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Werewolf Saga #2
Shara
Shara Wellington has always been shy, but what happened on prom night drove her deeper into herself. Professor Josef Ulrik, however, sees something in the girl and believes he knows what she needs to unlock her inner power. But accepting Ulrik's Gift of lycanthropy only opens up a world of new problems for Shara. Alienated from her home and family, Shara must learn to life as a wolf in the wild and as a woman with the urges of a beast. When it's learned that she possesses an ability no other werewolf in history has had, the Pack is divided, with one side seeing her as a savior and the other as an enemy that must be killed. Shara only wants to live a normal life with her new family But the Pack is gathering ...
338 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2006
4 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
About the author
Steven E. Wedel
59 books139 followersI’ve been writing stories since I was a teenager dreaming of fame and fortune in the literary world. While I’m still waiting on the fortune part, I’ve published over 50 books, mostly in horror, but also in literary fiction, thrillers, Westerns, young adult, and children’s genres—sometimes under other names.
My writing tends to explore the darker sides of life, often blending the supernatural with raw human emotion. If you like slow-burn psychological horror with depth, you’ll probably find something on my shelf worth reading.
In my other lives, I’ve worked as a machinist, journalist, corporate writer, public relations guy, and English teacher. I have a master's degree in creative writing from the University of Oklahoma, and a background in journalism, too. I'm a lifelong Oklahoman, currently living in the central part of the state with a couple of dogs, a cat, and too many books.
When I'm not writing, I'm probably kayaking, camping, or spending time with my kids and grandkids.
Feel free to reach out—I enjoy connecting with readers.
My writing tends to explore the darker sides of life, often blending the supernatural with raw human emotion. If you like slow-burn psychological horror with depth, you’ll probably find something on my shelf worth reading.
In my other lives, I’ve worked as a machinist, journalist, corporate writer, public relations guy, and English teacher. I have a master's degree in creative writing from the University of Oklahoma, and a background in journalism, too. I'm a lifelong Oklahoman, currently living in the central part of the state with a couple of dogs, a cat, and too many books.
When I'm not writing, I'm probably kayaking, camping, or spending time with my kids and grandkids.
Feel free to reach out—I enjoy connecting with readers.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 23, 2007
Interesting werewolf novel. Wouldn't mind checking out more from this author.
April 9, 2012
This one is not for the faint of heart, or stomach. Wedel's portrayal of a young woman trying to live with the gift/curse of lycanthropy plays out as very real, with uncomfortable honesty and beautiful cruelty. "Beautiful cruelty" because it, like life, is peppered with tragedy that can simply enhance one's awareness of the moment, lending it poignancy. I initially felt I might have difficulty relating to a female protagonist, especially one with such a violent past, but Shara evolves into a well-rounded, wizened character, adapting with each chapter of her life and lending a real-life quality to her story. This book surprised me by reaching me emotionally at times. I would recommend this book to anyone who might want to get a well-thought idea of being a werewolf in a world that can be difficult enough as a human.
August 25, 2015
Not just another Werewolf Book
A werewolf book that actually has a great plot. Many twist and turns throughout the book. A great book written to hold the readers attention to the very end.
A werewolf book that actually has a great plot. Many twist and turns throughout the book. A great book written to hold the readers attention to the very end.
July 27, 2011
Never read a werewolf series like this. Love Love it!!! I would read it and still be thinking about the story threw out the day. Great series
March 16, 2024
I stumbled on this book while reading a 20 year old interview with Brian Keene on the Wayback Machine. He spoke of this book very highly, so I decided to look it up. The paperback was on a crazy sale online, $4.30 new, usually $12.95 (still a good price for this big tome). So, I ordered it. I immediately was very impressed with Wedel's writing. His talent for building a character and showing you the world through their eyes is impressive.
The book is a tad uneven here and there, typical first novelitis, for instance, I didn't quite buy the title character's initial agreement of lycanthropy. There are a few other thin moments, but overall, it is an excellent read. When reading this book, there are a few parts where it seems like the narrative is getting very slow, stick with it! The story kicks into overdrive usually right after the slow spots. The finale is an emotional roller coaster, especially to the parents out there.
An excellent first novel by a criminally underknown author. I am glad I do weird stuff like looking up 20 year old interviews with Brian Keene on the Wayback Machine! Highly recommended. Looking forward to reading the rest of Wedel's Werewolf Saga.
The book is a tad uneven here and there, typical first novelitis, for instance, I didn't quite buy the title character's initial agreement of lycanthropy. There are a few other thin moments, but overall, it is an excellent read. When reading this book, there are a few parts where it seems like the narrative is getting very slow, stick with it! The story kicks into overdrive usually right after the slow spots. The finale is an emotional roller coaster, especially to the parents out there.
An excellent first novel by a criminally underknown author. I am glad I do weird stuff like looking up 20 year old interviews with Brian Keene on the Wayback Machine! Highly recommended. Looking forward to reading the rest of Wedel's Werewolf Saga.
October 18, 2025
This isn't my usual writing style I gravitate towards, but I gave it a go. The beginning is a bit slow, with some unnecessary chapter POVs, but it gets more interesting the more you read. I have read a lot of werewolf and shifter series over the years, and this one had a first for me that was a bit shocking . But then the author goes even further than that with the shock value . I kinda liked that this book went full crazy at some points, but then it had it's boring moments too. Shara wasn't my favourite protagonist and it was hard to read some of the comments on women (it's set in the 80s and early 90s). The writing style made it feel like a play, with kind of robotic dialogue and a lot of telling over showing. I don't know if I will read the sequels, but it was something different to read.
January 10, 2023
Enchanting
Maybe not quite the right word. It took a little while for me to get into the book, but once I got into it the story gripped me! I love the way this author writes. He keeps me guessing and keeps me interested and engaged in the book. Great read! I can't wait to continue the story.
Maybe not quite the right word. It took a little while for me to get into the book, but once I got into it the story gripped me! I love the way this author writes. He keeps me guessing and keeps me interested and engaged in the book. Great read! I can't wait to continue the story.
March 14, 2011
The back of the book gives a detailed plot summary that is so specific you go into the book already knowing the outcome. Having read the book, I would add that if I hadn't already known the outcome, I might not have finished it. Shara's life is one traumatic experience after another up to and after she accepts "the Gift" of becoming a werewolf.
Page one opens where the last chapter ends, so even if you skip the book summary at the back of the book, you know what's going to happen before you read the story.
The setting takes place over the course of Shara's life from age 16 through adulthood, beginning with Shara's senior prom and following her through two marriages. The book is well written and fast-paced enough to keep the pages turning, but I found some of the character motivations a bit unbelievable (i.e. Shara's mother urging her to let her boyfriend sample the milk to keep him happy), but even more unrealistic was Shara's expectation that her first husband would still accept the litter of wolf pups born of a fling with a wolf because they are "half hers". You would think after all she has been through up to that point, she would not be so naive.
I found the setting shifts a bit jarring. After the conclusion of Shara's senior prom, she is suddenly in college, and so forth. I realize the author did this in order to fast-forward the story along, but skipping long chunks of Shara's life in between each subsequent "traumatic experience" she suffers made her hard to empathize with. The reader only gets to see Shara in various stages of emotional distress, which doesn't make her a very well-rounded character. I found myself unsympathetic to her near the end, and at times even unlikable, such as when she re-visits her parents house and murders her mother's small dog for apparently no reason other than to scare them by proving that she is "a werewolf". Her casual acceptable of her second husband's gruesome (and apparently remorseless) tale about a brutal act committed in his past were hard to swallow. I would think a woman who suffered as much as Shara has would have at the very least questioned this story, but instead she blithely accepts is as proof that they have both experienced the hunter's instinct.
As a fan of werewolf novels, I think this is better than many I've read. However, the one-dimensional view of Shara as a "victim" prevents it from being a must-read. When all is said and done, you don't walk away from the book truly caring about the characters, which is what makes a book great.
Page one opens where the last chapter ends, so even if you skip the book summary at the back of the book, you know what's going to happen before you read the story.
The setting takes place over the course of Shara's life from age 16 through adulthood, beginning with Shara's senior prom and following her through two marriages. The book is well written and fast-paced enough to keep the pages turning, but I found some of the character motivations a bit unbelievable (i.e. Shara's mother urging her to let her boyfriend sample the milk to keep him happy), but even more unrealistic was Shara's expectation that her first husband would still accept the litter of wolf pups born of a fling with a wolf because they are "half hers". You would think after all she has been through up to that point, she would not be so naive.
I found the setting shifts a bit jarring. After the conclusion of Shara's senior prom, she is suddenly in college, and so forth. I realize the author did this in order to fast-forward the story along, but skipping long chunks of Shara's life in between each subsequent "traumatic experience" she suffers made her hard to empathize with. The reader only gets to see Shara in various stages of emotional distress, which doesn't make her a very well-rounded character. I found myself unsympathetic to her near the end, and at times even unlikable, such as when she re-visits her parents house and murders her mother's small dog for apparently no reason other than to scare them by proving that she is "a werewolf". Her casual acceptable of her second husband's gruesome (and apparently remorseless) tale about a brutal act committed in his past were hard to swallow. I would think a woman who suffered as much as Shara has would have at the very least questioned this story, but instead she blithely accepts is as proof that they have both experienced the hunter's instinct.
As a fan of werewolf novels, I think this is better than many I've read. However, the one-dimensional view of Shara as a "victim" prevents it from being a must-read. When all is said and done, you don't walk away from the book truly caring about the characters, which is what makes a book great.
January 14, 2008
This is Book 2 of The Werewolf Saga.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews