Readalongs

A Curse of Blood and Wolves Readalong: Day 1!

Shannon

Gorgeous photo by @betterwithabookinmyhand!

Hi fairy friends!

Happy Monday, I hope you all have a good day! Welcome to day 1 of the May Romantasy readalong of A Curse of Blood and Wolves by Melissa McTernan. I’m so excited to be reading this with you all!

Before we start, how are you all doing? I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and are ready to dive into this new fantasy world with me!

Since today is day 1, we’ll be reading from the beginning to the end of chapter 9.

When you’ve finished today’s section, catch up with me in the comments down below so we can discuss the beginning of the book. Happy reading!


Please be warned, the following section will include spoilers for A Curse of Blood and Wolves by Melissa McTernan from the beginning to the end of Chapter 9. Please only read on if you have finished reading this section!

Ruby’s walking alone in the woods – never smart – and knows she’s being followed – even less smart. It almost seems like she enjoys the fact she’s being followed? Can’t relate I’d be running through those trees like I’ve never ran before!

Her stalker (is it too soon to call him that?) is called Rafe. He’s a lonely soul and wonders if he’s following her just because he wants companionship. Get a penpal, Rafe! Don’t follow girls through the forest!!

He seems kinda infatuated with her. He thinks she’s beautiful but also talks of his kind. Wolf boy! 🐺

Despite the fact he’s, well, following her through the woods in the dark, Ruby doesn’t feel like she’s in danger. He keeps his distance and she makes it home to her sister, Lena, in the comfort that this follower wouldn’t harm her. I mean… lowkey unsettling!

Lena’s not well. Ruby finds her in a trance like state and it’s not the first time she’s been found like this. All she says is that “they’re coming”. We love a vague, intriguing vision. 😅

Ruby works in a bar, and when she leaves her shift, Rafe is waiting for her in the woods again. She knows she should take the longer, safer walk home but never does. Girly, I hope you at least have some combat training!

Rafe seems to have this uncontrollable urge to protect Ruby and make sure she’s safe. She fully calls him out for it though. She seems angry and upset and FINALLY tells him to cut it out and stop following her. Do we think he can though? 👀 Cause he seems drawn to her!

Even though she’s really mad, she’s kinda intrigued by him. I mean, he does sound hot but… is it giving Stockholm syndrome a lil bit?

The fact Ruby has a cat called Lucifer instantly just bumped her up the rankings as a great character. As a cat person myself, approve! 😎

Three days go by with no sign of Rafe… but she’s not in the woods alone. She finds a wolf. OH I WONDER WHO THIS COULD BE??? I’m sure it’s totally coincidental that a wolf appears in the woods when Rafe, can in fact, shift.

A second wolf appears though, and seems to target Ruby? Not gonna lie, Ruby IS quite lucky Rafe didn’t stop following her when he said he would. What would she have done?!

He gets hurt in the fight but does his duty and protects his gal! To pay the wolf back for protecting her, she takes him home. Oh boy, is she gonna have a shock in the morning!

Lena’s gone to grab coffee for them. Ruby has a lot of questions, as you naturally would if you went to sleep with a wolf in your living room and woke up to a man. She’s angry he ignored her buuuuuut… it did work out for the best that he was there! “With you, everything is different” Oh Rafe is in LOVE. So soon!

They’re interrupted by an old friend of Ruby’s calling to say Lena’s had an episode and he’s bringing her home. Oh dear…

Ruby loops Rafe in on Lena’s condition and he seems confident they’re visions. It all seems a bit suspicious. This paired with a rogue wolf? Something’s not sitting right!

Rafe decides he’s going to stick around for a bit to protect them. Ruby doesn’t seem scared by the fact he’s a wolf, more so just curious? She quizzes him about his wolfy abilities and I’m finding it so interesting to hear how wolves operate in this world!

He walks her to and from work, no longer needing to follow her. Turns out he even knows Ruby’s manager! He’s not been in town for a while but he’s a wordworker and made all of the tables in the bar. Cute!

On the way home, he even carries her bag. I’m swooning a little!

She lets him sleep inside, but has a lil confession to make… she’s told Lena they’re sleeping together. We’ve got a little forced proximity coming our way! Rafe can’t sleep in the living room, it’d look too strange, so he has to sleep in Ruby’s room. In his wolf form, he sleeps on Ruby’s bed and something about that is oddly cute!


What a way to start! I’m loving the vibes of this one so far. 😍

What do you think of Ruby and Rafe?
Any theories so far on what’s happening to Lena or who that wolf was?
Would you invite a stalker wolf into your home? I’m curious! 😂

Can’t wait to read more with you tomorrow, fairies!

Love,
Shannon

Conversation

10 Comments

Comment

  • dnjreads

    What do you think of Ruby and Rafe?
    I like that Ruby is a strong female character so far and seems to not want help from others. Obviously she needs the help and has realized that and will accept it now. Rafe seems troubled by his past so I’m interested to see what happened there.

    Any theories so far on what’s happening to Lena or who that wolf was??
    I feel like maybe she’s having visions of something since she keeps saying they are coming. Maybe Rafes pack is coming back?

    Would you invite a stalker wolf into your home? I’m curious!
    I think I might if I was in the same situation. Rafe seems to be a good guy so far even though he can’t seem to leave her alone.

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  • Julia White

    What a great start! My biggest question right now is what does Ruby’s cat Lucifer think of Rafe?

    What do you think of Ruby and Rafe?
    I think so far I’m intrigued! They both seem to have tortured pasts, and we know a bit more about Ruby than Rafe. I already know that’s going to keep them apart for a bit, we love a broody tortured MMC!

    Any theories so far on what’s happening to Lena or who that wolf was?
    She mentioned the same happening to her aunt so I’m with Rafe on the visions theory! I wonder if the white wolf is related to her aunt? I hope so, just so we can learn more about her. But, if it is hereditary, why didn’t she mention it to the girls? Why keep it a secret? I have so many questions! I do think the attack is related to Lena rather than Rafe at this point though.

    Would you invite a stalker wolf into your home? I’m curious! 😂
    Absolutely not! I wonder how my dogs would react to a wolf boy though 🤔

    1
  • Amelia Yates

    I am loving so far and how quickly the plot is moving. Have some theories on the other wolf.

    1
  • lulu.james2712

    I’m. Loving it so far got hooked straight away I think it was a little fast getting into the sexual Tension vibes bit then that’s a romantasy I like safe but a little bit stalkers obsessive and Ruby maybe a little too trusting don’t know if I would be as happy about a creepy man I the woods even if he was good looking 🤣 he would be sleeping on the doorstep

  • Tasha

    What do you think of Ruby and Rafe? – I like them both so far. Ruby seems sweet but strong caring for her sister and being seen as an outsider in her small town. Rafe seems like a gentle giant type of character who is very protective – could we have some sort of soulmate plot brewing?

    Any theories so far on what’s happening to Lena or who that wolf was? – I think Lena is having visions of the future and the aunt had the same ability but to why she never told Lena or Ruby I’m not sure. I think the wolf and his pack is connected to the visions – could he be the punter from bar?

    Would you invite a stalker wolf into your home? I’m curious! 😂 – if he was good looking 👀 maybe 😂 Somehow stalker wolf seems much better than plain old stalker 😅 Rafe seems like a good guy I don’t think he’d hurt ruby intentionally.

  • Ashley Arias

    What do you think of Ruby and Rafe?
    They hit it off pretty quickly, she invited him to stay with her with little to no hesitation.

    Any theories so far on what’s happening to Lena or who that wolf was?
    I think Lena may be a witch or some sort of pyschic, maybe they would have learned more if their parents didn’t pass.

    Would you invite a stalker wolf into your home?
    Possibly 👀🤪. If the vibes were right and he was cute enough 😂

  • ladymeg

    Ugh this site is STILL doing that thing where it thinks the comment box is a password box and keeps trying to autofill it. So annoying.

    1) I’m not a big fan of werewolves but Ruby and Rafe are pretty cute, when they’re not just in insta-lust.

    2) I’m guessing whatever is up with Lena runs in the family. I wonder if there’s something about Ruby that attracts wolves in general rather than Rafe specifically?

    3) Me two questions ago: I’m not a big fan of werewolves. Me now: …maybe? 👀

  • Lisa Spanu (@lisashelves)

    1. What do you think of Ruby and Rafe?
    I really like them! Also find it really interesting how they gravitate towards each other!!

    2. Any theories so far on what’s happening to Lena or who that wolf was?
    I think Lena is a witch/psychic like their aunt. Must be something in their bloodline that might’ve skipped Ruby, but manifested in Lena.

    3. Would you invite a stalker wolf into your home? I’m curious! 😂
    Yeah no chance in hell hahaha

  • Erica @living.in.the.pages

    So far I am intrigued. Seems like alot has happened in the first 9 chapters but I am liking Rafe & Rubys characters so far. I think Ruby is magical and her magic or whatever is like a beacon to others. I think Lena is having visions of other werewolves coming for Ruby. Cant wait to keep reading!

  • ASHLEY KALATUSHA

    What do you think of Ruby and Rafe?
    I want to know about Rafes backstory. He said he is alone and has been for a while but I want to know why.

    Any theories so far on what’s happening to Lena or who that wolf was?
    I know this is a little red riding hood retelling. Part of me wonders if Rafe isn’t the big bad wolf and that whomever that is what Lena is seeing in her visions.

    Would you invite a stalker wolf into your home? I’m curious! 😂
    You know I love me a good stalker romance but I would leave it in the books. Real life isn’t as romantic as fiction especially concerning stalkers.

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