Although this story was fast-paced due to sparse details, a very light read that did what I needed it to do, which was take my brain away without me really needing to think too much. For what we get of the characters, they're interesting enough to keep me hooked, and the set up of the paranormal world is a fun one. Essentially all pieces that I would have loved to see more of. Because the story went by so quickly, I didn't get a chance to truly create a connection with the characters and the climactic events took place and were over within half a page, which was so fast that I had to go back and reread to see if I'd just imagined it.




Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Sure. Again, this is a great one for when you really don't have the energy for emotional investment but still want to send your brain somewhere.


 See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book



CHARACTERS: Both MCs are interesting for what we get of them and I do wish we had more of chance to spend time with them and dig deeper into their psyches. An alpha of a werewolf pack and a witch who serves as the 'warrior' of the Coven, species that two decades prior had been major enemies and at war. The backstory is tantalizing and truly had the potential to be turned into something epic. That's not where the author chose to go with this tale, but again, not necessarily a bad thing. This is very much light reading and the characters reflect that.




PLOT: A super fast-paced murder mystery that forces rival factions (werewolves and witches) to team up and figure out not only who the killer is, but what it is and how to banish it once they realize it's supernatural. The two groups very slowly work together, primarily through our two MCs, but even then it's an enemies-to-lovers relationship thrown in that doesn't have quite enough time to develop to feel believable as a true bond. In the end, they're all able to team up and fight off the antagonist (again, it happens so quickly I truly missed it the first time). And then the day is saved and HEA.





EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.


1/5: low. Very light reading.



CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled? 


50%. Not meant to have a catharsis or fulfillment. But it had an HEA at least and it did the job I needed it to do.