Review: Human Skin and Wolf Skin in Harmony
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 29, 2012
**Book provided at no cost by the author in exchange for an honest review**When Talia was bitten by a large dog, she felt she was lucky to be alive.  Little did she know that the large dog  was, in fact, a wolf....But not just any wolf....A werewolf.  She began to change one month later, and to help preserve her family, she leaves her home and everything in her life behind.  Fast-forward 1 year and Talia is struggling.  Struggling with the 4 packmates she's crammed in a tiny house with; struggling with the unruly wolf within; and struggling with humanity in the world that surrounds her, Talia doesn't know how much longer she can live this way.  Then the night of the full moon, Talia and 2 packmates come across another werewolf, one that is able to shift from wolf to human skin without effort--something the packmates are unable to do on the night of a full moon.Denying that there's anything wrong with the pack, everyone but Talia wants to observe the new wolf and not become involved with him.  After a tragedy unfolds within the pack, Talia runs-abandoning Pierce, Bo, Marlene, and Leroy, when they needed her most-and ends up right in the arms of Corwin.  Begging Corwin to show her the way to living a normal life, Talia finds out his methods are not glamorous and sometimes downright inhumane and cruel. But do they work and will Talia finally find a way to start living her life again, the way she was prior to her attack a year ago?"Bonds of Fenris" is a fantastic psychological trip into the mind of a human and its inner wolf.  This novel takes the concept of lycanthropy and gives the whole idea of werewolves a new meaning.  It's more about accepting the "skin you're in" whether it's covered with human skin or werewolf fur.  This, of course, isn't easy since none of the characters in the book are wolves by choice - they became werewolves by force.  Each one harbors resentment and hatred of the beast caged within.  We get an up-close and intimate look at the ways each person in Talia's pack finally deal with and attempt to tame the carnivore that itches to break free.  It isn't sweet and romantic or nice and easy.....It's treacherous and emotional - and will definitely make you, the reader, anxious and in some cases angry.  You will feel relief, sadness, and pain.The author does an excellent job radiating the temperaments, emotions, and experiences of each character off of the pages of "Bonds of Fenris" and into you.  We see how important it is that each character not only be accepting of others but also learn to accept themselves--in whatever form they happen to be in.  Ms. Bell is very descriptive throughout the entire novel but it's not overly wordy or redundant.Talia is a strong character.  She tries her best to live among humans, going so far as to take college classes and hold down a part time job.  She has her weak moments but they are crucial to the plot and the progression of the storyline.Bo, Leroy, Pierce, and Maureen are extremely confused secondary characters.  They struggle everyday with the wolves they harbor.  What we learn about them as we read defines each one and illuminates their struggles.Corwin is an enigma...A hot enigma, but an enigma.  We aren't certain where he comes from as he just appears in the same forest at the same time the pack does one full moon night.  He indicates that he's special but doesn't reveal how at first.  This happens after he takes Talia under his wing and leads her through all of tests to help her live in harmony with her wolf.There is touch of romance within the pages of this novel but it isn't over-powering nor does it detract from the theme.I enjoyed this different aspect of the werewolf!