Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Escape (Rebellion #1)
AUTHOR: Annabelle Jacobs
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 319 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 20, 2019
BLURB:
This isn’t the life Cole dreamt of, but what choice does he have?
With his twenty-third birthday behind him, Cole Moreton now faces the shifter compatibility test which will decide his future. Testing positive means joining a pack and eventually taking the bite. Unfortunately, with enviable skills in self-defence and hand-to-hand combat, the kind of packs interested in him aren’t any he’d want to join.
Logan has been a member of the McKillan pack for most of his life. Pack is family and loyalty is everything, but when the shifter government turns out to be no better than the oppressive humans before them, he questions everything.
Right from their first meeting, Logan knows that a life with the McKillan pack isn’t right for Cole, but with his alpha taking a keen interest in Cole’s skills, Logan’s hands are tied. Mutual attraction builds between them, but acting on it is futile—helping Cole will put their lives at risk and an end to any future they could’ve had.
REVIEW:
Logan is the wolf assigned to the candidate Cole. Cole has zero interest in being a wolf and even less interest in using his considerable skills at the behest of one of what he sees as the worst packs in London. When he tests positive and realizes he’s not going to have a choice, he’s shattered. He has always just wanted to teach. But two black belts and a sharp shooter skill level has put a bullseye on his back with the pack that are basically enforcers and intelligence in the new London run by wolves where humans have few rights and less control over their lives.
Logan is attracted to Cole from the get go but he tries to ignore it because he knows right away that Cole is not cut out for pack life and has no desire to be a wolf, much less a wolf who would be required to do the things Logan’s Alpha his squad would expect him. Cole wants to hate Logan – he’s got literally no use for shifters. But he can’t help the pull towards him either. When Logan offers him the possibility of escaping this fate, Cole doesn’t know whether to trust him or not, but he really really wants to. As they continue to grow closer, the danger closes in on them and there are sacrifices that have to be made on both sides.
I don’t want to say anything else about the plot because it would be a bit spoilery. Let’s just say that there is a LOT of tension in the book and the slow burn between Cole and Logan eventually becomes a raging inferno that the both try to keep at bay as long as they can.
This is the start to what I hope will be a wonderful new series from Annabelle Jacobs. She writes really good shifter stories and a lot of tension between the humans and shifters that populate her worlds – her Regent’s Park Pack books are excellent. She’s really good at writing the complex emotions that the humans and shifters experience in her books. Cole is a gentle soul, despite his defensive and combat talents, but he realizes what he’ll be asked to do ones he takes the bite and he’s terrified and frankly sick at the thought. We learn that Logan is a wolf who basically grew up with his pack, but he’s watched the change to the Pack government and realizes it’s no better than the previous oppressive human government. He wants to do something about it, but that would mean jeopardizing many people and wolves. The pace of this book is truly slow burn – there isn’t even a kiss until 50% through the story – but that’s felt right given the starting point of the two characters. Logan is tough and loyal and fierce and Cole recognizes what Logan is risking and is grateful and drawn to him, despite his disdain for shifters. The action in the second half of the book as fast and furious and there are a lot of obstacles for them to overcome and we’re not sure who are the good and bad guys. One warning – there is a scene of torture that might be tough for some to read, but again, was integral to the story. I really liked this book and I cannot wait for the next one!
RATING: 
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