Warlord: A Dark Shifter Romance

CONQUER THE STORM

Once again, Ms. Delta James has penned a page-turning, action-packed, romantic suspense filled shifter tale. Whether you have read her Wayward Mates series or not, the story will read well as a stand-alone. If you did read Wayward Mates, the story takes place many years into the future; a plague has ravished the earth, things are returned to the old ways, before technology.

NOTE: This is a post-apocalyptic dark shifter romance. It contains explicit sex scenes and may seem as non-con or dubious consent—but it is the way of life among these shifters—especially when they are fated mates. It is a way of life, with a strong, dominant alpha male and an equally strong submissive female who eventually capitulates and finds the pleasure in his control and mastery over her body. Yes, it even comes with the coveted HEA ended.

The story takes place at Calon Onest, on the Welsh coastline, one the older and stronger wolf packs will be lead by a female alpha, Rowan. She has lead her pack for five years, but the Ruling Council has other plans, and once again, she will be met with an over-confident male who she will vanquish. But—the tide is soon to change—the warlord is on his way—and he will not only conquer, but claim and mate.

“Prepare yourself, mate. You will be mine. Do not fear, mate. I am close. Your burden will be lifted within a short amount of time.”

The Ruling Council will invite Aliric of Ravenscar for a meeting, and he is prepared with counter offers to theirs. He is tired of roaming and wants a home for him and his men, along with mates, and Calon Onest has single females. The challenge to claim Calon Onest is accepted, knowing that Rowan has defeated many. The rumor of fated mates is scoffed until he sees her, and everything becomes clear, but won’t be easy. Anything worth having is worth pursuing and winning—and Aliric will claim Rowan.

“I’ve called to her more than once, and she tries to shake it off. Rowan is used to being mistress of her own fate. I doubt she’ll trade that in for mistress of the pack she once ruled.”

The plot of the story has strong characters, challenging interactions, and plenty of angst. While there is an order of wolf packs, no one will discount the strengths of Rowan, and the loyalty of her pack. She is willing to concede leadership to Aliric and leave, becoming a lone wolf, as long as her people, especially her sister, Arielle, and human, Sloan, are safe. But fate is a fickle mistress and has different plans, and like it or not, Aliric knows Rowan is his fated mate, and he is determined to have her, conquer, mate, and mark her. She will go from Alpha to Mistress of Calon Onest—and that isn’t going to be easy for her.

“Settle yourself with the idea that you will take your vows, you will obey me, and you will be my mate.”

There is much to be said about two strong alpha being mated. There is plenty of angst, anger, and disagreements, but the passion and chemistry between them are the happiest. Aliric never discounts the strengths of Rowan, but as a Warlord Alpha, his priority is to her safety and that of their clan—getting her to capitulate won’t be easy, and leads to his forceful dominance before she will acquiesce to his leadership and mastery of her. There will be plenty of discipline scenes and explicit sex scenes between this fated pair.

“Give to me, Rowan. Allow yourself to surrender to your need to be mastered.”

Trouble is coming, and while Aliric has not sheltered Rowan from the truth, he will not allow her to join in the battle, and she will disobey him, using her knowledge of the land to lead others to conquer the enemy. Taming Rowan will be a lifelong and challenging journey.

“She is truly your fated mate. Headstrong and obstinate as she is, you are blessed to have her.”

While the story does not end on a cliffhanger, it does leave with the possibility of more stories to come, more mates to find each other, and the future of other clans.

I loved reading this story. It was fantastic world building. The characters were well developed. It’s after a pandemic wiped out over half of the beings, and what is left is small clusters of humans, shifters and others, with shifters being the top dogs. Technology is basically non existent. It is very much like the middle ages where horses were used for transportation, castles, warriors and overlords. Of course, the Alphas of each territory were men, with one little exception.

Once upon a time, a very powerful Alpha had two daughters. They were raised to be the lady of the castle, and all things feminine, until he realized that his wife couldn’t give him any more children, so no sons to take over after he is gone. He took his eldest daughter, Rowan, and raised her as though she were the son. She learn how to ride, fight, and take care of the pack above all others. When the daughter took over for the father at his death, the Council wanted to have an Alpha that they could control mate with the daughter in charge. Her territory was wealthy in land, in trading and had an abundance of unmated females. She sent the first to candidates back with their tails between their legs. The third, she sent his head back in a basket. She lead her pack in several wars in which she fought alongside the men and they always won. Rowan looked after her sister, whom everyone thought the perfect she-wolf, and their human friend Sloane.

The Council approached the infamous warlord, Alaric of Ravenscar, to go and take her to mate and the territory would be his. He made them agree to terms, but what they didn’t know was that he was going to do it any way, and not the way they believed he would do it. He planned to come upon one of the villages on the coast, do work around the village to pay for the repairs they need on their ship. They did a lot of repairs and building that was needed. They were well liked by the people of the village because the men were helpful and respectful to all the villagers. When Alaric requested a meeting with Rowan, he knew that she was his fated mate. They exchanged vows privately and then in front of both her men and his men, with a little persuasion of a red bottom. She would fight with him, he would punish her, and they were both passionate with each other.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Wonderful, well written characters, and with fascinating interactions between the two lead strong willed characters. Battles of wills, and on the battlefield, plenty of action to keep the reader engrossed in this book. Fantastic!

Rowan has been Alpha of Calon Onest since her father died 5yrs ago. Everytime the council has sent a male Alpha to try to take the territory and control, she has sent them back in defeat or dead. Until they send Alaric. He realizes they are fated mates and overpowers her immediately and forces her to submit to him. Wasn’t a fan of how Alaric always had to have last say and his way. Not a great way to form a trusting partnership. Also wanted more at the end. An epilogue with a pregnancy announcement would’ve been nice.

wow! When Alaric knew that Rowen was his fated mate , nothing was going to keep him from her. Rowen was raised headstrong, a warrior, an alpha to lead her pack when her father passed away. Will Alaric spankings and punishments, tame this wild one? Would she succumb to his desires? This story is erotic, steamy with tension between them. Jack Calihan is a wonderful narrator, very animated, and a pleasure to listen to. I thoroughly enjoyed listening
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Well written but it felt like going back in time for all women

I have read several books by Delta James and usually like her stories. Warlord looked interesting based on the description of a very strong and independent woman who is leading her pack after her father dies. Rowan was determined to remain unmated but when she encountered Alaric she acquiesced to him. It seems all it took was one night for him to overcome all of her resistance and she became powerless to him.
For me this story had a lot of promise but it missed the mark when Rowan just basically rolled over completely. It would have been a lot better, at least in my mind, if Rowan and Alaric continued to have a battle of the wills outside of the “bedroom”. They could have been a great and powerful couple, especially if he realized that she needed to be herself and also lead her pack alongside him.
The book is well written by the author but for me the story-line just veered of into something that I did not really enjoy or connect with.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are all my own so agree with them or not as everyone’s tastes are different.

Warlord: A Dark Shifter Romance by Delta James is a great dark romance story to read. When I started this story I could not put it down till I finished readng it. I really enjoyed reading this story and I recommend it to everyone who likes readign about shifters, dark and paranormal romances in their stories.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Delta James bring us on an adventure that feels a bit nostalgic and yet entertainingly new! Rowan is a fierce, protective female wolf shifter and also happens to be the alpha of her pack. Alaric is a loyal, no nonsense warlord male wolf shifter who happens to find his fated mate in Rowan. Will these two big personalities be able to get along?

I loved these characters. Somehow Delta continues to give us the consistency that we expect from her feisty heroines and the crazy men who attempt to handle them. I loved the second sexy steamy scene! OMG holy hotness! I did feel that the need to dress a specific way didn’t necessarily help the story along. It didn’t bother me enough to knock my rating down at all either. An amazing job Delta on a book that has a connection to a series that so many love!

Delta James’s books are re-reads. I love how her stories suck you into the romance, suspense and action. We are living in the future after a plague has decimated Earth. There is no technology and people that have lived through the plage have to learn how to do things the old way. This is also a shifter book and Rowan is the female Alpha. She has lead her pack for five years but things are about to change for her. There is a Warlord on his way to not only conquer Rowan but also claim her as his mate. Alaric, is the second son, a Warlord and and war mongural. He is sent by the council after Rowan kills their envoy. Once Alaric sees Rowan he knows that she is his fated mate. Now the fun begins. They are both strong characters and they have many challenges ahead of them. Delta has written another story that you won’t want to put down until the very end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Well developed story with great characters with plenty of heat and excitement, all within a great story line. I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily.