Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Claw Of Exile
SERIES: Exiled #1
AUTHOR: J K Jones
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: Approximately 399 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 9, 2021
BLURB:
Exiled.
Cursed. Abandoned. Ryu Suzuki is no stranger to these things.
For years he wandered the Outlands with nothing but his Katana to keep him safe. Kuroi kage—Black Shadow is what they call him. A phantom Omega. He belongs nowhere. He is no-one. Until a vicious disease spreading like wildfire threatens everyone he loves.
After a series of unfortunate events, the game changes. Now he’s forced to go back to his long-forgotten pack, the Silvercrest Howlers. Suddenly, he’s staring at the man who ruined everything in the first place.
The Alpha that betrayed him. The White Lotus.
Micah McCorbyn.
He also happens to be his mate.
Extremely Dark MM Romance, MM Werewolf Shifter Romance, Gay betrayal romance, Enemies to Friends Romance, Forced mates, Gay Literary Fiction, fated mates, class difference, childhood bully/ victim romance, third person present tense, HFN ending.
REVIEW:
Having been bullied as a child, in later life, Ryu lives by his Katana. A disease is changing wolves into blood-lusting Lycan’s and Ryu is on a mission to stop them. His task also means seeing the love of his life Micah, the man who betrayed him.
Looking at Amazon, Claw of Exile was originally released in February earlier in the year and has since been re-worked and re-released. So, when picking up a copy, be mindful of versions and publication dates.
From beginning to end, this was a story that I yin and yanged over. There is so much that I loved and a huge element that had me shouting out loud in frustration. I will get to why in a bit.
Claw of Exile is the first installment of three in the Exiled series and is told in the third person, present tense from the viewpoint of Ryu. The glossary of wolf packs at the beginning is helpful in concept but rarely (okay never) referred back to in kindle format. If this was in paperback, then hell yeah – definitely handy.
The genre, characters, and worldbuilding were superb. The author does not hold back on dark imagery – an element I recognize from other novels written by JK Jones. Ryu is an Omega warrior that broke the boundaries. A man living with the consequences of his birth and experiences growing up, including love, torture, and betrayal, he is everything that a leading character should be. Micah is the stalwart Alpha that everyone looks up to.
Traditionally, the first in a series is where backgrounds are dealt with, and Claw of Exile is no exception. However, it is how everything was put together that I had an issue with. Many in writing circles advocate that backstory should emerge throughout a novel, and I am among them. But the layout of Claw Of Exile left me more frustrated than enlightened. The present-day story would be progressing tickety-boo, then Ryu would delve into his history. Not generally a problem – but these historical incidences would always last for a minimum of one chapter – often more, before returning to the present. The tennis effect between present and past made for very confusing reading as, after a plunge into the past, I found it challenging to pick up the current thread again. It was a shame because Ryu’s life growing up was so interesting that it could have been a novel in its own right. The memorial excerpts didn’t let up either, continuing to the final chapters, adding further irritation.
As already said, the genre, characters, and imagery were superb – and the story surrounding these I’d have given almost full marks. Unfortunately, the confusion created while reading would leave my marks the polar opposite. Hence I’ve gone down the middle.
RATING: 
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