ARC Review: Sara Humphreys – Untamed

The Amoveo Legend Series:
 
Book 3:
 
Untamed: William and Layla Nickelsen
 

 
Release Date: November 6th, 2012
Purchase on Amazon: Sara Humphreys - Untamed (The Amoveo Legend)
Summary:
The Amoveo are an ancient race who've lived secretly among humans for thousands of years. They are beautiful and incredibly strong but their race is extremely fragile--each has until the age of 30 to find their soul mate, before their bodies start to die a slow, painful death.
 
Layla Nickelsen has spent her life running from a mate she didn't choose, until William Fleury finally confronts her. Normally stoic and unemotional, William finds himself befuddled by Layla: his growing feelings for her and his driving need to protect her. And Layla has to admit that William might be everything she's always wanted after all...
 
Review:
So I have not read the first two books of this series. I don’t really feel as though it was necessary to have read the first two books. The author does a good job of summarizing what has happened to date so I didn’t feel lost and picked it up the new world pretty quick.
 
This take on shifters was pretty easy to pick up and was pretty interesting. In theory I liked the concept. When you find your mate it makes you stronger, better more whole. However, if you don’t find your mate or if your mate dies, you start to wither away become more human, you lose your ability to shift and magic withers. I’m not sure I like that. Really kind of puts the pressure on, don’t you think?
 
The story itself was an easy read; I read it pretty quickly and was for the most part entertained. It didn’t drag. There were plenty of sparks between Layla and William to keep the story moving along. There was a bit of a mystery a who dunnit if you will. There is some violence and intrigue and humorous parts so there are all the makings of a good story.
 
However, something just misses for me. The character development is not the best. I don’t feel like I really knew William much better by the end of the book. He’s the man of ice, he’s cut off most emotion, but why? From what I could tell he really doesn’t have any reason to have cut off all emotion and the “he’s always been that way” just didn’t really cut it for me. Usually when someone is all closed up there is a reason for it. I didn’t dislike William, he deals with Layla very well, I just didn’t feel like I knew him very well.
 
Layla, I still don’t know if I liked her or not. She had all the makings of a heroine that I would like. She is sassy and brash, independent and loyal, all qualities that I usually love. Yet, for some reason I just couldn’t love Layla. I am not even sure that I can put my finger on why I didn’t love Layla. Maybe because she pins the sins of a few on an entire race even when evidence showing otherwise is smacking her directly in the face. Or maybe it’s more than that. I am not sure. I really wanted to like her, but honestly my jury is still out.
 
In a series usually the side characters are just as important as the main characters. Falling for the side characters is what makes a reader want to continue with the series. You want to see what happens with those characters. In this book, the side characters are not strong enough to make me want to continue. The side character that I liked the most and we saw a lot of pretty much got his HOA before Layla even did so I don’t need to continue the series to see what happens to him. I think this aspect is a miss for this author as it is very doubtful that I will continue with this series as there is no one that I really want to see get their HOA.

*This book was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review. No other compensation was given.
 
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