Genre: Paranormal, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Tony
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About The Book
Raphael is no ordinary wolf shifter.
Raphael knows he must be possessed by a demon. What else could explain the aggression, the physical, beastly transformations? To protect himself and others, his father locks him away. But when Raphael is nineteen, the demon gains full control and breaks free. Now Raphael is scared and desperate on the streets of El Paso, Texas, convinced he’s cursed. Then a stray cat enters his life and everything changes.
Ahmes is a cat shifter and knows there’s something off about the young shifter he’s encountered. It soon becomes apparent that the young man doesn’t know what he is, and Ahmes is determined to help and care for him. But gaining the trust of not only the fearsome wolf but the scared young man will take all his persistence.
Friendship, and the potential for more, grows between them as they travel to Haven, Montana—a town founded by shifters, for shifters, and home to a specialized counseling center, one that can help Raphael understand and accept who and what he truly is.
If that wasn’t enough, on their trail is the last person either expected—Gregor Whitefield, the commander of the Knights of the Dawn, which is an organization bent on the eradication of shapeshifters. Gregor enjoys the thrill of the hunt, determined to collect the unique blood that is crucial to Arcas’s great plan.
Raphael’s blood.
The Review
Red Sun is book 14 in the Shifter Chronicles, and concerns a shifter who has been held in isolation by his misguided and loving father from not only other shifters but the rest of the world once he shifted at puberty.
Raphael is the nineteen-year-old shifter with a difference. The difference means nothing to Raphael, as he thinks he’s a monster. The fact that he cannot control his inner ‘wolf’ only confirms this belief. His wolf is an extremely violent creature, as we find out when he escapes his confines.
Ahmes is Raphael’s saviour. He finds a bloodied Raphael hiding in an alley and takes him under his wing. The fact that he is also a shifter allows him to approach Raphael safely and show him the true nature of his wolf. Together they head for a safe haven and the beginnings of a meaningful relationship.
The rest of the story is concerned with Raphael’s rehabilitation, and finding a place in society. It is not all smooth sailing as Raphael is unique and the Knights of the Dawn have him on their radar. Gregor, the Knight’s second in command, takes it upon himself to solve the problem of Raphael, killing and maiming all who get in his way in the process. Whatever the aim of the Knights is, it is not for the benefit of shifters or humankind, so you must expect some unpleasantness, to say the least.
True to the series, both Haven and the Agency also feature as, little by little, more is revealed of the crises facing everyone involved. Yeah, crises – there are more than one in the offing. Age differences in a relationship is a minor one in comparison.
The difference in age between Raphael and Ahmes, as well as Ahmes’ ace nature, is dealt with sensitively. They are two great guys, and the way they react to each other is believable and enjoyable. There are some really great moments between them, as well as a visceral fight involving Raphael.
This is a very welcome addition to the series, which probably has a long way to go before we reach the climax. I am thankful for that!
The Reviewer
Tony is an Englishman living amongst the Welsh and the Other Folk in the mountains of Wales. He lives with his partner of thirty-six years, four dogs, two ponies, various birds, and his bees. He is a retired lecturer and a writer of no renown but that doesn’t stop him enjoying what he used to think of as ‘sensible’ fantasy and sf. He’s surprised to find that if the story is well written and has likeable characters undergoing the trails of life, i.e. falling in love, falling out of love, having a bit of nooky (but not all the time), fending off foes, aliens and monsters, etc., he’ll be happy as a sandperson who has just offloaded a wagon of sand at the going market price. As long as there’s a story, he’s in. He aims to write fair and honest reviews. If he finds he is not the target reader he’ll move on.