Heather’s Bookshelf: Outcast Origins
Author: AJ Ashton
Released: 12/22/22
Genre: High Fantasy
“Samuel’s last resolve to keep his emotions under control, broke. Tears flowing down his cheeks. She studied him intently then slowly her eyes closed. Her hand slipping from his arm. Samuel brushed her cheek, unable to stop the sobs and buried his head in her hair. His whole body shook from his grief, as the world, he once knew shattered into a thousand pieces.”
“Outcast Origins” introduces and follows Lara Tarrenfall, one of the last of her line of Lycans. Lara’s life is filled with tragedy, starting at a very young age when her mother is killed.
A short time after her first full transformation into a Lycan, her father’s tragically killed, leaving behind Lara and her younger brother, Derwyn. During the attack, Lara manages to kill one of their vampire attackers, but she is mortally wounded in the process. She also swallowed some of the vampire blood during the attack. A family friend finds Lara and uses her skills to keep her alive. The result turns Lara into a vampire/Lycan hybrid.
Feeling responsible for Derwyn, Lara sets out to provide for and protect him. She approaches a nearby clan, but finds them reluctant to take in Derwyn and appalled by Lara’s existence. Will they find a place to belong before it’s too late?
Trigger Warning: violence, murder, sexual situations, adult language
Overall, I enjoyed this story. Lara’s past is clear, dramatic, and intriguing to follow. The author did a great job time jumping and changing POVs to keep the plot moving forward and also enhancing the tension in the tale. While the traumas were terrible, I felt the scene that resulted in Lara’s father’s death and her turning was brief, sudden, and not as emotionally charged as it should have been. I felt the same about her eventual final battle with Lavana, the vampire who sired her and killed her father. The lead up was great, but the ending felt anti-climatic. The result of Lara becoming a hybrid and not fitting in anywhere or with anyone, though written in high fantasy, was highly relatable and believable. Her love for her brother and desire to make things better for him felt pure and authentic. However, her relationship with Carn seemed much less organic and the sexual situations a bit awkward and much too stacked at the end of the story. The ending did wrap everything up nicely and felt like a clear intro to a series while finalizing this first chapter in Lara’s life.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
This high fantasy features an elaborate and clear backstory and the love between siblings.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with AJ Ashton
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Find it for purchase here or on Kindle Unlimited
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