Review: Werewolves, intrigue, and a peculiar message
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 06 16, 2014
This story wasn't too poorly written, although the author seemed to drive the point home and repeat a bit too often (rather than allowing the reader to draw conclusions from events, desired conclusions would be recapped, as though we couldn't have understood).  The characterization was excellent, and Elise was believable.  I want to make it clear that this is not 'a bad book' in that sense.Unfortunately, this story just drips with misogyny.  The werewolf culture described isn't just 'backward,' socially; it's medieval.  The 'alpha,' and all of the others in charge, are male.  The 'alpha female's' job is to cook and arrange gatherings (no joke).  Arranged marriages are still a norm.  Females are expected to be virgins until they're married (mated), and proof of their virginity is actually examined on their wedding night.Despite having access to the internet and presumably a modern education, the main character acknowledges the 'backward' traditions, but then goes on to NOT REALLY QUESTION THEM.  She goes along with an arranged marriage because she's too timid to leave the pack.  At one point, her mate actually rapes her (she said no, very clearly, regardless of any bodily reactions), and afterward, she's worried about HIS feelings - that he didn't like her.  Ugh...The intrigue and murder mystery were okay, but the primary issue I had with them was the fact that I already knew who was responsible for the problems, less than halfway through the book.Not a poorly written book.  Good worldbuilding.  Good characterization.  Just not the type of culture or mentality that I enjoy seeing portrayed as normal or okay.  (You can't blame it on their being wolves, either - 60% of wild wolf packs are led by females, so all that sexual segregation and misogyny is purely human).