Under the Lupine Moon by A. Knightley

Under the Lupine Moon is the debut novel by A. Knightley and I’m delighted I got to read an ARC. I found out about this book through Thea Verdone’s Instagram stories (you can read my review of her book, Never Leave, Lever Lie here), and the tropes and gorgeous art instantly captivated my attention. I knew this story would be right up my alley, and I was not disappointed.

~ Special thanks to A. Knightley for the opportunity to read and review Under the Lupine Moon in exchange for an honest review. Under the Lupine Moon releases on July 2, 2024 ~

Affiliate Disclaimer: I participate in the Amazon Affiliate Program. As such, if you make a purchase through one of my links below, I’ll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Under the Lupine Moon: An MM Wolf Shifter Romance

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(you can find my rating and spice system here)

POV & Tense: Dual POV, third limited, past tense
Genre: MM Paranormal Romance, Wolf Shifter Romance
Tropes/Themes: Found Family, Fated Mates, Touch Him and Die, Murder Mystery, Fluffy, Mental Health Rep, Virgin MC, Shifted & Unshifted Sex, Pack Dynamics, Bodyguard Romance
Location: Rural Alaska

Synopsis:

After witnessing a murder, Jaime’s life undergoes a dramatic change, and the man responsible wants him dead. They may have met through a dating app, but Finn’s inner wolf is certain Jaime is his fated mate, and he will do anything to keep Jaime safe while ensuring his wolfish side remains a secret.

My Review:

I loved Under a Lupine Moon so much! It’s soft and tender, but also packs a punch with the murder mystery and secret shifter world.

Fated Mates with Strong Character Arcs

Jaime and Finn will make you fall in love with love. Right from the start, they have an obvious connection. But it’s not instalove-y. There are many obstacles to overcome, and they have to work at it.

Soooo, I have this thing where I read the book blurb and then promptly forget about what I just read. This means I was completely invested in Jaime and Finn’s initial banter via the dating app and eagerly awaiting their first date. They felt meant to be—both had worries and hopes, and I couldn’t wait to see them come together. Except that pesky murder mystery got in the way (completely devastating!) and the universe conspired to keep them apart. But they are meant to be, so the only possible outcome could be them finding their way back together again. Finn’s inner wolf claimed Jaime as his long before they first met, and with Jaime in danger, there was no way he could keep his distance.

Both Jaime and Finn have emotional wounds that make their relationship difficult. The murder traumatized Jaime, leaving him with crippling anxiety, and the mistaken belief that he’s a burden, that there’s no way Finn would want him. Finn’s human mother rejected him because of his wolfish nature, and he’s terrified to be rejected by his mate for the same reasons.

Watching these two work through their emotional stuff was heartwarming, and I loved Finn’s inner wolf’s every declaration of mine, mine, mine. (I love a possessive shifter!)

Murder Mystery

The violent death of the wealthy Vera Novikova-Dugan juxtaposes the tenderness of this book, and the stakes keep getting higher when Jaime’s life is threatened. First, his name is leaked to the press, and then the bad guys, members of a rival wolf pack (unbeknownst to Jaime) close in. There’s delicious tension with the dilemma of what to tell Jaime and what he’s better off not knowing. I loved the mental health rep as Jaime worked through his trauma and fought hard to be seen as ‘not helpless’ in a situation that was out of his control.  

Secret Town of Shifters

I’m obsessed with the idea of Silver Rapids, a small town filled with paranormal creatures that outsiders (humans) pass off as ‘weird’ (except they don’t know the half of it!). I love that there are polar bear shifters, fae, and fox shifters, and I’m sure there are many more creatures to discover. I can’t wait to learn more about this small town in future books.

Under the Lupine Moon by A. Knightley (Silver Rapids Book 1)

 

Final Thoughts:

With Under the Lupine Moon, A. Knightley has me hooked. Not only did I love the main characters, but I loved the side characters: Jaime’s brother, Sam, and Finn’s brother from another mother, Silas. I’m patiently but eagerly awaiting their story. I look forward to uncovering more mysteries about Silver Rapids and the butting heads between wolf packs.

My advice: If you love wolf shifters and tender romance with some bite to it, check out Under the Lupine Moon. The book is available for preorder and releases on July 2nd, 2024. (If you’re in the US and preorder, A. Knightley will send you swag as a thank-you. The link is in her Instagram bio (links below)).

Author Stalking (but not in a creepy way):
A. Knightley writes tender and spicy romance. Under the Lupine Moon is her debut.
Instagram (if you’re in the US, you can order Under the Lupine Moon swag through her IG)
Goodreads