Vast World with Familiar Tropes
Julie Trettel’s Out of Peril continues her exploration of paranormal romance, set within the interconnected worlds of several different series. As a fan of her earlier works, I’ve enjoyed the unique universe she’s built, full of supernatural intrigue, pack dynamics, and fierce loyalty. However, with this latest installment (as well as the last few), my feelings are somewhat mixed.
The story follows Walker, a wolf-shifter who is a part of the Westin Pack elite paramilitary group. As he goes undercover, things quickly go awry when he comes face to face with his one true mate. This is a very familiar trope for Trettel and all of her novels, which may feel repetitive for readers familiar with her work.
World-Building: Rich Universe, but Slipping Consistency
One of the highlights of Out of Peril is the world-building. Trettel has crafted a vast and intricate supernatural world that spans mulitple series, each offering a fresh perspective. I’ve always admired her ability to weave together interconnected plots and characters, which adds richness and continuity to the overall story. In Out of Peril, the themes of family loyalty are especially compelling and add emotional depth to the story.
However, as I’ve continued reading Trettel’s recent works, I’ve noticed a pattern that’s starting to feel repetitive. The characters, while usually likable (though no one liked Annie, and I had a hard time with Kate’s full novel), often feel like rehashes of previous ones—similar personalities and motivations, but with different names and settings. This is especially true for Walker, the main character, who has been present since his debut in the Collier Pack series. While I’ve been invested in his story, the friendship between him and Shelby in this book feels forced and underdeveloped. Their bond doesn’t hold the emotional weight it implies, given their shared history and previous groundwork laid in earlier books.
Characters: One-Dimensional Heroes & Villains
Additionally, Out of Peril suffers from a lack of moral complexity to some of its characters. The characters seem to fall into clear-cut categories: all good or all bad, with little room for the grey areas that make characters feel more authentic. In real life, people—and by extension, characters—are rarely entirely good or evil, and the absence of this complexity makes the characters feel one-dimensional and less engaging. The simplistic nature of the characters ultimately makes them less interesting and more predictable, which detracts from the emotional investment a reader might have in their journeys.
Continuity: A Growing Issue with Inconsistencies
Another issue is the increasing inconsistency with character details and continuity. In Out of Peril, confusion arises when the Alpha of the NOLA wolf pack and his son Leo are introduced. Leo has been a recurring secondary character in past novels. However, in this book, his name is used interchangeably with his father’s. Leading to confusion and frustration for readers familiar with the earlier stories.. The mix up within this novel is glaringly obvious. This kind of inconsistency has been becoming more apparent as Trettel continues to churn out new books, and it detracts from the overall reading experience.
The world-building in Out of Peril also takes a hit with the introduction of changes to the Grand Council, which was a big part of earlier books. There’s no set-up for change—it’s just dropped on the reader with no background or transitional explanation. It feels like these changes were added merely as a plot device, rather than being organically integrated into the world Trettel has built. This lack of explanation lessens the overall impact and makes the changes feel more like a shortcut than a carefully considered expansion of the universe.
Final Thoughts: Glimmers of Potential, but Too Many Issues
While Out of Peril has its moments—particularly the “Beauty and the Beast” elements and vibes, where themes of redemption and acceptance shine through—it falls short in staying true to the world and the character dynamics Trettel has established. Walker’s reactions and interactions don’t align with the established rules for mates in this series, which takes away from the emotional depth of his story. Ultimately, Out of Peril has enjoyable moments, especially for fans of the Collier Pack series. However, the growing issues with character development, world-building inconsistencies, and the lack of moral nuance leave the book feeling less compelling than previous works. While I still appreciate Trettel’s talent, I’m beginning to feel that the careful attention to detail and complexity that once made her stories stand out is slipping.
Let me know what you think if you’ve read it—are you familiar with Trettel’s other works? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and don’t forget to follow for more book reviews and discussions!