So, recently an editor reached out to me and asked me to review for a book called "Her Returned Mate." This is one of those Werewolf books where people are part wolf and are an alpha, beta or omega (I think).
First, the characters. I'm just going to be honest; I don't really like most the characters. One of the main characters, Rayne, is very... typical. When she was eight, her parents died in a war and she is now being abused by her pack leader, Wilson. Sounds familiar? As the reader, we should feel bad for Rayne, but frankly I do not. I have seen this archetype done many, many times before and done much better. For instance, the two main characters in 39 Clues, Amy and Dan, have nearly the same archetype as Rayne, (teen with dead parents while being abused) but the author* of 39 Clues (Rick Riorden) makes this archetype work much better than the author of Her Returned Mate (I don't remember their name).
*Many authors were involved in the making of 39 Clues, but Rick Riorden was the author that wrote the first book.
Another character, Wilson the abuser, does not have much depth to him. (Granted I have only read the first three chapters). Wilson could be an interesting character, but whenever the author brings up the reason why he may be acting this way (abusive) towards Rayne, they never answer the question or give the readers any clues to his reason. What the author could've done is casually mention that Rayne's parents were enemies of Wilson or if Rayne's parents had some debt to pay or a deal to settle or a job to finish. That way we could get some backstory to Wilson or her parents. For instance, in Harry Potter, the Dursley's are not mean to Harry just because, it was because Harry's mom and Aunt Petunia were not good sisters, so she and her husband take their anger out on Harry.
Those two characters are the only ones I will discuss in detail, but here are some of the other characters worth mentioning.
Bridgette
The mean girl/bully character
HATES Rayne
"pretty girl"
Wilson's daughter
(To Rayne) "You mean the sooner you can get back here and clean up this mess and the one in my room?"
Ariana
Compassionate
Kind
Protective of her brother. (Sebastion)
Likes Rayne (as a friend)
(To Rayne) "That way you reacted makes me sad. You flinched like I was going to hit you."
Sebastion
In love with mistress, Gia
Doesn't want a mate
Stubborn
Rayne's mate (supposedly)
Ariana's Brother
I couldn't get a good quote for Sebastion
Gia
In love with Sebastion
...kinda slutty not gunna lie
VERY protective of Sebastion
Pretty whiney in my opinion
(To Sebastion) "I'm here to show that mate of yours that she will not have all of you. That you belong to me!"
Rayne
Protagonist
Good heart
Doesn't want a mate
