Blood of the Wolf

Forged in Blood #1

by Holly Evans

Eight years ago, my world changed. Little did I know the rest of the world had changed with me.

My name’s Niko, and I’m a made wolf shifter. Eight years ago, I endured a blood ritual that took me from a pretty normal guy and turned me into what I am today. Ever since then, I’ve been looking for ways to make the world a better place. I want to save people, to make sure they never suffer like I did.

Someone has been murdering born wolf shifters and using them in brutal rituals. I was given the opportunity to stop them and save lives. I leapt at the chance to make a real difference, but of course it came with a catch. I have to work with a Guardian, one of the goddess’s chosen wolves. On one hand, he’s everything I look for in a man. On the other, if he finds out who and what I am, then death will be a sweet release from the torture I’ll endure.

I have no choice but to hope the goddess is on my side as I rush to save the lives of the born wolf shifters, all the while praying I don’t lose my own life in the process.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, M M Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Romance, LGBT

208 pages, ebook

First published March 17, 2018

About the author

Holly Evans is an urban fantasy author with an unhealthy fascination with blades, a deep love of hellhounds, and would love one day to wake up as a fae. When she isn't wrangling rogue characters and trying to tame her muse, she's researching shiny new ninja moves. During her spare time she fights crime and rights wrongs on the streets of County Kerry.

Reviews

[Len Evans Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to 5
I received a free ARC copy of this book from the author in return for a honest review.

I have not read a huge number of paranormal fantasies, so the genre is fairly new to me. However, I have to say that this book impressed the heck out of me. For starters I have to commend the author on creating a protagonist who's complexity is so vast that it will take a whole series to even scratch the surface of who Niko really is. She brilliantly created him with a wounded soul, a being despised by most supernals, with anger issues, two kinds of magic one of which is dark the other is fire. His personality is damaged to the point that since his making he has never had a friend or been loved and even though he craves both above all else, he is so terrified of being hurt again that he refuses to even consider trying to find any kind of love. That is until he meets Alasdair who is a guardian and now his partner. Gotta say I love the fact that since this is not a m/m romance the author is allowing Niko and Alasdair's romantic relationship to build at a glacial pace. Due to Niko's past that is 1000% necessary. I alos love the fact that the reader and Niko are discovering who and what he is together... it really adds not only to the suspense but also to our connection with Niko. The whole solving the mystery and stopping the killings part of the story is awesomely paced so that the tension just keeps slowly building to the finale. I read this book almost without setting it down because I just absolutely HAD to know not only if they would stop the killer, but also if Niko would ever be able to actually cracked open the walls around his heart and even let Alasdair in even a little bit. The secondary character in this book fill out the story perfectly, I look forward to learn more about so many of them as the series continues. Over all this book was not just a fun, suspenseful and fun read, it also got me to seriously care about Niko, Alasdair, Grayson and so many others in this paranormal world. I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who enjoys a awesome story with characters that though a lot of them (even Niko and Alasdair are scary as hell at times) I might not want to be friends with I sure as heck love reading about them!

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for losing my first review, Goodreads.

Brilliant idea...poor execution. Clunky writing, poor editing, clumsy segues from scene to scene, and flimsy, disappointing fight scenes. World building was mediocre and the 1st person POV character was a hot mess. Note to author: There are more colors on the architectural palette than *cream*.

[Jenni Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up on KU after searching for some good M/M urban fantasy. This was... not it.

The concept is interesting but the execution leaves much to be desired. This really could have used a developmental edit, or a good beta read at the very least. The writing was all over the place and the chapters ended in odd places. Everything, the characters, the backstory, the world building, needs to be fleshed out more. It read like a first draft or an outline.

The story has good bones though. I dunno if I want to continue with the rest of the series.

2.5 stars

[Achim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Romance-wise Blood of the Wolf is a real slow burner - so slow that we have a kiss near the end but not even really a HFN but there is no doubt that the guys get there, sooner or later.

Somehow it's believable that it takes such a long time given Niko's past and the world Holly Evans is creating here. Once again it's a world where supernatural beings exist among the mostly ignorant humans (seems I can't get enough of that topic) and most of them are not the friendly guy next door. As with humans also witches can be power hungry and then they play around with blood rituals trying to make something else out of their not magical offspring only to be disgusted about the not so stable result. Niko is the first stable one but when he wakes up at 16 as a werewolf he's in the middle of a massacre and he can't be sure that it wasn't him who slaughtered his family and the dead eyes of his boyfriend are following him into his dreams even years later. It's a lonely existence afterwards without friends or lovers or pack - until he gets teamed up with Alasdair, a guardian of the moon goddess, to solve the gruesome murder of other wolves.

I enjoyed the writing although I had some trouble to understand the inner logic of that world which might be a bit too complicated sometimes but every time I got to such a logical hiccup I easily got distracted by the characters. So why rounding it down instead of up? Besides some clunky fight scenes and a bit too much hot-and-cold Niko attitude there is one thing I'm always wary about: gods. Not that they really appear (yet) but it's enough that they are supposed to exist. I like my urban fantasy world as similar as possible to the world I know and there is no place for shadow churches in the Black Forest or for the moon goddess in Galway.

[Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Loved it! A fast-paced fantasy thriller! I really enjoyed the characters and this new urban fantasy world. I loved how unique the story was and the different supernatural beings.
The characters were highly entertaining and I enjoyed their banter and chemistry.
I can’t wait to see what happens next in this series! I recommend this to urban fantasy lovers out there.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really excellent book about Nik, who is an enforcer that got picked to be Guardian Alastair's partner. Nik is always on guard, he has secrets that he is afraid to let anyone know, including Alastair. Alastair wants much more from Nik that to train him. He also wants a man he can love as his life bond. Nik is not compliant. The two are thrown into a case where young born wolves are being ritualistically murdered. Despite wanting to be a guardian, Nik is always bickering and shunning Alastair's advances, but they still get the job done. This author always weaves a good tale and this is another one of her good ones. I can't wait until the next in this series comes out. Enjoy!

[llv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 stars
I absolutely loved this book. It is so refreshing to read a book where the story takes precedence over sex. In fact, there is no sex in this book to speak of. I thought the buildup of Niko’s relationship with the Guardian Alasdair is just wonderful.

I loved all the characters in this story. It is told exclusively from Niko’s perspective and I really enjoyed reading his take on all the events. I thought Alasdair made a really good partner for him and was very patient and supportive. I also loved Grayson as one the side characters and can’t wait to read more about him.

The story itself was really good. I loved that it was a new take on the shifter genre. Apparently, it takes place after the events of Ms. Evan’s Infernal Hunt series. Since I don’t read many m/f books, I haven’t read that series, but I don’t really feel like it’s necessary to enjoy this book.

Overall, I found this to be wonderfully entertaining story and can’t wait to read the next one in the series. I highly recommend it.

[Danyel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is by no means a perfect book. It is set in a messy magical world. It features messy characters not entirely sure of their places in - or out - of society. They solve problems they don’t entirely understand.

And it’s a great read.

I’ll be honest: I was not looking forward to another “shifter-based urban fantasy.” I’m pretty much over pack leading Alphas and their (sometimes human) mates — been there, done that and left it all as more of a cat person.

Let me be clear, then. This is not one of those books. This is not all about pack dynamics and a human navigating those tricky waters. This is about a male outside of pack structure who just wants to make the world a better place and who meets just the right partner to be able to do so.

I don’t bother with plot summaries in my reviews. You can get those anywhere. What I do bother with is making myself clear about how this book made me feel. Some books are fantastic, but I never want to read them again. Some books miss the connection with me and languish away on my Currently Reading List for months or years, waiting for me to get back to them.

Some books - like this one - fly past, leaving me anxiously waiting for more, not because of the plot, but because of the people. And I dig these folks.

Once again, I’m impressed by the depth and the development of Holly Evan’s universe. I’m a big fan of world building and of establishing the rules of reality and following them carefully. Evans does that gracefully and fufillingly.

This looks like a great entre into a whole new fascet of this universe

I can’t wait for the next step.

[PortlandAvidReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free ARC copy of this book from the author in return for a honest review.

This is the first in a new urban fantasy style shifter series.

Nico is a turned, not born, shifter who is just trying to get by as an enforcer keeping the supernaturals of the world from revealing themselves to the normals. He has been proving himself an accomplished agent in keeping the chaotic and evil ones in check. He scrapes by until his world turns upside down as he encounters and is paired with a Guardian, one of the moon goddess' chosen. And the chaos begins as the two start charging thru the Europe hidden from the normals, chasing a murderer killing shifters in dark riturals. The book does not end in a cliff hanger, and has a HFN/HEA(?) ending.

I find a bit offputting the protagonist's self deprecation and feeling of inferiority. For someone adept at reading others, having fighting skills, and brilliant observations, Nico is obtuse about himself and his partner. Hopefully he grows in self awareness and recognizes the depths of his partner in the next installments.

I found the book engaging from the beginning, the character development and plot engaging. I started reading on a plane flight and finished well before we landed - one sitting. I can't wait for book 2 in the series

This was my favorite book so far by Holly Evans.

[Susana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Niko Conall is an abomination, a made supernal who’s somehow managed to become an Enforcer for the Order of the Arcane. When Alasdair Kerrigan, a powerful Guardian, claims him as his partner, and gives him the chance to become one of the Goddess protegés, Niko knows he must be grateful for his luck. But Niko is keeping secrets of his own, secrets that may destroy him for good…
Blood of the Wolf is a very entertaining paranormal novel, which falls short on the romantic part, it is mainly a mystery-driven novel. The main focus of the story is finding out who is murdering the shifters and the meaning of the gruesome ritual used in the killings. There is a lot of unfulfilled sexual tension between Alasdair and Niko, but Niko’s issues and his problems when it comes to acknowledge his own value make it difficult to give in to Alasdair’s wishes. The world building is fascinating, though I must recognise I was a little lost at the beginning, but I was soon charmed by the interesting characters and dark mystery. Both Alasdair and Niko are appealing, but the secondary characters are also intriguing, adding colour to the story. I feel there is much more to discover in this universe, and I’m oh-so-willing to find out about it.
Very entertaining.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Elayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review
My first full book by Holly Evans and it’s the first of a new series.
Quite a bit of the book is spent world building ( as is expected in a new series) while still keeping the action going. There’s plenty of fighting and magic involved. Niko and Alasdaire have a slow burn relationship/ mating that I hope progresses in the next book. The secondary characters, especially Grayson are also going to be good in further books.
Normally I wouldn’t read a series with a cliffhanger until most of the books are available and although the main problem is solved in this book. It isn’t really even a HFN it’s a ‘ what’s happening tomorrow ‘ type of ending. I assume the next book takes up immediately where this one finished.
The world is the same but totally different, almost a parallel universe. It’s a really good read and for an ARC that still had to go through final edits, a nice clean read.
I hope the next book isn’t too long behind this one because despite the sudden end is one of my favourites for March. 4 stars. Would have been more but for the end.

[Kanyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What an action packed and at times quite *cute* read! The casual banter between characters is funny and engaging and the intimate moments were really sweet. I really enjoyed meeting Niko and reading his story. He’s made to be a loner and when fate shines a light on him he’s suspicious and wary, but can’t deny the deep need for attention. When killings start happening to other wolves, he and his new partner have to track down the killer. What follows is a thrilling and mysterious game of cat and mouse and other buried secrets that slowly come to surface. If you’re an urban fantasy lover, then I highly recommend this book to you. You won’t be disappointed!

Blood of the Wolf is the first book in a new series, Forged in Blood.

I voluntarily received and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Final Rating: 5 Stars

[Meghan Reads MM · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A generally good read. Interesting world premise. It's a fairly well-described world. The side characters were more strongly developed than the main one. He could do with some firming up, but maybe that's intentional. I really liked that there's a broad ongoing mystery, no crazy cliffhanger but the story is wide open and ready for further discovery.

A super minor gripe stuck in my brain: There was one word that was jarring and used multiple times in the beginning, earnt, which is commonly written as earned. Turns out it is still sorta a real word. I think 'earnt' could appear in character dialogue with no problem, but in narrative it's a bit of a bump. One source I read mentioned that words like learnt, dreamt, and spelt are used more often than earnt but are still fairly uncommon.

[Carolyn Elias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the storyline and this world!

If you’re looking for more than implied sex then this book is not for you. BUT if you’re looking for adventure and a world rich in characters then you’ll love this series.

Niko is a “made” wolf who was changed by his witch family because he had no magic to speak of and wasn’t of much to them. In strolls Alasdair who is a Guardian and is sexy and hot in his suits and is strong both internally and externally! Niko is tasked with finding out who is murdering natural born wolf shifters. What an adventure you’ll have reading this series!

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

review for all three books

it took me some time to start this book but I am so glad I did. Niko is interesting as character and I enjoyed how this story developed over time.
his and Alastairs relationship is more or less a fated one but it was definitely not love at first sight and I really enjoyed that they took their time to build their relationship.
the third book was a bit too much chaos but nevertheless, I really liked the whole story.

I would love to read more about this world and these two

[Magnolia · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Magnolia Reviews: Four Petals

I really liked the world building in this story and how it served to enhance the characterizations. The descriptions in the story were lacking, but this time it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment so I do recommend this book and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Read the full review on Maggie's website: http://magnoliareviews.weebly.com/rev...

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Niko and Alasdair make a fantastic team: like Abbott & Costello. Grayson is fabulous. Plenty of dire and humorous situations. The links to the Infernal series made me reminisce. I look forward to the continuation of the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and voluntarily posted an honest review.

[Sue Plant · Rating 4 out of 5]

not a bad book was quite lively in places....took a while to set the scene on this one but once you knew the characters a fun read...

a mad wolf who nobody wants around and a guardian that picks him as his mate...what could go wrong...

shadow magic killing werewolves..and all sorts of characters come out of the woodwork

this is going to be a great series...

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, this is just a a “quickie” review. Unfortunately, I’m in in a hospital and asked my husband to post this since I don’t have the time to do better - even though the book definitely deserves it.

Bottom line: five stars. This was one wonderfully fun novel and definitely recommended. It had just what I wanted and was well written and with a great plot and great cast of characters.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wciągające, ciekawy świat, moce i element tajemnicy. Lubię chemię między nim, nie słodkawa miłość od pierwszego wejrzenia, ale pewne starcia, charaktery, trochę agresji, lubię ten typ bohatera i relacji. Chociaż wykonanie samego finału na końcu książki trochę słabe.
Mnóstwo bardziej popularnych książek w tym typie jest dużo słabszych.

[Milian Glafira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!!
I don't know why, it was different from other urban fantasy. I do like how it is modern and the issues that comes with riskinf exposing all magicál creatures to the mundane people in the world. Again though i wish her books were longer...

[Joscelyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Enjoyable

This was a great series opener. It has an engaging cast of characters and a storyline that pulled me in from the first page. It's keeper-shelf material for sure.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author and I thank her for it.

Strong writing style, characters with depth and a fantastic story. It's heavy on plot, light on sex and there's a gentle romance that I love. This book was a little slow going to begin with but it had to be in order to set up the world. Now I want the next book because, although this is a complete story with no cliffhanger, there are a lot of adventures to look forward to.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The plot was solid and the characters were interesting and 'alive', not flat and boring like many books read. My pet peeve is spelling errors and grammatical errors in novels, but I did not run across any while reading this book. I do think it started out a bit slow, but by the time I was a quarter of the way in, I was hooked. I highly recommend checking this book out!

[LOLA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic and Wolves

Holly Evans wrote a great MM Paranormal book.
Wolves, Fae, Goddess and Gods. All together in one interesting story.
The magic aspect was well done. Really enjoyed this tale.
Wil definitely read more.