Review: Interesting concept but an acquired taste
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 05 17, 2011
Let me start in saying that it is rare that I have to put down a book and take a break from it -- with this novel I did so twice. The writing is well done overall, the plot is intricate, and there are loads of paranormal aspects. There are some issues with the timelines. The wolfen in this story mature very quickly from infancy to adulthood (along the lines of an actual wolf they become fully mature within a year/18 months) but then at a few points one of the main characters, Axl, reminisces about other wolfen as if he grew up/went to school with them on a normal "growing" up timeline rather than a matter of months... that was a but jarring/annoying. There are certainly romantic relationships and some intense sex scenes -- however they both get buried at times in other plot aspects. Sometimes there seems to be too much detail but I feel this is an attempt to flesh out the world and relative terminology.**** I would warn anyone contemplating this book that there is quite a lot of drug use by the characters (pot, pills, etc). Addiction is apparently not an issue for the wolfen so they get high often. Also there is a significant amount of violence, some of which is quite intense. There's a war brewing between the wolfen and kontar (dog shifters), and there is kidnapping, rape, and outright torture described in fairly graphic detail. So if those things are likely to bother you be forewarned.Overall the book has potential. Still I wouldn't have paid more for this book, and would be hesitant to purchase others simply because the subject matter gets so dark in places that I actually found myself taking a break because I was getting tense reading the book.