Rating: 4🌈

I just recently finished my first LGBTQIA military suspense romance book from Annabella Stone when I noticed she had taken her love and passion for military service relationships and turned it towards a PNR series.   Operation Magma is the first in her new paranormal black ops special forces series.  I really enjoyed it, especially as Stone approaches the shifter character element from a very different and interesting perspective. 

Taylor *Trace* Reeves is an ancient warrior who fought for the honor of being the one left behind to guard the gate after the King of the Fianna and all the others left for Tyr Na Og. He is the Hound of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, both man and fearsome wolf, two distinct beings in one.

Most shifters have their beasts an integrated aspect of their characters. They might shift from one form to another but the basic “personality” remains the same. Here they are completely separate, two different personalities, right down to their own names. The man is Travis, and the wolf is Bran. They coexist within the same body and have conversations about their situations. 

It might take some adjustment for readers who are more familiar with shifters of the first description but once you have made the connection, it’s fascinating and easy to invest in this aspect of the story.

Stone’s creativity about the Hound of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the mythology and foundation behind his life is layered and fascinating.  I’m hoping that because of the storylines, the connections to the other characters, we will get further exploration to fill in some of the gaps left here.

This is a fated mate’s romance built in with a special forces operation that’s also , I expect, finding a new mission. So many elements and characters have to be introduced in this story that it’s a bit jam packed.  Some holes are bound to be left open.

But the important elements are all there. All the characters are great, not just the main characters and couple.  I love the journey of Travis/Bran and John “Juice “ O’Leary, his fated mate take.  Really it’s just getting started as this book ends.  There we see a new tighter unit being developed in special forces Volcano with the great characters we have gotten to know.  

I’m assuming each getting their own story. Viper is next up.

I’m highly recommending this book and series. 

Volcano unit:

CO Kelvin “Viper “ Dare  Volcano 1

John “Juice“ O’Leary,Volcano 2

Kazan “Kaze” Black  Volcano 3

Michael “Reaper” Rodriquez  4

Zane “Zero” Morgan  Volcano 5

Taylor *Trace* Reeves/Bran , Volcano 6

 Cover Art: Golden Czermak

Operation Volcano series:

🔹Operation Magma #1

🔹Operation Caldera #2 – July 1,2025

Buy link

        Operation Magma: A PNR / Special Forces / Protector MM Romance (Operation Volcano Book 1)

    

Blurb 

Taylor *Trace* Reeves has served in various branches of the military, and in multiple human wars over his life time which spans millennia. Once the faithful hound of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, Trace continues to protect the innocent and fight the wars of man. He will continue to keep his presence a secret from humans, even the ones he calls brothers.

Over time, the return of Fionn and The Fianna has faded out of the memories of man and into their myths and legends. Yet Trace and his wolf, Bran, still wait for the sound of the Dord Fiann, the hunting horn of the Fianna, to sound three times.

When the call comes, The Fianna will arise and Trace and Bran will once more be the hound of The Fianna. Until then, his mission is to keep the men he guards alive, by any means necessary.

Operation Magma is the prequel novella to Operation Volcano.

• Publisher: Embers Romance LLC (November 5, 2023)
• Publication date: November 5, 2023
• Language: English
• Print length: 178 pages