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a_reader_obsessed's review
2.0
2.5 Stars
A better sophomore effort but still not quite the win.
Simon is the new guy in town and thus, the new professor at Cody College, secret haven for shifter students. As per the blurb, he’s looking for some familial redemption, and Cody is supposedly the last place a potential sighting of the rare thunderbird took place. Because he is unaware of the college’s supernatural leanings, graduate student Ford (aka as one of the elusive birds Simon’s so desperately looking for) is assigned to keep him out of the know about everyone else’s dual nature.
Of course, that plan quickly goes to hell, and Simon’s scientist brain whirs and buzzes with all the new revelations. Throw in being held at gunpoint for his research, vandalism of his vehicle and residence, and stalked by some sinister snake god worshippers, and Simon can barely keep things straight, let alone effectively hide his attraction towards the enigmatic Ford.
This wasn’t as frustrating as the first book but I admit, I was bored at times with all the bird speak, and I never really felt what made Simon and Ford connect. The lack of Ford’s pov was sorely missed, and I didn’t fully feel why he fell for Simon.
What this excelled at was the continued world building regarding the small town of Cody, boasting a brimming population of various shifters. Know that Simon was no pushover in his drive to find all the facts, and his quirky nerdy personality lent some humor to the story. Ford was a dreamy broody alpha type, bossy and protective but also secretive as hell solely due to survival mode. Overall though, this lacked a fulfilling romance for me, and while a pleasant read with short lived angst, this unfortunately hardly evoked a reaction one way or the other.
A better sophomore effort but still not quite the win.
Simon is the new guy in town and thus, the new professor at Cody College, secret haven for shifter students. As per the blurb, he’s looking for some familial redemption, and Cody is supposedly the last place a potential sighting of the rare thunderbird took place. Because he is unaware of the college’s supernatural leanings, graduate student Ford (aka as one of the elusive birds Simon’s so desperately looking for) is assigned to keep him out of the know about everyone else’s dual nature.
Of course, that plan quickly goes to hell, and Simon’s scientist brain whirs and buzzes with all the new revelations. Throw in being held at gunpoint for his research, vandalism of his vehicle and residence, and stalked by some sinister snake god worshippers, and Simon can barely keep things straight, let alone effectively hide his attraction towards the enigmatic Ford.
This wasn’t as frustrating as the first book but I admit, I was bored at times with all the bird speak, and I never really felt what made Simon and Ford connect. The lack of Ford’s pov was sorely missed, and I didn’t fully feel why he fell for Simon.
What this excelled at was the continued world building regarding the small town of Cody, boasting a brimming population of various shifters. Know that Simon was no pushover in his drive to find all the facts, and his quirky nerdy personality lent some humor to the story. Ford was a dreamy broody alpha type, bossy and protective but also secretive as hell solely due to survival mode. Overall though, this lacked a fulfilling romance for me, and while a pleasant read with short lived angst, this unfortunately hardly evoked a reaction one way or the other.
ellelainey's review
5.0
Well...I am firmly in love with this series.
Initially, I was a bit surprised that this was told in Simon's POV and not Ford's, but then it all began to make sense. Even though *we* knew from book 1, that Ford was a Thunderbird, it was even better to see Simon learn that information, bit by bit, shock by shock, and see everything he went through to get to that discovery.
The action/adventure aspect was just as engaging as book 1, though a slower build up. Joining the Aviation Club was hilarious! It had the feel of that "shameful family legacy" similar to National Treasure, and I loved how well it was explored, that Simon had precautions against losing his evidence, that it went back into history for such a long time, and there were forums he used to trade information. The whole aspect of the 'investigation' into thunderbirds was brilliantly handled.
Then, to top it all off with that Epilogue...it was everything I could have hoped for.
Funny. Charming. Sweet. Full of action. Some hotness. Adventure. A slow-ish-burn romance. And the perfect ending.
~
Favourite Quote
"How could he be talking coherently when I wasn't even sure what my name was?"
"At school, I'll keep my distance and defer to you, the same as I would to any professor in the department. But when we're off campus, you're mine."
Initially, I was a bit surprised that this was told in Simon's POV and not Ford's, but then it all began to make sense. Even though *we* knew from book 1, that Ford was a Thunderbird, it was even better to see Simon learn that information, bit by bit, shock by shock, and see everything he went through to get to that discovery.
The action/adventure aspect was just as engaging as book 1, though a slower build up. Joining the Aviation Club was hilarious! It had the feel of that "shameful family legacy" similar to National Treasure, and I loved how well it was explored, that Simon had precautions against losing his evidence, that it went back into history for such a long time, and there were forums he used to trade information. The whole aspect of the 'investigation' into thunderbirds was brilliantly handled.
Then, to top it all off with that Epilogue...it was everything I could have hoped for.
Funny. Charming. Sweet. Full of action. Some hotness. Adventure. A slow-ish-burn romance. And the perfect ending.
~
Favourite Quote
"How could he be talking coherently when I wasn't even sure what my name was?"
"At school, I'll keep my distance and defer to you, the same as I would to any professor in the department. But when we're off campus, you're mine."
prgchrqltma's review
3.0
Low stakes paranormal romantic suspense. The narrator is (once again) a swoony and needlessly young guy. I don't like the swoony/alpha dynamic to begin with, and people this young aren't really for me. To say nothing of the potential professor/grad student dynamics. An unchallenging read since it was on my shelf during a reading slump.
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