2016 Series Read: Eileen Wilks' "World of the Lupi"

[Lauren]

Comments up to chapter 9 (not including)

Also thinking of the other series this reminds me of including Nancy Gideon's Moonlight series where the hero is a werewolf and the heroine is a cop.

Still not impressed with Rule. Not only is he (view spoiler)[a womanizer but he is a borderline deadbeat dad although perhaps not as there is an indication that he wants his son away from her for his safety. I guess we will see...

He was just as surprised as Lily at their touch - hmmm.... (hide spoiler)]

The Feebies are up to no good, I just know it!

Lily's grandmother is .... Interesting... I wonder who owes her a favor....

Lily - (view spoiler)[Why can't she sense Rule's magic? I don't think either of them are losing their abilities...

Lily is quite territorial about her job - doesn't want to hand over cases or have Mech ask questions without her (hide spoiler)]

Lupi Politicis - (view spoiler)[So the Rho choices his heir and there is some conflict between Rule and his brothers who all have different mothers, right? (hide spoiler)]

Cullen - (view spoiler)[Both a werewolf and a sorcerer - very rare. I wonder if he knows what's going on with the attacks again the Nokolai and the attempt to frame Rule... (hide spoiler)]

[Danielle Book Boss]

Lauren wrote: "Comments up to chapter 9 (not including)

Also thinking of the other series this reminds me of including Nancy Gideon's Moonlight series where the hero is a werewolf and the heroine is a cop.

Stil..."

Maybe your first point about Rule is why I'm having a a hard motivating myself to continue reading this series past where I am now. I'm not impressed with him at all.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

I finished my re-read of book 1, Tempting Danger, and my review went from 3.5 to 4.5-stars.

* spoilers go up thru to the end, so skip them if you're still reading book #1

Discrimination and prejudice is definitely a thread that runs throughout.

I was thinking the same, Lauren, about the no female Lupi.

I felt similarly about Rule's "actions", but then when (view spoiler)[I learned more about "Lupi aren't monogamous" and the way Carlos basically pushed Rachel off to him, I felt differently about it and him for being with her. (hide spoiler)]

Speaking of Rule's brothers, I'm interested to learn more about Benedict (view spoiler)[ and the story behind him and his Chosen.

And, it was a bit of a shock to learn that Mick was working against Rule and his family, but I was relieved when I realized he'd been manipulated. He definitely redeemed himself - or somewhat - by sacrificing himself to save Rule in the end. (hide spoiler)]

You are both correct in your assumptions re: Ginger. More revealed in later chapters. Heartbreaking, truly.

I kept picturing the squad room of Rizzoli and Isles and Major Crimes. :)

I've started my re-read of book 2, Mortal Danger.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yep, agree with Steph.

I always picture Eve's squad room in the In Death books. It's a wonder no one has made a tv show about them - there's more than 40 books.

Rule, like any hero grows over the series, so he's no longer the sleaze, (view spoiler)[as soon as he realises he's found his Chosen, that's it for him. Even though Lily can still run around if she wants to. (hide spoiler)]

[AH]

I wish I had the time to reread this series with you all. I've read up to the latest book and there are definitely characters you want to keep an eye on.

I do find the pack politics intriguing, especially how they are governed by the Rho and his successor.

[Lauren]

Comments up to chapter 15 (not including):

Rule - (view spoiler)[starting to think a bit better of him now that his relationship with his son is more clear. He really didn't like Lily knowing about him .... (hide spoiler)]

The cops - (view spoiler)[someone is talking out of school about Lily, that same someone might have been in on Theresa's murder. Leaning toward Mech after his meltdown at the scene but perhaps the captain is the one. Lily likes him m so that would be a shame (hide spoiler)]

Cullen - (view spoiler)[Attacked by Ninjas with guns. Who are they working with - the Aza, the other Lupi, independent? Why did they want Michael and who is he exactly? (hide spoiler)]


Lily - (view spoiler)[ is Rule's fated mate so her relationship with Toby should develop

I like how she wasn't intimidated by Benedict or Isen. (hide spoiler)]

Mick - (view spoiler)[I'm suspicious of his intentions. He actually tried to kill Rule in combat over Rule being chosen as heir and now he is putting the moves on Lily (hide spoiler)]

Lots of different threads that need to start coming together

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Lauren, some are resolved in this book, some contribute to the over-arching storyline.

All good points :)

[Lauren]

Sandra wrote: "Lauren, some are resolved in this book, some contribute to the over-arching storyline."

Good to know :0)

[Lauren]

Comments up to chapter 20 (including):

OK, so the threads are starting to come together now.

The Old Ones - (view spoiler)[So the people who took Cullen are in cahoots with the Church of the Faithful who want to annihalate the lup, Makes sense when Rule explains that his Lady and the Aza's Deity are enemies. (hide spoiler)]

Cullen - (view spoiler)[So I'm assuming that he isn't going to be killing people for Helen and the Reverend... (hide spoiler)]

The Feebies - (view spoiler)[Knew they were up to something but didn't see them wanting to recruit Lily.

Their unit is starting to sound similar to Kay Hooper's Special Crimes Unit (hide spoiler)]

There are a lot of ideas in this book that come from series that I'm familiar with - not sure if it is good or bad but Tolkien did say that nothing was actually original...

[AH]

What is nice about this series is that the author researches all sorts of lore and uses it in her series. While one book may remind you of one series, the next will be a little different.

[Lauren]

I'm done and enjoyed the story a great deal although the romance was only so-so.

I also feel that there is a certain lack of originality with the world building. Much is borrowed from other series - Women of the Otherworld, Moonlight by Nancy Gideon and Were-Hunters by Sherrilyn Kenyon to name a few.

Nevertheless, the story and characters are interesting enough to continue. I particularly liked Cullen and Grandmother Yu was a hoot!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Umm, was written in October 2004, Moonlight was 2010, Bitten was 2001, and the first full Were Hunter was also published 2004.

So maybe it was a book of its time, not just a cobbled together mish mash of different series.

As to the romance, it improves with time. Remember they have really just met, so no insta-love here :)

Like Steph, I've started #2

ETA: And yes Grandmother Yu is just so mysterious!! And Cullen is a sweetie.

[Lauren]

Sandra wrote: "So maybe it was a book of its time, not just a cobbled together mish mash of different series."

Sounds about right. I guess its just because I read those other series first that it comes across as something I'm familiar with. It is hard to find something original when you've read so much in the same genre.

Glad there's no insta-love although with fated mates it is more plausible.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yep, have to agree that it is hard to find originality. I guess that's why everyone, incl me went crazy for Ann Bishop's The Others last 2 years.

[Lauren]

Sandra wrote: "Yep, have to agree that it is hard to find originality. I guess that's why everyone, incl me went crazy for Ann Bishop's The Others last 2 years."

And me too! I love that series.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I ordered the pb for #3 which comes out in Feb, but decided it was too long to wait again for #4 so I ordered the kindle for and its out in March, so no big wait for me this time. *hi5*

[Lauren]

My library has Vision in Silver and will hopefully get Marked in Flesh when it comes out.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Sadly my library only has her epic fantasy stuff, which I promised myself I'd read, but haven't gotten to yet.

[Lauren]

Sandra wrote: "Sadly my library only has her epic fantasy stuff, which I promised myself I'd read, but haven't gotten to yet."

I'm not sure that the epic fantasy series is my cup of tea. Too heavy.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I thought I'd try it and see. I used to read epic fantasy in my younger days, but not so much nowadays.

[Minuska]

hi there,

I was away in Istanbul for a week.. and so I had a bit more time to read.. I have just started reading book 6.. as for the beggining you've been talking about.. I must say I was really annoyed with the similarity between the pre-read short story Only human and book 1 Tempting danger..

I understand the author decided to take the story and improve it, give it more space, but since I had different ideas about the characters from the short story, I did not like the modifications done in book 1..

Does anybody feel the same way or did you like both versions?

[Lauren]

I don't usually read short stories or novellas precisely because there it too little character development and story. Longer books allow the author to go in different, more detailed directions.

[AH]

I never read the short story - I usually save them for when I've finished a series and want more to read by an author.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I just checked and I haven't read it either. I think because it said it was the original idea for Tempting Danger - I didn't track it down, cause I didn't need to.

But of course, Minuska, you've read it first. And first impressions often count more than reality. That's just the way us humans are. LOL Sorry you were disappointed.

How are the following books holding up for you now?

[Steph, Serious series addict]

I didn't read the prequel/short, which now that I'm hearing more about it, I'm glad I didn't. I'll probably just skip it altogether.

I've finished my 1-3 book re-read and anxious to start the rest of the series for the first time :)

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

I've never started this series. I think it came around about the time I was burnt out on crime drama and law enforcement stuff masquerading as UF because that's what publishers were buying. Years later, I did like one of the short stories author wrote in one of the mixed author anthologies ...

Long story short, I'm reading a sample of first book to see if I like and can join in the group series read. My posts will be from fresh eyes... I'm always a little envious when others get to discover a great series for the first time so now it might be me as the newbie.

(Just please don't tell me it takes x number of books to like the series -- I made myself miserable slogging through a few of those series -- if I don't at least think the sample was "okay" I don't care if it will hook me by book 2 or book 32.)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

LOL! I liked it right away, Debbie, hopefully you will too.

[Rosina]

Finished #1 and love love loved it....starting ##2 within the week...fingers crossed...

I am going to try the short story just cause I am now curious.....

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I finished #2 but don't want to get too far ahead or I'll forget what I want to say when we get to them.

Hope you liked the sample Debbie!!!!

Rosina, you can give us your opinion of the shorty when you've finished :D

[Steph, Serious series addict]

That's why I stopped @ 3. I really wanted to keep reading, but I'll try to hold off and read one a month along with the rest. :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

:)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

I do feel a pull to pick it up again though, so "all good intentions" and all that. LOL! We'll see.

[Lisa Kay]

I'm in, too. Can you believe I just got a notice for the first book in this series and I requested it about 6 months ago? Amazing. Just read the first short story online and enjoyed it.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Welcome, Lisa Kay :)

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yay! Glad it finally came in :)

[Rosina]

Enjoy Lisa Kay.....I really enjoyed the first one and am now reading the short story in

[Lisa Kay]

Thanks, Steph & Sandra. Yeah, Rosina, I have that one here on my desk to read next...I think. I did read the online short story, though.

[Lisa Kay]

Read the short story before I looked at the reading order.

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

Just started this series due to it being this year's challenge. Love it! Love SOS for introducing me to another series that I enjoy...and had seen but perhaps wouldn't have picked up without this! :) Loving my reading-start to 2016!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yay!!!!!!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Yay :D

[Vivian]

Finally made it to the top of the waitlist, yay! Read first few chapters and I like how we just jump into the story. I have lots of questions about these people and the world but not in a mega confused way. I don't know if I like the name Rule but I'll try not to hold that against him :)

My only semi-concern is the (view spoiler)[mated thing between Rule and Lily. I have heard it is done well but it still weirds me out (hide spoiler)].

[Steph, Serious series addict]

I feel like Wilks kinda carries on with her world and expects the reader to go with it as she feeds us little clues. It's a nice way to build it without all the heavy info dumps, but it does take some getting used to.

I'm one that found their mating to be a bit more realistic compared to most other. They (view spoiler)[aren't in the immediately accept it without question category. Lily, especially, has trouble with it, while Rule not as much (makes sense since he knew of the potential) though he's having to make adjustments. (hide spoiler)]

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yep, well said Steph, totally agree.

Lily is much more human and down to earth than Rule will ever be (understandably). Though both show compassion to others and adjust to the changed circumstances over the course of the series and are well matched.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

:D

[Vivian]

The first book was so good but that ending! (view spoiler)[I was not expecting the negative aftermaths with everyone going crazy and dying! Slight exaggeration but you get the idea. It was a little bit tragic. Plus, I was led to think that Mick was a bad seed and I was sad that he would plot against his family, then find out he was brainwashed so yay, then he dies?! Oh the feels lol.

And grandma is a badass. I want to read a series about her life.

Werewolves are only male but there can be female other shifters or maybe grandma is some other mystical being?

I was very disappointed that we didn't get the reception scene where Rule meets the family at the end of the book. It was talked about enough, better start off with it in #2!
(hide spoiler)]

I also read the New Kid and it was a fun short. Definitely meant to make Rule look good. If I was a teenage girl, I would swoon over him :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

"the feels" LOL! Totally!

LOVE Grandmother! She does need a book! I'd buy/read that!

Yes, you'll get that scene in book 2. :)

[AH]

The grandma is the best character. (view spoiler)[ A real tiger mom (hide spoiler)]

[Steph, Serious series addict]

LOL! Too true!

[Vivian]

AH wrote: "The grandma is the best character. [spoilers removed]"

Lol, literally!

Book 2 is in, is so tempting to start but alas, other things to do :/