Title: Wounded: Volume Two
Author: Amy Lane
Publisher: DSP Publications
Pages/Word Count: 250 Pages
At a Glance: I have a weakness for paranormal stories, and this one seemed too good to pass up. I wasn’t disappointed.
Reviewed By: Taz
Blurb: Green and Bracken’s beloved survived their enemy’s worst—with help from unexpected vampiric help.
But survival is a long way from recovery, and even further from safety. Green’s people want badly to return to the Sierra Foothills, but they’re not going with their tails between their legs. Before they go home, they have to make sure they’re free from attack—and that they administer a healthy dose of revenge as well.
As Cory negotiates a fragile peace between her new and unexpected lovers, Green negotiates the unexpected power that comes from being a beloved leader of the paranormal population. Together, they might heal their own wounds and lead their people to an unprecedented place at the top of the supernatural food chain—a place that will allow them to return home a better, stronger whole.
Review: Wounded: Volume Two is the second book in the Little Goddess series by Amy Lane. I have not read the first book, but there was ample reference to past events that I was able to enjoy this book as a standalone.
The first thing that struck me was the way Ms. Lane uses language. She provides rich descriptions of events, scenery, feelings, and sexual experiences. I also enjoyed how she blurred the lines of gay, bisexual, straight. I typically stick to m/m books when reviewing, but I have a weakness for paranormal stories, and this one seemed too good to pass up.
I wasn’t disappointed.
The story started at a languid pace as the main characters are introduced (re-introduced for those who read the first book). Cory had been very sick from the previous battle in the first installment, and was just recovering at the opening of book two. She, and we the reader, learn that in her haze she had acquired a third mate. This caught my attention right away. Cory, a female, with three males who love her…and each other. It was pretty awesome to ignore the restrictions of sexuality and to accept that this foursome was together because of bonds of love and connectedness. It didn’t matter who slept with who for the passion to fly off the page. And she infused emotion into the sex scenes, which is something I appreciate. When the characters get down and dirty, what’s going on inside their bodies is epic.
The overall plot picked up speed as the book progressed, the final third of the story flying by at a rapid pace. Having lost the deepest love in their lives, Cory, Green, and Bracken are reeling with the pain of loss. Add to the mix everyone having to step up to fill shoes previously worn by others in order to keep their community together, and we are set with a cast of characters who are primed for struggle and internal battles.
The world building and rules were particularly unique in the world Ms. Lane has created. Cory has a primary love, the one closest to her heart. But she also has a second love who fulfills so many of her other needs. While one feeds her heart (Green), the other causes surges of fire and passion to erupt within her body (Bracken). Then there was the newly acquired lover, Nicky, who had to figure out where he fit into the whole picture. The fact the four of these people sleep together fluidly (together and in a variety of pairings) was incredibly sexy and kept me thinking about the nature of relationships. At the same time, it forced me to suspend my notion of conventional relationships in order to sink into the true experiences of these rich characters.
A few things that slowed the reading for me were the times where the description went on for several pages. While lifting the story off the page, it interrupted the overall pace of the plot line. Additionally, there was such a large cast of characters, including one who had died in the first book. Trying to keep track of the different factions and their relationship to each other got confusing at times. When I finished the book, I still wasn’t 100% on who the different groups of people were to one another. That said, it was very clear who the good guy and bad guys were, and I was definitely biting my nails to see how the heroes would exact the revenge.
After reading this book, I intend to go back to read Volume One. I think that knowing the history of the characters I met would provide much deeper insight into the experiences they had in Volume Two. So, while I highly recommend this book, I think it is important for you to read the first installment first so that you can truly get the full benefit of this wonderful story.
You can buy Wounded: Volume Two here:
