A review by kblincoln
Reflected by Rhiannon Held
5.0
Rhiannon Held consistently delivers stories of intricate, layered, and emotionally charged people-stories through her werewolf characters: emotionally and physically wounded Silver, her Alpha mate Andrew Dare, and Dare's estranged-until-now teen daughter, Felicia.
And various other pack members.
It's strange how a book written about werewolves and chock-full of were politics, mannerisms, phrases ("prey-stupid", "jumped from downwind") seemingly purposefully extra-human can reveal so much about being human.
There's a scene in the book where the main character, Silver (although we get lots of POV from Silver and Felicia this time, I kind of missed Dare!) is having to explain to a human psychologist why Felicia tricked her into trespassing in a stranger's house. The conversation digs into the open-wound rawness of step-daughter/step-mother relationships; the kind of tip-toeing feints and parries you make both wanting to care for eachother and not knowing how to without causing pain.
Nothing much happens in this book plotwise. Dare goes away to Alaska, leaving Silver to deal with a challenge to one of their female sub-alphas, and a roaming, spanish-speaking were suspiciously interested in Felicia.
Emotionally, however, Held once again puts Silver through the ringer, this time without Dare's emotional support. All the reasons I like this series are here: emotional manipulation, homey scenes of people sitting around trying to not irritate eachother, and reining in strong feelings. Not to be read for action, but for thoughtful relationships.
And various other pack members.
It's strange how a book written about werewolves and chock-full of were politics, mannerisms, phrases ("prey-stupid", "jumped from downwind") seemingly purposefully extra-human can reveal so much about being human.
There's a scene in the book where the main character, Silver (although we get lots of POV from Silver and Felicia this time, I kind of missed Dare!) is having to explain to a human psychologist why Felicia tricked her into trespassing in a stranger's house. The conversation digs into the open-wound rawness of step-daughter/step-mother relationships; the kind of tip-toeing feints and parries you make both wanting to care for eachother and not knowing how to without causing pain.
Nothing much happens in this book plotwise. Dare goes away to Alaska, leaving Silver to deal with a challenge to one of their female sub-alphas, and a roaming, spanish-speaking were suspiciously interested in Felicia.
Emotionally, however, Held once again puts Silver through the ringer, this time without Dare's emotional support. All the reasons I like this series are here: emotional manipulation, homey scenes of people sitting around trying to not irritate eachother, and reining in strong feelings. Not to be read for action, but for thoughtful relationships.