Eh, weirdly open job, but she worked as a research assistant and handled stuff in the ER whenever she felt like it. This leads me to another issue I have with the book that actually shocked me - .
I’ve kind of lost track of where I was. Mmphs.
So, let’s see: main and only point of view is Dr. Shawnee Twofeather. She works in a hospital. She has, basically, one friend, a woman named Vanessa. Despite some rather descriptive stuff given for others in the book, all I know about Vanesa is that she has red hair – I mean all I know physically, well, her human shape.
Only friend, that is, until she runs into a woman who is bubbly and introduces herself as Xany. They meet outside their apartment building. Xany has locked herself out. Turns out – they actually live on the same floor. Xany is very nosy, and bubbly. One thing leads to another and something like an ‘intervention’ occurs when Xany introduces Shawnee to Xany’s brother and friend (Mal and Calden). The ‘intervention’ is about just what Shawnee is; with the understanding that she didn’t know. But, while she’s tried hard to block her past, she did/does know. Mal & C are werewolves. Xany and Shawnee are ‘breeders’. Vanessa is a weretiger, but that wasn’t part of the intended intervention talk.
Right so . . . . It’s hard to write about this book without doing what I’m doing. Plot info dump. Mmphs. Well, to keep myself from continuing down that road I’ll note: the shifters grow closer, spend time together, until troubles erupt due to Shawnee’s past (which are handled in a TSTL fashion by Shawnee).
For the most part I enjoyed the book. The characters can be sometimes hard to take/like. Watching a woman showing signs of lusting towards a man in a book that I had thought was lesbian fiction was a little hard to adjust to, but bah, whatever. Truth to tell, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into, though I saw how affectionate Vanessa and Shawnee were; and noticed how Shawnee really took in and seemed to like Xany’s bouncing massive breasts. But alas, this did not turn out to be a FFF book. Nope. As noted, Xany’s into dudes. .
Rating: 3.88
May 26 2018
Right, so. Once I got past those two specific issues, I found the book to be enjoyable. Sometimes hard to read, literally, since Shawnee kept having massive panic attacks and be terrorized by her past. And the book ended . . . well, I can’t say, spoiler, but it ended a certain way.
Shawnee Twofeather is a full-blooded native American . . . she thinks. Her mother is a full- Cherokee (even if that’s rare), while her father, she thinks, is probably Cherokee and Sioux. She had a massively abusive childhood, but she’s mostly blocked that out (well, as much as she can without actually dealing with the issue, which leads to nightmares and stuff – the not dealing with it), and works as an emergency room doctor. Hmm, actually. Her role in the hospital was odd. She was . . . what, a research assistant? Who had the run of the hospital and could wander wherever she wanted, the ER, the morgue, wherever? Eh, weirdly open job, but she worked as a research assistant and handled stuff in the ER whenever she felt like it. This leads me to another issue I have with the book that actually shocked me - .
I’ve kind of lost track of where I was. Mmphs.
So, let’s see: main and only point of view is Dr. Shawnee Twofeather. She works in a hospital. She has, basically, one friend, a woman named Vanessa. Despite some rather descriptive stuff given for others in the book, all I know about Vanesa is that she has red hair – I mean all I know physically, well, her human shape.
Only friend, that is, until she runs into a woman who is bubbly and introduces herself as Xany. They meet outside their apartment building. Xany has locked herself out. Turns out – they actually live on the same floor. Xany is very nosy, and bubbly. One thing leads to another and something like an ‘intervention’ occurs when Xany introduces Shawnee to Xany’s brother and friend (Mal and Calden). The ‘intervention’ is about just what Shawnee is; with the understanding that she didn’t know. But, while she’s tried hard to block her past, she did/does know. Mal & C are werewolves. Xany and Shawnee are ‘breeders’. Vanessa is a weretiger, but that wasn’t part of the intended intervention talk.
Right so . . . . It’s hard to write about this book without doing what I’m doing. Plot info dump. Mmphs. Well, to keep myself from continuing down that road I’ll note: the shifters grow closer, spend time together, until troubles erupt due to Shawnee’s past (which are handled in a TSTL fashion by Shawnee).
For the most part I enjoyed the book. The characters can be sometimes hard to take/like. Watching a woman showing signs of lusting towards a man in a book that I had thought was lesbian fiction was a little hard to adjust to, but bah, whatever. Truth to tell, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into, though I saw how affectionate Vanessa and Shawnee were; and noticed how Shawnee really took in and seemed to like Xany’s bouncing massive breasts. But alas, this did not turn out to be a FFF book. Nope. As noted, Xany’s into dudes. .
Rating: 3.88
May 26 2018
December 30, 2017
I figured after reading Skyclad and Wildrose this would be a lesfic series, it is tagged as lesbian on GoodReads. That isn't the case. This includes a F/F as well as a F/M making it obviously bisexual with two different love interests. While that's not a big deal, it's not what I thought I was picking up. I'm sure the rest of the series is fine.
The MC is broken. Simply stated, she is. Her internal dialog due to her upbringing and her rages makes her very very unstable. I didn't understand how she could be this genius doctor but talk like a teenager. The two didn't congeal right. Other than that it wasn't bad. Just not my cuppa.
The MC is broken. Simply stated, she is. Her internal dialog due to her upbringing and her rages makes her very very unstable. I didn't understand how she could be this genius doctor but talk like a teenager. The two didn't congeal right. Other than that it wasn't bad. Just not my cuppa.
January 16, 2019
3,5 stars
I was a bit disapointed with this book because the one I read previously by this author was so great.
The beginning was very confusing, with a lot of unknown terms, a glossary might've been useful.
I liked the story, I'm always down with the supernatural and I loved the vulnerability of the character her disease was very real and relatable.
There was a lot less romance that I'm used to in lesfic, but then again I don't know that I can categorize this as lesfic at all, more on the poly scale wich I also wasn't expecting but it was well written even though the ending felt unfair to me. I think I'll continue reading the series though.
I was a bit disapointed with this book because the one I read previously by this author was so great.
The beginning was very confusing, with a lot of unknown terms, a glossary might've been useful.
I liked the story, I'm always down with the supernatural and I loved the vulnerability of the character her disease was very real and relatable.
There was a lot less romance that I'm used to in lesfic, but then again I don't know that I can categorize this as lesfic at all, more on the poly scale wich I also wasn't expecting but it was well written even though the ending felt unfair to me. I think I'll continue reading the series though.
May 6, 2023
Marvellous
May 21, 2012
This book touched me on so many levels that I had a hard time editing it. I often realized I was reading the manuscript, getting so caught up in the story, that I'd forgotten to pay attention to editing it. Yeah, I know, I just lost a little of my bad ass editor reputation. But really, the main character in this book really struck me and sucked me in.
Shawnee's fight to be normal and live a normal lifestyle despite the demons in her past and the shapeshifters in her present and future was a struggle that grasped my heart. Anyone who rails against "abnormal" circumstances or lifestyles in an attempt to have a "real life" can identify with her. Though it's never stated as such, the PTSD she suffers from had me rocking in my chair crying along side her from time to time. The author's avid descriptions of what it is like makes it easy for anyone who has or hasn't experienced trauma to relate to Shawnee.
Now, until recently I was kinda dodgy about female/female interaction. I just didn't get it. Between a friend of mine showing me that it's deeper than sex, and the interaction between Shawnee and another character named Vanessa, I began to look at F/F in a whole new perspective. That's not even touching on Mal, the sexy werewolf who proves that nice guys still do exist (even if it's only in fantasy!)
Not just the story line, but the emotional depth of this story really makes this a Must Read Monday!
Shawnee's fight to be normal and live a normal lifestyle despite the demons in her past and the shapeshifters in her present and future was a struggle that grasped my heart. Anyone who rails against "abnormal" circumstances or lifestyles in an attempt to have a "real life" can identify with her. Though it's never stated as such, the PTSD she suffers from had me rocking in my chair crying along side her from time to time. The author's avid descriptions of what it is like makes it easy for anyone who has or hasn't experienced trauma to relate to Shawnee.
Now, until recently I was kinda dodgy about female/female interaction. I just didn't get it. Between a friend of mine showing me that it's deeper than sex, and the interaction between Shawnee and another character named Vanessa, I began to look at F/F in a whole new perspective. That's not even touching on Mal, the sexy werewolf who proves that nice guys still do exist (even if it's only in fantasy!)
Not just the story line, but the emotional depth of this story really makes this a Must Read Monday!
May 28, 2012
It's hard to write an unbiased review of this, as I've had the pleasure of knowing the author for fourteen years! That's the age I was when we first met. And I've known Shawnee for almost that long too, in all of her earliest incarnations. There is nothing like seeing your friend achieve such a goal, putting a beloved character to page -- there truly are no words for it.
Older readers of Kelley Armstrong's The Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising series have found another series to enjoy.
Older readers of Kelley Armstrong's The Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising series have found another series to enjoy.
Want to read
May 26, 2018Shapeshifting Native American lesbians?
Even if that alone is a shallow reason, i don't care, count me in already
Even if that alone is a shallow reason, i don't care, count me in already
October 24, 2025
This was on my TBR shelves! It is an intriguing book! I usually read lesfic stories. Though there is a scene in here, but for the most part it is a bi, hetero story. Luckily the only detail of any of that is the affore mentioned scene.
This is the story of a werebreeder finding her pack of werewolves while keeping her relationship with her best friend is werecat. (Actually a weretiger).
Shawnee Twofeathers also has to find herself along the way.
I really enjoyed this book! 5 stars!
This is the story of a werebreeder finding her pack of werewolves while keeping her relationship with her best friend is werecat. (Actually a weretiger).
Shawnee Twofeathers also has to find herself along the way.
I really enjoyed this book! 5 stars!
August 6, 2023
Shawnee is a doctor at a hospital, seeing unusual cases coming in as part of the routine. But when her neighbour Xany starts involving herself in Shawnee's life, suddenly a lot more suddenly comes out into the open, and perhaps Shawnee isn't as unaware as it seems.
This is a rather interesting shifter story, and start to the series. There is more than just wolf shifters in this story, and it is an curious take on the genre. The characters are nice and likeable, and Shawnee is dealing with a lot. It is, though, a story of her coming to terms with it, healing, and growing. Vanessa, in particular, is rather adorable. The lore is good, the writing engaging, and it was an enjoyable read.
However, it is worth noting that, unlike the rest of Max Ellendale's books, the legacy series isn't sapphic. It has a FFM poly, and by the looks of it, it takes a number of books to fully mature. (The spin-off Wolf's Consort, though, is sapphic).
This is a rather interesting shifter story, and start to the series. There is more than just wolf shifters in this story, and it is an curious take on the genre. The characters are nice and likeable, and Shawnee is dealing with a lot. It is, though, a story of her coming to terms with it, healing, and growing. Vanessa, in particular, is rather adorable. The lore is good, the writing engaging, and it was an enjoyable read.
However, it is worth noting that, unlike the rest of Max Ellendale's books, the legacy series isn't sapphic. It has a FFM poly, and by the looks of it, it takes a number of books to fully mature. (The spin-off Wolf's Consort, though, is sapphic).
July 22, 2012
Glyph is AMAZING!!! the characters are cool and the storyline is amazing! When you really get into it you think you have it figured out as where the story is going to take you next but then BAM it goes in a completely opposite direction which leaves you totally surprised and mesmerized!! the author is a writing genius she set out to capture her readers and she has done just that in this compelling read! i wish i could give 10 stars because it deserves that much and more! this is one author i will be watching for a long time.. can't wait to see what she comes up with next!!!
August 3, 2013
A very nice addition to the werewolf genre, even if it does make use of the already tired (to me, at least) native American cliche. The characters were exceptionally strong and lovely to read about, and the story developed very well. I thought more could have been done with the various settings, but that's a minor quibble.
March 28, 2017
I won this book a while ago and I never got around to reading it until now, and I can truly say that I enjoyed this book. It was like nothing I ever read before because I'm more of a vampire reader then a werewolf book reader but after this book I'm a fan. Can wait to read the rest of this series
January 5, 2016
Awesome
I love this author's style. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book! Can't wait to start the next in the series!
I love this author's style. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book! Can't wait to start the next in the series!
May 30, 2021
We get to know Shawnee in this book, both her problems and fears and how she deals with them. She tried to ignore and forget her past, but with the help of old and new friends she manages to face the fears and prevents a danger to the changers from manifesting itself.
A ride like in a roller coaster and I can follow their thoughts and fears well without having experienced them myself. The described panic attacks may not be for everyone, but it's worth it.
A ride like in a roller coaster and I can follow their thoughts and fears well without having experienced them myself. The described panic attacks may not be for everyone, but it's worth it.
September 12, 2017
Horrible!
There was nothing about this book that I liked. The characters were awful and the story was ridiculous. I refuse to read the remaining books and will delete all of them.
There was nothing about this book that I liked. The characters were awful and the story was ridiculous. I refuse to read the remaining books and will delete all of them.
September 20, 2021
I want to love it
The book is entertaining enough. There are some holes in the story and many contradictions. I love that the main character is polyamorous. The depictions of ptsd from abuse are so realistic it was hard to read at times. However, I love that the author didn’t shy away from the not so nice character attributes. I will continue to read the story.
The book is entertaining enough. There are some holes in the story and many contradictions. I love that the main character is polyamorous. The depictions of ptsd from abuse are so realistic it was hard to read at times. However, I love that the author didn’t shy away from the not so nice character attributes. I will continue to read the story.
September 9, 2019
Yo no comprendo
I loved it but I still firmly believe that one can't be in love with two people. That's just impossible.
But I liked the story, the pace was good and of course, the emotions.
I loved it but I still firmly believe that one can't be in love with two people. That's just impossible.
But I liked the story, the pace was good and of course, the emotions.
January 26, 2021
Creative and inventive story telling
Just when you think you've read all the types of paranormal novels and stories someone comes up with a new angle and it's terrific. I startedvwithe last in the series before I realised (Uk spelling) it. A great and unusual read.
Just when you think you've read all the types of paranormal novels and stories someone comes up with a new angle and it's terrific. I startedvwithe last in the series before I realised (Uk spelling) it. A great and unusual read.
December 5, 2020
Real and emotional read with a great mix of romance, drama, supernatural and mental health challenges that encapsulates you all the way through - finished in a day!
February 8, 2021
Romance and wolves and tigers, oh my!
I absolutely love this book. The plot flowed nicely, and the characters were beautifully written. Can’t wait to read more stories by this great author!
I absolutely love this book. The plot flowed nicely, and the characters were beautifully written. Can’t wait to read more stories by this great author!
March 1, 2017
The book is a jumble of scattered information about the shifters and excessive childhood trauma PTSD in first-person perspective.
August 11, 2020
Hooked from the beginning!
I started reading this book because it was on my to read list - but other than that I didn’t know anything at all about it. It is a character based story which isn’t usually my cup of tea but I have to say I was hooked from the beginning and really struggled to put it down. It is very much a finding yourself story and whist a little dark at times is a beautiful story. I particular loved - and desperately craved - the romance aspect! Whilst it is the first book of a series it had a satisfying ending (not a pause like many series do) but I am also really looking forward to reading the next book!
I started reading this book because it was on my to read list - but other than that I didn’t know anything at all about it. It is a character based story which isn’t usually my cup of tea but I have to say I was hooked from the beginning and really struggled to put it down. It is very much a finding yourself story and whist a little dark at times is a beautiful story. I particular loved - and desperately craved - the romance aspect! Whilst it is the first book of a series it had a satisfying ending (not a pause like many series do) but I am also really looking forward to reading the next book!
October 10, 2013
Loved this book. the story is well written and deals with several issues on several levels. The characters evolve and the story is not boring or predictable.
May 3, 2018
Great story
I really thought this was a great story. I enjoyed the cat and the wolves interactions. I can't wait for the next book.
I really thought this was a great story. I enjoyed the cat and the wolves interactions. I can't wait for the next book.
May 1, 2018
Glyph seemed promising at first. However, as the story went on, and as Shawnee kept on talking, I wondered how she could be a genius. She acts and talks like a ten year old.
did-not-finish
December 7, 2018I was a bit hesitant to start this because the main character is Native and I'm not sure if the author is Native and honestly white authors tend to write Native characters in a clueless exoticizing fetishy stereotyped way. But I've been trying to find good f/f paranormal stories and it's in KU so I thought I'd give it a chance.
Alas, my fears were realized quickly within the first chapter. Gave up then, so I don't feel comfortable rating it.
Alas, my fears were realized quickly within the first chapter. Gave up then, so I don't feel comfortable rating it.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews