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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Brian Asman's Good Dogs is an entertaining howling romp that pits a migrating group of werewolves against a beast higher up on their food chain. Having the hunters be the hunted allows for an interesting take on the type of characters that you root for while the big evil monster is stalking them. Each of these wolves has a defining role within their family, and I wish that Asman couldn't have explored that dynamic further within his narrative, except the flashbacks seem devoted to the murderous history of the "Watcher" or "Mama Bear" and her victims instead of strengthening how these characters became a found family. There could be missed opportunities for further flashbacks as this wild bunch manages to differentiate themselves from each other. They have regaling personalities and backstories surrounding their "change," which makes it difficult to see how they eventually become victims in the later half of the story, especially when it comes to Linnae, who probably has it the most difficult out of all of them as she was forced to become an attack dog for her drug-dealer boyfriend. However, the book has some entertaining and gruesome moments akin to a bloody monster flick that will flip through the pages.
The opening of Esther's siege against the werewolves is pretty tense, suggesting that most of the cast won't be unscathed by the end, whether human or not. This lack of armour is accentuated when you discover what happened to one of her children when she discovers the bone pitt near the mine within her transformation. There is also a scene from her perspective where she describes killing Joey, who is one of the lycanthropes. The way that his mangling and his last agonizing moments are expressed through a predatory lens is pretty visceral.
While I did expect more from the characters, I recommend this book to anyone who wants a distinctive take on the werewolf mythos and a creative perspective on the creature's feature.
The opening of Esther's siege against the werewolves is pretty tense, suggesting that most of the cast won't be unscathed by the end, whether human or not. This lack of armour is accentuated when you discover what happened to one of her children when she discovers the bone pitt near the mine within her transformation. There is also a scene from her perspective where she describes killing Joey, who is one of the lycanthropes. The way that his mangling and his last agonizing moments are expressed through a predatory lens is pretty visceral.
While I did expect more from the characters, I recommend this book to anyone who wants a distinctive take on the werewolf mythos and a creative perspective on the creature's feature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Drug use
Minor: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment
Like, just buy it and read it. Right now. This book is incredible. And not just because he's my favorite author. The characters are incredibly beautiful and the story is so compelling! You need this one.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Absolutely gripping, an incredible and fresh take on the werewolf subgenre, with characters I felt inexorably tied to in their highs and lows. This was the book that got me back into reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Live, let live, and leave the things that howl in the night be.” Wise advice that absolutely no one in this book follows.
Brian Asman delivers a layered horror ride where a humanized monster chases other humanized monsters, who are also chasing humans—because why settle for one kind of terror when you can have them all? Told from the werewolves’ perspective, the lore is so engaging that I found myself questioning my own allegiance. The humans? Dubious. The werewolves? Surprisingly compelling. The real monster? Who’s to say?
The gore was delightful—visceral but never gratuitous—balanced with genuine character depth and storytelling that sticks with you. Add in injections of humor and pop culture references, and Good Dogs is the kind of horror that keeps you entertained while gnawing at your brain long after.
Brian Asman delivers a layered horror ride where a humanized monster chases other humanized monsters, who are also chasing humans—because why settle for one kind of terror when you can have them all? Told from the werewolves’ perspective, the lore is so engaging that I found myself questioning my own allegiance. The humans? Dubious. The werewolves? Surprisingly compelling. The real monster? Who’s to say?
The gore was delightful—visceral but never gratuitous—balanced with genuine character depth and storytelling that sticks with you. Add in injections of humor and pop culture references, and Good Dogs is the kind of horror that keeps you entertained while gnawing at your brain long after.
While a little slow in the middle, this book did a great job balancing horror and heart. I would have liked a bit more character and relationship development between Naughton and Delia as I didn't find myself as invested as the author intended. However, I was really impressed with the writing and plot skill. I would definitely read more from the author.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Brian Asman novels are always a good time, and Good Dogs is no different! Really engaging werewolf horror, and the human aspect of it all. The only thing dragging this down from five stars to four for me is that... I would have loved for the whole thing to be about the family from the prolonged chapter. It hooked me so deeply, and I was beyond invested in Esther - so much so that when it became clear that the book would depart from her in favor of different people, it soured me on them a bit. I had a hard time getting past the desire to make it all about the McKauvers. So I guess you could say that, in my opinion, this book's fatal flaw was having a prolonged that was too good.
Brian Asman novels are always a good time, and Good Dogs is no different! Really engaging werewolf horror, and the human aspect of it all. The only thing dragging this down from five stars to four for me is that... I would have loved for the whole thing to be about the family from the prolonged chapter. It hooked me so deeply, and I was beyond invested in Esther - so much so that when it became clear that the book would depart from her in favor of different people, it soured me on them a bit. I had a hard time getting past the desire to make it all about the McKauvers. So I guess you could say that, in my opinion, this book's fatal flaw was having a prolonged that was too good.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*****I received this free audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Wow! When the werewolves aren’t the only things hunting the &$@! hits the fan! This “family” for werewolves try their best to fit in within the world around them. After a slip up they decide it is time to move to a more secluded area. Unbeknownst to them they are no longer the hunters but have become the hunted.
Wow! When the werewolves aren’t the only things hunting the &$@! hits the fan! This “family” for werewolves try their best to fit in within the world around them. After a slip up they decide it is time to move to a more secluded area. Unbeknownst to them they are no longer the hunters but have become the hunted.