Book Review: New Moon (Alpha Wolf Academy #1) By J.J King

Book Title: New Moon (Alpha Wolf Academy #1)

Author: J.J King

Published Date: January 16th 2020

Number of Pages: 238

Book Rating: 2 stars

Book Description:

An elite shifter academy, a hot guy, an arch-nemesis, and a whole shitload of trouble. Elena Jensen doesn't belong at Alpha Wolf Academy, the most prestigious shifter university in North America, but that's her reality and she's determined to make the best of it. When she meets a guy with emerald eyes and dark, wavy hair that makes her start rethinking her disbelief in soul mates, Elena's opinion of AWA changes. Although, she'd feel better about her place in the social order if her crush's twin sister wasn't trying to destroy her reputation and get her expelled. Elena's already shaky foundation is pulled out from under her when the academy is besieged by soldiers and she chooses to put herself in danger to save lives. When it's life or death, the enemy of your enemy is your friend... or at least, Elena hopes so. Because more than just her life depends on it.

Review I am a huge sucker for werewolf books. They are usually like candy to me. I love the whole mate thing and Alpha male thing (within reason of course).

This one wasn't my favorite. It was very one dimensional in my opinion. I couldn't connect to any of the characters. The MC was supposed to be 22 but felt more like 16 to me. The relationships where made too fast and I didn't find myself caring for any of the friendships or romances.

The romantic interest was also super boring to me and I found myself not liking him. Their romance was all lust and no actual content. The character we are introduced to at the end of the book for 2 seconds holds more interest to me than the love interest did in this entire book appearances.

The flow of the plot was stilted. Half the book was her at this new school with a bunch of cliches like mean girls and quirky friends (usually I love these tropes but not this time) the second half of the book was some kind of heist which really dragged. From the synopsis I expected the mention of "Elena's already shaky foundation is pulled out from under her when the academy is besieged by soldiers and she chooses to put herself in danger to save lives. " to happen early on but it basically started halfway and lasted until the end of the book.

Also throughout this entire heist like scene she is on a timer because her mission needs to be done fast to be accomplished properly (I won't say more as not to spoil anyone) but she takes so many unneeded pauses in her heist which made me want to yell "Is this really the time!!". Than when things are mostly resolved the whole reason this "heist" started is kind of thrown in as an after thought. AKA, there is fighting, things calm down, she has some conversations and lovey moments with the boring love interest and than as an afterthought, oh ya, you, random person, can you do XYZ to finish my mission for me as I stay her and chat with people.

For me a good book has to have characters I can connect with and a plot which keeps be engaged. This one had neither. It was good enough to that I finished it, but I wasn't really invested in how things would end.