Megan Crane is back with her post-apocalytpic asshole vikings and this time the king of them all takes center stage. Wulf is done dealing with assholes from afar who hide in their mountain fortresses, horde all of the wealth, and plot to destroy his people. So he’s taking the fight right to them, strolling up to their gates like he owns the place, and hiding in plain sight while his people put everything in motion behind the scenes.

Kathlyn is a princess which means she’s a pawn. Her fate has been sealed since birth. When her father decides it will be most advantageous, her virginity will be sold to a high bidder, she’ll be “claimed” in a barbaric ceremony in front of the royal court, and then she’ll be sold into temporary marriages to monsters just like her father until she outlives her usefulness. There are no choices to be made; no escape to be had. Until a sex-on-a-stick arrogant viking king waltzes into the palace, that is.
Wulf has a mission. Kathlyn’s trying to survive as best she can. Neither one is looking for romance at all. Nonetheless, they begin a dance in which neither party is very sure what the hell they’re doing, but they are sure they can’t just walk away.

“He was used to handling the clan and all their squabbles and complaints and troubles, many of which were sorted out with fistfights in the Lodge for all to see. But he didn’t know what to do with a tiny, helpless, pretty thing, maybe the softest creature he’d ever encountered, who wanted to learn how to grow a pair of fangs.”

Both Wulf and Kathlyn are struggling with the impact their pasts have on their presents and futures. Wulf learned the hard way how caring for someone can be used against him. Kathlyn learned, in a number of hard ways, that women who exist in her father’s sphere pay for that existence in blood. He hasn’t had anything he was afraid to lose in a long time. She’s never had any hope that fighting back would do her any good. Things are about to change.

Kathlyn and Wulf make a good complimentary pair and their interactions are fun to read. What doesn’t work quite so well is that the setting is so isolated and claustrophobic. There isn’t much time for Wulf and Kathlyn to interact with each other and even less opportunity. They make what they have count, but the romance would have been stronger with more. I’m not sure if Megan Crane is finished with this series or if she plans to write more, but if she does, I’ll certainly be on board with bells on. I’m a sucker for these darn vikings.

The fourth and final story in The Edge series by Megan Crane ties together some of the overall plot of the series begun in Edge of Obsession and gives an exciting, action packed and sexy finale! While it can be read as a standalone (there are enough explanatory bits that a new reader could find their way), it benefits from having read the previous three books.

Wulf has been a character in all of them, a hard edged Raider King who gives no quarter. He and his clan are determined to deal with the sadistic mainland King Athenian once and for all. He's set himself up as bait, showing up alone at the gates to King Athenian's mountain compound with a truce proposal that in reality is meant to draw attention away from reports of Raiders' appearances on the mainland. In three weeks time, at the spring equinox, his men will join him and his plans will come to fruition – if he can just be patient and wait (not his best trait).

Princess Kathlyn is ready to do something about her virginity. A commodity that her father the King has held over her head for so long, she desperately longs to be in control of just one thing in her life, and she's chosen this. Her mother was murdered in front of her eyes by her father and she knows that fate will also befall her sometime soon. When she shows up in Wulf's room dressed as a courtesan, Wulf is amused. He can see through her act to the innocent she really is and though he finds her very attractive (and the idea of claiming her innocence is quite intriguing) they are interrupted before the deed is done. But it leads to a chain of events that neither saw coming. For Wulf, his attraction to Kathlyn leads to decisions and actions that put him in danger of forgetting his ultimate mission. For Kathlyn, Wulf's attitude and clearly leashed strength challenge her to not give in to the status quo and to fight for a different future. Time is not on their side. Will they survive King Athenian's vicious plans and see their way through to a happy ending?

This dystopian future is not for the faint of heart. Women are commodities forced into 'winter marriages' planned by their rulers in hopes they'll get pregnant, as the low birth rate is a danger to the survival of the human race. If they don't they are paired up with a new partner the following winter. Virginity is prized and bartered. Men are in charge, whether in a religious compound where the priests and bishops force women to be their sex slaves, or in enclaves ruled by Kings who treat women basically the same. The exception is Raider compounds where sex is much more satisfying and fully participated in by the women (colloquially known as 'camp pussy'). These dichotomous views on sex are ones Kathlyn is just learning. Preparing her whole life for a painful and/or drab sex life, she finds pleasure and passion with Wulf – and once experienced, she isn't willing to give that up without a fight. I loved seeing her find her inner strength and bravery, showing herself to be a true Princess. In the face of a cruel and sadistic father she has survived, but now she is truly thriving.

'He was already a King. She made him feel like a God.'

Wulf finds himself truly in a predicament. This innocent beguiling woman captures something in his heart that he refuses to acknowledge. It threatens to wreck his plans of revenge – not because he feels guilty about wanting to kill her father the King, as it's clear he treats his daughter as cruelly as he does everyone else. But she's a distraction, and he finds himself sometimes diverted from his true task of surveillance and reconnaissance because he can't help seeking her out. Of course it doesn't help that there are multiple assassination attempts on his life to contend with too. Wulf provides a lot of the humor in this story, with his sarcasm and wit. And never let it be said he's not a generous lover. He and Kathlyn share some very steamy scenes together.

Wulf finds in Kathlyn an equal and worthy partner, something he never thought he needed. She may have started out as innocent but never naive as to her worth and place in her father's compound. She longed for a winter marriage just to escape. Now, with Wulf she finds herself no longer willing to settle. She'll fight for her future or die trying. As the story progresses the action heats up until it comes to an explosive finale. I won't give away the ending except to say that the story arc of the series comes to a fitting conclusion. At the same time some interesting secondary characters are introduced, so with any luck there will be a spin off series! Edge of Power is a fitting end to The Edge series with a sexy, exciting and action packed tale of lust, revenge, brotherhood and true love.

This review has been posted at Straight Shootin' Book Reviews and feedback updated with the link. A review has been posted at sale sites and at goodreads.

Edge of Power is the 4th book in Megan Crane's The Edge and my favorite so far. I really hope there is more to come in this series! This book takes place right after the events of the 3rd book. I suppose you could read it as a stand alone by why would you when the whole series is really good and you get so much more out of knowing the characters in this book from the earlier books.

This book centers around Wulf who is the King of the Raiders and his mission to kill the King of the Western Mainland and get the power turned back on in the world. Wulf walks right into the kingdom in order to get information and serve as a distraction while the rest of his raiders prepare for the assault. Although it turns out Wulf may be distracting the King of the West but his daughter is distracting Wulf in a completely different way.

In the previous book we met Kathlyn the daughter of the King of the West. She's lived a life that is hard to imagine. She's been almost brainwashed to accept her role in life which is to remain a virgin until her father sells her off to loose her virginity in a disturbing public fashion called a mounting ceremony. Her father is ruthless and cruel and Kathlyn survives in the only way she knows how by masking her feelings and showing the world a serene and accepting face. However, she has a core of steel that we saw in the third book when she warned the raiders of her father's plan. She decides not to sit back and let her life be planned out for her and instead takes action by sneaking into Wulf's cell. She wants him to take her virginity but she isn't nearly ready for the reaction she has to Wulf and Wulf certainly doesn't expect the reaction he has to her.

This book was a little slower on the action then the previous books and more about the character growth of both Wulf and Kathlyn and their relationship. The sex wasn't quite as dirty, plentiful or filthy but the scenes between the two still burnt up the pages and were still dirty and scorching hot!

Wulf was still the big, bad Alpha warrior king I came to know and love in the first three books and watching him rein in his temper and savage nature while he waited for the time to be right was entertaining and fun. He's still the same in your face warrior who knows just how lethal and bad he is and Kathlyn can't believe she's the only one who truly notices just how dangerous he is.

I loved Kathlyn and Wulf together - they were a perfect match. The chemistry leapt off the pages and this book had by far the best character development. Kathlyn brought out a softer side to Wulf and he helped her find her courage and bring out the strength she already had. When the book was finished I was completely satisfied and yet still hoping for more of them!

If you haven't started this series and you like an edgy, dark, dirty romance then start now! If you're a fan of the series this one won't let you down and will leave you hungry for more. I hope to see a lot more of this world!

Wulf is ALPHA!!! He is King of the Raiders for a reason and only he would sally up to a Mainlanders Palace and not expect anything untoward to happen to him!

He didn't factor in meeting with Princess Kathlyn. This delectable morsel has all his fires burning and the fact that her father is the very king he is here to take down? Well that's just an added bonus!

I loved that Kathlyn was trying to thwart her fathers plan in the only way she knew who. She was getting info to the raiders and then she decided to further sidetrack her fathers plans by not only getting rid of her so valuable virginity - but she wants Wulf to be the one to take it!

The actions takes your breath away, the passion between these two makes you tingle and there is even a wee bit of humour! Great book and hoping for more!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
Outstanding addition to the Edge series! Wulf has been a mysterious character from the beginning and my fascination with him has only increased with each book. Needless to say, I could not wait to get my grabby hands on Edge of Power. And Crane did not disappoint as she weaved the tale of the Raider King, the Western Highland Princess, and a love that neither ever expected to find, let alone with each other.

If you’ve read the series from the beginning – and I strongly recommend that you do because a major series arc comes to a head in Edge of Power – you know that while all the raiders in the brotherhood are fierce, there are none more so than Wulf, the Raider King. Which is precisely what makes his infiltration of King Athenian’s mountain compound so amusing because few men would walk right up to the front gate of the man who’s sent dozens of assassins to kill him. It also made being inside Wulf’s head riveting as he forced himself to tamp down his natural inclination to fight, as he forced himself to appear dimwitted, as he forced himself to bide his time and appear to play into the king’s games, and as he found someone who made him rethink is decision to live his life alone. As for that someone, watching Princess Kathlyn adapt to the new world she was thrust into as her blinders were ripped off and she began to see the darker side of the world she lived it was intriguing. That she was not nearly as pampered as one would expect a princess to be helped facilitate her growth and it enabled her to take hold of her own destiny, eschewing the rules of the “civilized” world in which she was raised, in order to claim the future she wanted for herself.

There was so much about Edge of Power that I enjoyed, but I think the scene that had me enraptured was when Wulf shared with Kathlyn how he came to be the Raider King. Even knowing how violent raiders could be, I was stunned by the brutality of it, and it explained so much about Wulf and the bond he shared with Tyr. Also, I could not help but wonder if Eiryn was aware of the part their father played in it because she doesn’t strike me as someone who would back that kind of move. However, what absolutely shocked me was the twist I did not see coming when the raiders descended upon King Athenian’s compound. I wasn’t surprised that the cowardly king attempted to hide and that several of his men laid down their weapons in surrender, not willing to die for the tyrant. I was surprised by who betrayed him and why. My only complaint about the book is that we didn’t get to see Lorna get her comeuppance, but I’m petty that way. The ending of Edge of Power was perfect because Crane wrote it in such a way that it can serve as the series end or set the stage for another installment – I know which one I’m hoping for because I would love to return to The Edge.

I confess that I was a little lost at the beginning of the reading and only later I realized that this book was the #4 of a series. Since I had never read anything from the author, I didn't know her narrative. It took me a while to realize that the world we knew no longer existed.
Raiders Vikings against kings, and, in fact, the King Athenian was not at all pleasant. He wanted power always and at any cost.
Wulf, the Viking, is the anti-hero. Raw, dark, he has the focus on what must be done. So when he stumbles upon princess Kathlyn, the new feeling runs over him.

The book looks like a mixt of historical, dark and dystopia genres
At first, I thought I would like it, but with the passing of the reading it didn't take me. But I think you should take a chance and read it, and draw your own conclusions.

3 stars

Fun, sexy escapist novel. I love being kept on my feet, held at rapt attention. A lot of will they- won't they and I loved it!

Having read the prior three books in the series, I was looking forward to this instalment with quite a bit of excitement. And, to a certain extent, Edge of Power lived up to expectations.

Crane's series is edgy and very, very dirty - and in Edge of Power we have Wulf, dystopian Viking king, matching up with virgin princess, Kathlyn. I really liked the pairing and their interactions with one another. The balance of power could have very easily tipped in the hero's direction, but Kathlyn brought a sharp mind and wits, even when circumstances were stacked against her.

The main drawback with this book, in my opinion, was the lack of interaction with the other Raiders. I know that this was due to Wulf being held in the foreign kingdom, but he felt extremely isolated at times, and I found myself wishing for some flashbacks or something to break up the linear thread of the story. I also felt that the Raiders (and the setting of the Eastern Islands) could have come in to the story for Kathlyn's sake. In this case, I feel as though the reader missed something important in not seeing Kathlyn interacting with other Raiders or viewing the Islands for the first time. For this, I felt a little bit let down.

Though this is a series, I would recommend that a reader read at least the first in the series before takcling Edge of Power.

This Was A Fantastic Fast Paced Thrill Ride. I've been looking foward to Wulf's book since the first book in this series and it did not dissapoint. The heroine matched him perfectly and I'm glad to see the gang coming together in the end.

This is one heck of an amazingly hot story about a group of Viking brothers known as Raiders who live in a dystopian society where light is a luxury and survival isn't guaranteed.

This is Wulf's story and he's the king of the Raiders. As you'd expect he is someone that everyone knows better than to mess with and he kills men just for looking at him the wrong way. I loved Wulf from the moment his fierce presence graced the page and couldn't get enough of him! The way he uses his relaxed body language to lure everyone around him into a false sense of comfort and security was pretty incredible. I particularly enjoyed watching him toy with his enemies by causing them to believe that he was just another guy while he was sizing them up and discovering all of their weaknesses so he could overpower them. It was a fascinating game of strategy to witness taking place. Princess Kathlyn was a perfect fit for Wulf in my eyes and from the moment they met I loved the chemistry between the two of them.

This is a highly addictive series that I've loved every second of reading and I can't wait for more from this amazing author! I highly recommend reading this entire series to anyone.

Viking Raider King, Wulf, gets his long-awaited story in Megan Crane's Edge of Power concluding her sexy and enthralling dystopian series -Edge. I encourage you to read the prior three books in the series to get maximum enjoyment of Edge of Power. It’s no hardship, because you’ll love all of these dark thrillers. You’ll be in awe of Ms. Crane’s imagination and ability to create this fascinating, post-apocalyptic Viking world.

Wulf is the sexy, fierce alpha-ruler of the Raiders. He travels alone to his enemy’s, King Athenian’s, stronghold and is taken prisoner. (There’s a method to his madness; we just don’t know what.) He meets the King’s innocent daughter, Princess Kathlyn, when she shows up at his prison cell pretending to be one of the kingdom’s courtesans.

Kathlyn has something to do with Wulf being there, and she’s not a fan of her abusive father and wants to leave the kingdom permanently. Her father discovers that she sought Wulf out and seeks to punish them both. He gives Wulf her virginity (to be brutally taken in a public spectacle), but Wulf has other plans. He doesn’t think he’s the man for Kathlyn and fights hard to not fall for her, but he can’t seem to help himself.

Kathlyn fears what her father’s plans for Wulf. The two lovers are between a rock and a hard place, and the threat of the Viking Raiders arriving to save Wulf hangs over their already complicated relationship.

I don’t want to say more, because you really must just dive into the Edge of Power. I can’t do it justice. If you don’t think you’ll like dystopian romance, I have a feeling Megan Crane can prove you that you'll love it. - Janet Reads Books

I've only recently started reading this series of Megan Crane and have found what I have read is fairly good. There is a combination of historical mixed in with current time frame that makes for a curiously great combination. The world that we know it has come to the end, lives have been destroyed and the ones in charge are necessarily trying to protect the rest of humanity. And then, of course, there are the Raiders. My initial impression was Vikings when I first began the series. Now I know, they are the saviors of humanity! Getting a bit ahead of myself here, let me backtrack a bit.

Princess Kathlyn has been suffering at the hands of her evil father, King Athenian, all her life. His control extends to everything, including who she will give her virginity to. Wulf is king of his clan and he is planning to take the evil king down. Alone he enters King Athenian's castle on the pretense he wants to make peace so that the invasions between them would stop. He puts up a good front and hides his intelligence, but he's in for a big surprise when Kathlyn sneaks into his room and more so when he finds out why.

Wulf is all that and a box of chocolate. Cunning, strong, and so sexy, it's not a big wonder why he's the King of the Raiders. From the very beginning we know he's playing the king but not the real why. Kathlyn is sheltered and abused her whole life. You think she's meek but when the time calls for it, her strong side comes out. The two together are explosive. I'd say he brings out her inner strength but really it was already there, Wulf was just the catalyst, the trigger to bring it out.

If you haven't read any of the previous books in this series, which would be a shame because they were great, have no fear. Author Megan Crane does a great job of explaining this apocalyptic world without boring previous readers. The action is fast-paced, the romance is smoking, a great reintroduction of previous characters, and an ending that will leave you smiling. I can't quite tell of Edge of Power is the last in the series. The story feels complete and yet I can see so much more happening. I'm hoping it's not because I would love to see where the future for this world goes. Besides meeting their mates and the HEAs, I would like to know was the whole reason why Wulf and his Raiders go after the evil king really worth it all. Either way, two thumbs up for this book and Ms. Crane.

reviewed by Jac

Rejoice Wulf fans! In Edge of Power we get his story and an enjoyable and satisfying conclusion to the sexy, futuristic Edge series (at least for now). The self-professed King of the West gets the comeuppance he so richly deserves - ending the overarching four book plot, while Ms. Crane rewards fans with a delightfully dark and forbidding King of the Raiders. Pairing Wulf up with his enemy's daughter, Princess Kathlyn, whom Riordan and Eiryn fortuitously met at the end of Edge of Control, is the cherry on top of this entertaining and addictive dystopian thriller.

The Viking world Ms. Crane envisions in The Edge series is dirty, naughty and sexy. However Edge of Power is not a good jumping off point if you aren’t familiar with the series and its backstory. To understand who and what forces are in play I recommend you read (at least) The Edge of Obsession (book one) first. Provocative, compelling and just plain sexy, The Edge books are all compulsively readable.

Because Edge of Power resolves a plotline unveiled in the first book, this review contains spoilers.

Wulf is great book boyfriend material. An uber-alpha, sexy, smart and confident (not to mention good looking) ruler of the fierce Viking Raiders, Ms. Crane has teased us with glimpses of the enigmatic Raider King throughout the series. I looked forward to his book more than any of the others, and though he is a fascinating principal, he isn't given enough action in Edge of Power. As the story opens, Wulf has survived a stormy and perilous Winter crossing from the Viking territory and arrived alive and alone at King Athenian's stronghold. Through Wulf’s PoV we know the brotherhood has a plan in place to defeat the King, and that Wulf's arrival sets that plot in motion - we just don't know any details or when/if the rest of the brotherhood will make an appearance. Once Wulf arrives, instead of killing him on the spot, Athenian opts to toy with his prisoner/guest. He also lets him keep his blades. Oops.
Once in his cell/guest room, Wulf is surprised by the arrival of one of the kingdom's courtesans. Up for a fuck (always) with his mysterious guest, it takes him but a few moments to recognize that though she's dressed for the part, the courtesan is either new to the trade or terrible at it. When he presses her on her intentions, then kisses and fondles her, she allows it, but it's obvious she's never done this before. Wulf doesn't relent until she confesses who she is - Princess Kathlyn, Athenian's virgin daughter. It's she who betrayed her father by sharing his plan to invade the Raider stronghold to Eiryn and Riordan in Edge of Control.

Kathlyn knows Wulf's arrival is linked to the information she passed to his fellow raiders. She thinks she can handle Wulf, despite the rumors of his fierce and violent nature, because of her own experiences with her sadistic father. But she severely underestimates both Wulf and her physical response to him when he’s close. Wulf’s handsome and intimidating presence is startling, but Kathlyn finds herself drawn against her will to the mysterious Raider King. Wulf tries to make it clear he's no good for her, but it's obvious he's having a hard time convincing himself, let alone Kathlyn. She is overwhelmed by her physical attraction to Wulf, but tries to hide it behind a stoic demeanor.

Kathlyn hates her father, his kingdom and well... pretty much everything about her life. Beaten and bullied by her father since childhood, Kathlyn yearns to escape the confines of the kingdom and is desperate for control of her future - and her virginity, a commodity to be traded by her father. Wulf makes it clear he isn't the answer to her problems or the savior she believes him to be. (Ahem.) So after kissing and bringing her to orgasm with his hands, he sends her away, leaving her confused about her feelings and anxious about returning to her quarters unseen. When she's spotted by one of her father's wives, she panics and tries to control the situation. But as soon as she notices what Kathlyn’s (not) wearing, his vindictive wife doesn’t hesitate to alert the guards. Though Kathlyn somehow manages to keep her visit to Wulf a secret, the damage to her reputation - and with her father - is done.

Kathlyn's appearance before King Athenian on his throne, scantily dressed in a courtesan's clothes, jumpstarts the novel. Wulf tries to help Kathlyn (although he can't seem to help himself - smirky smile) and just as he hoped and planned, King Athenian decides to link their fates together. The King agrees to give her virginity to the savage raider King in order to teach her a lesson - and Edge of Power evolves from a simple revenge story into a slow burn love affair. Despite Kathlyn’s fears, Wulf has no intention of bowing to the wishes of the King and deflowering her in a macabre and painful public spectacle. Fortunately, guards and locked doors fail to keep Wulf contained, and his late night explorations lead him right to her. Raiders love fucking, none of that compliant sex for them, thank you very much, and their king is no different. Wulf, though he fights hard to deny it, falls hard and fast for his feisty princess.

Throughout the novel, Wulf tries hard to keep away from Kathlyn, while Kathlyn knows she's fallen for the raider, but sees no hope for their future. She fully believes her father intends to torture and kill Wulf, and that he'll succeed. We spend a lot of time in the heads of our principals as they work through how they feel about each other, and about King Athenian and his manoeuvrings. But this book (much like its predecessor, Edge of Control) doesn’t have enough of the dirty and naughty sex we expect from The Edge series. There's a tad too much thinking (who knew Wulf was such a broody hero?) and not enough fucking - a trademark of this remarkable series. When the raiders finally arrive and the plot to overthrow King Athenian unfolds, it's been a long (non-violent) stay for Wulf in the kingdom, and the machinations between him and King Athenian began to grow a bit tiresome and one-note.

The ending - in the kingdom and between Wulf and Kathlyn - doesn't unfold at all as I expected and frankly, is a bit anticlimactic, but… it works in the context of the story and Wulf’s mindset. I won’t lie to you, I didn’t love the conclusion. I was left wanting more Wulf, more Vikings and well... more. The good news? Though the King Athenian story arc is resolved, Ms. Crane promises there is more of this entertaining world to come.

I have been waiting for Wulf's book since I started reading this series and now that it's here it is just WOW! I would have never expected Wulf to be this character but then it is becoming of a true king to show the kind of control and restraint he did.

As for Kathlyn, when I met her in the last book I thought to myself, "She's going to get with Wulf. I can just feel it." And she is the perfect match for him as he realises eventually.

And that peek into his past. Unreal! No wonder he took Donovan and Amos down like that. They deserved it. I truly hope this is not the end of this series but I have a feeling it somehow is. And that makes me sad.

This story is basically Mad Max + Vikings + Braveheart plus sexy times. The taut battle between raider king Wulf and mainland princess Kathlyn was every bit as fascinating as the creepy psychological warfare waged between Wulf and Kathlyn's despotic father, King Athenian. I loved almost every minute of this testosterone- and suspense-filled dystopian thriller.

The tender undertones of Wulf's story were an unexpected revelation. Wulf is a warrior, through and through, but despite his bloodlust to take down King Athenian, Wulf's drive to protect Kathlyn is every bit as his fierce will to eliminate the threat against his raider clan. The final battle scene was a thrill ride, made even more fun with the alpha-talking between Wulf and his raider-brothers.

This was a very satisfying end to the series (although it seems as though pierced bandit Indy was being set up as sequel bait). 4.5 stars.

Edge of Power by Megan Crane
The Edge #4

Being king means you put the wellbeing of those you govern first. You do what must be done, even if it means pretending to hide your true strength, knowledge and abilities. And, that is just what Wulf, the Viking raider king, does to help win a huge battle for his clan and many others. Little did he know when he entered King Athenian’s stronghold that he would meet Kathlyn, Athenian’s daughter, and that the time he spends with her will change his life. Wulf is magnetic, charismatic, strong and lethal – he can also be tender and loving which I think surprised him a bit. Kathlyn, though a princess, has been abused, suffered and been fed doctrine that has made her compliant to customs that demean women – she is getting fed up but is not sure how to change things.

This novel explains more of the beliefs, customs and activities of the world’s survivors. It tells of a wicked depraved king who puts himself and his desires before those of his people. It tells of the strength of a woman in the face of adversity and almost certain death. It shows what can happen if a group works for the good of more than just themselves. And, it provides an introduction for more books to be written in the series that may see raiders going out to explore the rest of the earth and perhaps link their clan with other surviving groups of humans. It is a bit more vanilla than previous books in this series but just as well written and perfect for the two people in the story. I can hardly wait to read book five in this series!

I love this series and applaud the author for the complete detailed world she has created for her characters to live in. Each book has been wonderful in its own way and this one, though a bit tamer in some ways, was just as entertaining as the previous ones.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. This is my honest review.

4.5 Stars

Full Disclosure: I hadn’t read any of the other books in this series. However, when I saw it was a Viking romance set in a futuristic world? Sign me up! The beginning was rough for me, but by the middle, I was addicted. It was--and wasn’t--what I was expecting.

The world has changed. After a series of storms and floods, the Earth isn't what it used to be. Only certain parts of the U.S. are still known as habitable. Some parts are blocked away by kings and others by groups of raider Vikings. Wulf is part of the latter. But their worlds collide as Wulf goes on a reconnaissance mission in the middle of the Western Mainland with it’s horrible King Athenian. Get in, get out. That’s it.

Only Wulf doesn't expect a different type of distraction.

Princess Kathlyn hears talk of the Raider King in their midst, and she decides to take her virginity into her own hands. She'll deliver it to the Viking and curse her father all at once. She doesn’t expect Wulf's potent masculinity or his bold fingers and devilish tongue. With time running out, both need to decide if their newfound and unwanted feelings are worth the risk.

The setting caught my attention first. The Earth is in disarray and there are those like King Athenian hoarding light and ruling people with an iron fist, and those like the Vikings who are said to be barbarians, but wish to expand their knowledge of the outside world. I loved gaining insight into the politics and intrigue.

Wulf, the Raider King, is without a doubt an alpha. Everything he does--from the way he walks into a room or meets someone’s eye--proclaims it. He’s gruff and in-your-face and so cocky. Granted, it’s earned! But that leads me to the filthy-mouthed raider portion of my review. I actually didn’t like Wulf at the beginning. He was overly arrogant, and he has a habit of using curse words as adjectives every other sentence. It became more gratuitous than anything. It pulled me out of the story.

In the same vein, the sex scenes are scorching hot but dirty, raw and explicit. I like my stories dirty so I was game, but I could see others not liking the language used.

Now, onto Kathlyn. I liked her. She doesn’t have the same experience growing up. As a princess in the King’s Mainland, her job is to get bids on her virginity and save her innocence. Say, what? Yes, her father is a total douchenozzle. Kathlyn, however, is going to change her future in any way she can. That’s how she ends up against a wall in Wulf's cell realizing the pleasure in something Kathlyn had thought brought only pain.

Kathlyn's world is separatist. It's almost like the people are brainwashed into believing in their fates. I just adored how Kathlyn fights against it. Because despite how soft and sweet Kathlyn is, she also has a core of steel. I can't imagine a better match for Wulf.

These two together were simply dynamite. Kathlyn softens Wulf while he gives her a little of his bravado and badassery. The character development took my breath away, and I was rooting for them something fierce.

Now, the opening starts off pretty slow. There are many internal monologs that I had to slog through, but once the story starts picking up speed, it doesn’t let you go to the very end. I had so many emotions--good and bad--and it made the reading experience so unique and heart-wrenching and satisfying, all at once. I gave this read a solid 4 stars because of it.

Edge of Power is a dark romance and those who read it should be aware of that. But it's also a very raw and gritty story. It's crass and bold and beautiful all at once. An epic journey that will stay with you long after the last page.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The world is not as it was. Waters have risen, changing the coastlines and borders. No one really knows how much of the U.S. there actually is anymore. Seasons have a new meaning, in some places Winter lasts for 6 months.

Wulf is the King of the raider brotherhood. He is ruthless and doesn't lose. He is loyal to his brothers as they are to him, every brother earns their place. Wulf's next target is a King of another area as he and his clan have information this King has a power plant that could help the rest of the country. This King, Athenian, is a cruel man, his power is making all fear him and death comes easily to those he wants it too.

Wulf ventures on with the intention of "negotiating" peace. His clan will be following him, getting there in 20 days. In the meantime, Wulf needs to find out how to access this plant and gather military info to help he and his team.

He didn't plan on meeting Kathlyn though...

Can Wulf survive until his team comes? Can he gather the information he needs? Will he and Kathlyn make it?

I have to say that I loved this book! I have read several stories by this author and she did not disappoint me.

If I met Wulf in real life, he would probably scare the he** out of me. He is truly the definition of a warrior to me. He is rough and tough, no softness about him. He has no fear but he is a very smart man and knows how to play the game when it comes to dealing with King Athenian.

Kathlyn, daughter to Athenian, knows she has just been a pawn for her father he whole life. He has no problem physically and mentally abusing her and she knows he will one day kill her as he did her mother. Women have no importance in this society besides maybe gaining a man some importance or her ability to have children. Many have been known to just disappear.

Kathlyn brings out another part of Wulf. She is not as meek and mild as she looks, she is actually a very strong woman. The people love her also, the common folk, not the ones vying for power with her father. Wulf finds himself wanting to protect her and keep her safe, a feeling he has never experienced before. He just doesn't know if his "princess" can live like a raider.

There is so much to say but I don't want to give any spoilers. I do want to say that the "mounting" ceremony was disgusting! It was a fact of life for women though and they didn't know any better.

I strongly recommend this book!