Review: Sensual writing with lots of interesting werewolf lore
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 25, 2013
In a word: a gripping story with unusual world-building, descriptive writing that plunges the reader into Walsh's world, a dangerous romance and an exotic setting.Cloaked in Fur has so many elements that made it successful for me, and I'm glad I had a chance to read this very different werewolf story. Walsh has obviously researched wolf behavior, and she incorporates it nicely into the story by letting her wulfkin characters behave as wolves in a pack, even when they are in human form. Set in Romania, the story jumps right into the action and doesn't let up until the end. I enjoyed both the international flavor of the story and the exotic locale of the Carpathian Forest, and I thought it worked really well for this dangerous and bloody tale of family bonds, misplaced loyalties and the consequences of breaking promises.Daci is a moonwulf and is half-human. She is about to turn into a full-fledged wulfkin with the next full moon, but the twist to this is that Daci has fallen in love with a human man, and she yearns to become human herself so that she can be with him. One of her pack mates, a wulfkin named Radu, is trying to help her locate a recipe for a secret elixir that may be able to stop her from transforming for good, and give her the human form she desires. But the demanding and sadistic alpha of the pack named Sandulf has other plans for Daci, and getting the elixir in time to transform her is going to be nearly impossible, not to mention keeping her real identity and whereabouts a secret from her human boyfriend, Connell.As Daci dodges questions from Connell, who is losing patience with Daci's lies, a dangerous and impossible creature has come to town and is killing and eating humans. This isn't good news for Daci, who is already stressed out about her impending change. But killing the creature is harder than she thought, and she'll need the help of her pack if she wants to stop it for good.Walsh has the most sensual writing style, which gives the story a depth that brings the wulfkin to life for the reader. All of the wulfkin have heightened senses, especially their sense of smell, and Walsh gleefully describes the scents that batter Daci on a daily basis, even when she isn't in wolf form. Because Daci is a moonwulf and not fully turned yet, she can often feel her wolf inside her, struggling to get out. These were some of the most descriptive passages for me, when Daci experiences this struggle. The wolf is part of her, and yet it is separate too. The hardest times for her are when she can't control the wolf, and the author does a great job of allowing the reader to experience the clash between Daci's human and animal sides.The romance between Connell and Daci was fraught with tension, which was interesting for a while, but soon became a bit strange for me. Daci declares her undying love for Connell, and she's willing to give up her life with the pack for him. Yet they spend most of the story fighting and bickering, and I had a hard time imagining why Connell wanted to stay with Daci, especially since she has been lying to him for the past year. A wulfkin named Enre is also battling for her affections and wants to be her mate, which added a kind of love triangle to the story. I didn't mind it though, since Enre's presence added more tension between Daci and Connell, and for me made their weird relationship more tolerable.The story is fairly short, and I would have loved to see a few things expanded upon, especially the origins of the wulfkin and how Daci became a moonwulf. The author hints at Daci's human mother, but she never delves into it. Perhaps another book in the series is in the works, which would give Walsh more room to explore her thoroughly fascinating and addictive world. For fans of werewolf stories filled with moody atmosphere and lovely descriptions, Cloaked in Fur is a real treat.