What can I say? There’s just something about werewolves and the pack mentality that does it for me every. single. time. This is the third book in the Halloween Boys series, and we finally get a peak inside of Wolfgang Jack’s noggin. As with the previous books, we add a new POV while still exploring the POV’s of the previous characters which means this book had Blythe, Ghost, Dragon, and Wolf leading center stage.

This novel did something I truly wasn’t anticipating in that we experience the harsh passage of time. While away with the vampires time had been passing at an alarming rate back in Ash Grove, and Wolf’s pack is not the same as he left it. Due to the disruption, and also having found his mate, Wolf begins the dangerous transformation into his alpha form. This transformation takes the sweetest, homiest character and finally unleashes a new monster who is starving for Blythe.

While the last novel was about Dragon trusting himself, Wolf is now learning to grow as a pack leader, and Blythe is coming to terms with staying a damsel in distress or trusting her own monstrous powers (whatever they may be).

Out of all the novels in this series so far this one made me cry multiple times. The love that has blossomed between these characters, the raw and authentic care they have towards one another pricked my bleeding heart just right. I loved the little glimpses we got through everyone’s POV’s of watching them grow together in their relationship.

There was a much bigger emotional toll on me as the reader in this novel, just knowing that Wolf’s pack and the town of Ash Grove was in disarray due to the time they spent away. Mix that angst with the bond solidifying between our poly group and I was a mushy puddle of feelings. So far I think this is my favorite novel in this series. While I live for and love the halloween aspect of the first novel, and thrived off the vampire/dragon aesthetics of the second, the emotional impact this one had on me tips it over the edge.