In a Wolf's Eyes

Title ~ In a Wolf's Eyes
Series ~ The Saga of the Black Wolf, #1
Author ~ A. Katie Rose
Publisher ~ Untreed Reads
Published ~ 26 April 2012
Genre ~ Paranormal/Fantasy

My Rating ~ 5 bites out of 5

The Wolf is a gladiator of Khalid with a ten year reign. Sold into slavery when he was nine when his family was killed he’s survived by his wits and his fighting skills. He’s killed more men in the arena than he can clearly recall, but he still lives by his own code of honor. When he’s mortally injured in one fight he is ready to die. However, on his way back to his cell an unlikely ally shows himself. Rygel is a powerful magician and the pet torturer for Crown Prince Broughton, a Prince nicknamed Brutal for his insane savagery. Rygel heals Wolf for reasons of his own and Wolf allows him because while his sister is out there somewhere as someone’s slave he needs to stay alive for her.

Ly’Tana is the only daughter of the King of Hel’Halla and he has sent her to Khalid to wed Broughton in order to stop the constant warring of the two kingdoms. However, he has no idea what kind of man he has sent his daughter to and when Brutal shows his true colors, Ly’Tana and her warriors need to escape and hightail it home. An impossible task until the palace breaks out in an uproar caused by the High King being murdered and Brutal savagely beaten, the accidental handiwork of Wolf and Rygel.

While Wolf and Rygel are fleeing what they did, Ly’Tana and her warriors use the uprising in the palace to get to their horses. Brutal’s younger brothers use the opportunity to try for a takeover, but somehow Brutal’s army manages to quell the uprising, killing two of his brothers and their armies while four of his brothers and their armies flee. Will Wolf, Rygel, Ly’Tanna and her warriors make it out of the city? Will Brutal find them and make them pay? What about Wolf’s sister? The odds sure don’t look good.

I love this story! It is well-written with a great plot, wonderful world and well-developed characters, main and secondary. Lots of action and I love the interaction between the characters. Brutal is a deliciously villainous villain. Wow. What a horror that guy is. He made my blood run cold. I was enthralled with this story from beginning to end. And can I say how much I love Wolf? I want him for myself though I’m sure my husband would object.

My only complaint is the gigundous cliffhanger at the end. GAH! Personally, I feel the ending should have come just a tad sooner leaving the full final scene for the opening of the next book, but since I don’t know how the next book is going to play out I’ll reserve final judgment. Speaking of which…when IS the next book coming out?! *dances from foot-to-foot impatiently*

*Many thanks to Untreed Reads for providing me with a review copy. Please see disclaimer page.