Alpha by Rachel Vincent

rating
(Shifters, #6)
  URBAN FANTASY


The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder and treason. Yeah, we've been busy. But now it's time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother's death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.It's not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I'm heading for a final showdown that can--that will--change everything forever. A showdown I'm not sure I'm ready for.But life never waits until you're ready.



“He went down like a cheerleader after prom.”


Unfortunately while the series starting improving in the middle, it fell apart again at the end. I wanted to kill half the characters in this book myself, on both the good and bad side.

This book was supposed to be the wrap-up all the other stories was leading to - and we do get to see more internal power struggles with the annoying council I want to choke. There weren't really surprises with the decisions and outcome since it was already to us in previous books who would vote for whom. Even if the final book holds no surprises, there are some crucial events that happened - a few fights, Faythe actually loses a few things for a change, a major death, and of course an ending that I expected.

I don't care how good, bad, or average the storyline is - it was hampered a lot because Faythe was incredibly irritating. I've said in previous reviews that her smug attitude came across bitchy rather than heroic, and she does sometimes make things worse for herself.

I can understand her temper here, but the main issue I hold now is her constant whining about feeling lonely by her two men because they're keeping distance from her. Yeah, she feels bad about her betrayal and the 'luv triangle', but the author kept showing the character with a broken heart and moaning how much she needed someone. It even goes as far where she has to have conversations with her parents about it separately, then her brother, and anyone who would listen. I kept expecting one of them to finally say, well, what'd you expect??

It was beyond trashy for her to allow a kiss to happen in the room next to the alphas meeting when they all know what's been going on and the situation is already hostile, especially with the other half of the love triangle sitting outside. Her brushing it off as needing someone is never an excuse to act like that, I hold no sympathy with that scene.

Then there was the annoying problem where she kept thinking to herself that she can't choose, she can't lose them both - and we have to hear other characters randomly bring this up to her too. There is a major character death and he used dying advice to tell her how important it is to 'choose' her love triangle. Really? Really? It's not small potatoes but is the stupid decision elevated to that importance, for last dying words!?!


Sigh: “I want you. I want you so badly I can’t stand it. When you left, it felt like the world got darker. Like I couldn’t truly see anything. Couldn’t feel anything.”

It makes little sense to me she'd start having heartbreak and panic attacks before major war fights or in these emergencies because of her hormonal cravings. The end makes sense of her choice, I guess, but it's not surprising. All that build up was wasted, there was no point to this love triangle through the last books, except perhaps to irritate me.

It doesn't help that I no longer really feel romantic attachments to any of the characters. Their relationships are just kind of there but I'm not feeling it.

The major death was a sad blow since it was a favorite character of mine. I saw it coming a mile off and figured before picking this up that it would be the case, but it was still difficult. The author wrote the grieving scenes convincingly well and isn't the type who dismisses loss easily.

I was happy to see the Thunderbirds return for brief stints - they're fierce and vicious but the ending was awesome with their inclusion.

Overall I had too many issues to rate this book higher than 3 stars - the good rating was earned because of the wrap-up being well done for important plot points and decent battles, but there were plenty of problems to endure.


 
   Book Quotes:

“In the end, it only comes down to one thing: choosing the one you can’t live without.” 

“I'd just stepped out of the kiddie pool and into the deep end, with no floaties. And drowning was not an option.” 

   Author Extras:


Shifters Territory Pride Map |  Source: Author Site

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