The Monster Librarian Presents:
Reviews of Werewolf and Shapeshifter Fiction
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The Monster Librarian Presents: Reviews of Werewolf and Shapeshifter Fiction
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This year we are fortunate enough to be able to showcase there werewolf art of horror artist Jerrod Brown. Take a look at the gallery.
We have online a werewolf short story titled Seeing Red: A Twisted Fairy Tale by our own Bob Freeman.
Rhonda Wilson interviews Wolf Tales author Kate Douglas.
Then if you look below you will see that we are expanding our section of werewolf reviews and will have more posted through out the month. We will be including other lycanthrope related books as well as titles that are werewolf/shapeshifter related but not strictly horror such as paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and paranormal erotic fiction.
A special thanks to Michele Lee, Rhonda Wilson, Bob Freeman, and Bret Jordan for their efforts with Werewolf month.
Here is a list of werewolf horror titles being released in 2009
Moonbane by Al Sarrantonio
Symptoms of a Broken Heart by Cory Cramer
The Sticks by Andy Deane
The Wild Hunt by James Moore
Snarl by Lorne Dixon
Of Wolf and Man by Christopher Fulbright
Scent of the Wolf by Tracy Jones
Bestial by Ray Garton
If you would like to let others know about werewolf month here at Monster Librarian feel free to use the banner below designed by Bob Freeman:
Outside of vampires , one of the most iconic horror monsters is the werewolf: a human being who, due to mystical curses or biological manipulation, is able to turn into a wolf or something in-between human and wolf. Whether these are tormented souls who have suffered, or monsters who revel in their predatory nature, they make wonderful creatures for horror novels. Please note that they also show up in paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and paranormal erotic fiction with a fair amount of frequency as well. There is a list of werewolf and lycanthrope books below the reviews or you can just click here.
Snarl
by Lorne Dixon
Coscom Entertainment, 2009
ISBN: 978-1897217870
Available: New and Used
When family man Chev Worke decided to pick up some extra
money by spending Christmas on the road driving his 18-wheeler, he wasn't
expecting to slam into an animal on State Highway 59 and then have his truck
die. And he REALLY wasn't expecting said animal to turn out to be a werewolf
that belonged to a pack of werewolves that decide to hunt him down, since he has
killed one of their own. Given a head start, Chev makes it to a little grocery
store in the town of Easter Glen on foot and meets up with some townsfolk.
Together they try to make a break for it, but soon Chev learns of a pact that
the townsfolk have made with the werewolves. At that point everyone has choices
to make. Hopefully they will make the right choices, and make it out alive, but
will they?
Lorne Dixon has taken a refreshing look at the world of
werewolves. He keeps you clawing at the edge of your seat up until the very end
of Snarl. The story is fast-paced throughout, with enough action and plot
twists to keep you guessing all the way through so that you aren't sure exactly
how things are going to wrap up. It's a very powerful novella and feels more
like a full novel. The main character in the story is very likable and you
sympathize with him immediately wanting to help him out of his predicament,
especially considering he just happened to be "in the wrong place at the wrong
time". This is my first experience with the works of Lorne Dixon, but I will
definitely be looking into reading more by this fine author as I was highly
entertained by Snarl. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Contains: Adult Language, Violence
Review by Rhonda Wilson
and here is our take two review of Snarl by Michele Lee
Chev, a trucker, Ross, a grandfather and David, his ten year old grandson who just lost his whole family to a house fire, all have the bad luck to find themselves in a horror novel, the kind where the characters get lost and end up in a tiny town terrorized by a gang who also happen to be werewolves. The human townies can't give the outsiders over to the beasts quickly enough, and the werewolves want to use Chev and Ross as excuses to break the pact made between human and monster fifty years ago.
Snarl is a tale that belongs with
the best of werewolf movies: fast-paced, dark, and gruesome. Between humans
willing to live complacently with the brutal deaths of many others (as long as
it isn't them) and shape shifters who might have motive to slaughter, there are
no clear good guys. For werewolf and general horror fans, it's a good, solid
read and would make a quality addition to public and private libraries looking
to expand the number of horror titles in their collection. Recommended.
Contains: Gore, language, violence
Wild
Evolution by C. Fern Cook
Penumbra Publishing, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-9819614-3-9
Available: New
The life of Dan Tucker, a normal rancher in a normal Colorado rural town with all the normal small town characters, is turned upside down when he suffers a bite from what he believed was a wild dog. After cutting off the wild dog’s head to test for rabies, then finding a human head the next morning in its place, Tucker discovers the wild dog was in fact a werewolf and he has been contaminated by its bite. Tucker embraces this transformation, but not without ramifications, such as murder, and the subsequent deteriorating friendship with his best friend, the local cop, Tony Ramirez.
In this first book of her paranormal Wild Series, C. Fern Cook takes a unique spin on werewolf mythology. She uses her knowledge of the Colorado landscape and small town atmospheres to take great care in describing the settings and interactions of her characters with nature and each other. Additionally, her background as an officer of the law helps in accurately depicting scenes involving police officer Tony Ramirez, his dealings with his fellow co-workers, the community at large, and his investigation methods.
Cook’s writing style will reach a wide variety of readers in a variety of age ranges. Wild Evolution is easily accessible for adult readers as well as older young adults. She uses very little profanity, and her descriptions of violence and gore are just enough to produce the desired fear and suspense effect without being overly graphic. Added bits of romance provide another conflict element, but without overpowering the main focus of the story. The story moves quickly beginning from the very first page, and it ends at a perfect cliff-hanger for her next book in the series. Readers will itch to get their hands on the second book as soon as possible. This is an ideal book for a public library collection, and an absolute must have for small town, rural public libraries.
Contains: Mild violence & gore, mild sex
Review by Kelly Fann
Wolf's
Gambit by W.D. Gagliani
Leisure Books, 2009
ISBN: 0-8439-6249-6
Available: New and Used
The second book in Gagliani's Wolf Cycle series is a bit different than the
first, Wolf's Trap, as there is more than one bad guy involved. In the
opening scene a man is actually killed by three werewolves near Eagle River,
where Nick Lupo's girlfriend, Jessie, resides. When Lupo comes out to visit
Jessie, she tells him of the attack that has just taken place, and the two of
them attempt to help out Arnow, the new sheriff. Nick and Jessie suspect
werewolves are involved, but Arnow is obviously in the dark. What they don't
know is that a man who calls himself Mr. XYZ is controlling this pack of
werewolves. Somehow, Lupo needs to take down the whole pack without getting
himself killed in the process.
Wolf's Gambit takes on a whole new angle from
Wolf's Trap with the multi-killer aspect. In the first book, Lupo only had
to contend with one human killer, but in this novel he is up against a whole
pack of militant werewolves that appear to be stronger than him. It's like one
man against an army! I liked how Gagliani added in the emotions going on in
Lupo's head when he was struggling with the doubts of those he thought trusted
him. I felt it truly gave me a more personal look into Lupo. That's just one
example of character development- Gagliani showed several examples of that as
well with some of the other recurring characters. This is truly shaping out to
be a great series and I'm greatly anticipating book three. Highly recommended!
Contains: Adult Language, Adult Situations, Gore, Rape, Sex
Review by Rhonda Wilson
Wolf's
Trap by W.D. Gagliani
Leisure Books, 2006
ISBN: 0-8439-5702-6
Available: New and Used
The main character of Wolf's Trap, the start of a new series of
interconnected novels, is Nick Lupo, a good cop who also happens to be a
werewolf. In Lupo's first adventure, he is involved in tracking down a serial
killer that seems to have some kind of strange obsession with lipstick. To make
matters worse, Lupo senses that the killer is gunning for him specifically by
some of the messages he is leaving behind at the scenes of his crimes. This
puts a fear in Lupo that those he gets close to might also be in danger. He has
been struggling with his werewolf side for years, and now with a competitor on
the loose he fears that it may prove to be too much of a challenge to keep his
inner wolf under control.
Gagliani had me hooked from page one with this first novel. He takes a
different writing style from most authors in that he chops his chapters up based
on who the main focus is and labels them as such. This made the book an
extremely fast-paced read and had me flying through it! Gagliani juggles lots
of interrelated storylines to clue readers into past events in the lives of many
of the characters as they were growing up- events which, of course, shape the
future. Gagliani uses flashback scenes throughout the book. In some novels this
can seem confusing and troublesome, but in Wolf's Trap this fit well.
The past triggered much of what happened in the present, so without the
flashbacks, the novel wouldn't have been nearly as strong. All in all, this was
an addictive read and much different from your typical werewolf attack books...
for once the werewolf is the "good guy". Highly recommended!
Contains: Adult Language, Adult Situations, Gore, Rape, Sex, Child Abuse
Review by Rhonda Wilson
The
Wild Hunt by James A. Moore
Insidious Publications,2009
ISBN: n/a
Available: New
James A. Moore is one of those authors who is always a joy to read. With a Spartan and direct prose style, Moore writes for the everyman, all the while weaving intricate tales of horror that recall for us an uncanny sense of normalcy just before the madness begins. Such is the case with The Wild Hunt. Moore effortlessly constructs his characters, giving them an immediate air of authenticity, and the underlying mystery, centering on hunting buddies and their imperiled families, is deliciously played out. The book is not for the faint of heart. You will get a real glimpse into the depths of evil a man can sink to. The Wild Hunt will have you squirming uncomfortably and that is a real credit to the author’s mastery of pace and rhythm. Yes, this is a werewolf novel, but the questions posed in The Wild Hunt are what is the nature of the beast and who is the greater evil, wolf or man? Recommended for public and private collections.
Contains: Adult language, Adult situations, Extreme violence
Review by Bob Freeman
Red by Paul Kane
Skullvines, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-9799673-5-1
Available: New
Red is a fairly short, straightforward retelling of “Little Red Riding Hood”
that breaks both the monster and the fairy tale form back down to their horrific
beginnings. Kane's monstrous wolf is a creature out of our nightmares, all
appetite, both sexual and digestive. He's a true shapeshifter, a “wolf in
sheep's clothing” who takes on the forms of people around him in order to get
closer to his victims. Also true to the first fairy tales, this isn't a
light-hearted tale with magical creatures that is tied up in a nice happy bow.
It's a brutal tale of stalking and hunger. The only down side is that it doesn't
deviate from the traditional story much, making it a simplistic and quickly read
tale. Recommended for private collections due to the sexual content and cost vs.
length factors.
Contains: Violence, gore, sex
Review by Michele Lee
Moonbane
by Al Sarrantonio
Cemetery Dance, 2009
ISBN:
Available: New
Cemetery Dance has created a beautiful reprint of Al Sarrantonio’s tale of a werewolf apocalypse. Poet and amateur astronomer Jason Blake watches a meteor shower with his son. When a meteor strikes in Blake’s back yard it opens up to reveal a werewolf. Blake quickly watches his world dissolve around him as werewolves quickly kill or turn most of the population and destroy all technology along the way. Blake struggles with a small band of other survivors try to find a way to stop the werewolves from eradicating humanity. Moonbane starts fast and doesn’t stop. You get some great character development with Jason Blake. Sarrantonio doesn’t spend lots of time introducing you to his characters before getting into the action. He shows you his characters as the action unfolds. Not only does Moonbane give us an original tale of the origin of werewolves but it also an effective apocalyptic tale. Highly Recommended.
Contains: Violence, gore
Bestial
by Ray Garton
Leisure, 2009
ISBN: 978-0843961850
Available: New
Bestial follows up Garton's first werewolf novel, Ravenous, and,
while not as strong as Ravenous, it’s still a good werewolf story. Garton
also pulls in characters from one of his vampire books, Night Life-
private investigators Gavin Keoph and Karen Moffett. Gavin and Karen are sent to
investigate numerous animal attacks popping up all over Big Rock. Werewolves are
suspected in the area. Gavin and Karen discover that the attacks are werewolf
attacks, and also that the werewolves have already set in motion a plan for the
town of Big Rock. More and more people are turning into werewolves via the
sexually transmitted virus, and the PI’s may be in over their heads.
Garton’s inclusion of characters from his vampire series leaves the reader
wondering if he is going to proceed further with this series and possibly
combine the vampire and werewolf stories. It could make for an interesting
battle down the road if he does! This would be a good addition for libraries,
but be aware that Garton does have a lot of sexual content within his book
including some rape and incest scenes.
Contains: violence, gore, incest, rape, strong sexual content, adult language
Review by Rhonda Wilson
The Beast Within, edited
by Matt Hults
Graveside Tales, 2008
ISBN: 0980133815
Available: New
The Beast Within is a perfect treat for lycanthrope fans. There's a bit of nearly everything inside, from wereslugs to shamans. The collection includes stories of true horror as well as science fiction twists on the moon-bound and surreal, shape shifting fantasy. Standouts include “Let's All Welcome The New Guy” by Raoul Wainscoting, a hint of what sensitivity training might be like if "weremericans" existed, ”Some Touch of Pity’ a dark and moody tale by Gary A Braunbeck, and Lee Battersby’s “The Claws of Native Ghosts,” in which the violence and rage comes not from the beast but from the man's own insanity. It's easy to find something good to say about each story in this well- constructed collection. The Beast Within is escapist fiction in its most enjoyable form and would make a great addition to private and public collections. Recommended.
Contains:
Review by Michele Lee
Master
of the Moors by Kealan Patrick Burke
Necessary Evil Press, 2008
ISBN: 9780975363577
Available: New
Kealan Patrick Burke spins a wonderful gothic tale in Master of the Moors. On a dark and foggy night, the head of the Mansfield family and his servant Grady join a search party looking for a missing woman on the moors bordering the town. The party is attacked by a mysterious creature leaving Grady as one of the the survivors and his master struck with a coma-like illness. Years pass, and Grady has to protect Jane Mansfield and her blind brother Neil from a mysterious stranger, who has a deadly agenda that threatens to tear the family apart. Burke has effectively crafted a suspenseful, atmospheric horror tale, a page-turning mystery that doesn’t give anything away until the very end. Readers will be up late at night turning the pages of this one. Highly recommended for public libraries.
Contains: Violence and gore
Blood
Curse / Werewolf for Hire Book One
by Nic
Brown
Nic Brown,2008
ISBN: 978-1-60145-464-5
Available: New
Every once in a while a book comes along with a premise that is so much fun that you are willing to disregard errors in style and craftsmanship. Blood Curse is just such a book. Nic Brown's novel about a thrill seeking, James Bond-esque werewolf reads like a B-Movie, complete with ill thought out fight scenes and campy dialogue. But there's something compelling about the story, filled as it is with black magic, witches, zombies, and the scaly Dracors. The pace is furious and hell-bent, leaving little time to explore a colorful cast of characters, with the exception of the tale's protagonist, Michael Warren. All in all, it's a fun read, even with the obvious gaffes in the writing. This novel would have been better served had it passed through an editor's guiding hand and by a proofreader's red pen.
Contains: Adult language and situations, black magic, torture, and violence.
Review by Bob Freeman
Leisure Books, 2008
ISBN: 0843958200
Available: New
Ray Garton lends his creativity to the werewolf genre, creating an entertaining page turner in Ravenous. His werewolves are vicious creatures who attack men, women, and even children. The story begins in the small town of Big Rock, California, when a woman is raped and her rapist is killed. When her dead attacker escapes from the morgue, Sheriff Farrell Hurley's world is turned upside down. It is Hurley’s job to determine who or what is behind a series of animalistic attacks. An enigmatic man comes into town claiming that a lycanthropy virus is spreading through the population, transmitted via sexual intercourse, and that the citizens of Big Rock are being attacked by the growing number of werewolves. Garton does a good job of character development and captures the reader’s interest. Ravenous has plenty of sex and gore, which is not unusual in Garton’s storytelling. Librarians will want to be aware that while horror fans and those who enjoys Garton’s work will enjoy Ravenous, this is not light fare and should not be recommended for those looking for lighter urban fantasy or werewolf based paranormal romance. Recommended.
Contains: Gore, violence, rape, strong sexual content.
Bestial:
Werewolf Apocalypse by William D. Carl
Permuted Press, 2008
ISBN: 1934861049
Available: New
How best to describe William D. Carl’s debut novel? With tongue firmly in cheek. Bestial is a zombie novel in drag, dressed up in mother’s fur coat if you will. Bestial is a fast-paced, action packed thriller. Carl’s craftsmanship is accomplished for his first effort, capturing truly horrific moments and emotions from well-drawn characters and with an engaging storyline that is epic in scope, if not in execution. Carl has created a spectacular legion of furry beasties to populate the beleaguered city of Cincinnati, but these shape-shifting monstrosities seem more like Romero-esque shambling undead in wolves’ clothing. William D. Carl is a talented author with a bright future ahead of him. Bestial is a novel he can most assuredly be proud of, and there will most certainly find a hungry audience waiting for it. This novel is a satisfying bridge between the two worlds of these time-honored horror tropes, one seemingly in decline, while the other, one can only hope, has found its time to shine, much like a full moon.
Contains: Extreme and gruesome violence, adult situations and language
Review by Bob Freeman
Scrybe Press, 2008
ISBN: 1-933274-17-4
Available: New
One of the more interesting aspects of delving into Steven Wedel’s incredible Werewolf Saga is to see the author’s growth as an artist. With Ulrik, the fourth book in the series, we are presented with a writer comfortable and confident in his prose who handles the fevered and frantic action sequences with a deft hand, but is equally at home in delivering powerful emotion and an enlightened examination of the maternal instinct. With subtlety and skillful maneuvering, Wedel dissects the intricate politics of the lycanthropes and presents the shape-shifters with a verisimilitude that elevates the novel from a mere tale of monsters. Within Ulrik, and the Saga as a whole, is an elegant mythology that lives and breathes in a world that the reader can submerge himself into and feel apart of. It is a tremendous achievement and fantastical escapism at its finest. Steven E. Wedel’s Werewolf Saga is a world that demands to be revisited.
Contains: Extreme violence, adult language, adult situations
Review by Bob Freeman
Shapeshifter
By J.F. Gonzalez
Lesiure, 2008 (re-print)
Cosmos Books,2003
ISBN: 0843959738(Leisure)
ISBN:1592241085(Cosmos)
Available: New
Shapeshifter is a bit
different than your average werewolf story in that this werewolf is the victim
of the tale. His name is Mark Wiseman and he has spent his life dealing with the
affliction of lycanthropy as best he can, to the point where he finally has it
almost under control. Unfortunately his cold and unethical boss finds out about
his problem and decides to blackmail Mark into using his affliction against his
enemies, forcing Mark into a killing spree.
Shapeshifter is a unique werewolf story with
interesting twists and turns. It is a surprising tale of killing and violence,
with a romantic subplot as Mark tries to protect the girl he loves. Readers will
be drawn in by their sympathy for Mark and hatred for his boss, who is forcing
Mark to kill against his will. Shapeshifter is almost a necessary part of
any werewolf collection.
Review by Bret Jordan
Keepers
of the Dead by Bob Freeman
Black Death Books, 2008
ISBN: Pending
Available: Late 2008
Keepers of the Dead is the follow up to Bob Freeman's
Shadows Over Somerset, continuing the tale of Michael Cairnwood, the
newly minted lord of land poised precariously between warring vampires and
werewolves. Keepers of the Dead pits Michael's wolves against the brutal,
machine-like attacks of another pack. While Cairnwood Manor lies under siege,
with werewolves dying around him, Michael journeys inward, through ancestral
memories, to find a way to help his pack. Recovering from his wounds is the
least of Michael’s challenges, though. Powerful enemies come creeping out of the
woodwork, all aiming to destroy the Cairnwood clan.
Keepers of the Dead begins at a leisurely pace and is
filled with rich detail. There's a lot of story told here, each of the multitude
of characters coming with a complex history. The language and style will remind
readers of Lovecraft and Poe. Keepers of the Dead has a lot to offer to
readers who love vampires and werewolves, for both private and public
collections.
Note: Bob Freeman is a reviewer for
MonsterLibrarian.com
Review by Michele Lee
Harper, 2008
ISBN: 978-0061430220
Available: New
Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow is the best urban dark fiction since S.P. Somtow. Sharp Teeth is a widely heralded innovative novel, a modern werewolf (werecanine in any case) story written entirely in verse. This is a visceral, raw story, a complicated, many-faceted tale with everything save for the most important bits gnawed out.
Sharp Teeth follows Lark, a complicated, near enlightened man who is trying to lead his pack of modern werecanines to be
more than their beasts, but somehow sees his pack fall to a pack of mutt scum. The new pack shuns the path of calm resolve, instead indulging in the appetites and greed of the street, made all the more powerful by their supernatural predatory abilities. While the new pack can't let Lark survive, Lark can't let his rage at a the loss of a good thing go. Also waiting in the shadows are more dogs, each with a burning rage, or a rotting sorrow within and all set to collide for dominance and vengeance in the arid desert outside of L.A.
Sharp Teeth expands outside of the horror genre, outside fiction, outside the mind of man and the soul of dog. A dark urban-fairy tale, if you buy only one dark fiction book for your public or private collection this year it should be Sharp Teeth.
Review by Michele Lee
Check out Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes take on Sharp Teeth at Unshelved.com
Lost
Prince by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Borderlands Press, 2008
ISBN: 9871880325988
Available: New
Lost Prince is a heavy read from the beginning. That's not to say it's
not enjoyable, the detail and scope of the story is overwhelming at times,
before considering that the setting is the one of the most evil moments in known
human history-- the Spanish Inquisition. This is not a novel for a light read.
Yarbro creates sympathy and tension for her characters immediately with a slowly
twisting plot that is always just a bit more extensive than the reader expects.
The only fault in an otherwise amazing work of historical horror is a
embarrassingly large number of copy editing errors.
Lost Prince is a stunning addition to private and public libraries.
Yarbro's "monsters" are the more human characters, leaving the horror to
bloom in the form of man's inhumanity against man.
Note the copy reviewed was neither listed as a advanced review copy or an uncorrected proof.
Contains: Torture
Review by Michele Lee
Howl-o-ween
by Gary L.
Holleman
Leisure Books, 1996
ISBN: 0843940832
Available: Used
Cyrus, a bodyguard-for-hire, takes a job protecting Kyna, a diamond runner, who is being pursued by a voodoo shaman trying to retrieve a powerful mystical necklace the diamond runner unknowingly has in her possession. In order to get the necklace back before Halloween, the shaman leaves a bloody body count behind him, using a variety of creatures. In one of the attacks, Cyrus inadvertently gets bitten by a supernatural wolf, and becomes a werewolf. A minor flaw in the book is that the author includes several sex scenes that do not seem to further the plot, and slow down the pacing. Additionally, the ending is a little confusing. More disappointing than either of these is that, with a title like Howl-o-ween, and a cover sporting an evil-looking skull rising out of a pumpkin, readers will expect Halloween to play more of a central role in the story when in fact the relationship to the holiday is pretty weak. Despite the unimpressive role of the holiday, distracting sex passages, and confusing ending, Howl-o-ween is worth a look. Holleman does a fine job with the werewolf and other little beasties, giving readers an entertaining little monster mash. Ultimately, those looking for a action filled werewolf tale will probably enjoy the title, but there are stronger titles for Halloween themed horror.
Contains: Gore, sex, torture, violence
Reviewed as part
of the Halloween Horror Review Project, click
here
to see other Halloween themed horror book reviews.
Heart
of Midnight by J. Robert King
TSR, 1992
ISBN: 1560763558
Available: Used
Heart of Midnight takes place in the world of the
popular Ravenloft role playing game setting. Unlike other books set in this
world, there are no undead or vampires. Instead, the story concentrates on a
more primal form of evil, werewolves. Casimir, the protagonist, has been
raised in an orphanage, but he is not an orphan. He has a father, who
tried to have him killed when he was a small child. Casimir is seeking to
revenge himself, and he has a secret weapon that will aid him in his quest. He
is afflicted with lycanthropy, and, combined with the hatred he holds in his
heart, this gives him the edge he needs for the revenge he seeks. Unfortunately
for the reader, Casimir is such a haughty and confident character that it is
difficult to sympathize with him. It is easier to feel sympathy for
Casimir's best friend, Thoris, who is trying to help and understand a
person who is completely self-absorbed. Casimir does become a stronger character
as the book progresses, and by the end of the tale he seems to have grown out of
some of his selfishness, although he remains an arrogant individual. Heart of
Midnight is full of escalating action and intrigue . Recommended for any
library collecting the Ravenloft books and role-playing novels, or building
collections of werewolf or fantasy fiction.
Contains: Violence, Gore review by Bret Jordan
Night of the
Wolf by Alice Borchardt
Ballentine Publishing Group, 1999
ISBN:0345423623
Available: New and Used
Night of the Wolf is set in ancient Rome. I would say it is more accurate to call it a piece of historical fiction that happens to have a werewolf in it, than a werewolf book. The book tells two stories that intertwine at the end. The first is about Lucius, a nobleman whose sister Fulvia has gotten him involved with Roman politics dealing with the likes of Caesar and Mark Antony. It is only with the help of his wily physician Philo that he might survive. The other tale is about the werewolf Maeniel who crosses Dryas, a mystic queen, who has a score to settle with Caesar. There are many scenes of werewolf love as Maeniel ends up bedding various female characters. Although this book has been marketed as a werewolf book, the political story with Lucius is more interesting and more successful than the werewolf storyline, and the book would have been better if the werewolf character was dropped. If you like historical fiction, you might enjoy the book as long as the werewolf doesn't distract you too much. If you like werewolf sex scenes you will get your fill, but the political story might not be to your taste. Other books in this series are The Silver Wolf and The Wolf King. Contains: violence and passages of graphic sex.
3F Publications, August, 2003 (Scrybe Press, June 2006)
ISBN: 0972930914
Available: New and Used
Shara Wellington is a teenager with a protective father who treats her like a little girl and a mother who encourages her to have a more physical relationship with her boyfriend Mark. Her world is shattered when he rapes her after the prom. Shara goes on to college where she works for her professor, Ulrik who offers Shara the gift of the wolf. Shara leaves with Ulrik to learn how to live with her new gift. She becomes more powerful, more confident, and more assertive. Once Shara learns to live with the wolf inside, Ulrik leaves her and she attempts to start a new life. She gets married but finds that her husband is unable to accept her as she is, which ultimately leads to his death. Shara becomes the focus of other werewolves when she is able to give birth to a werewolf child. Yearning for a normal life, Shara finds that her "gift" is an actual curse and tries to find a cure as the pack of werewolves hunt her down. Shara is an excellently written werewolf book that belongs in the core collection of any werewolf fan's collection and is a must have acquisition for a library. Wedel does a fantastic job of describing the changes in both personality and physical characteristics of Shara as her lycanthropy develops. The one area were I wish there was more material is the time between when Shara first meets Ulrik and when he turns her into a werewolf. Shara is being republished by Scrybe Press and is due out at any time, the new edition will have additional material added. Wedel has followed up Shara with Ulrik which will be coming out from Scrybe Press in the Summer of 2006. Contains: Violence, a scene of rape, strong sexual material.
Cycle of the
Werewolf by Stephen King
New American Library, 1983
ISBN: 0451822196
Available: New and Used
Cycle of the Werewolf is a good old fashioned basic werewolf book. The book chronicles a series of werewolf attacks in the small Maine town of Tarker's Mills on a month by month basis. Marty Coslaw, a 10 year old boy, who is confined to a wheelchair who lives in Tarker's Mills manages to survive an encounter with the werewolf he must uncover who the werewolf is with the help of his sister Kate and Uncle Al before the werewolf attacks again. This is a very straight forward werewolf story without a lot of twists and turns. Kings writing is solid and his text is supplemented with great illustrations by Berni Wrightson. The story was eventually made in to a movie Silver Bullet in 1985. I would consider this a core of any werewolf collection. Contains violence.
Murdered by Human Wolves by Steven E Wedel
Scrybe Press, April, 2004
ISBN: 0974834041
Avaiable: New
I hadn't heard of Steven Wedel until I had posted on the Shockline's message board looking for recommendations on werewolf books. Wedel's name came up multiple times as one of the finest authors of werewolf books. I started out with his novella Murdered by Human Wolves, the story of Katherine Cross, a girl who lived in the early 1900s in a small Oklahoma town who is caught in the middle between the human community and a family/pack of werewolves that live next door. The novella leaves the question who are the actual monsters of the story- the werewolves or the humans. I am very impressed by the story and look forward to reviewing more of Wedel's werewolf books. I note, however, if you wanted to include this as part of a library collection the covers and binding would need to be reinforced to extend the life of the book. Contains violence, sexual situations
Dogs of War: A Novel by Steve Ruthenbeck
Batwing Press, 2005
ISBN: 1891799266
Available: New
A group of US soldiers go behind enemy lines in search of fortune and find themselves in a small town where the only living residents are four German soldiers who have gone through mystical experiments that have transformed them into werewolves. Plenty of background is provided on the US soldiers and even one of the Germans throughout the book. Ruthenbeck's story moves at a reasonable pace occasionally breaking from the action to provide background on the various characters. I enjoyed the book a great deal and it was nice to see a werewolf book with a slightly different setting. An excellent addition to a werewolf collection. Contains werewolf violence and gore.
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Here is a list of werewolf titles that were released/re-released in 2008
BEASTIAL: Werewolf Apocalypse by William Carl from Permuted Press
Ulrik by Steve Wedel from Scrybe Press
Shapeshifter By J.F. Gonzalez from Leisure Books
Keepers of the Dead by Bob Freeman from Black Death Book
Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow form Harper Collins
Ravenous by Ray Garton from Leisure Books
Lost Prince by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro from Borderland Press
The Beast Within edited by Matt Hults from Graveside Tales
Different Seasons by Trever Palmer from Black Ink Press
Blood Curse: Werewolf for Hire by Nic Brown
Below is a list of books with werewolves or other lycanthropes. The books are from mass market publishers, independent/small press, and self publications. Most of these books have not been reviewed by me nor should they be considered recommendations. Rather, they are options. Titles are arranged alphabetically. There are some horror/adventure books that involve lycanthropes that haven't been included. If a book strikes you for better or worse and you want to write a review or if there is a book that needs to be added to the list e-mail me.
All Things Under the Moon by Robert Morgan
Animals by John Skipp & Craig Spector
The Beast Within: Erotic Tales of Werewolves by ed. Cecilia Tan
Beastnights by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
The Blood Waltz by Ria Dimitra
Canyons by P.D. Cacek
The Changing by F.W. Armstrong
Cold at Heart by Brian A. Hopkins
The Complete Werewolf by Anthony Boucher
Crooked Tree by Robert C. Wilson
Cry Wolf by Alan Chronister
Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephan King
Darker Than You Think by Jack Williamson
The Devil's Brood by David Jacobs
The Devil's Night by David Jacobs
Dogs of War by Steve Ruthenbeck
Dust and Bones by Jason M. Light
Full moon by Jim Butcher
Heart Beast by Tanith Lee
HowlbyObyWeen by Gary Holleman
The Howling by Gary Brandner
The Howling II by Gary Brandner
The Howling III by Gary Brandner
Howling Mad by Peter David
The Hyde Effect, by Steve Vance
Little Doors by Di Filippo Paul
The Mammoth Book of Werewolves by ed. Stephen Jones
Man Bites Dog by Philip Hansen
Mark of the Werewolf, by Jeffrey Sackett
Mark of the Werewolf by A.B. Wallace
Moonbane, by Al Sarrantonio
Moon Dance by SP Somtow
Moon Death by Rick Hautala
Moon of the Werewolf by Ronald Kelly
Moon of the Wolf by Leslie Whitten
Murdered By Human Wolves by Steven Wedel
Murcheston The Wolf's Tale by David Holland
Naked Came Sasquatch by John Boston
Naked Brunch by Sparkle Hayter
Night Calls by Katherine Eliska Kimbriel
Night Cries by Terry Krueger
Night of the Werewolf by Harry Shannon
Night of the Wolf by Alice Borchardt
Nightfeeder by Judith Reeves-Stevens and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
The Nightwalker by Thomas Tessier
The Orphan by Robert Stallman
The Passion by Donna Boyd
The Promise (Sequel to The Passion) by Donna Boyd
Prowlers by Christopher Golden
Quarrel with the Moon by J.C. Conaway
Return of the Wolfman by Jeff Rovin
Rough Beast by Gary Goshgarian
Shara by Steven Wedel
Saint Peter's Wolf by Michael Cadnum
Scent of the Wolf by Tracy Jones
Shadow Dance by Jessica Palmer
Shapes by Steve Vance
Shapeshifter by J.F. Gonzalez
Shifter by Judith Reeves-Stevens and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
The Silver Wolf by Alice Borchardt
Sins of the Flesh by Don Davis & Jay Davis
Shooter’s Moon by Terrill Lankford
Stolen (Sequel to Bitten) by Kelly Armstrong
Tombley's Walk by Crosland Brown
The Totem by Dave Morrell
Wake of The Werewolf by Geoffrey Caine
Watchers in the Woods by William Johnstone
The Wereling by David Robbins
Werewolf! by ed. Bill Pronzini
Werewolf by Peter Rubie
The Werewolf Chronicles by Traci Briery
The Werewolf of Paris, by Guy Endore
The Werewolf Principle by Clifford D. Simak
A Werewolf Problem in Central Russia by Victor Pelevin and Andrew Bromfield
Werewolf Wars by Randy Goldman
The Werewolf's Kiss by Cheri Scotch
The Werewolf's Revenge by Richard Jaccoma
The Werewolf's Tale by Richard Jaccoma
The Werewolf's Touch by Cheri Scotch
The Werewolf's Sin. by Cheri Scotch
Werewolves by Jerry Ahern and Sharon Ahern
Werewolves by ed. Martin Greenberg
The Werewolves of London by Brian Stableford
The White Wolf by Franklin Gregory
The Wild by Whitley Streiber
Wild Blood by Nancy Collins
Wilding by Melanie Tem
Wilderness by Dennis Danver
The Wolf in the Garden by Alfred Bill
The Wolf King by Alice Borchardt
Wolf Moon by Charles de Lint
Wolf Tracks by David Case
The Wolf's Hour, by Robert McCammon
Wolf's Trap by W.D. Gagliani
Wolffile by Jack Woods
Wolfsong by Traci Briery
The Wolving Time by Patrick Jennings
World of Darkness: Watcher by Charles Grant
The Ultimate Werewolf by ed. David Keller, et. al.
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