A Wolf Apart is the second book in Maria Vale's The Legend of All Wolves. It follows the events of the first book but can be read as a standalone. It is as a compelling read as the first book. This time around we are introduced to Elijah, Alpha of the 9th Echelon but has been away from his pack for a long time. Longing to come back home, he has decided to challenged his current Alpha in order to do so. He doesn't really anticipate that he would also be attracted to a human named Thea Villalobos, Goddess of the City Wolves. I cannot rave enough about this series, it definitely is different from most wolf shifter paranormal books around and it definitely portrays otherwordly beings that are appear more real and multilayered. I definitely want this series to continue.

If I didn’t know the author was female, I would have sworn I was reading a book penned by a guy. A Wolf Apart is told in first person POV, the hero, Elijah, and it’s done really, really well. Guys think and speak differently and the parts where Elijah talks to himself made me believe I was in his head.

When the hero is in the human world, he talks disjointed, like he’s ticking off boxes on a checklist of things to do, to wear, to say in order to be human, to come across as successful and part of the movers and shakers in human society. I’ll admit that the first couple of chapters were hard going for me. There were all these words that are endemic to pack society but are out of place in my simple human mind, so it bogged down the pace. I encourage readers to stick with it, to plow through because once Elijah meets Thea, the focus, pace and intent of the novel changes, all to the good.

In the beginning, the hero came across as a jerk, a player and a user of women. It’s explained why and I understood that Elijah had reached a crossroads in his life, but I still didn’t like him very much. Until Thea. There are too many times during the novel that I felt that she was more than what she seemed. Well, she kind of is, but differently than I anticipated. It played well. The author didn’t show me a romance filled with the typical tropes and I really liked how Ms. Vale painted her heroine – strong, individual, smart and loyal with a quiet dignity I appreciated. I liked Thea’s effect on Elijah and how pivotal a role she played in saving the hero from a fate he felt he was powerless to escape. There’s a power to their courtship that comes alive and I enjoyed the scenes when they were together.

Even though I labeled this novel as ‘spicy’, it’s only because the hero is pretty graphic with his description of his … physical reaction and subsequent addressing of his needs when it comes to being with a female. There are descriptive words and all that but the strength of the romance didn’t come from bedroom gymnastics but from his internal dialogue. Oh, wait; there is the scene where Thea turns the tables on Elijah in an unusual manner. But it wasn’t bedroom scenes that I focused on, it was the fact that the author’s goal was to tell a story with a plot and that was the primary goal, not how many times and how far to push the envelope during sex scenes. A Wolf Apart has a higher standard of storytelling and I liked it. The romance was strong, effective and the process was exciting and fraught with peril.

This was a really good read and once I got into the groove, I couldn’t put it down. It was so incredibly refreshing to find an author that could take a well-loved paranormal genre and infuse it with her personal creative input to make it her own. If paranormal fans are looking for something unique, give this book a whirl. It’s amazing.

4.5 Stars

A Wolf Apart is the second book in Maria Vale’s The Legend of All Wolves Series. I read the first book, The Last Wolf, and couldn’t wait to read this one. It picks up not too long after the first one. However, you do not need to have read the first book to get a good understanding of what’s happening. You will definitely get much more background from The Last Wolf, but there is enough information given in A Wolf Apart that you wouldn’t be totally lost.

In A Wolf Apart, the hero is Elijah Sorensson, a wolf and member of the Great North pack. The pack has the ability to change into human form. These wolves have been around for thousands of years and have learned how to do quite well in the human world. Elijah is one of the Alphas. He only makes it home for 3 days a month for The Iron Moon which is when all wolves are forced to be in wolf form for 3 days. The rest of the the time Elijah is an attorney at a prestigious law firm who secretly handles their affairs. Elijah has been Offland for 30 years and he is itching to be back home with his pack full-time. Unfortunately, that can’t happen and it begins to wear on Elijah. He feels disconnected from everyone and everything except when he meets a human named Thea. She changes his whole perspective and also has him breaking some significant pack rules.

As with The Last Wolf, Maria Vale does a great job of creating this amazing supernatural mythology regarding this wolf pack that is a lot different from other wolf lore. That’s really what makes me love this series. Plus, you really get a feel for what it’s like to be a wolf in a human lead world. Elijah is dedicated to his pack and has a lot of disdain for humanity yet he works with them everyday. When Thea shows up to his firm as a client needing assistance, he is drawn to her in a way that he has never been drawn to any other being. She doesn’t have a hidden agenda and has no idea what he really is. The way that she finds out is unexpected and her reaction is genuine. I really appreciated how the relationship unfolded. I was also glad to see that some of the storyline from the previous book continues in a natural progression. There were a lot of good life lessons that were explored. Plus, there is a good amount of heat between the sheets to keep things interesting.

It’s going to be hard for Maria to top what she has done so far but I look forward to seeing what happens next. I’m not totally excited about how A Wolf Apart ended which is why I give it 4.5 stars. I felt like the Maria could have given us a little bit more.

I was excited to read Elijah Sorensson's story after being introduced to him in The Last Wolf. However, I ended up being a bit disappointed. I enjoyed the first book a lot and was expecting a bit more from A Wolf Apart. The main reasons why this book didn't work for me as much as the previous one, were the setting of the story and the lack of insight and growth of the main characters. The majority of the book took place in the human world, where Elijah is surrounded by humans. The lack of interaction with his pack members was one of the things that left me dissatisfied, I enjoyed the story more when he was home with the pack once a month.

The other main character and Elijah's love interest is Thea Villalobos, an environmental conservation officer. Her character felt flat, and I was just waiting for the moment for her to come 'alive'. She still feels like a stranger to me, and I think I would've learned more about her if there were chapters in her POV included in the book. This was one of the reason I didn't really feel and believe in their love, and it developed really fast. A Wolf Apart doesn't feel like a complete story, and that is why I was a bit let down. However, the scenes with the pack members were the best. I just love seeing Elijah in his natural habitat, and interacting with his family. I also enjoyed reading about his internal struggles and trying to hold on to his true self. I also want to mention that the story kept me interested enough to finish it. I was just expecting some extras that would've elevated the story more. I really hope that the story will pick up more in the next book(s).

I have not read the previous book in this series, but I think I managed to get what I needed from the introductory chapters. That being said, it would probably be better to start from the beginning (maybe?).

Elijah is a wolf shifter who has been designated as “Offland.” He runs their day-to-day business while managing his pack remotely. This is starting to wear a little thin on him and he feels like his sanity is slipping away as each moon passes. He’s been pretending to be human for too long and just about every interaction he has could be scripted. There’s no joy to his offland life and he has resorted to counting down the days between his return home.

His mindset shifts a bit when he finds himself facing a definite attraction. It’s been so long since he showed any interest in anything that the feeling is foreign to him. Thea is everything that he should not be attracted to – she’s gruff, solitary, and has no interest in black tie parties or networking. Somehow, though, she reminds him of what he’s missing. She becomes his surrogate “home.” There are some hiccups, lots of secrets, and the issue of trust, but through it all they manage to fight for a HEA. The pack dynamics are interesting and unique, with a Viking twist. This book was definitely a departure from my typical werewolf read.

Book Info
Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: July 31, 2018 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN 1492661902 (ISBN13: 9781492661900)
Edition Language English
Series The Legend of All Wolves #2
Other Editions (1)
Source:Netgalley EARC

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BOOK BLURB


When the Great North Pack is on the verge of falling apart, Pack wolf Elijah Sorensson wants to give up on his successful life in the human world to return home. But the Alpha says no--Elijah must continue to play his role to protect the Pack from those who want to destroy it.

Knowing he needs strength by his side, he seeks out human Thea Villalobos, a woman he's admired from the moment he met her. He hopes she can help him break through his human shell before the ailing wolf inside him dies, and before the Pack is betrayed again. But can Thea accept who and what Elijah really is?

My Thoughts


This story has many facets but mainly focuses on Elijah Sorensson. Elijah is a lawyer for the Pack who is living away from the rest, a Wolf in human skin whose life is beginning to spin out of his control the longer he stays Offland.

By chance, or Fate, he meets a human female named Thea Villalobos. Thea calms the man and his beast. Elijah, for the first time in his many years of solitary life, feels a true sense of comfort and belonging from another living being. However, since Thea is a human, their relationship is built on lies of omission which may doom it to failure when all is revealed to her.

Failure in the form of banishment or death is a very real possibility for Elijah once the Great North Pack becomes aware of his transgression against their law of never exposing the wolves to humans.

(view spoiler)

This particular story could have ended in such a tragic manner instead, as hoped, it ended in triumph!

While I totally enjoyed book 1 this 2nd book was even more emotionally charged for me from beginning to ending, even with a few errors here and there that can be easily corrected in the books final rendition before it is published.


[EArc from Netgalley]

I really tried to get into the book. I did completely read it but wanted to stop about Chapter 6. It was hard to keep interested. Thea I could follow pretty good through the book. Because it was in Elijah point of view most her story was hidden away it feels. Elijah was alright for a male lead. very emotional throughout the book between the Offland and when home. It's the story it self that was hard to follow. I couldn't understand what it was truly about tell three fourths of the way through. I didn't get swept into the story or the chemistry between the characters. Was good to see Tiberius and Silver. I wouldn't categorize it as a romance but maybe hierarchy and history.

When was the last time you read a book and just didn't know what to say?
I am a little lost here. The parts of the book that were good were not just good, they were perfect. And the parts that weren't good truly bored me. My emotions and opinions in this book are all over the place and I am struggling to settle on a score...
That being said, one thing is certain: have you seen the book cover? I love it!
The story is told from Elijah's POV. We get a really good view into who he is and who he wants to be. He is an amazing lawyer with everything a person could ever want at his fingertips. And yet, he is lost an unhappy because all he wants is to go back home and let his wild wolf free. He is tired of pretending to be someone he is not. He is tired of only being able to be his wolf once a month...

Thea is a strong minded girl who contrary to our hero knows exactly who she is and what she wants in her life. She has a very simple lifestyle and is 100% happy with it. All the expensive clothes, parties, and charm of Elijah's rich life do nothing for her. She couldn't care less about all that.

The thing I liked most about their relationship is that it felt real. There were no declarations of love to start. She understood he wasn't happy, she made him feel like himself even on a human skin. His need for her was deep and touching. And Thea was so down to earth and on point about it all.
Not many pnr romances succeed in finding that balance between fantasy and reality and I think Maria Vale did an outstanding job.

One of the things that made me struggle with the book is the constant mention of labels, of social parties, of expensive restaurants... Yah, ok, I understand the need to show how much Elijah dislikes the word he is in and that he is forced to keep up appearances. But that is drilled into the story so hard I found myself skimming through at times. It was just annoying me after a while. And that I'm afraid, is the first half of the book. I was about to give up when things became interesting.

So... a fabulous book! If you can get past the first half without getting annoyed.

3 stars

Complex story line that is hard to get into but grows stronger.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

A Wolf Apart delivers amazingly as a paranormal romance book. I highly enjoyed and wholeheartedly recommend this book. This book ends in a HEA.

Not a bad story overall. I liked the paranormal elements of the story. The plot was good but lacked alittle bit here or there but nothing that takes away from the story. good romance

I enjoyed this second installment in the Legend of All Wolves series. The author is so talented in crafting a story rich in Pack lore that is a fresh take on the typical Shifter/Werewolf paranormal romance. These characters are wolves that wear human skin rather than humans who wear wolf skins. An important distinction. I would definitely encourage reading the first book in the series, The Last Wolf, first. The majority of the world-building takes place here as well as the introduction of some of the characters for this installment. Elijah Sorensson is the hero and the book is told from his POV. He is a wolf working in the Pack's interest in the human world. His necessary absence, however, is taking a huge toll on his mental state. He wants to go home permanently to his Pack family and circumstances are not in his favor. Jaded in his dealings with women he meets Thea, our human heroine . Thea lives her life simplistically and her desire to help others is a driving force to her personality. And the unthinkable happens. Elijah falls in love. With a human. Against the laws of the Pack family that he needs and loves. How could this possibly work out? Elijah certainly has a lot to go through to get his HEA and I enjoyed his rocky journey.
I would like to say that I wish I knew Thea better as a character. Her POV was absent and as a result she was not as developed a character as Elijah. I did not feel as connected or invested in her. That being said I did love this book. Very well written. I will definitely be picking up the next in this series.

A Wolf Apart is book 2 in Maria Vale’s The Legend of the wolves, and while the world building is equally as complex and intriguing as book 1, the character portrayal left me wanting more. This book is exclusively written from Elijah’s POV and therefore I felt that Thea’s character was somewhat forgotten and underdeveloped. This made it hard to relate to Thea throughout the story. Hopefully the next in this series will bring more engaging character development and less of the emotional overload that I got from Elijah.

Elijah Sorrensson gives new meaning to a variation on theme, a wolf in lawyer’s clothing. For years now, he has lived away from the wolf pack he is sworn to protect. His insincere society lifestyle is slowly killing Elijah’s spirit. Expensive suits, a high profile job, and a slew of meaningless hookups do nothing but make him more desperate to return home back to his true wolf nature. Except for the three days of the Iron Moon when all of the wolves must return the wilderness, Elijah is forced to remain in “skin” because shifting while away from the Great North Pack homeland can bring lethal consequences. When Elijah meets the aptly named Thea Villalobos, he suddenly has reason to care about life again, however, he loves someone totally forbidden: a human.

Thea is a strong woman who does not suffer fools gladly. She has little time for slick, wealthy men of Elijah’s ilk. Instead, Thea lives rough in the woods having a job to find the lost and injured using her many outdoor skills. Thea is drawn to Elijah, but finds his usual talents for picking up women only serve to alienate her. This wolf will not let her go, however, and sets about in serious pursuit despite the fact it may cost him everything.

This story is told from Elijah’s POV with much of it detailing his constant struggle to live with the dichotomy of being in the human world of politics, high rollers, and big corporate where money matters over everything else when all he wants to do is be home with the wolf pack. Thea is really the only light in the encroaching darkness for him. He will have to break several taboos to be with her if that is even possible.

This the second book in The Legend of All Wolves series. These stories have a very unique world building which is saying something in a sea of PNR/UF stories about wolf shifters. In the first book, THE LAST WOLF, much of the backstory is established so reading it will greatly enrich this second volume, A WOLF APART. Ms. Vale’s writing definitely drew me into her world. I was quite invested in the first story and so happy to see how the pack was faring including a continuation of Silver and Tiberius’s story. The world is changing for this pack and their ability to adapt will determine whether they survive a known enemy as well as human encroachment into their carefully protected lands.

A wonderful 2nd entry in Vale's series. She turns the rich man-poor girl trope on its head with this beautiful story of love and finding your true home.

3 1/2stars rounded up. A Wolf Apart crawled along at a snail's pace for the first third of the book. Elijah is such a jerk, I could not drudge up any sort of feeling for him but disgust for his womanizing and conceited ways. Heck, he even begins to hate himself in the book. A forever wolf, who is losing his soul to the human world a little bit everyday as he acclimates to his environment. An alpha in the big city wearing suits and ties, he just wants to go home. Then he meets Thea Villalobos whose name means Goddess of the City of Wolves. Thea likes living simply and quietly, away from people. She spends her time rescuing people who get lost. Now Thea I like and after Thea influences Elijah I could finally feel something his character but disgust. Thea fills up the pieces of his soul and becomes his saving grace when his plans and his life begins falling apart. The story is an alpha male/shifter romance with a satisfying HEA and a reformed bad boy. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for a honest review.

i enjoyed this story like the first although the beginning is slow. Elijah is often away from his community working as the pack lawyer for the Great North Pack. Elijah doesn't want to live in the human world any longer and seems to feel trapped, but then he meets Thea Villalobos whom he fall in love with, but she is not all the other women that he has known., I enjoyed this story like the 1st book and I look to reading more of this authors work.

This is a shifter book with a difference . Most books of this genre tend to be written
from the female leads perspective BUT this one is written almost solely from our heroes'
point of view .

Elijah Sorensson hates his life , living the life of a successful , handsome businessman …….he
can have anything and anyone he wants EXCEPT what he really wants ……...to return to his pack , be
the Alpha they need and let his wolf run free .
Thea Villalobos has given up trying to be what others think she should be ………..and when she is sent
to see Elijah as a possible source of help regarding animal trapping , she meets someone she can relate to .
The twists and turns of their relationship are both sweet and tender whilst also fraught with danger for them both .
It is only by being willing to sacrifice themselves for the other that true happiness can be theirs .

This was an unusual shifter book but a very good read ……….I enjoyed reading from Elijah's perspective ,
showing us that the male of the species can be hurt just as easily as the female .

I look forward to further books by this Author as several points in the book were left unresolved .

I was given an arc of this book by NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for my honest review .

At first, this book was hard to get into...but you start to want to cheer him on. His misguided devotion to pack and then his love of the forbidden that leads him to realign his devotion and become a strong alpha...the heart-wrenching sacrifices and quiet moments of triumph. This book is being reviewed via NETGALLEY.

It was a ok story, and the couple have a strong connection with each other.

I was given this book to give an honest review.