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kblincoln's review
5.0
Rhiannon Held consistently delivers stories of intricate, layered, and emotionally charged people-stories through her werewolf characters: emotionally and physically wounded Silver, her Alpha mate Andrew Dare, and Dare's estranged-until-now teen daughter, Felicia.
And various other pack members.
It's strange how a book written about werewolves and chock-full of were politics, mannerisms, phrases ("prey-stupid", "jumped from downwind") seemingly purposefully extra-human can reveal so much about being human.
There's a scene in the book where the main character, Silver (although we get lots of POV from Silver and Felicia this time, I kind of missed Dare!) is having to explain to a human psychologist why Felicia tricked her into trespassing in a stranger's house. The conversation digs into the open-wound rawness of step-daughter/step-mother relationships; the kind of tip-toeing feints and parries you make both wanting to care for eachother and not knowing how to without causing pain.
Nothing much happens in this book plotwise. Dare goes away to Alaska, leaving Silver to deal with a challenge to one of their female sub-alphas, and a roaming, spanish-speaking were suspiciously interested in Felicia.
Emotionally, however, Held once again puts Silver through the ringer, this time without Dare's emotional support. All the reasons I like this series are here: emotional manipulation, homey scenes of people sitting around trying to not irritate eachother, and reining in strong feelings. Not to be read for action, but for thoughtful relationships.
And various other pack members.
It's strange how a book written about werewolves and chock-full of were politics, mannerisms, phrases ("prey-stupid", "jumped from downwind") seemingly purposefully extra-human can reveal so much about being human.
There's a scene in the book where the main character, Silver (although we get lots of POV from Silver and Felicia this time, I kind of missed Dare!) is having to explain to a human psychologist why Felicia tricked her into trespassing in a stranger's house. The conversation digs into the open-wound rawness of step-daughter/step-mother relationships; the kind of tip-toeing feints and parries you make both wanting to care for eachother and not knowing how to without causing pain.
Nothing much happens in this book plotwise. Dare goes away to Alaska, leaving Silver to deal with a challenge to one of their female sub-alphas, and a roaming, spanish-speaking were suspiciously interested in Felicia.
Emotionally, however, Held once again puts Silver through the ringer, this time without Dare's emotional support. All the reasons I like this series are here: emotional manipulation, homey scenes of people sitting around trying to not irritate eachother, and reining in strong feelings. Not to be read for action, but for thoughtful relationships.
mjfmjfmjf's review
2.0
Book 3 of a werewolf series I initially read for the Endeavour Awards. This one certainly has more merit to it than my rating would indicate but I disliked it so intensely that there's no way I could give it more. To a large degree it comes from the pov characters. Silver was pretty fairly amazingly as brain damaged but in charge and in over what she could could deal with. Felicia as the bratty and irritating late teen step daughter. And then layer on some manipulation, blackmail and torture and idiocy. Being in Silver's head and seeing what little she was seeing was off putting. Being in Felicia's head was worse.
chllybrd's review
4.0
I gave it 3.5 stars
Although the conflicts in REFLECTED turned out to be pretty predictable I still enjoyed the next installment in Silvers journey. Dare is called away and Silver has to hold the pack on her own. They both felt it would be pretty easy but unfortunately things go wrong.
The pack dynamic has changed a lot since SILVER. While TARNISHED was filled with pack politics REFLECTED gets back to the characters with a side of pack politics. Silver and Dare don't get a lot of time together in book 3 and I missed him for most of the book. They are just to awesome together to be separated. When Dare leaves Felicia decides to rebel in the worst way. The way she treated Silver really broke my heart. Silver is forced to once again "un-break" herself and it is so hard to watch her go through the pain that causes. By the end things have once again changed. Although their relationship needed to change, I wish their conflict had not taken up the whole book. I still really love Susan. She has grown into her pack position and she is a great friend and support to Silver. Anyone that still sees her as human quickly sees otherwise.
I didn't feel like REFLECTED was as strong as the previous books but it was still a smooth, fast, intriguing read. Held's world still draws me in and her writing and characters keeps me reading. I don't see any mention of a book 4, please tell me the series isn't over! I know Silver has her pack and family now but I need more.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Although the conflicts in REFLECTED turned out to be pretty predictable I still enjoyed the next installment in Silvers journey. Dare is called away and Silver has to hold the pack on her own. They both felt it would be pretty easy but unfortunately things go wrong.
The pack dynamic has changed a lot since SILVER. While TARNISHED was filled with pack politics REFLECTED gets back to the characters with a side of pack politics. Silver and Dare don't get a lot of time together in book 3 and I missed him for most of the book. They are just to awesome together to be separated. When Dare leaves Felicia decides to rebel in the worst way. The way she treated Silver really broke my heart. Silver is forced to once again "un-break" herself and it is so hard to watch her go through the pain that causes. By the end things have once again changed. Although their relationship needed to change, I wish their conflict had not taken up the whole book. I still really love Susan. She has grown into her pack position and she is a great friend and support to Silver. Anyone that still sees her as human quickly sees otherwise.
I didn't feel like REFLECTED was as strong as the previous books but it was still a smooth, fast, intriguing read. Held's world still draws me in and her writing and characters keeps me reading. I don't see any mention of a book 4, please tell me the series isn't over! I know Silver has her pack and family now but I need more.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
rhodered's review
3.0
I liked it, in particular as we continue to see Silver grow in her new role. But I must admit I got a bit tired of her sullen (utterly believably drawn) young adult step daughter. I hope the series continues.
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