Title: Renegade Refuge (Bringing Home the Chaos: Book 1)

Author: Krys D. W. Wylie

Genre: Paranormal Romance

 

Jocelyn “Jo” Adams is on the run from her employer, the Advocates for Witch Integration (AWI), after discovering that instead of helping witches, they are kidnapping and imprisoning those with the highest categories of supernatural ability.

However, a mystery involving her parents forces fugitive Jo to return to her hometown where she realizes she needs to make amends and check in with the local Coven. Its powerful leader, Beckett Dixon, despises Jo, but when she proves herself, he grudgingly asks for help…

Wylie’s first installment in his Bringing Home the Chaos series is a bold, well-crafted novel that lends the impression of not taking itself too seriously and gives the reader exactly what it promises.

This owes much to the main protagonist, Jo, who is a strong, individual character full of manipulative intelligence who specializes in snappy comebacks and a hefty dose of self-deprecating humor.

Renegade Refuge is written, in the main, from Jo’s first-person perspective, although the reader is given a few chapters from Beckett’s point of view. Jo’s playful but focused tone drives the narrative, yet underneath the snarky sauciness, there is an emotionally damaged witch with as many secrets as whip-smart one-liners.

One of these is that her supernatural abilities are far higher than her “Category Four” rating would suggest. Wylie’s creation of the witchcraft lore with its specialized powers, rules, and categories is clever, imaginative, and, overall, credible within context.

He is careful not to overshadow or dominate his characters by their magical abilities. Their powers might be enviable and they propel the story but their personalities and problems remain relatable.

Nonetheless, Jo can be self-centered and foolish, which can become fatiguing, in places. Although referencing film quotes is integral to her, it often jars and disrupts crucial moments.

Initially, the plot is concerned with Jo’s perilous flight from AWI, a company that has a sinister side and one that will stop at nothing to find her.

However, Chapter four sidelines this by introducing a twist involving Jo’s parents which exposes her vulnerability and provides intrigue. This also takes a back seat as Jo’s entanglements with Beckett and his Coven adopt center stage.

Wylie’s plotting is skillful, leaving the two main storylines to run concurrently under the surface with a few, tantalizing disclosures to maintain curiosity while foregrounding Coven events and the dynamic between Jo and Beckett.

Beckett is an enigmatic character who begins to reveal facets of his personality toward the end. Although he and Jo work together for several chapters, the narrative sometimes seems only half-invested in its romantic possibilities, their chemistry flickers but remains a little uneventful.

It’s possibly understandable. They supposedly loathe one another and are attempting to track a high-category witch, who has absconded the Coven.

Additionally, Jo’s enduring platonic bond with Beckett’s brother, Ryan, causes issues. Wylie has created a fascinating relationship triangle with the three which pivots interestingly.

The lesser characters are as developed as they need to be. Wylie lays the groundwork for the next installments while ensuring this book and its cast hold reader attention. The fight scenes are entertaining, choreographed with energy, and a smattering of dark comedy.

Indeed, Wylie has his main players hurtle breathtakingly from one mini-crisis to another, often encountering an assortment of random characters and arbitrary events that the reader suspects will be revisited. The curious situation with Jo’s intriguing neighbor, Alejandro, is a prime example.

Wylie has written a fun, exhilarating, and enjoyable opener to his paranormal series.  Renegade Refuge boasts a deceptively layered plot packed with thrilling magical action and driven by an engaging protagonist.

 

 

This Editorial Review was written by the Book Review Directory staff. To receive a similarly honest, professional review for one of your own books, click here.