Nice quick paranormal fantasy read that was fast paced and an easy and enjoyable read.
Thanks to netgalley and the author for the chance to read this

A quick, easy read that I read in one sitting. It was well written with a compelling storyline, well developed characters and good world building.I was gripped

Fans of paranormal romances and interspecies love (particularly between humanoid and non-humanoid species) in a high fantasy world will enjoy this book, but unfortunately this wasn't for me.

There are a lot of positives to gain from this book, from the distinctly impressively worldbuilding and the sheer range of mythological inspirations the author drew from, to the (what fans of the genre will call) pretty convincing romance. However, I honestly felt like the book dragged on a little too much, and at parts the world felt TOO dense, meaning that I kept flitting in and out of disinterest and had to continuously refer to the glossary at hand. I feel like the book could have been made a third shorter and it would not have affected the plot at all.

This one wasn't for me.

I found all the terms listed at the front of the book a bit off putting, I read a lot of fantasy and I like it when these things are introduced so naturally into the tale you pick the terms up without needing them defined. Too many different words too soon had me feeling like I'd picked up a book from the middle of a series. So the worldbuilding didn't do it for me and that really put me off the book. I did quite liked Briony, but it took me a lot longer to warm to Hans and their relationship didn't totally win me over, which didn't help.

I probably won't read any more by this author.

The 'monster love' fan in me was drawn by the cover. Between the pages I found a well written, compelling fantasy
romance from an author who is new to me.

Briony and Hans have both been emotionally damaged by others in the past making them wary to trust,
now they have one month to complete their journey and change history or decide not to.
Magical warfare and drama kept me entertained and involved while Hans and Briony found their place with each other.

Fate Awakened has an interesting story-line involving magic, action, adventure, wonderful characterizations, mystery
and a monster (werewolf) Vulk who is so much more. I look forward to see how Jocelyn Montana will continue this series.


#FateAwakened #NetGalley

I did enjoy this after a slight concern at the beginning that the MMC was going to be too animal-like perhaps.

Briony's character was strong, often selfless, and determined to settle for nothing less than she deserved. She held her own against Hans' gruffness for the entire book admirably. I am sucker for anything fated mates related, and this definitely hit the spot. A reluctant bonding between a wolf and a woman with unknown magic.

I would have loved a more extended ending to properly show Hans' battle with his own regrets and beginning coming full circle, but the lesson is a powerful one.

Sometimes the power is within us the entire time; we just have to make the harder choice to discover it.

This book starts off hot and heavy. Lots of spice and then dives into the plot. This is a paranormal monster/human shifter romance. Tropes include alpha, primal, possessive and fated mates.

Briony is a outcast in the town she lives in, fighting for everything she has. She has special healing magic in a town where magic is outlawed. Hans is a Vulk, a werewolf, a creature that Briony believes devours people. After being kidnapped and forced the consume a special potion, Briony goes into a heat and Hand finds her. Their meeting is less than conventional. They become Runebound and the adventure begins trying to make sense of what’s going on. Meanwhile an evil force is rising to gain power in the land. Briony and Hans have to learn what is brewing between them while staying safe and keeping the balance of their land.

I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. The world pulled me in and hasn’t let go. This was my first shifter romance with knotting and I’m here for it. Due to previous trauma, Briony had some hard choices to make and she grew from them. I enjoyed the emotional push and pull the main characters went through. With the events playing out in this story I am excited to see where things go from here with the other characters we were introduced to

Fate Awakened was such an exciting fantasy romance! If you're like me and prefer high fantasy to contemporary or paranormal than you'll probably love this book. I felt like it hit the same notes that I'm used to and love in a fantasy romance - compelling lore and world, adventure and life-or-death moments, fate and magical destiny.

One thing to note is that although the MMC is humanoid he is not human. It's about 2.5/5 on the spice scale (has some very explicit scenes though it doesn't overtake the plot), and does make reference to his species and uses some omegaverse tropes. This isn't really my thing but I personally didn't find it to be too overwhelming so I was still able to enjoy the book.

Some of the tropes in the book:
- Fated mates
- Beauty and the beast vibes
- Possessiveness

Overall I really enjoyed this book am definitely curious to read the next one!

FIVE STARS AND MY HEART!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 ❤️

I AM BLOWN AWAY BY THIS STORY! 🥵🤯


I started reading this book just for the sake of reading a new genre but I never knew I was going to get hooked on this story day and night! Wow! Simply amazing and I am surprised by the less number of reviews that this book has got. Because this story deserves more than this!! 😍

From the first scene till the last I never felt bored or skipped the para even though the whole thing was new for me and it took some time to understand how things work in this fantasy world of werewolves.

And now I am regretting reading this because I didn't know that it was going to be a series and I JUST CANNOT WAIT FOR THE JURI'S BOOK! AND THE NEXT ONE! AND THE NEXT! 🙊🙈

THANK YOU NETGALLEY FOR PROVIDING ME WITH THE ARC OF THIS STORY! ❤
I CAN NOT THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH FOR THIS BOOK! I JUST LOVED IT! ❤❤

Want more from this author! ASAP!

This was my 1st book of this kind. I have seen many people recommend it. Boy am I glad I gave it a chance. It was so good. I wasn't sure at first because of the male main character being a werewolf all the time. I always wondered how the true (monster) characters had relations with humans. But this author did an amazing job and the sexy times were so hot. I loved this book. I can not wait to read more by this author. She truly knows how to write this genre and monster trope.

This book and characters were hard to put down. I was drawn into the world of Ulterra and want more! I can’t wait to read more adventures from Jocelyn! Briony and Hans love story was full of spice, banter and everything that a reader needs.

This book is absolutely wild! There are so many twists and turns you will not be able to put the book down... You will definitely want to start this one when you have the time to really delve in because you will not want to stop reading for anything once you jump in!.

What an exciting and extraordinary masterpiece! Fate Awakened is an addicting and mesmerizing introduction to what promises to be a wickedly unforgettable and decadently seductive series. I am dying for more of this marvelous world and its brilliant characters. They have stolen my heart, and I truly don't want it back if I can enjoy and savor their stories.

Briony has carved out a small life for herself. Surrounded by indifference and prejudice, she is fighting for some measure of happiness. Forced to play a dangerous part in a deadly plan, she must use her wits and hold onto her heart because what comes next is beyond her wildest imaginings. Hans is on the hunt when he finds the unthinkable. The temptation is beyond any control he has even as a seasoned warrior. It calls to his very soul and leaves him struggling as to his next move. Can these two work together for the safety of their world, or will they lose it all including their hearts due to stubborn headstrong habits?

Not knowing what to expect, I was honestly blown away by this incredible adventure! This rich and diverse world with its intriguing and stunning characters have left it's mark on my heart, and I will treasure it for a very long time to come. Briony and Hans are out of this world wonderful and so insanely opposites that I couldn't put this book down. It snagged my attention and kept me glued to my chair as I explored and treasures every step of this journey.

Jocelyn Montana has won my loyalty as a reader, and I truly can't wait to see what she creates next. Beyond a doubt it will be marvelous and it will be a living work of art. She is without a doubt an extremely gifted author who loves giving of herself to others. I am still marvekong over this magnificent story that she has created so lovingly and magnificently. Don't walk but run to pickup this book and enjoy it!

So, I really liked this one. The plot is the main focus of the book, but there are also some really good spicy scenes, one right in the beginning of the book. The spice doesn't overwhelm the plot, and I like the relationship development between the two MCs. There are battles and adventures and evil forces to conquer. The writing is a bit flowery at first, but it quickly settles into a good compelling read.

The author has created a new fantasy world, and I was worried about the glossary at the beginning, but the heroine is unfamiliar with most of the creatures (thinking they are mythical beings) they encounter, so many of them are described to her by her travel companions. It's easy to immerse yourself in the world, and the writing is evocative.

The hero is alpha, but not an alphahole, which I absolutely cannot stand. There's a bit of a Beauty and the Beast vibe, but the heroine fully accepts the hero's vulk (werewolf) form. I am really looking forward to reading more by this author.

I’m obsessed and can’t wait for more! I love a monster romance but I love a monster romance WITH PLOT even more! I was completely drawn in by the end of chapter one. I’m he world building and lore was fantastic. The character development for Briony and Hans was absolutely perfect. I’m excited to get The next book

Fate Awakened
Stars 3.5

Fate Awakened was a good book! It's a spicy monster fantasy romance. It's well written, and I enjoyed the world-building. This isn't your typical werewolf's mate romance trope. Hans is a werewolf and has a duty to keep magic wielders out of his land. Briony is a doctor’s apprentice and was enjoying a night out and having a few drinks at the tavern. When she is stolen away and is used as bait to capture a werewolf. With beginning of the book is so spicy, it makes the middle of the book struggle a bit to match the original pace. That said, there are enough action scenes, interactions and relationship building to hold your attention.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read but a bit too long for my tastes. I'd recommend this to people that enjoy monster romance. My rating reflects my dissatisfaction with this book not following a typical werewolf trope and the length of the book. In my opinion, 700 pages are practically 2 full books.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a fast paced read for me. The setting was very expansive and vibrant, and our characters all had distinct personalities that gave a lot of life to the story. The banter between Briony and Hans was endearing and funny at times, and I adore a strong female lead against a grumpy male lead. This book caters to plenty of elements that I enjoy, such as fated mates, overprotective love interests, and monster romance. At times I had some trouble with the lore and history feeling info dumped, but I am grateful for the glossary at the beginning of the book. Ultimately I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a classic monster fantasy romance.

This story has strong romance and fantasy elements. There is an evil sorcerer trying to take over the world and a few chosen to fight him. But just as strong is the romance between Briony and Hans who are enspelled by evil to be a distraction. The secondary characters are good as well and add a lot to the story.

I couldn’t get into the story at first. There is a moment near the beginning that might be considered dubious consent for both characters which may have affected that. But as I read more, the characters grew on me. There are also some strong secondary characters that add to the story. The writer has done a good job in creating a complex world with many types of creatures and humans and different magics.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this in one sitting. It’s like 700 pages so I think that says everything. But if it doesn’t oh boy do I have some words for this book.

It’s fantastic. I’ve never read an omegaverse style novel outside of the fanfiction community and but this put most of those to shame. It was unexpectedly delicious, entertaining, and emotional. I stopped half way through to see if the author has published anything by else yet and I didn’t find anything on goodreads which is just about going to kill me. I need more of their work right now.

Definitely this isn’t for everyone but if you’ve read any omega verse content whether it’s manga or fanfiction give this a shot. I’d also say that if you have a fondness for monster romance ie. The Ice Planet Barbarian series, try it. Pretty much all of the monster books that are popular on TikTok right now lean into the slightly human/not completely human vibe, if you’re okay with those read this. This is kind of like a spicy werewolf/beauty and beast mash up with just *chefs kiss* everything.

I loved the characters, their backstories, the relationships. All of it. And I can’t wait to delve back into this world with the author’s next book. 10/10

“𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭, 𝐚 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐝,
𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬.
𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞,
𝐎𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐮𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰,
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐨.
𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭,
𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝,
𝐁𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝.
𝐓𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭,
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭.
𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲,
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲.
𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞,
𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡’𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞.”

_____________________

Ok I’ll be first to admit this is my first foray into any kind of “monster” smut, and I’ll have to say I am HERE FOR IT!! If you loved Ice Planet Barbarians but actually wanted more plot and would have preferred a fantasy spin full of werewolves, necromancers, sorcerers/sorceresses, magic, runes, and spells, vs planets and aliens then this is for YOU!!

Briony is just trying to enjoy a night at the tavern when she is summoned by the king, subsequently kidnapped, and basically roofied by a necromancer before being stripped and bound in a cave as bait for the Shadow of Death, better known as a Vulk. Vulk are 8 foot tall werewolf like creatures who are trapped in Vulk form, unable to shift back to human form due to a hundreds year old curse. But when Hans finds Briony in the cave their attraction and her spell induced lust boil over into very consensual coupling. When a rune appears afterward delivering a prophecy the two find themselves teaming up to defeat the newly freed sorceress Morana and hopefully break the curse on the Vulk once and for all.

Briony is a spitfire and I absolutely adored her character. Hans, of course, was an adorable cinnamon roll of a monster and the way he loved Briony and cared for his pack of brothers was everything. The spice was excellent, and with prophesies, curses, mates, and Baba Yaga what more could you possible ask for??

If you’re looking for a new, spicy, monster romance series look no further. I can’t wait for book 2 now!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.