| Title | : | Hunter and the Hawk (Symbiotic Mates #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1920484604 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781920484606 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 115 |
| Publication | : | First published April 28, 2011 |
Vampires and Lycans have one thing in common - hatred for each other. Only two things stand between them and all out war - an ancient peace treaty and dwindling populations that have put both species on the path to extinction. One vampire may have the secret to survival but he needs the cooperation of the Lycans to test his theory. When Aidan walks into the Wolf Den and asks to see the Alpha, he doesn't get a warm welcome. He's barely through the door before he's attacked. The Vampire's arm is broken and he fears his totem animal, a Hawk, will never fly again.
Hunter, a Lycan Enforcer, comes to his aid and takes him aside for questioning. Aidan claims to have information about the murder of Hunter's mate and he'll trade for Lycan blood. At first, Hunter thinks it's a trap, but Aidan convinces him that the answer to both species' survival may lie in their blood. Hunter agrees to secretly help Aidan in exchange for the killer's name. But he gets more than he bargained for when he finds himself falling for the seductive vampire. When the research goes awry, he's sure he's been used by the scheming bloodsuckers. But is Aidan the real enemy or is it someone closer to home?
Content advisory: This book includes some M/F content.
Hunter and the Hawk (Symbiotic Mates #1) Reviews
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2.5 stars - WARNING COMMENTS ARE FILLED WITH SPOILERS!
Argh, this one was so difficult to rate. I liked the book but there was some things I didn't like at all and some things I didn't feel were ever resolved.
I liked Aidan and I liked Hunter. Although Hunter was a big asshole a time or two but given he's a wolf and he's still grieving over his lost mate, I can push that aside. They are a good couple and they fall in love quickly because they form a symbiotic bond which is like a soul mate bond created by shared fluids. Kind of.
I liked the story especially since it's a bit different from other stories with inter-species matings. For one, this isn't just the run of the mill mating where a vampire and a wolf mate and then they fight off the prejudices from their packs and clans. No, this time it's a bit different because not only are there prejudices between the species but once Aidan and Hunter mated, they both started to change. Aidan taking on traits of a wolf and Hunter taking on traits of a vampire. It was fascinating. Something you don't see much in the overabundance of paranormals out there.
With that said I had problems with the book. IMHO, there was too much sex. Yes, they were kind of quick scenes but it was too much for such a short story. I could have overlooked that, though. My biggest problem with this story was the m/f content. Yeah, okay, there is a warning on the publishers sight and I can handle m/f when I need to but this is m/m, there should not be m/f in m/m if I had any say. That is the whole reason I read m/m is because I don't want females in my stories. But the one thing anyone looking to read this needs to know, that the publisher never specified on, is that this particular female Hunter has sex with is 17 years old! I can handle underage guys hooking up with older guys because, to me, there is a difference in the part that I know they will be underage. This I couldn't really handle. This teenage girl is hooking up with a guy more than twice her age and wants to mate him? On top of that, I felt it had no relevance to the story at all. In fact, I would have liked the story a lot more if they never had sex at all or at least Hunter tried to stop them from having sex. No, instead Hunter just goes along with it and then justifies it as having sex with her to keep her quiet about his vampire bites... Uh, hello, Hunter? She's a teenager female she lives to gossip! Especially to the alpha!
Anyway, that ruined my enjoyment of the story. And then on top of that, the story ends so abruptly, nothing is even solved. I can understand the part with the alpha not being solved, considering this is the first in a series, but I'd at least like for the part with Grace being Hunter's soon-to-be mate to be solved. So, I felt kind of disappointed with that because if the sex with Hunter and Grace would have been left out of the story, this would have been a good book for me but as it is, I only liked bits and pieces of it and just wanted it over with. So, I'm sorry, I can't recommend this book andI'm not sure I'll read the rest of the seriesI'll read it one day since I already bought it but probably not anytime soon. At least not until I have some definite answers to the questions I have and know for a fact there won't be anymore fucking females. :-/ -
Nice beginning to a series with an interesting premise. Looking forward to see where this leads.
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Good start to a series, questions remain. Guess I'll be buying book 2.
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I don’t like one of the main characters having sex with anyone other than their intended partner in romance. I definitely don't like one of the MC having sex with a woman in an m/m romance book. Especially when he’s already met and had sex with said intended partner. However, I can’t stomach one of the main characters having sex with a 17 year old girl in an m/m romance book. This is my second hit and miss with this author and after this one, I definitely won’t be reading any other books by Gale Stanley.
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I was so excited when I saw I won this book through Goodreads First Reads. I definitely was not disappointed. I read through it in under a day. I could not put this down. I loved the whole idea of a vampire and a werewolf (sworn enemies) being symbiotic mates. The romance was so lovely and the passion was incredible. The relationships between the characters felt so real. I can't wait to read the next books in the series. Gale Stanley has gained a new fan in me. I usually don't read these types of books- preferring to stick to teen paranormal romances- but this was worth it. Believe me, you will not be disappointed when reading the Symbiotic Mates series.
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I enjoyed this book and I really liked Hunter and Aidan. The concept was unique and new, Lycan blood helping with Vampire's reproduction - very interesting actually. Hunter and Aidan are a really good couple, and the supporting characters are ones I want to know more about. If you like vamps and weres, I'd recommend this one.
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I don't see many bird shifters in this genre so it caught my eye. Vampire-hawks and wolf-shifters are enemies but they both have traitors in their own ranks. Then they find out they become connected if they share blood. Working my way through the series and went back to reread this one. It's a good set up for what follows.
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Loved the book!! So many new things to learn!!
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Okay, I started this think *yawn* "same-o-same-o" and then Adrian was introduced and thought, "Vampire hawk shifter? Huh?"
Yep, then it sucked me into a world of shifters and shifter vampires. Both species are dying out and they are both looking for ways to breed more children. Oh, yeah, they don't like each other and are living by a treaty, separated from the humans.
Oh how fun this was! I didn't start rooting for Hunter and Adrian until the vampire bar - which was smokin'! Loved that the smaller man was the top. H.O.T. The extra twist had me waiting to see what would happen and then it was done! No! The next book is not out yet! The agony!
Really, really enjoyed this. I would have loved much more. -
I wanted to like this book because the blurb sounded quite interesting, but I didn't like any of the characters, they were all either too pushy, too mental, too weak or just too loathsome. I really didn't like the sex with the 17 year old girl and that's when I stopped liking Hunter (one of the protags) which is basically the death knell of a book for me. There were too many unanswered questions at the end of the story, but as I don't like any of the characters I probably won't bother buying the next installment. As I said at the beginning I really wanted to like this book the idea of symbiotic mates was interesting but the execution unfortunately wasn't.
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I made it about halfway through this one before throwing in the towel, and my reason for doing so has already been pointed out by other reviewers, so it won't come as a shock, but it's still a spoiler, so if you don't want to know, quit reading now.
I absolutely hate it when an author puts an MC in the position of having sex with someone other than their intended love interest. I know it's sometimes necessary to the plot, and I can forgive it if it is indeed necessary, but even then, I'd prefer it happen off-page. When I get a descriptive sex scene between an MC and some random third party, there had better be a point. In Lyn Gala's Fettered, for instance, there's a scene where the submissive MC is having a little light bondage sexual contact with someone other than his intended, but showing the reader the sex was necessary to showcase how Dylan came to terms with what he really needed in a Dom. There was a point, and we traveled that road with Dylan to get to it.
Hunter having sex with Grace in this book? Well, there may actually be a point. I understand from other reviewers that Grace ends up pregnant and that has bearing on subsequent books. Even with that plot point, did I need a descriptive sex scene? No. I really didn't. It could have happened off-page and the result would have been the same.
However, my problem is not just with the fact that the sex scene happened on-page, but that it was essentially a rape scene. Hunter didn't want to have sex with Grace. He was manipulated into doing so, and authors who walk this line between consent and non-consent (or dubious consent) have really started to bug the shit out of me. It's one thing to do non-con or dub-con when it's between the two MC's because you might be able to salvage that situation given that the MC's do actually want to have sex with each other, in whatever form. Hunter is gay. He's not attracted to Grace, he's not in denial about his sexuality and trying to prove his virility by nailing her. No, he's screwing her to keep her silent so he isn't killed.
WTF?
Just no. It's gross and it's irresponsible and it pisses me off. Hunter was not a consenting party, I don't care that he was bigger than Grace, that doesn't make any of that okay.
This is the second book I've tried to read from Gale Stanley. It will be my last. -
Now see, this story would've gotten a rating from me...if only it stayed M/M. But no, it had to go and put the m/f part in there. Gawd, it's like finding a hair in your soup, a long one, and you know your hair is short. Ugh! I have the second book to this series and I will read it. Hopefully there will be no more surprises like this.
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3.5 stars. I really liked this one and to think I was reluctant to read it. I loved the story which wasn't something I've read about before. The guys were sexy, interesting and I felt the connection between them.
Conversations stuck out for me, precisely the wording. I felt as if I've read the same things too many times before, especially those they had during sex. The bad guys really got on my nerves and the ending was too abrupt. But I'm hoping the sequel will give me some answers. Good read. -
Huh. Not a bad concept. It seems like a different play on the mate thing, the if-you-die-I'll-die trope.
Like other reviewers stated, I didn't like the MF sex scene. Not because it was MF, because I read that too, but because the female was under 18 (I'm assuming a few months shy) and it was stated as such.
I looked at the publisher's website submission guidelines and sure enough it's stated under "Taboo subjects" that they can refuse:
"Sexual content with participants under the age of 18"
Huh. She was underage and they were having sex. We got a description of her breasts, nipples and what his cock was doing to her and came. The sex, though brief was written in the same matter as an erotica scene.
How did that get past the publishers?
I get at the time, Hunter didn't know/realize what Aiden meant to him, so it wasn't like cheating to me, but still. I didn't like that she was underage, even if they tried to justify it. What harm would it have done to have her be 18? Or slightly older? That's what bothered me.
I also know from starting the 2nd book, that this act with the girl seems to have implications that might be important
I guess if the MF scene had to happen with her underage, I wish it was off-screen. Plus, I don't think people like reading about one hero screwing someone else when the focus is supposed to be on the other hero, you know? -
The idea I got from the summary was a lot better than the novel itself. The transition was just downright creepy and turned my stomach for some reason, even though I enjoy both reading [and writing] gory bit every once in a while. Not that they were gory ... I don't know. Maybe it was thinking about the biological mutations that would have to occur in order for some of those things to work, that bothered me more than the actual changes themselves.
Character-wise both Hunter and Adrian were drawn okay in the first scene, but by the second their roles completely switched and quite suddenly it didn't make sense any more. Hunter snarled and growled and howled like he was being held or forced against his will [when he wasn't, by any means], and Adrian ... well, he was too busy either being a timid daisy or a prick or both at once.
The schmex scenes weren't that hot, the emotional flare-ups seemed to happen for little to know reason [although thankfully, they didn't have that whole "EMO" thing going on], and everything just ... skimmed. It all happened way too fast, they met, mated, professed their love, grew malformed, snarled, hated, almost died, fed, professed their love again, and vowed to stand against the world - all in the span of about 120 largely spaced pages.
Took me an hour to read it, a half hour to forget it and move on. 'Nuff said. -
I'm not sure how to rate this
Hunter is a 6'5" lead enforcer, who has lost his wife to a violent death and has a calm nature that enables him to look logically rather than lash out.
All of that should make him heroic and strong, but to me he came across as manipulated and weak.
That's the centre, I think, of what really what irked me about a very promising premise for a story... The acceptable use of drugs (aphrodisiacs), the lack of questioning about situations that go against their instincts and morality. It came across not as strong packs of creatures but as people slavishly following a cult.
The 18 year old girl seducing Hunter was another instance of the wetness of the MC's.
I'm giving two stars (which is a lot for me) because there are so many elements to this that could make it a really good read, it's got elements that kept me reading. -
1.5 Stars
Although I liked the premise and I'm a huge fan of paranormal MM romances I was totally disappointed in this book. First off I don't read MM romance to have one of the main characters have a sex scene with an under-aged girl. I have a feeling this to will come back to haunt us in future stories from this series, if you read them.
None of the characters are really developed. The hatred between the Lycan and the Vampires is over the top. And for being strong alpha men I'm not seeing a lot of back bone. The romance is weak and the sex scenes had no passion.
Your left hanging in book one, but like always I refuse to let one book define the author. I'll give the second story a try. -
I enjoyed the concept of this book and would have loved to have found out more about Hunter and Aiden, it would definitely be a different relationship with one being a werewolf and one a vampire. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. It seemed to me that the author was trying to cram too much into this story and was going into too many directions to full develop a story between these two. Then, one of my biggest pet peeves, the story just stops.
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3.75 stars (rounded up)
A darker world that the typical shifter/vampire stories. Here, the vampires and wolves are much like their horror stereotypes and less the love-struck mated emo type. There is a pervasive gloom in the writing that made this a slower read for me, no matter the low word count.
An interesting premise and world to a new series. I'm excited to keep reading! -
Having sex with a woman in an m/m romance book is a big NO NO.
publisher has warning now but not when I got this. this whole series looks like its mixed, I don't like reading bks with girl bits in my M/M stories. -
I'm glad this is book one because it just ends in the middle of a scene. I mean just ends. I was like wtf? I don't really know what else to say about the book. It was getting good and then done. Don't get me wrong the book was good. I already pre-ordered book two.
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Insta-love. After one night of sex, then one week without seeing each other, it's all about love. I just can't buy that, sorry, it's not my thing. Writing was good though and I will read the next book.
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I just couldn't get into this book. It started out alright but... I lost interest. It felt disjointed and I felt like things weren't explained very well. Nice idea and great potential for plot. Maybe I will try and read this again in the future.
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I liked her Hybrid series although they were too short, but I hate this one. There is no warning but this contains CHEATING. Also some other items that would be spoilers. So my recommendation - Do Not Read.
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Coming April 30!
In a world where Vampires and Lycans are enemies, can two men find common ground and save their dying species. -
I am so sorry to say I stumbled through this book, but I really honestly did not care for it all.
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DNF. Did not care for the world building, the alpha and the pack compared to other authors' shifter series.
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All in all, the book was a pleasant surprise. Short, nice read with likeable characters and interesting plot. Nothing groundbreaking, nothing original, but better than most shifter books I've read.
I would have happily given it four stars and that's really a lot for this type of shifter stories.
However,
Three and half stars rounded down because of the . However, I will read the rest of the series. :)
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Hunter is a wolf-shifter, a Lycan, and though the Lycans and Vampires (aka the Kindred) have had a treaty for many years they still hate each other. So when Hunter “saves” a vamp after he enters a Lycan bar he’s not quite sure what to make of the man. The vampire, Aidan, says that he has information about a Lycan woman who was recently killed (who was Hunters mate) but he won’t say who it is until the Lycans help him. You see Aidan’s sister is a doctor and has been working on trying to find a reason behind the vampire’s infertility issues and he wants the Lycans to cooperate and see if the blood of the Lycans can help the vampires. Hunter’s not sure he can go to his alpha with this information but he tries to see how the alpha feels about the possibility in a round about way. When Hunter finds the alpha is more than resistant to anything having to do with the Kindred and is actually searching for a way to end the treaty he knows that he will have to help Aidan on his own.
After Aidan and Hunter share sex and Aidan takes his blood they both start seeing physical changes in themselves. Eventually Aidan’s sister, Abbi, comes to Hunter for help because she fears that Aidan is dying. What is happening is that the men are becoming symbiotic mates and taking on characteristics of the other species. But how can Hunter go back to his people when he now sports fangs? And once he knows exactly who is responsible for his mates death.
This was a good first installment in what looks like might be an interesting series. I really liked Aidan and his willingness to aid his people. Sure he got the benefit of meeting and mating with Hunter but he had no clue that would happen. We saw things from Hunter’s POV more than Aidan’s so he was still somewhat of a mystery by the end of the book. I liked what I saw though. Hunter? I didn’t care for him all that much for most of the book but at one part I disliked his character intensely. He seemed to be caught somewhere between a beta and an alpha male with regard to his personality. He had all the makings of an alpha…in some ways - but then he just followed whatever his alpha told him – to the point of mating with a woman for 20 years when he preferred men. He never strayed while married even though his alpha encouraged him to since he was a “proven breeder”. When the alpha tries to get him to marry yet another woman after his mate is murdered he wants to help his pack but the “woman” is only 17 and he ends up having sex with her only to shut her up about the vampire bite marks on his body. This was after having sex with Aidan and knowing that he was having feelings for the other man. That’s when I stopped liking Hunter all together. Ok, I know he was trying to do the right thing and help his pack but there comes a time you need to stand up for yourself!
The story left the reader hanging a bit as there wasn’t any true conclusion to the infertility issue nor the fact that Hunter was now living with and was being protected by the vamps. I’m assuming we’ll get more information in future books – I’ll just hope that I’ll let both characters equally in those stories.
Rating: 3 out of 5
This review was originally posted on
Book Binge by Tracy.
