Let me just start by saying that I adore Mary Calmes. I've read Frog about twenty times, I keep going back for more of Sam and Jory as well as Ian and Miro (and Craig Hartley, if we're being honest). Mary's writing has a way of moving me, making me laugh, and cry, and everything in between. But while I very much enjoyed the first two books in this series, Honored Vow was very painful for me to get through.

There was so much suffering, physical and otherwise, and with that ending? I doubt I'll be continuing the series and that's a first for me with this author. It's just a personal preference, of course, as I know other readers absolutely loved this book, but when I'm going to be put through the wringer that dramatically, I sincerely hope to have lots of time to come down from it and bask in the peace and joy that come after. I didn't get that here and it was rough.

I will continue to worship at the altar of Mary Calmes, but this series will not likely be on any shelves of favorites for me, which makes me sad. ( )

Reread: June 21, 2016 ( )

Wow, this is one jam-packed book! Loved it, loved it, loved it! I still love Logan and Jin but more than that I love the many and varied secondary characters.

I'm so glad there will be another book in this series because I need to see Crane's father suffer! I need to see blood and terror and destruction rain down upon him for a long, long time! The same for Jin's father!

And can I just say that I totally squee'd my little heart out for Domin! :) ( )

What an amazing continuation of this extraordinary series! The first book was great, the second only deepened my admiration for the world building and the direction the story took, but this third volume – let me tell you, this story will stay with me for a very long time. I thought Jin and Logan had a hard time in the second book, but things in this round get impossibly worse.

The werepanther society we got our first glimpses of in the second book unfolds further and the picture that emerges is that of archaic laws, cruel traditions and downright horrible rituals. I thought it was cruel even for werepanthers to make their people suffer like that. Depriving mates of each other’s company, testing them to the limits of rational thought? Duels with several participants where everyone knows only one will survive? I could go on…

Jin continues to amaze me. He is one of the strongest creatures around (a nekhene cat), but he is also very human. That fact makes what he has to go through while figuring out his powers and how to control them even more poignant. He continues to grow and evolve, but his suffering almost did me in.

For the first time, Logan is tested as well. In fact, much of the struggle of the two mates comes from the fact that, in this book, he is the one who needs to prove he is worthy of Jin. I was afraid he was going to succumb to the temptation of his ‘larger calling’, but the solution he found did not disappoint me. I was very grateful. I would have hated to have seen a different ending after all those emotional ups and downs.

If you liked the first two books and are ready for some nail-biting tension, emotional suffering along with Jin and Logan and one of the wildest rides available in book form this year, you will love this third book as much as I did. If the last book left you curious about this truly different shifter society, go for it – but make sure you read the first two volumes before you tackle this one. The series is a real learning experience and worth taking your time to get to know it. And, like in the other two books, the men are hot and the sex is even hotter!




NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews ( )

Nice end, but left open for more with characters like Danny. I do hope there are maybe one or two more books to come. I enjoyed the series, super entertaining and ticked all the right boxes for me. Romantic, loads of angst, sexy, dramatic and kinda OTT. Like! ( )