Review - God Save the Queen by Kate Locke

by Kate Locke
publisher: Orbit
date of publication: July 3, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 354
source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers

From Goodreads:

Queen Victoria rules with an immortal fist.

The undead matriarch of a Britain where the Aristocracy is made up of werewolves and vampires, where goblins live underground and mothers know better than to let their children out after dark. A world where being nobility means being infected with the Plague (side-effects include undeath), Hysteria is the popular affliction of the day, and leeches are considered a delicacy. And a world where technology lives side by side with magic. The year is 2012 and Pax Britannia still reigns.

Xandra Vardan is a member of the elite Royal Guard, and it is her duty to protect the Aristocracy. But when her sister goes missing, Xandra will set out on a path that undermines everything she believed in and uncover a conspiracy that threatens to topple the empire. And she is the key-the prize in a very dangerous struggle.

 

Having been a fan of other works by Kate Locke (in the persona of Kady Cross), I was very much looking forward to God Save the Queen in spite of my continuing disinterest in vampire stories (the burn out continues).  In many ways, God Save the Queen was as I expected.  In the areas of world building and plot, this book was right up my alley.  There were, however, things that just didn't work for me.  Both sides of the coin will be covered in this review and I will tell you all about why I was left on the fence about continuing with this series.

Xandra Vardan as a main character left me feeling conflicted.  On the one hand, she's spunky, determined, and capable of much butt-kicking.  What's not to love, you may ask?  For me, the dislike comes in due to Xandra's voice.  I get that the story takes place in London, thus there is bound to be some English slang used.  However, for much of the book it just felt like overkill.  When it gets to the point that one feels intense exasperation every time the main character speaks, that says something.  So far as the remaining cast of characters goes, however, I very much enjoyed the variety (vampires, werewolves, goblins, and humans) and the wide array of personalities.  It definitely helped make up for a not-so-appealing MC.

The world building is probably the most well-done aspect of this book.  While I hesitate to dub God Save the Queen full-on steampunk, it definitely had lovely flourishes of steampunk goodness.  Instead, it has a distinctly urban fantasy feel that worked great with the high level of action and the background for how this world came to be.  I especially enjoyed the sublevels of London where the goblins hold court.  Overall, this is a gritty, dangerous world where you can never quite guess what will happen next.

While I didn't hate God Save the Queen, I also failed to completely win me over.  After following this first installment of Xandra's story, I am unsure as to whether or not I can bring myself to pick up the second book.  While I liked where the story was headed at the very end, I just can't tell if it will continue along the same vein.  I will continue to keep an ear out for others' opinions and decide as I hear more about where things are headed and whether or not the copious use of slang subsides.

Buy God Save the Queen at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This advance review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via LibraryThing Early Reviewers. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Taken at Dusk

by C.C. Hunter
publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
date of publication: April 10, 2012
format: paperback
pages: 380
source: purchased

From Goodreads:

Step into Shadow Falls, a camp for teens with supernatural powers.  Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.

Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean.  But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever…and not always for the better.

Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together.  Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever imagined.

I really liked the first two books in this series, Born at Midnight and Awake at Dawn, but Taken at Dusk hit all the right chords. I absolutely loved it and would have picked up the next book immediately if I had had it on hand. Alas, I must wait, but while I do, I'm going to tell you about all the things that made Taken at Dusk such a great read. This series just keeps getting better and better. I'm looking forward to seeing where it will go next.

Kylie continues to intrigue me as she discovers more and more about herself. I especially admire her determination to do right by the ghosts who seek her help. Her interactions with Miranda and Della run the gamut from easy jokes to heartfelt conversations, all of which provide hilarity and touching moments. Her moments with Lucas are, as always, quite intense, though I would love if she would just pick one guy already. I'm a wee bit impatient, you see. Also, as I learn more about Kylie's past, I feel for her. I am not afraid to admit that I was in tears by the end of the book. That's right. I cried.

Since the book takes place in the same setting as the first two books in the series, there's not much I can say to build upon that aspect. However, I will say that the writing in Taken at Dusk was, simply put, awesome. The story built up very well and contained just the right amount of twists and turns. I've already mentioned the ending that made me cry. It is but one of several poignant moments throughout the book.

I'm very much at risk of going all fangirly over this series. I can barely imagine how it can get any better than Taken at Dusk, but I am definitely open to surprises. As Kylie's story progresses, I am looking forward to finding out the entirety of her past. C.C. Hunter hasn't left me wanting yet when it comes to her stories. What I am waiting for is the next book, Whispers at Moonrise, but I have the feeling that it's well worth it.

Buy Taken at Dusk at the Following Locations:

Amazon /  IndieBound  /  B&N  /  The Book Depository

Review - Awake at Dawn

by C.C. Hunter
publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
date of publication: October 11, 2011
format: paperback
pages: 383
source: gift from a friend
read it in: 3 days

From Goodreads:

Step into the world of Shadow Falls, a camp that helps teens tap into their special…talents. Once you visit, you’ll never forget it—and you’ll never, ever be the same.

From the moment Kylie Galen arrived at Shadow Falls Camp, she’s had one burning question: What am I? Surrounded by vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, fairies and witches, Kylie longs to figure out her own supernatural identity…and what her burgeoning powers mean. And now she’ll need them more than ever, because she’s being haunted by a new spirit who insists that someone Kylie knows—and loves—will die before the end of the summer. If only she only knew who she was supposed to save. And how…

But giving Kylie the most trouble is her aching heart. Gorgeous werewolf Lucas left camp with another girl, but he’s still visiting Kylie in her dreams. And Derek, a sexy half Fae who’s always been there for her when she needed him, is pushing to get more serious—and growing impatient, especially when Lucas returns. Kylie knows she needs to decide between the boys, and it’s tearing her up inside.

Yet romance will have to wait, because something from the dark side of the supernatural world is hiding in Shadow Falls. It’s about to threaten everything she holds dear…and bring her closer to her destiny.

Kylie and the gang are back with a whole new set of challenges to face as a mysterious threat menaces Kylie from the shadows.  As if that weren't enough, Kylie is receiving cryptic warnings from a ghostly woman covered in blood.  What's a girl to do when she's in danger, worried about an endangered loved one yet unknown, and has the biggest mess of a love life ever?  It's up to Kylie to figure it all out before it's too late.  Prepare to follow along as Kylie takes on an increasingly dangerous supernatural world.

Since not much time has passed between Born at Midnight and Awake at Dawn, Kylie hasn't really changed all that much yet.  As she begins to learn more about her characteristics, however, that won't be the case for long.  In many ways, Kylie is still the same stubborn girl that we saw before.  However, her approach to some very unusual occurrences is a clue that she is coming into her own at a rapid rate.  She develops some truly kick-ass characteristics that left me shocked and scrambling to come up with an explanation that fits, which is not as easy as it may seem, at first.  Where I liked the changes in Kylie, however, I found myself increasingly annoyed by Derek.  He becomes much more insecure and jealous in Awake at Dawn, which is just not becoming at all.  I came to prefer Lucas much more this time around and am definitely leaning toward that particular pairing at the moment.  He was a much more appealing male counterpart for Kylie this time.  I guess we shall see if that remains true in Taken at Dusk.

I really enjoyed the direction the plot took with Awake at Dawn.  It had every bit as much mystery and tension as Born at Midnight, all the while developing in its own unique way.  There was no repetition here, which I was very glad of.  Instead, the storyline is so fresh that there was no way for me to completely guess what would happen based upon the last book.  The pacing was wonderfully rendered and I was, once again, picked up and carried away along with the characters the plot revolves around.

Awake at Dawn is an excellent continuation to what promises to be a truly fun series.  Though I lost my patience with a couple of the characters, I still enjoyed the interaction between the varying members of the entire cast of characters, as well as the descriptions provided of both their physical appearances and their personalities.  I was fascinated enough with the story that I promptly bought book 3 in the series, Taken at Dusk, as well as preordered book 4.  This speaks volumes as to how much I've enjoyed this series, so far.  I hope for more great things to come. 

Buy Awake at Dawn at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Review - Born at Midnight

by C.C. Hunter
publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
date of publication: March 29, 2011
format: paperback
pages: 398
source: purchased
read it in: 2 days

From Goodreads:

Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams, Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

Kylie is in a tough situation.  Stuck in the middle of warring parents and caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, she is sent away for the summer to what she is told is a camp for troubled teens.  What she finds, however, is that these teens aren't troubled in the typical sense of the word... and neither is Kylie.  Born at Midnight is the story of one girl's discovery of who (and what) she really is, all set in the lush world of Shadow Falls.  Prepare yourself for an adventure.

What can I say about Kylie?  She's a strong-willed character dealing with several problems that any girl would be stressed out by.  She's sassy, bright and, most of all, STUBBORN.  Her state of denial is a bit hard to deal with, at times, but her point of view is at least understandable.  Watching her learn about and interact with her new world made for a very interesting story and I enjoyed her interactions with her peers very much from a reader's stand-point.  Over all, she was a fun heroine to get to know and I can already tell that she's in for a lot of growth as the series progresses.

I had so much fun with the plot of Born at Midnight.  Not only does it include so many of my favorite fantasy characters, it has scads of romance and mystery, as well.  There is witty banter galore, which is always appreciated, and the interaction between characters was riveting.  The story's progression was at times bogged down by Kylie's excessive stubbornness, but when all is said and done, I had so much fun reading this book.  I loved the story and couldn't wait to move on to the next book in the series.

I have had Born at Midnight sitting on my shelf for quite some time now and, thanks to much encouragement from a dear friend, I finally worked it into my reading pile.  I have no qualms whatsoever against saying she was absolutely right.  Born at Midnight is a vastly entertaining story with some of my favorite figures from the fantasy genre.  In addition to that, there is a measure of mystery that piques your curiosity from the start.  This is an exceedingly fun book that just begs to become your latest summer read. 

Buy Born at Midnight at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Review - Hemlock

by Kathleen Peacock
publisher: Katherine Tegen
date of publication: May 8, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 400
source: SBB ARC Tours
read it in: 1 night

From Goodreads:

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

Hemlock is a little different than your typical werewolf novel.  Rather than being relegated to the shadows and full moon-lit nights, lurk amongst everyday citizens who know that there are werewolves, though they don't know who they might be.  In the town of Hemlock, being a werewolf is a disease, one that some people would do anything to eradicate.  This approach to the werewolf story made for a fresh twist on the folklore that usually makes its way into stories and novels. This characteristic, and more, are what make Hemlock a riveting, interesting read, one that I stayed up long into the night reading.

Mac, the main character of Hemlock, finds herself in a very tough situation when her best friend is brutally murdered by a rare white werewolf.  She is a girl consumed by guilt and questions due to her absence when her friend tried to call her before she died.  It is guilt and sadness that make Mac unwilling to let the circumstances of Aimee's death remain ignored.  It is during her attempts to solve the mystery surrounding Amy's death that we get a sense of who Mac really is.  She is a very complex character with a keen sense of loyalty and an obstinate streak that won't allow her to sit back and take things at face value.  I found that I liked Mac for her complexities and willingness to go the extra mile to find the answers she needs.

The mystery that makes up Hemlock was so intense and riveting that I read the entirety of the book in a single night, simply because I had to know what would happen next.  The pace is neither too fast nor too slow, making it easy to process the information as it comes without giving things away too soon.  Hemlock's setting makes for an interesting place for a werewolf epidemic.  Affluence surrounded as it is by more run-down neighborhoods make it like any number of cities in the real world, making the acknowledged presence of werewolves both surreal and sinister.  I found the angle to be very enjoyable.

Fans of werewolf fiction, take heed: you must read Hemlock.  Kathleen Peacock has created a fantastic story of murder, betrayal, guilt, and acceptance.  Every bit as chilling as a cold, moonlit night, Hemlock was able to keep me enthralled from cover to cover.  If you're looking for a slightly different spin on werewolves, you should definitely pick up this book.  The thrills and chills just don't stop!

Buy Hemlock at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Southern Book Blogger ARC Tours. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Spell Bound

by Rachel Hawkins
publisher: Disney Hyperion
date of publication: March 13, 2012
format: hardcover
pages: 327
source: purchased
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted.

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

What I Thought

Can you believe it?  The infamous cliff hanger at the end of Demonglass finally has a continuation!  It has been a long, long wait, but answers are to be had at long last.  This is one of those books that had me feverishly shuffling my review pile just so I could at long last see what the heck happened to Sophie.  Let me tell you: it was very much worth the wait.  Sophie is back with in all her snarkastic glory (hey, it's a word; just watch Gilmore Girls!) and has some huge surprises in store.

I'm so glad to say that Sophie hasn't lost her touch.  I spent just as much time giggling through her exchanges with Archer as I did getting very, very nervous about how she was going to get herself out of her situation.  As it turns out, there is still so much to learn about Sophie, so much so, in fact, that there were several moments during which I was completely blind-sided.  How such a familiar character can still contain that many huge surprises, I'll never know.  As for new additions to the cast of characters, I just have to say it: The Brannicks left me feeling awed.  They are quite the family: red-headed warrior women?  Heck, yeah!  They are the very definition of formidable and I absolutely loved the contribution their addition made to the story.

Spell Bound takes the action from the second half of Demonglass and kicks it into overdrive.  The book pretty much hits the ground running and it seems that there is always something major going on.  There is little time to settle in before the bomb shells start dropping and things start happening.  It is everything I hoped it would be and provided hours of riveting entertainment that didn't quit until the very last page.  Everything from the realization of the villains' master plan to the tragedy that strikes, Spell Bound will leave you seriously considering taking up nail-biting. 

Since I suspect giving away anything major will cause those who haven't had the chance to read it yet to chase me through the street with torches and pitchforks, all I have left to say is that Spell Bound was truly worth the wait.  Rachel Hawkins put some incredible spins on various situations that will definitely leave you reeling.  I know this review gushes more than usual, but it's hard not to get swept up in the humor and light-hearted side of it all.  I absolutely loved it and encourage you to pick it up ASAP!

Waiting on Wednesday - December 7, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To participate, simply share that book(s) you are eagerly awaiting the release of and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. Clicking the image above will take you straight to her post and widget.

I've got another double edition of WoW to share this week.  I'm kind of liking sharing two books rather than one.  I think this may become a regular thing for me, so long as I have two to share from week to week.  Anyway, I have two picks that I am very excited about this week, both from imprints of Harper Collins Publishers.  Let's get started, shall we?

My first pick is another zombie-steampunk novel, this time set in Philadelphia during the 19th century.  I had a lot of fun reading Dearly, Departed, so to see another combination of the two traits, only this time set in the actual Victorian era, had me very excited to read this book.  What is it?  The book is Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard, set for release on July 24, 2012 from Harper Teen.

From Goodreads:

There’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

My next pick is the beginning of an upcoming urban fantasy trilogy that focuses on werewolves.  Part murder mystery, part romance, Hemlock by Cathleen Peacock sounds like just the ticket for an awesome, action-packed read.  Hemlock hits shelves on May 8, 2012 and comes from Katherine Tegen Books.

From Goodreads:  

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

Creature Feature Review: Fateful

Well, better late than never! It's Wolfish Friday on Starting the Next Chapter, and things are a little different today. I was really behind in my reading, so I decided to switch times with the Bump in the Night Brawl. Today's review is Claudia Gray's Fateful, a werewolf story set aboard the Titanic. How intriguing is that!? If you haven't already, be sure to check out today Brawl submission by the awesome DJL from Denim Jacket Librarian Dishes. She is a writer of amazingly insightful reviews. If you haven't been to her blog before, I highly recommend that you check it out ASAP.

Fateful

by Claudia Gray
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: September 13, 2011
format: hardcover
pages: 328
source: purchased
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It’s 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they’re sailing on—the RMS Titanic—reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself.

Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He’s in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it’s because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously. . . .

Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec’s past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him—and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.

In Fateful, bestsellng author Claudia Gray delivers paranormal adventure, dark suspense, and alluring romance set against the opulent backdrop of the Titanic’s first—and last—voyage.

What I Thought

We all know that I thoroughly enjoy YA paranormal romances, but what you may not know is that I also have a soft spot for historical romances. Claudia Gray's Fateful has managed to combine both into one book combining characteristics of both. It is made even more intriguing in its plot, as it is a story of werewolves, danger, and romance, all set against the backdrop of the disastrous maiden voyage of the Titanic. What results is an enthralling adventure in which one girl must find the courage to fight for what is right and to love without boundaries.

The plot that makes up Fateful is an especially well-executed one. While it contains a fair amount of information that must be digested, it does so in a more parceled out manner, preventing an overload of information that would otherwise make a reader become overwhelmed. Our introduction to the characters is not done all at once. Instead, we get to know the characters via their introductions to each other and some well-placed memories. There is an element of danger that is easily felt and a cast of characters with the ability to evoke a full range of emotions from the reader. The implementation of werewolves as being a peril unseen by other passengers is both off the wall and entertaining. I wasn't sure about their incorporation, at first, but I soon grew to be eager to learn more about the reality of werewolves in this opulent world. Over all, the plot is a lovely one that I sank right into and didn't want to end.

The main character, Tess, is a very commonsense sort of girl. She is able to put up with a lot from her overbearing employers, the Lisle family, and plays the role of friend to the daughter of the house, the shy Irene, wonderfully. When faced with danger, she doesn't give up easily. Rather, she fights with everything she has in an attempt to stay alive and make things right. When she meets Alec and learns more about him and his past, she is amazingly pragmatic about the situation and is able to accept him for who he is. Alec, himself, is a conflicted character, with good reason. Though he comes off as brusque at first, there is a lot more to him that is just waiting to be discovered. As the two face the monstrously villainous Mikhail, their connection is formed into a solid bond that will be difficult to sever.

The backdrop for this book is absolutely stunning. Edwardian English society is depicted in such a fascinating and vivid manner as to make the setting easily pictured. The use of the Titanic as a setting, while not unique, makes for a beautiful, fascinating backdrop. I couldn't get enough of Gray's descriptions of life aboard the RMS Titanic and was moved by the events of the fateful night that it sank. The emotion involved does justice to the sadness of the occurrence.

Fans of historical romance and paranormal romance alike should definitely consider Fateful as a book to be read. It is presented with a clean writing style and intriguing story line that makes for an absorbing, fast-paced read. If you like werewolves and historical settings such as this, Fateful is for you.

Bump in the Night Brawl #5: Werewolves

We're getting close to the end, everyone!  Today is the next to last day of the Bump in the Night Brawl campaign posts.  Who has made the biggest impression upon you, so far?  Hold that thought, because I have a new offering for you.  The awesome DJL from Denim Jacket Librarian Dishes is here to have her say on our more lupine peers, werewolves.  Let round 5 begin!

Hellooooooow, my dears!  Welcome to Wolfish Friday, and please pardon my rehearsing for when the moon comes out tonight.  I've been asked by Marla of Starting the Next Chapter to talk about the fierce creatures of Halloween, werewolves.  Swift and powerful with a bite that's far worse than their bark (or roar as the case may be), you can't help but be terrifyingly fascinated by werewolves.  They come in many different forms and sizes from a four-legged wolf to an overly hairy human with a not-so-slight overbite problem to a towering, brutish beast on two legs.  No matter their size or shape, they possess the strength, speed, and cunning of their lupine side along with human intelligence.  And when you combine the two, this can have frightening effects in which you have a hulking predator that stalks the night, stealthily tracking its prey before striking without warning. There is no comparison to that feeling of being watched, being followed... being hunted.

You wonder if something is there with you in the dark but do not know what's really there... until you hear the tell-tale beastly growl or see the flash of sharp white teeth.  Too late and the predator has pounced upon its prey.  And the scariest part?  During the day they look just like you and me.  That is where werewolves have other creatures of Halloween beat.  Vampires, zombies, and ghosts... not really so good at hiding their identities especially when you look at them or through them with the case for ghosts if you can even see them.  Anyone could be a werewolf without others around them being any the wiser.  The fact that they can blend into the crowd is what really makes this beast the baddest of Halloween because unless you know the signs, there's no way for one person to identify a werewolf from another human.  Here are some ways to help you possibly identify if a person is a werewolf:

1.  A person has more hair than they should.  Unless they're able to get a wax job on a regular basis, this will have most werewolves wearing long-sleeved clothes... a lot.  (Do you know how cold it gets in a library?  Long sleeves are a must!)

2.  A person shows an appreciation for rare-cooked meat.  (What?  It's the best way to have steak in Texas!)

3.  A person shows an aversion to silver.  (White gold is really where it's at with jewelry.  Any fashion-conscious person knows that.)

4.  A person likes to take long walks at night usually under a full moon.  (Don't you know that a girl's most favorable lighting is moonlight?)

5.  Dogs tend to get a little antsy and jumpy around a person, usually barking in aggression at first and then whining in submission.  (I happen to love dogs.  I just love them more when they realize who's the alpha... I mean master!)

Just because you have a possible means of identifying them doesn't mean that werewolves can't evade detection over time.  I mean, history is full of tales and legends of the werewolf or lycanthrope, starting with King Lycaon of Greek mythology.  Wanting to trick the mighty Zeus, who had changed himself into a mortal, Lycaon killed one of his prisoners and served his body in a stew before Zeus. This enraged the thunder god and Zeus punished Lycaon by transforming him into a vicious, bloodthirsty wolf.  The Greek word lycanthropos is believed to be the basis for lycanthropy.

   
Haven't heard that myth?  Okay, what about the Beast of Gévaudan, a real-life account of werewolf attacks between 1764 and 1767 within the Margeride mountains of Southern France?  This beast was said to have huge fangs, an enormous tail, red fur that exuded a foul smell and was supposedly the size of a cow.  Within a three-year span, the beast claimed over 100 lives and injured another 50 people.  There's even a loosely-based film recounting these incidents, Le Pacte des Loupes: Brotherhood of the Wolf, that I recommend for entertainment value.

Not close enough to home for you?  All right, one of the most prominent werewolf legends in America is that of the Beast of Bray Road near Elkhorn, Wisconsin.  A huge, wolflike creature walking and running on two legs began appearing in front of startled travelers on the rural Bray Road outside of town in 1991.  So far there have been no attacks from this werewolf-like creature, but should drivers really push their luck in taking this route at night? 

Being from the Lone Star State, we also have our share of werewolf and skinwalker tales.  A legend spoken of in certain areas of the Hill Country tells of an old Native American man who would change his shape in order to evade capture by the cavalrymen stationed nearby.  It was said when he was trapped, he would become a wolf and attack his pursuers which usually ended in death.  A possible tie to this legend is "Cleo Face" as carved by N.Q. Patterson.  A settler of the Hill Country, Patterson was a tombstone carver who suffered from tuberculosis.  Having a lot of time on his hands due to the small community, Patterson began carving into the limestone rocks that lined Bear Creek.  One particularly notorious carving was of a face with a broad nose, glinting eyes, and a snarling mouth with long, fang-like teeth.  You have to wonder what Patterson encountered within the hills to inspire him to carve such a face.

  

Aside from silver and chopping off the head, there is little that can kill a werewolf.  You can run over them, shove them off a cliff, shoot them with regular bullets and they will heal and recover much faster than you can think.  They are truly one of the fiercest of Halloween brawlers.

Vote Werewolves on October 30th because you know Hugh would want you to.

I would like to thank Marla for having me here at Starting the Next Chapter to help enlighten you wonderful readers on the history and traits of werewolves.  Don't worry, Marla, I brought my dust-buster to take care of the loose hair on the blog.  *coughs*  You can't help the shedding.  Happy Hooooowlloween!

 
Thanks for stopping by, DJL!  As usual, you have set forth an awesome combination of opinion and observation.  If you enjoyed DJL's post, show her some love!  Comments are always welcome and there has been an epic Twitter party going on for the past 3 days amongst us competitors.  Remember, we will have the last round tomorrow, when Christy from The Reader Bee will be telling us why demons should be the biggest bad asses in the entire bump in the night world.  Stay tuned!