Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Wolves of Black Pine: A Wolfkin Saga Novel
SERIES: The Wolfkin Saga #1
AUTHOR: S.J. Himes
PUBLISHER: Self Pub
LENGTH: 423 pages
BLURB:
An ancient civilization long hidden from humanity is on the brink of chaos and war. Peaceful for thousands of years, the wolfkin clans are mysteriously losing packmates, kidnapped and killed by unknown foes.
The nightmare begins with an ambush by humans at a gathering of their kind, and lives are lost. Among them is Luca, youngest grandson of the two most powerful wolves in the Northern Clans. Thought long dead and gone, he is forced into a half-life, hidden in the far northern wilds of Canada and cut off from his kind. Those who raised him have no idea the creature they harbor in their midst, and name him Ghost. He begins to lose himself over the long years, and though he barely recalls his true name, the one wolf he never forgets is Kane.
Kane, Heir to the wolfkin clan Black Pine, is charged with hunting down the traitors who betrayed their kind to the humans. Years fly by, and more wolves are dying. He refuses to give up, and he vows to never again fail another of their kind, as he failed young Luca years before. His heart tells him Luca lives, but his mind tells him that it’s foolish hope, his guilt eating him alive.
Fate and magic change the course of their lives, and the two wolves long separated by the years find their paths intertwining. Though the gift of their reunion doesn’t come without price. Faced by the consequences of their growing love, and the goddess-forged bond between them, Kane and Ghost are besieged on all sides. Enemies are coming for their blood, and without the steadfast loyalty and love of family and friends, they may not be safe from the very people they fight to protect.
Book One in a series, The Wolfkin Saga. 150,000+ words, contains graphic sex between men, dubious consent, mentions of abuse. Contains gore and violence. Mature readers only.
REVIEW:
Watch out!! Up ahead…..CLIFFHANGER!!!
Ok now that I got that out of the way I can delve into the juicy deliciousness that is this book!! This is a debut book for SJ Himes and smack me sideways, upside, and down-ways it was really friggin good!! Keeping in mind this is a 400+ page novel, it really didn’t “feel” like it, for the most part. This authors ability to paint such a realistic picture of this amazing world with these rich mystical and magical beings was remarkable. There is so much detail in the story, so much. If I had a con it would be that at times, there was too much detail. I got lost a few times because somethings just went over my head or it waxed on so long that I lost focus but I was always able to come back to the story which shows how talented this author really is.
The Wolfkin of Black Pine are honorable, prideful wolves. They take great pride in their traditions and heredity. After horrible tragedy befalls the pack the remaining wolves are left to pick up the pieces and to mourn the ones they lost. Kane, Heir to the Alpha of Black Pine, carries a lot of guilt thinking he failed in saving wolf cub, Luca. But what he doesn’t realize is Luca survived the tragedy. Unfortunately he’s stuck in wolf form, lost in the woods and is picked up by Scientists who run a Wolf Sanctuary.
Flash forward over 14 years, Kane still wears his guilt like armor. But things have gotten tense in the pack due to wolves being hunted and studied by a money hungry evil man.
On a mission from his Alpha, Kane is sent to protect another local pack. Unbelievably he comes across Luca, who now goes by Ghost. Having been stuck in wolf form for the past 14 years the humans that “adopted’ him named him Ghost. Ghost protects his humans, they’re his family but innately he knows his meant for something more. When they finally meet again, it’s powerful and beautiful. Immediately they form a soulbond and are mated.
If you are the type that need the love, sex, crazy need right at the beginning of a story then this book isn’t for you. We wait awhile for Ghost and Kane to get together but when they do it’s GLORIOUS(lol, inside joke! You have to read the book to get it ; ) They’re hot, passionate, loving, caring all the things you want in a romance.
This book has so much depth. There’s lies, betrayal, love, violence, death, reuniting, and hope. So much GLORIOUS(see what I did there?) hope.
This was a really great story. I’m invested in this world and these ridiculously awesome characters. I definitely recommend this and I’m so excited for book 2!!
RATING: 
BUY LINKS: