[Lisa’s Review]: Sanctum (Blackwater Pack #1) by Hannah McBride

A survivor on the run

Barely escaping with her life, Skye Markham and her mother flee their sadistic pack and seek sanctuary within Blackwater. Against all odds, Skye tries to create a new life for herself. A life she thought only existed in dreams is now within reach.

An alpha with a pack to protect

Remy Holt has spent years guarding his pack - his family - from threats as the next alpha in line. When the Blackwater pack decides to help the Markhams, Skye becomes one of his own … In more ways than one, if his wolf has anything to say about it.

A bond unlike any other

As Skye and Remy’s lives collide, the shifter world starts to implode. Missing shifters, a dying population, and pack wars are causing their sanctuary to crumble around them. Skye thought she was finally safe … but maybe there’s no such thing.

I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

First things first, thank you, Hannah, for providing me with an ARC. I got to read very early versions of the book and was beyond excited to see the final product. It’s no secret that I’m total trash for shifter books, but holy awesome. It’s hard to believe that this is Hannah’s debut novel.

The story follows a young female shifter who has been born into the lowest possible rank in a wolf pack – an omega. Skye learned the hard way that the word safety has no place in her vocabulary. And her packmates don’t ever let her forget it. I would have loved to climb into my kindle and have “words” with a few of those assholes. The beginning of this book is nothing for weak nerves. When the situation escalates due to an unexpected change in leadership, Adalynne Markham has no choice but to get herself and her daughter out, even if they die trying. They end up seeking sanctuary with the Blackwater Pack in Washington, and from here on out, the story is about Skye finding herself, her place in the new pack, and maybe a bit more than that.

I absolutely adore Skye’s character. Despite the terrible hand life dealt her, she’s anything but weak and determined not to bow to her traumatic past. I loved seeing the chains crack a little more with each day until she full-blown shatters them. She’s one of those characters you can’t help but connect to. I cried, fought, laughed, and loved with her through every chapter.

And the same goes for the rest of the gang, our beloved alpha-to-be in particular. Hold on to your book boyfriends as tight as you can because Remy’s going to push them off their respective thrones faster than you can say Blackwater. I have read my fair share of shifter books, and totally love my alpha males, but he’s an entirely different species. With Remy, Hannah absolutely nailed it. He’s definite alpha material, taking on his responsibilities with a demeanor that goes beyond his years. At the same time, he’s playful, at times cocky, throws the occasional party, and does what guys do in high school. He’s one of the very few guys that aren’t afraid of their feelings. He’s possessive, protective, kind, and caring, and to top it off; he’s hotter than the sun. He stole my heart within five pages of meeting him.

Don’t even get me started on the romance in this book (between Remy and Skye or otherwise), or this review is going to be more like an essay. But let me tell you this: what they have is what every girl wants.

Sanctum is sort of the introduction to the story, to the shifter world, the characters, the different packs, and sets the stage for the showdown with this unknown threat that has female shifters disappearing all over the country. The plot is well-paced and laced with angst, humor, love, and action. A diverse set of secondary characters with equally well-developed backgrounds add the little extra to the story. I love every single one of them, and I can’t wait to see where the next book takes us.

Long story short, this book has everything you could possibly want. The first time I read it, I went through it in one go. I couldn’t have put it down if I tried. If you like shifter books, this one is right up your alley. And if you’ve never read anything like it, you can’t go wrong with this one.

Lisa

Hi! I’m Lisa. I’m twenty-three, a college student and a book lover. I spend every free minute, and most of my lectures, reading all kinds of books, which is how I ended up here. While I particularly enjoy books of the young and new adult variety, I also love historical fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, all things romance, and one or the other classic as well. If I’m not reading, I’m either working, sleeping, binge-watching my newest obsession on Netflix, or on my way to Starbucks, to satisfy my slight caffeine addiction.