What do you think?
Rate this book
Tales of the Pack #1
Lunatic Fringe
New author Allison Moon indulges the feminine wild by giving the classic werewolf myth a feminist lesbian twist.Lexie Clarion's first night at college, she falls in with a pack of radical feminist werewolf hunters. The next morning, she falls for a mysterious woman who may be among the hunted. As Lexie's new lover and the Pack battle for Lexie's allegiance, the waxing moon illuminates old hatreds, new enemies, and a secret from Lexie's childhood that will change her life forever
300 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2011
28 people are currently reading
1259 people want to read
About the author
Allison Moon
10 books185 followersAllison is the author of the award winning, critically-acclaimed sex-ed book,Girl Sex 101, Getting It: A Guide to Hot, Healthy Hookups and Shame-Free Sex, and the sexual memoir, Bad Dyke. As a sex educator, Allison has presented her workshops to thousands of people around the US and Canada. www.GirlSex101.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
July 28, 2021
i know i said i was only going to read YA until my paper was due, but sometimes people sidle up to me at work and ask me to read their friend's book, and you just have to, you know??
i was going to give this thing 2 stars, when i was only three chapters in. the was so steeped in feminist dogma, i was getting a little twitchy with it. don't tell me this is going to be a lesbian werewolf book and then give me speeches about the horrors of the patriarchy, because then i'm just going to be looking for the nearest possible exit.
fortunately, after that character was done saying her bit, the book got a lot better. not great, but at least i could read it without getting frustrated with the narrowness of its gender politics.
i debated whether or not it should go on my "icky sex" shelf, but i think if both characters are werewolves, it is not technically bestiality. blood and chocolate had scenes where the participants were in the process of changing forms, which allowed me to declare "icky", but this one escapes that classification.
but just barely.
i think this is perfectly suitable for a YA audience, which gives me some relief that i went against my stated plans, although there are indeed some sexy sexy scenes. but kids today - they will probably not be scarred by it, and in the midst of all the tired old femtheory, can probably extract enough useful information about the importance of choosing one's own path and making the right decisions for their own personal philosophies.
it is not something i would have chosen on my own, but it is sometimes good to see what else is out there, and now i have one more book to add to my arsenal in my "werewolves are just not sexy to me" argument.
so thank goodness for that.
come to my blog!
i was going to give this thing 2 stars, when i was only three chapters in. the was so steeped in feminist dogma, i was getting a little twitchy with it. don't tell me this is going to be a lesbian werewolf book and then give me speeches about the horrors of the patriarchy, because then i'm just going to be looking for the nearest possible exit.
fortunately, after that character was done saying her bit, the book got a lot better. not great, but at least i could read it without getting frustrated with the narrowness of its gender politics.
i debated whether or not it should go on my "icky sex" shelf, but i think if both characters are werewolves, it is not technically bestiality. blood and chocolate had scenes where the participants were in the process of changing forms, which allowed me to declare "icky", but this one escapes that classification.
but just barely.
i think this is perfectly suitable for a YA audience, which gives me some relief that i went against my stated plans, although there are indeed some sexy sexy scenes. but kids today - they will probably not be scarred by it, and in the midst of all the tired old femtheory, can probably extract enough useful information about the importance of choosing one's own path and making the right decisions for their own personal philosophies.
it is not something i would have chosen on my own, but it is sometimes good to see what else is out there, and now i have one more book to add to my arsenal in my "werewolves are just not sexy to me" argument.
so thank goodness for that.
come to my blog! 
January 3, 2015
if you're going to write something that I've been waiting AGES for (like LESBIAN WEREWOLVES) it should be required to be good. this book is not.
there's a critique in one of the reviews that Lexie is a typical heroine who has things happen to her instead of making things happen - or having any sort of strong personality. that's 100% true. in addition, we're supposed to be AGAINST the scary radical lesbians killing rapists and murderers (there's an awful cheesy paragraph that says "it's as if they, by beating the male into submission, could unravel the karmic bindings that ensnarled so many women, each blow seeking to even the score" and Lexie is seriously like "omg how could you kill him, he's only a horrible rapist, not a werewolf!" at one point -- we get it, you're the good type of feminist lesbian who still loves men). yeah, I don't think so. I'd like to read a book with them as the protagonists instead.
lastly, there's just a bunch of small annoyances. Lexie, during only her second time having sex with a woman and presumably anyone, GETS FISTED. WHAT? then there's all the ridiculous descriptions of skin color: "birch," "walnut heartwood" (to describe a black woman, who also has "sturdy hips"), "incense" (to describe an Indian woman... that's not racist at all), and perhaps the best of all, "arid fields." she spends three paragraphs describing a woman's eyes. OH AND all the speeches about how labels are for soup cans. come on.
there's a critique in one of the reviews that Lexie is a typical heroine who has things happen to her instead of making things happen - or having any sort of strong personality. that's 100% true. in addition, we're supposed to be AGAINST the scary radical lesbians killing rapists and murderers (there's an awful cheesy paragraph that says "it's as if they, by beating the male into submission, could unravel the karmic bindings that ensnarled so many women, each blow seeking to even the score" and Lexie is seriously like "omg how could you kill him, he's only a horrible rapist, not a werewolf!" at one point -- we get it, you're the good type of feminist lesbian who still loves men). yeah, I don't think so. I'd like to read a book with them as the protagonists instead.
lastly, there's just a bunch of small annoyances. Lexie, during only her second time having sex with a woman and presumably anyone, GETS FISTED. WHAT? then there's all the ridiculous descriptions of skin color: "birch," "walnut heartwood" (to describe a black woman, who also has "sturdy hips"), "incense" (to describe an Indian woman... that's not racist at all), and perhaps the best of all, "arid fields." she spends three paragraphs describing a woman's eyes. OH AND all the speeches about how labels are for soup cans. come on.
October 2, 2016
This novel takes an interesting concept (lesbians & feminists meet werewolves), but with terrible politics and purple prose it's a disappointing mess rather than a delight.
First bad sign was when the protagonist decided to consistently "he" the only butch character, immediately after establishing her as a woman. Why? "Something about using 'she' to describe you feels odd," she explains (pp. 34–35). Is it the short hair? The plaid shirts? The white T-shirts? Hmm, must be the "man-dals" mentioned later on p. 115. (Apparently Mitch can do nothing without reference to its gender-defying nature: When she's at the grill, Lexie muses on what to call it: "manning–womaning?–the barbecue" (p. 30)? Actual quote.)
Another bad sign was the dismissal of Andrea Dworkin in favor of Kate Bornstein (p. 35). (She's not "interesting," apparently.) Then the explanation it's not the patriarchy, it's the kyriarchy (p. 59). You know, the kyriarchy, led by... kyriarchs?
The women's studies professor establishes on p. 22 that feminism doesn't mean "must hate men" or "the lack of a sense of humor." Giant eye-roll. Thank you very much.
(I did appreciate this exchange though:
(p. 26))
Then there's the painfully descriptive narration:
Sexy teaspoon? What the? Later, "Would it be racist to say she had never met someone who looked like Renee before?" (p. 38) (It's unclear why Lexie is so shocked by Renee's existence, when it's established earlier on that she has met black and mixed-race people before.)
And the sex scenes: "She pressed her soaking groin against Archer's abdomen" (p. 178); "her fingertips grazed her cervix" (p. 179) — could anything be less sexy?
There's a vivisection of a rat in biology class, the only critic dismissed as a "protein-deficient crazy man" (p. 190).
Then there's the rape apologism. A rapist is an "innocent" (p. 276). The victim of a gang rape: "Whatever. It wasn't even that bad, the rape" (p. 214). Beating up abusive men, on the other hand, is "sociopath[ic]" (p. 193).
What is Allison Moon trying to achieve? I have no idea.
First bad sign was when the protagonist decided to consistently "he" the only butch character, immediately after establishing her as a woman. Why? "Something about using 'she' to describe you feels odd," she explains (pp. 34–35). Is it the short hair? The plaid shirts? The white T-shirts? Hmm, must be the "man-dals" mentioned later on p. 115. (Apparently Mitch can do nothing without reference to its gender-defying nature: When she's at the grill, Lexie muses on what to call it: "manning–womaning?–the barbecue" (p. 30)? Actual quote.)
Another bad sign was the dismissal of Andrea Dworkin in favor of Kate Bornstein (p. 35). (She's not "interesting," apparently.) Then the explanation it's not the patriarchy, it's the kyriarchy (p. 59). You know, the kyriarchy, led by... kyriarchs?
The women's studies professor establishes on p. 22 that feminism doesn't mean "must hate men" or "the lack of a sense of humor." Giant eye-roll. Thank you very much.
(I did appreciate this exchange though:
Duane: That sounds fun.
Jenna: You're not invited.
Duane: What if I'm gender non-conforming?
Jenna: Nice try, frat boy.
(p. 26))
Then there's the painfully descriptive narration:
Never before had Lexie seen a woman who looked like her. She wore her hair in a fluffy corona, a halo of soft black suds held back from broad forehead with an eggplant-colored wrap. Her skin was the color of walnut heartwood, with flecks of darker freckles sprayed across the bridge of her nose. She stood a head taller than Lexie, all smooth swishes and spindly appendages indicating a normal-shaped girl who had been stretched. Her ribcage dipped into a narrow waist, then flared out full and sturdy hips that made the girl look like a sexy teaspoon." (pp. 31–32)
Sexy teaspoon? What the? Later, "Would it be racist to say she had never met someone who looked like Renee before?" (p. 38) (It's unclear why Lexie is so shocked by Renee's existence, when it's established earlier on that she has met black and mixed-race people before.)
And the sex scenes: "She pressed her soaking groin against Archer's abdomen" (p. 178); "her fingertips grazed her cervix" (p. 179) — could anything be less sexy?
There's a vivisection of a rat in biology class, the only critic dismissed as a "protein-deficient crazy man" (p. 190).
Then there's the rape apologism. A rapist is an "innocent" (p. 276). The victim of a gang rape: "Whatever. It wasn't even that bad, the rape" (p. 214). Beating up abusive men, on the other hand, is "sociopath[ic]" (p. 193).
What is Allison Moon trying to achieve? I have no idea.
October 3, 2013
Book Info: Genre: Paranormal/Werewolf (Lesbian) Reading Level: Adult
My Thoughts: Reading this book made me long for those crazy, hazy days of college. I would have loved to have hooked up with a group like the Pack.
Talking technically, the book is quite well done – oh, there are some editing issues, as well as a huge section that is repeated, but overall it is well written. The characters are wonderful, each delineated carefully and given a unique voice. I really enjoyed the character interactions. The book has a lot of layers – a coming-of-age story, a story about growing up vs. growing old, gender inequality and gender dynamics – and it obviously took a great deal of skill to balance everything and avoid heavy-handedness, which the author did beautifully. For some reason I had expected this to be more light-hearted, which is definitely is not; but I was not disappointed in what I read. I highly recommend this for anyone who might find the topic of interest.
Disclosure: I received a free eBook copy of this title from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Werewolves are back. Lexie Clarion is nervous about college. She's plagued with beastly visions, local werewolf attacks are on the rise, and she really wants to kiss a girl. And classes haven't even started yet.
Things start looking up when she meets the Pack, a group of radical women who have their own methods for handling the werewolf menace. Fascinated by their politics, intimacy, and general bad-assery, Lexie's sure she wants to join them, until an accident brings a captivating stranger into her life: Archer, a rugged woman with heterochromatic eyes and a dark secret. The Pack will go to brutal lengths to win Lexie's favor, but they underestimate Archer's love. As Archer and the Pack battle for Lexie's allegiance, the waxing moon illuminates old hatreds, new enemies, and a secret from Lexie's childhood that will change her life forever. New author Allison Moon indulges the feminine wild by giving the classic werewolf myth a feminist lesbian twist.
My Thoughts: Reading this book made me long for those crazy, hazy days of college. I would have loved to have hooked up with a group like the Pack.
Talking technically, the book is quite well done – oh, there are some editing issues, as well as a huge section that is repeated, but overall it is well written. The characters are wonderful, each delineated carefully and given a unique voice. I really enjoyed the character interactions. The book has a lot of layers – a coming-of-age story, a story about growing up vs. growing old, gender inequality and gender dynamics – and it obviously took a great deal of skill to balance everything and avoid heavy-handedness, which the author did beautifully. For some reason I had expected this to be more light-hearted, which is definitely is not; but I was not disappointed in what I read. I highly recommend this for anyone who might find the topic of interest.
Disclosure: I received a free eBook copy of this title from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Werewolves are back. Lexie Clarion is nervous about college. She's plagued with beastly visions, local werewolf attacks are on the rise, and she really wants to kiss a girl. And classes haven't even started yet.
Things start looking up when she meets the Pack, a group of radical women who have their own methods for handling the werewolf menace. Fascinated by their politics, intimacy, and general bad-assery, Lexie's sure she wants to join them, until an accident brings a captivating stranger into her life: Archer, a rugged woman with heterochromatic eyes and a dark secret. The Pack will go to brutal lengths to win Lexie's favor, but they underestimate Archer's love. As Archer and the Pack battle for Lexie's allegiance, the waxing moon illuminates old hatreds, new enemies, and a secret from Lexie's childhood that will change her life forever. New author Allison Moon indulges the feminine wild by giving the classic werewolf myth a feminist lesbian twist.
June 5, 2018
I really enjoyed this book and appreciated the feminist perspective. As a gay trans woman, it's been hard for me to navigate feminist focused spaces due to the hostility that some women (in my community we call them TERFs) can show to me and my trans sisters. Obviously most feminists aren't like this and I like that this book demonstrates that polarity of these sub-factions and how anything good can be warped into a radical and othering 'manifesto'. It's the people that make the movement, not the other way around.
That aside, it's time to gush. I love werewolf stories. For obvious reasons, the idea of shapeshifting your body into something new, powerful, confident has always been appealing to me. It's this reasons I that feel in love with the genre dating back to when I read my first werewolf novel, 'The Werewolf of Fever Swamp'. Add lesbians into it and it fulfills my desire to read about people like me. People who know what they are but are afraid of being who they are.
This book has really helped me with removing a lot of the baggage I had only a few days ago. I like that this book talks about the right type of love. Of a smart, independent, true love. Not the BS love at first sight, always say yes, give up your goals and dreams for love, kind of love. When she said no at the end, it changed my perspective of what healthy love is.
This book is a healthy love.
That aside, it's time to gush. I love werewolf stories. For obvious reasons, the idea of shapeshifting your body into something new, powerful, confident has always been appealing to me. It's this reasons I that feel in love with the genre dating back to when I read my first werewolf novel, 'The Werewolf of Fever Swamp'. Add lesbians into it and it fulfills my desire to read about people like me. People who know what they are but are afraid of being who they are.
This book has really helped me with removing a lot of the baggage I had only a few days ago. I like that this book talks about the right type of love. Of a smart, independent, true love. Not the BS love at first sight, always say yes, give up your goals and dreams for love, kind of love. When she said no at the end, it changed my perspective of what healthy love is.
This book is a healthy love.
April 15, 2012
LESBIAN WEREWOLVES. I don't think I need to say anything other than that.
May 24, 2020
Lesbian werewolves! Need I say more?
April 8, 2013
Allison Moon's debut novel, "Lunatic Fringe," is one of the most difficult novels I've read as far as classification. "Fiction" was easy, as was "Series," since the second novel is due anon.
Where else? "YA-Paranormal" would work, except that there are most definitely some sex scenes--beautifully, explicitly rendered sex scenes that would probably warp a lot of 12-year-old readers' minds. Yep. Definitely not a YA-anything book. I finally settled on "Horror" and "Mystery/Thriller." Neither comes close to describing adequately what happens in "Lunatic Fringe," but I don't have a sui generis shelf, so they will have to do.
Lexie Clarion sets off for her Freshman year of college. Her mother ran off years ago, and it's just been Lexie and her father for years. The family doesn't have much money, but Lexie has won a scholarship to prestigious Milton College, a progressive college about 50 miles from home.
As Lexie moves into her dorm, she gets some help from Blythe and Mitch, two women who'd stopped to kiss against Lexie's dorm. The two girls carry most of Lexie's boxes upstairs. Blythe invites Lexie to a weekend brunch with "The Pack," a group of friends who share a house near campus.
When Lexie shows up for the brunch, she's a little surprised that there are no men there. Then various members of The Pack flirt, kiss, and cuddle with one another. Lexie isn't freaked-out by women kissing--she's never swung one way or the other as far as her sexual orientation--but she feels lost trying to follow the feminist nature of the conversations she encounters. Before the night's over, she's heard a lot, and she's even kissed a girl.
Before too long, Lexie finds herself involved with an older woman--a hell of a lot older, it turns out--and she has embraced her newfound sexuality most enthusiastically.
There's always talk of werewolves, though. There is a breed called the Rare wolf that is especially lethal. They can turn even when it's not full moon. Indeed, The Pack is devoted to eradicating them. What they do is lure a Rare wolf into a situation where he gets excited and starts to turn, then they subdue him, take him to a secret cave, force him to turn completely, then kill him. Lexie runs away from her first hunt; she couldn't stand to see the violence against an apparent human.
Lexie settles into a passionate relationship with Archer, a woman who lives in an isolated cabin deep in the woods. Lexie learns more and more about the forest, as well as a whole damn lot about sex. In time, she learns more about Archer's nature, as well as her own.
One weekend, three obnoxious frat-boys are killed during a camping trip. The carnage was definitely lycanthropic in nature, and Lexie is surprised when she discovers the killer's identity. It leads to a conflict between her lover and her friends in The Pack. Everyone involved has secrets. In the process, Lexie finds strength and wisdom within herself, and makes some difficult decisions.
I really liked this book. The story kept me hooked from early-on till the final page. What's weird, though, is that I wasn't necessarily in a rush to figure out the book's secrets. I was satisfied enough with the story at each stage, that I could enjoy the ride, knowing the answers would come.
Lexie does a lot of growing-up in her first semester, far more than simply losing her virginity. When she was moving to college, her goal was to be bold and say "YES" when presented with a new opportunity. It takes her some practice to get used to saying "yes," but she does. In the end, she learns that sometimes "no" is the more difficult answer, especially when her answer means she and others will be hurt.
Some of the reviews I read of "Lunatic Fringe" complained that the novel is basically a treatise on feminism. It isn't. Nearly all of the "feminism" arises as part of conversations Lexie has with members of The Pack. The Pack members are feminists, some of them ardently so, so it only makes sense that they would discuss the topic, especially with a newbie. The same thing would happen with sports fans, xenophiles, Young Republicans, or any other group. We talk about things that are important to us. Some friends and I have in-depth discussions about classic baseball that would bore the crap out of non-fans. Yes, there are some anti-phallocentrism rants in the book, but they occur organically in characters' dialogue, not as an unwelcome interruption to the story. (Tom Robbins used to do this a lot)
The story is well-told, and the werewolf/Rare wolf lore seeps through the whole book, rather than being something Lexie discovers only after some grisly murder. "Lunatic Fringe" isn't set up like a typical horror novel or movie. There's no "Holy crap! There are really werewolves!!!" moment. Lexie has been aware of the lore her whole life. Her connection to it...that part she has to learn.
I admit, some part of me picked this book, thinking "LESBIAN WEREWOLVES?? Awesome!" That was such a seemingly odd pairing, that I couldn't resist reading this book.
The beautiful surprise was that "Lunatic Fringe" turned out to be an intelligent, thoughtful, well-rendered book, regardless of its subject matter. (Although Lesbian Werewolves really ARE mighty badass)
Where else? "YA-Paranormal" would work, except that there are most definitely some sex scenes--beautifully, explicitly rendered sex scenes that would probably warp a lot of 12-year-old readers' minds. Yep. Definitely not a YA-anything book. I finally settled on "Horror" and "Mystery/Thriller." Neither comes close to describing adequately what happens in "Lunatic Fringe," but I don't have a sui generis shelf, so they will have to do.
Lexie Clarion sets off for her Freshman year of college. Her mother ran off years ago, and it's just been Lexie and her father for years. The family doesn't have much money, but Lexie has won a scholarship to prestigious Milton College, a progressive college about 50 miles from home.
As Lexie moves into her dorm, she gets some help from Blythe and Mitch, two women who'd stopped to kiss against Lexie's dorm. The two girls carry most of Lexie's boxes upstairs. Blythe invites Lexie to a weekend brunch with "The Pack," a group of friends who share a house near campus.
When Lexie shows up for the brunch, she's a little surprised that there are no men there. Then various members of The Pack flirt, kiss, and cuddle with one another. Lexie isn't freaked-out by women kissing--she's never swung one way or the other as far as her sexual orientation--but she feels lost trying to follow the feminist nature of the conversations she encounters. Before the night's over, she's heard a lot, and she's even kissed a girl.
Before too long, Lexie finds herself involved with an older woman--a hell of a lot older, it turns out--and she has embraced her newfound sexuality most enthusiastically.
There's always talk of werewolves, though. There is a breed called the Rare wolf that is especially lethal. They can turn even when it's not full moon. Indeed, The Pack is devoted to eradicating them. What they do is lure a Rare wolf into a situation where he gets excited and starts to turn, then they subdue him, take him to a secret cave, force him to turn completely, then kill him. Lexie runs away from her first hunt; she couldn't stand to see the violence against an apparent human.
Lexie settles into a passionate relationship with Archer, a woman who lives in an isolated cabin deep in the woods. Lexie learns more and more about the forest, as well as a whole damn lot about sex. In time, she learns more about Archer's nature, as well as her own.
One weekend, three obnoxious frat-boys are killed during a camping trip. The carnage was definitely lycanthropic in nature, and Lexie is surprised when she discovers the killer's identity. It leads to a conflict between her lover and her friends in The Pack. Everyone involved has secrets. In the process, Lexie finds strength and wisdom within herself, and makes some difficult decisions.
I really liked this book. The story kept me hooked from early-on till the final page. What's weird, though, is that I wasn't necessarily in a rush to figure out the book's secrets. I was satisfied enough with the story at each stage, that I could enjoy the ride, knowing the answers would come.
Lexie does a lot of growing-up in her first semester, far more than simply losing her virginity. When she was moving to college, her goal was to be bold and say "YES" when presented with a new opportunity. It takes her some practice to get used to saying "yes," but she does. In the end, she learns that sometimes "no" is the more difficult answer, especially when her answer means she and others will be hurt.
Some of the reviews I read of "Lunatic Fringe" complained that the novel is basically a treatise on feminism. It isn't. Nearly all of the "feminism" arises as part of conversations Lexie has with members of The Pack. The Pack members are feminists, some of them ardently so, so it only makes sense that they would discuss the topic, especially with a newbie. The same thing would happen with sports fans, xenophiles, Young Republicans, or any other group. We talk about things that are important to us. Some friends and I have in-depth discussions about classic baseball that would bore the crap out of non-fans. Yes, there are some anti-phallocentrism rants in the book, but they occur organically in characters' dialogue, not as an unwelcome interruption to the story. (Tom Robbins used to do this a lot)
The story is well-told, and the werewolf/Rare wolf lore seeps through the whole book, rather than being something Lexie discovers only after some grisly murder. "Lunatic Fringe" isn't set up like a typical horror novel or movie. There's no "Holy crap! There are really werewolves!!!" moment. Lexie has been aware of the lore her whole life. Her connection to it...that part she has to learn.
I admit, some part of me picked this book, thinking "LESBIAN WEREWOLVES?? Awesome!" That was such a seemingly odd pairing, that I couldn't resist reading this book.
The beautiful surprise was that "Lunatic Fringe" turned out to be an intelligent, thoughtful, well-rendered book, regardless of its subject matter. (Although Lesbian Werewolves really ARE mighty badass)
August 1, 2013
Gosh, such a soft spot for this story. It felt so much like my experience of going off to college and going "wait what but how does I--" and that was charming. Also I saw someone in another review complaining about the feminism here, and I guess we must have different ideas about what to expect from lesbian werewolves, because I would *immediately* assume that was going to involve feminist theory. Especially when the lesbians in question are in college! I think Moon did a good job at capturing the fervent political passion of young adulthood and threading her way through it -- showing both why the women of this story need feminism and also the ways that their feminism is not (yet) as sophisticated as it needs to be to really help them.
The storytelling took some interesting turns; there was at least one revelation that I wish had been foreshadowed more clearly, because it would have made it easier for me to figure out what I was supposed to be seeing in the earlier hints toward it. On a more spoilery note,
Also, I found I really appreciated the ending,
Good stuff. :3
The storytelling took some interesting turns; there was at least one revelation that I wish had been foreshadowed more clearly, because it would have made it easier for me to figure out what I was supposed to be seeing in the earlier hints toward it. On a more spoilery note,
Also, I found I really appreciated the ending,
Good stuff. :3
March 6, 2012
Allison Moon's Lunatic Fringe is a truly wonderful read, the kind of story that manages to simultaneously by clever, sexy, frightening, and engaging. It's one of those books where you're never quite sure what to expect, but are never disappointed by the surprises on the next page.
The story takes quite a while to really settle into the core storyline, but Allison establishes the world so carefully, and builds up the characters so beautifully, you don't begrudge the long introduction. I tend to have a hard time with names (both in person and on the page), but these characters immediately stuck in my head. I found myself subconsciously dividing them into friends, allies, and adversaries (something I don't normally do unless I'm really engaged) and categorizing them according to likability. With a cast of characters as well-balanced as they are well-rounded, picking sides makes for a really fun read.
Before we get into the characters, though, we are exposed to a healthy dose of social politics. The early chapters have a very 'college' feel to them, with a lot of ideas tossed around, but it's done very well. Allison manages to make an otherwise polarizing subject exciting by intimately tying the issues of sexual identity and gender equality to the characters, giving the politics both a face and a personality. There is even a genderqueer member of the Pack who, as I'm sure will come as no surprise, easily crept into my heart alongside our stunning heroine, Lexie.
There's so much I want to say about this, so many key scenes and snippets of dialogue that I'm dying to share, but it really is the discoveries that make the story. Allison manages to merge the threads of social politics, lesbian romance, werewolf adventure, and college drama into a story that takes hold and never lets go. A story that's both fun and thoughtful at the same time is a rarity in and of itself, but one that's also beautifully written, with such a deft command of narrative and dialogue, is a gem that must be shared.
The story takes quite a while to really settle into the core storyline, but Allison establishes the world so carefully, and builds up the characters so beautifully, you don't begrudge the long introduction. I tend to have a hard time with names (both in person and on the page), but these characters immediately stuck in my head. I found myself subconsciously dividing them into friends, allies, and adversaries (something I don't normally do unless I'm really engaged) and categorizing them according to likability. With a cast of characters as well-balanced as they are well-rounded, picking sides makes for a really fun read.
Before we get into the characters, though, we are exposed to a healthy dose of social politics. The early chapters have a very 'college' feel to them, with a lot of ideas tossed around, but it's done very well. Allison manages to make an otherwise polarizing subject exciting by intimately tying the issues of sexual identity and gender equality to the characters, giving the politics both a face and a personality. There is even a genderqueer member of the Pack who, as I'm sure will come as no surprise, easily crept into my heart alongside our stunning heroine, Lexie.
There's so much I want to say about this, so many key scenes and snippets of dialogue that I'm dying to share, but it really is the discoveries that make the story. Allison manages to merge the threads of social politics, lesbian romance, werewolf adventure, and college drama into a story that takes hold and never lets go. A story that's both fun and thoughtful at the same time is a rarity in and of itself, but one that's also beautifully written, with such a deft command of narrative and dialogue, is a gem that must be shared.
Read
June 19, 2012I’m not really familiar with lesbian novel, but I wanted to give to Allison Moon a try, for various reason, one of which is that she was named a Lambda Literary Foundation Emerging LGBT Writers Fellow and Lunatic Fringe is her first novel. I’m happy I give her this chance, since, while for sure there is a lesbian theme, a love story between Lexie and Archer, this is mostly a story that could appeal to many different readers.
I had the feeling there was a feminist message underneath, Lexie going to college and facing a new life, was also her growing into an independent woman; maybe her doing so in an unconventional way was a message for the female reader that you can reach your targets even if you don’t align to what is expected from you.
I did like also the love story, I also liked that it was not the main focus of Lexie, as it’s proven by the end. I’m not sure this is the final point between Lexie and Archer, being this a first book in a series, maybe there is still space for some evolution in their story, for sure what Lexie will accomplish at the end of this story, is to reach a self-consciousness of herself and of what is in her power to do with her life.
There are many references to the concept of Mother Nature, the Moon as biological clock, ancient myths all centered around the imagine of the woman as main creator (even Archer’s work as carpenter and the same author’s name). For that reason I said I read a feminist message underneath, and for that reason I think that was the main focus of the author.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0983830916/?...
I had the feeling there was a feminist message underneath, Lexie going to college and facing a new life, was also her growing into an independent woman; maybe her doing so in an unconventional way was a message for the female reader that you can reach your targets even if you don’t align to what is expected from you.
I did like also the love story, I also liked that it was not the main focus of Lexie, as it’s proven by the end. I’m not sure this is the final point between Lexie and Archer, being this a first book in a series, maybe there is still space for some evolution in their story, for sure what Lexie will accomplish at the end of this story, is to reach a self-consciousness of herself and of what is in her power to do with her life.
There are many references to the concept of Mother Nature, the Moon as biological clock, ancient myths all centered around the imagine of the woman as main creator (even Archer’s work as carpenter and the same author’s name). For that reason I said I read a feminist message underneath, and for that reason I think that was the main focus of the author.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0983830916/?...
May 23, 2012
This was an interesting read that I had a really hard time rating. I found that my thoughts and feelings about this book were all over the place as I was reading it. But in short I can say this:
- The theme of feminism throughout the book was interesting, although it really got on my nerves at times.
-
- The love story was okay. Have read worse, have read better.
- This book is obviously the start of a series. I hope I'm not wrong, but I feel like this book was all about setting the stage and building the world for a bigger story.
Overall, I found this book to be entertaining and thought provoking, though at times annoying. Still; I'm curious to find out what happens next. 3 stars for now.
- The theme of feminism throughout the book was interesting, although it really got on my nerves at times.
-
- The love story was okay. Have read worse, have read better.
- This book is obviously the start of a series. I hope I'm not wrong, but I feel like this book was all about setting the stage and building the world for a bigger story.
Overall, I found this book to be entertaining and thought provoking, though at times annoying. Still; I'm curious to find out what happens next. 3 stars for now.
December 4, 2012
I wish there was a rating between 1 and 2 stars, because I really didn't actively hate this book, but I wouldn't say I liked it either.
A lot of the teen fiction I have read has these protagonists that aren't really that. They are there solely so things can happen TO them, there's nothing "pro" about it. Twilight is a good example. This book is another. Lexie doesn't seem to have any defining attributes. Other than she has braids and she carries a knife, I don't think there is a single instance of her being active in the things that are happening to her. From the moment that Blythe carries her books upstairs, she is established as the blank slate that things happen to. It's hard to emotionally bond with a blank slate.
I enjoyed the love story and the werewolf folklore was well done (as in, I hadn't heard this take on it before). I had a difficult time seeing the members of the pack as anything other than mean girls or sorority chicks. It rubbed the wrong way that Lexie wanted to belong with them so badly, even though she was creating her own niche with Archer.
And the man bashing seemed REALLY heavy handed. Do you have to hate men to be a true feminist? The author momentarily suggests no, but then contradicts herself over and over again.
Don't think I'll be reading book 2, because obviously she intends this as the first in a series.
A lot of the teen fiction I have read has these protagonists that aren't really that. They are there solely so things can happen TO them, there's nothing "pro" about it. Twilight is a good example. This book is another. Lexie doesn't seem to have any defining attributes. Other than she has braids and she carries a knife, I don't think there is a single instance of her being active in the things that are happening to her. From the moment that Blythe carries her books upstairs, she is established as the blank slate that things happen to. It's hard to emotionally bond with a blank slate.
I enjoyed the love story and the werewolf folklore was well done (as in, I hadn't heard this take on it before). I had a difficult time seeing the members of the pack as anything other than mean girls or sorority chicks. It rubbed the wrong way that Lexie wanted to belong with them so badly, even though she was creating her own niche with Archer.
And the man bashing seemed REALLY heavy handed. Do you have to hate men to be a true feminist? The author momentarily suggests no, but then contradicts herself over and over again.
Don't think I'll be reading book 2, because obviously she intends this as the first in a series.
April 23, 2013
I just got book #2 in the mail and before I read it, I want to jot a quick review of #1. I read it when it first came out (2011?) so this review will be just a short bit. (Even before baby sleep deprivation, my memory wasn't the greatest.)
I'll jump right to the main point--Lesbian. Fucking. Werewolves! When I heard that, I had to buy the book and read it. And Moon totally delivers with great werewolves and great sex scenes.
Since the book is self-published, I was curious to see if there was anything seriously different from what you'd get from a traditionally published book. I found two things: subject matter that probably wouldn't get through the mainstream filter and a really slow first chapter. I think that if Moon had needed to pitch this book to an agent, she would have, by necessity, made the opening scene and opening chapter much more grabby. But, fortunately, the slow opening isn't reflective of the rest of the book.
There was an "author's first book" feeling to it, with a pretty straightforward plotline and pretty sparse supblots. But there was definitely enough plot there to hold my interest and to justify the awesome lesbian werewolfness and the sex scenes.
So, summary: a definitely enjoyable read if not literary magic. And awesome lesbian werewolves!
I'll jump right to the main point--Lesbian. Fucking. Werewolves! When I heard that, I had to buy the book and read it. And Moon totally delivers with great werewolves and great sex scenes.
Since the book is self-published, I was curious to see if there was anything seriously different from what you'd get from a traditionally published book. I found two things: subject matter that probably wouldn't get through the mainstream filter and a really slow first chapter. I think that if Moon had needed to pitch this book to an agent, she would have, by necessity, made the opening scene and opening chapter much more grabby. But, fortunately, the slow opening isn't reflective of the rest of the book.
There was an "author's first book" feeling to it, with a pretty straightforward plotline and pretty sparse supblots. But there was definitely enough plot there to hold my interest and to justify the awesome lesbian werewolfness and the sex scenes.
So, summary: a definitely enjoyable read if not literary magic. And awesome lesbian werewolves!
May 15, 2014
Lesbian werewolves, duh. I think some of it's an allegory for the evils of second wave feminism? I'm okay with that. The main character is kinda bland, but the whole thing was relatable in a i'm-a-college-freshmen-and-all-my-new-friends-are-lesbians kind of way, but better. The werewolf mythology is on point. It's definitely campy, but I went into it with that expectation and thoroughly enjoyed it.
August 31, 2018
It’s a fun read. Not very deep. The characters/plot can sometimes feel a little flat or predictable. But the writing is actually pretty good. It was the words and the the way the author strung them together more so than the plot/characters that kept me interested in the story. I would recommend giving it a read just for the writing alone. Just don’t expect much more than that.
September 15, 2025
Sorry, but I’m not finishing this one. It’s not grabbing me. It’s also suffering from the problem that a lot of first-time writers suffer from: overwriting. There are so many metaphors and similes, or filler that just repeats something that was already said at the beginning of a sentence. A good editor would have pointed this stuff out. It also doesn’t help that Lexie, despite being the main character, feels like a nonentity in her own story. Maybe this will get better as I read, but I really don’t feel like sticking around to find out. Life is too short to waste time reading books that I’m not enjoying.
January 23, 2019
I had every intention to love this book. I searched for a werewolf themed lesbian novel and this is what I ended up choosing. Unfortunately this was far from satisfying.
It was full of unnecessary lengthy dialogues that often got me wondering their relevance. Then it feigned at creating events, the premises were also just faulty.
I am really sorry I didn't feel this book and I really hope the next book I pick makes up for my dissapointments.
Given it 2.5 ratings
It was full of unnecessary lengthy dialogues that often got me wondering their relevance. Then it feigned at creating events, the premises were also just faulty.
I am really sorry I didn't feel this book and I really hope the next book I pick makes up for my dissapointments.
Given it 2.5 ratings
April 26, 2020
This fell far below even my extremely low standards for a fluffy, entertaining Saturday-afternoon read in the form of lesbian werewolves. Rarely do I come across a book where not just the plot and characters but the actual writing is so weak. Save yourself a few hours of your life and read something else.
March 31, 2022
I'd like to think that I wouldn't hate this as much if I didn't have to spend so much time trying to read around glaring typographical errors, but really this is just not great. Bad dialogue, terrible characters, awful ending. A good time was had by none. For real.
February 10, 2012
Lexie Clarion is a regular eighteen year old girl. Just like many other girls of her age, she is feeling nervous as she gets ready to go off to college. Lexie has no way of knowing that her life is about to change beyond anything she ever dreamed of.
When Lexie arrives at college, she is determined to make the most of everything and enjoy her life and the freedom of being away from home. She tries to put to the back of her mind the rise in attacks from local werewolves. She isn’t going to let this spoil her new life style.
When Lexie meets up with a group of feminist young women, calling themselves the Pack, she becomes caught up in their world. She is fascinated by the way they are so intimate together. This is really what Lexie secretly desires, to be with another girl.
Unfortunately, it soon becomes apparent that these girls aren’t all they seem at face value. What will Lexie do when she discovers their shocking secret?
After a tree destroys Lexie’s dorm room, fortunately for her she was out at the time, Lexie meets Archer, one of the clean up crew. Lexie and Archer hit it off and Lexie agrees to go off with Archer after the tree is removed. They go to a meeting of the Full Moon Tribe. This will be the turning point in Lexie’s life. Life as she knows it will be gone forever.
The Pack have other plans for Lexie and they don’t include Archer. So, the Pack and Archer have to fight it out to see who Lexie will allow into her life, but it can’t be Archer and the Pack. Lexie and Archer love one another, but who will Lexie choose?
As the battle rages, new enemies, old hatreds and Lexie’s past all emerge, all set to change Lexie’s life forever.
This book begins with sweet and innocent Lexie going off to college. It’s here that Lexie finds out the truth about her life and family. It’s here that Lexie has her first taste of love. Also where Lexie must come to terms with the fact that she isn’t like other young girls.
There is so much in this book, it is much more than just another lesbian werewolf romance. It tells of the innocence of youth and the pain and anguish of falling in love, of discovering things no young girl should ever have to know about herself. The pain, anguish, love and triumphs radiate off the page.
Although this book started off a little bit on the slow side, it picked up fairly quickly to become a page turner that I couldn’t put down.
I loved the way the characters came together and spoke to me. Each of the characters played their own parts in furthering the story along. Even though I disliked some of them, as we are meant to do, they were well written and essential. The main characters are werewolves, but unlike some books of this nature, it is easy to like them and get close to them.
The settings are so well described, I lost myself in them. I could smell the woods. This was a well written book with a great storyline. It will be very interesting to see where this story goes next.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I hope we don’t have to wait too long.
When Lexie arrives at college, she is determined to make the most of everything and enjoy her life and the freedom of being away from home. She tries to put to the back of her mind the rise in attacks from local werewolves. She isn’t going to let this spoil her new life style.
When Lexie meets up with a group of feminist young women, calling themselves the Pack, she becomes caught up in their world. She is fascinated by the way they are so intimate together. This is really what Lexie secretly desires, to be with another girl.
Unfortunately, it soon becomes apparent that these girls aren’t all they seem at face value. What will Lexie do when she discovers their shocking secret?
After a tree destroys Lexie’s dorm room, fortunately for her she was out at the time, Lexie meets Archer, one of the clean up crew. Lexie and Archer hit it off and Lexie agrees to go off with Archer after the tree is removed. They go to a meeting of the Full Moon Tribe. This will be the turning point in Lexie’s life. Life as she knows it will be gone forever.
The Pack have other plans for Lexie and they don’t include Archer. So, the Pack and Archer have to fight it out to see who Lexie will allow into her life, but it can’t be Archer and the Pack. Lexie and Archer love one another, but who will Lexie choose?
As the battle rages, new enemies, old hatreds and Lexie’s past all emerge, all set to change Lexie’s life forever.
This book begins with sweet and innocent Lexie going off to college. It’s here that Lexie finds out the truth about her life and family. It’s here that Lexie has her first taste of love. Also where Lexie must come to terms with the fact that she isn’t like other young girls.
There is so much in this book, it is much more than just another lesbian werewolf romance. It tells of the innocence of youth and the pain and anguish of falling in love, of discovering things no young girl should ever have to know about herself. The pain, anguish, love and triumphs radiate off the page.
Although this book started off a little bit on the slow side, it picked up fairly quickly to become a page turner that I couldn’t put down.
I loved the way the characters came together and spoke to me. Each of the characters played their own parts in furthering the story along. Even though I disliked some of them, as we are meant to do, they were well written and essential. The main characters are werewolves, but unlike some books of this nature, it is easy to like them and get close to them.
The settings are so well described, I lost myself in them. I could smell the woods. This was a well written book with a great storyline. It will be very interesting to see where this story goes next.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I hope we don’t have to wait too long.
January 3, 2014
I wanted to really like this book, but mostly just found it okay. It's a lesbian werewolf story with feminists characters. The love story was nice, the take on werewolves was nice, but after that it all got very confusing and somewhat annoying on what was the true conflict and who were supposed to be rooting for.
The pack at first you think well yea there are gonna be some speeches, but it gets annoying and repetitive very fast and mostly wish that there was a lot less time spent on them as they mostly focus on manhating more than anything. There's a moment in a classroom where they go over feminism and you think okay I can deal with this, but the pack brings you right back to the point of annoyance.
The take on werewolves was nice but confusing, specifically the gender thing. Like I supposed the original werewolves were genderfluid with having genitails of both sexes, and only had to choose once they decided to take human form, but even then could still switch sex. Yet the main problem in the half bloods is because of hormones depending on ones sex causing the men to be more violent, and the women have more control because women were taught to me more docile and control their emotions and animal instincts, and men not so much? The main character calls BS on this, and to me it still seems kind of crappy though great idea just needs to be developed more. Like why the only solution is to kill them instead of teaching them control.
Honestly by the time you get to the end of the novel there are way too many questions and you wonder why there were so much time spent on unnecessary things instead of stuff that would smooth the story over.
I know there is a second one in the series but I have little faith.
The pack at first you think well yea there are gonna be some speeches, but it gets annoying and repetitive very fast and mostly wish that there was a lot less time spent on them as they mostly focus on manhating more than anything. There's a moment in a classroom where they go over feminism and you think okay I can deal with this, but the pack brings you right back to the point of annoyance.
The take on werewolves was nice but confusing, specifically the gender thing. Like I supposed the original werewolves were genderfluid with having genitails of both sexes, and only had to choose once they decided to take human form, but even then could still switch sex. Yet the main problem in the half bloods is because of hormones depending on ones sex causing the men to be more violent, and the women have more control because women were taught to me more docile and control their emotions and animal instincts, and men not so much? The main character calls BS on this, and to me it still seems kind of crappy though great idea just needs to be developed more. Like why the only solution is to kill them instead of teaching them control.
Honestly by the time you get to the end of the novel there are way too many questions and you wonder why there were so much time spent on unnecessary things instead of stuff that would smooth the story over.
I know there is a second one in the series but I have little faith.
January 16, 2012
Lunatic Fringe is a such a delightfully maddening story. In trying to describe it to those who have never heard of it I have discovered it helps to go beyond "lesbian werewolves"... as the story itself goes well beyond that, in my opinion. Lunatic Fringe is a tale that is penned in open and honest language that is easily related to by the reader (male, female, somewhere in between... I've asked them all post reading and we all agree on this one). Different folk will find different parts that speak to them - to me this book is about the challenge in overcoming fears, the importance in tackling things outside your comfort zones, the need to speak out and speak up without loosing touch with reality, and the way we as a society have a very nasty habit of making judgements without knowledge. The characters are distinct and seemingly playing to stereotypes until they begin to open their mouths more. An abundance of strong female characters and inspiration - I look forward to the day when Allison tries her skills at creating a powerful male character... and then of the glory that would be the battle involving the two (I can't quite decide which would be hotter... fighting together or against one another).
Allison Moon manages to make a book that flirts with my body, my mind, and most importantly my passion. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel to Lunatic Fringe and anything else that manages to make it out into the public realm!
Allison Moon manages to make a book that flirts with my body, my mind, and most importantly my passion. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel to Lunatic Fringe and anything else that manages to make it out into the public realm!
June 10, 2012
This is an intoxicating and wonderful story of a young girl going to college and finding herself falling for the beautiful women she finds there. Ms. Moon's prose is amazing, it flows like poetry and is very evocative as it runs across the page. It was a true pleasure to read and I would highly recommend it for anyone. The sexual overtones (and flat out sex) are very well done, adding a lovely spice to the plot.
The characters have lovely depth, at least for some of them.
There were a few things that I didn't care for. One is the lack of "good" males in the story with long term viability. It felt like they were being trashed a bit too much for my tastes; something not out of place in a story about "lesbian werewolves" but still... it would be nice to have a bit more balance. Now, part of that is in plot, there are some rather anti-male characters in there.
There are certain parts of the story that were a bit too pat: mainly the beginning. She fell in with lesbians rather quickly just as all the males were portrayed as purely "bad" instead of having more shades of gray.
Likewise, I didn't understand the final conclusion of the story. I don't know why the main character made that choice.
However, none of those ruined the story at all. I've read it three times now, so I have to put it solidly in the five star rating.
The characters have lovely depth, at least for some of them.
There were a few things that I didn't care for. One is the lack of "good" males in the story with long term viability. It felt like they were being trashed a bit too much for my tastes; something not out of place in a story about "lesbian werewolves" but still... it would be nice to have a bit more balance. Now, part of that is in plot, there are some rather anti-male characters in there.
There are certain parts of the story that were a bit too pat: mainly the beginning. She fell in with lesbians rather quickly just as all the males were portrayed as purely "bad" instead of having more shades of gray.
Likewise, I didn't understand the final conclusion of the story. I don't know why the main character made that choice.
However, none of those ruined the story at all. I've read it three times now, so I have to put it solidly in the five star rating.
October 4, 2012
I decided I wanted to read more books by not only women authors but also women from the LGBT community. I was a little wary of a "werewolf" book because, you know, Twilight. But I bought it on Amazon when I was a little drunk one day and next thing I knew it was at my house.
This book is SO much more than a werewolf book. It starts with a girl who struggles to find herself and the other kick-ass women she meets. I don't want to go into too much detail but the werewolf part of this book is almost a background piece. There is also some hot lady loving that is very tastefully done.
As soon as I finished this book I tried to find more from Allison Moon but this is her first book and the next one has not come out yet :( I will definitely get it though ASAP! I love the way she writes. There is no hesitation from me to say that she is completely clear and understandable but isn't afraid to use "big" words when the nuance is needed. Her writing is not oversimplified and this adds to the books LGBT slant and commentary again pushing the werewolf thing into the background (which I preferred honestly). Many people write werewolf books or vampire books and they rest solely on the appeal of vampires and werewolves. Allison's writing stands on its own and I will definitely be following her in the future!
I'd really encourage anyone to read this book.
This book is SO much more than a werewolf book. It starts with a girl who struggles to find herself and the other kick-ass women she meets. I don't want to go into too much detail but the werewolf part of this book is almost a background piece. There is also some hot lady loving that is very tastefully done.
As soon as I finished this book I tried to find more from Allison Moon but this is her first book and the next one has not come out yet :( I will definitely get it though ASAP! I love the way she writes. There is no hesitation from me to say that she is completely clear and understandable but isn't afraid to use "big" words when the nuance is needed. Her writing is not oversimplified and this adds to the books LGBT slant and commentary again pushing the werewolf thing into the background (which I preferred honestly). Many people write werewolf books or vampire books and they rest solely on the appeal of vampires and werewolves. Allison's writing stands on its own and I will definitely be following her in the future!
I'd really encourage anyone to read this book.
March 29, 2016
This has the distinction of being the first e-book I've ever bought. (Yes, despite the fact that I've had a kindle for over a year---Project Gutenberg, miscellaneous free ebooks, fanfic, and internet articles for the win!) The moment I saw "lesbian separatist werewolf hunters," I knew I HAD to have it.
The characters and writing were clunky in places, but not too bad. The best part is Moon's particular version of werewolf mythology, though! Much as I like Bitten and Stolen (which are my other go-to werewolf novels), their premise---that women are inherently unsuited to being werewolves---still pisses me off whenever I think about it. That's the dumbest damn thing I have ever heard; the only reason I can imagine Kelly Armstrong did it that way is that tired old stereotype about men being 'natural' and 'tough' and 'wild' and women being 'artificial' and 'weak' and 'civilizing.'
Well, Moon's book (and may it be the first of many) makes up for that disappointment. She uses the "drinking from a wolf's paw" myth! And her explanation of why women are better at being werewolves than men doesn't stop at biology. It's glorious. It's perfect. I won't spoil it for you. Just go read about lesbian separatist werewolf hunters, ok? You know you want to.
The characters and writing were clunky in places, but not too bad. The best part is Moon's particular version of werewolf mythology, though! Much as I like Bitten and Stolen (which are my other go-to werewolf novels), their premise---that women are inherently unsuited to being werewolves---still pisses me off whenever I think about it. That's the dumbest damn thing I have ever heard; the only reason I can imagine Kelly Armstrong did it that way is that tired old stereotype about men being 'natural' and 'tough' and 'wild' and women being 'artificial' and 'weak' and 'civilizing.'
Well, Moon's book (and may it be the first of many) makes up for that disappointment. She uses the "drinking from a wolf's paw" myth! And her explanation of why women are better at being werewolves than men doesn't stop at biology. It's glorious. It's perfect. I won't spoil it for you. Just go read about lesbian separatist werewolf hunters, ok? You know you want to.
September 6, 2014
I went into this dying to read a lesbian werewolf novel, and although the beginning was very preachy (I found myself partly agreeing with the "femi-nazi" thoughts of the frat-brothers early-on, although I suspected rightly that this was at least partly Allison Moon's intent) the novel put a lovely little spin on werewolf tropes. It was refreshing to read a story in which the typical werewolf storyline of "protagonist gets bitten by lover, changes against will, grapples with effects for the rest of the novel" was turned on its side in a more gentle, feminine way. While the novel is absolutely not lacking in gore and violence, the way in which Lexie turns and her lovers beginnings (I especially enjoyed the Native American folklore, and Archer's continuing multitudes of abiguity)was lovely.
The one, lingering question I have is less critique than it is a genuine curiosity, and if Allison Moon reads these reviews (Hi! New Fan!) I post this to her: I would love to see an illustration of your werewolves! With their articulated paws and larger size and ability to chatter-speak and grasp/hold one another, I am curious what your visual is and I'd love to see it.
All in all a very enjoyable read, and after finishing it last night I know I will be buying the second novel shortly, in hopes that there are more to follow in the future.
The one, lingering question I have is less critique than it is a genuine curiosity, and if Allison Moon reads these reviews (Hi! New Fan!) I post this to her: I would love to see an illustration of your werewolves! With their articulated paws and larger size and ability to chatter-speak and grasp/hold one another, I am curious what your visual is and I'd love to see it.
All in all a very enjoyable read, and after finishing it last night I know I will be buying the second novel shortly, in hopes that there are more to follow in the future.
December 3, 2012
So it took me a while to get back into this story. Overall, I liked it because it was like a comedy to me. I've been in the women's studies classes and I've been a part of and listened to the discussion folks have. And sometimes young people are very either this or that about things and miss (or disregard) the messy inbetween. I think this novel illustrated that tendency and that was funny for me. There is a book two. I did know that there was a book two. I didn't think that I would want to read it but now I do. Book two will be less romance and more the fight against corrupt werewolves. It seems like it would have to be. I liked Lexie, I think she created drama where there was none. I liked Archer too, except for her wanting Lexie to be dependent upon her. And the Pack needed help. Never blindly follow any leader. Never.
As far as the writing is concerned, I liked and disliked it. Sometimes the description of the characters thoughts weren't inline with how I thought they would express themselves based on how they spoke in dialogue. This may just be me but it was something that threw me a little at first. I do think that the descriptions and contextualization work. And I will read book two when it comes out.
As far as the writing is concerned, I liked and disliked it. Sometimes the description of the characters thoughts weren't inline with how I thought they would express themselves based on how they spoke in dialogue. This may just be me but it was something that threw me a little at first. I do think that the descriptions and contextualization work. And I will read book two when it comes out.
December 30, 2012
It is about lesbian werewolves. It is about Archer, a lone womon coming back to the small town of Milton, Oregon. It is about the Pack, a community of radical lesbians studying at Milton College. It is about 18-year-old Lexie who's never been that far away from her hometown of Wolf Creek: 60 miles.
After a quick foray into Women's Studies and feminism, Allison Moon properly introduces Lexie to the Pack and their mesmerizing words. Just before smashing Lexie's single room on campus with a majestic, ancient oak. Archer and her chainsaw are called by the college president to deal with the arboreal offender.
It is about fate. It is about the peculiar two degrees of separation. It is about what normal humans call 'rare wolves', but people in the know call 'werewolves'. It is about Lexie falling in love for the first time, discovering who/what she really is, and making a choice affecting her entire future.
While I would have liked to hear more about Lexie's missing mother, I mostly enjoyed 'Lunatic Fringe'. It is entertaining and running with the (were)wolves (more of them than Lexie expected); I believe that Allison Moon has left room for an interesting sequel.
After a quick foray into Women's Studies and feminism, Allison Moon properly introduces Lexie to the Pack and their mesmerizing words. Just before smashing Lexie's single room on campus with a majestic, ancient oak. Archer and her chainsaw are called by the college president to deal with the arboreal offender.
It is about fate. It is about the peculiar two degrees of separation. It is about what normal humans call 'rare wolves', but people in the know call 'werewolves'. It is about Lexie falling in love for the first time, discovering who/what she really is, and making a choice affecting her entire future.
While I would have liked to hear more about Lexie's missing mother, I mostly enjoyed 'Lunatic Fringe'. It is entertaining and running with the (were)wolves (more of them than Lexie expected); I believe that Allison Moon has left room for an interesting sequel.
February 9, 2012
Lunatic Fringe was a decently good book. It started off really well, then towards the middle got kind of boring, but picked up again at the end. The end got a little confusing for about ten pages, trying to figure out who was a werewolf and who wasn't. I could have done without one of the more graphic sex scenes in the middle of the book, but the rest of the sex scenes were written very well. I didn't care for most of the women in The Pack, other than Jenna. She had an innocence about her that I liked. My favorite characters were Lexie and Archer. Without giving anything away, I wish Lexie would have made a different choice at the end of the book. I thought Lunatic Fringe was a great debut book by a very talented author. Due to the sex scenes, I would only recommend it for mature adult readers, 18 and older.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews