Lion's Tail

The Pride, Book 2

By: Jordan L. Hawk

Narrated by: Greg Tremblay

Control the booze. Control the magic. Control Chicago.

Sam Cunningham just wants a quiet life with his lover, the cheetah-shifter Alistair Gatti. But that hope is dashed when a member of Mickey Sullivan’s gang dies inside the Gatti family’s speakeasy.

Sullivan wants Sam to work for him, deciphering long-forgotten hexes as part of his illegal hexworks operation. At the same time, a corrupt prohibition agent demands Sam and Alistair investigate the gang member’s murder. Caught between gangster and agent, they must walk a fine line just to stay alive.

Because the sinister forces behind the killing are still out there, and now they have Sam in their sights…

©2024 Jordan L. Hawk (P)2024 Jordan L. Hawk

Strong Characters

I love this series and I love that it pointed out how much the world changed in hexworld history when it mentioned hex rangers and witch police.
The characters are strong in their own way and I really enjoyed that, nothing felt out of character for any of them. Even if you don't agree with the decisions they make, I see why. It makes sense.
I actually enjoyed that there wasn't much smut but rather love and mystery. Definitely trauma filled though.

I know there's gonna be more and I will just have to be patient.

I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!!

Perfect finish!

This was a great sequel- more cats-er Large cats! Tremblay of course narrates the h*ll out of this story. Wish there was another...I am totally invested in hex making now......

Great second book

My review for this book definitely comes pretty late after first listening to the story on audiobook. I had good intentions to review, but when too much time passed, I needed a relisten to refresh my memory. And it was great entering back into this world of hexes, and witches, and familiar shifters.

Sam has gone through a lot in his life. His family’s constant criticism of all that he is, the death of his brother, his cousin being murdered in his home while Sam slept outside. He met a group of shifters who run a speakeasy, and helped fight off the crime boss. And in all of that craziness, he discovers that he is a hexmaker, a witch. And he falls in love with Alistair, one of the shifters at The Pride (the speakeasy I mentioned.)

After solving his cousin’s murder. Sam decides to stay in Chicago and takes up residence in his cousin’s house. He knows he’s on borrowed time and that his cousin’s family will eventually kick him out. It’s time for him and Alistair to find a place of their own, only Alistair is hesitant. About everything. We know that Alistair lost his witch and the pain of it makes him unwilling to bond with Sam so that they can use their abilities together. It also seems to make him hesitant to leave the pride, the found family that makes him feel safe, to venture out with Sam in their new life as a couple.

Until there is some competition for Sam’s magic, Sam takes a job with a crime family in order to finance his new life in Chicago. He is paired with a shifter who is working on a special hex for the mob man. It is meant to be a healing hex and the idea of it is especially important to Sam after he finds out his mother is on her deathbed. Despite pleas from his family to come home so they can continue to use and abuse him, Sam stays in Chicago to work on the hex.

But working with the mob is fraught with corrupt individuals, and the value of this healing hex leaves Sam’s life in serious peril . I don’t want to give away what happens, but it’s safe to say that Alistair is regretful for not bonding with Sam to help him. All is not lost and the bad guy is taken care of. Relationships are made stronger. But it is harrowing. In the end, Sam is still working for the crime syndicate. He has come so far from who he was in the first book of this series, though. He has gained confidence in his abilities and it helps him have confidence in communicating what he wants to his family and to Alistair. I’d say it all worked out for the best and I can’t wait to see what happens for him next.

As far as the narration goes, Greg Tremblay is perfect. His narrations are an autobuy for me and I definitely recommend this book and the series.

Ughhhhhhhhhh

Oh my god...shut up! Shut up! I am one of those queer folks who feels strongly that useless bigoted family members should be launched into the sun. And that includes Sam's raggedy family. I don't care what happens to his mother or the remainder of his family. Like...just d**. I couldn't stand reading Sam whine and cry and weep about his family. Again. Shut. Up.