Review: Dark Wolf Running by Rhyannon Byrd (Bloodrunners #5)

Dark Wolf Running (Bloodrunners #5)
Rhyannon Byrd
Published: December 1, 2013 (Harlequin Nocturne)
Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon
Review Source: Provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by: Mary

Rating (out of 5): 3 stars

Dark Wolf Running starts with Elise serving as a bridesmaid at her brother’s wedding. Wyatt has had his eye on her for a while now. Being a shifter, it was love at first sniff, but Elise has quite a few demons in her closet (figuratively, not literally) that are making her run from Wyatt’s advances.

The book starts on a happy note, but takes a dark turn quickly when Elise is attacked in her home after leaving the wedding early. With the Bloodrunners on high alert and Wyatt guarding her, she seems to be safe. However, this attack and Wyatt’s attention force her to deal with those demons from her past and to try and figure out if she can ever have a normal relationship with anyone.

To be honest, when I want to read a book and unwind, this is not the kind of book that I would pick up.  Without having read the other books in the series I can’t be certain, but I don’t think the series as a whole focuses on sexual assault. I think that this was a topic in the series that had to be addressed for the larger story arc to carry forward. If you think you might be interested in this series, I would really suggest starting at the beginning with Last Wolf Standing. This was a really raw point in the story and a hard place to pick up at.

This book had a lot of references to Elise’s rape three years earlier and she is nearly raped at the beginning of this book. She and Wyatt have a lot of conversations that rehash the lingering psychological affect it has on Elise and the impact it has on her relationships.

I really liked the world that the author created. Whole towns of shifters and supernatural people living together can make for some fun pairings. I also really enjoy when an author lets you know where the series is going and what to expect in the next book. Even though this was not my favorite, I do want to know what is going to happen with these characters next.  If you like strong alpha shifters and witty writing, pick up Dark Wolf Running. If you don’t really enjoy reading about rape or its after effects, try another book from the Bloodrunners series.

Sexual content: Graphic sex, references to rape and gang rape, and an attempted rape.