Title:
A Shadow of Wings
Publisher: Self-published
Length: 164 pages
Grade:
A+
BLURB
Thrown out on the street by his homophobic stepfather, Dylan
struggles to get his life together. Years of being used and abused have
left him tough and determined to make it on his own. When he sees a dog
getting beaten, his protective instincts drive him to rescue her. But as
the attackers turn on Dylan, out of the shadows comes a hero. One with
mysterious eyes and a shy sensuality Dylan can’t resist.
Cam Coburn can’t reveal his true identity to the man he rescues. Nor
can he reveal that he’s a freak among freaks, a cockatrice shifter with
an unwanted gift for seeking out conflict rather than treasure. Newly
independent from his mentor, Cam sees in Dylan his first chance to test
the limits of his human guise. Defying every rule, Cam succumbs to
Dylan’s seduction for just one night. But Cam finds he can’t let his
lover go, and Dylan breaks down every barrier. For he is the one human
who can gaze in a cockatrice’s eyes without fear.
Yet even as their bond deepens, danger closes in on them from all
sides, and Cam’s dark secrets may save them—or lead to their
destruction.
MY REVIEW
Quite frequently, I check the Amazon Top 100 Gay Books for
paranormal-type novels by new authors. As I’ll explain next month in a
post
on Jessewave, “Why I Love Shifters," I need to read at least one paranormal
book a week or I go into withdrawal.
So, imagine my surprise when a new shifter book knocks my socks off!
A Shadow of Wings
starts out as your typical shifter novel but quickly morphs into a
deeply emotional against-all-odds love story that touched me on many
levels. Dylan has had a rough life. Thrown out of his house for being
gay, he turns to selling himself to survive, add in one bad boyfriend, a
drug habit and it’s a wonder he’s still alive. However, he’s gotten
himself clean and is working at a vet’s office cleaning animal cages
when he’s attacked, then saved by the mysterious Cam. Yes, yes, we’ve
all read this scenario before in m/m romance books, but the difference
is Cam. He’s not just any guy, nor a guy who happens to be a shifter.
His whole life has been lived in the shadows, never growing close to
anyone and when Dylan breaks down those walls, Cam opens up into this
beautiful character, who just happens to be a cockatrice shifter.
Yep,
you read that right. A cockatrice shifter. No werewolves to be seen in
this book! Enter in some amazing world building; namely a secret order
of blind priests who have been procreating this species to fight evil
for centuries, bad guys who are weasels, and a very interesting twist to
the plot that I saw coming, but still surprised me because it was so
cool and you have read it to believe it! The unusual twist fit perfectly
into the plot because it explained so much of the history of the
cockatrice in the world.
But what I loved most was Cam and Dylan’s relationship. Dylan is no
fragile flower and when he finds out Cam’s true nature, he’s grossed
out, yet turned on. Dylan is a gem. He’s no damsel who needs saving and I
think it is his unrelenting nature that drives the plot and love story.
Since I read so many paranormal books, it takes a lot to surprise me and
A Shadow of Wings
did just that. It is my favorite paranormal m/m book I’ve read so far
this year. Ms. Gayle’s writing style is crisp, original and sensual. I
am very excited about this series and cannot wait for book two.
Highly recommended.
Originally posted at Reviews by Jessewave
