Scan barcode
bookishwonderlandco's review against another edition
5.0
There was so much that I loved about this book. One thing I loved was there wasn't any boring parts which I just skimmed along. This book was all go and seriously no stop. I loved this book, it explained a lot of what I didn't understand because I read the last book first. The book had everything I love in books, suspense, romance, and action. Faythe is my favorite character because she is one tough chick!
graff_fuller's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The idea of shapeshifters, that are cats (large cats, like lions, tigers, panthers, etc size).
We don't know a lot about the world, since the story was contained in just a couple of locations...without a lot of freedom of movement and interactions.
I look forward to learning more about this world and how they have become this creature, and if there are OTHER creatures that do similar/same things. Interesting.
Faythe is not the sharpest tool in the tool kit. She's not stupid, but she does stupid things, too often. It was becoming ridiculous.
I understand, that she wants the main character to be vulnerable, but I'm not sure she wanted the readers to become frustrated with her stupid mistakes...over and over, and over, again.
There was growth to the character, thank goodness...but it will take a few books...before the stink of how stupid she was in this book...to make her average.
The author preyed on her own protagonist (with being raped). I'm over that trope. There were others who didn't survive in this environment. It actually felt like a male author writing this, instead of a female author.
I hope the rest of the series is better.
We don't know a lot about the world, since the story was contained in just a couple of locations...without a lot of freedom of movement and interactions.
I look forward to learning more about this world and how they have become this creature, and if there are OTHER creatures that do similar/same things. Interesting.
Faythe is not the sharpest tool in the tool kit. She's not stupid, but she does stupid things, too often. It was becoming ridiculous.
I understand, that she wants the main character to be vulnerable, but I'm not sure she wanted the readers to become frustrated with her stupid mistakes...over and over, and over, again.
There was growth to the character, thank goodness...but it will take a few books...before the stink of how stupid she was in this book...to make her average.
The author preyed on her own protagonist (with being raped). I'm over that trope. There were others who didn't survive in this environment. It actually felt like a male author writing this, instead of a female author.
I hope the rest of the series is better.
everybody's review against another edition
Priorities, as well as the emotional impact of events in relation to their severity, are all messed up in this one.
Emotions are constantly swinging between extremes without any good reason.
dnf at 45%
Emotions are constantly swinging between extremes without any good reason.
dnf at 45%
daphx00's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I liked it, but wasn't blown away by any means. Will be picking up the sequel in the future.
Review to come.
Review to come.
breezy610's review against another edition
4.0
Very good, though reading about what they did to a girl kind of made me sick to my stomach. i really can't stand to reading about rape and that type of stuff. but it made it a good plotline and story. i can't wait to started reading the next one.
atarbett's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
jillianlily's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
First in the Shifters urban fantasy series that so far seems to revolve around Faythe, a werecat irked at her independence being reined in.
I've realized I've been somewhat unfair in denigrating books whose characters I find stupid. And Vincent's Faythe did make me hope she would disappear into the jungles of South America, but I kept reminding myself that she is a, okay, not a teenager exactly even though she does act like one. It's more that she is incredibly spoiled and self-obsessed. As her observations change toward the end of the book, I've come to realize that Vincent is setting the stage for her series. I'm still gonna whine though! And hope I can do as well in writing a teen's behavior should it ever come to that!
We're one-fourth into the story before Faythe realizes that her father has been grooming her to take over for years and that Marc was also her father's choice.
Arghh! Faythe relates all the tricks she pulls, the number of times she's driven Marc nuts and then complains when she gets penalized. It's just not fair! Bitch. She talks about how hard she works to make them respect her. To give her the same respect they'd give each other. Just don't make her do something she doesn't wanna do...wahhhh… Then she decides she wants out. Out of the Pride. She wants to go Rogue. And she announces this in the middle of the kidnappings. After a bit, she realizes that "well, she just can't back down now…" Well, duhhh, wait to make the announcement AFTER the kidnappings are resolved. What??? Is she 8??
She encourages Jace to kiss her, touch her, and Marc comes storming in, throwing Jace into a wall. The other guys are angry at her for instigating this and...wahhh…everything's always Faythe's fault. Wait, how old is she again?? Yes, Marc does have anger issues. Which Faythe knows about. She is also quite well aware of the possessive nature of a cat. But, hey, this is Faythe.
I can't help it, she drives me nuts. Here her father has been teaching what's at stake and how to rule. She knows about the danger stalking all the unmated female werecats---both Abby and Sara have been kidnapped and there are probably two psycho strays roaming around.. So, naturally, she takes off in the middle of the night to "take a walk". Ya almost want her to be taken far, far away.
Stray is a weird combination of the practical and the huh-what??
As Faythe bemoans how awful her life is what with Daddy setting all these spies around her, she's about to be hit with a one-two punch: a stray attacks her and Marc has arrived to take her home for Sara Di Carlo has been kidnapped.
It's primarily a bitch-fest of dramatic proportions in which Faythe continues to whine about her her lack of independence; how awful Marc is for being so attractive, wanting her, and being so incredibly possessive about it; how badly she doesn't want to turn into her yes-sir, no-sir mother; and preening herself on how clever she's always been to escape her family's watch even as they've always managed to track her down. A constant she must suddenly rely upon when Faythe is kidnapped by the same men who raped, tortured, and murdered Sara.
Faythe does at least fight back...daddy should provide Faythe with lots more lessons in practical tactics in fighting. Ya just don't take time out to translate when you should be takin' 'em down. She also spends too much time thinking about victory dances when she should be ensuring her safety!
Faythe Sanders is a werecat proud of her ability to do an end-run around her father in staying on at school after her initial graduation. She's currently enrolled to achieve a master's degree.
Marc Ramos is the heir to the Pride and Faythe's ex-boyfriend. Taken in as a stray when he was 14-years-old, he has the drive, the ambition, and the decisiveness needed to lead; now he works as Sander's head Enforcer for the Pride. Michael Sanders is the oldest brother, has a law degree, and is married to a full-human supermodel. He has his own home within Pride territory. Additional brothers include Ethan (Jace is his best friend) and Owen; they and Parker Pierce are enforcers. Technically, Ryan is another brother but he chose to go Rogue and no one is allowed to mention his name. Jace is another enforcer and he wants Faythe. Daddy (Greg Sanders) is an architect and the alpha for his Pride. Faythe's mother is "a remnant of the June Cleaver days of intact families and repressed emotions"; a woman Faythe almost despises for her spinelessness, at least until Faythe has one of her rare fits of growing up!
Vic is Sara's brother and one of Sander's enforcers. His father, Umberto "Bert" Di Carlo, is a friend to Greg Sanders and the Alpha for a neighboring territory; Donna is the mother. His daughter, Sara, has been kidnapped just before her wedding to Kyle. Sean had been a contender for Sara.
Seventeen-year-old Abby Wade has also been kidnapped. Her parents, Rick (Faythe's mom's brother) and Melissa. Nikki Davidson is another target.
Dr. Danny Carver is a forensic pathologist working as an ME for the state who runs interference when strays or pride members show up on his slab. Miguel is a South American werecat plotting the kidnappings of all unmated tabbies. He prefers to sample terrified wares. One of his confederates is Eric, who wants Abby.
Sammi is/was Faythe's roommate in college. Andrew was her human boyfriend.
The cover is quite colorful in its green background and the red and navy of Faythe's cropped top and low-slung jeans with a fall of her dark brown hair over one shoulder.
The title is the topic for the Pride is definitely concerned about Strays.
My Take
I've realized I've been somewhat unfair in denigrating books whose characters I find stupid. And Vincent's Faythe did make me hope she would disappear into the jungles of South America, but I kept reminding myself that she is a, okay, not a teenager exactly even though she does act like one. It's more that she is incredibly spoiled and self-obsessed. As her observations change toward the end of the book, I've come to realize that Vincent is setting the stage for her series. I'm still gonna whine though! And hope I can do as well in writing a teen's behavior should it ever come to that!
We're one-fourth into the story before Faythe realizes that her father has been grooming her to take over for years and that Marc was also her father's choice.
Arghh! Faythe relates all the tricks she pulls, the number of times she's driven Marc nuts and then complains when she gets penalized. It's just not fair! Bitch. She talks about how hard she works to make them respect her. To give her the same respect they'd give each other. Just don't make her do something she doesn't wanna do...wahhhh… Then she decides she wants out. Out of the Pride. She wants to go Rogue. And she announces this in the middle of the kidnappings. After a bit, she realizes that "well, she just can't back down now…" Well, duhhh, wait to make the announcement AFTER the kidnappings are resolved. What??? Is she 8??
She encourages Jace to kiss her, touch her, and Marc comes storming in, throwing Jace into a wall. The other guys are angry at her for instigating this and...wahhh…everything's always Faythe's fault. Wait, how old is she again?? Yes, Marc does have anger issues. Which Faythe knows about. She is also quite well aware of the possessive nature of a cat. But, hey, this is Faythe.
I can't help it, she drives me nuts. Here her father has been teaching what's at stake and how to rule. She knows about the danger stalking all the unmated female werecats---both Abby and Sara have been kidnapped and there are probably two psycho strays roaming around.. So, naturally, she takes off in the middle of the night to "take a walk". Ya almost want her to be taken far, far away.
Stray is a weird combination of the practical and the huh-what??
The Story
As Faythe bemoans how awful her life is what with Daddy setting all these spies around her, she's about to be hit with a one-two punch: a stray attacks her and Marc has arrived to take her home for Sara Di Carlo has been kidnapped.
It's primarily a bitch-fest of dramatic proportions in which Faythe continues to whine about her her lack of independence; how awful Marc is for being so attractive, wanting her, and being so incredibly possessive about it; how badly she doesn't want to turn into her yes-sir, no-sir mother; and preening herself on how clever she's always been to escape her family's watch even as they've always managed to track her down. A constant she must suddenly rely upon when Faythe is kidnapped by the same men who raped, tortured, and murdered Sara.
Faythe does at least fight back...daddy should provide Faythe with lots more lessons in practical tactics in fighting. Ya just don't take time out to translate when you should be takin' 'em down. She also spends too much time thinking about victory dances when she should be ensuring her safety!
The Characters
Faythe Sanders is a werecat proud of her ability to do an end-run around her father in staying on at school after her initial graduation. She's currently enrolled to achieve a master's degree.
Marc Ramos is the heir to the Pride and Faythe's ex-boyfriend. Taken in as a stray when he was 14-years-old, he has the drive, the ambition, and the decisiveness needed to lead; now he works as Sander's head Enforcer for the Pride. Michael Sanders is the oldest brother, has a law degree, and is married to a full-human supermodel. He has his own home within Pride territory. Additional brothers include Ethan (Jace is his best friend) and Owen; they and Parker Pierce are enforcers. Technically, Ryan is another brother but he chose to go Rogue and no one is allowed to mention his name. Jace is another enforcer and he wants Faythe. Daddy (Greg Sanders) is an architect and the alpha for his Pride. Faythe's mother is "a remnant of the June Cleaver days of intact families and repressed emotions"; a woman Faythe almost despises for her spinelessness, at least until Faythe has one of her rare fits of growing up!
Vic is Sara's brother and one of Sander's enforcers. His father, Umberto "Bert" Di Carlo, is a friend to Greg Sanders and the Alpha for a neighboring territory; Donna is the mother. His daughter, Sara, has been kidnapped just before her wedding to Kyle. Sean had been a contender for Sara.
Seventeen-year-old Abby Wade has also been kidnapped. Her parents, Rick (Faythe's mom's brother) and Melissa. Nikki Davidson is another target.
Dr. Danny Carver is a forensic pathologist working as an ME for the state who runs interference when strays or pride members show up on his slab. Miguel is a South American werecat plotting the kidnappings of all unmated tabbies. He prefers to sample terrified wares. One of his confederates is Eric, who wants Abby.
Sammi is/was Faythe's roommate in college. Andrew was her human boyfriend.
The Cover
The cover is quite colorful in its green background and the red and navy of Faythe's cropped top and low-slung jeans with a fall of her dark brown hair over one shoulder.
The title is the topic for the Pride is definitely concerned about Strays.