Rating: 4.25⭐️
I believe this is the penultimate story of the series. There’s so much to it, tons of new characters, plot developments, and layers of to the storytelling here to absorb.
I was happy to see a brief recap of the dramatic scenes from the last book included in the beginning as it’s been a while now since its release. I needed the reminder of how we left those characters and how that book ended.
Betty Lennox grapples with her new responsibilities as the Alpha of the pack, as well as her own personal feelings and fears about her mixed demon/earth witch bloodlines and powerful abilities.
Unfortunately, Betty’s inability to handle this comes off as being whiny and often incapable of growing up. Time and again, the author has Betty refusing help or not facing the dangers that put her friends and “found family” members in situations that could have been avoided.
Instead of feeling connected or invested, if you’re like me, it just frustrates you as a reader and puts you outside of the narrative.
Things that save it are new characters and elements that do show Betty’s best qualities as she works to protect and pull the community together after such a heinous leadership. And that new shifter clan introduced? Intriguing and left me wanting more. Also that new lone cat shifter too. Plus’s also for the fabulous Cecil, Fennel, and Ida!
The good and now the so so. That’s Ronan, the problematic MMC. He’s still basically one note, one that’s remained unchanged since book one. He wants to be alpha, he’s not the alpha. His wolf is unhappy. He says it’s his problem not hers. Flags anyone?
And his solution at the end? A major issue for me. And if the author is writing this as a real solution for the couple, then I have a problem with her as well as with the storyline.
Because the fact is that she’s a better Alpha. The pack and community is healing and she’s willing to see and address issues he doesn’t understand and/or see . But he wants to be Alpha. And she’s (as the author is writing this), seems willing to give in because he’s whining about it. Wolf sad . Pls make me Alpha. Boohoo.
Stop, just stop. She’s great as a leader. He’s a good fighter, doesn’t mean he is a leader. Deal. Make him a second.
Well, let’s see how the last book plays out. But it’s going to take 2 years until we can get the story. Yes, 2028.
See you then.
Cover design by The Book Brander
The Smokethorn Paranormals Series (6 book series) :
Strike It Witch #1
Any Which Wolf #2
Wicked Witch of the Wolf #3
The Wolfing Hour #4
Last Witch Effort #5
Big Bad Witch #6 – February 29, 2028
Buy link
Book 5 of 6: The Smokethorn Paranormals Series
Blurb
“Believe this: I’m not just a demon. I’m their demon.”
Betty Lennox thought surviving Alpha Floyd and merging her volatile earth and demon powers meant she’d finally earned some peace in Smokethorn, California. But keeping the peace in a desert town full of opinionated paranormals is never easy—especially when you’ve accidentally become the de facto leader of a newly fractured wolf pack.
When ruthless demon hunters from The Org and rogue necromancers descend on Smokethorn to threaten her people, Betty finds herself facing her most dangerous battle yet. Enemies are closing in from all sides; she can’t afford a single misstep.
To save her town and keep her soul, she’ll have to lean on her ever-expanding family of friends—her partner-cat Fennel, Cecil the homicidal garden gnome with an explosive streak, her octogenarian necromancer best friend, the local witches and wolves, and the wolf shifter who won her heart.
In a place where paranormal enemies are around every corner, Betty is about to prove that taking care of her people isn’t just a duty—it’s a promise.
For fans of urban fantasy with a side of slow-burn romance.
VC Group, LLC
Publication date
September 29, 2026
Language
English
Print length
327 pages
