4 stars. I d this one, but still had some issues with the story.

First, I really felt the heroine was being pretty stupid in the beginning when she decided to just go to war and follow the hero into danger because she felt a connection to him. It was so sooooo dumb, she left her friends and family on a whim and never even told anyone. What’s worse is that the hero was a monk, so she had no reasonable expectation of him being interested in her, besides her feelings of attraction towards him. Only in a romance book does this work out favorably towards a dumb heroine this one.

Second, I thought the angst between the hero and heroine was pretty minimal. I just expected some really angsty scenes with their forbidden desire and them hiding their sexual relationship until someone discovered them. But none of that happened… it was all pretty tame and the most they did was kiss before he asked to be released from his monk-life.

I really d the storyline progression though, and the rest of this book was really enjoyable.

Safe; hero celibate while he was a monk, heroine not a virgin, no scenes with OM/OW, no cheating.

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full review0-safe-for-me 1-rating-4-stars 2-paranormal-fantasy ...more12 s Sarah3,343 1,237

Callum left his home fifteen years ago to join the Order of Saint Casimir as a priest and he never looked back. He certainly didn't expect to have to come back years later and take control as the hold leader in the middle of a war. The Gols are closing in and battle is looming, supplies are running low and Callum is totally out of practice when it comes to dealing with so many people. Joss is Callum's total opposite, cheerful and empathic to his cold and stoic, she knows exactly how to keep people's spirits up even in the most dire situations. She has admired Callum from afar and wants nothing more than to get to know him better but his plans to return to the priesthood are a huge barrier between them. Joss is exactly what Callum needs though and she might be the only person who can help him get through the challenges that lie ahead.

I've been a fan of Ann Aguirre's Ars Numina series since the beginning but The War Priest was definitely my favourite book so far. I absolutely loved the romance between Joss and Callum. She's such a sweet and warmhearted character while he comes across as really dour and grumpy so at first glance you wouldn't think they fit well together. You'd be totally wrong on that though because Joss is absolutely everything that Callum needs, he locked his heart away after a tragedy and has been in a kind of frozen stasis ever since but Joss's sunshine personality burns through that ice and lets her through to the warm and loving man hidden deep inside.

I loved that their relationship develops slowly, the attraction is there from the beginning but it takes time for them to build a friendship and grow trust before Callum realises that Joss is the most important thing in his life, even more so than the vows he took. Even then his vows to the Order of Saint Casimir are taken seriously, Callum respects the order and he doesn't just walk away because he has feelings for Joss. He talks about it with his brothers and requests permission to leave from the head of the order. These two are ridiculously adorable together and I was so happy with the way things turned out for them.

That isn't to say this story is all easy though. They are in the middle of a war and facing danger on all sides so there is plenty of action happening here. It was nice to see some of the previous characters make cameo appearances and there was a lot of great progress made between the different factions who are all fighting against the Gols. I'm already looking forward to the next book and can't wait to see how this series ends.books-i-own-kindle favorites for-review-read ...more8 s Elizabeth2,562 195

I really enjoy this series, but I hate this couple! I hate the set up of a forbidden romance and sneaking around. It just felt super icky to me. Having the guy be a monk with vows that he’s breaking to be with her just felt gross.

It’s one thing if he realizes he needs out and makes a clean break before pursuing her. But somehow the way it happened made it feel a couple dating while one of them is still married.

I just couldn’t enjoy their relationship. I had to speed through the last third of the book so I could get the deets on the overarching storyline for this series but I was not interested in them as a couple.

Also, this had too much of the “he’s only sweet to me” sort of crap. If a dude is only nice to you, but an asshole to everyone else… he’s an asshole and I don’t trust that he won’t turn on you in the future.

I also hated the way he yanked her chain in the beginning with “I can’t have you but I won’t let anyone else have you”. And “don’t let anyone know about us”. I hate hiding and sneaking.

This was lust at first sight passing off as a great and powerful love. Puke. Nope. Not for me.fantasy fantasy-romance romance ...more4 s Hisgirl851,872 50

High 4 stars. The pairing in this was grumpy one and sunshine one. I loved both Callem and Joss (though I called her kit or sunny in my head). There was a pure lightness and joy in the writing here, while doing to set-up for the penultimate novel. For a series arc, this book makes sense why it didn't feel as intense in the primary story as it did in the overarching one. After the strong near deaths in both book 3 and book 4, this felt laced with hope and joy. It could have been that the heroine was so sunny, but I think it was the whole tone of the book. There were a few references I picked up... Holly Black's "utterly undone" and you complete me, with some others I noticed while reading. Plus current language "on brand" seemed to pop up a bit more. There was just something that didn't pull me in as deeply, but I still read the book within 24 hours and recommend it. This may be my least favorite so far in the series, but it is the most sunny.kindle paranormal-romance3 s Kelly5,138 198

Grumbly, grouchy bear-shifters are SO FUN. Sure, they're a little rough around the edges and often have no idea how to approach people and sometimes cause problems just because they have resting scowl face, but BOY do I watching them stumble through interpersonal relationships.

Who does the grumbly, grouchy bear shifter get paired up with? The cheeriest shifter EVER. Callum's a brooding thundercloud and Joss is his ray of sunshine and it's PERFECT. To be fair, though, Callum isn't all doom and gloom. He's more concerned and out of his element than anything. Plus, he has that whole scowling thing going for him and he REALLY doesn't know how to talk to people. On the other hand, Joss isn't nearly the cheerful butterfly people think she is. She has issues. She just buries them under a smile and a relentlessly perky personality and nobody looks deep enough to see how much she's hurting.

Until Callum, that is. He sees her just as clearly as she sees him. He's just...torn. Between who he was and who he could be if he chose to let go of the past. Joss sees that, too. So she does her level best to be the friend he needs when he needs it. That works to an extent, but the more time these two spend together, the harder they find it to stay away from one another. (And, MAN, do these two spark off one another.)

On the non-relationshippy front, the war has come to the bears, the Gols are led by a man no one wants to fall to, and the failing of the protocols means there's no guarantee any of the others will come if they need them. That said, several loose ends from previous books were tied up here. We got some answers and we got to see a few familiar faces. The war isn't over, but things are starting to look up for those who stand against tyrannical oppression. *rubs hands together* Let's see how it all turns out.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
ebooks paranormal-romance read-in-20202 s Melindeeloo3,167 160

Forbidden romance amidst the battle in the background were good if I don't think too much about how obsessive the leads are in their relationships - she starts out a bit stalkery and he falls beyond hard when he's in love. If they were real people I'd be worried but since it's a story the intensity of the shifter mate bound is works well and ultimately the leading lady brings a lot to the table as her cheer and caring for people offset his brusque grumpines. x2020-audio2 s Carol (bookish_notes)1,466 114

This review is also posted on my blog.

This was...fine. For the penultimate book in the series, I guess I kind of just expected more? At least from the warfront. This is a war that's been building up all these books again Tycho Vega and his Golgoth soldiers, and this seemed a bit tamer than I would have expected. Can't say that either MCs are any sort of experts at fighting the characters in previous books, so this book was a lot sweeter than I imagined I would be getting.

Joss is a cat shifter and the sister of Pru, who had her own book from the start, The Leopard King. Joss already has a crush on bear shifter Callum before this book began. When she sees an opportunity to contribute to the war effort by offering comfort and cheer through her voice and her songs, she travels with the bears to their home in Burnt Amber.

Callum is attracted to Joss, but can't, or won't, admit that to anyone, even himself. He's a monk who left the Order to take the place as head of the bears when his uncle passed away and put Callum next in line. Callum denies his attraction to Joss, and Joss is respectful and only wishes to be friends with Callum despite everything she feels for him. She understands the Callum has his vows and would never want to make him break them. So, from the start there's just not really as much tension between Callum and Joss and maybe just a lot of them keeping a respectful distance from each other with lots of pining.

Trigger warnings contains death, violence, and mentions of suicide.

There is a big religious aspect of this book with Callum being a monk and trying to decide whether or not to forsake his vows. I'm going to be completely honest here, I don't really reading the priest-type romance stories, so I was sort of hesitant about the story already when I started this one. It's just not my thing.

However, this book is absolutely the grumpy one/sunshine trope. Callum is a big guy, kind of brooding, and not exactly in love with being the guy in charge. Joss puts on a very cherry front and probably contains more optimism than someone sounds they could be capable of after so much has happened in the wars. Both from Callum and Joss's personalities makes me think that this book was more...cheerful in the sense that the story is focused more on them than on the war effort?

Yes, there are battles in this book against the Golgoth, and yes, many, many characters do die. But we don't really know any of those characters, and so it's hard for me to feel a connection to what's happening to them. I think one death I was kind of upset about because he was so charming and did have a few lines in the book, but then his death was treated an afterthought of 'oh yeah, so-and-so is dead too' after the return to Burnt Amber. Unfortunately, it's just not interesting to read about a siege when the characters are the one stuck behind the walls and I think that's kind of the reason why this didn't quite feel as intense as the previous books in this series for me.

I'm also not sure what the point was for Joss to spy on Golgoth soldiers who were considering to leave but got caught up on the wrong side of the war. Her eavesdropping saved some lives, but I have questions about the army. Will the fact that most of them are fighting only out of fear for Tycho be the turning point in bringing him down in book six? Seems an interesting plot point that kind of got dropped.

Also, at the end when one of the characters mentioned that a coup could happen when they're all gathered in one place? I'm almost disappointed nothing happened and there wasn't really a cliffhanger that leads into the final book in the series. Obviously, I'm going to read the final book because it must be when we finally find out what's happened to Slay - someone who has disappeared since the first book in the series. I want to know his story. It's been too long.

So, something I love about this book and others in this series is when there's explicit consent during sex scenes. Callum and Joss are no different and I love that they check in with one another to make sure they still want to continue.

Another thing I love is the series recap at the beginning of the book. I unfortunately just haven't had the time to go back and re-read each book in the series right before the new one comes out so it's nice to get that section that reminds you what happened before each book starts. This book is not a standalone, and should be read in series order.

Besides finding out what Slay has been up to this entire time, is the war over? Or will there be an epic fighting to take down Tycho? I mean, I hope so. But I'm also that person who loves good action scenes maybe more than a long and involved romance storyline even for romance books (it's a probably for me when I read mystery and sports romances and just want more detective work and sports play time) so that's definitely a ME problem. We'll see. It's Slay. I'll be interested in seeing who his mate winds up being and seeing what happens when he meets Dom and Pru again.

***Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review***3-stars read-in-20202 s BJ3,093 57

Fabulous story, with such a grouchy H, and low key h. He's out of his depth, decides he'll give his best to save his people and he's willing to die for them. He won't allow himself the luxury of feelings for the h, but unknowingly he can't help showing her how much he cares. She is a great heroine, practical, brave and so in love with him. She has such integrity and never compromises his commitment to his order or his people. I loved this honourable couple and can't wait until the final book, so I'll read them all again.loved-it2 s Timitra1,419 8

The War Priest was great. I think it's my favourite of the series. It's action packed, a bit gory, forbidden and sexy. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the hero and heroine, Callum and Joss and their journey. They are the opposite of each other yet fit so well together. They're the perfect complement to the other. I loved it and can't wait to read the final book in the series.



Copy provided by author3 s Soo2,773 333

Notes:

#7 on Listen to Audible Escape/Romance Before It Poofsaudiobook2 s Margo CollinsAuthor 275 books1,095

My favorite bear shifter

I keep thinking that the Ars Numina series can’t get any better. And yet with every book, it does. And Joss and Callum are the best cat and bear couple ever! 2 s Adrienne152 23

I am a bit mad at myself for reading this so fast because I KNEW there's currently no release date for book 6 and that would upset me. And yet, here we are.

Overall I really enjoyed it. The gruff bear who is simply lonely and misunderstood is candy for me. And anyone who knows me knows that I love candy.

A few minor complaints:

The first real sex scene doesn't happen until damn near 70% of the way into the book. If you ask me, this is criminal! The series started out with Pru and Dom getting it on almost immediately (albeit, it was sad, broken people sex, but it quickly got less tragic!), and it feels they just keep getting later and later in the books with each installment. At this rate, I'm concerned there won't be any at all in The Jaguar Knight.

Then there's the drug subplot. Honestly, this just felt sloppy. The scenes that revealed the culprit and how the transgression was handled seemed rushed, as if we were only getting a resolution here because loose ends needed tying up, not because it actually mattered. Characters literally say, "we will deal with this, but we have more important issues at hand right now." Which, to be fair, was true! This really only distracted from the main plot. I think I'd almost rather it was never resolved or left with the implication it would be something Callum would handle after the book, off-page, than what we got. The real answer left just as many plot holes and questions for me.

Other that, it was fun! Joss was a bit petulant at times, snapping at people when it wasn't really called for, but otherwise I enjoyed the contrast between her worries that she was little more than a pretty bauble without skills with what she was able to actually contribute to the clan. And Callum! Oh, I adore him. The action was good; I that things are still exciting, but we can tell the overarching conflict is coming to an end, and when the sex (finally) came, it was fun and satisfying. Definitely happy with this one.brain-candy owned-ebook-kindle sl-teamsword ...more2 s Sunny1,440

I recently spoke to a friend of mine who told me that she does not read PNR because she had no patience for the details of world-building and hated complicated, unpronounceable names. Sometimes it is true, but good PNR stories are worth the investment.

Ann Aguirre creates a complicated world with a large cast of characters in this Ars Numina series. Luckily, she also provides a little primer at the beginning of the book to remind us of the previous story lines. Yes, the context is a little complex, but it is a nod to the author's storytelling abilities that the narrative draws the reader right in and keeps the pages turning.

It's all about the bears. I love a good bear story. Bears are quickly becoming my favorite form of shifter. Bears are strong, fierce, and protective. They are also cuddly and playful. Having said that, when are first introduced to our hero, Callum McRae, he is more austere, having spend the last few years in a religious order. He is a reluctant leader who, lacking some of the usual social skills, struggles to relate to his clan members. Joss, the songbird of the Ash Valley felines, is the perfect match for the stoic bear. Her light offsets his dark, but their pairing epitomizes a strong partnership needed to lead the Burnt Amber bears. a-pnr-uf-fantasy1 Margaret899 18

Review originally published at Goldilox and the Three Weres and based on a copy provided by the author.

One of my favorite things about the Ars Numina series is the way Ann Aguirre shows a different part of its fascinating world in each book. In The War Priest, we see the bear shifter stronghold for the first time, as well as a closer look at the monks who have fought beside the shifters throughout the series. Callum, the hero, is torn between those two worlds, having joined the Order years ago but inheriting leadership of the bears upon his uncle's death earlier in the series.

The heroine Joss grew up in the cat shifter compound where book one is set, and is the cousin of its heroine Pru. She's impulsive and optimistic and the exact opposite of stoic Callum, at least on the surface. Their relationship is sort of a slow burn, in that it takes them a while to overcome the obstacles, though the attraction is there early on. Once they're together, the way they compliment each other is so satisfying.

The War Priest made for interesting pandemic reading as Joss ponders her role as an entertainer vs. those fighting on the front lines. At the same time Callum struggles with his commitment to the Order vs. his obligation to his people and his desire to be with Joss. I think both of their journeys become even more relatable than the author originally intended in the current context.

This story feels much more connected to the series plot than the previous book, The Shadow Warrior, which was kind of a side quest. I was also surprised by how happy and sunshine-y the ending of the book felt. But I realize now that I said the same thing at the end of the last book. All but one of the previous couples made an appearance. It does feel the end of the series in sight now. (There's only one more book planned.) I can't wait to see what happens!


g3w- other-arcs1 Alison3,371 128

Callum McCrae was a priest of Saint Casimir until the death of the leader of the Bear Clan catapulted him into leader of the Burnt Amber Bears. now he's returned to a Hold he barely knows, leading a people he doesn't understand and all he wants to do is return to his life of devotion.

Joss Bristow is a lynx shifter and singer, ever since she first saw Callum she has felt a visceral attraction to the dour Bear leader but he barely even notices her (I am now slightly obsessed by how many times I've used the word barely in this review). Joss manages to invite herself to Burnt Amber hold to improve morale just as the Gols lay siege to the Hold.

Callum and Joss can't be any more different but somehow Joss' presence makes his burden a little easier to bear (OMG I've done it again), she sees him in a way that no-one else does and her voice soothes his soul. The trouble is Callum has been told that his love is overpowering and oppressive and he is afraid to love again. There's also the pesky matter of his vows.

While the romance between these two is just lovely it is actually the fight scenes and the battle against the Gol that kept me enthralled, I cannot wait for the next book.adopted-orphan banging-the-boss cats ...more1 Heather M Jones-Lancto224 1 follower

‘The War Priest’ is the fifth installment in Ann Aguirre’s ‘Ars Numina’ series. We finally get Joss and Callum’s story.

In an attempt to escape from and atone for tragic events from his past, Callum McRae, turned to the Order of Saint Casimir, becoming a monk. The attack at Ash Valley killed Beren, Callum’s Uncle, forcing Callum to become leader of the Burnt Amber clan. A role he never asked for.

Joss Bristol, a lynx shifter from Ash Valley, finds herself trapped at Burnt Amber during a siege by the Gols. She had volunteered to sing for the troops in an effort to lift morale. But her offer was not completely altruistic. Joss hoped to become closer to Callum, a man she felt drawn to. Joss is no stranger to loss, her father died during the attack at Ash Valley.

The battle against Tyco continues. Will Callum be able hold off the Golgoth troops outside the compound? As his friendship with Joss grows to something deeper will he be able to uphold his vows of chastity made to the Order? The friendship the grows between the two characters and the way Joss is able to smooth out Callum’s rough edges made me root so hard for them to come together.

This is not a stand alone book. Aguirre has developed such a rich storyline that has weaved its way through every book in this series. The reader already has a familiarity to the world and it’s struggles. Although this is a deep dive into Joss and Callum’s story this is not the first introduction to the characters. This interwoven storyline makes me feel I am meeting up with old friends. I will be sad with the conclusion of the sixth and final book of the series. I highly recommend ‘The War Priest’ and eagerly anticipate the next installment, ‘The Jaguar Knight’.1 Kate W310

This was such a painful disappointment for me. I think it was a bit of a perfect storm because it was insta-love which does nothing for me, plus a person fighting their own desires plus a socially inept man with the woman doing basically all of the emotional labour. I felt she was an asshole whisperer, and it was even explicitly described late in the book, where she would "interpret" people's needs for him and explain his actions. That is just too close to the status quo of heterosexual relationships in real life, so I did not enjoy that at all.

Also I think maybe a story about a city under siege is just destined to be pretty boring. Doubly so when one of the main characters is a monk and fighting his desire lol.

The last 10-15% was good though.1 Tabs846 36

This is a series where bits and pieces work for me but the whole thing doesn’t gel. I d the muted grumpy/sunshine vibe, didn’t care for the monk dilemma issues, and felt the war bits were too loosely plotted and don’t hold water if you look to closely.

Also, I didn’t appreciate that one character’s crimes that enabled a lot of death in the last book were downplayed and they were basically given a pat on the head and reassured that they’re a good person.

CWs: wartime loss and grief (includes parental loss), PTSD, suicide (description of losses of family and loved ones by MCs, and brief suicidal ideation by MC)1 Heather1,151 14

Ann Aguirre’s Ars Numina series is almost over. One more book to come after The War Priest (Ars Numina Book 5). Book five picks up right when Callum–head of the bear clan–sets off for home from having attended the festivities at Raff and Thalia’s place. Joss, Pru’s cousin who loves to sing, hops along for the ride. When they arrive at Burnt Amber, they’re almost intercepted by a Golgoth squad, and have to race the re-activating mine defense grid to get there safely. Joss realizes that maybe coming along on a whim wasn’t the smartest thing she’s ever done, but she’s there now, and she might as well help out. She has a total love-at-first-sight crush on Callum, but he’s grouchy and unapproachable. His own people seem afraid of him. She offers to help boost morale in town while they’re under siege, singing for the locals. We quickly discover that Joss’s presence tongue-ties Callum as well. Just one problem: Callum belongs to a religious order that forbids sex and other close relationships. Because of this, Joss becomes determined to be his friend, to help him shoulder some of the burden of wartime, and to help him out when his scant people skills fail him. While she’s there, she hopes to help him figure out who’s been giving medication to their enemies.

Joss and Callum are such wonderful characters. They try so hard to just be friends, and she does her best to lend him her strength without expecting anything in return. She doesn’t want him to break his vows for her, or to submit to temptation and then regret it. I really appreciate this approach. She isn’t doing some trade-kindness-for-sex thing???she genuinely wants to care for him to whatever extent is reasonable. It’s just that neither of them can contain their desire.

I really the diversity in sexual and gender orientation in these books. For the most part I wouldn’t classify them as LGBTQ+, although it’s clear from background information that a fair number of the characters are either bi- or pansexual. It’s just taken as normal that there are same-sex relationships and non-binary characters, and I really appreciate books where that’s just presented as ordinary. Maybe the more it gets depicted as an everyday thing in media, the more we’ll come to see it that way in general.

There’s a fair amount of fighting in this book. The bears are under siege and running low on supplies. The mine field is the only thing holding off the Gols. They have to hope that the Gols continue to think their armament factory is within the walls, rather than outside a little ways, or the Gols might get hold of their munitions. Joss is not a wilting flower either–she’s never killed before, but she makes a great scout (being a bobcat) and can do some real damage when needed. All of the women in these books fight to various extents, which I appreciate.
There’s also some seriously steamy sex in here! Their relationship takes a while to build up to that point, but it really satisfies once it happens.

I can’t wait for book six (well, I’m going to have to, probably until sometime next year), and I foresee going into withdrawal once the series is over!


Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/06/r... Starfire1,057 28

While Joss wasn't a female lead I was particularly drawn to (the sweet, sunny heroines never are, and Joss in particular made me think of a musical version of Kaylee from Firefly), I trust Ms Aguirre enough now to at least give this one a go, and I'm glad I did.

For a start, as the book goes on, we learn that Joss has layers, and at least half of her 'sunniness' is a mask she consciously uses because it's what she knows people expect from her.

I also kinda d Callum as a character - a man hopelessly out of his depth as a leader, who knows it, but who's going to do his best by his people because nobody else is stepping up to take the role. I also enjoyed - more than I thought I would - the relationship conflict that came from Callum's role as a monk, the vows he's made and the fact that both he and Joss take those vows seriously and avoid progressing their relationship until he's 100% certain that he's willing to renounce them. Also, I knew from the outset that the Abbot would release him, but it was kind of fun seeing his uncertainty about it .

Plus, if we're talking relationships, I really enjoyed that there were more going on than just Joss & Callum's romantic one. The friendships Joss developed with Brenna, Emilia and Trini were a delight, and I mentioned in the status updates when I hit the first signs of it that I only realised at that point that female friendships had been sorely lacking in both Shadow Warrior and Wolf Lord.

PLUS plus... it was a thing of beauty to get introduced to Jere as an enby character and have ZERO issue made of it except for the fact that the characters who interacted with them smoothly and naturally use their correct pronouns. Oh, and yes: having Emilia and Trini being a mated pair was lovely too: Ms Aguirre, I salute your inclusiveness.

Beyond all the relationships, though, this was far more of a plot-arc-driven book than Shadow Warrior, and I really enjoyed that element of the story. Again, I never had any doubt that all the other Numina would become involved and ride to the rescue, but damn it was satisfying when they did!

My only real criticism of this instalment was that I felt that the whole 'grey tar' drug that created the 'dead-eyes' was set up to be a major plot point in the previous book. But the way in which that thread resolves in this one felt... anticlimactic in an 'Oh. Is that all that's going on here?" kind of way. I mean, there might yet be more to it in the series finale, but it feels sort of wrapped up now... but in a way that makes me wonder why it was a big deal in the first place.

(Well, that and the criticism that, now that we know Ms Aguirre can write damn good kink scenes, I'd really to read more of them, and this book didn't have any, damnit)

And now we're onto Slay's story. I've *really been looking forward to this one ever since Book 1. I'm trying not to hype it up in my mind, but it's kinda hard not to...8-5-10 diversity-rocks shifters ...more Tani1,139 22

Jess Bristow has been in love with Callum McRae since she set eyes on him, but there's a big problem. Namely, his devotion to the Order of Saint Casimir and his vows as a monk. Callum McRae wants nothing more than to go back to the monastery and resume his peaceful life, but there's a big problem. The Golgoth army is knocking at his door, attacking in hopes of obtaining some of their weapons to aid their war efforts. And now he suddenly has a cat shifter in his city, distracting him with her songs and her upbeat personality. Will he hold to his vows? Will the bears fall to the Golgoth? Will Joss' dreams come true? All that and more in the latest installment of the Ars Numina series!

Terrible summaries aside, I d this one more than I expected to. I haven't loved the character of Callum in the previous books, and I honestly didn't even remember Joss, so I was a bit wary going into this. But this actually ending up being very sweet. Despite his gruff exterior, Callum hides a lot of pain, and Joss was the perfect person to draw that out. She's an impulsive person, but I found her impulsiveness to be very fun and caring, rather than just careless.

The war also advances in this one, with the attacks from the Golgoth on the bear community. It's not as far-sweeping as some of the other books have been however. Instead, this is very personal, as Callum faces the challenges of a leadership that he wasn't prepared for, and Joss figures out what she's willing to do to be with the man that she loves. I really felt the threat to the bear community in this one, and although sometimes their situation was very bleak, it was still an engrossing read.

I do feel some aspects of this book weren't as well-developed as others in the series. Callum often holds himself back from Joss because of his past, and I felt that issue wasn't explored between them as much as I would have hoped. The focus is much more on the present challenges, which does make sense, but I could have done with a bit more looking back as well. There's also a side plot that feels a bit of an afterthought.

I really d how this drew together the rest of the characters at the end, though. It gave me some nostalgia and more of a sense of community than I've gotten from some of the earlier books. Knowing everyone now, it was nice to see everyone interact and come to some kind of understanding. I'm also really excited for the last book. Finally, we find out what the hell happened to Slay! He's been such an enduring mystery throughout the series that I'm very interested in finding out. 2020-novels fantasy fantasy-romance ...more Kathleen MindeAuthor 1 book42

I am not a romance novel enthusiast—if the story includes romance, great, but otherwise, I take a pass—unless it is Ann Aguirre’s Ars Numina series. Shape-shifting hotties in the middle of a war, working out their magical/cultural/personal differences, having hot hot sex and falling in love. These books are so yummy.

The War Priest, fifth in the series, is one of the sweeter stories. At first I was turned off by Callam’s grouchy persona—he is a bear, after all—but the way he fell for Joss the singing wildcat, it was hard to not fall for him, too. Her feelings for Callam have been out in the open since the first book and her sunny disposition and love for music make her extremely likable. And the author has given Callam a more layered character than just a man-bear with the grumps--he is a monk, a reluctant leader of his clan, and there is a sad chapter in his past.

Callam and Joss want to respect one another and their individual choices, so there is a lot of sexual tension as they try to not strip each other naked and jump in the sack. To accomplish this, the author wrote the sweetest love scene that didn’t include sex: the characters shape-shift for one another. Joss inspects Callam’s fur, his muscles, his paws! (That was my favorite detail). Then as a bobcat she nuzzles, purrs, and cleans his fur. It was absolutely delightful.

This is a fun series with characters that are interesting and layered. Most are likable (Raff still drives me nuts, though) and the running story concerning the war between the Golgoths and the Numina is a strong thread that connects them all together.

I cannot wait for the final book.

(A big thank you to BookFunnel for my copy of The War Priest. All opinions expressed are my own and I don't owe nobody because I stand behind what I say ; )
awwwwwww bookfunnel-booty fantasy ...more1 Alicia1,832 76

I revieved an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I didn't remember much of these characters from the previous books (it has honestly been a while) but I'm so glad they ended up with their own story!
The book starts with a recap of the series so far (which was greatly appreciated) and then throws you straight into the story. Un the previous two books which overlapped, this story didn't share events with the others. (I think, maybe don't quote me on that) Lots of action and strategy as they head towards the final conflict in the last book. Only one more to go!
This book followed the more forbidden aspect of romance-as the title love interest would suggest-with less of the shock value scenes I've come to expect from this series (you all know what I'm talking about). I d that it didn't try to be anything more than what it was: two people falling for each other despite the fact they probably shouldn't. It was slow and simple, which was really sweet and gentle to read.
I could have done with a little more of Callum's backstory, but the gist of it was in there.
The standout character in this story was really Joss. She had such a quiet strength and always seemed to know what to do or what to say, which is a talent I think a lot of us can be jealous of. She just lent support and tried to be the best she could be, which encouraged others to follow. paranormal-romance weres-or-shifters Melody Lao4

Second favorite couple of entire series! (Of 5, haven’t caught up to #6 yet)

I love when one protagonist is absolutely head over heels and chases the other. Yes, there are war and battle stuff but Ann gives us a good chunk of romance the first half of the book to munch on as the second half ramps up to the finishing line. Lots of giggles at Joss and Callum being unintentionally and intentionally hilarious. So many heart touching, romantic and steamy moments.

I loved getting to learn more about the bears, Bearnt Amber, and get resolution on the gray stuff from Raff and Thalia’s book (#4).

You gotta try this series. And before you give me the side eye (ugh, I have to read four books to get to this one?!?!), I say yes. You must. Or else you won’t really care about the war efforts. I think this is one book where you could read it out of order and once you’re hooked (cause you will be), you’ll go back and re-read and be ‘oh! I know those two people, and that other couple! And that other other couple!’.

I accidentally read Demon Prince (#2) first and that is still hands down my favorite of the series and tied for first place with Strange Love as my absolute favorites from Ann Aguirre.

$2.99 is such a steal for Ann’s awesome writing and amazing characters and their stories. Try a sample if you’re broke me, and then go couch surfing for pennies to get her books because they’re totally worth it. A.M.Author 7 books55

Joss is Prue’s cousin and she’s known for her impulsive choices, but jumping into a bear clan vehicle and going back to Burnt Amber to provide musical entertainment for the community that is about to be over-run by Golgoth is a stretch, even for her. But truth is, she was attracted to the bear leader on first sight.

The fact that he is a monk is just a small flaw in her plan.

Callum never wanted to be clan leader, he turned down the Eldritch Princess, and he‘s uninterested in the almost consort of his uncle. And if he gets any more problems on his plate he might bite someone’s head off. But Raff told him the drugs the Golgoth are using come from bear labs. The bear clan are surrounded by their own mines, penned in by Golgoth armies and unable to call on the allies they might have had if they had actually signed the damn the Pax Accords.

And Joss is trying to be his friend???!@

888

ooh I love the big grumpy one and the tiny ray of sunshine trope.

This pairing tapped more into the insta love shifter thing, but I reckon she did it for story reasons. True mates can communicate across distances.

Being Prue’s cousin also comes in handy.

4 starsaudiobook borrowed Jamie8

The whole thing kind of felt flat.

Ann Aguirre is one of my all time favorite writers, to the point where when I see a new book from her I don’t bother to look at what it’s about, I just buy on faith. And for every book that has served me well.

Until the War Priest.

I came in already expecting to not Joss, cause I didn’t in Leopard King, she’s one of my least favorite character tropes – bright, impulsive, so fucking cheerful it’s cloying – fiction’s lousy with them. But that’s not really a minus for me. I don’t really Gavriel, he’s an ass, but the relationship and humor in Shadow Warrior were so good it didn’t matter. I fully expected that to happen again here.

But it didn’t. My first read through I was annoyed every time she was on the page and felt no investment in the romance with Callum, couldn’t really put my finger on why. And then when I read through again on my way to Jaguar Knight I hoped it would be different, maybe my head would be in a different place and I could enjoy it despite Joss.

Sadly it didn’t work out that way. As soon as Joss lays out the reason she’s pursuing Callum I’m in a sour mood, hating the whole thing. The first four pairings all had some sort of strong setup for their relationships: war, helping the pride, hunting rebels, forging alliances, etc. but Joss just falls in love at first sight and that guides her every action from there on out. Instead of instant attraction of crush that develops as she gets to know more about him, something organic and natural, it’s literally just “I want him because”. She doesn’t see through his grumpiness and sharp edges to sweetness beneath or something about his character or motivations that nobody else sees, she’s just unaffected by it so he doesn’t drive her away. Just a flashback to a short conversation at Ash Valley or Daruvar that lead to a eureka moment for her, showing her something about him that could explain at least some of the drive that leads her to pursue him so doggedly.

I was venting about it to my partner when I realized why I hate it so much. It’s every 90s/‘00s romcom setup. A meets B. On sight, A knows that B’s the one. Without any foundation for a relationship, just because they’re the one, A pursues B. And just all those romcoms she pursues him despite his repeated statements that he’s not interested, because she’s right and he’s wrong for denying her. She straight up accuses him of discriminating against her based on her gender and the rules of his order, putting him in the wrong. And it f*****g works, he accepts it and gives in. It’s the Ross Geller, the Ted Mosby, the Daphne frickin Bridgerton. Just them she doesn’t respect his wishes and it’s painted as romance.

It is without exaggeration infuriating.

And please don’t get me wrong: I want to read this book and it. I love seeing Burnt Amber and getting to know the clan. I want to see how the fight again Tycho is going. And I really Callum. Grumpy strong man with no time for niceties or politics is one of my favorite character tropes. But Joss just drags him down with her, and the whole “forbidden allure” of their romance is barely there, it’s they aren’t even struggling with it and makes the barrier to their happiness feel entirely artificial. It gets better further into the book, their connection feeling more real and organic, but the lack of a believable foundation just sabotages it from the get go.

The only non-Joss thing that really bugged me is a how the traitor mentioned in Wolf Lord and Shadow Warrior was handled, but that’s spoiler-y and tbh isn’t super important.

On future rereads I’m definitely skipping this book, I’ll rely on Jaguar Knight’s recap to refresh myself. I still have five great books from Ars Numina and at least a dozen more from other series. I love Ann Aguirre and she still has Buy On Faith™? authority. Krystal M530 4

This book is by far my favorite in this series!
Joss, the singer and Callum, the monk! They were definitely meant to be and are perfect for each other!
Joss is a jump first and think second kind of girl but she is also might respectful of boundaries. She knows what she wants but she won’t force it on someone.
Callum is a think about everything kind of guy. He had some bad times before becoming a monk and it has him second guessing himself completely.
Joss is the kind of person to tell it it is and won’t leave Callum guessing what she means or what she wants. She proves to him he is worthy of her and never bats an eye at his actions. She understand him more than maybe she does.
Callum is a bit brusque but Joss balances him so well. He realizes he needs her more than he expected and wants to give her every part of him.
Together they make decisions and deal with what is thrown at them. While there are some issues that arise, they handle it with open eyes and logical understanding. You’ll see!
Definitely give this a go, it’s good to read the others, however Ann gives great info about the other books at the beginning of this one. Veronica15

I loved this 5th addition to the wonderful Ars Numina series. Bear shifter, Callum, scares everyone away with his gruff exterior. He doesn't have the patience, time, or empathy for others, but he's now forced to be the leader of Burnt Amber after his uncle's death. Having spent the past 15 years living a solitary austere life as a monk, he doesn't know how to be around people. And he definitely doesn't know how to be around the enchanting singer, Joss. Joss, a bobcat shifter, impulsively volunteers to entertain the under siege Burnt Amber enclave in order to get closer to Callum. For her, it's love at first sight. Callum, who fled to the monastery following tragedy, tries to cling to the life that saved him, but he longs for Joss, who brings color and light to his life.

I loved the push and pull of Callum and Joss. I understood why Callum resisted for so long and adored how Joss loved Callum's rough uncivilized exterior. She completed him in a way that he never knew was possible, wise Joss, who was always dismissed as frivolous, found someone who saw her as more, an essential asset. JG1,495 60

The fifth book in the Ars Numina Series by Ann Aguirre, War Priest, takes the battle in the bear territory and with it a songstress, Joss Bristow, who happens to hold a little crush on the current leader of the bear clan, one named Callum McRae. It wouldn't be much of a problem except for the little fact that he happens to belong to the Order of Casmir. Vows of Celibacy can really be a big obstacle for this romance.
If you're a new reader to the series, you can't start here and need to go four books back. These books are interconnected by an over arching plot and War Priest is nearing the end of the storyline. Each book holds a different piece of the plot and a different romantic couple entangled in their own struggles and personal problems.

So how does War Priest hold up to the other four books? Quite well in fact but more as a welcome respite to the heavy themes of the previous books. Here its a straightforward romance between a bear and a cat and how they can get around his vows of celibacy. There is still a lot of action and a propelling of the overarching storyline but most of the book is devoted to the romantic plot development.action adventure fantasy ...more Silver JamesAuthor 124 books205

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