Wild Highland Magic by KL Castle

The third novel in Kendra Leigh Castle’s Highland Magic series, Wild Highland Magic finally gives us a chance to hear Bastian’s story.

For generations, the MacInnes werewolves have been guarding the portal between Earth and the Drakkyn realm. Bastian and his sister came through the portal from Drakkyn, seeking sanctuary in the beautiful Scottish Highlands and relief from the curse that haunts him. Solitary and despairing, Bastian must find a way to break the curse or it will kill him.

A family squabble 25 years ago drove a rift between the MacInnes alpha and his brother, and Catrionna MacInnes has never met her MacInnes relatives nor had any guidance in how to be a werewolf. When her father brings his family to Scotland seeking reconciliation, Cat lays eyes on Bastian, and her most basic animal instincts kick in. Bastian tries to resist Cat – no good can come of their attraction – but she won’t take no for an answer. She knows that all she wants – what she must have – is to mark him as her own.

Again, this series just captivated me.  I liked seeing what made Bastian click and that his actions actually had valid reasons behind them.  As the only male Dyim, you knew something interesting had to be in his past and Castle doesn’t let us down.  The only thing I really have against Wild Highland Magic is that Cat doesn’t seem to be as personable.  She’s kind of forgettable and I remember more about Bastian than I do her.  She really doesn’t make a lasting impression, but she definitely grabs the attention when she is on the page.  Does that make any sense?  I do have to say that I liked the fact that she didn’t whine about the injustices to her future relationship with Bastian (he’s cursed people, are you really surprised that was a possibility), but it still worried her and she thought about it.  She didn’t just brush it off and say they will get past it, but she wondered if they would.  I liked that insecurity since it doesn’t seem to always be there.  At least not in small doses.

Speaking of the curse, that was great.  Usually, when you think of a curse, it’s more mystical than what was plaguing Bastian.  It difinitely added more to the story and actually helped in the end.

Overall, the story still flowed really well and kept my attention during a time when I wasn’t looking for anything dark or twisty.  This was a really good pick me up and has given me back the reading bug.  It’s kind of sad that, even though Wild Highland Magic is the third novel, and I’ve read the second one – Dark Highland Fire, I still have yet to read the first novel, Call of the Highland Moon.  And yet again, it didn’t matter.  These novels can easily stand alone, but you do get a little character development in the previous novels.  I have to say, I can’t wait to see who the fourth novel is going to be about.  I kind of hope it involves the dragon, but I’m not sure if Castle will put him through the ringer or not.

Read order:
Call of the Highland Moon
Dark Highland Fire
Wild Highland Magic

Also reviewed by:
Darque Reviews
Bitten by Books
Sam’s Book Blog