The Alpha's Mage

The worldbuilding was not done well, so many things were glossed over - the mage types were never explained properly, details about the magic clans are vague, and the relationship between the alphas' role in their pack and their bonded mages' magic is confusing as well. Not much character depth for the MC's, and the romance and sex were just okay. The Warrens played a considerably big role in the book but their existence were just introduced around the 50% mark. I don't think the Maken pack ever found out about the theft either and it was so ridiculous because who wouldn't miss an entire person (in this case a valuable mage) missing from your pack lands? ??

Still giving the sequel a shot though, since the blurb does sound more interesting.

Mm.

This was boring. I think it would have been better if I didn't keep comparing it to other wolf books I've read recently, especially wolf and mage. For example, one of my all time favourite series: Soulbound. Idk man, every book wolf gets compared to Jono. I can't help it. And the arena fight I kept comparing to certain challenge ring fights, you know. And so it goes. So, yeah. If I'd read this first, before Soulbound and even Mismatched Mates #1, I might have given this four stars.

So why did this come up short? Uninteresting MCs. Lorcan is boring. He's too good. Knox is boring too. Declan would've been a more interesting MC, what with his past and all. The fights are...not exceptional. Evil family is cliche. I need more from it if you're going to go down that route. Evil new captor is cliche too. Would have been intrigued if Tyr had been nice. Gage is too nice. There's not much friction within the pack.

The romance was meh. I'm Knox's or no one's ooooh omg really wow wow so much loveeee. Anyway. I've had this on my TBR. Glad to have read it now. It gets 2.5 stars because it was well structured writing.

Also Lorcan being self-sacrificing? No. Just no. I don't like it. Stupid MC gives themself up to save someone else. Look, I get it. But I still don't like it. This was unmemorable. I doubt I'll be continuing the series, but we'll see.