Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Wildfire’s Requiem
AUTHOR: Layla Dorine
PUBLISHER: Desolate Press
LENGTH: 320 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 11, 2023
BLURB:
Building a new pride is backbreaking work, especially in an unpredictable territory where lack of rain leads to wildfires and drought. For brothers Pike and Nathan, this is the opportunity to build a pride house and harem of their own, though the last thing they expect is the fates to send them three very different lions who might not be able to get along.
REVIEW:
Wow! Fierce Lion shifters that are protective and encouraging…yes please!
Brothers Pike and Nathan have left their family pride to help build a brand new progressive pride and find their own mates to make their dream of their own harem a possibility. When not one, not two, but three potential mates fill their new home in less than a month the 30 something Lion shifters have their hands full with the new, younger mates. But tempers fly and feelings get hurt with all that has suddenly happened. Add in the exceptionally large amount of wildfires that is scorching their pride lands and things are suddenly combustible. Can the five lion shifters make a go of it with such vastly different upbringings or is this just another part of their lives destine to go up in flames.
This is a whole new shifter species for me. I have never read lion shifters before. And even though it was a completely new learning curve for me (like not knowing that a Lion mating group was called a harem and I was thinking of a traditional human harem at first 🤦♀️) I really got into this universe fast and was vested in their success! Each of these men (and yes I believe that even though you might not present male you can identify that way. Especially if that choice was taken from you 😡) had their own set of issues that they had to overcome. I particularly loved the transitions of the personalities of Ira and Pike. Pike for finally taking a step back to actually see and understand Remy and to allow him to bloom and become alive. And watching Ira move forward with confidence to become the Lion he was suppose to be. I also loved how Misha and Remy bonded over Mischa’s siblings and longing for their own cubs. But Nathan was the the key to making them all work together. His gentle and caring personality was the cornerstone to them working together as a Harem. I loved that Pike and Nathan encouraged their younger housemates to think outside the box they had been kept in their entire lives to seek what they truly desired. Even if they had never thought of such lofty goals. Encouraging Kisha’s love of making soft toys for the babies to be turned into an on-line business. Remy pushing past his need to serve to feel worthy and then be respected for his healing abilities. And Ira looking to become the lion he never thought he could be. All three young men grew so much after everyone finally talked and understood each of their past limitations and fears.
This book dealt with a lot of complex issues. A group of lion shifters that formed a new more progressive Pride and the dynamics that involves. Repressed lions from other non-progressive prides that are trying to learn and to fit in while trying not to look clueless or stupid. Assumptions that hurt the feelings of others. Fated mates appearing. Arsonist that is hell bent on getting rid of them on their new land. Abandoned cubs because of greedy parents. Infertility issues. Lies told by neglectful or abusive parents. Attempted abduction. The list goes on and on. But those issues lead to an intriguing and complex story that leaves you wanting MORE!
I would love to see a sequel book to this one. I want to meet the cubs. I want to see Ira bloom and grow as a warrior even though I know Pike and Nathan would have been more comfortable with him at their side to keep an eye on him and his safety. I hope that there is some way that Mischa can have the cubs he deeply longs for. And seeing Pike and Nathan as Dads would be great. Plus having their family come meet their cubs plays out to be hilarious in my mind when the parents come to visit in their Volkswagen Hippy van! Great new book and hopefully 🤞 new series.
RATING: 
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