What I Liked:
I really like the sense of “same but different” provided by Wolf of Ashes. It’s still sexy and fantastical like a good paranormal romance, but the story arc has some new twists that make it less typical and unpredictable. For example, instead of a traditional fated mate bond between the main characters, they make a deal that bonds them together and as a byproduct allows the MMC, the keeper, to feel the emotions of the FMC’s heart.
What Bothered Me:
I didn’t love the parts where the FMC is experiencing the real world for the first time because she grew up in captivity. I think it’s hard to convey how much our world wouldn’t make sense to someone that had only ever experienced life in a dark cell.
Overall:
I think lovers of slow burn paranormal romance will enjoy Wolf of Ashes. It has quite a few tie-ins to other Frost series set in the same world so I would advice seeking out a recommended reading order before you start in on them. Do note that book 1 in the Dark Magic Shifters does end on a pretty huge cliffhanger, so be ready to jump right to book 2.
The Last Word:
I just finished Crown of Fate, book 3 in the Dark Magic Shifters trilogy. I like the overall message that dark doesn’t necessarily mean evil, but it wasn’t my favorite of Frost’s series. In some ways it felt like the purpose was to tie together a bunch of the other series that I hadn’t even realized took place in the same world. From that perspective, it was very interesting to see characters and creatures coming together and I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a future series where some super bad villain needs them all to work together in order to be defeated.
