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katiechu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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? Yes
5.0
This book would not be for everyone but somehow was exactly what I needed to read right now. I have been describing it as part werewolf erotica and part spy thriller but you could also add tragic romance to the mix. Despite the graphic content, I think it’s beautifully written which I also appreciated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Body horror, Cursing, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Drug use, Excrement, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Infertility, Vomit, Pregnancy, Rape, and Torture
_thunderhead_'s review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
erinreadstoomuch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
While it took me 20% into the book to be invested, I absolutely got there. This reads almost in the voice of a disinterested Jason Statham, but you’re thrown immediately into this universe trying to recover and find yourself amongst the chaos of events to start with. I’ll sit on this for a bit, before deciding book to read book 2, but will forever be giggling at how stuck up vampires in this universe are.
cathybruce208's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! The first true monster I ever really rooted for. It's hard to describe this book without giving too much away. You don't even have to like supernatural books, I would recommend this story on the author's writing and voice alone.
Jake is the last werewolf on earth. Werewolves aren't immortal, but they can live for 400 years (unless WOCOP, a group charged with exterminating supernatural monsters, finds them first.) Jake is only 200, but he's tired. He's had too much life. But before you think he's some fey creature overcome with ennui, know that Jake has a cutting intellect, a super-charged libido and a clear-eyed view of what he is.
To tell more, would spoil the book. Yes, there are vampires too. Yes, this book is densely plotted. Yes, there is lots of action, both in the bedroom and out of it. Just read it and enjoy.
Jake is the last werewolf on earth. Werewolves aren't immortal, but they can live for 400 years (unless WOCOP, a group charged with exterminating supernatural monsters, finds them first.) Jake is only 200, but he's tired. He's had too much life. But before you think he's some fey creature overcome with ennui, know that Jake has a cutting intellect, a super-charged libido and a clear-eyed view of what he is.
To tell more, would spoil the book. Yes, there are vampires too. Yes, this book is densely plotted. Yes, there is lots of action, both in the bedroom and out of it. Just read it and enjoy.
mcbrantley's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
Duncan writes well. I like his so-called purple prose most of the time, though he certainly could have gotten to the point a bit faster in a few instances. His writing of women leaves a little to be desired. I didn't like how every woman in the story was defined by her connection to a man. I did enjoy the parallels and how things came together in the end, and I can even forgive the jarring changes in chronologicallity and focus for how well it all is pulled together.
I'm not sure if I can forgive the unexpectedly large focus on buttholes. Not that it matters.
Interesting read tho. This book takes you on a journey
Duncan writes well. I like his so-called purple prose most of the time, though he certainly could have gotten to the point a bit faster in a few instances. His writing of women leaves a little to be desired. I didn't like how every woman in the story was defined by her connection to a man. I did enjoy the parallels and how things came together in the end, and I can even forgive the jarring changes in chronologicallity and focus for how well it all is pulled together.
I'm not sure if I can forgive the unexpectedly large focus on buttholes. Not that it matters.
Interesting read tho. This book takes you on a journey
alice_speilburg's review against another edition
3.0
Not your typical werewolf paranormal, the narrative is gritty and masculine. The werewolf in question is an an intellectual guy's guy and bored with life after 200 years. While the writing is beautiful with interesting facts inserted a la Tom Robbins, the plot has one to many twists to be taken too seriously.
whatsmacksaid's review against another edition
1.0
I really disliked this. There were some gems in the purple prose, but for the most part it was dense and overblown. There were all sorts of tropes that were employed, and the narrator talked about how they were tropes, but that was it. There was zero attempt on the author's part to engage with or subvert them.
Also, those last pages that were from the woman's POV--christ, is that what he thinks women think about??
I do not, under any circumstances, recommend this. If you want a good literary horror werewolf book (that covers some of the same themes, even), read Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones. It was a hundred times better than this drivel.
Also, those last pages that were from the woman's POV--christ, is that what he thinks women think about??
I do not, under any circumstances, recommend this. If you want a good literary horror werewolf book (that covers some of the same themes, even), read Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones. It was a hundred times better than this drivel.
arf88's review against another edition
3.0
I think there were more references to anal sex in this book than in actual gay erotica that I've read. Turns out Werewolves like doing it up the butt.
This was an interesting take on the Werewolf genre, and it was easy reading, although the first half of the book, in typical lit-fic fashion, has basically no plot. I didn't mind, but I can imagine it being boring for some. The book lost me a bit towards the end - the death of characters we should care about fell flat, almost like the author could barely bring himself to care.
Over all, this book wasn't terrible, and it certainly has plenty of beautiful lines to highlight, but I can't say I'll be running out to read the sequels.
This was an interesting take on the Werewolf genre, and it was easy reading, although the first half of the book, in typical lit-fic fashion, has basically no plot. I didn't mind, but I can imagine it being boring for some. The book lost me a bit towards the end - the death of characters we should care about fell flat, almost like the author could barely bring himself to care.
Over all, this book wasn't terrible, and it certainly has plenty of beautiful lines to highlight, but I can't say I'll be running out to read the sequels.