Nest of Serpents

Wereworld #4

by Curtis Jobling

War Has Gripped The Seven Realms...Young Werewolf Drew Ferran, rightful king of Westland, has rushed to the aid of the besieged Staglords, whose mountain stronghold is surrounded by the forces of the Werelion Prince Lucas. And deep in the haunted Dyrewood forest, the Wereladies Gretchen and Whitley seek sanctuary within the city of Brackenholme. No opposing force has ever breached the palisade walls, but danger could be closer than they think...As Lyssia's greatest war rumbles towards a thunderous climax, the lines between friend and foe are blurred. What if the enemy is one of their own?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure, Werewolves, Fiction, Shapeshifters, Middle Grade

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Curtis Jobling is an author and illustrator based in the UK. Working in publishing and animation he is possibly most (in)famously known as the designer of the BAFTA winning "Bob The Builder", as well as creator of CBeebies "Raa Raa the Noisy Lion" and CBBC's "Frankenstein’s Cat". Early work in animation included model and puppet painting on Wallace & Gromit’s "A Close Shave" and Tim Burton’s "Mars Attacks!" He’s also the creator/director/producer of Nickelodeon’s "Curious Cow" interstitials, a series of animated shorts featuring the varied and hilarious deaths of a bewildered bovine.

As a published author and illustrator of children’s books, Curtis’s works include Dinosaurs After Dark (with Jonathan Emmett), Skeleton in the Closet (with Alice Schertle), My Daddy, Cheeky Monkey and perhaps his most notorious character Frankenstein’s Cat, now an animated series in its own right commissioned by the BBC and sold to broadcasters worldwide.

The Wereworld series of novels were first published by Penguin in the UK in January 2011, with "Rise of the Wolf", the first in the fantasy horror, shortlisted for the Waterstone's Book Prize. Penguin/Viking first published the debut novel in September 2011.

Reviews

[Kristalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Final rating: 4/5 stars

Hm...I think i prefer previous three books to this one. But it's still cool in its own way :) Anyway, very good sequel to Wereworld series. There were plot twists once again (i always welcome plot twists and unpredictability) and many fights, battles, struggles, treacheries, new alliances, deaths of characters and lot more. P.S. Wyldermen are very, extremely very creepy people. I don't like cannibals, and they creep the hell out of me... Not to mention Vala, the snake "goddess". I think i will have traumas. Too bad that i just adore snakes.
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Characters :
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I noticed that this time the spotlight was on the two ladies who were missing in the previous book - Whitley and Gretchen, and we get to see more of Trent, Drew's brother. But, this time, there is nothing about the battle of Omir and the characters there, and the rest of the Wolf council didn't appear, but one of them is alive!!!!! Oh i do hope to see more Vega in the next book (since it's called Storm of Sharks, and Vega is a shark).

Drew is once again being charismatic, awesome and brave! I am glad that Trent finally got it in his head that Drew is not his enemy, and now i am glad to see him appear more and moreeee! Whitley and Gretchen were awesome as always, with Gretchen turning back to her former "you are the peasant, human!" form xD. I am glad that Bergan is alive as well. Anyway, that Hawklord Red Rufus was absolutely cool guy xD.

I have to say that i am extremely disappointed in one of the characters, aka, Hector, for ruining himself and his life. I just couldn't bear to read every chapter in which he appeared. He just chose a path from which is hard to return. And i hope he will redeem himself, because i truly loved him before and it's a shame that he is turning to be so much evil. My only hope is that he will meet Drew again, and that Drew will bring him back to his senses, because Hector clearly lost himself in madness.
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LOL scene *at least for me* :
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I laughed a lot at one scene because a certain gif crossed my mind, so the scene:
Drew and the others are trying to pass as Wyldermen, meaning they are all masked and all, and a group of them stepped in their way. So..............

"The Wolflord didn’t panic, instead standing firm, glaring back. The chieftain stepped closer, peeling back his lips to reveal his rows of wicked, filed teeth. He gnashed them, teeth striking one another like flint against stone. His tongue trailed from between them, the warrior letting the tip trace along the tiny, white blades, a ribbon of blood appearing across the purple flesh. His men whooped, clattering weapons at their chieftain’s show of strength.
Drew let the Wolf in, just enough for his purpose. He felt his gums tear, his human teeth shifting, sharpening; reforming into deadly lycanthropic fangs. By the time he bared them at the chieftain, his mouth was slick with blood, dribbling from his lips and down his throat, revealing a set of razor teeth more impressive than any Wylderman had ever laid eyes on. He growled and stepped forward, snapping at the air.
The chieftain was beaten; Drew’s show was clearly enough not only to make him doubt his chances in a fight but also dismiss any fears that he was an enemy.

And the gif:


I AM JUST FINDING THIS SO MUCH FREAKING AWESOME XD
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Overall :
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This series is totally cool. I can't wait to see what will happen in the next one....Too bad that i will have to wait for Storm of Sharks to come out T_T.


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REVIEW(S) RELATED TO THIS BOOK:

◈ Rise of the Wolf (Wereworld, #1)
◈ Rage of Lions (Wereworld, #2)
◈ Shadow of the Hawk (Wereworld, #3)
◈ Nest of Serpents (Wereworld, #4)

[Keven Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a book as good as Wereworld:Shadow of the Hawk was written you wouldn't think Curtis Jobling wouldn't even come close to topping it and yet it Nest of Serpents is the best book by far in the series. Shadow of the Hawk was the evolution of the series as it took more of gritty and dark atmosphere with a lot more overwhelming odds for the heroes to overcome. Nest of Serpents is another step in right direction as it's character's are more fleshed and are made more too feel more like human's then unstoppable Were-animals. Let's also not forget the areas described in the book which can be enchantingly beautiful or disgustingly horrible to everywhere in between. Another pro for book is the story. It's deep and complicated and yet easy too understand allowing the reader to fully orient themselves to the dangerous world of Lyssia. If you're a fantasy lover or like books in gerneral you'll be doing yourself a great dishonesty by not getting this book

[Sham27 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanted to finish the book, but it was past midnight:( So reluctantly I closed this book, to finish it the next day and I did finished another great book in this series the very next day. Really, it was amazing and ended with another cliffhanger just like the previous book.
I really liked Trent's character and hoping to see more of him in the next book and also looking forward to see how both the brothers meeting are going to go.
The only thing I can do now is wait (not patiently) for the next book!:)

[Samantha (A Dream of Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was super excited when I realised that there was a new book in the Wereworld series out. After having been left on a cliffhanger at the end of the fourth book, I was eager to pick this one up and start it straight away.

The first part re-introduces the reader to all the characters and picks up the thread of their stories. Hector, Drew, Whitley and Gretchen, alolng with Drew's brother Trent are scattered throughout Lyssia. Drew is helping the Staglords defend themselves against the Werelion Prince Lucas, whilst Gretchen and Whitley are headed for Brackenholme and safety. As the story progresses, an old foe returns to put everyone's lives in danger.

As I've read each book in this series, I've been continually impressed and amazed at the sheer scale and scope of the story and the Wereworld universe. There's now a huge cast of interesting characters with new faces appearing all the time. The only problem is keeping track of all of their names! Sometimes I have to check back to make sure I remember who someone is correctly.

I've always made no secret of my love of Hector, the Boarlord. He's made quite a transformation from the beginning of the series and at times he seems quite unrecognisable from the person that Drew first met. Without giving anything away, because my lips are firmly sealed, I'm starting to worry that he may finally be beyond redemption. I'm not sure if there is any way back for him now. However, there's always hope and I truly believe that although he's done some terrible things, beneath it all is still a heart of gold.

I also enjoyed getting to see more of Drew's brother Trent who is now repentant about his actions towards his brother and wishes to put things right. I think there may be a possible romance on the cards between him and another character but I'll have to wait and see. Gradually all the characters are being drawn back together and I'm looking forward to finally seeing them all reunited.

Even though Jobling is now on book five, the writing remains wonderfully vivid and the story gets even more engaging with each new instalment. There are some amazing battle scenes which are brutal, bloody and no holds barred and there's plenty of action and adventure to satisfy readers. There's a fast and furious pace to the story and I didn't want to put the book down for a single second.

There's an epic quality about this series which I love and I can only hope that Jobling writes fast because I want more now!

Just a quick note about the cover of the book. The cover art for the series has been redesigned and published with a whole new look. I have to say that I preferred the old one and not only because I like all my books in a set to match.

[Suzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and the plot is progressing. I'm kinda disappointed in Hector and the direction he's taken. I hope he redeems himself by maybe sacraficing himself at the end of the war/series to stop the Bastians and save his friends (even if he has stopped being a friend to them at present). I'm happy to see Trent firmly on his brothers side again and seeking to redeem himself for the deeds he carried out while under the false impression that his beloved brother had murdered both their parents.
I'm also going to confess that I hope Gretchen changes her affections to Trent even if he is human and she does seem to have a low opinion of humans cause I'll be honest and say that I prefer Whitley to Gretchen and think her and Drew would be the better couple. Not just that but because Whitley is on the same wavelength as Drew and shares his love and respect of the people she would actually (despite her reluctance to be a leader or take up the mantle of a noble) be a better queen.
I was so glad to see that Bergan survived after all, as I'm sure Whitley and Drew will be. I'm not sure how long the series is going to be, I know there is another book due in January 2013 but I don't know if it will be the last in the series or at least bring a conclusion to the war or if there are more books planned. Either way I hope that the next book brings a firm alliance between Drew and Whitley with him making his choice for her.
I'm also hoping that Hector can be redeemed and return to himself. I wonder if they chopped his 'cursed' limb off would the dark influence relinguish it's hold on him and allow the return of the old Hector we all loved. Prehaps stronger and more confident and wiser then he was but back to being the good man and friend that he once was before he became infected by the dark power.
This is a great series and well worth picking up by anyone who enjoys a good supernatural series, admittedly probably geared more towards boys/tomboys and those that enjoy a good book that is not overshadowed by romance plots, while their is some romance it's very much a small subplot as all the characters have much bigger issues to contend with.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal response:

I liked this book since I am into fighting and mythical creatures. This is a really good series of books. Each one is just as good as the last one.

Plot Summary

The book was about a wereserpent named Vala and her worshipers. The Wyermen attacked the woodland city of Bekonheme. Meanwhile in Stormdale, Drew (the werewolf) was helping the stage lords children defend their city. Back in Bekonheme, Witney ( the werebear) and Gretchen (the werefox) are facing Vala in the throne room of Bekonheme. Gretchen got thrown from the room and was rescued by Drew’s adopted brother Trent. After the battle in Stormdale Drew heard that Vala was attacking the bears city. He immediately left for Bekonheme with his friend Milo (one of the Stage lords sons). When he got there he saw hundreds of wyermen around the great oak. When he was in danger he howled and called hundreds of wolfs. When he got up to the top of the tree he saw a pile of things in the throne room. Then Drew saw a line of people who were unconscious. When he saw Whitney hanging from the ceiling he changed instantly and got her down and killed Vala.

Recommendation

I would recommend this book series to whoever is into fantasy. It would be a good series for middle school through high school students. It holds your interest and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

[Mad about · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've fallen in love with this series and hope it never ends but the war in Lyssia won't last forever.
With the supporters of the Wolves taking a beating from every corner and more troops arriving across the ocean from Bast things certainly look bleak.

Drew Ferran a.k.a the future king is trying to lend his aid to all his supporters but he's only one Lycanthrope and now disabled after his capture in Cape Gala. The beasts of Bast march on to suppress Lyssia while the Cannibal Wylderman have Brackenholm in their sights after news Lord Berghan is missing.
His friends are spread out over the land learning who they are and how to survive this cursed War.

The story is told from the different view points of Drews friends giving a full picture of the trials of war, love and friendship. Characters in the same situation write from their perspective which is really unique and you can see where loyalties truly lie.

Cover art for US and UK is compelling and drew me into the series. No editing errors that I noticed and the dialogue had a good flow with it switching with the dialects of the characters.

A great read for all ages. Can't wait for the next installment!

[Lauren Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably one of my favorite books that I have ever read. I wish that Curtis Jobling would make this series longer than just six books. I think this series is better than Eragon, which is a similar series that I have read. Also my favorite part is when Drew was fighting Vala because I could just see this scene in my head. Curtis Jobling is a very descriptive writer and I hope to read all of his books.

[Nanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The twists and turns of this series, alone, is enough to keep you reading.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

My name is Hector, and few of my former friends suspect I'm secretly working for the armies of Prince Lucas. It helps to have an ability to speak with the dead, and I hope to sneak my way into the Iceland fortress. Others call me Blackhand as the dark magic slowly takes over my body, and my murdered brother's voice still counsels me. I often wonder what's become of my close friend Drew, but I suspect he's been killed by now. The wolf was changing, and he didn't have the stomach to become king. The Lionguard and the panther's armies are spreading death and destruction across Lyssia. I will take my place alongside Prince Lucas when the resistance is finally quashed, although I still have small doubts in the back of my mind. The cats have never shown much loyalty to other Werelords, but I'm sure they'll make an exception for me.

This book has come a long way from the first one in the series. Full-out war is going on between the armies of the Werecats and the supporters of Drew, the Werewolf destined to rule the realms. The fighting and violence are again at the forefront. My pet peeve is when books tell the story from multiple settings, and this series has consistently done that. I hadn't read the third book in awhile, so the various settings and dozens of characters became muddled. I couldn't clearly remember their roles or their corresponding type of animals. Most of the main characters maintain human forms and only transform into animals when fighting. Supporting characters and soldiers are often human and are subservient to the Werelords. I still hold out hope for Hector's character, as there are still moments where he remembers a bit of humanity. He started out as Drew's best friend but has slowly morphed into a murderous sorcerer. I can hope, but he's nearing the point of eternal evil. Overall, the series is a creative adventure, although you must have a tolerance for violence and ruthlessness to enjoy it. It's testing my resolve, but I guess I'm stubborn to finish all the books.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book too! I'm so sucked into this whole series, so glad my local librarian recommended it to me. The action is non stop and trying to figure out who is the enemy and who is the friend changes all the time and keeps me on my toes. I so totally love Drew, he's my favorite character in this series. When he faced Vala and howled for help I wasn't sure what would happen, but when all the wolves showed up to take down the Wylderman I was estatic, could have jumped up and down I was so happy. I am planning on buying this series so I can read it over and over again.

[Aleshanee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Kämpfe in Lyssia gehen weiter und es gibt einige Überraschungen und spannende Wendungen!

[Franziska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Drew.

For every step he takes towards the crown, his enemies set him back two. He repels the invading armies at Stormdale and rescues Whitley from Brackenholme, but at the same time Icegarden falls, the Wyldermen join forces with the Lionguard, Calico is besieged and there is no word from Azra. But our Drew, with unquenchable spirit and determination, refuses to give up hope and, at the end of the book, decides to head far west, where rumours of enemy ships being attacked hint at a new ally. Baron Bosa has been spurred into action and the Catlords wonder: why?

Could it be Vega? My favourite character is disappointingly missing in 'Nest of Serpents', but the epilogue of 'Shadow of the Hawk' showed him meeting the Werewhale. I can't wait to read the next book. 'Storm of Sharks' - the very name suggests his reappearance!

Despite the lack of pirate princes, 'Nest of Serpents' still gripped me from start to finish. The introduction of more points of view meant that I was plunged from one battle scene into another without finding out the outcome of the last. From stricken Stormdale and snowy Icegarden to the perils of the Dyrewood, from character to character, the action never ceased. Lyssia is in turmoil and the chapters reflected this; I enjoyed watching pieces of the puzzle being put together, some fitting, some messing things up all over again.

The characters were just as engaging as they have always been. Drew has come a long way from the thoughtful shepherd boy of 'Rise of the Wolf'. He is emerging more and more as a true leader, a king who can sway hearts and minds to his cause, who has suffered so much and yet still retains the strong moral code that marks him, as Hector says, 'a great man'. Alas, I wish I could say the same about Hector himself. His descent into evil seems unstoppable; only Drew may be capable of saving him. Trent, meanwhile, with his charm and rediscovered devotion towards his brother, is quickly moving up my list of top characters. His interaction with Gretchen is particularly enjoyable, and it seems to be neatly nipping a developing love triangle in the bud.

Jobling's descriptions remain as vivid as ever. He paints the world as wonderfully as if he was in it himself - and the violence as though he was a soldier in the midst of a Werelord battle. I'm learning to skim over the most gruesome parts, but it still makes me shudder to picture Vala's stomach swollen with human bodies. I hate that snake. Come to think of it, it is probably the absence of favourite-character deaths that made me give 'Nest of Serpents' the same five star rating I gave 'Rise of the Wolf' (although the loss of Red Rufus is a significant downer). That, and the miraculous revival of Duke Bergan, whom I had presumed dead.

I doubt this lull will last, though. Jobling never lets his readers relax for long. The storm is yet to come - a storm of sharks!

[ShingetsuMoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great entry into the Wereworld series. All of Lysia is at war and for every ally that Drew finds it seems that more enemies pop up to fight against him.

The approach the author takes to war and alliances in this book is one I find very interesting. Allies and enemies change. New allegiances are formed while old ones break down and new enemies reemerge. Lines are constantly shifting.

In some stories Drew would be the rightful king come back after the death of his father to take his place and supported by most if not all against a wicked tyrant/evil person. Instead Dike's father was considered by quite a few to be a tyrant himself and even among his allies was known for his fierce attitude and warmongering.

Allies fall by the wayside as more enemies come against them and former opposers switch sides even if it is only for their own gain. It's fascinating to watch play out.

While Drew tries to keep one city safe others fall or are left open by betrayal. Hector wavers between his own darkening ties to magister and some doubts about whether he is doing the right thing by his former friends or not.

Drew's brother has seen the light so to speak and abandoned his former ways only to fall into more trouble then before at Brackenholme when the wyldermen and Vala appear to conquer the great forest city.

Also of interest to me was the differences between Drew and his father. Namely he is not Wergar and really isn't sure he wants to be either. Wergar may have ruled but could it really be considered fair or just? Even the things his former allies say about him don't do much to inspire any feelings of love or loyalty in Drew and if anything only make him more determined not to end up the same way. When it comes to making the hard decisions will Drew be able to come through when he is needed the most?

This was another great book in the series and I look forward to reading the next.

[Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wereworld book #4, Nest of Serpents is a great book. This book, along with the previous books in the series, can get a bit gruesome, so I would definitely recommend this for older teens. It starts off right where the previous book, Shadow of the Hawk, ended. With the reemergence of old characters and the introduction of new ones, Curtis Jobling has created a really nice set of characters with a lot of depth. The action starts off strong and continues throughout the story making this a really exciting book to read. It ends with a nice cliff hanger to tie up the book nicely.

[Collin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great. Drew is helping the Stags keep control of Stormdale while the Crows of Riven and Rats of Vermire attack them on Onyx's orders. Gertchen and Whitley are heading to Brackenholme while battles are everywhere over Lyssia. They don't know it but they bring an unwanted quest into the Woodland Realm. Hector is now the leader of Tuskun. He switched sides to the Catlords so he could have all the power he wanted.

[ultimate reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the wereworld series, and it is AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I do have to admit that I think they should have made it where they got word that the doglords had won or something like that after they win at stormdale. also think that they could have done without Vala coming back. Really want to know what Vega is doing too. I don't like how Red rufus dies. I actually liked his bossiness.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book to read, at first I was just trying to find some books to read when I was in school. I stumbled upon this book thinking I wouldn't read it, once opening the book and reading the first chapter I was on the train to WereWorld. I really do enjoy this book, I would recommend this book to people who love adventure, action, fantasy, and fiction.

[Alexander Draganov · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit too long for my taste, but apart from this it is really wonderful. The numerous plot twists and the nonstop violent action make this books a must for fans of exciting swords & sorcery tales. This series is becoming a personal favorite of mine.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the book had a twist in the ending. When Drew was in his Werewolf form and he howled, he had wolves answer to his howl. I think that is cool because Drew is one of the last Wolflords that lives. His mom his a white wolf but she doesn't get any answer from wolves when she does howl.

[Shaun Vandagriff · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books just keep getting better and better!! After Trent realizes he's been fighting on the wrong side, he goes and helps Whitley and Gretchen, who are trapped by Vala the Serpent. That's right! Vala has returned!!! OMG!!!

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great instalment in the wereworld saga, I'm already looking forward to the next one.

[Bari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 4 of the Wereworld series is an action packed, page turning adventure.

Looking forward to book 5

[Joey Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of action.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic

[Kristen Valenzuela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great addition to the Wereworld saga. I love how the different stories and characters wove in and out of the main story and kept me guessing.

[Elliott A · Rating 4 out of 5]

8.7/10

[Elizabeth Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

WELL WELL WELL this review is so difficult to write because there is so much to say. The series is so good there are no words in the dictionary to describe how I feel. I'll just have to do my best.

I was never really interested in Werewolves, they seemed pretty dull and unoriginal but these book with their fantastic character and world building creates a new twist on werewolves that is exciting and interesting from beyond down to the core. Not to mention the introduction of other WereSpecies like WereLions and WereRats AWESOME!!! .

The series has such a simple concept that flourishes into something amazing, which is not so easily done except with a greatly skilled and imaginative Author. The books will lift you up and bring you down, they will make you laugh and they will make you cry, they will make you sit up fraught with tension and they will make you eager for more. These books will definitely not disappoint.

When I first picked up this book series I was in year 8 of high school and read 'Rise of the Wolf' and 'Rage of lions' in one day. Obviously I was hooked from the get go. Unfortunately, my school did not have the rest of the books so I had to wait.

The worst years of my life, Year 11 and all books bought in a box set on Kindle...
... if only i hadn't of had my GCSE exams!!!!

THE EXCRUCIATING HORROR AND PAIN!

After all this time and exams had passed I had months to read the series and boy did i, it took me less than a week (one book a day) and then I re-read it and then I re-read it again.

I think you can work out from what I have written so far that it was definitely worth the wait, but don't do what I did, get your hands on the books as soon as possible. Also make sure you buy them as proper books rather than on Kindle, certainly one of my greatest regrets and therefore I would love to receive all the books in paperback with this front cover (talking to you Curtis Jobling or future boyfriend, id love you forever).

If I could I would give it 100 stars.

[Sean Bai · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you liked the Ranger's Apprentice series or the Redwall series, you will like this.

This series had me hooked right from the start. The characters were likable, and felt real. Characters had real motivations, and I was with the characters through their ups and downs. The main character is an underdog, in more ways than one, and I was rooting for him the whole time, hoping he could defeat all odds thrown his way.

The battles were intense. This is military fantasy at its best, and we're thrown into the story through the eyes of a young man who finds out his parents were not his actual parents. He goes on a journey of self-discovery, and asks himself questions about whether he is fit to be the true King or not.

The villains are evil. This is more of a PG-15 read for all its violence, and it's not too depressing, but can be. It's war, and people will die.

Curtis Jobling's strength is in his imagination. The worlds are wonderful and well drawn out. There's a map to accompany the story. Characters go from place to place, and it's a very majestic world. If you are tired of werewolves, look no further, because this series has werestags, werebears, werehogs, werelions, weresharks, and many other types of creatures that can transform at will. In this series, these man-beasts are royalty, not beasts to be hunted.

I will be leaving the same review for all six books, because I've read all of them, and they are all five stars. I hope the author will be writing more like this in the future.

[Donne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my least favorite book of the series so far. Not that that is saying much since I can't stand to leave any of these books anywhere. I have been carrying them around with me non-stop. I even checked out Book 5 and carried it around with Book 4 for the last 100 pages so I wouldn't miss out on the continuation.

This book fell short because of Vala. Well, because Vala is the least developed character to this point and she is the main theme of this book. We don't really learn anything new about her in this book ... other than how she digests humans in human form. I want her story. She is the oldest of the therians we have met and yet all we know is that she hates human form, despises the "new" therians as she calls them, and is hateful and mean. She has all this meat to her snake form (she is HUGE) and yet her character has no meat for the imagination to build her past "big snake".

It was hard to give it 3 starts because of Vala and then not give an extra star for Red Rufus. Oh, of all the hundreds of deaths so far, his hits the hardest. He is just so tangible. We never learn much about his history (there really isn't time since he is only in this book), but he is by far the character I have connected with the most so far other than Whitley. I had to pause and give him some moments of silence when Drew confirmed Red Rufus was gone.

As I said, I already have Book 5 and I am off for the adventure.