Book Review of Alpha by Rachel Vincent

Title: Alpha

Author: Rachel Vincent

Release Date: October 1st, 2010

*If you have not read the previous books in the Shifters series this will contain spoilers*

The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc, and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder, and treason. Yeah, we’ve been busy. But now it’s time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother’s death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.

It’s not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I’m heading for a final showdown that can–that will–change everything forever. A showdown I’m not sure I’m ready for.
But life never waits until you’re ready

Summary from Goodreads.com

My Review: So I got Alpha a couple of days early and I literally squealed when I opened up the package, I was sooooo excited!  I devoured the book in a day, well less than a day if I am being honest.  I have been waiting for this book for so long and I could not put it down until I knew how it ended and who survived the fight.  I am sitting here now though, writing the review, and I am happy with the outcome of the story, and crazy sad at the same time.  This is the last time we get to see Faythe, and I have loved being alongside her during this series.   I will miss peeking into her world and seeing what she has been up to.  I am also sad that when the story did end, we did not get an epilogue, but that is just the fan girl in me wanting to see more I think.  The ending did bring Faythe’s story to a logically conclusion for the story, I think I will just always want more.

I will also admit, there came a point in the book when I cried and cried.  I actually shut the book and stopped reading for a minute because I thought (naively) I could make it go away if I did not read it…ha, yeah right.  Well, I tried anyways, I closed the book, calmed down a little, picked the book back up and two lines in proceeded to cry again.  I could not help it, the scene was just too much for me.  I know I was so upset because I am so attached to these characters and seeing everything they have gone through.  The event  just rocked their world and my heart broke for them.  So when you pick up the book, be prepared for some emotional scenes because Rachel has put quite a few of them in there.

The book overall though was a serious non-stop roller coaster ride filled with both emotional and action highs and lows.  I think Faythe went through every emotion there is and I was right there with her through it all.  That is what I have always loved about this series, Rachel makes me feel like I am right next to Faythe experiencing what she is whether good or bad.  To me that is what makes an author great, being able to get your readers to feel for your characters.

Saying Alpha was a bittersweet experience for me would be an understatement.  This series has been one heck of a ride.  I actually started my blog after reading the first book in this series, I was so excited about what I just read I had to tell other people about it.  (Since it was my first review ever it is not the best, but I am working on getting better at expressing my thoughts)  The point is I kinda feel a special attachment to the Shifters books, I know it is weird, but that is how I feel.  I have watched Faythe grow up and saying goodbye was hard.    I am going to miss her and I am going to hold onto hope that maybe we will get to see a little more from Faythe in the future (because that is the only way I can not completely freak out thinking this is all over!)  Rachel, thank you for an amazing series, I ate up every minute of it and I cannot wait to see what you will bring us in the future.