To Kill a Badger  (Honey Badger Chronicles 6)by Shelley Laurenston – Dual Review

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Description:
Nelle Zhao is a social media maven who knows what matters. And the only thing that matters right now is survival. Not easy, though, when her honey badger teammates attract trouble the way she attracts attention. She didn’t know when it became her job to protect the ones she cares about from themselves, but even she has to admit…she’s really good at it. Too bad some people don’t appreciate when she’s being helpful. Especially Keane Malone, who doesn’t know how to accept a friendly paw. But Nelle excels at helping! And at ignoring other people’s irrational demands, such as doing it all alone. Keane, poor pretty kitty, doesn’t understand the kind of assistance a shit-starting honey badger like Nelle can truly offer . . .

Keane knows two things—he doesn’t like other people, and he is going to crush the de Medicis, an evil coalition of male lion shifters who are not only snatching innocent humans for fun and profit, but also killed his father. And for once, he may not be able to fight this fight alone, forcing him to let long-legged, jet-setting Nelle join the fight. And getting close to Nelle is suddenly bringing out his roar . . .

Barb’s Review:

To Kill a Badger by Shelly Laurenston is the 6^th book in her fabulous Honey Badger Chronicles series.  I am always thrilled to having more Honey Badgers, as this is a terrific series, with so much fun. Honey Badgers are centered in this series, with us filled with crazy badgers, violence, mayhem in a wild hilarious, pulse pounding story.  

Nelle Zhao is the star in this story, as she is a strong and independent character, who seems to be second to our amazing Charlie.  Nelle doesn’t show fear at all, as she knows that after Charlie, she is the one who protects her friends.  Keane Malone becomes aware of the evil de Medicis plans to destroy the badgers, and he joins the fight with Nelle; as they get other badger families to help deal with the de Medicis.  Mads’s Aunt Tracy and her band of crazy  friends, go to Paris to help deal with the de Medicis, and work with Nelle and Keane.  It was a crazy wild adventure. 

The complexity of this story revolved around so many groups happening at the same time; so many people involved throughout. Nelle is determined help Keane and keep her family and team safe. Nelle and Keane and other badgers are determined to eliminate the evil Medicis, with betrayals, attacks, stakes and wild moments along the way. Other badgers, lions, tigers, wolves, bears make appearances.

I really loved Nelle and Keane. The chemistry between Nelle and Keane was sizzling, as they continued to fall for each other.  Charlie is still the leader, as she always finds a way to solve everything, eliminating those who want to hurt her family.  I loved how Charlie always bakes for the bears and others.

To Kill a Badger is an exciting adventure, fun, with wild, crazy action and totally hysterical.  Trust me when I say, if you have not read Shelly Laurenston, you are missing not only a gem of an author, but so much fun as you read each and every one of her books. If you have not read Shelly Laurenston, you are missing an author that always gives us fantastic stories, who should not be missed.

Sandy’s Reviews:

TO KILL A BADGER is the sixth instalment in Shelly Laurenston’s contemporary, adult HONEY BADGER CHRONICLES paranormal, romance series-set in the author’s Magnus Pack and Pride Worlds. This is Amur tiger shifter Keane Malone, and Honey Badger shifter Nelle Zhao’s story line. TO KILL A BADGER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from several third person perspectives including Keane and Nelle TO KILL A BADGER continues to focus on the take-down of a human trafficking ring, and the ongoing investigation into a powerful drug created to take down the honey badger shifters but the past is taking aim with the return of the large European Lion Pride known as the de Medici’s, a group of powerful lions who have targeted the MacKilligan family in the wake of the murder of their patriarch and father. As Nelle is best friends and part of the MacKilligan extended family, she is determined to end the war before it begins but the arrival of the larger extended family of Malones, she finds herself facing not only our story line hero but a family of she-lions determined to protect one of their own.

The world building is once again complex, complicated and detailed with numerous references to shifter sports league, powerful shifter control groups (The Group, BPC, Katzenhaus, The Board) including families and deep ops organization, most of whom we met in the PACK and PRIDE series. The powerful and often crazy MacKilligan clan of honey badgers whose dynamic abilities and persuasive tactics are at the heart of many ops and take downs find themselves at an impasse when their own patriarch forces their hand in an effort to end a war not of their making.

The relationship between Keane and Nelle begins acrimoniously as Keane wants nothing to do with the Badgers and their extended families but Keane is pulled into Nelle’s around the globe journey as she looks for help in taking down the de Medici Group, only to discover betrayal when it comes time to fight. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, supernatural, dominant and commanding secondary and supporting characters including wolves, bears, lions, tigers, hyenas, badgers and the return of the foxes. We are reintroduced to Nelle’s extended blood family and family of the heart (MacKilligan); Keane’s brothers Finn, Dale and Shay, several Van Holtz from a different generation, and the Dunn Triplets-always fun to watch the bears run when Charlie sets about on a baking frenzy.

TO KILL A BADGER is another comprehensive and intricate story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, espionage and madness, family and friendships, relationships and love. The action packed, character driven premise is edgy, fast paced and full of snark, humor and fun-the darker elements require a great sense of humor, after all, it is a paranormal story and ultimately, all of the shifters are predators, and therefore, killing is part of the cycle of life.