This isn’t the life Cole dreamt of, but what choice does he have? With his twenty-third birthday behind him, Cole Moreton now faces the shifter compatibility test which will decide his future. Testing positive means joining a pack and eventually taking the bite. Unfortunately, with enviable skills in self-defence and hand-to-hand combat, the kind of packs interested in him aren’t any he’d want to … he’d want to join.
Logan has been a member of the McKillan pack for most of his life. Pack is family and loyalty is everything, but when the shifter government turns out to be no better than the oppressive humans before them, he questions everything.
Right from their first meeting, Logan knows that a life with the McKillan pack isn’t right for Cole, but with his alpha taking a keen interest in Cole’s skills, Logan’s hands are tied. Mutual attraction builds between them, but acting on it is futile—helping Cole will put their lives at risk and an end to any future they could’ve had.
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This is action packed, great world building, slow burn romance.
Poor Cole. He has so many choices to make, and none of them are easy. And poor Logan with new choices now that Cole is in his life.
This is a fantastic start to a new series and I am diving right into book two.
ESCAPE is the first book in the Rebellion series, and we are introduced to a world where shifters rule over the humans, including the how’s and why’s of how it happened. Now, if you have read any of the Regents Park series, prepare yourself – because this is completely different!
At age 23, all humans have to be tested. If positive, they join a pack, either as a shifter or as a human affiliate ‘usually’. If negative, they can carry on with their human life as before. Two of Cole’s siblings tested negative, but he is the ‘unlucky’ one. Because of his skillset, there is only one Pack who wants him, and it’s the one with the worse reputation. Not only that, but he would be put into the group he likes least of all. Logan does what he can, but that’s not much. Or maybe there’s more…
This world has some harsh realities and Annabelle Jacobs has built it up perfectly! The difference between Packs is made completely obvious, as well as the differences between the humans and shifters. The main characters are Logan and Cole (obviously) but they are ably supported by a whole host of others, including one of my favourites – Max.
This is not a complete story. In fact, it has one helluva ending that will leave you biting your nails as you wait for the next instalment. There is no light at the end of the tunnel so far, just a whole load of hardship.
A brilliant start to a new series I can’t wait to continue, I have no hesitation in absolutely recommending this fantastic story.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!
Escape by Annabelle Jacobs is a romance set in a dystopian world of shifters versus humans. In the prologue of the book, humans, who were in control, inhumanely treated shifters. Fast forward to the present, shifters are now the ones in power, but instead of changing things for the better, we see that only a role reversal has taken place.
Cole, a human, has passed the shifter compatibility test. The pack that wants him the most plans to use him as a weapon against humans, which Cole is vehemently against. Logan, a compassionate and kind shifter who is part of the same pack that wants Cole, is assigned to mentor him through the transition. Cole wants nothing to do with shifters though; he doesn’t want to like Logan, but the more they get to know each other he realizes that Logan is different from the other shifters. Logan, on the other hand, is immediately attracted to Cole but he knows nothing can happen between them. It seems they are doomed from the start.
I loved this book! I’m a fan of Annabelle Jacobs’ Regent’s Park series and after reading this book have no doubt this series will be another favorite. The byplay between Cole and Logan is spot on and I like that it took a while for Cole to warm up to Logan. Who wouldn’t have reservations in his situation? The last half of the book is full of action and even though it ends on a soft cliffhanger, the ending is both sweet and sets up the next book. I’m looking forward to seeing how Cole and Logan navigate their new “normal” and hope too see other characters have a larger role (Aaron). I have faith that in later books in this series they’ll find a way to be together and I’m sure it will be quite the adventure! An engrossing and fantastic read by Annabelle Jacobs.
MM Shifter, Human paranormal romance. The shifters gained political power in the UK promising equal rights several years ago but have not kept their word and now humans are under shifter control. Cole Moreton has dreaded receiving his letter to go for mandatory shifter compatability testing but now he’s 23 and he has no choice. Logan is a member of the McKillan pack and its his job to ‘recruit’ new members. Cole is terrified that the McKillan pack want him but is attracted to Logan. Easy to read and a pageturner. Action throughout and lots of twists and turns I really enjoyed this story and can’t wait to read book 2 to see what happens next.
Excellent beginning to the Rebellion Series. You’ll fall in love with Cole and Logan.
Not your typical shifter reads and nor should it be. Perfect series to dive into if you wish to shake things up in your reading comfort zone.
Nice twist to shifters ruling over humans. Filled throughout with action, twists, romance-albeit a slow burning one, and well developed relationships for the main and side characters.
NOTE: Not a standalone and will end on a cliffhanger.
**I received this ARC via Gay Romance Reviews for my honest feedback.**
I loved this book. It was well written and had all the feels.
I’m a sucker for paranormal series where the world building, in particular politics and oppressive governments take center stage. It’s why I always loved the shifter books from Tanya Chris, but those have concluded. Thank goodness I now have this series to take their place. The author does a superb job of setting up the bleak world that Cole and Logan inhabit here and in getting the sparks going in their relationship. I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2.
Fantastic world building!! This is the start of a new paranormal series were shifters rule over humans in a dystopian world. I loved Cole and Logan! There is great action that unpredictable with a slow burn romance. This was fantastic beginning to end!! I’m voluntarily leaving a review form an advanced copy that I received.
Choices! Cole had dreams and goals, but circumstances of birth have control of that. He has desireable skills wanted by the wrong packs. Logan, as a member of the McKillan pack is living his life, then he starts paying attention to the world around him. He made a choice how he would handle the truth of his life. The McKillan pack wanted to use Cole’s skills. Logan, understood that Cole’s temperament and goals were not compatible with the pack’s needs. Can Logan save Cole from pack? Will Cole resist? Are there no choices, folks are forced to join a pack, no matter what? What will the pack do? Cole has several opportunities to make decisions, does he choose well? Interesting world that is built around the differing human shifter relationships. Nicely done. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Shifters have taken power after being suppressed for so long abut now they are suppressing the regular humans. Every human at age 23 is forced to go through testing to see if they are compatible with being changed into a werewolf. If they are not compatible, they will be free from an alpha’s demands but treated like second class citizens. If they are compatible, they will be force to join a pack and under an Alpha’s commands. Even though legally they are not supposed to be changed against their will, most end up changed. Cole doesn’t want to join a pack. He hates the idea of becoming a werewolf and losing his ability to choose. The problem is he has great abilities in martial arts and marksmanship so if he is compatible, he will be snapped up by the pack with the most ruthless reputation.
Cole got his dreaded result and he is compatible and he is being courted by the McKillan pack. Logan is his liason and is trying to help Cole adjust to his new reality. The problem is that the unit that wants Cole the most is led by the type of wolf that Cole most fears. Logan feels bad for Cole and other people who are being forced into things against their will. He does his best to reassure Cole but when that doesn’t work, Logan has to decide whether he should reveal a big secret.
Cole Moreton knows what will happen when he takes his shifter capability test. If he is positive, he will be forced to join a pack and eventually to take the bite. He has skills in defense and combat and knows the packs who will want him are not ones he will want. Logan is a member of the McKillan pack and is tasked with helping Cole become a member of the pack. He knows that the pack is not a good fit for Cole but his alpha is quite interested in him and Logan has no choice. While the two find themselves attracted to each other, Logan helping Cole to avoid his fate will not allow them to act on that desire.
Anabelle Jacobs has another winner with this series. Humans had abused shifters and shifters rebelled but now with the tables turned, the shifters are no better than the humans were. It is very intriguing as now shifters control everything and rather harshly. Testing positive means being forced to join a pack. Logan had more scruples than his pack but he had to be very careful. Cole did not want that life but had no choice. What happens next is amazing and makes for excellent reading. The plot is fantastic and the heroes are to die for. What more could you want in a book?
This is definitely an angsty read that will have your stomach in knots for a lot of the book. This does not focus on the romance between Cole and Logan. It is there somewhat but this is more focused on what is happening to the characters instead of between them. This is a pretty unique world that Annabelle Jacobs has created instead of just being another werewolf plot with the humans being in control this does a complete 180 and has the humans being subservient which can be uncomfortable to read sometimes. This does end in a cliffhanger and you will want to keep reading.
I found this book to be enjoyable, though I wish that we got more of the attraction and buildup of the relationship between Logan and Cole. We were told that they fancied each other, but there wasn’t much real evidence of it until they were declaring their love for one another. I wasn’t abrupt, per se, but it did feel like there wasn’t enough of a foundation behind their words, at that point.
Also, this can’t be happening in a vacuum. How are shifters living in the rest of the world? Has this takeover of the government, and abuse of power, caused other nations to respond even more violently against shifters? Is the UK subject to sanctions of any kind? What happened to the Royal Family? Honestly, this may happen, but I find it hard to imagine that a vast amount of political, economic, and social pressure wouldn’t be imposed on the UK by the international community as a reaction to their new version of apartheid.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
A fantastic start to a new series. A great character-driven book with fresh world building.
The author has written a fantastic, fascinating, intriguing, thought provoking, fast paced, powerful, poignant, grab-you-by-the-feels, action packed, slow burning, definitely different, unexpected, and totally awesome twist of the standard shifter storyline. It pulled me in from the very first page, and stayed with me long after “The end.” I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Wow! A brilliant opening to a series I am so looking forward to reading! Annabelle Jacobs introduces a new world to us, where the shifter – human imbalance is tipped every which way, catching the MCs between a rock and a hard place.
A pairing damned from the start, the Escape from the title… and a cliffhanger that left me totally wanting more.
Loved the plot, loved the characters, love it all!
I was provided with an ARC by the author and leave an honest review.
Escape by author Annabelle Jacobs is the first book in the Rebellion series. I loved this modern take on shifters. It is a fast-paced book with many surprises in it.
When things start out, shifters get the raw end of the deal. They are beaten by humans and treated as less than nothing. Well, now the tables have turned. The shifters are in power all must obey them or die.
Cole has to do the one thing he has been dreading. The shifter compatibility test. He is a human and if this test is positive, he will join a shifter pack. He has no choice this is the law. He is praying he is not compatible. He knows with his skillset the fiercest pack is going to want him. He wants nothing to do with fighting he is a peaceful person at heart.
Logan, he meets Cole at the center when Cole is being tested. There is something that draws him to Cole from the start. He is a werewolf who had to take the bite from his Alpha. He is part of the pack Cole wants nothing to do with. Logan is not like his pack mates he is kind, thoughtful, and sympathetic.
I really liked these two. They each are so brave and strong. Fighters in their own rights. Logan is a protector through and through and Cole is just as protective. It is beautiful to see their relationship unfold.
I loved this story and cannot wait for more. I want to know if they can find some sort of peace and get back to what really matters in the world.
Five Shooting Stars
First off, when does the next book come out? Yes, I loved this book that much. This is the first book in a new series by Annabelle Jacobs. I loved the world and character building she does in this book. I can’t wait for Cole and Logan’s relationship to evolve. This book kept my attention from the first page through the last. This is a must read story.