Leopard's Wrath

4.25 stars-entertaining, engaging and emotional

4.25 stars-- LEOPARD’S WRATH is the eleventh instalment in Christine Feehan’s contemporary, adult LEOPARDS paranormal, erotic, romance series focusing on a group of Leopard shifters. This is Russian leopard shifter and businessman Mitya Amurov, and Anja Dover’s story line. LEOPARD’S WRATH can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory, history and cohesion.

NOTE: LEOPARD’S WRATH contains scenes of graphic violence and implied abuse, including memories and retelling of events as well as spanking and discipline, that may not be suitable for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Ania and Mitya) LEOPARD’S WRATH follows the building relationship between Russian leopard shifter Mitya Amurov, and Anja Dover. MItya Amurov found Ania Dover stranded on the side of the road not realizing that Ania was his intended mate, a female leopard shifter who lived on the neighboring estate. About to enter into the Han Vol Dan, the female leopard shifter’s first fertile period, Ania is caught unaware as she struggles with her father’s declining health, and staying one step ahead of the people who have targeted her and her family for execution. But all is not well in the world of the Leopard shifter, as more than one family has been targeted by someone intent on destroying them all. What ensues is the building relationship between Ania and Mitya, and the potential fall-out as secrets and lies, and the struggle for power threaten everyone in Ania and Mitya’s circles.

Ania Dover comes from a long line of leopard shifters who have worked on the periphery of organized crime. A car enthusiast and lover of speed, Ania is more than capable of holding her own when it comes to getting out of harm’s way but Ania is unprepared for the emotional and physical needs of her leopard, and finds herself in situations where she has very little control. Mitya Amurov never thought he would find someone to love especially in the wake of his violent lifestyle and the abuse he suffered as a child but meeting Ania Dover meant the possibility of his own happily ever after if not for the threats against his life by the leopard that is his sire.

The relationship between Ania and Mitya is one of immediate attraction fated by DNA, need and the Han Vol Dan. Mitya Amurov, like all male leopard shifters, is a possessive and controlling man, and is aware that Ania is about to enter into her time of need, a time when every male shifter will target the woman he loves, to make her their own. Ania will become the recipient of many offers as she approaches the Han Vol Dan. Ania struggles with her attraction to Mitya, a man she knows to be dangerous and dark but her father’s rapid decline in health meant Mitya is the man to step up and help the dying shifter in his final hours. The $ex scenes are passionate, erotic, and intense. There are some scenes of spanking and discipline .

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of strong secondary and supporting characters including Mitya’s cousins and their mates: Evangeline and Fyodor Amurov (Leopard’s Blood #8), Timur and Ashe Amurov (Leopard’s Run #10), as well as Jake Bannaconni, Drake Donovan, Joshua Tegre, Elijah Lospostos, Eli Perez, Mitya’s right hand man Sevastyan, and shifters Vikenti and Zinoviy, Miron, Kiriil and Matvei, Mitya’s father Lazar; Ania’s father Antosha, as well as numerous leopard shifters from various crime families.

LEOPARD’S WRATH is a story of family, betrayal, power and revenge; a story of grief, loss, threats and control. The action packed premise is entertaining, engaging and emotional; the characters are colorful, energetic and dynamic; the romance is spicy, sensual and hot. LEOPARD’S WRATH and the Leopard Series will open up your imagination to the wonders of the paranormal.