Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Well, Faythe's story has come to an end with this book, and I have to say it was a wild ride! I started this series thinking, no, knowing that she was self-absorbed and challenging her Pride's way of life and out to prove herself;Faythe was aggravating to read about in book one. But Vincent's writing style is powerful and immersing so I had no desire to quit and was very happy to see that she brought Faythe along so realistically and well. Faythe eventually acknowledged how much she loved and respected her family, even when they wanted to make her something she didn't want to be. She began to understand the dynamics between her Alpha father and her docile-appearing mother, and see that mom was in no way the subservient that she had perceived. Faythe had run from Marc, a Stray shifter taken in by her Pride and who had loved her since the day they met, but grown to realize that true love would allow them to work out their differences. There is always fighting going on in these books - and Faythe learns to hold her own as an Enforcer for her Pride. Her personal growth puts her in training to become the Alpha after her father steps down, and so she becomes much, much closer to her father and respects him even more.

I knew that in a book called "Alpha", I would see Faythe arrive at the pinnacle she has strived for and in the position she has been training for. I knew that Vincent's thrill-ride story would have me on pins and needles, and my immersion into her world would be emotionally exhausting. Worse,I knew that something would happen to Faythe's dad to thrust her into leadership. I had no idea that this ride would wring me out emotionally to the extent it did, though. As I posted while reading, I was brought to tears several times and also caught myself mindlessly and fervently crunching peanuts during the Pride clashes with Montanna Alpha and all-around bad guy, Calvin Malone and his gang of chauvanistic shifters. This was war, plain and simple, and many were lost. Through all of that, Faythe struggled with her love for two men, Marc and Jace, and knowing that she had to choose between them and when she did, her whole world would change - their whole world would change - as well.

I haven't given a book 5 stars in a very, very long time; I reserve that for what I call "life-changing" stories. While this book won't physically change my life, the series and its character development changed THEIRS, and I won't forget it. I will remember that you can grow, change and develop yourself into what you most want to be, but the road there may be so rocky you want to quit. Outside factors may drive you back and hurt you; there will be loss. But, like Faythe, you can push yourself back up and keep at it. You can act the part that you are afraid you are not capable of yet and others will see you as you really are: strong, faithful, loving and Alpha.