Assertion Trials

I want more of this story!!! I loved it so much I hope there are more books like it soon!! Read this book!! You will love it as much as I did!!

This is the first book of Ms. Rayne's that I have read, and I absolutely fell in love with her writing. Shala is a young werewolf that is coming of age. While she was sent away to live among women until she becomes an adult, she is taught the ways of her people and how the trials and future will come to pass. When she is returned to her family and pack while eligible males fight to become her companion, Shala meets males that are nice and worthy and others that are vile and egocentric. As Shala breaks away from the party to get some alone time in the forest, she is surrounded by feral werewolves. Decker is a guard in charge of her safety. As the young males fight each other to become Shala's companion, Shala watches and hopes that Resno does not win. The intensity and chemistry between Shala and Decker is intense as well as explosive. Who will win and become Shala's companion/champion?

This story is told in the old ways. young children were sent away to be taught and raised without the influence of the opposite sex. Men had to fight to prove themselves worthy of the woman's hand in matrimony. I found this tale to be captivating and well told. Shala is a young lady but she is strong willed and headstrong. Resno is a young male who is used to getting what he wants and will do anything to achieve it. Decker is a warrior who has lived a hard life but works to protect all of the packs. I read the book in one sitting, and I hope that there is a continuation. Thank you Netgalley for introducing me to a new author. I look forward to reading more of your work.

Assertion Trials by Melaina can be classified as a paranormal romance novella. I was looking for something that was a little different from the typical paranormal romance and that is what this novella delivered.
Shala Wilder will be twenty in a few days so it is time to leave the haven she spent ten years at learning the ways of the wolfkind people. Six elder women from the school escort her towards the place where the assertion trials will be held. They are met by guards and continue their progress where Shala is reunited with her parents for the first time in ten years.

The assertion trials involve eligible males from all of the wolf packs that elect to fight each other, with the victor claiming Shala as his companion. Shala is independent, somewhat selfish and does not care for crowds so a celebration in her honor is difficult for her to endure. I won’t say more in order to avoid spoilers, but events do not go smoothly.

I am truly grateful that I do not live in a culture of arranged marriage whether it is arranged by family or by combat. The story builds the reader’s empathy for the uncertainty Shala must have been feeling. Would she be compatible with the victor? How would he treat her? Could she learn to love him? What would her life be like after the trials? Which wolf pack would she now become a member of?

This is the first book that I have read by Melaina Rayne, but it won’t be the last. The book involves distinctive cultural ways, wolf packs, feral wolves, duty, honor, fighting, punishment for disobedience and much more. You have to be able to suspend belief and go with the unique story. I happened to be able to enjoy the story while at the same time being grateful that I was not Shala. I also appreciated the humor in the book which helped to dampen some of the darker events that occurred. Will there be additional books in the series? I hope so.

Many thanks to BookBuzz.net, Melaina Rayne and Net Galley for a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

A new author to me and a very different kind of shifter story. If I'm brutal I didn't care for Shala as she's a very selfish character who does things that are honestly sheer stupidity but I could empathise with her very natural fears .
This was unique and unusual as here the female Wolves grow up separated from everyone once puberty is around the corner . We meet Shala as she's about to be reunited with family and Pack but also more importantly about to preside over the trials that will decide who will mate with her !
Yes its a shifter story but honestly we mostly see the characters in human form so I was perhaps a little disappointed. However it's easy to read and the world building makes sense if you can accept the male Wolves who are unmatched will go wild for the smell of a female ! I found myself fully immersed in this quick read and happily everything works out but I did feel that perhaps something's are unfinished so hopefully there's a follow-up book still to come.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Shala is a young woman who is in fact a werewolf preparing to be mated. It is customary in their culture for males to compete for the right to a female. Shala is not a meek female though. She is tough and gritty and would rather fight in the guard than be mated and cared for like she's a weak person who needs to be cared for. Regardless of her feelings, she has to go along with the traditions of her people, especially since her father is a pack alpha.

I was in the mood for a shifter romance, so I enjoyed this quick read. Unfortunately, it left me wanting more. I hope Ms. Rayne writes more books in this realm. I would definitely read them.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shayla is a werewolf and it is time for her coming of age celebration. Eligible males from every wolf pack will compete to claim her as his. Though her heart belongs to a guard who has no interest in her. Fast-paced paranormal read with plenty of drama and suspense. I found the story entertaining with great characters. Looking forward to more.

Once again I found myself craving a shifter read! The dark mysterious looking cover caught my eye and then when I read the blurb this novella soon became a must read now choice! I would say the female on the cover is a good representation of Shala, the main character in the book.

The book begins with Shala hiding out, having some quiet, alone time to calm her nerves about what is to come soon. It’s not long until one of the elderwomen shouts for Shala to come down. Shala is nervous, its been ten years since she saw her parents. All female children go to the mountain stronghold until they become a woman and return to their families at the age of twenty. At age twenty it is time for the Assertion Trials where all the males fight until only one is left standing and then they claim their prize.

Shala is pleased that it is Nailana that accompanies her back to her village. Shala is anxious about seeing her parents again but that soon melts away when as tradition dictates her parent stand in the doorway and her mother, Eden breaks tradition and cannot wait for her daughter to walk to her so she meets her halfway. Shala’s father Arnou as Alpha is more restrained but its clear to see that he is proud of his first daughter to be home for her Assertion Trials. It’s not long until Shala feels somewhat stifled and decides she needs to wander outside and reacquaint herself with the area she grew up in. Shala ends up in the nearby trees of the forest and climbs a tree contemplating what is to come. Thinking about who will she end up being with for the rest of her life. Suddenly she senses wolves approaching but they are not pack wolves they are feral. One of the guards comes to her aid and it’s the one she noticed earlier. The one that caught her eye in a way none of the competitors in the Assertion Trials did. The guard being her companion is impossible, it’s just not done. The best she can hope for if she doesn’t get on with her companion is to join the guard. Though there aren’t many female guards. After the fight with the ferals, the head guard Kene, allocates two guards to be with Shala at all times. The two guards he choses are Wyatt and Decker. Decker being the one with the eyes that seem to be staring at Shala a lot. Those eyes that Shala is beginning to care a lot about.

I can’t really say much more without giving spoilers. There is plenty of fighting action in this book as each fight within the Assertion Trials is covered in the book. Shala has to sit and watch each fight. The one’s she wishes to be out of the competition as soon as possible are Resno and his two sidekicks Rafe and Lyall. Though not particularly interested in any of the competitors she does have the hope someone other than the three arrogant young men will be the victor. I really loved the way Nailana and Eden talked to Shala about the competitors saying that there will be some great specimens but there will also be some she would dearly love to slap around the head. Another part that made me laugh was how the women in the pack were drinking and encouraging Shala to drink her Uncle’s, well known moonshine drink. Poor Shala certainly needs it at certain points of the book. Things don’t turn out to be as straight forward when someone threatens the safety of Shala and a guard steps him to do his job protecting her. The one who wins the Assertion Trials ends up not being the one that wins Shala, thank goodness for her sake and safety. A challenger steps forward, which though unusual, it is allowed. Can this, last minute challenger beat the unsavoury Assertion Trial victor, or is Shala doomed for a life with a man she already detests?

My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book was
that I had just snuggled up in bed and read it in one go, didn't want to put it down. Loved it! Please tell me there is going to be more...? ....A lot more to this ...series?

This book has action, fighting, wolf packs, feral wolves, love, honour, duty and a generous helping of romance too. I really hope there’s going to be more of this series.