ARC Review--Dire by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Gage was the first guy I ever wanted. He was my first crush and my first fantasy, but he wasn't my first in any other way because he never saw me as anything more than a friend— at least not until the night that changed everything.

It was all Gage's fault. He insisted we drive through the storm and take the back roads. By the time the storm hit full force we had no chance. One night of snowbound sex changed our relationship forever. The problem was at the same time I caught another guy’s attention. This other guy happened to be the alpha of a pack of shifter wolves. I thought the wolves were the worst of my problems, but I was wrong. When things went from bad to worse I had to make a lifelong sacrifice to save Gage, but what price is too much to save the one you love?

I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.


HOLY. FREAKING. CRAP. That was gooooood!!! Alyssa Rose Ivy enters the paranormal New Adult world with the incredibly awesome Dire Wolves Chronicles! Dire starts off the trilogy and it was A-MAZING! I am still left utterly speechless! The vibes and feels I had the entire time I was reading had me on my toes and my heart racing and my mind whirling! It was incredibly incredible!

Mary Anne is your typical college freshman. She's ordinary, but not totally plain, but not overly popular or beautiful. She's someone you could relate to, she studies hard and all that, and she has an enormous crush on her friend, Gage. Gage and Mary Anne went to high school together and have known each other for a long time. Gage is sort of the resident playboy, but hasn't been with anyone lately. He offered to take Mary Anne home for winter break after the semester ended and along the way they encounter a bit of car trouble...

That's putting it mildly too! During their impromptu stay in the woods overnight, they realize there might be something between them. That or it was all in the timing. As they venture to find civilization they encounter an odd group of people who live in cabins. The leader Hunter has an immediate fondness for Mary Anne that's almost downright creepy and Gage will do everything he can to protect the girl he's starting to fall for.

Let me just say that the tension in this book was so, so astounding! There is a lot of mystery being built up left and right. Hunter's fascination for Mary Anne is kind of stalkery, creepy, but knowing what he is, you have to wonder if there's something more to it. And there's definitely a story to him, but I won't get into that or else ruin the surprise!

And let's just say, there's more in the woods than Hunter and his pals. Just one of the reasons why he won't let Mary Anne and Gage go. There was pretty much a reason for everything that happened in this book and it all leads to the gushing end!

Seriously, I am still in a sort of shock here! It's kind of rare when a book keeps me on my toes from start to finish! Books keep me on my toes from one point to another and then repeat, but from nearly start to finish?! Totally rare! And I LOVED it!!!

I have to say that I did enjoy the romance in this one. Gage did have me leery of him for a time, as he is known to be a playboy going from girl to girl. But Alyssa doesn't leave us hanging, as Gage does start to see Mary Anne in different ways and I love that! Hunter's seemingly random obsession with Mary Anne is something that has yet to be explored. We're given a reason of sorts, but I feel like there's more to it than that. It's definitely got to be something that will be expanded upon in the next books! And it's I think it will definitely lead to a decision of sorts. A love triangle is in the making here, but it hasn't really been set yet.

Of course, Alyssa could still totally surprise us and demolish that notion! And I for one cannot wait to find out how it all turns out! 

Dire is an incredibly amazing paranormal New Adult read that is sure to delight paranormal fans everywhere as there are so few paranormal New Adults to be had, this is one that you must grab right away and read endlessly! Also to note, I read this baby in one sitting because it's the kind of read you cannot put down even for a second!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars


Dire releases September 15, 2014