As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Unwinnable
(Their Shifter Academy – Book 5)
by May Dawson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Slow Burn, PNR RH, Academy
Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited
Down & Dirty
Even more twists and turns come down the pike in this fifth installment in May Dawson’s ever growing Shifter Universe. Fast, intense – and HOT! Free on Kindle Unlimited.
What is it about?
(Blurb from GoodReads)
Cain’s Shield is broken into two pieces, hidden in the land of the Fae and the world of the rebel magicians. It’s the one thing that could restore the shifters’ ability to transform into their wolves.
Time for me to fix my mistakes…
But it’s no easy mission ahead of us. Tyson will need to embrace his Fae roots to bring us through their world alive. And in the land of rebel magicians, we’ll need to save Silas’ friends—and face down a corrupt government—in order to bring home the shield. It all sees impossible.
But with Rafe and Lex about to graduate the academy, this mission is also our one chance to prove my men and I belong together. No one else wants to work with the female wolf, the wizard from another world, the rejects from their packs. The Alpha Council is willing to consider keeping us together.
We’re not just a family now, after all. We’re a team. We belong together.
But first ,we have to prove ourselves.
Oh yeah. And we have to stay alive, too.
Thoughts on Unwinnable
May Dawson has a tendency to weave multiple plot points into one narrative, yet Their Shifter Academy takes that notion to the extreme – though they all seem to meld into one cohesive picture that is ALMOST becoming clear.
Book 5 starts with a recap (thank god – trust me, you’re going to need it, unless you are binger, then skip!) and picks up 3 months after the Dark Collar worked its insidious magic. The remnants of the Day is still gunning for them, familial connections are still murky, political machinations are still grinding and emotions… well, those are still churning. It’s all a huge mess, but there is something that MIGHT be able to fix it, at least one aspect of it – Cain’s Shield. Fabled artifact and future savior, the group now has to venture to Fae, find its broken pieces, and restore what was stolen from the wolves.
Whew! This is an INTENSE series! I honestly don’t know who, or what I am cheering for from chapter to chapter. Tyson is still one of my favorites, idiot though he may be, and since Book 4 cleared up the mess with Lex, he’s high on my love list. But Rafe? That man has been a goal for Maddie since the first snarl and I can’t help but love him, and love how he has stuck tight to his convictions. But graduation is here, and that means he is out of excuses – and the readers are in for a heated time. *squee!* And Silas… oh Silas. Chase, Jensen, Penn…. ok, ALL of them. I just love all of them. And this book reminds me why.
I thought book 5 was going to be the end of this series, but no, things are still dicey and mysteries remain, namely – the Greyworld.
*I received an ARC of this book and am thrilled to share my honest opinion*
Perspective
First Person, Multiple POV
Ending Type
Not quite a cliffhanger, but not quite episodic. There’s obviously more to come, but your heart won’t hurt.
Rating
Mature
Romantic Dynamic
MMMMMMF
Character Age Range
Adult
My Final Verdict on Unwinnable
Seriously action packed with growing steam, this is a Paranormal Adventure that spans the realms – and would make the perfect binge read when all is said and done. Fast and brutal, it holds all the edge you’d expect from a shifter centered tale. Free on Kindle Unlimited.
Unwinnable
Published July 17th, 2020
489 Pages

If you enjoyed this review of Unwinnable, please consider checking out a few of my other articles.
- On the Edge by Ilona Andrews – A Book Review
- Grave Consequences by Ivy Asher – A Book Review
- Broken Loyalty by K.N. Banet – A Book Review

Your Turn
What are you reading today? Have you read this series yet? What other May Dawson books have you loved? Leave a comment, I would love to talk!
Leave a Reply