Monday Book Review: BEAST OF ALL by J.C. McKenzie, Book 5 of the Carus series

Beast of All, Book 5 of the Carus Series
by J. C. McKenzie
Published October 2016 by The Wild Rose Press

About the Book:

“Two months ago my world collapsed and the beast reigned. Seven weeks ago the SRD captured me. Nine days ago, they injected me with something vile. Today, I break free. And tomorrow? I’ll make them pay.”

Badass Shifter Andy McNeilly wakes up from a horrible nightmare, only to discover it wasn’t a dream, and she’s no longer quite so badass.

Chemically curbed, Andy has lost touch with her feras and beast when she needs them most. Can she regain control of her supernatural abilities in time to reap retribution from her enemies, or will she fall as fodder in a power play for control of Vancouver’s seedy underworld?

MY TAKE:

This is the fifth and final book in this paranormal urban fantasy series, and I can't say enough good things about it. If you already love J.C McKenzie's writing, I'm sure you're as excited as I was to find out who lives and who dies in the final battles. If you haven't read the rest of the Carus series yet...what are you waiting for???

You totally need to read this series from the beginning in order to understand the characters and the dynamics of the supernatural world the author creates with such detail and care. While each story is its own satisfying read, start with book one and read from there. Trust me. If you like shifters and other paranormal creatures, you will love Andy McNeilly and her world.

Warning: if you aren't caught up with this series and eagerly awaiting the conclusion, don't read the rest of this review. And if you haven't read any of the books... Go buy Shift Happens. You can thank me later.

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

Okay.

If you're still reading this review, it means you've previously read books one through four. You know that when we last saw Andy she was in beast form, crashing wildly through the woods, grieving the death of her boyfriend. And then, at the very very end, she gets captured.

It's difficult to write a review without spoilers, especially when a reader gets so invested in the storyline and the characters, but I'm trying my hardest here. I so totally enjoyed this series and each of the many characters throughout -- even the despicable characters are ones I care enough about to need to see them come to justice of some kind. I found myself pleading with my e-reader as I whizzed through pages far into the night. Don't just kill them, Andy. Make them pay.

Chapter One shows us Andy being held against her will by the very agency she used to work for, the SRDS, her powers somehow drained away. She wakes up from an obviously drug-induced sleep to find herself no more than a weak, "boring as paper" norm, as she would say. She can't even hear the voices in her head, which would be good for most people, but a devastating new reality for Andy. At least they didn't steal her sass or her sarcasm, or her will to keep all of her promises and seek revenge on those who caused harm.

I absolutely loved the way the author shows us Andy starting over, from her absolute weakest point to stronger than she's ever been, coming full circle not just physically but mentally. She realizes sass and sarcasm can only get a girl so far, even when she's a total badass like Andy. I loved her character throughout this entire series, and loved the slow arc of growth, but she's reached the point in this book where she needs to make the hard decisions and finally face all of her fears. Alone.

I truly loved the subtle ways the author was able to tie up every single loose thread from the entire series without making it totally obvious that she was doing so-- the mark of a truly gifted author. I don't usually like bows on every storyline, but in this case, it all worked so fluidly, with no hint of anyone bending into a pretzel to fit into their assigned spot.

And, of course, I loved loved loved that in the end Andy ended up...

Well, that really would be a spoiler now, wouldn't it? Sorry, no dice! Read it for yourself. I promise you won't be disappointed in this fabulous paranormal tale of love, loss and redemption. I only wish I had more than 5 stars I could give it.

Grab your copy on AMAZON.

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