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Outcasts #1
Bad Moon Arising
In a sleepy trailer park in the backwoods of Minnesota lake country, there lies a secret—threatened by a Grindr hookup gone bad.
Clay Anderson gets more than he bargained for when, in a moment of passion, he bites his Grindr hookup hard enough to draw blood. The man’s reaction isn’t as reassuring as Clay hoped, but of all the consequences Clay considered, lycanthropy wasn’t among them.
Damian Maccon leads a simple life as part of the Outcast pack. Not realizing at first that Clay swallowed his blood during their wild romp, he feels responsible when it’s evident that Clay has become infected. Worse, he now has a new werewolf on his hands until Clay learns the rules, and he has to oversee Clay’s decision to choose a mate within the pack.
Damian thinks his biggest problem is that Clay hates him, but when Clay chooses Damian’s abusive ex-boyfriend, Blaine, he goes on full alert. Can he save Clay from the same fate that befell him at Blaine’s hands?
Clay Anderson gets more than he bargained for when, in a moment of passion, he bites his Grindr hookup hard enough to draw blood. The man’s reaction isn’t as reassuring as Clay hoped, but of all the consequences Clay considered, lycanthropy wasn’t among them.
Damian Maccon leads a simple life as part of the Outcast pack. Not realizing at first that Clay swallowed his blood during their wild romp, he feels responsible when it’s evident that Clay has become infected. Worse, he now has a new werewolf on his hands until Clay learns the rules, and he has to oversee Clay’s decision to choose a mate within the pack.
Damian thinks his biggest problem is that Clay hates him, but when Clay chooses Damian’s abusive ex-boyfriend, Blaine, he goes on full alert. Can he save Clay from the same fate that befell him at Blaine’s hands?
162 pages, ebook
First published July 9, 2018
2 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
C.L. Mustafic
12 books48 followersCL Mustafic is a born and bred American mid-westerner who mysteriously ended up living in a tiny Eastern European country. Left with too much time on her hands – let’s be honest here it was the lack of television channels in her native language – and too many voices in her head trying to fill the silence, she decided to give her life-long dream of writing a novel a shot. So now between shuttling kids back and forth from various activities, risking her life on the insanely narrow, busy streets of her new home town, she loses herself in her own made up world where love always wins.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
July 18, 2018
I was a little apprehensive going into this story, as the dark, violent, and seriously twisted Backdoor Politics was my introduction to this author.
It turns out I had no need to worry. This was a fun, unique, and subtly humorous shifter story. A steamy encounter between Clay (the human) and Damian (the shifter) ends with a hard bite and a mouthful of blood. Even though Clay is at fault, he worries about the possibility of disease. Damian is worried for a host of other reasons.
Told in alternating viewpoints by Clay and Damian, we get a glimpse of Damian’s life as the redheaded stepchild of the Outcast wolf pack and Clay working at a boring DMV job and dealing with loneliness after the death of his parents. Though the men don’t start off on the right foot, a case of lycanthropy forces Damian to face his responsibility of taking care of the puppy that Clay has become and see that he is taught the ways of the pack and finds a mate. While Clay is cute and affectionate in puppy form, Clay the human still holds Damian at arm’s length. Matters become even more complicated when Damian’s abusive ex, Blaine, stakes his claim on Clay.
Clay and Damian are fully fleshed, interesting characters, and the story ends well without a dreaded cliffhanger, but I hope the sequel will provide more insight into their backgrounds and the dynamics of the Outcast pack. I very much look forward to the next stage of their lives.
*This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
It turns out I had no need to worry. This was a fun, unique, and subtly humorous shifter story. A steamy encounter between Clay (the human) and Damian (the shifter) ends with a hard bite and a mouthful of blood. Even though Clay is at fault, he worries about the possibility of disease. Damian is worried for a host of other reasons.
Told in alternating viewpoints by Clay and Damian, we get a glimpse of Damian’s life as the redheaded stepchild of the Outcast wolf pack and Clay working at a boring DMV job and dealing with loneliness after the death of his parents. Though the men don’t start off on the right foot, a case of lycanthropy forces Damian to face his responsibility of taking care of the puppy that Clay has become and see that he is taught the ways of the pack and finds a mate. While Clay is cute and affectionate in puppy form, Clay the human still holds Damian at arm’s length. Matters become even more complicated when Damian’s abusive ex, Blaine, stakes his claim on Clay.
Clay and Damian are fully fleshed, interesting characters, and the story ends well without a dreaded cliffhanger, but I hope the sequel will provide more insight into their backgrounds and the dynamics of the Outcast pack. I very much look forward to the next stage of their lives.
*This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2018
There’s an intriguing edge to everything CL Mustafic writes, and Bad Moon Arising is just another example of how versatile and creative this author is. Between the captivating story, the wonderfully complex characters, and her unique brand of humor, CL Mustafic blew me away with Bad Moon Arising.
Talk about the Grindr hookup from hell. When Clay finally gathers enough courage to meet up with Damian he can’t believe his good fortune; Damian is hot as hell and a bottom to boot. When Clay gets a little carried away (he just can’t help himself) his life becomes a whole lot more interesting.
This is an exceptionally fun and entertaining take on the guy-turned-werewolf story. I don’t want to ruin it by disclosing any of the details, but I will say (as a huge fan of this genre) that Bad Moon Arising is one of a kind. I’m so happy to find that I can still be surprised; CL Mustafic has done something very special with this one.
An enemies to lovers tale is tough to pull off without resorting to insta-love, or employing the ‘gosh, turned out they were hot for each other the whole time’ scenario. There was no need to suffer through the constant misunderstandings and miscommunications which usually frustrate me with this genre, CL Mustafic puts a spin on this story which works perfectly.
These shifter characters are wonderful; the running commentary when these guys are in their wolf form is incredibly entertaining. I also loved the peek into the Pack’s dynamics. It’s like a bunch of strong alpha personalities, all vying to be top dog, and pissing everyone off in the process.
CL Mustafic has a wonderful, dark sense of humor and it comes out in the best way in this story. Subtle, wry, and witty it’s incredibly funny. It takes a good deal of skill to keep that up throughout a whole book, and I enjoyed every moment of Bad Moon Arising.
I wouldn’t call the ending a cliffhanger, but it is definitely a to-be-continued. Thankfully the next episode in this new Outcasts series is promised to us in August, 2018, since it’s going to be hard to wait to find out what happens next for this pair. There’s so much to enjoy in CL Mustafic’s stories, and if you haven’t yet tried this wonderful author, Bad Moon Arising is a great place to start.
Talk about the Grindr hookup from hell. When Clay finally gathers enough courage to meet up with Damian he can’t believe his good fortune; Damian is hot as hell and a bottom to boot. When Clay gets a little carried away (he just can’t help himself) his life becomes a whole lot more interesting.
This is an exceptionally fun and entertaining take on the guy-turned-werewolf story. I don’t want to ruin it by disclosing any of the details, but I will say (as a huge fan of this genre) that Bad Moon Arising is one of a kind. I’m so happy to find that I can still be surprised; CL Mustafic has done something very special with this one.
An enemies to lovers tale is tough to pull off without resorting to insta-love, or employing the ‘gosh, turned out they were hot for each other the whole time’ scenario. There was no need to suffer through the constant misunderstandings and miscommunications which usually frustrate me with this genre, CL Mustafic puts a spin on this story which works perfectly.
These shifter characters are wonderful; the running commentary when these guys are in their wolf form is incredibly entertaining. I also loved the peek into the Pack’s dynamics. It’s like a bunch of strong alpha personalities, all vying to be top dog, and pissing everyone off in the process.
CL Mustafic has a wonderful, dark sense of humor and it comes out in the best way in this story. Subtle, wry, and witty it’s incredibly funny. It takes a good deal of skill to keep that up throughout a whole book, and I enjoyed every moment of Bad Moon Arising.
I wouldn’t call the ending a cliffhanger, but it is definitely a to-be-continued. Thankfully the next episode in this new Outcasts series is promised to us in August, 2018, since it’s going to be hard to wait to find out what happens next for this pair. There’s so much to enjoy in CL Mustafic’s stories, and if you haven’t yet tried this wonderful author, Bad Moon Arising is a great place to start.
July 7, 2018
2★'s = it was ok.
I don't know. I am totally wavering on this one. I can't recall the last time I gave a 1★ review and I really don't like the idea.
First and foremost this did not read like a romance to me, at all. I felt zero romantic connection between these two.
I didn't even feel anything when they hooked up.
At the end of the day I think they still might not even like each other. At least that is the vibe Clay is giving, still.
Clay. I do not like him. He is not a nice person. He isn't nice to his neighbors or really anyone. He comes across as just an ugly type of guy, even disrespectful at times. Not to mention he is a user.
I think we are supposed to love him because of the whole puppy side to this story but ugh, I didn't even like that part of it.
I am all for refreshing new ideas and takes on what we all know about shifters but this just read weird. The childlike behavior made me feel icky. The having to find a mate and it is not going to be me was the least romantic thing I have ever read, especially in a shifter book where it should be all mine and growl and bite and mate, ya know?
Unfortunately this just was not my kind of thing and a romance it was not.
**ARC provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.**
I don't know. I am totally wavering on this one. I can't recall the last time I gave a 1★ review and I really don't like the idea.
First and foremost this did not read like a romance to me, at all. I felt zero romantic connection between these two.
I didn't even feel anything when they hooked up.
At the end of the day I think they still might not even like each other. At least that is the vibe Clay is giving, still.
Clay. I do not like him. He is not a nice person. He isn't nice to his neighbors or really anyone. He comes across as just an ugly type of guy, even disrespectful at times. Not to mention he is a user.
I think we are supposed to love him because of the whole puppy side to this story but ugh, I didn't even like that part of it.
I am all for refreshing new ideas and takes on what we all know about shifters but this just read weird. The childlike behavior made me feel icky. The having to find a mate and it is not going to be me was the least romantic thing I have ever read, especially in a shifter book where it should be all mine and growl and bite and mate, ya know?
Unfortunately this just was not my kind of thing and a romance it was not.
**ARC provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.**
July 20, 2018
So let’s get this out of the way first. One thing I know when I pick up a C.L. Mustafic book is I am going to be enjoying something that will push my boundaries, fall outside of regular tropes, and not apologize for any blood or hurt feeling along the way. Check. Check. Check. And mate. No pun.
Since I came, basically, from a sleepy little trailer park in Minnesota this seemed tailor made to my specifications. The paranormal element takes me right back to childhood and wishes that otherworldly things were indeed true as I believed them to be in my fantasies. Along the twisted trope vine here we have the werewolf Damian being the one bitten by Clay the human. You’ll remember I said regular tropes need not apply for this authors book real estate. The 21st Century Grindr hookup was positively perfect and the drama that unfolded was both gritty and fun.
Damian was a wolf who had my sympathies – obviously being in an Outcast pack left him with a story to tell and created some tension as to who he really was. Clay, who you expect to be this mild mannered DMV employee, turns out to have some bite himself and doesn’t take this whole being turned into a furry creature easily. Easily the most creative aspect is just what type of werewolf Clay becomes in the beginning. I was laughing like crazy – and so wishing I could be there to pet him!
Clay, of course, has choices to make. Tension ensues. The reader wonders if the best guy will win. This was enjoyable from start to finish and kept me quite entertained along the way with more humor than I was expecting and a greater need to understand more about this pack and the dynamics. This is an author to be savored. You’re not going to get the same old book you’ve always gotten. If you like surprises, turning stereotypes on their head, heat, and some laughs this one is a great place to start to experience the author’s skill!
P.S. Yep. Got the Minnesota accent right.
Copy of ARC received from NetGalley for an honest review
Since I came, basically, from a sleepy little trailer park in Minnesota this seemed tailor made to my specifications. The paranormal element takes me right back to childhood and wishes that otherworldly things were indeed true as I believed them to be in my fantasies. Along the twisted trope vine here we have the werewolf Damian being the one bitten by Clay the human. You’ll remember I said regular tropes need not apply for this authors book real estate. The 21st Century Grindr hookup was positively perfect and the drama that unfolded was both gritty and fun.
Damian was a wolf who had my sympathies – obviously being in an Outcast pack left him with a story to tell and created some tension as to who he really was. Clay, who you expect to be this mild mannered DMV employee, turns out to have some bite himself and doesn’t take this whole being turned into a furry creature easily. Easily the most creative aspect is just what type of werewolf Clay becomes in the beginning. I was laughing like crazy – and so wishing I could be there to pet him!
Clay, of course, has choices to make. Tension ensues. The reader wonders if the best guy will win. This was enjoyable from start to finish and kept me quite entertained along the way with more humor than I was expecting and a greater need to understand more about this pack and the dynamics. This is an author to be savored. You’re not going to get the same old book you’ve always gotten. If you like surprises, turning stereotypes on their head, heat, and some laughs this one is a great place to start to experience the author’s skill!
P.S. Yep. Got the Minnesota accent right.
Copy of ARC received from NetGalley for an honest review
April 16, 2021
*(3.5 stars, rounded up - for once.)
this was very fun, but it just felt like a fanfic rather than a published book. not that there's anything wrong with fanfic; some of it is fucking masterful. i just mean it falls into the trap a lot of fanfic does, where you get a couple of tropes you like and string them together with writing that might be good, but is clearly rather unpractised and mostly unedited. that's fine when it's a free thing online, but from an actual book i'd want the writing to be more polished.
the sex scenes were also not that great. explicit, but ridiculously brief. either fade to black or commit to your sex scenes, dammit. i'm not saying you need to go full erotica but i want something a little more than "i thrust my cock in him and spilled my seed." (okay, that's paraphrasing, but it did only last for like one kindle page, which is probably half a paperback page.
there's definitely potential here, i think. unfortunately, the raw potential was taken and published, rather than refining it into something that unleashes the writer's full potential. if this was self-published i might be a little more lenient, but if you're a publisher - even a small indie publisher - i do expect some level of editing and refinement, otherwise what's the point of publishing with them in the first place?
although it was all a wee bit too amateur, i definitely think the writer has skill. the characters were actually pretty well developed, and i liked the humour running through the novella. i'm a big fan of books that don't take themselves entirely seriously, but the writing needs to be top-notch otherwise it comes across as amateur. this came quite close to being very good, but unfortunately, it didn't quite make it.
the grammar and spelling was mostly fine; by "unedited" i just mean it feels a little choppy at times, and certain things should probably be elaborated on - such as clay with blaine - and more detail needed.
*also, clay as a lil puppy werewolf is the cutest thing in the universe. this is the first werewolf story where newly turned wolves are puppies for about a year or so, and i'm not gonna lie, i'm obsessed with it. yes, i led with the cute wolf cub gif to get people's attention. no shame.
"i really didn't want to be a bad boy, but i was, because i'd upset the human."NOOO YOU'RE THE GOODEST PUPPY IN THE WORLD SHUT UP
i rounded up from 3.5 (which is something i very rarely do; i usually round down) because i can tell the writer is GOOD, they just got let down a bit by the lack of editing - unless you're in the 1% of excellent writers who are excellent even without editing, you're gonna need some good editors no matter how good you are. so i'm mostly blaming this book's bad points on Ninestar, who should have been able to iron them out, especially with a writer who has clear skill.
i'm really excited to see what c.l. mustafic comes up with next! she hasn't published anything for three years, but i'm still holding out hope - three years isn't that long when it comes to hiatuses (hiati?) of artistic endeavour, after all.
![Profile Image for annob [on hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1674812294i%2F68231680._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
September 30, 2018
This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program.
Loved the start of the story, a casual Grindr hookup between a shifter and a human. There was no True Love on first sight between the pair which felt refreshing. It made the initial plot twist where the shifter had to monitor the unsuspecting human interesting and entertaining, and I was hoping for a slow burn romance.
Unfortunately the romance never quite took off. The pair didn't interact much as humans besides silently lusting after each other. That was fine with me at first, but as the story progressed there was a lack of emotional escalation. The only time Damian, the shifter, showed any warm emotions was when Clay, the human, was in his wolf puppy form. Three quarters through the story Damian even states 'How can I know I love Clay when I barely know the guy?'. As a reader I felt much the same.
Even though I wished for more in the romantic department, I liked how the author didn't shy away from relationship topics and plot themes which are unusual to find in a romance novel.
The strength of the book lies in the shifter world details. They were innovative, like that fact that every new shifter starts out as an unruly puppy even though the human form is adult. Clay's frame of mind as a wolf puppy was cleverly written, and absolutely charming. Unusual for me, I liked the HFN ending and the sense of future adventures awaiting the pair.
Loved the start of the story, a casual Grindr hookup between a shifter and a human. There was no True Love on first sight between the pair which felt refreshing. It made the initial plot twist where the shifter had to monitor the unsuspecting human interesting and entertaining, and I was hoping for a slow burn romance.
Unfortunately the romance never quite took off. The pair didn't interact much as humans besides silently lusting after each other. That was fine with me at first, but as the story progressed there was a lack of emotional escalation. The only time Damian, the shifter, showed any warm emotions was when Clay, the human, was in his wolf puppy form. Three quarters through the story Damian even states 'How can I know I love Clay when I barely know the guy?'. As a reader I felt much the same.
Even though I wished for more in the romantic department, I liked how the author didn't shy away from relationship topics and plot themes which are unusual to find in a romance novel.
The strength of the book lies in the shifter world details. They were innovative, like that fact that every new shifter starts out as an unruly puppy even though the human form is adult. Clay's frame of mind as a wolf puppy was cleverly written, and absolutely charming. Unusual for me, I liked the HFN ending and the sense of future adventures awaiting the pair.
July 18, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
2.5 stars
This book didn’t much work for me almost from the beginning. Clay was fine when we first meet him as he’s contemplating a Grindr hookup. He’s attracted to Damian, physically, from the start, but the attraction ends there. Damian isn’t interested in repeats, so he acts like a red neck to thwart further interest. The guys hook up during their first meeting and there was no chemistry for me as Damian is rude and makes Clay uncomfortable. But the attraction for Clay was enough to have him biting Damian.
Damian is part of the Outcast pack, a pack without family that has come together. Damian has to now explain to his pack elders that he was bitten. They can’t be sure that Clay is in fact infected, so rather than explain to Clay what might be going on and risk exposure, they have Damian resort to nefarious tactics that were in bad taste. I say Damian, because until they are sure if Clay is infected, the pack leaves Damian completely on his own to deal with this.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
2.5 stars
This book didn’t much work for me almost from the beginning. Clay was fine when we first meet him as he’s contemplating a Grindr hookup. He’s attracted to Damian, physically, from the start, but the attraction ends there. Damian isn’t interested in repeats, so he acts like a red neck to thwart further interest. The guys hook up during their first meeting and there was no chemistry for me as Damian is rude and makes Clay uncomfortable. But the attraction for Clay was enough to have him biting Damian.
Damian is part of the Outcast pack, a pack without family that has come together. Damian has to now explain to his pack elders that he was bitten. They can’t be sure that Clay is in fact infected, so rather than explain to Clay what might be going on and risk exposure, they have Damian resort to nefarious tactics that were in bad taste. I say Damian, because until they are sure if Clay is infected, the pack leaves Damian completely on his own to deal with this.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
July 5, 2018
This was such a great read. I could not put this book down when I started reading it. This book is a little different from other shifter reads in the aspect that the accidental biting and turning is not necessarily the shifters fault but the humans fault instead. And everything that happens afterwards also for the most part in my opinion also lies in the humans area of faults as well.
Damian is a wolf shifter. He hides this fact from others that are not part of his pack because of what would happen if humans found out. But for the most part he does not let that affect his everyday life. He still works in construction, he has his own home and he has new truck with a camper on the back for when he is traveling with work. He also gets his hook ups off of Grindr so he does not have to see his one night stands again.
Clay is an ordinary man. He works for the DMV. He tries to do his best at his job, which he is pretty good at. He also knows that for the most part he can be who he is but not all people in his small town is accepting of gays. So he does what most other gay people do and hookups with people off of Grindr. This is how Clay and Damian end up spending a night together just will forever change both of them.
After an accidental biting and Clay ingested some of Damian’s shifter blood, Damian and his pack decide that cannot leave it to chance on the fact that Vlay may now become an shifter as well. So Damian has to figure out a way to get Clay to the pack compound to see if he will change with the full moon phase.
When it turns out that Clay does change to a shifter, that is when both men’s Worlds are turned upside down. At Clays first shift Damian is there to take care of him and all his needs. He is really attentive but that does not matter to Clay in the long run of things. After Clay changes back and Damian explains everything to him and why everything happened the way it did, Clay decides Damian is not worth his time and he will not be joining his pack with him.
That is where Blaine comes into the picture. Blaine is not only Damian’s ex but also the one that steps in Damian’s footsteps to claim Clay. The problem is Clay does not know what he is in store for when it co es to Blaine. Nor does he care to hear what Damian has to say on the matter. All that really matters to Clay is Blaine is there and he is not Damian. And this is where the true story begins.
This was a good read. I will be honest at first I felt sorry for Clay for not knowing what was going to happen to him. I thought at first that Damian was going to be some kind of jerk but as I read my views changed and the two main characters did a role reversal is my opinion. In the end I had so much respect for Damian and I believe now that Clay is a jerk. In my opinion he turned out to be no better then the other villain in this story. I truly believe that Damian deserves better then Clay. As far as how this book ends, I hope that these two men will be in book two as well because I feel that there is so much more that needs to come to light on their relationship. I truly forward to the next book to see what is coming to this packs way.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
Damian is a wolf shifter. He hides this fact from others that are not part of his pack because of what would happen if humans found out. But for the most part he does not let that affect his everyday life. He still works in construction, he has his own home and he has new truck with a camper on the back for when he is traveling with work. He also gets his hook ups off of Grindr so he does not have to see his one night stands again.
Clay is an ordinary man. He works for the DMV. He tries to do his best at his job, which he is pretty good at. He also knows that for the most part he can be who he is but not all people in his small town is accepting of gays. So he does what most other gay people do and hookups with people off of Grindr. This is how Clay and Damian end up spending a night together just will forever change both of them.
After an accidental biting and Clay ingested some of Damian’s shifter blood, Damian and his pack decide that cannot leave it to chance on the fact that Vlay may now become an shifter as well. So Damian has to figure out a way to get Clay to the pack compound to see if he will change with the full moon phase.
When it turns out that Clay does change to a shifter, that is when both men’s Worlds are turned upside down. At Clays first shift Damian is there to take care of him and all his needs. He is really attentive but that does not matter to Clay in the long run of things. After Clay changes back and Damian explains everything to him and why everything happened the way it did, Clay decides Damian is not worth his time and he will not be joining his pack with him.
That is where Blaine comes into the picture. Blaine is not only Damian’s ex but also the one that steps in Damian’s footsteps to claim Clay. The problem is Clay does not know what he is in store for when it co es to Blaine. Nor does he care to hear what Damian has to say on the matter. All that really matters to Clay is Blaine is there and he is not Damian. And this is where the true story begins.
This was a good read. I will be honest at first I felt sorry for Clay for not knowing what was going to happen to him. I thought at first that Damian was going to be some kind of jerk but as I read my views changed and the two main characters did a role reversal is my opinion. In the end I had so much respect for Damian and I believe now that Clay is a jerk. In my opinion he turned out to be no better then the other villain in this story. I truly believe that Damian deserves better then Clay. As far as how this book ends, I hope that these two men will be in book two as well because I feel that there is so much more that needs to come to light on their relationship. I truly forward to the next book to see what is coming to this packs way.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
June 28, 2018
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Bad moon arising is a promising start to a series that seems to have a lot of potential. I really liked how the werewolf theme was dealt with, it was done in an original way. The whole puppy thing was the cutest thing ever and it was also very funny to be inside Clay’s head while he was in his puppy form. I think some parts were a bit rushed and some things were left unsolved, especially regarding Damian’s past. I can’t wait to read the second book in the series to get my answers and also to read more about Clay and Damian and to see how their relationship evolves.
Bad moon arising is a promising start to a series that seems to have a lot of potential. I really liked how the werewolf theme was dealt with, it was done in an original way. The whole puppy thing was the cutest thing ever and it was also very funny to be inside Clay’s head while he was in his puppy form. I think some parts were a bit rushed and some things were left unsolved, especially regarding Damian’s past. I can’t wait to read the second book in the series to get my answers and also to read more about Clay and Damian and to see how their relationship evolves.
July 5, 2018
Things get a tad carried away when Clay (human) hooks up with Damian (shifter) on Grindr and there are suddenly consequences and then the real fun begins....
There were a number of things I liked - especially around the "tradition" of Shifters. The take on lycanthropy virus turning a human and becoming "pups" at full moon and having to *grow* into their beasts. Clay in puppy mode had me smiling, his internal dialogue portrayed a playful, bouncy, easily distracted and eager pup. His growing dependence on Damian for support was a slow burn but his Alpha tendencies were a nice twist.
There were a number of things I struggled with. I'm not sure if the author was trying to cram too much into the story or it was points of interest that would be picked up in a later book - but at times it read as "quantity over quality". There was not enough background to the pack, there was a stab at hierarchy - but it felt like a lot was assumed. And Blaine? He just seemed liked an unnecessary distraction, with little information about him or how he claimed Clay. Damian and Blaine's relationship was never really gone into, apart from a sentence or two towards the end of the book. It felt quite flippant considering the horrific abuse it hinted at. There is also Damian's "mate bond" which is mentioned a couple of times, but no details of who/what/why are forthcoming. What really niggled was a number of fade to black chapters - there were two quite prominent ones that set up the scene and then failed to deliver a conclusion. The meeting with Blaine and his parents with Clay and Damian - this could've been quite dramatic! What happened to the paralysed Blaine? Was he banished? What consequences arose?? Then the meeting with the Council over the fate of Clay and docking of his tail. I honestly thought I had missed pages and had to go back and reread. They stopped so abruptly it made reading the next chapter a little disorientating as conversations and decisions had obviously been taken with no thought to inform the reader.
This book has potential and it was overall an entertaining read in one sitting. The story ended on an epilogue, but didn't set up the next book, so left me feeling unsure for the future. I would like to continue with the series as my interest has been piqued, but am hopeful that as the stories develop the niggles I had will be resolved and answers to missing pieces and a little more substance around key situations will be given.
ARC received from author via Indigo Marketing And Design in exchange for an honest review.
There were a number of things I liked - especially around the "tradition" of Shifters. The take on lycanthropy virus turning a human and becoming "pups" at full moon and having to *grow* into their beasts. Clay in puppy mode had me smiling, his internal dialogue portrayed a playful, bouncy, easily distracted and eager pup. His growing dependence on Damian for support was a slow burn but his Alpha tendencies were a nice twist.
There were a number of things I struggled with. I'm not sure if the author was trying to cram too much into the story or it was points of interest that would be picked up in a later book - but at times it read as "quantity over quality". There was not enough background to the pack, there was a stab at hierarchy - but it felt like a lot was assumed. And Blaine? He just seemed liked an unnecessary distraction, with little information about him or how he claimed Clay. Damian and Blaine's relationship was never really gone into, apart from a sentence or two towards the end of the book. It felt quite flippant considering the horrific abuse it hinted at. There is also Damian's "mate bond" which is mentioned a couple of times, but no details of who/what/why are forthcoming. What really niggled was a number of fade to black chapters - there were two quite prominent ones that set up the scene and then failed to deliver a conclusion. The meeting with Blaine and his parents with Clay and Damian - this could've been quite dramatic! What happened to the paralysed Blaine? Was he banished? What consequences arose?? Then the meeting with the Council over the fate of Clay and docking of his tail. I honestly thought I had missed pages and had to go back and reread. They stopped so abruptly it made reading the next chapter a little disorientating as conversations and decisions had obviously been taken with no thought to inform the reader.
This book has potential and it was overall an entertaining read in one sitting. The story ended on an epilogue, but didn't set up the next book, so left me feeling unsure for the future. I would like to continue with the series as my interest has been piqued, but am hopeful that as the stories develop the niggles I had will be resolved and answers to missing pieces and a little more substance around key situations will be given.
ARC received from author via Indigo Marketing And Design in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2018
This was a fun read. Everything I thought I knew about shifters was turned upside down in this story. It has all the elements of a shifter story I am familiar with, but this author gives it a unique, original, and different spin. There are a lot of surprises and unexpected turns.
It all begins fairly standard with a one-night stand between Damian and Clay, but that is all that was normal. Damian has some secrets Clay has to know about, and Damian takes drastic measures. The result is an angry Clay who teams up with the wrong party. Then nothing is what it seems. It is a very fun read. Lighthearted and spirited, full of sexy werewolves, abusive exes, grouchy cats, and adorable, tail-chasing puppies. There are a lot of loose threads and unsolved questions I hope will be answered in the next book.
This is not a love story it the strictest sense of the word. It has barely an HFN, so let’s say it is a very promising start of a growing relationship. If you are looking for a fast-paced, well-written paranormal story that is just different, this book will be right up your alley.
It all begins fairly standard with a one-night stand between Damian and Clay, but that is all that was normal. Damian has some secrets Clay has to know about, and Damian takes drastic measures. The result is an angry Clay who teams up with the wrong party. Then nothing is what it seems. It is a very fun read. Lighthearted and spirited, full of sexy werewolves, abusive exes, grouchy cats, and adorable, tail-chasing puppies. There are a lot of loose threads and unsolved questions I hope will be answered in the next book.
This is not a love story it the strictest sense of the word. It has barely an HFN, so let’s say it is a very promising start of a growing relationship. If you are looking for a fast-paced, well-written paranormal story that is just different, this book will be right up your alley.
October 3, 2018
This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program.
This was a new author for me and I didn't know what to expect heading into this book. I think it was good to have no expectations as this was wildly different to most shifter books that I have read. I would say upfront that for me this book was not a romance and indeed, after an initial sexual hook-up, for most of the book Clay and Damian don't even really like each other. I would have liked to see a little more development of the relationship between the two men but maybe that will come in the second book.
This book was darker and edgier than most of the usual shifter books out there and at times it was not a totally comfortable read. One of the major themes of shifter books is usually the safety and security provided by a pack but that was not the case in Bad Moon Arising. I felt that both of the main characters were betrayed by the pack either during the course of the story or from information provided about incidents in the past.
Having said all that, I believe that a big part of the beauty of this book lies in its unconventionality. It contained some stuff that had my moral compass spinning around madly but I was still interested to see what happened next.
If you're willing to take a chance on something completely different and can go in with an open mind, I would recommend taking a chance on this one.
This was a new author for me and I didn't know what to expect heading into this book. I think it was good to have no expectations as this was wildly different to most shifter books that I have read. I would say upfront that for me this book was not a romance and indeed, after an initial sexual hook-up, for most of the book Clay and Damian don't even really like each other. I would have liked to see a little more development of the relationship between the two men but maybe that will come in the second book.
This book was darker and edgier than most of the usual shifter books out there and at times it was not a totally comfortable read. One of the major themes of shifter books is usually the safety and security provided by a pack but that was not the case in Bad Moon Arising. I felt that both of the main characters were betrayed by the pack either during the course of the story or from information provided about incidents in the past.
Having said all that, I believe that a big part of the beauty of this book lies in its unconventionality. It contained some stuff that had my moral compass spinning around madly but I was still interested to see what happened next.
If you're willing to take a chance on something completely different and can go in with an open mind, I would recommend taking a chance on this one.
August 9, 2018
What I liked:
- The alternating first-person narratives. We get to read both Clay and Damian's perspectives on the story.
- I never read a m/m paranormal romance before, and I think this was a good introduction for me. I liked that it wasn't just sex, and that the characters had a complicated and evolving relationship.
- The shapeshifting aspect was cool. I wasn't sure what to expect and I think the novel approached the shapeshifting what seemed to be a unique way. There are genetic werewolves in the story, like Damian, and then those who become human werewolves through the lycanthropy disease. Clay, as we know from the synopsis, becomes a werewolf through biting Damian. I like getting to see Clay adjust to being a werewolf, the process of shapeshifting itself, and some of the problems that came along with it.
Other thoughts
- I think the pacing was a bit off; sometimes the story moved too quickly in time IMO.
- I wish there had been more about Damian's relationship with Blaine, but since this is a series I'm sure it will be addressed and developed in the next book!
- The wolfpack politics was one of my favorite parts, would like to know more about that.
- The cover is so gorgeous, it is really what grabbed my attention and made me want to read it!
3.5 stars bumped to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book!
- The alternating first-person narratives. We get to read both Clay and Damian's perspectives on the story.
- I never read a m/m paranormal romance before, and I think this was a good introduction for me. I liked that it wasn't just sex, and that the characters had a complicated and evolving relationship.
- The shapeshifting aspect was cool. I wasn't sure what to expect and I think the novel approached the shapeshifting what seemed to be a unique way. There are genetic werewolves in the story, like Damian, and then those who become human werewolves through the lycanthropy disease. Clay, as we know from the synopsis, becomes a werewolf through biting Damian. I like getting to see Clay adjust to being a werewolf, the process of shapeshifting itself, and some of the problems that came along with it.
Other thoughts
- I think the pacing was a bit off; sometimes the story moved too quickly in time IMO.
- I wish there had been more about Damian's relationship with Blaine, but since this is a series I'm sure it will be addressed and developed in the next book!
- The wolfpack politics was one of my favorite parts, would like to know more about that.
- The cover is so gorgeous, it is really what grabbed my attention and made me want to read it!
3.5 stars bumped to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book!
September 19, 2018
This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program.
Bad Moon Arising
I volunteered for this book, specifically, because I like shifters and wolves. The description of the book grabbed my attention right away, and I really wanted to see how this panned out.
The book is a conundrum. I had issues getting into the first 1/3, which hovered between a two and three-star rating. The writing felt choppy and unpolished. The first intimate scene was awkward, and not because it was the first or a hook-up, the mood and language were off-putting, at least one euphemism was so cheesy it had me rolling my eyes. Clay was also an irredeemable jerk, beyond simple shyness or introversion.
But, about 1/3 in, the book got better. The writing started to flow -- you got a better feel for who the characters were. Clay became more likable. (I still would have liked more buildup to this change.) But I suddenly found myself immersed in the book, and wishing it were longer.
I'm not sure what happened to the beginning, but if you can make it past that, or if you like shifters, this is, eventually a very cute story, complete with shifter pups!
Minor thematic warnings:
I'm giving this a 4, rounded. It's at least a 3.5. With some tightening of the first part of the book, it would be a very solid four.
Bad Moon Arising
I volunteered for this book, specifically, because I like shifters and wolves. The description of the book grabbed my attention right away, and I really wanted to see how this panned out.
The book is a conundrum. I had issues getting into the first 1/3, which hovered between a two and three-star rating. The writing felt choppy and unpolished. The first intimate scene was awkward, and not because it was the first or a hook-up, the mood and language were off-putting, at least one euphemism was so cheesy it had me rolling my eyes. Clay was also an irredeemable jerk, beyond simple shyness or introversion.
But, about 1/3 in, the book got better. The writing started to flow -- you got a better feel for who the characters were. Clay became more likable. (I still would have liked more buildup to this change.) But I suddenly found myself immersed in the book, and wishing it were longer.
I'm not sure what happened to the beginning, but if you can make it past that, or if you like shifters, this is, eventually a very cute story, complete with shifter pups!
Minor thematic warnings:
I'm giving this a 4, rounded. It's at least a 3.5. With some tightening of the first part of the book, it would be a very solid four.
August 20, 2018
When I first read the blurb for Bad Moon Arising, I figured it sounded intriguing and seemed to meet the criteria that generally makes me eat up a paranormal story in no time flat. Tension? Check. Plenty of that between Clay and Damian. Different spin on the shifter world? Check. The way the pack operated as well as the whole puppy thing (more on that later). Humor? Check. Though, admittedly, not quite as funny as some early reviews had led me to believe.
Bad Moon Arising is interesting, especially the shifter world dynamics. Born shifters are treated different than made shifters, and the change with all its experiences is also unique too, depending on whether they are born or made. Though one thing is the norm for all—there is no immediate shift for grown adults into an adult wolf. Oh no. Each new shifter becomes a puppy. Yup. When the wolf first comes, it is that of an infant pup and then grows from there, making the wolf essentially a separate entity since the thoughts of the wolf are even that of a pup. This is also where most of the humor came from. Clay becomes a pup on his first shift; he is cognizant of what is happening, but there is another being controlling his body that is distracted by objects and lacks the knowledge that it is not okay to go to the bathroom indoors, loves cuddling with people (which Clay is so not a cuddler), licks faces, and enjoys puppy piles. I can admit I found it adorable as it was the only time I truly liked Clay’s character, and I would definitely call it unique. Also, the writing itself was well done, and nothing stood out as far as editing or grammar.
So where did it come up short, if it has my three main requirements? Well, I forgot about my biggest requirement in all my stories that have a romantic plot—Connection. There wasn’t one, really, between Damian and Clay, barely even got a blip of it from either of them until close to the end, but even then, it was more of a truce, somewhat, and Damian feeling responsible for Clay rather than a true feeling that these two belong together. Honestly, I’m not sure they do.
Damian and Clay, I didn’t really like them that much. Especially Clay. I couldn’t stand him, initially, and that remained my feeling all the way until the end. I didn’t like them together from their first encounter. No sparks. No warmth. No possibility. I kept waiting for the moment that would change, but it really didn’t. Their romance was not a romance at all; rather, it was two guys getting off and little to no feelings involved. Damian wasn’t as bad as Clay; there were actual moments where I found myself empathizing with him, and there are little snippets dropped about his past that don’t give much away but made me interested in finding out. Yes, Damian was closed off, but at least there seemed to be a reason for his actions, and he wasn’t horrible, more like a little emotionally lost. Damian wasn’t mean; he came off in the beginning as brutally honest and closed off, which is somewhat explained towards the end, with even more hinted at. But Clay? He was just plain mean. He was selfish. It had nothing to do with the shift, and everything to do with his personality. He was that way before he even entered the shifter world. The only time he was even remotely likable to me was when he was in puppy form.
The plot itself and how it all played out was thought-provoking. The pack law about immediately having a mate, if they were made, was crappy and yet it made sense in this world as a wolf pup really does need an experienced wolf to teach them to do things like pee outdoors and not try to attack Maine Coons. Though why they can’t have a sponsor and instead have to mate is…well, it’s a paranormal book and shifter law in them doesn’t always make sense, so I will just go with at least I understand the reasons why. Pack law plays quite a big role in this story, and it worked for the most part. It gave the story just enough angst to make me wonder how it would play out. It would have worked better for me if I’d liked the two MCs as a couple, and I was hoping for them to find their way to one another.
The story ends on an interesting note that did pique my curiosity on what is going to happen to Damian and Clay as well as the Outkast Pack. I assume there will be another book because so much is left unanswered, and the end is more like a beginning. I still have lingering questions floating around, especially about Damien’s past. If there is a second book, part of me wants to give it a go, but I would have to find a way to get past my irritation at Clay and Damian. Who knows? Maybe another book will do what this book failed to do in the romance department. It would take quite a bit to redeem Clay and form a connection between these two, but I wouldn’t say it is impossible; it will just take some really good storytelling to make that happen and to make me like Clay.
In the end, I’m torn. While I did like some of the concepts and spins on the shifter world, found humor in the whole puppy aspect, am interested on what happens next as well as what happened in Damian’s past, it didn’t quite live up to its full potential for me, especially in the romance.
Reviewed by Lindsey for The Novel Approach
Bad Moon Arising is interesting, especially the shifter world dynamics. Born shifters are treated different than made shifters, and the change with all its experiences is also unique too, depending on whether they are born or made. Though one thing is the norm for all—there is no immediate shift for grown adults into an adult wolf. Oh no. Each new shifter becomes a puppy. Yup. When the wolf first comes, it is that of an infant pup and then grows from there, making the wolf essentially a separate entity since the thoughts of the wolf are even that of a pup. This is also where most of the humor came from. Clay becomes a pup on his first shift; he is cognizant of what is happening, but there is another being controlling his body that is distracted by objects and lacks the knowledge that it is not okay to go to the bathroom indoors, loves cuddling with people (which Clay is so not a cuddler), licks faces, and enjoys puppy piles. I can admit I found it adorable as it was the only time I truly liked Clay’s character, and I would definitely call it unique. Also, the writing itself was well done, and nothing stood out as far as editing or grammar.
So where did it come up short, if it has my three main requirements? Well, I forgot about my biggest requirement in all my stories that have a romantic plot—Connection. There wasn’t one, really, between Damian and Clay, barely even got a blip of it from either of them until close to the end, but even then, it was more of a truce, somewhat, and Damian feeling responsible for Clay rather than a true feeling that these two belong together. Honestly, I’m not sure they do.
Damian and Clay, I didn’t really like them that much. Especially Clay. I couldn’t stand him, initially, and that remained my feeling all the way until the end. I didn’t like them together from their first encounter. No sparks. No warmth. No possibility. I kept waiting for the moment that would change, but it really didn’t. Their romance was not a romance at all; rather, it was two guys getting off and little to no feelings involved. Damian wasn’t as bad as Clay; there were actual moments where I found myself empathizing with him, and there are little snippets dropped about his past that don’t give much away but made me interested in finding out. Yes, Damian was closed off, but at least there seemed to be a reason for his actions, and he wasn’t horrible, more like a little emotionally lost. Damian wasn’t mean; he came off in the beginning as brutally honest and closed off, which is somewhat explained towards the end, with even more hinted at. But Clay? He was just plain mean. He was selfish. It had nothing to do with the shift, and everything to do with his personality. He was that way before he even entered the shifter world. The only time he was even remotely likable to me was when he was in puppy form.
The plot itself and how it all played out was thought-provoking. The pack law about immediately having a mate, if they were made, was crappy and yet it made sense in this world as a wolf pup really does need an experienced wolf to teach them to do things like pee outdoors and not try to attack Maine Coons. Though why they can’t have a sponsor and instead have to mate is…well, it’s a paranormal book and shifter law in them doesn’t always make sense, so I will just go with at least I understand the reasons why. Pack law plays quite a big role in this story, and it worked for the most part. It gave the story just enough angst to make me wonder how it would play out. It would have worked better for me if I’d liked the two MCs as a couple, and I was hoping for them to find their way to one another.
The story ends on an interesting note that did pique my curiosity on what is going to happen to Damian and Clay as well as the Outkast Pack. I assume there will be another book because so much is left unanswered, and the end is more like a beginning. I still have lingering questions floating around, especially about Damien’s past. If there is a second book, part of me wants to give it a go, but I would have to find a way to get past my irritation at Clay and Damian. Who knows? Maybe another book will do what this book failed to do in the romance department. It would take quite a bit to redeem Clay and form a connection between these two, but I wouldn’t say it is impossible; it will just take some really good storytelling to make that happen and to make me like Clay.
In the end, I’m torn. While I did like some of the concepts and spins on the shifter world, found humor in the whole puppy aspect, am interested on what happens next as well as what happened in Damian’s past, it didn’t quite live up to its full potential for me, especially in the romance.
Reviewed by Lindsey for The Novel Approach
June 24, 2019
There were a few moments that I really enjoyed throughout this book, but for the most part it was a bit disappointing because I’ve heard so many great things about it. I’ll be giving the sequel a go, hopefully this series can redeem itself.
October 3, 2018
This book was received free in return for an honest review via the Goodreads Don’t Buy My Love program.
4.5 stars
Okay, so I first have to state that I was one lucky SOB to be asked to do a final beta read on this gem before it went to the editors. Now, I never review an unfinished book because I tend to nitpick over little things like spelling and commas, so I bided my time and was stoked to see CL’s Bad Moon Arising come up for review. Yeah, I totally fell for this new take on werewolf culture.
Clay is a self-inflicted human when he bits Damian during a Grindr hookup, and his hookup, Damien, isn't thrilled to be saddled with a pup. He does his job grudging, earning Clay’s dismay, and really shouldn’t have been surprised when Clay turns to Damian's ex. There’s hints to more of Damian’s past which spiked my interest, and I absolutely adored the “puppy brain” scenes.
The story was a tiny bit telling with the dual first person POVs, but I found the characters easy enough to tell apart. A great ending with a HFN, and having had a sneak peek at the next book, I'm already primed for more of these two men.
4.5 stars
Okay, so I first have to state that I was one lucky SOB to be asked to do a final beta read on this gem before it went to the editors. Now, I never review an unfinished book because I tend to nitpick over little things like spelling and commas, so I bided my time and was stoked to see CL’s Bad Moon Arising come up for review. Yeah, I totally fell for this new take on werewolf culture.
Clay is a self-inflicted human when he bits Damian during a Grindr hookup, and his hookup, Damien, isn't thrilled to be saddled with a pup. He does his job grudging, earning Clay’s dismay, and really shouldn’t have been surprised when Clay turns to Damian's ex. There’s hints to more of Damian’s past which spiked my interest, and I absolutely adored the “puppy brain” scenes.
The story was a tiny bit telling with the dual first person POVs, but I found the characters easy enough to tell apart. A great ending with a HFN, and having had a sneak peek at the next book, I'm already primed for more of these two men.
September 23, 2018
There was so much interesting things going on in this book that I just couldn’t put it down. I did take me a while to get to that point, because I was struggling at the start, but once I got myself hook to t, it was wonderful.
The plot was great, there were a lot of things that I really didn’t see coming. I love a book, like this one, that is able to surprise me. I liked the whole dynamic around Blaine but I think the author give too much away in the blurb. It had a nice steady pace, a bit slow at the beginning but it caught my attention soon enough to make me keep reading until the end. There are a little bit of something, there’s action, pack politics, some fun moments and some of the cutest scenes I’ve read in a shifter book regarding the shift moment. I loved the wolf moments so much, they were adorable, I laugh so much.
The characters were so nice or maybe Damian was but they both had some unattractive features that make them real and I liked that. Clay was hard to like. Always so defensive, so aggressive towards others and easy to judge. Definitely not the most charming characters but there was something appealing about him, maybe the question of what’s behind that attitude and the expectation of getting to know him better. Damian was easier to like, also a little rude at times, but I guess he was a little more developed characters and we get to know the reasons for the way he acted like that. There were also a lot of great characters in the pack, some more likable than others but the whole group make the story better.
Overall it was great. I was a little concern because I’m more used of the author’s darker books and I wasn’t sure if this one was going to meet my expectation, but it did beautifully.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through the DBML program of the M/M Romance group
The plot was great, there were a lot of things that I really didn’t see coming. I love a book, like this one, that is able to surprise me. I liked the whole dynamic around Blaine but I think the author give too much away in the blurb. It had a nice steady pace, a bit slow at the beginning but it caught my attention soon enough to make me keep reading until the end. There are a little bit of something, there’s action, pack politics, some fun moments and some of the cutest scenes I’ve read in a shifter book regarding the shift moment. I loved the wolf moments so much, they were adorable, I laugh so much.
The characters were so nice or maybe Damian was but they both had some unattractive features that make them real and I liked that. Clay was hard to like. Always so defensive, so aggressive towards others and easy to judge. Definitely not the most charming characters but there was something appealing about him, maybe the question of what’s behind that attitude and the expectation of getting to know him better. Damian was easier to like, also a little rude at times, but I guess he was a little more developed characters and we get to know the reasons for the way he acted like that. There were also a lot of great characters in the pack, some more likable than others but the whole group make the story better.
Overall it was great. I was a little concern because I’m more used of the author’s darker books and I wasn’t sure if this one was going to meet my expectation, but it did beautifully.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through the DBML program of the M/M Romance group
July 22, 2018
Bad Moon Arising had an enticing hook from start and I really liked the author’s approach to lycanthropy, their community, and the way the shift/maturation of the werewolves work. I’ve read my fair share of shifter books, so I’m always excited to see new and different interpretations and this novella certainly offered up that. Despite the originality in this novella, for the bulk of it, I wasn’t sure this was a series for me. The writing throughout Bad Moon Arising was solid, but the pacing and narrative felt off at times. I’m not sure if it was too much plot in a shorter book, but it occasionally seemed big moments were glazed over rather than using them to develop the characters and relationship further. And, while the characters were okay, I never really connected with either Clay or Damian, nor did I detect a romantic bond or obvious chemistry beyond the physical lust between them. As I got to the final chapters, I suspected Bad Moon Arising would land in the okay, but not for me grouping; then some unexpected plot points turned the direction of the novella and reignited my interest. While the novella didn’t end in a cliffhanger, it did leave me with a few questions and a unique set-up for the second book, and I now plan to see where the series goes- hopefully it delivers some answers, excitement, and more of a romantic element between Damian and Clay. I think Bad Moon Arising is worth checking out if you’re a fan of shifter books, but don’t necessarily need or expect a straight forward romance in the story.
*eARC received via Netgalley. The author and publisher had no influence over this review*
*eARC received via Netgalley. The author and publisher had no influence over this review*
July 9, 2018
Awesome start to a new series. First time author for me and I am hooked. Damian and Clay definitely are from two different worlds and collide in a interesting way. With Damian being a shifter and Clay as a human is probably something you're use to seeing when reading paranormal books, but it is unique and the story grabs you with unexpected moments. Loved seeing the 'human' angle in a paranormal world, Clay's actions and reactions when he finds out there is more out there then he thought felt realistic to me which I enjoyed. Twist and turns, and parts had me laughing. Can't wait for the next. This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2018
It took me a few days to finish this book when I can normally finish 2-3 books a day. I really struggled with it. The premise was great, writing was excellent and I liked the world building. But Clay. Clay killed it for me because, start to finish, I
hated
him.
In reviews where I have a negative response I refuse to write much because I do not wish to turn readers off of reading it. So I’m going to stop here.
Book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program.
In reviews where I have a negative response I refuse to write much because I do not wish to turn readers off of reading it. So I’m going to stop here.
Book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program.
July 10, 2018
Bad Moon Arising
While Clays having a hook up with Damien from the grinder app he has the urge to bite him,drawing blood and swallowing it? What he doesn't know is this will change his life forever!
Damien knows he has to find Clay and protect him, but Clays not interested, only thing to do is kidnap him. He takes him back to the compound to wait and see if he's infected.
Read this funny book and follow their story.
The puppy parts are so funny and so cute.
While Clays having a hook up with Damien from the grinder app he has the urge to bite him,drawing blood and swallowing it? What he doesn't know is this will change his life forever!
Damien knows he has to find Clay and protect him, but Clays not interested, only thing to do is kidnap him. He takes him back to the compound to wait and see if he's infected.
Read this funny book and follow their story.
The puppy parts are so funny and so cute.
September 17, 2018
3 Stars
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Bad Moon Arising is definitely a unique take on the world of shifters. Not sure if I liked the new spin or not, but the author did grab my attention and I finished the book in one sitting. The synopsis does a good job explaining the premise, but the story left a lot unexplained. Things were alluded to or “told” without any build up.
Also, I didn’t connect with Clay at all. When the book started, I thought he would be a shy or maybe awkward character, but you quickly find out he is an ass. His behavior is quickly explained away which didn’t excuse how he acted in my opinion. Like I stated earlier, the book provides very little detail about everything. I did like Damian a lot. He seemed to truly want to help Clay, but at the same time he couldn’t fully invest in him either.
The book is a HFN ending. Though I can be satisfied with the ending, a lot is left unresolved. I am probably going to read the second book in the series because I’m am certainly intrigued.
Overall, a good read that had me frustrated and entertained at the same time. I believe expanding the story and giving more detailed background would benefit the it greatly.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Bad Moon Arising is definitely a unique take on the world of shifters. Not sure if I liked the new spin or not, but the author did grab my attention and I finished the book in one sitting. The synopsis does a good job explaining the premise, but the story left a lot unexplained. Things were alluded to or “told” without any build up.
Also, I didn’t connect with Clay at all. When the book started, I thought he would be a shy or maybe awkward character, but you quickly find out he is an ass. His behavior is quickly explained away which didn’t excuse how he acted in my opinion. Like I stated earlier, the book provides very little detail about everything. I did like Damian a lot. He seemed to truly want to help Clay, but at the same time he couldn’t fully invest in him either.
The book is a HFN ending. Though I can be satisfied with the ending, a lot is left unresolved. I am probably going to read the second book in the series because I’m am certainly intrigued.
Overall, a good read that had me frustrated and entertained at the same time. I believe expanding the story and giving more detailed background would benefit the it greatly.
July 9, 2018
This is a cute M/M werewolf tale that deals with the fallout from a Grindr hookup gone very suddenly wrong. There isn’t really much romance in it, and I’m not sure I’d even call it a HFN ending, but I liked Damian a lot, thought Clay had potential, although he really isn’t at his best here due to circumstances, and mostly enjoyed the book.
However, this is a quick read that leaves an awful lot out. A lot of time gets glossed over, we never get to know either of them too deeply or well (but then neither do they), and there were a lot of things I wish had happened in scene, rather than being briefly recapped later. Like the bit where Damian tells wolf-Clay that he hates him. This has a massive impact on Clay, apparently, but Damian doesn’t even remember it because he was just grumbling in that way people do to their pets when they’ve done something annoying. It would also have been really good to have seen Clay and Blaine interact more. Plus a lot more details about why Damian is so unpopular with the pack and how Blaine was able to get away with everything he was. In fact, that whole pack is plain awful, so more details on it and how it got into that state – when the alphas themselves seem pretty decent – would definitely have been appreciated. And everything to do with mates – why Clay absolutely has to pick one, now, now, now, and if it’s such an arbitrary process, what’s the big deal about Damian having already found his?
I also found the puppy thing really creepy. Cute at first, but the more the book progressed the weirder it felt to me. I’ll admit there is a fairly unusual twist in the plot, but it only added to the creepiness and reduced any romance feelings to absolute zero.
Which is a shame, because there is plenty of potential here. I’d love to read more about Damian and definitely would like to see Clay when he’s under a lot less stress. But the tendency to miss out on important scenes and skip details is a bit of a draw back. Nevertheless, I’ll keep an eye out for more and see how things go from there.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)
However, this is a quick read that leaves an awful lot out. A lot of time gets glossed over, we never get to know either of them too deeply or well (but then neither do they), and there were a lot of things I wish had happened in scene, rather than being briefly recapped later. Like the bit where Damian tells wolf-Clay that he hates him. This has a massive impact on Clay, apparently, but Damian doesn’t even remember it because he was just grumbling in that way people do to their pets when they’ve done something annoying. It would also have been really good to have seen Clay and Blaine interact more. Plus a lot more details about why Damian is so unpopular with the pack and how Blaine was able to get away with everything he was. In fact, that whole pack is plain awful, so more details on it and how it got into that state – when the alphas themselves seem pretty decent – would definitely have been appreciated. And everything to do with mates – why Clay absolutely has to pick one, now, now, now, and if it’s such an arbitrary process, what’s the big deal about Damian having already found his?
I also found the puppy thing really creepy. Cute at first, but the more the book progressed the weirder it felt to me. I’ll admit there is a fairly unusual twist in the plot, but it only added to the creepiness and reduced any romance feelings to absolute zero.
Which is a shame, because there is plenty of potential here. I’d love to read more about Damian and definitely would like to see Clay when he’s under a lot less stress. But the tendency to miss out on important scenes and skip details is a bit of a draw back. Nevertheless, I’ll keep an eye out for more and see how things go from there.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)
July 5, 2018
This paranormal romance was a fun read.
I really enjoyed the fact that the author doesn’t adhere to the conventions of werewolf PRs. Damian, the werewolf, doesn’t bite human Clay; instead, Clay gets a little too carried away and bites Damian in a moment of passion. When Clay turns, he doesn’t become a savage werewolf. Instead, he turns into a puppy. (All newly-turned werewolves first manifest as pups in Mustafic’s world.) That leads to some comic moments where Clay runs around as a puppy with a mixture of human and puppy thoughts, including a desire to chase his tail. Then later, there’s a problem with his shifting, and he winds up in human form with “puppy brain.” That part got me laughing to myself.
It’s not a perfect book. Clay must find a mate within the pack because . . . well, I wasn’t sure, really, since it seems like the role the mate was given could equally be filled by a mentor figure, if this wasn’t a romance novel. The leaders of Damian’s pack claim to want to buck the conventions of the werewolf world, but when the plot needed complicating, they couldn’t avoid following them, conveniently enough for the purposes of the storyline.
Overall, though, I liked the book enough that I was willing to just suspend my occasional doubts and go with the flow of the story. I’m going to be looking for the next in the series, too. The author left some of Damian’s background a mystery, and I’m curious to find out more about the things she only alludes to. I’m curious about how the relationship between Damian and Clay will develop, too; it seems like they might be in for something of a bumpy ride.
Recommended for readers who enjoy werewolf paranormals with a bit of a twist.
A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
I really enjoyed the fact that the author doesn’t adhere to the conventions of werewolf PRs. Damian, the werewolf, doesn’t bite human Clay; instead, Clay gets a little too carried away and bites Damian in a moment of passion. When Clay turns, he doesn’t become a savage werewolf. Instead, he turns into a puppy. (All newly-turned werewolves first manifest as pups in Mustafic’s world.) That leads to some comic moments where Clay runs around as a puppy with a mixture of human and puppy thoughts, including a desire to chase his tail. Then later, there’s a problem with his shifting, and he winds up in human form with “puppy brain.” That part got me laughing to myself.
It’s not a perfect book. Clay must find a mate within the pack because . . . well, I wasn’t sure, really, since it seems like the role the mate was given could equally be filled by a mentor figure, if this wasn’t a romance novel. The leaders of Damian’s pack claim to want to buck the conventions of the werewolf world, but when the plot needed complicating, they couldn’t avoid following them, conveniently enough for the purposes of the storyline.
Overall, though, I liked the book enough that I was willing to just suspend my occasional doubts and go with the flow of the story. I’m going to be looking for the next in the series, too. The author left some of Damian’s background a mystery, and I’m curious to find out more about the things she only alludes to. I’m curious about how the relationship between Damian and Clay will develop, too; it seems like they might be in for something of a bumpy ride.
Recommended for readers who enjoy werewolf paranormals with a bit of a twist.
A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
July 6, 2018
Damian is a wolf shifter. He has friends in his pack but he's not really a part of the pack. He works away a lot and that's not conducive to pack life. His one relationship inside the pack was with an abusive alpha wanna be, Blaine.
Clay is just looking for a hook up. Not expecting the man to actually look better than his profile picture. They quickly progress to the camper on the back of Damian's truck. When Clay accidentally bites Damian he's disgusted at the blood. When Damian shows up at his work he apologizes for biting him.
Damian doesn't remember getting bitten when they were together but since he is a wolf shifter it's kind of an important detail. Now he has to find a way to get Clay to his pack so they will know if he is infected.
When Clay shifted so did his life. He hates Damian for what happened. But he also know that the wolf is his, regardless of him convincing Blaine that he wants to mate with him, trying to buy time to figure out his new reality. When Blaine shows his true self, once again Clay’s life is upended.
It was an interesting take on the shifter genre. Seeing things from a pups point of view was cute. This was a shorter than I would of liked. Not near enough detail on the relationship that was forming. There was a lot left hanging. Hopefully there will be another one to round these guys out.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
Clay is just looking for a hook up. Not expecting the man to actually look better than his profile picture. They quickly progress to the camper on the back of Damian's truck. When Clay accidentally bites Damian he's disgusted at the blood. When Damian shows up at his work he apologizes for biting him.
Damian doesn't remember getting bitten when they were together but since he is a wolf shifter it's kind of an important detail. Now he has to find a way to get Clay to his pack so they will know if he is infected.
When Clay shifted so did his life. He hates Damian for what happened. But he also know that the wolf is his, regardless of him convincing Blaine that he wants to mate with him, trying to buy time to figure out his new reality. When Blaine shows his true self, once again Clay’s life is upended.
It was an interesting take on the shifter genre. Seeing things from a pups point of view was cute. This was a shorter than I would of liked. Not near enough detail on the relationship that was forming. There was a lot left hanging. Hopefully there will be another one to round these guys out.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
July 6, 2018
This is a new-to-me author, so I went into this with few expectations. This was very well written from a grammar/syntax standpoint, and the story was engaging. I loved the original spin on werewolves.
I did have some issues with the plot and time management. Several times throughout the book, time passes without explanation. Also, there are instances where we are built up to something, only for time to skip forward.
The MC's could have been a bit more developed, and there are some unresolved plot points, but hopefully we'll get this with the next installment.
I definitely wouldn't call this a romance at this point. It felt more like a prequel. We have an extremely tentative HFN and the MC's are just starting to accept their connection.
Despite my complaints, I sincerely enjoyed the book and the characters. I think they're going to resonate with me even after I start something new, which is the mark of a good author to me. I'm really looking forward to the next in the series and other books by this author.
3.5 stars rounded up
*Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I did have some issues with the plot and time management. Several times throughout the book, time passes without explanation. Also, there are instances where we are built up to something, only for time to skip forward.
The MC's could have been a bit more developed, and there are some unresolved plot points, but hopefully we'll get this with the next installment.
I definitely wouldn't call this a romance at this point. It felt more like a prequel. We have an extremely tentative HFN and the MC's are just starting to accept their connection.
Despite my complaints, I sincerely enjoyed the book and the characters. I think they're going to resonate with me even after I start something new, which is the mark of a good author to me. I'm really looking forward to the next in the series and other books by this author.
3.5 stars rounded up
*Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2018
“Scratches, scratches behind the ears, scratches.”
What a wonderful twist. Everything about this story was different then I had expected, and it made it more enjoyable for me.
The biggest thing I appreciated and enjoyed was Clay, and how he wasn’t a pushover and stood his ground. Even if at times I thought he should at least hear Damian out, I completely understood his hesitancy.
Getting to read about a transformation from the beginning even though Clay is an adult was refreshing.
But no, I was going to get my pound of flesh out of Damian for what he’d done…as soon as I caught that stupid tail!
The Outcast Pack didn’t seem like the nicest pack and I’m a little surprised Damian stayed so long. I was a little disappointed in Willard and Pete. Having an Alpha and having Elders was different, as its difficult to say who protects and who makes the rules in the pack. Unfortunately, the Alpha doesn’t always rule and protect its pack.
I’m excited there’s going to be more!!!
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.
What a wonderful twist. Everything about this story was different then I had expected, and it made it more enjoyable for me.
The biggest thing I appreciated and enjoyed was Clay, and how he wasn’t a pushover and stood his ground. Even if at times I thought he should at least hear Damian out, I completely understood his hesitancy.
Getting to read about a transformation from the beginning even though Clay is an adult was refreshing.
But no, I was going to get my pound of flesh out of Damian for what he’d done…as soon as I caught that stupid tail!
The Outcast Pack didn’t seem like the nicest pack and I’m a little surprised Damian stayed so long. I was a little disappointed in Willard and Pete. Having an Alpha and having Elders was different, as its difficult to say who protects and who makes the rules in the pack. Unfortunately, the Alpha doesn’t always rule and protect its pack.
I’m excited there’s going to be more!!!
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.
August 13, 2018
This was fun
I enjoyed this more than I expected to. There’s several things that were less okay - there is some stalker-like behavior. This follows Damian and Clay after they hook up and Clay accidentally swallows Damian’s blood, resulting in him becoming a werewolf. A lot of the story is Clay working through his anger about his situation and trying to circumvent the pack laws.
There are many funny moments but also many serious and heavy ones. I really look forward to seeing the continuation of Clay and Damian’s relationship development.
Content notes:
🐾 on page sex
🐾 biting, swallowing blood
🐾 alcohol consumption
🐾 getting hook-up’s name through third party
🐾 stalker-like behavior
🐾 mention of death of both parents
🐾 breaking & entering
🐾 kidnapping
🐾 casual ableism
🐾 g*psy
🐾 vomiting
🐾 violence, fisticuffs, fighting as wolves
🐾 threats of sexual assault
🐾 references to past domestic abuse (physical, sexual, verbal)
🐾 victim blaming
🐾 blood
🐾 paralysis as result of injury
I enjoyed this more than I expected to. There’s several things that were less okay - there is some stalker-like behavior. This follows Damian and Clay after they hook up and Clay accidentally swallows Damian’s blood, resulting in him becoming a werewolf. A lot of the story is Clay working through his anger about his situation and trying to circumvent the pack laws.
There are many funny moments but also many serious and heavy ones. I really look forward to seeing the continuation of Clay and Damian’s relationship development.
Content notes:
🐾 on page sex
🐾 biting, swallowing blood
🐾 alcohol consumption
🐾 getting hook-up’s name through third party
🐾 stalker-like behavior
🐾 mention of death of both parents
🐾 breaking & entering
🐾 kidnapping
🐾 casual ableism
🐾 g*psy
🐾 vomiting
🐾 violence, fisticuffs, fighting as wolves
🐾 threats of sexual assault
🐾 references to past domestic abuse (physical, sexual, verbal)
🐾 victim blaming
🐾 blood
🐾 paralysis as result of injury
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2018
4.5 stars, rounding up because I laughed so many times!
This shifter story is different than any I've read before. Clay and Damian have a one night Grindr hookup that changes both their lives. Whether the changes are for better or worse, I'm still not sure. The pack members are well written, and I really like some and hate others. The interaction between them all is interesting. This original and very entertaining story has a HFN (happy for now) ending, leaving room for the follow-up coming out in August. I can't wait for that one!
My favorite moments are when Clay is in pup form or mentality. He is freaking adorable. With a few exceptions, I like him so much better as a pup than as a human. I am hopeful that he will be extra sweet to Damian in the next installment, since he was such a pain in the butt to him in this one. I am excited to see where life takes them, and I look forward to going along for the ride.
This shifter story is different than any I've read before. Clay and Damian have a one night Grindr hookup that changes both their lives. Whether the changes are for better or worse, I'm still not sure. The pack members are well written, and I really like some and hate others. The interaction between them all is interesting. This original and very entertaining story has a HFN (happy for now) ending, leaving room for the follow-up coming out in August. I can't wait for that one!
My favorite moments are when Clay is in pup form or mentality. He is freaking adorable. With a few exceptions, I like him so much better as a pup than as a human. I am hopeful that he will be extra sweet to Damian in the next installment, since he was such a pain in the butt to him in this one. I am excited to see where life takes them, and I look forward to going along for the ride.
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