Opinions of a Wolf

Summary:
Lizzie’s life is all about control.  Her library books are never late, her preschool class is extremely well-behaved, and she always grocery shops with lists.  In fact, to date the only out-there thing she’s ever done is to adopt her terrier, Pirate.  On her 30th birthday, though, her long-lost grandmother shows up, and she just happens to be a biker babe.  Oh, and she’s here to warn Lizzie that the minute she turns 30 her slayer powers will go into full effect and a fifth level demon wants them.  Before she knows it, she’s caught up in a whirlwind of roadkill witches, griffins, demons, and switch stars.

Review:
This is a refreshing twist in the paranormal romance genre.  No vampires to be seen so far and demons are just demons not fallen angels seeking redemption.  Lizzie reads kind of like a reluctant ninja, which is a nice change from the boring girl suddenly made exciting by the appearance of vampires.  Her life is suddenly made exciting due to a change that took place inside herself, not outside.

I also really enjoyed that her slayer powers come about when she turns 30, not at adolescence or at 18 or at 21.  Thirty makes sense because she actually gets a chance to grow up before dealing with all of this stuff.  Plus it gives older readers who long ago gave up on getting a letter from Hogwarts a chance to still imagine a fantastical life for themselves.

On the other hand, Fox does not entirely escape from paranormal romance (or heck, just romance) tropes.  There’s this really cute guy and she instantly feels a magical connection but oh my goodness something is holding them apart until they stop letting it but then she gets instantly angry at him.  For a writer who put in some very creative elements, such as the witches being elderly grandmas who still kick butt, I was expecting far more from the romance portion.  Also, the sex scene really fell flat.  I’m not sure if this was due to the way she wrote about the sex or the fact that I just didn’t believe any of the emotions between the two, but it was a disappointment either way.

Similarly, Lizzie hems and haws over being a demon slayer rather late in the game at a point at which it is obvious she really enjoys it but for some reason isn’t realizing it?  It just doesn’t make sense and rings false.

However, I still plan on reading the sequel, because the romance was such a minor portion of the storyline, and Lizzie is at least a strong female character who remains feminine.  I’m not big into the hardened heart tattoo covered female leads who seem to be the only paranormal alternative to moony-eyed emo chicks.  Lizzie lands smack between the two, which lends to the unique qualities in the book.

If you enjoy paranormal romance with a twist, you’ll enjoy this series.  Similarly, if you want a humorous, gentler introduction to the genre, try this book out.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Source: SwapTree

Buy It