2.5⭐️ 3🌶️
MOOD: dark, emotional, tense, mysterious
TROPES: fated mates, 
GENRES: contemporary, supernatural/paranormal
FAV QUOTE: Dear MOther Moon, I pray for happiness. But if I'll only be sad for the rest of my life, I pray never to wake up.

MAIN CHARACTERS: Ayla (FMC, Omega) and Warren (MMC, Alpha)
PROMINENT SIDE CHARACTERS: Luka (Ayla's older brother), Dean (Warren's Beta)

This book had potential and there are parts of the world I really liked but overall it was disappointing. I wouldn't say it's a dark romance so much as it's a place for the FMC to get the crap beat out of her at every turn and with no resolution - so if that's your thing then dive right in. It reminded me of when people conflate horror romance with dark romance but honestly, I was waiting for Ayla's revenge or some shift in the world that never happened. 

I'm a huge fan of fated mates, instalove, and instalust and that didn't even work here. The things I did like were the shifter elements that I hadn't come across before like scents smelling different for every wolf, their healing elements, and how they had to integrate into society. I think this might be a probable spoiler so I'll label it and you can scroll down for it but even the way the SA on page happened, I couldn't figure out why it was in the story beyond shock value. There were some spicy scenes that caught my attention but otherwise, I could have passed on this one.

CW (provided by author): Mentions of SA, CNC, SA on the page, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse/violence, spitting, snotting, sexism, fated mates, hierarchy system, graphic violence, pregnancy, deflowering, blood, gore, breeding, kidnapping, bullying, toxic masculinity, murder, marking, urination, exhibitionism, voyeurism 
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy. This is my honest review.

PROBABLE SPOILER: I don't think the SA on page scene should have gone as far as it did but if nothing changed about the scene itself, it could have been a perfect opportunity for the male shifters to have a single moment of realizing that the female weren't safe - especially with them! so whatever they were doing, whatever rules, etc regarding the world, it didn't matter - but that didn't happen - I would have accepted it even if it was a blip that was then overshadowed by the very present toxic masculinity and overall misogyny.