Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE: Scout

SERIES:  Chosen Champions Book 4

AUTHOR:  Macy Blake

NARRATOR: Michael Dean

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH: 7 hours and 27 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  April 17, 2023

BLURB:

Coal Volsunga is a dragon convinced he’s better off alone….

As alone as a dragon who is part of a pack can be, that is. Although he loves the work, his feelings are starting to get involved, especially for a wolf entirely too involved with pack life for a loner like Coal.

Jack “Scout” Jerrick is a wolf with two packs, but only one heart….

Dividing his time between his father’s pack and his new one hasn’t been an issue for Scout. He’s learning to protect the secrets of the shifter world and the innocents involved in a dangerous war over magic and power. But when he develops feelings for the cantankerous dragon in his new pack, things begin to get a whole lot more complicated.

After Scout is kidnapped by the mysterious threat hunting their pack, Coal realizes being alone isn’t his life’s mission after all. If he and Scout are able to survive, they must:

…Put aside their preconceived notions and work together to save their pack,

…Learn to love and heal when nothing is as it seems,

…And realize when it comes to being mates, there’s nothing they won’t do to save each other.

REVIEW:

Scout continues the extensive, detailed storyline that began in Logan, the first book in Macy Blake’s Chosen Champions series.  This is not a standalone, and it is essential that you have, at minimum, read the preceding three books.

Chosen Champions is the most recent series in Blake’s extensive Chosen One universe, and also my favorite of them. That fictional universe is extremely well-developed and firmly established, with over a dozen full-length titles and many shorter novellas within it.  The world-building is rich, textured, and overflowing with interconnections, backstories, vibrant landscapes, realms, and worlds, as well as myriad engaging characters that all play an important role. However, while each of the Chosen One Universe’s series has an intriguing storyline, even suspenseful at times, Chosen Champions is carefully orchestrated to fit into Blake’s overarching world in a different way, and she accomplishes it seamlessly. What makes this particular series special is how Blake takes an eclectic group of loners who have no business being together and creates a pack dynamic with a found family that’s as strong as any of the other packs and clans we’ve encountered across this series. Blake is to this series what the mysterious Oracle is to Logan’s pack – seeing the pieces on the chessboard and moving them around expertly.

Scout is the best book in the Chosen Champions series.  It pulls together the loose ends from earlier books, but doesn’t tie it all up in a bow … yet.  Many questions are answered, including the identity of the Oracle.  But the mystery is almost beside the point.  Because Scout, aka Jack Jerrick, is in not one, but two packs, we get to spend plenty of time with all of the many members of both packs, plus Coal’s dragon family, plus Scout’s hellhound Uncle Sol, plus his extended family including his big brother Henry, the uber-powerful mage who is one of Draco’s (Coal’s cousin’s) eight mates.  We even get to visit with Cosmo and Silenus from the fae world (they are featured in Cosmo and the King).  

That’s not to say the action/adventure plot takes a backseat. On the contrary, it drives the harrowing events that Scout encounters, leading to a lot of hurt/comfort, fated mates swooniness.  As usual, Blake does an excellent job balancing all of the competing elements, and as a bonus, we get lots of Logan’s mother-hen fretting human mate, Bailey, who is hysterical.  Everything works well here, and I couldn’t get enough.

Scout stands strong on text alone, but Michael Dean always brings that something extra through his invested vocal performances.  In the Scout audiobook, he extends his deep connection to this fictional universe and all of its many characters.  He’s unquestionably in his element here with the diverse voices and personalities, all of which he delivers with aplomb.  

I highly recommend the Scout audiobook.  Just make sure you start with Logan and read in order.  If you are looking to sink your teeth into an extended universe of interconnected stories, go all the way back to the start of the Chosen Universe and read in order following Blake’s recommended reading order (found on her website) starting with Sweet Nothings, the prequel story. 

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Audible 

Amazon