64. Red Wolf

Red Wolf. Rachel Vincent. 2021. [July] 368 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: The dark wood moaned—a deep, eerie sound that was more than just the groan of shifting tree limbs. I turned, and my empty basket swung in the crook of my right elbow as I stared into the wooded expanse that enclosed most of Oakvale.

Premise/plot: Red Wolf by Rachel Vincent is a retelling of the classic folk tale Little Red Riding Hood. Mostly. Adele, the heroine, does have a grandmother living deep, deep, deep in the woods. And the woods can be deadly, so Adele does have to be careful when she's taking her supplies. But this is a YA retelling. Adele is no girl, but a young woman--sixteen. And would it even be a YA book without a love triangle???

Readers can expect horror, romance, drama, and secrets. Of course, a few of those secrets are spilled right in the jacket copy. For better or worse, the book's description tells you right out that Adele is a werewolf and that she comes from a family of werewolves... If I'd been writing that description, I would have chosen to do it differently. That could just be me. I like to know as little as possible--most of the time--about a book. Especially in this genre/sub-genre.

My thoughts: I found Red Wolf a compelling, atmospheric read. If Readers In Peril was still a thing--is it still a thing???--I would definitely recommend reading this one for the reading challenge. It offers a few spooks and a good amount of blood. This genre/sub-genre is not a favorite of mine. I didn't go out seeking a book starring werewolves--or shapeshifters. But I am drawn to fairy tale (and folk tale) retellings. I like seeing how other authors treat old tales. (The show Once Upon A Time is/was one of my favorites.) 

I do think it will appeal to several different audiences. I think adults who are looking for paranormal thrillers may roll their eyes a bit at the love triangle aspect of it. I know love triangles can really upset some readers who are tired to death of it. But the romance elements were never front and center for me. And that may help some readers out. 

What was front and center for me was the whole nurture versus nature aspect of it. Adele is caught up in something she doesn't really understand and she's in over her head. Of course, nature versus nurture has been done a million times before as well.

I liked the openness of the ending. I think it could easily be a stand alone book, and stay a stand alone book. I don't need a tidier ending than what we get here. But I could see how there's just enough room left open so that a series could happen. But again I don't think readers would have to go on to any future books. 

I did find myself yelling at Adele a couple times throughout the book. There were times I saw danger that she was blind to. There were times I found her frustrating. But overall, I was drawn into her world. 

Quote:

The dark wood takes a little more of you every day that you’re out there, until things that seemed unthinkable a week ago suddenly seem acceptable.

© 2021 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Captivate (YA)

Captivate. Carrie Jones. 2010. Bloomsbury. 276 pages.  

Sometimes there are these bizarre people who actually like physical education class.

Captivate is the sequel to Need. Both Need and Captivate would be good for fans of Stephenie Meyer and Melissa Marr. (Wicked Lovely, Ink Exchange, and Fragile Eternity immediately come to mind.) It's YA fantasy with plenty of thrills--a dangerous romance. Zara, our heroine, is confused about many things. Her relationship with her father? Too complicated to fathom. Part of her hates the fact that she's had to lock him up so that the slaughtering of human boys would stop in her Maine town. But part of her realizes of course that while killing is never "good" it is sometimes necessary. She's also confused about pixies in general. After meeting--after rescuing--one pixie in particular, she's beginning to think for the first time that there may be a few good pixies out there. For this mysterious pixie--we don't learn his name (Astley) for quite a while--saves Zara time and time again. He seems to make it his business to keep her safe. (Which of course is threatening Nick's role in this drama.)

But there is one thing that Zara is NOT confused about. Her love for Nick. She loves him. Oh how she loves him. She needs him. She wants him. She can't stop thinking about him. He's her everything. He'd do anything to keep her safe. And she'd do anything to keep him safe.

Captivate is dramatic. For me, the highlight of this one was the introduction of Astley. I liked the scenes between Zara and Astley best.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Shiver (YA)

Shiver. Maggie Stiefvater. 2009. Scholastic. 400 pages.

I remember lying in the snow, a small red spot of warm going cold, surrounded by wolves. They were licking me, biting me, worrying at my body, pressing in. Their huddled bodies blocked what little heat the sun offered.

Our heroine, Grace, survived a wolf attack as a child. You might think that would make her fearful of wolves. But just the opposite is true. Grace borders on the obsessive. With one wolf in particular. Each winter she watches and waits. She seeks him out from the pack. Little does she know that he is always watching and waiting for her. His name is Sam. And he is a werewolf.

After a local tragedy, the community decides to do something about the wolf problem. Grace is angry--and determined. She wants to save the wolves. She wants to save "her" wolf. He is shot but not fatally. When he's shot--or perhaps soon after he's shot--he shifts to human form. And Grace has a chance to connect--really connect--with "her" wolf.

Grace isn't the only one in the community to learn the secret--that werewolves are real. Does Grace's romance stand a chance against the bitter cold of winter?

I didn't love Shiver. I'm not even sure I liked Shiver. It was okay. But I certainly didn't find it romantic or giddy-making.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Soulless

Soulless by Gail Carriger. 2009. Orbit. 384 pages.

Miss Alexia Tarabotti was not enjoying her evening. Private balls were never more than middling amusements for spinsters, and Miss Tarabotti was not the kind of spinster who could garner even that much pleasure from the event. To put the pudding in the puff: she had retreated to the library, her favorite sanctuary in any house, only to happen upon an unexpected vampire.

I wanted to love this one. I did. I wanted to feel something close to love. But I didn't. That's not to say I thought it was awful--it wasn't. I think the very things that I didn't enjoy will be the very things that other readers will love most.

Soullless and I got off to a good start. I loved the early scenes in the novel: Alexia in the library confronting the vampire, Alexia dealing with the aftermath of the vampire's death, Alexia battling it out verbally with Lord Maccon. I enjoyed the world-building of the first hundred pages--seeing how Alexia fit in (and didn't quite) with London society, and not just Alexia, but how vampires and werewolves fit into London society. I loved the writing too. There were places in the text where I felt certain that this would be a book I loved.

Alexia doesn't quite fit in with the mortals or the supernaturals. She's soulless; her soullessness neutralizes the "superpowers" of vampires and werewolves. (Her touch can take away a vampires fangs, or change the werewolf back into human form. Temporarily of course.)

There is a mystery to be solved. There is danger too. But for me this danger, this threat, almost takes a backseat to the romance. Because a little over hundred pages Soulless turns into a romance book. You know, a romance book.

For readers who love romance novels, for readers who really love romance novels--especially paranormal romances--there is much to love in Soulless. And this new direction will probably be a very welcome one. You may even think, finally, this story is getting somewhere. It's about time.

Mini-spoiler.

It becomes more about how long can Alexia keep her hands off a certain someone--or a certain someone keep his hands off her--than anything else.

Bigger spoiler.

After Alexia is caught in a compromising situation, it becomes the oh-so-familiar story of:

Well, I don't want to force you to marry me against your will.
You're not forcing me to marry you.
No, you're just saying that, you don't really want to marry me.
Yes, I do.
No, you don't.
Yes, I do.
No, you don't. I'm not beautiful enough.
Yes, you are.
No, I'm not...

And, for me, once it goes there...it doesn't really matter that Alexia has fallen for a supernatural. Soulless could be one of a hundred romances. Not that Lord Maccon is like every other hero in a romance novel, he's not. He's Scottish. (A plus in my books). And he's a werewolf. (I'm indifferent to werewolves, so no plus for me. But hey, for some readers, maybe this appeals?) And Alexia isn't quite your typical heroine. She is brave and fierce in some ways. But why does she have to be so down on herself? Why can't she realize her own value? her own worth?

I don't know about you, but I find it hard to be worried while reading a romance book. Mystery or no mystery. Danger or no danger. I'm not really worried about any "threats" to the happily ever after ending. I suppose, there may be romance novels out there that have surprises, but I haven't found many.

Expectations. I think I expected Soulless to be more of a fantasy than a romance novel. The clever cover may have contributed to my expectations. (There wasn't a half-dressed couple on the cover. And it wasn't filed in the romance section of the library.) Reading is subjective, and this may be more than enough fantasy for some readers. And other readers may see it as more balanced than I did.

In conclusion, I liked it enough to finish it. I wanted to know what happened. But I'm not sure I'll continue on with this series.

Other reviews: Booklust, Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog, Steph Su Reads, Sam's Book Blog. Biblio File.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Sisters Red (YA)

Sisters Red. Jackson Pearce. 2010. June 2010. Little, Brown. 328 pages.

He's following me.

Scarlett and Rosie are sisters with more than a few secrets. Sisters with a (relatively) unique mission in life. To fight, fight, fight. To rid the world--well, maybe not the whole world, but their community at least--of Fenris (werewolves). You might say their introduction to this real world--the world of monsters--was quite brutal, both girls witnessed the death of their grandmother--Oma March--and this attack left Scarlett scarred inside and out. Joining them in their mission is a young guy (one that Rosie finds oh-so-dreamy), Silas. He comes from a long line of woodsmen.

But though these three fight together as a team--and are quite close in many ways--some things are changing, for better or worse. Silas and Rosie, well, they are changing. And Scarlett may have to deal with that.

I liked having both Rosie and Scarlett as narrators. When I was reading Rosie's chapters, I felt connected with her. I loved her. I could completely sympathize with her. See things from her perspective, see her side of things. Her need for her life to be more than just fighting, to be more than just battling evil. Her love for Silas. When I was reading Scarlett's chapters, I felt connected with her. I could see things from her side. Her passion--her obsession--to do anything and everything to protect people from the Fenris threat. The world may not know it's in danger--but for Scarlett, it's all too real. She can't forget for a moment, for a day, that she has a responsibility to protect others. She's a driven young woman, strong and powerful in many ways. And I have to respect that. Scarlett's choices are her own. Rosie's choices are her own. These two sisters love each other deeply, need each other deeply. But they want (and need) different things from life.

I thought Sisters Red was well-written. I would definitely recommend this one.

What do you think of the cover? I really liked this one. Though I must admit (a bit sheepishly) that it took me a few days to see the wolf on the cover!

Other reviews: A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy, Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf, Sarah's Random Musings, Tales of the Ravenous Reader, I Just Wanna Sit Here And Read, Extreme Reader, Bookworming in the 21st Century,

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Never Cry Werewolf (MG, YA)

Davis, Heather. 2009. Never Cry Werewolf. HarperCollins. 216 pages. (September 2009)

Moonlight has special powers. Even in Beverly Hills, where everything sparkles whether it's real or fake, there's something magic about that big full moon. It can make you act crazy, take a risk you'd never consider in the daylight, or even fall completely head over heels. Moonlight can totally change your life. And it all starts so simply.
You. Him. The moon. You're toast.

If you can't get enough of werewolves, then you'll probably enjoy this fun romance. (Or if you've finished all of the vampire books at your local library and now want to try your hand at werewolves.) Shelby's parents don't trust her. (Whether this is because her new step-mother just doesn't like her and is trying to turn her father against her or if Shelby really, truly isn't worthy of such trust, I can't say.) When her stepmother catches her almost kissing a boy, her parents decide she needs to go to a summer camp where she'll learn to be good and obedient and trustworthy. (In her stepmom's defense, the boy is at least several years older than Shelby. And as innocent as a goodnight kiss could be, it could also lead to trouble down the way.)

Who does she meet at camp? The son of a famous rock star, that's who (Austin Bridges III). And what's his secret? His big secret? You guessed it, he's a werewolf. Shelby's in on his secret--he confides in her because he needs her help. And then some. You see, the camp has confiscated his super-secret serum that prevents him from transforming into a wolf, and it's almost time for the full moon. Can Shelby save her new boyfriend in time? Will helping him cost her more than she's willing to give? How can Shelby be "new-and-improved-and-oh-so-obedient" if she's seen breaking all the rules?

It's not the most sophisticated of reads. It's light enough, fun enough, tame enough. The ending did leave me curious. Is there a sequel in the works? Was the author hinting about something-more*?

I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. I'm curious to see what the response will be from younger readers--eleven, twelve, thirteen--if this book is satisfying for them.

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*Did anyone else find the ending suspicious when Austin finds puncture marks on Shelby? What exactly does that mean? What is the reader to think?

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

City of Bones

Clare, Cassandra. 2007. City of Bones.

You might not think that witnessing a murder would lead a young teen, Clary Fray, onto an unforgettable journey of self-discovery, but, you'd be wrong. When she witnesses three teens--oddly dressed and strangely beautiful teens--murder a fellow clubber, she is shocked, terrified, and confused. Understandably so. But not for the same reasons you might be thinking. The body? The blood? They disappeared instantly. The murderers? Invisible to the rest of the world. And as one of the 'murderers' pointed out, the police can't arrest people they can't see and charge them with a murder when there is no body and no blood and no 'evidence' or sign of a struggle. These murderers--whom we later learn to be Jace, Alec, and Isabelle--are just as surprised that Clary can see them. Why? They're ShadowHunters. Descendants of the Nephilim, offspring of angels and humans. Their mission? To track down demon infiltrations around the world and eliminate these fiends. All this happens within the first chapter. It was quite an exciting start to what turned out to be a very fast-paced adventure.

Clary, seemingly normal teen, can witness things no 'mundie' (mundane human) should have been able to see. The weirdness continues through the next few days and escalates when her mother disappears with only one frantic phone call to warn her daughter of the danger that lurks in her home. Jace, one of the ShadowHunters, just happens to be chatting with her when that phone call comes in. So the two rush home together to face the threat of Darkness that turns Clary's world upside down.

One thing is known, Clary's life will never be "normal" again after seeing the unexplainable, fighting her own demon, and discovering the "truth" about her parents.

City of Bones is perfect for readers looking for a fast, action-packed read. There are all sorts of supernatural creatures--vampires, werewolves, demons, warlocks, wizards, etc--to fill the pages and add suspense.

The book reminds me of many things: Scott Westerfelds' Midnighter series, Holly Black's Faerie series, Melissa de la Cruz Blue Bloods series, Charmed, and Star Wars.

The book, by the way, is the first in the Mortal Instruments series. The next book will be City of Ashes.

http://www.mortalinstruments.com/