0 stars.
Just annoying when another alpha like Branson is inserting himself in Hollister's and Aver's relationship and when he said he wouldn't "let" Hollister come see Aver, i thought that was crossing the line. Ruined the flare in Aver and Hollister's relationship in my opinion, felt like they both were being controlled by the other Walker cousins. What, like you can't get mad or upset with your significant other without the over-the-top interfering by someone else? And Branson had asked Aver to leave and didn't apologize afterwards when he realized it would've killed Hollister if Aver actually did leave the grounds.
Idk I just felt like the cousins and even Hollister were being too hard on Aver... it was so weird... the literal freeze-out was uncomfortable to witness because it just made me mad at the Walkers and their mates and his "punishment" which was 2 weeks+ outside in the cold but they didn't offer for him to come back even once? nor do they bring supplies before the two-week mark? TWO WEEKS WITHOUT SUPPLIES FROM HIS SO-CALLED FAMILY AND MATE. just wtf kind of book did I read?
And Nash saying "Branson's putting his foot down" even after 2 whole weeks makes it seem like Branson is the Alpha of the Walkers... huh? and even though Aver's anger had dissipated almost immediately after that night, that anger being Branson's excuse for keeping Aver away, because of his "rage"-- I think it's total bullshit. Branson seemed to be punishing Aver for his own grievances towards Aver. I would understand if Aver stayed away for a few days and Branson "put his foot down" for a few days but 2+ damn weeks makes absolutely no sense, what the hell was the author thinking writing that. Ugh this entire book makes no sense like how can Hollister even sleep at night in Aver's cousin's house, in Aver's bed, fully knowing Aver is sleeping in the woods, with no supplies for 2+ weeks, and in the cold... especially if you're in love with the guy lol, it doesn't make any sense.
I feel disappointed in the author for writing it this way. Major letdown.
And then Aver and Hollister make up like nothing happened, dont even discuss how Aver was forced away from him while he was pregnant. It just doesn't sit right with me, no matter how many times I go over the entire situation.
And Hollister was doubting Aver a lot in the book... and when he said "that will kill your cousins" after Aver asked "would that be so bad?" regarding if Aver ever became the Alpha of the Walker County - it sounded like Hollister didn't have any trust or faith in Aver. Aver, clearly in his mind, may have wanted to get back at his parents but he also had the entire pack in mind, thinking of them whereas Branson was saying "Each person in the pack is free to leave. If they stay, that's their own choice." This showed Aver was thinking of the entire pack and its people whereas Branson was once again being a judgy prickly dick and only thinking of himself and his cousins because he was too narrow-minded to see how others would be affected. AND AVER NEVER GETS ACKNOWLEDGED, WTF.
I don't feel as if the cousins, Branson, Wyatt and Nash, ever had Aver's back - not even once - in the entire book. They kept pushing their negative opinions on him over and over and when the opportunity struck to put down Aver in front of his mate, Branson especially jumped in quickly by telling Aver to "go fuck himself on pack lands" while keeping Hollister in his house. They all acted like Aver was going to beat up Hollister when he just wanted to be with him because he was scared and hurt.
Branson's comment of "I won't let him" as in he wouldn't let Hollister out to see his own mate also made no sense because after weeks of locking Aver outside, Branson should have realized Hollister had to, no, needed to see Aver. It fucking makes no sense to me why Branson would keep his cousin away for so long from his mate even if Hollister wasn't miserable. Branson was basically puppeteering everyone until he came to see Aver to "allow" him back. Ugh it felt like a power-play situation where Branson had clearly gotten the upper hand.
Also, this entire series has put humans down multiple times. For example, the Sheriff being so clueless and dumb was hilariously offensive.
Also a bit unrealistic how Hollister in his mind is able to so quickly adapt to the pack life and pack terms and in his mind, he gets angry at the elders as if he's been there forever, it was super unrealistic and a bit annoying.
And at the end when the mates were crying on the Alphas' shoulders and pissed for their children while the Alpha mates were merely pissed... like huh? Stereotypical much?
Too many things I didn't like in this series. It felt like Branson was the Alpha of the Walker cousins and their mates and if he didn't like something, he'd force it on the others. It felt like he was very threatened by Aver throughout the book and he was being a shitty cousin by telling Aver he's not being himself over and over. I didn't like Branson and his judgemental snooty attitude in the other books and I despised him even more in this one. What a jackass. I hope he and his hypocritical cousins took the time to say thanks to Aver after he saved their asses at the end -- cuz say what wht u want abt Aver, like him or not, he was a damn genius and Branson was being a dumbass even right before. But ofc they didn't say thanks to him though. i rlly wanted one scene where branson and the others would be grateful to Aver and even apologize but nope.
I don't understand why the author wrote Aver to suffer the most out of all the cousins when they all made dumb mistakes in their stories, and they were so crazy about their mates and wouldn't let anyone separate them from them but it was okay for it to happen to Aver? Aver was coming out of his shell and then all of a sudden, the author punishes him for it... huh??
Kiki I sorta liked some of your older series but u completely missed the mark with this one.