An unusual angle on D/s, but otherwise nothing really out of the ordinaryWarning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS. Rating: 6/10PROS: - I’ve become so used to reading werewolf stories in which wolves have only one possible mate--someone they recognize instantly by sight or sound or smell--that I find stories like this, in which mating involves courtship and trust-building and a formal ceremony, to be very refreshing.- I always find it fun to read about characters who are drawn to submission but don’t want to admit it. That struggle makes for an interesting internal battle.- D/s stories typically include characters who fit into a certain physical stereotype, which is that the smaller, younger man is the submissive and the older, larger, more macho man is the Dominant. This story does not follow that stereotype, which I appreciated.- Francis is a gentle Dominant. He puts steel into his words when he needs to, but mostly he just gives commands sweetly and softly, expecting that they will be obeyed.CONS:- I think Steffan protests a bit too much (or a bit too long) when Francis begins to pursue him. Steffan’s in love with Francis. Steffan knows this. Francis knows this. The other characters know this. The reader knows this. After a while, Steffan’s resistance moves from plausible to convenient-for-making-the-story-last-longer: he’s so noble when it comes to his wishes for a better mate for Francis that I wanted to hit him.- There are several scenes in which a lot of characters are buzzing around and being paired up (sometimes as established couples and sometimes as future couples being set up for later books)--Francis, Steffan, Gunnar, Alfred, Talbot, Caden, Bennet, Marsdon--and it’s hard to keep them all straight. And I’ve read the first book in this series, The Mark of an Alpha; the confusion might be even worse for readers who haven’t.- The ending felt a little anticlimactic for me. Steffan’s been fighting the relationship all through the story…and then after one conversation he’s convinced that a mating ceremony is the right thing to do. I just didn’t buy it.Overall comments: At first glance, this looks like it will be a typical “Chick with Brick” story with a slight, young bottom and a large, uber-masculine Top, but the relationship roles here aren’t what you’d expect in the average story with characters who match those physical descriptions. Still, I didn’t see much here that I haven’t seen a dozen times before. I doubt this one will stick with me for long. The Pack Discipline series revolves around the solid idea of the pack mentality among wolf-shifters which outlines a clear idea of who is dominant and who is submissive. The series then takes 8 members of this pack and follows through with what happens when their own personalities and attractions conflict with that pack mentality. In this world there's a solid hierarchy that all wolves in a pack follow and that's outlined simply as: Alphas > Betas > Gammas > Omegas.This is the second book in the series and focuses on Steffan and Francis who are two gamma wolves in the pack. Most wolves are gamma wolves however, depending on how dominant or submissive a gamma is determines where in the gamma hierarchy they are. Steffan is a large man (and wolf) and has been all his life. Since he was young he's been told to be gentle to others and everyone expects him to be more beta material however Steffan doesn't want to lead, he prefers to follow. Francis is a smart man and has been close to Steffan for a long time however he doesn't see how much Steffan cares for him nor that Steffan prefers to follow Francis no matter what that means. When the pack brings in two new wolves, one being a beta wolf, the relationship between Steffan and Francis is challenged in a new way.This is a nice read where you get to see the contrast between what it means to be dominant or submissive despite what a person might physically look like. I think the relationship between Steffan and Francis is sweet and the devotion both men have for each other really shows.This is also the first book that has Gunnar and Caden who are the new wolves to the pack.
What do You think about The Strength Of A Gamma (2010)?
More of a 3.75. Good story, but it would have been better if it was a bit longer I think...
—zolera
Not as good as the First, but still above average mm.
—anika
