Rising Moon (Shadow Guild: Wolf Queen Book 4) by Linsey Hall

 

Rising Moon (Shadow Guild: Wolf Queen Book 4) by Linsey Hall
Rating: 4 Stars

Release Date: May 5, 2021

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Publisher: Bonnie Doon Press

I think I'm a fan of Linsey Hall's three book series more than her five book series, because for some reason I always love Books 1, 4 and 5 but struggle with Books 2 and 3. That pattern held true for the Shadow Guild: Wolf Queen series and Rising Moon.

Things finally start happening in this book! Our heroes find a chance to deal with the Maker, Eve is learning even more about her past and her background, and there is some action between Lachlan and Eve instead of him going on and on about how he can't be with her because of duty. They are finally working on their communication and their relationship, and I am all here for it. I was super stoked for all the reveals in this book (though I'm still not sure about the actual identity of the Maker).

This book ended on a cliffhanger, and I'm so happy I don't have to wait for the release of the final book. I'm eager to read Wolf Queen and see how things turn out for Lachlan and Eve!

Wild Hunt (Shadow Guild - Wolf Queen Book 2) by Linsey Hall

Wild Hunt (Shadow Guild - Wolf Queen Book 2) by Linsey Hall

Rating: 3 Stars

Release Date: March 22, 2021

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Publisher: Bonnie Doon Press

Linsey Hall’s second installment in the Shadow Guild Wolf Queen series, Wild Hunt, ends on another cliffhanger like the first book. Eve and Lachlan are reluctantly working together (while still fighting their mate bond) to learn more about Eve’s past and why she’s being hunted. 

Eve and her familiar Ralph are awesome, but I’m still not sold on Lachlan. I get that he’s very loyal to his pack and that’s admirable, but I don’t get how being emotionless is a good trait for an Alpha. Good leaders listen to their heads and their hearts. Lachlan has effectively cut off any input from his heart. I’m also still not really sure how the whole mating bond and curse works. Why has their clock started ticking down now after 10 years apart? There is definitely some tension between them (there is one teeny tiny scene with mild steaminess levels) but for the most part, both of them do their best to limit any romantic interactions.  

The secondary characters have always been one of my favorite parts of the Shadow Guild books. First of all, I love how amusing each of the familiars is. They each have very different personalities and help inject some humor and levity into the story. I also love seeing how supportive the other members of the Shadow Guild are to Eve. They always have each other’s backs, as evidenced by the fact that they help her break out of the Shifter Guild’s tower in the first pages of the book. I think the Shadow Guild would be evidence that quantity is not always better than quality. 

I hope the pace of the other books in the series picks up, as I want more action and to not be left with a bunch of questions at the end of the book. I also want more romance between Eve and Lachlan, as I’m positive they will end up together at the end of the series (given that’s how all the other Shadow Guild books turned out). 

 

Pack of Lies (Shadow Guild - Wolf Queen Book 3) by Linsey Hall

 

Pack of Lies (Shadow Guild - Wolf Queen Book 3) by Linsey Hall

Rating: 3 Stars

Release Date: April 5, 2021

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Publisher: Bonnie Doon Press

In Pack of Lies by Linsey Hall (the third book in the Shadow Guild - Wolf Queen series), Eve and Lachlan continue to forge full steam ahead with trying to find out more about what’s going on without allowing Lachlan to succumb to the curse (due to the mate bond and feelings between them). 

By the end of this book, we still only know bits and pieces of the Maker’s plan. It’s a little frustrating to be this far into the series and not have a better idea of why the Maker is putting these plans into action. I’m disappointed in how the final confrontation between Eve and Lachlan and the Maker turned out in this book, as there could have been so much more done with it. It felt less like a full confrontation or battle, and more like a setup for a big confrontation two books from now. 

I’m thrilled that we got to learn more about Eve’s parents in this book and finally figure out what Eve is. Ralph, Eve’s chocolate-addicted raccoon familiar is of course hilarious as ever and continues to be one of my favorite parts of this series. Lachlan, on the other hand, is still as frustrating and stubborn, and the fact that he’s constantly going back and forth on his feeling is irksome. One of the main reasons I’ve continued reading this series is just to see Eve and Lachlan finally get together. Alas, I guess I will have to wait for more Eve and Lachlan content and to figure out more about the Maker’s plan until I read the final two books, Rising Moon and Wolf Queen. 

Bite Me (Shadow Guild - Vampire Bride Book 1) by Linsey Hall

Bite Me (Shadow Guild - Vampire Bride Book 1) by Linsey Hall

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Release Date: July 26, 2021

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Publisher: Bonnie Doon Press 

It’s exciting to see each of the main characters from the original Shadow Guild books get their own stories, while also getting to see sneak peeks of the other’s happily ever after stories. Bite Me is Mac’s story. She’s a seer who spends her days working in the Haunted Hound, the pub which serves as the entrance to Guild City in magical London. Mac is also a member of the guild for misfits and outcasts, the Shadow Guild. Her life gets thrown for a loop when the first vampire in history (Drakon) walks into the pub, claiming that she tried to kill him five years ago (she doesn’t recognize him at ALL) and he’s come to return the favor (after getting her help of course). 

There are a lot of noticeable similarities between each individual Shadow Guild series, but I like how each pairing and story are unique. For example, the whole “vampire bride” situation is similar to “fated mates” but seems a lot fancier. Grey (the Devil of Darkvale) and Drakon (the first vampire ever) have some similarities due to both being vampires but have very different ways they interact with their mates (Carrow and Mac respectively). 

The familiars have always been a highlight of the Shadow Guild books, and I LOVED seeing Genevieve the badger make an appearance in this book as Mac’s new familiar. Cordelia, Ralph, and now Genevieve have so much personality it practically comes out of the page. I think Ralph is still my favorite familiar though. The friendships between the members of the Shadow Guild are also really heartwarming to see. They are the smallest guild, and they don’t really have a ton of sway in Guild City as a result but they ALWAYS have each other’s backs. Ragtag teams of unlikely heroes for the win! 

Linsey Hall produces books super fast so I’m never left waiting too long for the next installment. I can’t wait to see what else she will explore in the Shadow Guild universe, and what’s next in Mac’s and Drakon’s story. I have a LOT of questions about Mac’s back story, and why she lost her memories so I’m hoping that the author will answer that in upcoming books. If you like fast-paced, fun paranormal romance books with strong female leads then I would definitely recommend Bite Me (and the other Shadow Guild books).