Review: Interesting take on the Shifter mythos
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 2, 2014
An interesting take on the shapeshifter mythos, with the condition being both infectious and inheritable, leading to cyclical uncontrolled lycanthropy and loss of human intelligence. These are not uncommon setups in the PNR world, and have appeared in other works in the same field. However, seldom does a work focus so much on the downside of the transformation, making it massively painful, with progressive deterioration of health in the face of the repeated physical trauma, eventually resulting in an early death. Against that backdrop, the gay version of the hardbitten detective in a relationship with a femme fatale is fairly familiar. All in all, in was a refreshing mix of old and new concepts, and the quirkiness of the main characters gave them both a certain charm that made it enjoyable to read about them. (I happened to immediately recognize the "Didn't you take me to a Leaf's game?" reference, which was indeed fairly obscure.) Interestingly, the ebook is really a duo, with two apparently novel-length stories, one after the other, so you get a double dose of these characters, bundled into one book. Worth the read, even if it isn't my usual fare.