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Monday, November 5, 2012

Review: Coveted by Shawntelle Madison




Title: Coveted
Series: Coveted #1
Author: Shawntelle Madison
Published Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Format: Paperback
Pages: 304
ISBN: 0345529189
ISBN13: 978-0345529183
Copy provided by: Goodreads First-Reads
Genre:  Urban Fantasy
Add to: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Kindle | B&N

Synopsis: 

SOMETIMES WHAT YOU COVET IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP. 

For werewolf Natalya Stravinsky, the supernatural is nothing extraordinary. What does seem strange is that she’s stuck in her hometown of South Toms River, New Jersey, the outcast of her pack, selling antiques to finicky magical creatures. Restless and recovering from her split with gorgeous ex-boyfriend, Thorn, Nat finds comfort in an unusual place: her obsessively collected stash of holiday trinkets. But complications pile up faster than her ornaments when Thorn returns home—and the two discover that the spark between them remains intense. 

Before Nat can sort out their relationship, she must face a more immediate and dangerous problem. Her pack is under attack from the savage Long Island werewolves—and Nat is their first target in a turf war. Toss in a handsome wizard vying for her affection, a therapy group for the anxious and enchanted, and the South Toms River pack leader ready to throw her to the wolves, and it’s enough to give anybody a panic attack. With the stakes as high as the full moon, Nat must summon all of her strength to save her pack and, ultimately, herself.

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Review:

This is an urban fantasy that tickles your funny bone while at the same time exposing the fear that resides in your heart including the fear of being alone and getting accustomed to routine to the point that it is a problem.  It is also a story about family and friendship as well as the lengths you will go to protect what is yours.

Coveted is the first book in a new quirky urban fantasy series.  The story unfolds through Natalya’s, main character, point of view.  Some people do not like first person perspective but I find it allows a closer look into the character’s head.

Natalya is a werewolf from a town called South Toms River in New Jersey.  Five years ago, her life separated her from the only man she ever cared about, Thorn.  After he left, she lost her job in New York and moved back home only to begin her regression into the problem she suffered from years ago.  With the loss of Thorn and being kicked out of her pack, her condition worsens.  The story picks up after these five years have passed to show the result of her hardships.  Now she is a lone werewolf with obsessive compulsive disorder and a problem with hoarding Christmas decorations.  Finding comfort in her meticulous cataloguing at work and collecting holiday cheer, her world turns upside down as Thorn has come back to town and into her shop.  Now instead of her dream job in New York, she works at the Bends which is a flea market that caters to magical folk and antiques for humans.  Things out of her control begin to encroach on her life such as Thorn’s reappearance, her best friend she has not seen in years named Aggie needs a place to stay and another pack is preparing to take over her town.  After the chaos threatens her, she decides to go back into therapy to try to become a stronger person so she can face these challenges without panic.  Along her journey, she makes some new friends that prove to be just what she needed.  One of them is another possible suitor and wizard named Nick.

Shawntelle Madison has successfully created her own magical world and characters.  Natalya is not the usual character I am used to reading in this genre.  Instead of a strong female werewolf, her character is weak and flawed.  But this is not necessarily a bad thing.  This gives her character a realistic depth as well as plenty of room to grow.  In the first book alone, her character is getting stronger and learning to be more for herself and everyone she cares about.  I am intrigued to see how her character will further develop.  In fact, I felt that Natalya’s character was one of the stronger strengths of this book.  Her character and condition were portrayed so well I almost wonder if the author knows someone with the condition.

There was not enough of Thorn in this book for me to assess him much.  As far as I can tell, he is a strong handsome alpha male who genuinely cares about Natalya.  Perhaps the next book will reveal more of his personality.  Other than the main character, my other two favorite characters were Aggie and Nick.  Aggie was hysterical and outspoken were as Nick was mysteriously quiet and gentlemanly.

The story was interesting and had me turning the pages but I felt there could have been a little more action.  I think this may have been because this was the first book.  The author was very thorough at creating her world.  I think her building of everything will lead to more plot and action in the next book.  I was also a little disappointed in the minor explanation of why the other pack singled Natalya out.  But maybe that is just me.  I like to read motives.  I find that they are more personal when fully explained versus just enough to get the point.  I would have liked to have understood the motive a little better.  Other than that, I really enjoyed the story.

Overall, a good first book in what might be a great new series.  I will be looking for the next one in the series, Kept.

Recommend to Urban Fantasy Fans.

Favorite Quotes:

"Back in the day, you took a spear up your butt and you moved on. I could have half a leg torn off and I'd still show up for work." 


"The man may have round-trip tickets to Creepyville, but also has the balls of an African elephant."


2 comments:

  1. Oh wow, this one sounds great. I am all about the UF. Though I am not liking the cover.

    ReplyDelete

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