Unwanted

Their Shifter Academy, Book 1

By: May Dawson

Narrated by: Effie Bradley

Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

By the time I walk through the doors of the academy, where the born shifters of every pack are trained to fight and lead, I’m famous. Infamous? One of those.

I’ve already fought a battle or two. And my family’s complicated relationships with magic, which has been long forbidden to wolves, isn’t popular with all the packs.

I guess I should’ve said this is the place for born male shifters. There aren’t a lot of shifters like me, with flat irons and skinny jeans packed in their bags.

There’s quite the welcome committee waiting for me.

My cadre, who want to break me down and build me back up again.

My bullies, who just want to break me.

My patrol, who rises or falls with me.

They don’t expect me to make it to graduation in four years.

But I know I will.

Who’ll be standing with me at the end?

Their Shifter Academy is a new reverse harem romance series, set in a military academy for shifters.

©2019 May Dawson (P)2019 May Dawson

I wanted to love it

The story could've been amazing, but the narration ruined it for me. I simply could not get passed the first half of the book. Instead I purchased a hard copy to physically read. I quite enjoyed it that way.

fantastic

I loved it the story was well thought over and the voice acting could not have been better

a mix of school drama & urban fantasy thrills

a reverse harem romance isn't exactly polyamory like it looks in the real world, and esp not the pack dynamics in this book... but god, it's still refreshing going into a romance story knowing from both the synopsis and the intro that our heroine doesn't necessarily have to pick only one beau. like, immediately during the prologue, we see her sister and her 8 boyfriends, so we're shown that's a possible trajectory for the story, even if you were to discount that this is called a "reverse harem".

... but the prologue is also like. almost entirely redundant. and there are multiple pov switches, but still using first person pov language, and without a style such in narration, or voice actor switch, multiple times I forgot who I was following if it wasn't Maddy, and had to try to figure it out on my own.

I'm intrigued by the actual martial training we at least get to glimpse in a few scenes in this book-- a lot of school/ college stories seem to gloss over the actual curriculum outside of using studying/ tutoring as an excuse to get characters to hang out; but here, while traditional schoolwork isn't really evident, with frequent Mendon of PT it really does feel like, well, the military-- I'm not in myself, but I'm an officer's brat and friend to a few ex enlisted. from what admittedly secondhand knowledge I have, it feels pretty en pointe.

the misogyny is also pretty rampant-- both intended and I think what's meant to be romantic. this is pretty explicitly a fantasy not only in the magical sense, so whatever, but it personally made me feel skeeved out how "I'm doing this for your own good" was framed as romantic-- not in the eyes of our mc, not yet, but framing makes it pretty clear that the bully is going to end up one of her boyfriends.

and... again I guess bc it's fantasy, but does EVERYONE need to have chiseled abs? like fine muscles are nice I guess, but with so many guys here, I hoped for more diversity of body type than "one of them is REALLY hairy." No love for the soft guys, or the skinny ones, or the bear who's fat AND muscled? it's just a little... boring, I guess. and repetitive-- which is a big problem with the steamy and/or sex scenes. they're all similar to each other, and have a lot of consecutive word reuse within one scene. I know there's only so much that can be done with vanilla sex scenes but... idk, at least go over it with a fine tooth comb so the wording doesn't sound weird.

final nit pick-- "taut abs" became "taunt abs" at least twice, and now I kind of want to draw a >:) on my (admittedly flabby) abs lmao

Great Story

I always thought there were more people on this planet and for this author to begin a book on the Supernatural gave me hope no just kidding I think I will enjoy this series so far I can see the future for this Princess turned boy and I can't wait for the next book to listen to while getting ready to work. You must listen or read this book. The author doesn't disappoint you at all.

Loved it!

This story pulls you in and keeps you interested. Great performance by the narrator. I will be looking for the next book.

amazing!!!!

I read the e book and own it and love it!! had to try the audio and well dang takes it to a whole other level!!!! love the narrators take on the story,n fantastic job!😍🤩🥰

good read and listen

I really enjoyed the fact that the narrator wasn't a robot. it was a good story line as well

Interesting

Not a huge fan of the Male voice fluctuations in this recording but overall the narrator did good. Good story line but felt a lack of chemistry between some of the ones who are to like her. Hopefully in the next book that builds more in their everyday contact and not just bedroom scene

Definitely binge worthy

I binge listened to this last night (until 4 am) and then finished it today. I really enjoyed the imperfections of the characters, especially Maddie, she's very realistic given her age. I enjoyed the action, the bullying, Jensen's attitudes, and so much more.

Enjoyed my read

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author. This is me leaving an honest and volontarily review.

In spite of some bad reviews, i wanted to give this book a try nonetheless and i'm so glad i did. The story kept me interested till the end. I liked the military set for this academy. Yeah there is some bullying and some "i love you but can't show it so i have to be mean to you" vibe but overall, i did enjoyed my read. This was my first May Dawson read, so i didn't read Piper's story but i will in a near future.

I liked Effie Bradley, i think she did a great job bringing life to these characters. Will gladly listen to more books narrated by her.