(Dis)content by Melissa Haag

Blurb:
I hate. I thought I hated before the letter, before the werewolves, but now I understand that was nothing more than a chip on my shoulder. The urbat took what was mine. And, they will pay.

Isabelle leads a very normal life…for an emotional syphon. If not for Ethan and his bar, she would have lost her sanity long ago. But everything changes with the crash of her fighting cage and a man who transforms into a wolf. There’s something about Carlos—when he’s not growling at her—that makes her do things she wouldn’t normally do, like sigh and daydream.

Attraction aside, she is faced the very real evidence that werewolves and urbat exist, and the urbat are after her. And the only way she can keep Ethan safe is to join with the werewolves and Carlos. It’s a race against time to stop a war, fight for love, and find the last Judgement.

    

My Review:
4 stars — Well I can tell you one thing right off the bat: this was the most emotional book of the 5 so far.  I bawled like a frickin baby in the middle of the book (and consequently rode my ass off on the exercise bike b/c I tend to bike faster when I’m in an emotional upheaval).  I hope my neighbours don’t think I’ve lost it.  So yeah, this book really got to my feels.  It’s weird b/c Isabelle was kind of a tough cookie to crack…she’s so angry and worked up all the time.  But maybe b/c we feel all her emotions, and feel the effects of everyone else’s emotions on her, it just ended up being very raw in places.

These poor girls really do go through trauma too…both at the hands of their powers, and at the hands of the Urbat.  But it was nice to have a kickass heroine this time who could really take care of herself at least physically.  She was kind of crazy powerful in that sense.

I LOVED the interplay between Ethan and Isabelle.  I loved how Ethan pushed her and knew what she needed and did everything he could to get it for her.  I loved the way they bantered too.  He brought some great moments of levity, almost as good as Jim.  Loved the little glimpses of Jim we got too.  I wonder if he’ll be for Olivia (the 6th Judgement).  The bar scene was really amusing.

Now Carlos…hmmm….  OK, here’s the problem.  I think that at this point Ms. Haag had already decided to write the full companion series (I’d have to look at the dates, maybe one was already even released at the point this book came out), and so this book kind of suffered from a total dearth of insight into Carlos.  I mean, yeah, I know it’s from Isabelle’s POV, but I still should have gotten a feel for Carlos a bit more than I felt like I did.  It was another one of those times where I felt like the pull was where most of the attraction came…but you know what, that wasn’t completely it.  I think I just sometimes have a hard time with these mystical pairings, b/c a part of me wants more.  But he was super kind and caring of Isabelle, very attentive, challenging, always there for her.  I just didn’t quite follow the romance train all the way to the station.  I end up liking these books a lot for their plot and action and world building, but I feel like they’re not my faves as far as the romance goes.  But that’s a totally personal thing.

Anyways, I was supposed to be talking about Carlos.  I think the problem is that I’m super intrigued about what happened in his past.  LIKE SUPER INTRIGUED.  And so I was disappointed to learn basically zero about him.  Like, doesn’t Isabelle want to know what’s behind some of his words and actions and why he seems to understand pain and how he keeps himself closed off, and why he’s different for her?  Because I do!!  And I know I’ll get that in the companion book…or at least I better get that in the companion book.  But if the companion book follows the exact same timeline, then I’m left wondering when *Isabelle* will find all this out.  Because after Carlos’s book, that’s it for them.  There won’t be more from their POV, so what then for the development of their relationship?  It’s like we end up seeing the beginning of their relationship, but I want more development…and that development for *ALL* the couples seems to happen in other people’s books, so kind of behind the scenes.  It’s a little dissatisfying.

Also, I still don’t get the chasing thing.  Like, I sort of get it, but I don’t completely get it.  But I might just be dense.

So yeah.  I loved the movement of the plot, the action, the emotional upheaval, and I honestly can’t figure out how they’re going to finish with only one book left, but I have faith in Ms. Haag.  However, the romance leaves me a little bit underwhelmed in this series as a whole.  I think Melissa and Emmitt were my favourite because I felt more of that with them.  I am a romantic at heart.  It’s going to be hard waiting for all the other companion novels to be finished and released before getting to find out what happens next.  But I will be here, impatiently waiting.  😛