Coveted by Shawntelle Madison (Coveted #1)
April 24, 2012
Urban Fantasy
Random House

Reviewed by May

Favorite quote: “Your little friends? Do you have an ornament vibrator in there? Now that would give me a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.”

Five years ago, after her boyfriend left her, Nat had a major breakdown and her already shaky grasp on her issues crumbled. Now Natalya Stravinsky is an outcast from her pack and family.  She’s a timid werewolf who always wears the same outfit, suffers from OCD tendencies, and a holiday décor hoarding problem. Living alone in her ultra clean cottage and her hundreds (thousands?) of boxes filled with her friends (aka holiday décor, table stuff, ornaments, etc) she works at an antique shop that specializes in magical antiques (that supernatural creatures come far and wide for).

Our story opens as her ex-boyfriend comes back to town – promised to another more dominant werewolf female who is high ranking. That is just the beginning of complications. Soon her friend that she hasn’t seen in years is living with her, she joins group therapy for her hoarding problem, and wizards, necromancers, and a rival pack of werewolves are all jumping into the show as well.

The first thing to know is that this is the first book in an Urban Fantasy series, told in the first person. We meet the heroine not at her lowest, but at a point where she is ready for change, ready to break out of her shell.

I am intrigued by the premise, and the unusual lead character. As an opening book for a new series, it is set up quite nicely. There’s a wide and varied cast of supporting characters, a lot of potential for world building, character growth, and conflict. I did not realize it wasn’t a PNR (based off cover and blurb, I thought it was!) until late in the book – knowing what to expect going in would definitely improve the reading experience for this book I believe.

This is a new to me author as well – and I really like her voice. She kept things interesting, always moving forward and never a dull moment. Her choice in heroine is unconventional to say the least, and one that I could appreciate. Nat obviously has issues, and while we get into some of it, it seems to me that there has to be more to the story. It is my hope the author will continue to reveal more about Nat – as well as show her growing stronger and helping herself into a better life. We were given some great glimpses of strength – as well as moments of weaknesses and she portrayed this heroine in a way that I could believe.

Another aspect of this book that I really enjoyed is the cast of characters. Madison’s cast is varied from witches to nymphs to shape shifters – and while I noted that she didn’t seem to have much in the way of her own unique spin on her paranormal world, it didn’t bother me greatly.

There were two main things that did bother me with this book. First and foremost, the werewolf pack. Because the author chose to not get deep into her own supernatural rules and quirks, I am left to assume standard rules apply. We are given the information that her ex boyfriend is back, and is acting as alpha… except that his father who sits around eating junk food and watching TV is the alpha. How can this be? Why would a pack accept a man who does nothing and thinks only of himself as their leader? Why would the son not challenge his father and take over? Perhaps this will be developed in future books, but it really bothered me.

My second issue is this ex-boyfriend himself. Thorn thinks nothing of making out with Nat when he is promised to – and intends to marry – another were female. A woman who is already jealous of Nat and threatens her if she comes near Thorn. It really made me want to gag how he pulls his alpha card around the submissive Nat, and how she turns into a simpering pile of feminine goo around him. I did not see any reason to like this guy, and his relationship with Nat reminded me of Bella and Edward. She stares at the wall and falls to pieces when he dumped her – going as far as turning into a holiday décor hoarder who wears the same outfit like a uniform every day. Oh yeah, that’s healthy. A guy who destroys you, tears you down, doesn’t put you first is not the guy to chase after.

There are also three things that did not bother me, but that alerted me to potential issues with this series down the road.

The first is that a love triangle is clearly set up in this book. I am so very weary and tired of love triangles in UF series. We have a kind, supportive, puts Nat first wizard named Nick who she grows to like and whom she spends a lot of page time with in this book. She compares him to Thorn more than once- and while there is no contest in my mind who the stronger man is, clearly Nat doesn’t see it as I do and still pines for her man Thorn.

The second is that there isn’t anything especially unique about the world this is set in. This is probably fine – assuming the author keeps her plots and characters as intriguing as they were in this book. It’s just notable because as a supernatural world – there’s nothing stand out about it.

Finally, Nat herself. She is growing and learning and finding strength within herself – that’s awesome. But she also has pity parties.

Tears flowed down my cheeks, and my body jerked while uncontrollable sobs shook my chest. This wasn’t fair. I’d endured so much already. When would my bad luck end?

I don’t actually think she has endured all that much. Well ok, her pack kicked her out for being weak, her family is only just now re-accepting her, and her boyfriend dumped her 5 years ago. Yeah, there are some beatings and other drama but enough to throw pity parties? I’m not so sure. I really liked Nat, and enjoyed this book, but if she turns into a ‘poor me’ sad girl instead of a kick ass heroine, this could become a huge issue for me.

As I finished this book I fired off an email to Mandi calling dibs on reviewing the next book in the series, and hopeful that it would become available to read soon. I will be anxiously awaiting Kept (book 2), and seeing what happens next with Nat, her friends, former pack, and family. If the premise intrigues you I do recommend checking this out.

Grade: B

Recent Reviews:
Wicked Little Pixie – 3.5/5
Book Chick City – dnf
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