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patriciomas's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
audiobookmel's review
4.0
My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.
I had no idea of what to expect going into this book. When the author first mentioned it to me, I went on Goodreads to read the blurb (which isn’t something I do a lot, but will on occasion). It sounded interesting enough and I knew I liked this author’s writing style, so I decided to give this book a shot. I mean, I love non-traditional shapeshifters.
Jane Doe is a weredeer in a town full of shifters. Shifters are known in this world and most are larger and much more dangerous shifter types than a deer, so humans are scared of them. Most states have laws that allow you to shoot a shifter on sight. Jane lives in Bright Falls, Michigan, in a town of mostly shifters. Michigan doesn’t have a shoot on sight law.
So Jane works as a waitress at her parent diner, Deerlightful Diner. Jane really wants to leave the town and is trying to save money to do so. That is before her best friend’s sister dies and her brother is arrested for the murder. Jane has the power to see things when she touches them, so she sets off to prove her brother’s innocence.
This is a fun tale full of a lot of suspense. There is not only the murder mystery, there is possible mob involvement, drug use and dealing, family not being honest with everyone. There is even a Maury Povich aspect to the story as family trees are brought into light.
I really enjoyed the different characters in this series. Jane is a great character who doesn’t want to be who she is fated to be. I really liked Emma, Jane’s best friend and werewolf. The mob boss, the police chief, Jane’s family. I really liked them all.
You can’t mention a story by C.T. Phipps without mentioning the pop culture references. This story is full of them. Star Wars and Tolkien are heavily predominate, but there are lesser ones, even Belinda Carlisle.
There are also puns. Many, many deer puns. Evidently, that is a thing. Weredeer and puns. It drives Jane crazy. She hates them. Her family uses them all the time and she can’t stand it. Then other people make comments about the puns, which drives her crazy too. She avoids them at all costs, but really she doesn’t.
This is a fun story that is full of humor and suspense. I really enjoyed my time in Bright Falls and I hope to get to visit there soon. If I had to fault this story for anything, it appears there might be a love triangle coming up. I’m not sure or not. So many people seemed to be interested in Jane. I guess it is her big, doe eyes. Anyway, it is fun story. I hope you’ll give it a try.
Narration
This is my first book with Arielle DeLisle. I have to say I liked her. She did a great job with the narration of this book. I thought she really brought Jane to life. There are quite a few characters and I never had issues with who was talking. She also did a great job with the different male and female voices. I would listen to her again.
**I like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I had no idea of what to expect going into this book. When the author first mentioned it to me, I went on Goodreads to read the blurb (which isn’t something I do a lot, but will on occasion). It sounded interesting enough and I knew I liked this author’s writing style, so I decided to give this book a shot. I mean, I love non-traditional shapeshifters.
Jane Doe is a weredeer in a town full of shifters. Shifters are known in this world and most are larger and much more dangerous shifter types than a deer, so humans are scared of them. Most states have laws that allow you to shoot a shifter on sight. Jane lives in Bright Falls, Michigan, in a town of mostly shifters. Michigan doesn’t have a shoot on sight law.
So Jane works as a waitress at her parent diner, Deerlightful Diner. Jane really wants to leave the town and is trying to save money to do so. That is before her best friend’s sister dies and her brother is arrested for the murder. Jane has the power to see things when she touches them, so she sets off to prove her brother’s innocence.
This is a fun tale full of a lot of suspense. There is not only the murder mystery, there is possible mob involvement, drug use and dealing, family not being honest with everyone. There is even a Maury Povich aspect to the story as family trees are brought into light.
I really enjoyed the different characters in this series. Jane is a great character who doesn’t want to be who she is fated to be. I really liked Emma, Jane’s best friend and werewolf. The mob boss, the police chief, Jane’s family. I really liked them all.
You can’t mention a story by C.T. Phipps without mentioning the pop culture references. This story is full of them. Star Wars and Tolkien are heavily predominate, but there are lesser ones, even Belinda Carlisle.
There are also puns. Many, many deer puns. Evidently, that is a thing. Weredeer and puns. It drives Jane crazy. She hates them. Her family uses them all the time and she can’t stand it. Then other people make comments about the puns, which drives her crazy too. She avoids them at all costs, but really she doesn’t.
This is a fun story that is full of humor and suspense. I really enjoyed my time in Bright Falls and I hope to get to visit there soon. If I had to fault this story for anything, it appears there might be a love triangle coming up. I’m not sure or not. So many people seemed to be interested in Jane. I guess it is her big, doe eyes. Anyway, it is fun story. I hope you’ll give it a try.
Narration
This is my first book with Arielle DeLisle. I have to say I liked her. She did a great job with the narration of this book. I thought she really brought Jane to life. There are quite a few characters and I never had issues with who was talking. She also did a great job with the different male and female voices. I would listen to her again.
**I like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
barb4ry1's review
4.0
Actual rating: 3.75/5
I love Urban Fantasy. Here and now spiced with magical and supernatural elements appeals to me in a way only few setting do. Despite being reasonably well versed in the genre, weredeers are something new to me.
And they're only one of shapeshifters species living in Bright Falls.
Jane Doe is a teenage weredeer who wants to go to college and escape Bright Falls. Unfortunately, the chances of her escaping her small Michigan hometown are pretty slim - in some states, it's legal to shoot shapeshifters. For instance, she's working as a waitress at the Deerlightful Diner and tries to lead a normal life. Things change when her best friend's sister is murdered in an apparent occult killing. Jane's brother is the primary suspect. With the help of local drug dealer (sexy bad boy), FBI agent (sexy good guy) and other colorful characters, she'll have to solve the mystery and fight for the safety of her family.
I'll start with the characters. They're fun. Given that Jane is a teenager, the tone of the book is sarcastic, hormone-driven, but also entertaining. The characters have distinct voices and imagining them is easy. Their dialogues are often cheesy and contain a ton of pop-culture references (Twilight, Star Trek, Twin Peaks and many more). It's not a bad thing, as it's done well and I couldn't help but laugh out loud on more than one occasion. Also, deer puns were hilarious. To be fair, though, at times the story felt oversaturated with puns and funny moments. Too much of a good thing isn't always a good thing.
Underneath funny moments and banter, there's a darker side to the story. I can safely say that some of YA / UF tropes were subverted in an entertaining and clever way that doesn't shy away from social commentary. It touches racial and family issues, as well as power dynamics. Good stuff.
The plot is easy to follow but it still delivers some nice twists that push up the tempo.
I enjoyed writing - it's not the best prose on the market but it's the kind of light writing that makes you turn the pages and enjoy the story. It feels natural and is easy to follow. It also makes me believe the authors had as much fun writing it, as I had reading it.
In the end, I enjoyed the novel deerly, and I'll hunt for the sequel. Despite all those terrible deer puns ;)
I love Urban Fantasy. Here and now spiced with magical and supernatural elements appeals to me in a way only few setting do. Despite being reasonably well versed in the genre, weredeers are something new to me.
And they're only one of shapeshifters species living in Bright Falls.
Jane Doe is a teenage weredeer who wants to go to college and escape Bright Falls. Unfortunately, the chances of her escaping her small Michigan hometown are pretty slim - in some states, it's legal to shoot shapeshifters. For instance, she's working as a waitress at the Deerlightful Diner and tries to lead a normal life. Things change when her best friend's sister is murdered in an apparent occult killing. Jane's brother is the primary suspect. With the help of local drug dealer (sexy bad boy), FBI agent (sexy good guy) and other colorful characters, she'll have to solve the mystery and fight for the safety of her family.
I'll start with the characters. They're fun. Given that Jane is a teenager, the tone of the book is sarcastic, hormone-driven, but also entertaining. The characters have distinct voices and imagining them is easy. Their dialogues are often cheesy and contain a ton of pop-culture references (Twilight, Star Trek, Twin Peaks and many more). It's not a bad thing, as it's done well and I couldn't help but laugh out loud on more than one occasion. Also, deer puns were hilarious. To be fair, though, at times the story felt oversaturated with puns and funny moments. Too much of a good thing isn't always a good thing.
Underneath funny moments and banter, there's a darker side to the story. I can safely say that some of YA / UF tropes were subverted in an entertaining and clever way that doesn't shy away from social commentary. It touches racial and family issues, as well as power dynamics. Good stuff.
The plot is easy to follow but it still delivers some nice twists that push up the tempo.
I enjoyed writing - it's not the best prose on the market but it's the kind of light writing that makes you turn the pages and enjoy the story. It feels natural and is easy to follow. It also makes me believe the authors had as much fun writing it, as I had reading it.
In the end, I enjoyed the novel deerly, and I'll hunt for the sequel. Despite all those terrible deer puns ;)
dustin_frueh7921's review
3.0
DISCLOSURE: I received an e-copy from the author in exchange of a review. My opinions are honest, fair, and my own.
I fell in awe of CT Phipps’ urban fantasy world found in Straight Outta Fangton. Mindful of those emotions, naturally I was excited to dive into I Was A Teenage Weredeer.
That isn't to imply that the two share the locale. They were approximately thirty miles apart, resulting in minimal crossover. The aforementioned vampire homage wasn't a prerequisite.
As expected, Phipps and his collaborator, Michael Suttkus, took the former's fortified foundation and built upon Detroit's sordid history, laws, and magical creatures, and developed a world that was much more than what transpired before.
It was such a pleasure to read, and learn about, the intricacies of Bright Falls, and how the protagonist, Jane Doe, fit in the grand scheme of things, in both worlds: the mundane and supernatural. I reveled in those chapters and characters. I wanted to savor it as much as I could, but impulsively, I had to know what happened next.
Despite its darker storyline, this was technically young-adult, and working within those restraints, they had to tone down the profanity. In lieu of colorful words often found in adult publications, the author's came up with many creative substitutes that not only worked, but made for a more fun and original narrative. Whereas a lot of writers would forgo that admittedly implied contract with said audience, or simply said she/he cursed, they didn't take that responsibility lightly. They, in fact, honored it with minimal cursing, and only to emphasize the mood and frequently intense situations.
The prose was an improvement from Fangton, and Jane was decently fleshed out. She was so intriguing. Other key players, like Maria, the werecrow, were even intense. FBI Special Agent Alex Timmons, and notorious crime lord, Lucien Lyons, were eccentric, too. Occasionally, the pace was perhaps a little too fast, but not to the point that the myriad of details and complexities of character (Jane especially,) became a blur. Contrarily, Phipps and Suttkus offered a nice blend of the fantastical, intricate, and subtle, with profound revelations into the human condition, superimposed by pathos, naivete, and regret. Deep regret.
As promising as all that might sound, it was the characterizations themselves which was the novel's biggest flaw. As mentioned above, our loveable weredeer was nicely developed (par for the course, being the first in the series.) Special Agent Timmons and Lucien were good, too, featuring a surprising connection I didn't see coming. And for one, a backstory steeped in tragedy. I kind of had a sense of who Emma O'Henry, Jane's best friend, was, but I wanted more than substance, and less snark from her. The other townsfolk, though, left much to be desired.
Featuring a similar setup to Straight Outta Fangton, things began innocent enough and, turn by turn, became increasingly perilous, dark, and hostile. The mystery on display here was fully engaging and thankfully, it wasn't another rehashed plot device. Admittedly, a group of novice sleuths was a cliche decades ago, yet there are more important things than a working premise: keeping things interesting and fresh. Phipps seemingly specializes in taking familiar concepts (“tropes are tropes for a reason,”) and making them his own. That's what makes his work so fun to read.
As with anything else, there are pros and cons. For instance, in the twenty-third chapter, when Jane confronted her shaman mother, Judy Doe, additional exposition would have been beneficial. Not a lot, but given the heavy-handedness of the scene, it felt rushed. Generally, less is more, but sometimes “more” is needed. Feelings of detachment ensued.
There were additional instances where more clarification would have been advantageous, but would I be nitpicking? Perhaps. Instances revolving around Lucien, and how his notoriety affected him personally, and how his actions impacted Bright Falls. It's possible that I missed some subtlety or other, but certain aspects were talked about in dialogue, and it was almost like it was implied that the reader knew all the history.
Of course, it's entirely possible that I'm to blame, because I have concentration issues and I could have easily missed the subtle details. I probably missed a lot.
Aside from minimal typos and awkward word choice, the prose was fairly clean. They pulled me out of the story temporarily, but never overtly. And while I enjoyed the deer puns, they became too much. They slowed the pace slightly, and I felt impatient to keep the story flowing. The pop culture references were constant, and they helped informed their world.
In summarization, this was a highly ambitious, complex story, seasoned with compassion for humanity, and that of the gods, regardless of their intentions. For those reasons alone, I've discovered an ever deeper respect for CT Phipps, and a curiosity about Michael Suttkus’ work.
Overall, a job well done. 👍
I'm very much looking forward to the additional Jane Doe adventures, found in the second Bright Falls book, An American Weredeer in Michigan, the short story, “Jane Verses the Black Knight,” in the Blackest Knights anthology, and any forthcoming novels.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B076DPQVH6/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07J2QS57T/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1546967054&sr=8-1
I fell in awe of CT Phipps’ urban fantasy world found in Straight Outta Fangton. Mindful of those emotions, naturally I was excited to dive into I Was A Teenage Weredeer.
That isn't to imply that the two share the locale. They were approximately thirty miles apart, resulting in minimal crossover. The aforementioned vampire homage wasn't a prerequisite.
As expected, Phipps and his collaborator, Michael Suttkus, took the former's fortified foundation and built upon Detroit's sordid history, laws, and magical creatures, and developed a world that was much more than what transpired before.
”America is a study in contrasts. It is a nation founded on the principles of equality and democracy but built with slavery as well as genocide. We must acknowledge both sides of our heritage to forge the future.”
It was such a pleasure to read, and learn about, the intricacies of Bright Falls, and how the protagonist, Jane Doe, fit in the grand scheme of things, in both worlds: the mundane and supernatural. I reveled in those chapters and characters. I wanted to savor it as much as I could, but impulsively, I had to know what happened next.
Despite its darker storyline, this was technically young-adult, and working within those restraints, they had to tone down the profanity. In lieu of colorful words often found in adult publications, the author's came up with many creative substitutes that not only worked, but made for a more fun and original narrative. Whereas a lot of writers would forgo that admittedly implied contract with said audience, or simply said she/he cursed, they didn't take that responsibility lightly. They, in fact, honored it with minimal cursing, and only to emphasize the mood and frequently intense situations.
The prose was an improvement from Fangton, and Jane was decently fleshed out. She was so intriguing. Other key players, like Maria, the werecrow, were even intense. FBI Special Agent Alex Timmons, and notorious crime lord, Lucien Lyons, were eccentric, too. Occasionally, the pace was perhaps a little too fast, but not to the point that the myriad of details and complexities of character (Jane especially,) became a blur. Contrarily, Phipps and Suttkus offered a nice blend of the fantastical, intricate, and subtle, with profound revelations into the human condition, superimposed by pathos, naivete, and regret. Deep regret.
As promising as all that might sound, it was the characterizations themselves which was the novel's biggest flaw. As mentioned above, our loveable weredeer was nicely developed (par for the course, being the first in the series.) Special Agent Timmons and Lucien were good, too, featuring a surprising connection I didn't see coming. And for one, a backstory steeped in tragedy. I kind of had a sense of who Emma O'Henry, Jane's best friend, was, but I wanted more than substance, and less snark from her. The other townsfolk, though, left much to be desired.
Featuring a similar setup to Straight Outta Fangton, things began innocent enough and, turn by turn, became increasingly perilous, dark, and hostile. The mystery on display here was fully engaging and thankfully, it wasn't another rehashed plot device. Admittedly, a group of novice sleuths was a cliche decades ago, yet there are more important things than a working premise: keeping things interesting and fresh. Phipps seemingly specializes in taking familiar concepts (“tropes are tropes for a reason,”) and making them his own. That's what makes his work so fun to read.
“This was plain old human evil at the start. It infected the spirit of these woods and turned it into a monster. Everyone else just paid the cost.”
As with anything else, there are pros and cons. For instance, in the twenty-third chapter, when Jane confronted her shaman mother, Judy Doe, additional exposition would have been beneficial. Not a lot, but given the heavy-handedness of the scene, it felt rushed. Generally, less is more, but sometimes “more” is needed. Feelings of detachment ensued.
There were additional instances where more clarification would have been advantageous, but would I be nitpicking? Perhaps. Instances revolving around Lucien, and how his notoriety affected him personally, and how his actions impacted Bright Falls. It's possible that I missed some subtlety or other, but certain aspects were talked about in dialogue, and it was almost like it was implied that the reader knew all the history.
Of course, it's entirely possible that I'm to blame, because I have concentration issues and I could have easily missed the subtle details. I probably missed a lot.
Aside from minimal typos and awkward word choice, the prose was fairly clean. They pulled me out of the story temporarily, but never overtly. And while I enjoyed the deer puns, they became too much. They slowed the pace slightly, and I felt impatient to keep the story flowing. The pop culture references were constant, and they helped informed their world.
In summarization, this was a highly ambitious, complex story, seasoned with compassion for humanity, and that of the gods, regardless of their intentions. For those reasons alone, I've discovered an ever deeper respect for CT Phipps, and a curiosity about Michael Suttkus’ work.
Overall, a job well done. 👍
I'm very much looking forward to the additional Jane Doe adventures, found in the second Bright Falls book, An American Weredeer in Michigan, the short story, “Jane Verses the Black Knight,” in the Blackest Knights anthology, and any forthcoming novels.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B076DPQVH6/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07J2QS57T/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1546967054&sr=8-1
tarmunvykers's review
5.0
his book threw me for a loop, in that I found it in a grimdark forum, which set my expectations in one direction, but the title suggested some sort of parody ("I Was a Teenage Werewolf"). In fact, it's a YA novel that shows what the Twilight series might have been if only it had been better written and more imaginative. Indeed, I can easily see this as a television series and hope someone in the industry takes a good look at it in that capacity. It's certainly more interesting than the hackneyed "Grimm."
As for the story, without giving away too many spoilers, it's about a town full of shapeshifters and other monsters that must solve a murder mystery and resolve their various power struggles/personality conflicts. Part of the fun is derived from meeting all of these monsters and seeing how they interact, which trumps which, etc. But the story is also chock full of sly winks and Easter eggs that will cause an occasional LOL.
I teach what I believe is the book's target audience for a living, and I can't wait to see how they respond to it.
As for the story, without giving away too many spoilers, it's about a town full of shapeshifters and other monsters that must solve a murder mystery and resolve their various power struggles/personality conflicts. Part of the fun is derived from meeting all of these monsters and seeing how they interact, which trumps which, etc. But the story is also chock full of sly winks and Easter eggs that will cause an occasional LOL.
I teach what I believe is the book's target audience for a living, and I can't wait to see how they respond to it.
bethanytomerlinprince's review
3.0
I wanted to love this book but didn't
I wanted to love this book so badly because the tittle is amazing however somewhere around the reveal that big bad actually wasn't defeated I lost interest and stoped reading.
I did learn that deer are opportunistic meat eaters from this book though which has become my go to interesting party fact.
I wanted to love this book so badly because the tittle is amazing however somewhere around the reveal that big bad actually wasn't defeated I lost interest and stoped reading.
I did learn that deer are opportunistic meat eaters from this book though which has become my go to interesting party fact.
bookishjaybird's review
4.0
I loved this! I love Jane and Emma, and I at least could tolerate most of the characters. I loved Lucien, and I can't wait to see where that goes, especially with Jane and Alex. I loved the world building, and the shifter information. It felt natural and not just something that was being told to us as readers out of place, it genuinely felt natural in Emma and Jane's conversation's. I loved the little nods to real life included, especially some celebrities being shifters. The family relations with the O'Henry's were a bit confusing, but not too difficult it ruined the story. The ending was a bit odd, I felt. It felt like it was naturally ending and then....it didn't? And there was a whole nother ending to read? It was a bit off, and I feel like it could have been a bit more streamline, but it was still good overall. I really did enjoy it, and I can't wait to start reading book 2.
pmoore1132's review
4.0
I Was a Teenage Weredeer is a pulpy, self-aware, and generally fun contribution to the SFF tradition. In parts it reads like a reverent response to its forebears. It doesn't shy away from paying subtle homage to Dresden Files and paranormal YA, and it makes frequent (and humorous) references to pop culture. Game of Thrones and Star Wars feature heavily in the dialogue, and often pop culture references seem to be the lens through which the protagonist Jane Doe understands her world. In addition to using pop culture as a mode of describing the world, I Was a Teenage Weredeer uses it as the subject of a number of jokes. The book is full of puns. As soon as I became mentally adjusted to hearing a pun thrown in every few minutes, I found it charming. Probably my favorite feature of Phipps' use of puns is that he isn't afraid to subtly slip them in where I didn't necessarily expect a joke. Some of these sneaky jokes appear during emotionally heavy moments, and, impressively, they somehow don't detract from the impact of their scenes.
The novel strikes a strong tonal balance. It doesn't take itself too seriously and never feels pretentious, but it has heart. The narrative never feels preachy or on-the-nose, and at the same time it deals with serious themes; loyalty, compassion, intrinsic versus instrumental value, and the legacy of violence are all important in certain parts of the story. First and foremost, though, the book is fun, and if it were about those themes, it wouldn't be as effective or as entertaining. Phipps knows that, and it shows.
Phipps' prose works well. It's largely invisible,but it delivers some vivid scenes and believable characters. For the most part, he knows how to select just the right word to convey his meaning. That may sound insignificant, but I'm picky when it comes to word choice, and this book didn't disappoint on that count.
I found myself most captivated by the moments of character development and character conflict. Several characters develop a strong voice throughout the book, and I found myself invested in their story. Even some of the characters playing an antagonist role earned my sympathy. Phipps does an excellent job of making me care about his characters by developing their relationships. I think that's where this book is arguably superior to, say, Dresden Files; whereas Dresden is about Harry and his adventures, Weredeer is really about a community. The events that take place in the story, as one might expect, affect the whole community, and Phipps expertly shows that.
I do have a couple of minor nits to pick. As much as I enjoyed many of the characters and their relationships, as much as I appreciated the unpretentious and nuanced exploration of certain moral issues, I found the plot itself to be sometimes wrapped up a bit too neatly. This book, as the subtitle suggests, is a mystery, and it doesn't leave nearly as many unanswered questions as I would have preferred. In answering these questions and delivering the reader some closure, the book also sacrifices some of that thematic nuance which I appreciated for most of the book.
But those are really my only complaints. I'm looking forward to following these characters in the next entry.
The novel strikes a strong tonal balance. It doesn't take itself too seriously and never feels pretentious, but it has heart. The narrative never feels preachy or on-the-nose, and at the same time it deals with serious themes; loyalty, compassion, intrinsic versus instrumental value, and the legacy of violence are all important in certain parts of the story. First and foremost, though, the book is fun, and if it were about those themes, it wouldn't be as effective or as entertaining. Phipps knows that, and it shows.
Phipps' prose works well. It's largely invisible,but it delivers some vivid scenes and believable characters. For the most part, he knows how to select just the right word to convey his meaning. That may sound insignificant, but I'm picky when it comes to word choice, and this book didn't disappoint on that count.
I found myself most captivated by the moments of character development and character conflict. Several characters develop a strong voice throughout the book, and I found myself invested in their story. Even some of the characters playing an antagonist role earned my sympathy. Phipps does an excellent job of making me care about his characters by developing their relationships. I think that's where this book is arguably superior to, say, Dresden Files; whereas Dresden is about Harry and his adventures, Weredeer is really about a community. The events that take place in the story, as one might expect, affect the whole community, and Phipps expertly shows that.
I do have a couple of minor nits to pick. As much as I enjoyed many of the characters and their relationships, as much as I appreciated the unpretentious and nuanced exploration of certain moral issues, I found the plot itself to be sometimes wrapped up a bit too neatly. This book, as the subtitle suggests, is a mystery, and it doesn't leave nearly as many unanswered questions as I would have preferred. In answering these questions and delivering the reader some closure, the book also sacrifices some of that thematic nuance which I appreciated for most of the book.
But those are really my only complaints. I'm looking forward to following these characters in the next entry.
alwroteabook's review
5.0
We've got a sarky hero, pop culture references up the yin-yang and a twisting plot. Yep, we're in CT Phipps territory.
Times are changing. The US government has finally acknowledged the existence of supernatural beings and accepted them as citizens. The rest of the country is not so forward-thinking, hence the existence of hamlets like Bright Falls, Michigan, where beings such as weredeer Jane Doe can exist in (relative) peace. Jane is your average awkward (but cool) 18-year old and the fastest pun in the west (ba-doom-tish). As a weredeer, crappy though that may sound, she has some enhanced abilities, such as the power to read objects' history.
This ability, useful though it may seem, gets her dragged into solving a murder involving her family, werewolves, vampires, an FBI detective who's a cross between Dirk Gently and Constantine, and other weird creatures. Jane gets dragged down the proverbial (were)rabbit hole, and must face her own past, the future she's avoiding, and a whole host of supernatural beasties.
The author writes fast-paced, fun novels, and American Weredeer is no different. If you like urban fantasy, humour, murder-mysteries or deer puns (hindsight was my favourite), then you have to check this one out.
Times are changing. The US government has finally acknowledged the existence of supernatural beings and accepted them as citizens. The rest of the country is not so forward-thinking, hence the existence of hamlets like Bright Falls, Michigan, where beings such as weredeer Jane Doe can exist in (relative) peace. Jane is your average awkward (but cool) 18-year old and the fastest pun in the west (ba-doom-tish). As a weredeer, crappy though that may sound, she has some enhanced abilities, such as the power to read objects' history.
This ability, useful though it may seem, gets her dragged into solving a murder involving her family, werewolves, vampires, an FBI detective who's a cross between Dirk Gently and Constantine, and other weird creatures. Jane gets dragged down the proverbial (were)rabbit hole, and must face her own past, the future she's avoiding, and a whole host of supernatural beasties.
The author writes fast-paced, fun novels, and American Weredeer is no different. If you like urban fantasy, humour, murder-mysteries or deer puns (hindsight was my favourite), then you have to check this one out.
alexiacambaling's review
4.0
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really fun book. I'm not usually a fan of urban fantasy and shifter stories but this one had a really unique premise that intrigued me. Basically, the protagonist, Jane Doe (weredeer love puns apparently) can shapeshift into a deer. When I first saw the description, I thought, well that's new. That isn't exactly something I get to read everyday.
I Was A Teenage Weredeer is so full of teenage angst, hijinks, and lingo that I sometimes can't help but remember that my own teenage life had been so stifled in favor of college and academics that it can be a struggle to relate to other teenagers. Jane Doe, for one, happens to be my age. Still, while I personally cannot relate, she remains a fun character to read about. She's cynical, she's snarky, and she says what's on her mind. Sometimes she ends up coming across as a bit insensitive and she and her best friend Emma can be seen cracking jokes at inappropriate times.
There's a lot of banter in this book, a lot of them sound natural for the most part, some seem to be awkward for the scene. There's also a lot of references to pop culture, which I'm usually not a fan of, but it's not overly distracting. As for the writing itself, it flows nicely and doesn't make it seem too obvious that it was written by two different authors.
The plot itself is good and well-paced. It starts off with a murder mystery involving her best friend's sister who she doesn't particularly like. From there, it branches off into different directions, involving twists and secrets that I didn't see coming. It's rather short so there isn't any filler and every chapter advances the plot. The characters are mostly okay, they don't come off as caricatures or cliches. Most of the characters have some twist to their personalities which I also like.
Some romance is hinted in this book, which I'm not a fan of. I don't like insta-love and the instant attraction would be off-putting if it was more overt. Luckily, it wasn't really a big plot point so it didn't bother me too much.
That said, I did enjoy this book and I might read the next one.
This book is also on The Bookworm Daydreamer
This was a really fun book. I'm not usually a fan of urban fantasy and shifter stories but this one had a really unique premise that intrigued me. Basically, the protagonist, Jane Doe (weredeer love puns apparently) can shapeshift into a deer. When I first saw the description, I thought, well that's new. That isn't exactly something I get to read everyday.
I Was A Teenage Weredeer is so full of teenage angst, hijinks, and lingo that I sometimes can't help but remember that my own teenage life had been so stifled in favor of college and academics that it can be a struggle to relate to other teenagers. Jane Doe, for one, happens to be my age. Still, while I personally cannot relate, she remains a fun character to read about. She's cynical, she's snarky, and she says what's on her mind. Sometimes she ends up coming across as a bit insensitive and she and her best friend Emma can be seen cracking jokes at inappropriate times.
There's a lot of banter in this book, a lot of them sound natural for the most part, some seem to be awkward for the scene. There's also a lot of references to pop culture, which I'm usually not a fan of, but it's not overly distracting. As for the writing itself, it flows nicely and doesn't make it seem too obvious that it was written by two different authors.
The plot itself is good and well-paced. It starts off with a murder mystery involving her best friend's sister who she doesn't particularly like. From there, it branches off into different directions, involving twists and secrets that I didn't see coming. It's rather short so there isn't any filler and every chapter advances the plot. The characters are mostly okay, they don't come off as caricatures or cliches. Most of the characters have some twist to their personalities which I also like.
Some romance is hinted in this book, which I'm not a fan of. I don't like insta-love and the instant attraction would be off-putting if it was more overt. Luckily, it wasn't really a big plot point so it didn't bother me too much.
That said, I did enjoy this book and I might read the next one.
This book is also on The Bookworm Daydreamer