How to Love Thine Enemy

Howl at the Moon, Book 6

By: Eli Easton

Narrated by: Matthew Shaw

Can a forbidden love heal the rift between two enemy tribes?

Legend says that, centuries ago, the sled dogs and the Inuit were so deeply bonded that the dogs rose up on two legs and became men. The Qimmig and the People lived together happily, until one of the Inuit betrayed the dog-men. The Qimmig fled, vowing never to return.

Taq figured that was just another story elders told around the campfire. But when he witnesses two guys survive a polar bear attack by shifting into dogs, he has to rethink everything. Could the Qimmig really exist? And could they have anything to do with the special, golden-eyed boy he’d played with as a child?

Cupun has missed his old friend, Taq. But it is forbidden for the Qimmig to have anything to do with one-skinned Inupiat. When a series of events brings Taq back into his life, the feelings of protectiveness and joy awakened in his dog’s heart tell him that Taq is his soul’s mate.

But neither the Qimmig nor the Inuit are prepared to accept this bond. Are the boys fated for tragedy? Or will their love find a way?

How to Love Thine Enemy is a star-crossed lovers/Romeo and Juliet trope set in Alaska. Friends-to-lovers, doggie shifters, and destined romance with a little wilderness adventure.

©2023 Jane Holmes (P)2023 Jane Holmes

great conclusion!

I wasn't sure this would be released on audio so I am ecstatic it was. I listened to this while series and lived the quirky but sweet quickened. Meeting their counterparts from Alaska was awesome and I love the change that came from their unions.

Love in the Wilderness!

I was so excited that this finale made it to audible! Matthew Shaw is the voice of these guys once again and he is so reflective and expressive in his narration. I loved hearing Taq's first sighting of the shifters. I absolutely loved the wilderness setting of this adventure. It is set it a little bit apart from the previous stories, but it is still all about bringing everything full circle with these families. Cupun is forbidden to be with Taq and their friends to lovers' transition is so sweet and subtle like they were instantly comfortable and at ease with each other despite the odds. They are both so lovable and I was not happy with the barriers of the old family ways. Beautiful conclusion for the series!

Wonderful story and audio performance!

I read How the Love Thine Enemy with my eyes back in April of 2023 and I loved it then. After listening to the audiobook performed by Matthew Shaw, I loved it even more. I loved the voices he did for all of the different characters. It was easy to distinguish who was speaking and the voices were all pleasant to listen to.

When I read this with my eyes it had been almost four years since I read the last Howl at the Moon story (How to Run with the Wolves). That’s a long time for me to remember a series but almost as soon as I started reading How to Love Thine Enemy things started coming back to me and I remembered how much I enjoyed reading the previous books.

This book really touched my heart on many levels. It was sad in places because of the lack of acceptance by Taq’s family of his relationship with Cupun. But I felt the deep connection between these two – from the prologue when they were friends as children and when they meet again as adults.

It’s a complex story involving three different groups of people: The Qimmig (Cupun’s pack/dog shifters), the Inuit (Taq’s people) and the Quickened (dog shifters from the US, some living with the Qimmig). Taq and Cupun have some tough times and have to fight for their relationship but all of the angst is so worth it. I love books that move me to tears; this one did that and I loved it.

While a copy of this audiobook was gifted to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

A return to a well loved series!!!

The narration, like all the books in the series, is fantastic! Matthew is an artist, infusing emotion effortlessly in every word. I love how he leans into the story, singing and howling with the characters.
Howl at the Moon was one of the first Eli Easton books I read. It is still one of my favorite series by her, and at my top 3 shifter books ever.
The concept is just so unique! And this new book, that continues the journey in a new setting, did not disappoint.
Cupun and Taq share a connection that is primal, but also incredibly sweet and inevitable. I loved how they sort of fell into the love that was just always there.
The expansion of the shifter world Easton built, the connection to Inuit colture and heritage was well written and researched. It also made sense, making the first 5 books seem better now that we have that connection to the beginning of the magic that allowed the first dog to change.
I enjoyed the second half of the story the most, it was action packed and interesting, and the satisfying conclusion to the story. Leaving just enough tease for the next book, it was a delightful read with characters from previous books appearing here and there.

Waiting for the next one!