REVIEW: “Fated to the Wolf Prince” by April L. Moon

“Mandates were never good news, and they always shook things up. I’ve been shaken enough in my twenty-seven years of life, thanks.”

 “Fated to the Wolf Prince” is the first story in the ‘The Hunted Omegas’ series and is expected to be released in little over a week (19 March 2024)! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This has to be added to your TBR!

Slow burn with nice tension and spice | Fated mates | Pack dynamics

Wolf shifters & magic | Amazing besties for the MC

Instant physical connection | Challenge for mate rights

What’s it all about?

Great Pack Gathering. Three little words, one mandate that ruined my life.

I'm a doctor and a researcher. My pack is small, in a quiet part of central Texas. It's a simple existence, and I like it that way. It's just me and my two besties, living our best single lives.

That is, until the mandate comes. Every unmated wolf in the entire world, called to one place. I'm a psi, the weakest designation there is. I can barely shift, and there's no chance of me getting matched—only humiliated.

It can't get worse, until it does. I've barely made it off the bus when I lock eyes with the hottest wolf I've ever seen, and he reeks of power. There's no way he'll be interested in me, a psi wolf who can barely hold her shift.

Until my wolf starts acting crazy, my magic goes on the fritz, and I'm suddenly wielding way more power than a lowly psi. Goddess only knows what's going on, but there isn't much time for me to figure it out.

Oh, and there's one more little thing. Mr. Hottie McPowerful? He's the prince of the shifter world, and my fated mate, whether he wants to be, or not.

Blurb from Goodreads

The setting

This story is set in a contemporary North America – starting in Texas (the home of the Johnson City Pack), with the main story events happening in Alaska (the home of the Blackwater Pack). The world is modern and as we would recognise it, except for the presence of the fantastical elements, like shifters, vampires and fae.

Packs from all over the world have been congregated at the Pack Blackwater grounds for the gathering to pair off their single wolves.

Who is our cast?

Wolf Types:

In this story there are a few types of wolf shifters that are mentioned:

• Alphas: Leaders of packs, or physical stronger and dominating wolves – mail and female

• Betas: Strong wolves but not a threat to the Alphas

• Psi: Physically weaker wolves that are generally the lowest ranked in their packs and don’t fare well in combat

• Omegas: Dangerous to the entire shifter community as the magic they possess is different to normal shifter magic and cannot be easily controlled by other shifters. Omegas are generally killed at birth – all wolf shifter babies are tested by the Omega Defense League (ODL) after they are born. If they are tested as an Omega they are promptly disposed of so they cannot hurt the world.

Main cast:

Our main female lead is Brielle, a psi wolf of the Johnson City pack in Texas. As her use to the pack is less physical, she has been permitted to study medicine and is studying the difference in shifter and human DNA, trying to discover an explanation for her mother’s untimely death a decade before. She is reconciled with her psi status in the pack and that it would be unlikely for her to find a mate. Her connection to her wolf is weak and she is barely able to shift for more than a minute before passing out. The mandated gathering is the worst thing she could imagine.

Kane is the son of the High Alpha, and Alpha of the Blackwater Pack. The gathering is called by his father to find his son’s fated mate. His pack is new, and the gathering causes many stresses and issues – not least among them is the arrival of the Johnson City pack, and a woman that causes his wolf to go crazy.

Supporting cast:

• Leigh: Brielle’s best friend. Leigh is the strong, outgoing one, and highly flirtatious. She is a huge supporter of women’s equality and being forced to do anything rubs her up the wrong way.

• Shay: Brielle’s best friend. Shay is quiet and measured, and very unconfident, especially around men. She is a fierce friend, and a devastating fighter.

• Reed and Gael: Kane’s friends, confidantes, and the pack’s second and enforcer.

My thoughts

I read this in one night – I just couldn’t put it down! There were so many twists, turns, and reveals that I didn’t want to miss anything, or lose my reading flow. Reading Brielle and Kane’s story, as they processed their feelings and what they meant for themselves, each other, and the packs at large. Their ‘will they or won’t they’ see-sawing would usually have me frustrated but the way it was done – more emotional and regarding higher consequences – had me hooked. I was just so heartbroken for them all the time.

I loved the inclusion of some of the pack politics and dynamics – how each pack sits within the hierarchy under the High Alpha and the standing and power of all the Alphas.

Brielle’s best friends, Leigh and Shay, were the ultimate besties. I absolutely loved them and the dynamic they had as a trio. They just worked. I also loved Kane’s packmates and friends, Reed and Gael. They were great.

Absolutely LOVED it, and I can’t wait for the next one! Definitely a must-read!

Jade x