Darkest Mate by Alexis Calder

Release: December 21, 2021
Format: Paperback, eBook
Publisher: Alexis Calder
Source: Rockstar Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle

Weakness means death. Or worse.

After I was abandoned as a child, I was taken in by the Shadow Pack. A group of ruthless, lawless, shifters who have only one rule: never let anyone see your weakness.

In exchange for them keeping me alive, I owe them. The leader of the Shadows is as handsome as he is ruthless. And he’s offered to wipe my debt in exchange for marriage. He’d offer protection, but it would cost me my freedom.

Survival in the Shadows depends on back alley deals and shady alliances. It’s become a way of life that I stopped questioning years ago. When a routine burglary goes wrong, I find myself captured by the one family I never should have crossed.

The Umbra family owns this city. They make us Shadow wolves look like the good guys. They should have killed me for my crimes, but there’s a tiny problem… It turns out Madoc Umbra is my fated mate.

Instead of killing me, I’m a prisoner. The rest of the family doesn’t know of our bond and I intend to keep it that way. Madoc’s brothers want to end my life; he wants to break the bond. I just want to get the heck out.

As long as I don’t let them see any weakness, I might have a chance of making it out of here alive.

Darkest Mate is a full-length paranormal romance. 17+ for dark content, steamy scenes, and language. This is book one in a trilogy and is not a standalone. Mind the cliff.

About the Author:

Alexis Calder writes sassy heroines and sexy heroes with a sprinkle of sarcasm. She lives in the Rockies and drinks far too much coffee and just the right amount of wine.

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Darkest Mate Review

I recently read “Wolf Marked” by the author and thought the author did an equally admirable job writing “Darkest Mate.” Right into the tale, we get an idea bout the Shadow and the Umbra clan and how ruthless they are. The author amps the action and thrills from the first chapter as Ivy fights with Dax and meets the Dark Wolf. I enjoyed the fantasy elements and the concepts like the Alpha Challenge.

Ivy is lovely in the lead. Even though she was not the strong character I expected her to be, I liked how the author portrayed her, especially what she goes through with Holden and her mission. The author has a beautiful talent for writing fantasy romance, and I liked the chemistry between the characters. Some memorable parts were when Ivy shifts and has an experience with Dax under the moon or when Dax saves her when someone tries to drug her. The author also wrote the supporting characters well, and I had a passionate dislike for Stacey. The author also wrote the supporting characters well, and I loved the friendship between Ivy and Kate. Frankly, I thought this was a fun and decent start to the series.

However, the only criticism I have of the story is how the story felt a bit cliched at times. For instance, I’m not a fan of instant romances, and while I enjoyed the chemistry between Ivy and the Dark Wolf, it felt predictable. Also, I felt a lot happens towards the climax when Ivy goes under the mission and Madoc enters the picture. The book would have been perfect had the pacing been spaced out.

Overall, “Darkest Mate” is a fun start to the series, and I look forward to reading its continuation.

Giveaway:

1 Winner will receive a $10 Amazon GC, International.

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Darkest Mate by Alexis Calder Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!