This one has been in my TBR like...forever. I think it's one of the first books I added back when I joined Goodreads. So let's finally dive in. Spoilers ahead.
Ash is a wolf who was born as an outsider but later joins the Forest Pack. Still, she feels like an outsider and like she doesn't belong. One day she befriends a wolf named Mist, a stray without a pack, and decides to help her. This leads to a slippery slope of Ash running away from the Forest Pack because she feels left out and befriending wolves in the other packs. But then an evil wolf named Rush is on the rise, mind-controlling and manipulating other wolves to his side. Will Ash be able to unite the separated packs to stand against Rush and his Lone Wolves?
This was honestly a book I really quite enjoyed. It was just a neat adventure to go on and does its job setting up this world and characters very well. It's not overly complicated, but still rounded and interesting enough to carry the story.
The characters were also rather well done, especially Ash, Mist, Midnight and Rush have neat motivations and backstories and personalities. Rush is an obvious villain, but once you learn his motivation you do see at least where he's coming from. Midnight also plays a huge role in Rush's backstory, and you'll not look the same way at Midnight again once you realize what he did. Ash meanwhile made for a likable but also relatable main character. And Mist is probably my favorite out of the entire cast, being also relatable but also a nice friend to Ash who she can confide in (because they were both born as outsiders without a pack). Her friendship with Ash does have its ups and downs, but that's mostly because of Ash's torn loyalties and Rush mind-controlling Mist.
The story is mostly down-to-earth, but there are also subtle fantasy elements such as Rush seeming to have supernatural powers and wolves having the ability to come back to life. But I honestly liked this. I'm one for stories with subtle fantasy elements over big and bombastic high fantasies these days.
I also really want to know how the story continues. This is book one in a series, and the ending is semi-closed off, but also open enough to know that Rush will want to make a return to try again.
The thing is...this book never got a sequel. And with it having been over twelve years since it got published, I'm afraid we won't ever be getting one. Which is a shame. Honestly I think this was a rather solid book, especially considering the author was pretty young when she wrote it. I'd have loved to see her improve and write more about this world and its characters. But I guess it just wasn't meant to be. This remains to this day the only book published under the Sophie Abbott name, and with over twelve years having passed I don't think the author will be returning to this series. Quite a shame, it's rather good and has a lot of potential for future installments.
So yeah, a solid first installment, and I do recommend you check it out regardless if you like animal xenofiction, but just know that the story won't be fully concluded. That is, unless the author reappears from the aether to finish the series. But I don't think that's likely.
Rating: 4/5
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