Scan barcode
secretmagic's review against another edition
5.0
I had high expectations for Rachel Vincent's Shifter series, and 'Stray' has lived up to those expectations. I enjoyed the book so much. Vincent has created a story that is so easy to lose yourself in. 'Stray' is incredibly fast-paced and I had such I hard time putting it down to sleep and eat.
I loved how we're thrown into the drama and mystery of the story so quickly. Random strays encroaching on Pride territory and kidnapping of female Pride members (a shocking crime with so little females in the shifting community). And so many twists that I certainly didn't expect. I especially loved how the Shifters were Cats. The majority of book I've read involving shifters focus on a wolf angle and I enjoyed seeing a different animal being in the spotlight.
As a narrator, Faythe's tough and frequently stubborn attitude invades her actions and makes every moment fun and interesting. I found myself holding out for her next comments and wondering what trouble she'd get herself into next - and at the rate she argues with people, you know she'll be in trouble again soon, but it all helps to keep you on the edge of your seat. I was particularly impressed with her shifting skills, Faythe has amazing strength.
I'm nervous about the love angle. I adore Marc. I know he has a possessive streak that was often unjustified in the first half of 'Stray', but I love how well he knows Faythe and how his presence may have frustrated her originally but grew to be a source of comfort. However, I'm concerned that their history together will cause problems and that because he's been giving a chance so early in the series that something will chance towards the end. When you're given two guys at the beginning of a series, Marc and Jace, the guy Faythe will pick won't be final after one book. I guess I'll have to keep reading to find out.
5/5 Stars. Loved it. Can't wait to get into 'Rouge'
I loved how we're thrown into the drama and mystery of the story so quickly. Random strays encroaching on Pride territory and kidnapping of female Pride members (a shocking crime with so little females in the shifting community). And so many twists that I certainly didn't expect. I especially loved how the Shifters were Cats. The majority of book I've read involving shifters focus on a wolf angle and I enjoyed seeing a different animal being in the spotlight.
As a narrator, Faythe's tough and frequently stubborn attitude invades her actions and makes every moment fun and interesting. I found myself holding out for her next comments and wondering what trouble she'd get herself into next - and at the rate she argues with people, you know she'll be in trouble again soon, but it all helps to keep you on the edge of your seat. I was particularly impressed with her shifting skills, Faythe has amazing strength.
I'm nervous about the love angle. I adore Marc. I know he has a possessive streak that was often unjustified in the first half of 'Stray', but I love how well he knows Faythe and how his presence may have frustrated her originally but grew to be a source of comfort. However, I'm concerned that their history together will cause problems and that because he's been giving a chance so early in the series that something will chance towards the end. When you're given two guys at the beginning of a series, Marc and Jace, the guy Faythe will pick won't be final after one book. I guess I'll have to keep reading to find out.
5/5 Stars. Loved it. Can't wait to get into 'Rouge'
janavda's review against another edition
I know this sounds ridiculous, but whenever they shifted I couldn't help but visualise them like this:
The whole werecat-thingy is just not for me, I'd rather have me some handsome werewolves!
The whole werecat-thingy is just not for me, I'd rather have me some handsome werewolves!
wyvernfriend's review against another edition
4.0
Faythe looks like an undergrad. Well, that's cause she is, but her normal life is interrupted by a summons to return to her family home. She's a werecat and while there are a fair number of males there are very few females, without females they don't have a chance of reproduction. Several of these rare females are going missing and it looks like Faythe is next on the list.
When she returns to the pride she finds that her minder is her former fiance. There's still a frisson of interest between the two of them.
I did enjoy the read and look forward to more in this series.
When she returns to the pride she finds that her minder is her former fiance. There's still a frisson of interest between the two of them.
I did enjoy the read and look forward to more in this series.
jobird's review against another edition
4.0
February 2020: A great re read! I am excited to read this series again.
October 2011: When I started reading Stray I kept thinking why Werecats? I had a hard time imagining it all and I couldn't think of cats as being at all tough. Werewolves are so much better. So in my head I kinda made them werewolves. It wasn't hard to do as the way the Pack was run and structured just reminded me so much of other werewolf books I have read. It actually reminded me a lot of Kelley Armstrong's novel Bitten (One of my favourite books). But saying this doesn't mean anything bad. It is just a quirk I had in the beginning of reading it.
I did enjoyed this one. The story flowed and developed at a great pace. Nothing felt rushed. It is action packed and filled with many fun characters that I hope we get to know more about in the books to come. Faythe is not the greatest lead character. At times I found her a little immature. But I can see and hope that she will develop and grow as the series continues.
Overall I think that it is a great first book in a series. I wonder what will be in store for Faythe in the next few books.
October 2011: When I started reading Stray I kept thinking why Werecats? I had a hard time imagining it all and I couldn't think of cats as being at all tough. Werewolves are so much better. So in my head I kinda made them werewolves. It wasn't hard to do as the way the Pack was run and structured just reminded me so much of other werewolf books I have read. It actually reminded me a lot of Kelley Armstrong's novel Bitten (One of my favourite books). But saying this doesn't mean anything bad. It is just a quirk I had in the beginning of reading it.
I did enjoyed this one. The story flowed and developed at a great pace. Nothing felt rushed. It is action packed and filled with many fun characters that I hope we get to know more about in the books to come. Faythe is not the greatest lead character. At times I found her a little immature. But I can see and hope that she will develop and grow as the series continues.
Overall I think that it is a great first book in a series. I wonder what will be in store for Faythe in the next few books.
demilee1369's review against another edition
2.0
has much has I looked forward to reading this book I really couldn't fully get into it no matter how much I tried. I even tried putting the book up for a couple of days but nothing helped with keeping my interest. Even with this I will still try again at later time cause I still find the blurb and concept interesting
sharonsm_28's review against another edition
5.0
Actual Rating: 4.5
This was an incredible read. The story was really interesting. I loved every second of it. It had suspense, and had me wondering what was going to happen. The characters were fantastic. I really loved Faythe. I thought that she was a badass character. She is independent, smart and strong. Marc is a great character. I wish there was more about him and his background. It would make him more relatable, but I thought he was a great character in this first book. I thought the romance between Marc and Faythe was perfect. It did not overpower the story of the book. However, I thought the last few chapters of the book were the best because it got more suspenseful and action-packed. The ending was really good. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. Overall, an amazing read.
This was an incredible read. The story was really interesting. I loved every second of it. It had suspense, and had me wondering what was going to happen. The characters were fantastic. I really loved Faythe. I thought that she was a badass character. She is independent, smart and strong. Marc is a great character. I wish there was more about him and his background. It would make him more relatable, but I thought he was a great character in this first book. I thought the romance between Marc and Faythe was perfect. It did not overpower the story of the book. However, I thought the last few chapters of the book were the best because it got more suspenseful and action-packed. The ending was really good. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. Overall, an amazing read.
emleemay's review against another edition
4.0
There are a good many reasons why this book was lucky to get 4 stars from me, but also equally as many reasons why it could have possibly got more. I'll start at the beginning by explaining the general plot. So... Faythe Sanders is a werecat in a world where female werecats are rarities and also highly protected by the males in an often teeth-grindingly annoying fashion (but more of that in a bit); after 5 years at college, she is summoned back home in a bid to keep her safe from a wild, tabby-killing stray and his gang of murderous followers.
Well, for a start, this Were book was a million and one times better than Moon Called, Faythe was far easier to relate to than Mercy (a college girl battling for independence rather than a mechanic) and definitely likeable. Unlike Mercy, I actually gave a damn what happened to her. But I spent half of this book wanting to sing it's praises and half of it seriously contemplating throwing it at the wall. The misogyny of the werecat society was painful, if I'd have been Faythe I would have locked myself in a room and screamed. For a start, the possibility of leaving the Pride is a luxury only open to the males; the women, on the other hand, have no say in the matter of where they wish to live. It's so bad that Faythe's father even threatens to lock her in a cage for a year if she tries to run away. I think the author took some steps towards redeeming both her mother and father as the book progressed but it never really worked for me. They'd already become one of the enemies in my mind when they tried to bully Faythe into marrying Marc, and her father enjoyed asserting his authority over her and proving that he would always 'win'.
I've come to accept that a lot of Were novels play on the idea that women are seen as weak and inferior within a Pack or Pride (whether true or not), but I repeatedly wanted to tear my hair out in frustration when Faythe's wishes were laughed at because she is female. There is one part of the novel where her father orders her to 'sit', she refuses and so then her brother forcibly knocks her to the floor and throws her onto the couch. Eek. In my opinion, her family and Marc are misogynistic to the point of being abusive. And that's another thing...
Marc. Marc is the big strong hero to her quirky, strong-willed heroine. He's good-looking, intelligent, strong, brave, good in bed... and a complete dick. I didn't like him. At all. So yeah, he got a bit better as the novel went on but he was all about expressing his dominance over others, including Faythe. I can't see them in a proper relationship, or at least not one that I personally would put value on (i.e. equal), but Rachel Vincent left the book in a way that would suggest that there is to be a future for their relationship. But there are quite a few books in the series so I'm hoping Faythe comes to her senses and gets together with the one guy who is sexy, funny and considered her wishes and opinions from day one...
Jace. Now, there's a good hero for you. For me, there's absolutely no contest between him and Marc. He's not even the 'good guy', he's the sexy, dirty talk kinda guy... and yet, he treats Faythe better than her father, her brothers and Marc combined. As it stands at the moment, I really want her to be with him. Or maybe she'll finally find a way to break free from the constraints of the Pride and discover that she needs no one: man, woman or cat.
The story was good too, not the most original one I've ever read but I was kept interested throughout, which isn't that easily done when a book is 600+ pages. What I really can't understand is why so many people shelved this book as 'young adult'. It isn't, to put it plainly. It has graphic sex, graphic violence and some seriously awful rape/attempted rape scenes. This is not in any way a young adult novel. Even though Faythe is a college student, the majority of the main characters are upwards of twenty-five so I don't really see how it could be mistaken for one.
Even with the frustrating men in the book, I loved Faythe and I really enjoyed Vincent's writing. I definitely intend to read Rogue, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed for Jace.
Well, for a start, this Were book was a million and one times better than Moon Called, Faythe was far easier to relate to than Mercy (a college girl battling for independence rather than a mechanic) and definitely likeable. Unlike Mercy, I actually gave a damn what happened to her. But I spent half of this book wanting to sing it's praises and half of it seriously contemplating throwing it at the wall. The misogyny of the werecat society was painful, if I'd have been Faythe I would have locked myself in a room and screamed. For a start, the possibility of leaving the Pride is a luxury only open to the males; the women, on the other hand, have no say in the matter of where they wish to live. It's so bad that Faythe's father even threatens to lock her in a cage for a year if she tries to run away. I think the author took some steps towards redeeming both her mother and father as the book progressed but it never really worked for me. They'd already become one of the enemies in my mind when they tried to bully Faythe into marrying Marc, and her father enjoyed asserting his authority over her and proving that he would always 'win'.
I've come to accept that a lot of Were novels play on the idea that women are seen as weak and inferior within a Pack or Pride (whether true or not), but I repeatedly wanted to tear my hair out in frustration when Faythe's wishes were laughed at because she is female. There is one part of the novel where her father orders her to 'sit', she refuses and so then her brother forcibly knocks her to the floor and throws her onto the couch. Eek. In my opinion, her family and Marc are misogynistic to the point of being abusive. And that's another thing...
Marc. Marc is the big strong hero to her quirky, strong-willed heroine. He's good-looking, intelligent, strong, brave, good in bed... and a complete dick. I didn't like him. At all. So yeah, he got a bit better as the novel went on but he was all about expressing his dominance over others, including Faythe. I can't see them in a proper relationship, or at least not one that I personally would put value on (i.e. equal), but Rachel Vincent left the book in a way that would suggest that there is to be a future for their relationship. But there are quite a few books in the series so I'm hoping Faythe comes to her senses and gets together with the one guy who is sexy, funny and considered her wishes and opinions from day one...
Jace. Now, there's a good hero for you. For me, there's absolutely no contest between him and Marc. He's not even the 'good guy', he's the sexy, dirty talk kinda guy... and yet, he treats Faythe better than her father, her brothers and Marc combined. As it stands at the moment, I really want her to be with him. Or maybe she'll finally find a way to break free from the constraints of the Pride and discover that she needs no one: man, woman or cat.
The story was good too, not the most original one I've ever read but I was kept interested throughout, which isn't that easily done when a book is 600+ pages. What I really can't understand is why so many people shelved this book as 'young adult'. It isn't, to put it plainly. It has graphic sex, graphic violence and some seriously awful rape/attempted rape scenes. This is not in any way a young adult novel. Even though Faythe is a college student, the majority of the main characters are upwards of twenty-five so I don't really see how it could be mistaken for one.
Even with the frustrating men in the book, I loved Faythe and I really enjoyed Vincent's writing. I definitely intend to read Rogue, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed for Jace.
narteest's review against another edition
2.0
One of my spontaneous ventures into the pnr genre, and while I didn't hate it, I didn't love it either. It was just the kind of stuff I found boring and unnecessary: romance focussed, romance orientated, romance -_________- which while yeah, it's a romance novel, and was pretty good for one, it's just not something I would continue on to the sequel for. I just have no desire, unless! Unless of course, I feel the desire to read an adult romance novel.
kmh42's review against another edition
1.0
I almost returned this one, but for some stupid reason, kept on reading. Awful story, horribly gory and violent. Hated the main character. Blech.
sems_comfy_quest's review against another edition
2.0
First Thoughts:
So disappointing! This book reminds me to much of one of my favorite series by Kelley Armstrong Women of the Otherworld and not in a good way. It feels more like reading a ripoff.
Also the story is so slow pace. The first 4 (!) hours (I listend to the audiobook) you could summarize by saying she has to come home because there are mysterious dissaperances of woman shifters, and as a women she might be the target. She does agree (eventually) but wants to leave anyway. All the alpha's roll in to discuss the dissaperances. In between this heroine is 'sturggeling' to find her place in this pack.
Update: The second part got a lot better, 'the bad boys' really make the story. However I had to wait 7 hours to get the story to pick up.So all in all: nope, this isn't a serie for me.
So disappointing! This book reminds me to much of one of my favorite series by Kelley Armstrong Women of the Otherworld and not in a good way. It feels more like reading a ripoff.
Also the story is so slow pace. The first 4 (!) hours (I listend to the audiobook) you could summarize by saying she has to come home because there are mysterious dissaperances of woman shifters, and as a women she might be the target. She does agree (eventually) but wants to leave anyway. All the alpha's roll in to discuss the dissaperances. In between this heroine is 'sturggeling' to find her place in this pack.
Update: The second part got a lot better, 'the bad boys' really make the story. However I had to wait 7 hours to get the story to pick up.So all in all: nope, this isn't a serie for me.