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The Monster Librarian Presents:

Reviews of Werewolf and Shapeshifter Fiction

 

image by Bret Jordan

 

 

 

Short stories:

We are featuring the following werewolf short stories:

Mind, Body, and Soul by Keith Gouveia from his book Animal Behavior and other Tales of Lycanthropy

Men in the Moon by Michele Lee

In addition we still have Seeing Red: A Twisted Fairy Tale by our own Bob Freeman.

 

Interviews:

Michele Lee interviews How to Seduce a Naked Werewolf and How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf author Molly Harper

Michele Lee interviews Silver Kiss author Naomi Clark

Rhonda Wilson interviews Wolf Tales author Kate Douglas.

 

 

Art:

 Werewolf art of horror artist Jerrod Brown.  Take a look at the gallery.

 

 

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.

 

 

    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.    

 

Wolf Hunter by J.L. Benet*New Review

Belfire Press, 2012
ISBN-13: 978-1927580035

Available: New and e-book

 

Wolf Hunter has three interwoven plot threads. The first starts at the end of World War II. A group of Nazi scientists is preparing to initiate the final stage of tests that, if successful, would turn an ordinary soldier into the ultimate fighter—a werewolf. The fate of The Fatherland rests on the outcome of the tests. Unfortunately, the tests do not go as planned.

 

 Skip ahead decades, to a young man on a mission to protect the secrets of shapeshifters for his Ojibwa tribe.  A shapeshifter known as a bearwalker, he is hunting a former Nazi who underwent the top secret testing.  He is to destroy all sources of the knowledge, perverted by the Nazis, which would harm the bearwalkers. 

 

 Finally, an unhappy college student, frustrated by his life and fascinated by the darker side of history and the occult, discovers clues that lead him closer to his ultimate desire.  Vague references to the Nazi werewolf experiments only serve to whet his appetite. He decides he must become one.  A few of the scientists are named, so he decides to reach out for some help...one way or the other.

 

This is a good read.  J. L. Benet starts out with an interesting way to create werewolves by having Nazi scientists bring the legend of the occult back to life.  This sets the stage for the themes of good vs. evil in the forms of selfishness and desire for world domination being countered by the desires for redemption and to set things right, no matter the cost. Benet does a good job balancing and tying together the three main characters’ plotlines.  The voice of each character is distinctive, which keeps the segments separated and also creates conflict between them as the story unfolds.  The suspense builds steadily as the story shifts through the three characters’ lives.  The action of the final climax is well-scripted as everyone converges for the birth of a new age or the preservation of the old one.  Benet’s descriptions are effective without being overdone—just enough to keep the story moving and the reader interested.  In the end, this is an interesting take on a classic creature. Recommended.

 

 

Contains:  Graphic Sex, Gore

 

Reviewed by:  Aaron Fletcher

 

 

 

 

The Frenzy War by Gregory Lamberson*New Review

Medallion Press, 2012

Available: New paperback

ISBN: 9781605424538

 

        In this sequel to The Frenzy Way, Lamberson continues the story of the Greater New York Pack and police captain Anthony Mace. Mace has been placed in charge of the K-9 unit—which is nothing short of exile—since his public debacle of the Manhattan Werewolf case (from the previous book), and Angela Domini has gone into hiding somewhere in Canada.

Someone has kidnapped Rhonda, a young werewolf, and murdered her boyfriend (also a werewolf), while they were working in the bookstore owned by Gabriel and Raphael Domini. Gabriel is the leader of the New York werewolves, with his brother Raphael as his right-hand man. Rhonda and her boyfriend were targeted because of their true nature, by a centuries-old secret organization called the Brotherhood of Torquemada, which is determined to wipe out all werewolves, believing they are evil. After more attacks on werewolf families, including the deaths of two police officers, Anthony Mace is called back into action as the head of a classified task force established to protect the Pack and eliminate the Brotherhood. This is more easily said than done, as the Brotherhood has taken to using terrorist tactics in the heart of New York City.

 

        On top of everything Mace has to deal with on this case, now Rodrigo Gomez, the serial killer that Mace caught before the Manhattan Werewolf case, wishes to give an exclusive interview to the reporter who covered the original case, Mace’s wife Cheryl. Mace is suspicious of Gomez’ motives, because Mace knows something about the serial killer that no one else does, and he does not want that information made public, as it can affect the current case. Captain Mace and his task force must move quickly to find Rhonda and the Brotherhood of Torquemada before the Greater New York Pack is destroyed.

 

        While you don’t necessarily have to read The Frenzy Way in order to keep up with the events in The Frenzy War, I strongly suggest you do. Lamberson tells a compelling story, in which it is not the werewolves that should be feared, but the people who think the wolves are evil and must be destroyed at all costs. The members of the Brotherhood don’t seem to care who else they take down, even members of the NYPD. The characters are well-rounded, and you will see them for the individuals they are—you’ll love them, hate them, and even be frustrated by them. There is plenty of blood and gore, as Lamberson is amazing at combining a gritty crime drama with blood-soaked horror. The Frenzy War has a few predictable moments (which can be difficult to avoid) but overall I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Recommended.

 

Contains: gore, violence and sexual situations

 

Review by Colleen Wanglund

Note: This review was done as part of Monster Movie Month at MonsterLibrarian.com

Click here to return to the Monster Movie Month page.

 

 

 

High Moor by Graeme Reynolds
Horrific Tales Publishing, 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0-9570103-0-7
Available: New

 

        High Moor is the debut novel by UK-based Graeme Reynolds (and the first publication for new small press Horrific Tales Publishing). The story’s prologue has John Simpson – a man (literally) struggling with his inner demons – seeing a news report from his hometown. The legendary ‘High Moor Beast’ has stuck again, despite the fact that it was supposedly killed twenty years before. John knows the seriousness of this report, and travels back to High Moor (near Durham) to face the beast. The first part of the story proper takes us back to 1986, and John’s childhood with friends David, Michael and Marie. The kids spend their time making dens and camps in the forest, and being terrorized by Malcolm Harrison and his sadistic gang of thugs. One night, when he goes back to their treehouse to collect his dad’s tools, David is attacked by something dangerous…

 

        High Moor is a werewolf novel – this isn’t a surprise, given the early description of John’s adult life. However, it’s an old-school werewolf novel, with echoes of The Wolf Man and An American Werewolf in London. This is not a paranormal romance, nor is it a story (on the whole) of werewolves living alongside human beings. This is a good old-fashioned ‘there’s something scary in the forest’ werewolf novel, and this is not a bad thing at all. Though it is not the most original take on werewolves, it is a well-written, suspenseful and engaging read, with compelling characters, some good local and period detail, and a very intriguing ending.

 

        I recommend High Moor to adult fans of werewolf fiction and film. It will particularly appeal to those people who have become a little tired of sympathetic werewolves (and vampires), and fancy a blood-thirsty predator for a change.

 

Contains: violence (sometimes gory)

 

Reviewed by: Hannah Kate

 

 

Torn by Lee Thomas

Cemetery Dance, 2012

ISBN: 978-1587672651

Available: New

 

On the surface, Luther's Bend is your typical small town, and Bill Cranston is your typical small town sheriff. But looks can be deceiving. Cranston has his fair share of problems, including a rocky home life, punctuated by a wife that's checked out of their marriage, and children that suffer as a result. Thomas does a masterful job of revealing the true nature behind his protagonist's personal strife and weaves it in seamlessly with the dramatic and horrific events that threaten to bring all of the good sheriff's secrets to light.

 

I'd love to dive into the meat of this story and discuss the intricacies of plot and structure, the dual natures mirrored in the heroes and villains of the tale, but to do so would destroy the author's endgame, and that would be a shame. Suffice it to say that Lee Thomas has delivered a solid addition to the Werewolf genre, intertwining heady psychological drama and gruesome violence with a lightning-paced narrative that kept me glued to the page.


Review by Bob Freeman

 

 

 

 

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

 

Here is a second look review by Kelly Fann

 

With zombies everywhere and The Walking Dead taking the nation by storm, it’s nice to see a different take on the now standard apocalypse scenario. This is a tale of bioterrorism meets genetic mutation meets mythology. It’s September in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Rick and his gang are in the process of robbing a bank. As the sun sets, all those in the bank begin to change form, except for Rick and Chesya, a teller in the bank. Running from the carnage, they hide out in the vault until morning, and emerge to see their city in ruins. Over 95% of the population turns during the full moon, and they lose all their human instincts as the beast desires take over. While they attempt to survive the full moon cycle, Rick and Chesya meet Christian and his mother, Cathy. Christian discovers a cure to the “disease”, and now it’s up to the four of them to save themselves and the rest of the United States.


    For those looking for a true horror story, Bestial might disappoint as there is a “happily-ever-after” ending, but it is still a tale full of horror, gore, action, and suspense. There is also a great deal of focus on morals; there are religious undertones that seem disjointed from the rest of the storyline. It’s not a religious-focused apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic novel so this added layer seems contrived and unnecessary. Also, it is important to note that there is a great deal of focus on child abuse, specifically against Christian by his father and his father’s buddies. Recommended for adult fiction collections.
Contains: language, gore, pedophilia
Reviewed by: Kelly Fann

 

 

A Pack of Wolves by Eric S. Brown

Grand Mal Press, 2011

ISBN: N/A

Available: Paperback and Kindle Edition

 

Graham, Zed, Yule, Sarah and Shannon are looking for their brother, Samuel, who is trying to raise an army.  This is no ordinary family.  They are a pack of werewolves—pure blooded.  Samuel has a very deep hatred of humans since witnessing his parents’ murder when just a boy.  That hatred has led him to seek out dark magic and a very powerful spirit that will allow Samuel to enact his revenge. 

 

Samuel is making his way across America’s Western frontier, slaughtering most, and creating his army out of the strongest humans he comes across.  They are called the Created and they are inferior to the pure werewolves.  Samuel also has the help of a mysterious man dressed in white with the voice of an angel.  The family is on his trail…but can they stop Samuel before his plans reach fruition?

 

Set in the American Old West, A Pack of Wolves is a fast-paced, action-packed novella full of memorable characters.  Eric S. Brown has differentiated between pure werewolves and those created by accident or happenstance, endowing each family/pack member with a different strength.  Character development is excellent and the story contains a few surprises, although some will be recognizable to regular readers of Brown’s work.  The prose is tight and flows easily, and Brown keeps things unpredictable, which is a huge plus in my book.  Having already helped redefine the zombie sub-genre, Eric S. Brown continues to push the boundaries of the horror genre.  Brown has revitalized zombies, Bigfoot, and aliens, and now seems to be expanding on the phenomenon of Western horror.  A Pack of Wolves is a must-have for any horror fan’s collection. Highly recommended.

Contains: violence, gore and adult language

Reviewed by: Colleen Wanglund

 

 

Werewolves: Myth, Mystery, and Magick by Katie Boyd
Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2011

ISBN: 9780764339073

Available: Paperback

 

I try to find something positive about any book I review. This one was difficult. In Ms. Boyd's favor, she approaches the subject passionately and makes an honest attempt to thoroughly cover the subject, from traditional folklore to modern media representations. Unfortunately, the book is in serious need of a stronger editorial hand (on page six alone, two authors were misnamed as “Brahm Stoker” and “Stephanie Meyers”). Run-on and awkward sentences and glaring typographical errors aside, at 160 pages, Werewolves is rather thin, considering the broad brush Ms. Boyd is painting with, and the majority of the information within is readily available with a simple Google search. I expect more from someone who represents themselves as an “internationally known Demonologist and Occult Sciences/Crimes Specialist”. In addition, after the first reading, the spine cracked and the pages became loose and bothersome to keep track of. I cannot in good conscience recommend Werewolves: Myth, Mystery, and Magick to anyone, let alone paranormal enthusiasts who appear to be this book's target audience.

Reviewed by: Bob Freeman

 

 

 

Grave Expectations: The Classic Tale of Love, Ambition, and Howling at the Moon by Charles Dickens and Sherri Browning Erwin

Gallery Books, 2011

ISBN: 978-1451617245

Available: Trade Paperback

 

Grave Expectations is a mashup of the Victorian classic Great Expectations and werewolves.  It tells the story of Pip, the only werewolf pup to survive being born in his family. His much older sister is a full human, and a bit resentful of Pip’s werewolf nature. Pip is cared for by his sister and Joe Gargery, her husband and the village silversmith. As in the original Great Expectations, Pip is threatened by a convict on the run. Where the story diverges from there is that the convict is a werewolf. In this world, werewolves, vampires and zombies (known as Recommissioned) exist and survive, despite normal humans. As in the original novel, Pip first meets Estella and Miss Havisham, then comes into a great fortune by an unknown benefactor.  The story veers off on a slightly tangential course to account for the supernatural creatures in this version, but ultimately remains very similar.

 

This is both the blessing and the curse of the book. Readers who enjoy the long-winded nature of Charles Dickens’ writing will delight in Sherri Browning Erwin’s refined, but decidedly gruesome and violent, retelling of this story. Others may feel a little bored. I found it was fantastic reading for the subway, for nothing is as boring as riding the subway for 45 minutes at a shot, unless of course you have a longer trip than I. This book is recommended for readers of classics, werewolf fiction, and towering Victorian romances.

 

Contains: Violence, gruesome imagery, gore, Victorian profanity.

 

Reviewed by: Benjamin Franz

 

 

The Last Werewolf  by Glen Duncan
Knopf, 2011
ISBN:
0307595080
Available: New

Jake is the last werewolf on earth.  At 200 years, he's seen a lot in his life.  The fact he's the sole survivor of his species depresses him. He's contemplated suicide: what sort of future does he have? Werewolves are sterile, so he can't procreate sexually, and the werewolf curse is no longer transmitted via bites. Jake spends his time sleeping with women he doesn't love.  The concept of love is a word foreign to him: since he literally devoured the love of his life shortly after he became a werewolf, Jake actually pursues women he dislikes. There is safety in this: he will never fall for a woman again. Jake is prepared to face his own mortality,  and ready to turn himself over to WOCOP (World Organization for the Control of Occult Phenomena). However, circumstances change and Jake decides to preserve his life, able to finally accept the monster he has become.

Told in a journal format, The Last Werewolf is not your average werewolf tale. It truly captures one man's evaluation of his soul, his life, and his purpose for living. Jake goes through a dramatic transformation throughout the book, not just physical, but also emotional and spiritual. At the beginning, he’s a monster who punishes himself for an action centuries in the past.  By the end, he's a man, who happens to be a monster, and wants to preserve his species.

Definitely more on the literary side of the spectrum, Duncan provides readers with a completely unique and innovative attempt at the werewolf tale. I wouldn't recommend it for someone looking for your average werewolf story. Duncan's attempt is much more of a contemplative, introspective look at a werewolf's life.  Above all, despite previous marketing, I would not promote this as "Twilight for adults." Highly recommended. 

Contains:  Gore, vivid scenes of a sexual nature.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Lawrence

 

 

 

 

How to Seduce a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

Pocket, 2011

ISBN: 1439195870

Available: paperback & multiformat digital

            Maggie is the alpha of the pack, and despite kicking some tail to get the position, she finds herself cramped under the pressure to lead not just her people, but her family, into the future. The former alpha, Eli, was caught trying to kill Maggie's brother, so things are tense in the pack, and a series of mysterious attacks aren't helping. Neither is Dr. Nick Thatcher, the gorgeous man Maggie finds poking around Grundy, Alaska trying to prove that werewolves are real. But, despite pressure from her family to continue the shape shifter line, Maggie can’t keep her mind off Nick. Her libido, however, is just a distraction when it begins to look like another pack might be trying to take Maggie's territory from her.

            As a lead, Maggie is less fun than Mo, from Harper's first werewolf book. She's sassy, though, and a little mean, and a heck of a lot more conflicted. Harper is an excellent writer. She weaves a tale that feels ordinary despite the mystical elements, and integrates pack mentality and politics into the Alaskan wilderness seamlessly. Definitely recommended for public paranormal romance collections, Harper's werewolf books will also likely appear to urban fantasy fans as well.

Contains: language, graphic sex scenes, some violence

Reviewed by: Michele Lee

 

 

 

By the Light of the Moon by Larry Kerr

Damnation Books, 2011

ISBN: 9781615723478

Available: Trade paperback & multiformat digital

            The problem with writing a traditional [vampire/zombie/werewolf/serial killer/etc] tale these days is that the mythos of most of these creatures are so ingrained in us that "traditional" often translates to boring. If you slap a howling werewolf on the cover readers know what your bad guy is and spending two hundred pages with your characters still in the dark can easily become tedious rather than a delightfully gory romp through a dark night. This is the most glaring problem with By the Light of the Moon, which stars a paranoid newspaper reporter, his girlfriend, and a small town cop squaring off against a vicious, strong, mysterious creature who gets really hungry every full moon.

            It also doesn't help that the best (and sometimes only real) descriptions come from the characters telling each other how poignant that scene is, or how relevant this fact is. By the Light of the Moon is not a bad book. Kerr's strength is his characterization, and he recognizes how to strike all the dramatic moments. The book’s greatest flaw is that it does nothing new with the mythos and lacks an atmosphere that would make up for it. Given its higher small press price tag, it's not the best option for public collections, but werewolf fans, especially the die-hard werewolf-monster-killer fans will dig it.

Contains: violence and language

Reviewed by: Michele Lee

 

 

 

On the Prowl by Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks, Karen Chance and Sunny

Berkley, 2007

ISBN: 0425216594

Available: paperback and multiformat digital

            Anthologies like On the Prowl are becoming more common these days, particularly in urban fantasy and paranormal romance. On the Prowl is a shape shifter-themed collection of four novellas by authors writing in pre-established worlds. It features a prequel to Brigg's Alpha and Omega series, set in the same world as her Mercy Thompson books; a side story from Wilks' Lupi series, set between the third and fourth books but starring a secondary character; a story set in Karen Chance's Dorina Basarab world but led by side characters; and a short story from Sunny that's like a summary of the first four of her Monere books.

            The stories vary between very good (Briggs and Chance) to “you probably need to be a fan of the series” (Wilks) to terrible (Sunny). While these types of books are more for series completists than public collections they can help fans of the genre or a particular theme learn about new authors whose works they might love. On the Prowl is recommended for collections that have a lot of paranormal readers, and of course to librarians (and booksellers) themselves who like to have an understanding of the variety of books on the shelves. It's a decent "sampler" of paranormal works that requires little investment and can certainly spark the urge to go out and try new books.

Contains: sex, mentions of abuse, some violence

 Reviewed by:  Michele Lee

 

 

 

River Marked by Patricia Briggs

Ace, 2011

ISBN: 0441019730

Available: Hardcover and multiformat digital

            Just as Lord of the Rings established a plethora of fantasy standards Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series has left its mark on urban fantasy. In this sixth book of the series, Mercy has made her commitment to the local werewolf alpha, Adam. In fact, after a surprise wedding (like a surprise birthday party), Adam whisks Mercy off on a ten day camping trip in a plush trailer lent to them by the fae. Since the fae never give anything for free, both Mercy and Adam are suspicious, but determined not to let that ruin their alone time. Then a river monster, an ancient Native American cannibal, rises and claims Mercy as its own.

            Briggs is excellent at drawing in both readers and multicultural magical elements. In this story she isolates Adam and Mercy from their pack, and sets them up against what might as well be a god. Briggs reminds readers that they don't need European vampires and Nordic werewolves for intrigue and adventure: America has plenty of secrets all its own.

            This series is very popular, for good reason. It strikes a perfect balance between urban fantasy elements—romance, mystery, horror and magic. It is led by strong, but not perfect characters whose power might set them apart with a less talented literary hand. Instead Briggs keeps them human, valiant, noble, challenged and even light-hearted. Readers looking to try out urban fantasy would do well to start here, and a librarian on a tight budget will most likely see this series gives a high interest value for the money.

Contains: violence, language, sexual situations

Reviewed by: Michele Lee

 

Wild by Naomi Clark

KDP, 2011

ASIN: B0053PVW22

Available: Kindle ebook

            Lizzie is an addict in an abusive relationship. Abandoned on the street after a fight and attacked, she's now a werewolf too. Wild is at heart a tale of redemption and the crippling effect abuse has on a person. It's also a tale of werewolves on the cusp of exposure, fighting not to be defined by the worst and most stereotypical among them.

            Lizzie is not the smart ass that readers of  urban fantasy have come to expect, and addiction and spousal abuse seem to be among the least accepted issues in urban fantasy fiction. So it's not surprising that this book has yet to really connect with its audience. But it's a shame, because it's very reflective of books of the older version of urban fantasy,  like Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause and Nancy A. Collins' Sonja Blue books. While the popularity of urban fantasy has, in many ways, led to the solidification (and some might say stagnation) of the genre, it's books like these with a somewhat different tempo, but excellent story lines and writing, that fall through the cracks. Wild is a fantastic book, dark in ways that are somewhat uncomfortable, but ultimately hopeful. Lizzie's struggle with addiction and self esteem makes it a book that will connect with readers unexpectedly and an excellent addition to public collections.

Contains: drug use, sex, violence, language

Review by Michele Lee

 

How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

Pocket, 2011

ISBN: 1439195862

Available: paperback & multiformat digital

            "Pitch-perfect" is a cliché when it comes to book reviewing, but nothing less describes this fun paranormal romance from Molly Harper. Mo is a woman so desperate to escape her overwhelming hippie mother that she moves all the way to Alaska. She ends up in the tiny town of Grundy, where bears and elk roam, where the whole town (it seems) is looking for a wife, and where her neighbor just happens to be a werewolf. Cooper has a number of secrets of his own, including his lust for the pretty new outsider. Before Mo and Cooper can get together Cooper has to face up to his past, both emotionally and literally.

            How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf is a fun book, driven by a lead that's enchanting, hilarious and stubbornly charming. There's enough mystery and danger to keep things exciting, but this book shouldn't be confused with a horror novel or even an urban fantasy. Fun all the way through, How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf hooks its claws in early and drags readers along for an off-beat, wilderness-spiked ride. It's a highly recommended and quite enjoyable addition to public and paranormal-loving private collections.

Contains: violence, explicit sex

Reviewed by: Michele Lee

 

 

 

 

Dog World by Jason McKinney

CreateSpace, 2011

ISBN: 978-1456587994

Availability: New

Jason McKinney’s book, Dog World, tells of a world-altering conspiracy that reaches around the globe. The terror responsible for this coming apocalypse is the werewolf. Werewolves evolved in the Dark Ages and for the most part stayed under the radar….but they were stockpiling, planning, and developing a plan that would reduce mankind to the position of cattle. Not all of the werewolf population feels this way, though. There are quite a few werewolves who respect the humans and will do whatever it takes to keep them safe. Together, the humans and human-friendly werewolves will battle to the death to protect the world.

The first waves of the werewolf take-over begin in Iraq with the military. Here we begin to find out that the werewolves’ main plan is infiltration of the military. Right away the action takes off. During the fighting there is a lot of military jargon. This is to be expected in a book featuring military personnel as the main characters, but as someone who is not that familiar with the military, I got bogged down trying to figure out the terms. I thought this took away from some of the action.

It wasn’t long after I started the book that I noticed a big problem. Editing. I would be in the middle of a great, heart-pounding action sequence between the good guys/werewolves and the bad guys/werewolves when I would come upon an incomplete sentence. Or it might be a sentence missing a word or one with extra words that didn’t belong. I hoped this was just an oversight on a few pages, but it wasn’t. As I was following Major Kunpai, Private Tan, Captain Demarti and the others while they were engaging in combat or hashing out plans to stop the enemy, a problem with editing would come up and I would have to go back and reread a few sentences to make sure I hadn’t missed something. This was disappointing and threw off the timing of the combat scenes as well as dialogue between the characters.

I really felt if the book had some hardcore editing done to it, the story would have tightened up and been way more enjoyable. There is hope. The werewolves and their plans for world domination are just beginning and McKinney left room at the end for a sequel. With a lot of editing and proofreading I believe the author could create a sequel that would showcase his talents and be an asset in the werewolf genre. Not recommended.

Contains: graphic gory violence and extreme sexual situations.

Review by Brandi Blankenship

 

The Taming of the Werewolf by Sylvia Shults

Dark Continents Publishing, 2011

ISBN: 978-0-9831603-7-3

Available: New paperback and multiformat ebook 

 

 

            It is fairly well-known that most of Shakespeare’s works were not original. Rather, he took already existing stories and then retold them in such a way that they have endured through the ages. It is only appropriate, then, that another writer has taken “Taming of the Shrew” and retold the tale for this generation. It is not a timeless work like Shakespeare’s, but it is a fun and clever interpretation.

 

            For those of you not quite remembering the plot, Katharina is the eldest daughter of a rich gentleman who is required to be wed before her younger sister, Bianca can marry. While Bianca has several callers, Katharina is known far and wide as a “The Shrew” and revels in her wretchedness. Finally, a man named Petruchio presents himself and proceeds to tame Katharina through atypical, often cruel means, eventually resulting in a docile wife and a triumphant suitor.

 

In Shults’ telling, Katharina’s current anger is fueled by an attack she endured as a teenager which left her suspended between two worlds, the human and the wolf, but belonging to neither. The author weaves this explanation seamlessly into the existing story, and her writing ability carries us through to an ending that suggests more of a marriage among equals, which will resonate better with modern readers. I admire her rendition of the main plot.

          

        However, the lack of subplots leaves the overall work a bit wanting. In the play there are several interludes, especially with Bianca’s suitors, that help round out the story and give the play some comic relief. Not having these tangents in Taming of the Werewolf at best leaves the novel used up too quickly, at worst creates some noticeable holes in the plot. The most glaring example of this is how Petruchio recognized Vincentio, the father of one of the callers, on a road. (Huh? Not only had he never met the father in this retelling—he never met the son, either!) If only Shults had spent a little more time further developing the story…but alas.

Consider the e-book for your electronic inventory—it’s worth the $2.99—but I would skip the paper copy. Recommended for Shakespeare fans, romance fans, and anyone who ever wondered why Bianca’s hands were tied at the beginning of the play.

Contains: brief sex scene

 

Reviewed by: W.E. Zazo-Phillips

 

 

 

The Best Werewolf Short Stories 1800~1849: A Classic Werewolf Anthology  Edited and Introduced by Andrew Barger

Battletree Books, 2010

ISBN: 978-1-933-747-25-5

Available:  New and Used

 

    This scholarly collection of five classic short stories collected by Andrew Barger is impressive, and would be of interest for anyone fascinated with the history of the werewolf mythos.  Written in the 50 year period between 1800~1849, these stories represent the genesis of the werewolf in literature..

 

    Included in this collection is "The Man-Wolf", written by Leitch Ritchie and first appearing in 1831. According to Barger's research it has not previously been included in any other anthology, so the publication of this story has particular importance.

 

    My personal favorite is a gem of a contribution from the only female in the collection, Catherine Crowe.  Entitled "A Story of a Weir-Wolf", it was originally published in 1846.  Set in the Middle Ages, it is a finely woven tapestry of intrigue, betrayal, love and tragedy.

 

    This anthology is not for everyone, but  I feel that it would be well utilized to great benefit in a unit study on classic literature in an academic setting.  I would also highly recommend it as an addition to the personal library of anyone who enjoys reading classic literature. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and Barger's introduction of the history of the werewolf in literature was priceless.

 

    Just for fun, great films to tie in with this collection would be the classic movie 'The Wolf Man'  (1941) featuring Lon Chaney Jr. and Bela Lugosi, and even the modern film 'The Wolfman' (2010) starring Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins. Highly recommended

 

Contains: mild violence, some peril.

 Review by: Rhonda Walton

 

 

Werewolf Book : The Encyclopedia of Shape-Shifting Beings by Brad Steiger

Visible Ink Press, 1999

ISBN: 9781578590780

Available: New and Used

        If you want to expand your interest in werewolves and other shapeshifters beyond fiction, to the realms of history, science and the occult, start with this book. Not only does The Werewolf Book have entries on all manner of shape shifting beings from myth, and accounts of supposed real life were-critters, it also encompasses the books and movies that influenced the image of shape shifting and werewolves throughout history and made it what it was today. Nothing is treated as trivial.  Even the effect of comedy, such as Abbot and Costello's monster movies, on the mythos, is dealt with respectfully. While the encyclopedia isn't exhaustive in its entries, it does offer a plethora of titles to seek out for further research. Certainly a core reference for the study of shape shifting beings, The Werewolf Book is an essential part of collections that cater to researchers, occultists, writers, and anyone interested in lycanthropes. Highly recommended.


Contains: some disturbing descriptions of witch trials and tortures
Review by Michele Lee

 

Scent of the Wolf  by Tracy Jones
Lachesis Publishing,
ISBN: 9781592798261
Available: used
   
Scent of the Wolf is a loosely historical romantic mystery, Scooby-Doo style.  It centers on Sophia, who, with her cousin Karl, is called to a strange castle  where she must stay for a month in order to inherit whatever it is that her grandfather left her. Unfortunately; there's a very old werewolf curse on her family, and although the conditions for the inheritance are real, they are also a means to lure Sophia to the arms of an evil creature that prowls outside the castle. The setting and time period are details-vague, the horror isolated to small glimpses of a sinister family past, and the bad guy’s threats to rape the heroine. Sophia’s behavior is frustratingly erratic, fluctuating between determined strength and being pliable and easily manipulated. It's not a bad book, but it's too passive for urban fantasy fans, and too vague for hardcore historical lovers. Scent of the Wolf is a stylish old classic werewolf tale that would especially appeal to fans of werewolf horror movies (An American Werewolf in London, The Wolfman, etc.) and classic haunted castle tales.
Review
by Michele Lee

 

Wolf Hunt by Jeff Strand
Leisure (December 2010)
Dark Regions Press (limited)
ISBN: 9780843964653 (Leisure Edition)
Available: Limited, (Mass Market in December 2010)
   

        Ivan is a total bad guy, a complete jerk who can point out people's stupidity with sinister calm while gleefully killing them. He's also the cargo of two stone cold, no-nonsense mafia transport men who are taking him across Florida to...well they don't get paid to ask questions. Too bad Ivan just got loose and is now roaming suburban neighborhoods slaughtering people.


        Jeff Strand's Wolf Hunt is a wild ride, full of characters who don't fall for all the typical horror novel tropes, and who face their circumstances with casual sensibility. This is definitely a stand out in horror fiction, not just werewolf tales. This is the story for people disillusioned with all the other werewolves out there, especially the thinly veiled alpha male stereotypes. Highly recommended for private and public collections.


Contains: Language, violence, gore

Review by Michele Lee

 

Wolf’s Bluff by W.D. Gagliani

Leisure, 2010

ISBN: 978-0-8439-6348-9

Available: New

Wolf’s Bluff is the third installment in W.D. Gagliani’s Wolf Cycle series. Homicide cop/werewolf Nick Lupo is back again and facing off against Wolfpaw Security. He is starting to believe it may very well consist of a full staff of werewolves. Lupo knows that getting himself involved in this case also puts his closest friends, including his girlfriend Jessie, at risk of harm as well. While looking into the Wolfpaw case, Lupo also gets wind of a series of “animal attacks” that are taking place in Wausau. Could the two be connected? It’s up to Lupo to find out. Will Lupo be able to take down this shifty group (no pun intended) before anyone else gets hurt?

Once again Gagliani has created a wonderful addition to the werewolf subgenre. Fans of this subgenre will definitely want to check out this novel, along with the two previous books in the series, as Gagliani puts a bit of a spin on werewolves. Most werewolf novels tend to either have all good werewolves or all bad, but Gagliani mixes things up. Lupo is an all-around good guy and does everything he can to control the “creature” within him. Unfortunately, he runs into a lot of people that can’t control their own “creatures”, and feels he’s the only one truly capable of getting things back under control. Due to this and the relationships he makes throughout, readers can’t help but sympathize and grow attached to Lupo’s character. He’s very likable, despite some of the “mistakes” he makes within this particular book. Everyone within the story better hope that nothing ever happens to him, because I tend to agree with him… if he can’t take down the bad guys, I don’t think anybody can!

This book would make a great addition to any library looking to expand its horror and/or werewolf sections.

Contains: Adult Language, Adult Situations, Gore, Sex

Review by Rhonda Wilson

 

Despairs & Delights by Lincoln Crisler

Arctic Wolf Publishing, 2008

ISBN: 978-0980219722

Available: New and Used

    Lincoln Crisler’s first anthology consists of ten short stories. Many contain paranormal elements and some are written as human horror, but all of them are worth reading. I found each story to be easy to read, allowing readers of all levels to enjoy this collection. “Easy to read” doesn’t mean this is a book for minors, because it is definitely not. Included within the pages of Despairs & Delights are mentions of gore, incest, and necrophilia, so it’s definitely NOT aimed at young adult. Not to name all of the stories in this book, but three in particular stood out to me.

“Lane Feeds the Multitude” is the first one I shall mention. It focuses on a “soup kitchen” that is having trouble funding their project in order to keep everyone well fed. One of the workers, Lane, gets an idea that will help everyone out, and takes it upon himself to “track down” some food.

“The Hitchhiker” was probably my favorite story out of this collection. It is about a hitchhiking werewolf, Jason, who is headed towards what he feels is his “destiny”. Most people would expect a very different destiny for a werewolf, but Jason feels strongly about his decision and has given up everything to make it happen.

“Victory Feast” is yet another fine piece by Crisler. In this story, a son is willing to make one of life’s greatest sacrifices in order to keep his secret from getting out. What is the secret and what is the great sacrifice? The answer is found within the pages of Crisler’s Despairs & Delights.

I would recommend this collection to all horror fans and especially those looking to get into horror without worrying about picking up a book containing extremely graphic sex and gore. Lincoln’s stories skirt around the graphic scenes and get right to the point. Despairs & Delights would be a welcome addition to any library collection.

Contains: Adult Situations, Adult Language

Review by Rhonda Wilson

Note: Despairs & Delights are included here due to a werewolf short story contained within as part of Werewolf month.

 

Little Women and Werewolves by Louisa May Alcott and Porter Grand

Del Rey, 2010

ISBN: 9780345522603

Available: New

        Yet another literary mash up, Little Women and Werewolves is the classic tale of Jo, Beth, Meg and Amy, four girls trying to grow up, once rich, now poor, their father gone off to the Civil War and with werewolves running around. Unlike other mash ups there is no tongue-in-cheek take on the original, just a telling of the traditional tale with the occasional line, or scene, about werewolves crammed in. If someone spliced frames from a slasher flick into a high brow romance then peppered in some morals, you'd get the same effect.

Grand mimics Alcott's style very well, even rounding the edges a bit. Readers who loved the original will likely enjoy this tale (particularly because Alcott also wrote gothic style novels, thus the set up of this being the "original" version of Little Women that was rewritten into what we know today is fitting). While it has a certain charm it also is unlikely to appeal to the contemporary audiences of most paranormal and horror books because of an overdose of generally repressive morals and a lack of plot. The book encompasses about six years in the girls' lives, and a lot happens. Although the writing is often lovely, it seems as if just when the good stuff is about to get going, the narrative shies away for another lesson about being “a good little woman”. Overall, despite promising prose, I found myself disappointed. Those acquiring for public collections should be assured that there are better mash ups out there. However if the library's patrons seem to have a taste for Little Women or the “new classics”, no doubt they'll love this.

Contains: violence and some gore

 

 

Deadtown by Nancy Holzner

Ace, 2009

ISBN: 978-0441018130

Available: mass market and digital

        Deadtown depicts a world where parahumans have no civil rights and are forced to live in one area of town, to the point where they have to have permits to leave that area of town. The lead character is Victory Vaughn, the latest in a recent line of Welsh true shape shifters, and a demon hunter. Her kind-of-boyfriend is the lead civil rights attorney for Paranormal Americas, and a werewolf. When one of her clients is found dead Vicky realizes that the Hellion that killed her father is now hunting her. She has to balance her personal life with dealing with a scientist who wants to make her a lab rat, and protecting a client who by all rights she should want dead. Somehow, she must also find it in herself to stop the demon she fears.

Deadtown has all the makings of a good urban fantasy, but falls flat in the execution. Most of the characters are either blah, or completely annoying. Holzner has created an interesting world with her oppressive society, but the plot doesn't revolve around making things better. The characters consistently make choices that are stupid, dangerous and even violent. It's hard to connect with the people in this tale, making it a lackluster example of urban fantasy. Deadtown is not without its charms, so collections that service voracious paranormal readers—or those with no taste for the full-on erotic scenes in other books—will still have a place for Deadtown in their collections.

Contains: Violence, language

 

 

 

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews

Ace, 2010

ISBN: 9780441018529

Available: New

        Magic Bleeds is the fourth book in Andrews' (a husband-wife writing team with a shared pen name) Kate Daniels series. Set in a semi-post apocalyptic Atlanta where magic and technology are warring for supremacy over reality, it follows Kate Daniels, a mercenary turned knight protector of the city with a dark secret and a thing for the head of the city's shape shifter organization, Curran.

The fourth book in the series, where Kate faces down magical versions of the crazy (and deadly) family aunt and magically sentient viruses is not the place to start reading the series. However the whole series is fast paced, action-packed and features some of the best writing in urban fantasy today. Magic Bleeds, as well as the whole series, is highly recommended for collections as Andrews is only a few steps behind standards like Hamilton, Briggs and Harris in popularity.

Contains: violence, language, sex

 

 

Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Orbit, 2009

ISBN: 9780441018369

Available: New, used and digital

        Mercy Thompson is Briggs’ enigmatic and charmingly contrary skinwalker--a native, natural coyote shifter rather a virus-borne werewolf. Raised by the ruler of the werewolves, and loved by the local pack alpha, one would think she's safe. But what kind of a story would that be? In Bone Crossed, the area vampire queen, Marsillia, has discovered that Mercy killed two of her followers and in turn is trying to kill her, permanently. In a brutal first move, she drains Mercy's vampire friend Stefan and drops him into Mercy's lap, waiting for him to do the killing for her. But the depth of Marsillia's cruelty doesn't end there.

Bone Crossed takes a wicked look at the vampires other series are painting as sexy, but ultimately benign fanged creatures. Briggs' vampires are malicious, sinister immortals who only have quests for power and socio-political manipulations to pass the time.

Another popular series, Briggs' Mercy Thompson books are essential to a good modern paranormal collection, not just because of their reader base, but because Briggs gives a good, solid entertaining read every time.

Contains: violence, language, sex

 

 

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Ace, 2010

ISBN: 9780441018192

Available: hardcover and digital

        With the fifth book in her Mercy Thompson series Patricia Briggs moves away from the seemingly more popular vampires and focuses on fairies, also known as the fae. But don't be fooled- vampires look tame,  and their human origins evident, when they are compared to creatures far too primal to have ever been human. Still shaken after a friend was set up to kill her in the last book, and being brutally raped the book before, Mercy's understandably having problems fully trusting her new role as Adam's mate in the local werewolf pack. It doesn't help that someone in the pack is actively trying to kill her, using her new link to the pack to do so. The local fae are baring their uncomfortable faces when Mercy receives a cryptic message telling her to take care of the book of fae fairy tales in her possession. Apparently it holds the key to an ancient fae weapon with a past drenched in blood and torture before it was ever even used.

Briggs' books are dark, and not without a sexual thrill, but they focus on supernatural creatures as a threat to ordinary lives, rather than as a way to improve them. This series is a success with readers, as well as being valuable to collections as an excellent example of modern, entertainment-based fiction. Add to this that the Mercy books have been upgraded by the publisher to hardback release (giving the books longer shelf life, and increasing the demand for lower-income readers) it makes Silver Borne exactly the kind of book that should have a place in public collections.

Contains: sex, violence, language

 

 

 

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

Ace, 2010

ISBN: 9780441018642

Available: Hardcover and digital

        The popularity of the True Blood television show alone gives the Sookie Stackhouse books (of which this is the latest) a place on the popular fiction shelves of public collections. But beyond that there's also the bonus of hardback releases leading to longer shelf life and increased demands from lower income readers, and of course, there's the plots.

Any reader or librarian not already aware should quickly learn that the television show is quite different from the book, so audiences might not necessarily cross over. This book is a particularly good example as a lot of the plot involving fae who want Sookie dead, werewolf pack take over and vampire murder attempts seem incidental and wedged in between the day to day occurrences in Sookie's life. Sookie's life just happens to include a vampire lover, a werewolf friend, a werepanther brother and a fae cousin.

Dead in the Family sees Sookie trying to maintain Eric as a lover, without ending up a target for the people who want him dead. A full moon night where she lets the local werewolf pack hunt on her land lands her in the middle of another plot on her life when a body shows up buried on her property. And members of the fae who tried to kill her in the fae war in the last book are still aiming at her, blaming her for their exile from the fae lands. Altogether it's another book sure to keep readers hooked, but far too busy to be a good place to start the series.

Contains: sex, violence

 

 

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

Ace, 2008

ISBN-13: 9780441015894

Available: New and used, hard back, mass market and digital

        No one can deny that the Sookie Stackhouse series is popular, but this book (book 8) is a hodgepodge of elements rather than an over arcing plot. In From Dead to Worse readers finally learn where Sookie's mind reading power comes from, there's a werewolf war, and another vampire king makes a move to take over the Louisiana territory, which has been significantly weakened by Hurricane Katrina. But all the conflicts are solved quickly, and largely without much involvement from Sookie. This is a plate-cleaning book for the series, and the start of a slate of books where reader absolutely must read earlier volumes in the series first to understand the significance of the events within.

It does deserve a place in public collections, in the interest of series completion and meeting the needs of readers seeking out the current slate of popular fiction.

Contains: Sex, violence

 

 

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

Ace, 2007

ISBN: 9780441014941

Available: New and used, hardback, mass market and digital

        Tying fictional worlds to real world happenings is always a delicate affair, and it's almost impossible to assume that a series based in Louisiana would ignore Hurricane Katrina. All Together Dead begins shortly after the hurricane. As the human and superhuman beings of the area try to recover and help others who need it, a big vampire meeting is happening and the vampire Queen of New Orleans demands that Sookie attend, knowing full well that the other vampire leaders won't be able to resist testing her significantly reduced strength. At the posh vampire hotel, Sookie is reunited with Barry, the only other telepath she knows of, but even they can't protect their patrons from good old human hatred.

The Sookie books have undoubtedly earned a place in public collections due to their popularity and thus they can be expected to be in great reader demand. But they also stand out as unique, and in a way, cultural mirrors of our time, making them weightier than the standard beach read.

Contains: violence

 

 

Monsters: An Investigator's Guide to Magical Beings by John Michael Greer

Llewellyn, 2001

ISBN: 9780738700502

Available: New and used

        This is a New Agey manual on the fantasy creatures we know and love. How to find them, identify them, protect yourself against them, run a basic investigation, as well as a hodgepodge of history and cultural takes can all be found in this book. However, it has a tone that's bitterly anti-science (citing the Santa Claus defense, “so many people believe it, how could it not be true” as proof of these creatures existence) liberally redefines terms, and cherry picks data and history to suit the author's arguments that these creatures still exist, as the author defines them, and it's close minded to think otherwise.

The author contradicts himself on several occasions and his facts absolutely must be taken with a cup or so of salt. But each section (vampires, werewolves, ghosts, demons, angels, fae, mermaids, dragons and spirits) is also filled with clear historical research, as well as including non-Western folklore. Primarily suited for heavily used New Age or occult collections Monsters is a reminder of just how little we understand about nature, the past, and the world around us.

 

 

 

Animal Behavior and other Tales of Lycanthropy by Keith Gouveia
Coscom Entertainment 2010
ISBN 978-1-926712-42-0
Available: New

            Keith Gouveia’s contribution to the werewolf mythos, Animal Behavior and Other Tales of Lycanthropy is packed with eleven short stories that explore existing legends of lycanthropy as well as establishing new ones.  From a cursed former Catholic priest seeking redemption to teens finding themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, there is something here for everyone.

 My favorite story is “The Guardian”, about Adam, who is hunting and killing werewolves in the hope of finding the one who killed his daughter and put his wife into a catatonic state.  What Adam discovers is that werewolves are guardians of the gates of Hell and keep demons from crossing into our world.  The wolf that killed his child succumbed to the temptations of the devil and went rogue.  Adam decides to become a guardian to atone for the killings of the other guardians.  I love this story because Keith uses Christian lore as a basis for the existence of werewolves and portrays them as good creatures, not the murderous beasts we usually see them portrayed as.

 Another favorite of mine is “The Wolf Maiden”, another story in which the werewolf and the wolf in general is depicted as a good and loving creature.  A female wolf has lost her mate to a car and her pups have been stillborn.  In her loneliness, she seeks company, and finds a baby who she wishes to protect from its father.  She stays by the house night after night, keeping watch on the child and witnessing the abuse of the baby’s mother.  The wolf’s desire to be a mother leads to something extraordinary.  Again, I loved this story because the werewolf in question is by no means a murderous beast but a loving mother.

 Other notable stories include “Lycanthropy”, about a cop called to a crime scene in a psychiatric hospital, that will have you wondering if the murderer is really a werewolf or only believes he is; “Animal Behavior”, about Nicky and Jonah, two high school kids who think that eating the brain of a dead wolf will turn them into werewolves so they can get revenge on those that bully them; “War Dog”, about Marcus, an Army recruit who is not cut out for the military until one night when he decides to attempt to use the myths of his Gypsy ancestors to acquire the traits of the wolf; and “Lady of the Forest”, about a woman who is cursed to turn men who act on their desire for her into the “animals” that they are. “Shadows of the Wolf” and “Voodoo Moon”  left me with questions, but outside of those, I did like Animal Behavior.

 This is a fun read that takes a different slant on the werewolf story.  I would love to see The Guardian turned into something longer—a novella perhaps?  I recommend it to any horror fan. Don’t rule it out if you think you’ve read ‘enough’ werewolf stories….these are different.

 Contains: some sex and lots of violence and gore.

 Review by Colleen Wanglund

 

 

Silver Kiss by Naomi Clark
Queered Fiction, 2010
ISBN: 978-1920441128
Available: New, print and digital

            Some books wrap themselves up in the tropes of a genre like a comfortable blanket, and others seem to transcend genre and theme with their very nature. Silver Kiss is one of these. Labeled an "urban werewolf novel", it's the tale of Ayla, a werewolf, and Shannon, a human, trying to make a new life together as part of Ayla's Pack and family while they deal with the recent murder of Ayla's cousin Adam (which drew her back to the Pack in the first place) which may not be an isolated event. There's also a new street drug that's highly addictive to werewolves and triggers their animal instincts, making them rage-filled animals ready to fight. Sure enough, Shannon and Ayla get dragged in (and blackmailed), ending up way over their heads.
            Silver Kiss is not an urban fantasy or paranormal romance. It is a werewolf mystery, with a strong overlying theme of community and family acceptance and how it relates to humans, werewolves, and lesbians. Ayla is a high-strung character whose nervous energy infects a book that otherwise has very much normalized the concept of werewolves and werewolf culture. Her emotionality does, at times, distract from the main plot, possibly the book's only flaw, and her independent streak leads her to distrust the people around her, even family and friends.

            Clark has created an interesting balance between the paranormal elements and the struggle for normalcy in what's considered deviancy even in our supposedly modern and accepting culture. Highly recommended for library collections, with a good mystery and moments of surprising depth, Silver Kiss is the sort of stand out, inclusive fiction that more collections should have on their shelves.
Contains: sex, violence, cursing
Review by
Michele Lee

The Werewolf’s Guide to Life: A Manual for the Newly Bitten by Ritch Duncan and Bob Powers

Broadway,2009

ISBN: 978-0-7679-3193-9

Available: New

    If I were forced to sum up The Werewolf’s Guide to Life in one word, that word would be fun. Check that. Make it: FUN! Yes, that’s in all caps with an exclamation point at the end. Rarely have I read a book that thrilled me, chilled me, and tickled my funny bone throughout, but this one did so in spades. Duncan and Powers deliver a wonderful look into the world of the lycanthrope with their thoughtful Manual for the Newly Bitten. Covering a wide range of topics, from the proper post-attack etiquette to how best to avoid capture by government agents, The Werewolf’s Guide to Life will leave you howling for more.
Review by Bob Freeman

The Frenzy Way by Gregory Lamberson

Medallion Press, 2010

ISBN:978-160542107-0

Available: New

             Anthony Mace, captain of the NYPD "Murder Police", faces the most difficult case of his career. When one horrific murder becomes two, then three, then more, Mace learns that there are THINGS in the world that he never believed could exist. As the search for the vicious serial killer continues, Anthony Mace will have to go further than ever before to protect his city and find a way to stop a killer who may be unstoppable.
            Gregory Lamberson really knows how to tell a story. The Frenzy Way flies by at a frenzied pace. From page one, Lamberson tears through the narrative as if a monster is breathing down his neck. The characters are detailed, yet Lamberson doesn't slow things down by dumping the character information all at once. He parcels it out in bite sized pieces, which are easily digested.  Anthony Mace is the kind of cop that every city needs. He loves his wife, is loyal to the officers under his command, and thinks of the people of New York more than the politics of the job. And when faced with a seemingly impossible situation, he doesn't back down.
            The story is filled with twists and turns, and I was surprised by a number of things. (Don't want to give anything away!) Lamberson is a master storyteller. His use of language is masterful, and his imagery ranges from beautiful to grotesque. I'm happy to know that he has a number of projects in various stages of production, as I can't wait to see what he comes up with next. I highly recommend The Frenzy Way for any library and all horror fans.
Contains: Gore, violence, sex, and strong language.
Reviewed by Erik Smith

For a second take on Frenzy Way, Colleen Wanglund gives her take:

            They’ve walked among us for centuries, staying in the shadows.  Shapeshifters.  Skinwalkers.  Werewolves.  They have been hunted and slaughtered by the few who knew of their existence.  Now they have quietly assimilated into human society, with most humans being none the wiser.  However when a string of grisly murders occurs in New York City, committed by a rogue werewolf, their coexistence becomes threatened.  
            Captain Anthony Mace and the detectives of the NYPD have their hands full.  The crime scenes are left a bloody mess, with the heads of the victims missing.  What’s the connection between these murders and a broken, missing sword?  Who are John Stalk and Angela Domini and what do they have to do with these murders?  As Captain Mace gets closer to the unbelievable truth his superiors distance themselves from him and the investigation.  Mace will risk his reputation, his career, and his life to stop the murderer from reviving an ancient conflict that threatens both sides.

            Gregory Lamberson tells a great story in The Frenzy Way.  He is able to wrap a crime drama around a supernatural core without getting bogged down in the details.  He brings together myths of the werewolf from a variety of cultures, including pop culture icons like Little Red Riding Hood and silver bullets.  Lamberson also establishes a believable “real history” by including the werewolf in the persecution by the Catholic Church during the Inquisition.  Witches were thought to be real, why not werewolves?  I liked the hero, Captain Mace, but I liked secondary characters  Detective Patty Lane and John Stalk even more.  They really made this book for me.  I also enjoyed the gore.  There was TONS of it without going overboard.  There were quite a few surprises along the way, and the final showdown between our rogue and Captain Mace will leave you wondering until the very end. The Frenzy Way is a must-read for any horror fan.

Contains: graphic sex, graphic gore, and violence.

Review byColleen Wanglund

For yet another opinion Rhonda Wilson offers up this review on The Frenzy Way:

            Part horror, part police procedural, The Frenzy Way is a madcap ride of killings and chases as police captain Anthony Mace tries to hunt down a serial killer who appears to be of the wolf variety.  It is unknown at first exactly who or “what” the killer is, and lots of investigations are made in order to determine what the police are facing.  In addition, at each crime scene the killer leaves a calling card of sorts by writing words on the wall in various languages with the victim’s blood, and all of the words translate to “werewolf”.  Also, it appears that the victim’s heads have been taken from each scene by the killer.  Is he taking these as souvenirs for himself or using them for some other reason?  This is one of many questions that Mace and his team must answer as they hunt down the killer.

            As with all of Gregory Lamberson’s novels, The Frenzy Way is fast-paced and intense!  The killer Lamberson has created is one of the best I’ve come across in a long-time.  He’s sneaky, seductive, and scary as hell!  Along with a great cast, The Frenzy Way also has numerous graphic scenes that all gore-hounds will love.  Some of my favorite moments in the book were when a girl was having sex with the killer only to turn around and see a wolf behind them.  I can only imagine the terror each of those victims faced at that moment.  Additionally, several murder scenes were fleshed out in detail.  None of the gore was overdone, as is the case in some novels where it’s just tossed in to gross-out the reader.  Lamberson keeps the story flowing from beginning to end with the reader not able to stop turning the page due to the anticipation of what is next to come!  The Frenzy Way would make a great addition to any library’s collection, whether it is a public library or a horror fanatic’s personal collection.

Contains: Adult Language, Adult Situations, Sex, Gore, Violence, Mutilation

Review by Rhonda Wilson

 

 

 

Of Wolf and Man by Christopher Fulbright
Lachesis, 2009
ISBN: 9781897562369
Available: New, used & digital
 
         Years ago, Carrie was kidnapped from her coven by a wolf cult and initiated, her body becoming the home to the Mother of the Wolves. Despite her coven's attempts to save her, time has moved on, the spirit of the Wolf Mother has grown slowly inside her, and the people of the her coven have found other life paths. Now, as their children edge into adulthood, the remaining members of the white coven find themselves under attack by Carrie, now fully under the control of the Wolf Mother and determined to take out the coven that held her bound for so long.
         The decision on including Of Wolf and Man in public collections is a split one. The first half of the book, if not more, is spent in slow set up, so much that a chunk of readers will not make it past page 100, where most of the action actually starts. Once the plot pushes forward, so does the speed of the book and the attention to detail and story, avalanching toward a dramatic end. At first, the story seems scattered and restless, nothing but detail with no action to make the handful of point of view characters and their back stories relevant. Slow to advance, the story does bloom into a more familiar traditional horror tale, complete with complex character and plot and payoff for patient (and bloodthirsty) readers. Of Wolf and Man shouldn't be included because of its subject matter, but rather because of its style. In libraries where Stephen King and his stylistically similar peers are popular, readers will find this book to be an interesting new slant on werewolves. However, wiith so much werewolf fiction available in paranormal romance and urban fantasy these days, readers coming from that angle will find this book too slow to start and lacking the drive and focus they're used to. With so much crossover between the two types of readers, librarians should consider their audience before adding this one to their collections.
Contains: sex, violence
Review by Michele Lee
 

 

 

Wild Justice by C. Fern Cook

Createspace, 2010

ISBN: 9781451507492
Available: New

        C. Fern Cook's first book, Wild Evolution, introduced us to Dan Tucker, a rural Colorado rancher who suffered a bite from what he believed was a wild dog, but was in fact a werewolf. In this second book of her paranormal Wild Series, Cook delves deeper into her main characters, Dan Tucker and his soon-to-be-wife Angela. Wild Justice picks up right where Wild Evolution left off, with Tucker still trying to come to grips with how to handle (and keep under wraps) his newfound transformation ability. Feeling removed from his pack, both in animal and human form, Tucker decides to focus his energies on his upcoming wedding and future business endeavors. Then things take a disastrous turn, and Tucker finds it necessary to transform into a werewolf once again.
        Without giving too much away, it is important to note that Cook touches on a some hard-hitting topics in Wild Justice that force the reader to think about and face some disturbing but unfortunately common practices. Cook effectively intertwines this subject matter into the plot of the story, which ultimately gives more depth to Tucker's character.
        As with Cook's first book in the series, her writing style will appeal to a wide variety of readers of different ages. It is a quick read, and leaves off at another great cliff-hanger for the next book in the series. After reading Wild Evolution and Wild Justice, readers will find it imperative to get their hands on book three to see where Tucker's choices and actions will lead him next. Wild Justice is an ideal book for a public library collection, and an absolute must have for small town, rural public libraries. Be sure to pick up book one in the series, as these novels must be read in order.
Contains: Mild violence & gore, mild sex
Review by Kelly Fann

 

 

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

 

 

 

Ravenous by Ray Garton

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.

 


 

 

 

 

Ulrik by Steven E. Wedel

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

 

Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow

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.

 

Shara by Steven Wedel

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

Werewolf Fiction List

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.

 

 

Here is a list of werewolf titles released in 2011

Dog World by Jason McKinney

The Taming of the Werewolf by Sylvia Shults

Peter the Wolf by Zoe Whitten

Gary Brandner's The Howling, The Howling 2, and The Howling 3 are being re-released by Books of the Dead Press.

Best New Werewolf Tales also from Books of the Dead Press

Blood on the Moon by Shannon Riley

The Shadow Wolves by Jared Sandmann

Wolf's Edge by W.D. Gagliani

Primeval: Werewolf Apocalypse by William D. Carl

Werewolf by Greg Hair

The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan

How to Be a Werewolf: The Claws-on Guide for the Modern Lycanthrope by Serena Valentino 

 

 

 

Here is a list of werewolf titles  released in 2010

Silver Kiss by Naomi Clark

 Animal Behavior and other Tales of Lycanthropy by Keith Gouveia

Silver Moon, Bloody Bullets edited by Jessica E. Weise

 Hound: The Curse of the Baskervilles by Lorne Dixon

The Midnight Eye Files: The Skin Game by William Meikle

Werewolves and Shapeshifters edited by John Skipp

Wolf's Bluff by W.D. Gagliani

Wolf Hunt by Jeff Strand

Ends Meat  by D.G. Bell

The Wolf's Hour(re-release) by Robert McCammon signed limited edition from Subterranean Press

The Best Werewolf Short Stories 1800-1849 edited by Andrew Barger

 

Here is a list of werewolf horror titles 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


 

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